Of course, you should quit smoking. But poor diet, being overweight and not getting enough exercise also are risk factors for developing cancer, the American Cancer Society says. Being overweight or obese raises your risk of cancers of the breast, colon, esophagus, pancreas and kidney, the cancer society warns. When it comes to food, the… read on >
Diets that stress calorie restriction versus those that stress fasting seem to be all the rage. But what’s the difference? With a calorie-restriction diet, you reduce the number of calories you typically consume in a day. This type of diet should allow you to cut calories without depriving your body of essential nutrients, the U.S.… read on >
Watching your cholesterol has gotten easier. Nutrition experts now agree that foods high in cholesterol, like shrimp, don’t have the impact on blood cholesterol that was once thought. So depending on your current cholesterol count, you may not have to curtail your intake of many formerly forbidden foods. Even better news — some foods can… read on >
Walking is not only a great first exercise, it can also be a forever exercise. Here are some ideas to show you how to take it to the next level. Making walking more of a challenge enables you to burn more calories and raise your working heart rate. You can do this by working out… read on >
The holidays are typically full of tempting meals and desserts. The downside is the resulting weight gain. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sugests how to keep holiday weight gain at bay: Stay active. Walk often and park far from store entrances. Take a few extra laps around the mall, or start your… read on >
You’d think vitamin deficiencies would be rare in the United States, but many people are running low on vitamin D, and it’s a serious health threat. Being short on vitamin D not only affects bone density, it’s also been linked to conditions such as heart disease, mental decline, some types of cancer, autoimmune diseases, infectious… read on >
The holiday season can be difficult to navigate if you have diabetes. But with proper planning you can stay healthy, the American Diabetes Association says. The ADA offers this advice: Focus on timing. If your meal will be later than usual, eat a snack before to keep your blood sugar where it needs to be.… read on >
Rather than just counting carbs, you might want to get familiar with the glycemic index and the glycemic load, numeric weighting systems that rank carb-based foods based on how much they raise blood sugar. While monitoring these indicators might be especially helpful for those with diabetes, they also can be useful tools to keep others… read on >
You can eat a healthful diet during the holidays with just a few tweaks to traditional recipes, the American Heart Association says. “We want to help people overcome their nutrition struggles and pave the way for a healthful festive season,” registered dietitian Annessa Chumbley said in an association news release. “Instead of looking at holiday… read on >
Hot flashes, a common curse in menopause, can be especially bothersome after breast cancer. But a new study suggests an existing medication may help. The drug is oxybutynin (Ditropan XL), long used to treat urinary incontinence. The study found that women taking the medicine had an average of five fewer hot flashes a week, compared… read on >
