HaveHealthNow Blog by Wellness Mike

1. Studies have associated high intakes of dietary fiber and the consumption of whole grains with a reduced risk for coronary heart disease. Fiber can help lower levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) in the blood. Fiber has also been shown to reduce other risk factors associated with Coronary Heart Disease including obesity, blood pressure and elevated cholesterol. 2. Research has shown that people who eat high-fiber diets are less likely to have diabetes. High fiber diets may play a significant role in preventing diabetes or halting the progression of pre-diabetes to diabetes. Current evidence suggests that a daily diet with 30-50 grams of fiber results in lower glucose levels than a low-fiber diet does. http://www.HaveHealth.org

If you’re trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, finding the right kind of foods to eat is essential. Many dieters have discovered that a diet of the most filling foods can help them eat less. Are you struggling to reach your weight loss goal? Can a diet of the most filling foods help? Yes, but remember, filling doesn’t necessarily mean healthy. Your diet should focus on the most filling healthy foods. Fiber rich foods are a good choice because they make you feel full on less volume, preventing you from overeating. Foods rich in protein are another good choice. Protein provides staying power by helping keep blood sugar levels from spiking too high or falling too low between meals. Include the healthiest fats such as avocado, nuts, olive oil, and fatty fish like salmon and sardines to give you a feeling of fullness. The chemical compound of foods can determine how satisfying they are. Beans and lentils contain anti-nutrients which delay their absorption and make you f

When it comes to the Big Three of exercise--cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training--it’s pretty clear which one can get overlooked. After all, while we prize cardiovascular and strength training for their role in helping us lose weight, build muscle and get fit, the benefits of flexibility training are less immediately alluring. However, as the population ages, more of us are learning to appreciate the rewards of stretching. Staying limber can offset age-related stiffness, improve athletic performance and optimize functional movement in daily life. Research shows that flexibility training can develop and maintain range of motion and may help prevent and treat injury. In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine has added flexibility training to its general exercise recommendations, advising that stretching exercises for the major muscle groups be performed two to three days per week. How can you include an effective flexibility workout in your fitness program? Here a

With mounting evidence showing their many health benefits, it’s OK to recommend nuts as part of a healthy diet. In fact, it’s more than OK. Tree nuts are plant-based proteins that contain fiber and a combination of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for each variety. They are also rich in plant sterols and fat, particularly the heart-healthy mono- and polyunsaturated kinds. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a Qualified Health claim that states: Eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease. These nuts include almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, some pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts — which contain less than 4 grams of saturated fat for a 50-gram (about 1.5 ounce) serving. The combination of fiber, protein and fat in nuts provides satiety to meals and snacks, making them an excellent option for weight management. There is a caveat, however: portion size. While nuts are healthy, th

Sleep is a crucial component for health, performance and daily living. During sleep our bodies repair themselves and our brains integrate new information, organize memories and put learned information into long-term memory. If you have trouble getting enough sleep these tips can help you build better habits: • Limit caffeine, particularly in the afternoon and evening. • Limit alcohol. Especially avoid excessive consumption before bed. • Try to quit tobacco use; nicotine is a stimulant. • Don’t use a computer, cell phone or handheld device in the 90 minutes before bedtime. LED lighting “tells” the brain to stay awake. • Limit television viewing before bed. • Lower the temperature in the house or bedroom before and during sleep. The body likes cooler temperatures. Many sleep doctors suggest lowering body temperature 90 minutes before bedtime. • Take a hot bath 90-120 minutes before bed. • Use the bed only for sleeping, lovemaking, and perhaps reading before sleep. • Nap only 15

• As a beverage choice, ask for water or order fat-free or low-fat milk, unsweetened tea, or other drinks without added sugars. • Ask for whole-wheat bread for sandwiches. • In a restaurant, start your meal with a salad packed with veggies, to help control hunger and feel satisfied sooner. • Ask for salad dressing to be served on the side. Then use only as much as you want. • Choose main dishes that include vegetables, such as stir fries, kebobs, or pasta with a tomato sauce. • Order steamed, grilled, or broiled dishes instead of those that are fried or sautéed. • Choose a small" or "medium" portion. This includes main dishes, side dishes, and beverages. • Order an item from the menu instead heading for the "all-you-can-eat" buffet. • If main portions at a restaurant are larger than you want, try one of these strategies to keep from overeating: o Order an appetizer-sized portion or a side dish instead of an entrée. o Share a main dish with a friend. o If you

Having moles on your body, even those found to be normal, can more than quadruple your risk of developing melanoma. Moles, or nevi, are clusters of melanocytes, a type of skin cell containing the pigment that gives our skin color. Most moles are benign, but some that appear unusual can turn cancerous. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends performing montly self-check skin exams head to toe, going in for annual professional skin check-ups, and practicing daily sun protection. Learn early detection by the ABCDE acronym. See my website http://www.HaveHealth for more information on this method. HaveHealth and Live a Healthy Lifestyle !

In about 90 percent of cases, a sore throat doesn’t require a trip to the doctor (or antibiotics to treat it). Most often, they’re related to allergies, viruses (such as a cold virus), dry weather or even acid reflux. Still, a painful, scratchy throat can make eating, talking and sleeping through the night difficult. The next time a sore throat strikes, don’t simply suffer through it. Be prepared with some of these tried-and-true natural remedies that really work to soothe a sore throat. 8. Eat Raw Garlic It’s not the most pleasant solution, but crushing a garlic clove or two (this activates its active compound, allicin) and eating it provides your body with a flood of immune-boosting, anti-microbial compounds that can help fight the infection causing your sore throat. 7. Licorice Root Licorice root is a traditional remedy for sore throat in both Easten and Western medicine.Try gargling with it in liquid extract form, as research shows those who did so prior to surgery had less

I found an excellent article I'd like to share..... How to Lose Weight—and Keep It Off by Jennie McCary, MS, RD, LD How do people successfully lose weight and maintain that loss? To answer that question, the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) tracks successful weight losers--individuals who have lost at least 30 pounds and kept it off for more than 1 year. Common behaviors that these individuals share include monitoring weight and food intake, maintaining a low-calorie and low-fat diet, eating breakfast almost every day, engaging in 1 hour of physical activity daily and limiting television viewing to 10 hours or less per week (NWCR). Here are some tried-and-true weight management methods. 1 . Monitor Weight and Food Intake People who weigh themselves regularly are more successful at weight loss and weight management, as the monitoring process allows them to make adjustments if weight begins to creep back. Since many people grossly underestimate the number of calories th

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