Tag Archives: summer

Be picky about fruit: Best ways to get your daily servings

It’s important to eat fruit throughout the year, and one of the perks of summer is there’s greater variety of fresh fruit to choose from.  According to the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines adults on a 2,000-calorie diet should eat about two cups of fruit per day, and for optimal health benefits it’s a good habit to eat a colorful mix.  But watch how you get your fruit because some commercial fruit products lose nutrients in processing and pack a lot of extra calories from added sugar. Fruit drinks Many commercial fruit juices are not 100 percent juice; some are so watered down that their taste comes from artificial flavors and sugar. To know what you are getting read the ingredients list on the nutrition label.  Juicing at home gives you more control over freshness and quality, but be sure to juice fruit with the skin or you could be throwing away some of the best nutrients. Case in point: a whole apple has 4g of fiber while apple juice pressed without the skin may have little to no fiber. Frozen fruit Did you know that frozen fruit may actually be more nutritious than the whole fruit at the supermarket?  That’s because whole fruit headed for the produce aisle is picked before it is fully ripe whereas frozen fruit is processed right in the field with fruit picked at its nutritional peak. Canned fruit Canned fruits, like frozen, are usually harvested at when they are fully ripe, but be sure to check how it has been prepared and packed. Some canned fruits swim in heavy sugar-based syrup that adds extra calories. Your best bet is to go with fruit canned in light syrup or better yet its own juice.  If your canned brand does contain added sugar you can rinse much of it off right before eating. Fruit safety Sometimes harmful bacteria can contaminate fresh fruits during harvesting. Avoid buying fruit that is bruised or visibly damaged, and it’s best to keep perishable fruits refrigerated at or below 40°F. And wash your fruit thoroughly even if you don’t intend to eat it with the skin. For advice on healthy eating, drinking and weight loss, check out my new book The Miracle Carb Diet: Make Calories and Fat Disappear – with Fiber! Tanya Zuckerbrot MS, RD, is a registered dietitian in New York City and author of the Miracle Carb Diet: Make Calories and Fat Disappear – with fiber as well as the bestselling F-Factor Diet. Become a fan of Tanya on Facebook, follow her on Twitter and LinkedIn, and visit her website Ffactor.com.source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/06/11/be-picky-about-fruit-best-ways-to-get-your-daily-servings/

12 summer fruit and veggie recipes

Summer brings a wealth of deliciously ripe produce. Here are a dozen of the freshest seasonal fruits and veggies and mouthwatering ways to serve them. Berries Enjoy them on their own or on salads, desserts, and cereal. Health benefits include: • Low in calories • Rich in antioxidants, which neutralize cell damage • May reduce the effects of Alzheimer's disease • May reduce risk of colon or ovarian cancer Harvest season: May-September Try this recipe: Blueberry-Blackberry Shortcakes Cucumbers These crisp and cool veggies are for much more than salads (and spa treatments). They can be used in gazpachos and substituted for celery in tuna and chicken salad recipes. Health benefits include: • Contains silica, which improves the complexion and health of the skin • Good source of fiber, potassium, and magnesium Harvest season: June-November Try this recipe: Pickled Ginger Cucumbers Eggplant Most people think of eggplant in calorie-laden eggplant Parmesan. However, this rich purple veggie can be grilled, roasted, and enjoyed in a variety of summer dishes. Health benefits include: • Good source of B vitamins • Antioxidant-rich • May reduce cholesterol levels Harvest season: July-October Try this recipe: Szechuan Spicy Eggplant Peaches This fleshy fruit has a sweet, almost tangy taste that blends well in smoothies and other beverages. For a summer treat, slice some peaches and enjoy with a cream cheese (like Explorateur) and a glass of chardonnnay. Health benefits include: • Good source of vitamin A • Good source of potassium Harvest season: May-October Try this recipe: Homemade Peach Ice Cream Bell peppers With their tangy flavor and signature crunch, bell peppers are a summer diet must-have. The lively colors will bring dishes alive and add a nutritional bonus. Health benefits include: • More than 100 percent of your recommended amount of vitamins A and C • Contains vitamin B6 and folic acid, which may lower the risk of high cholesterol Harvest season: May-December Try this recipe: Sausage, Bell Pepper, and Onion Lasagna Squash Unlike winter squash, summer squash has a soft and almost creamy quality. Its mild taste works well with herbs such as basil, thyme, and rosemary. Health benefits include: • Excellent source of vitamin C • Contains omega-3 fatty acids Harvest season: May–September Try this recipe: Summer Squash with Tomatoes and Basil Tomatoes Though tomatoes are considered a fruit, they lack the sweetness that characterizes that food group. However, cooking or grilling them may take away some of their bitter or acidic flavors. Health benefits include: • Contains lycopene, which has antioxidant and cancer-preventing properties • Good source of niacin, which has been used for years as a safe way to raise HDL (good cholesterol) and lower LDL (bad cholesterol) Harvest season: June-October Try this recipe: Mediterranean Stuffed Tomatoes Pears The soft texture and sweet taste of pears make them the perfect fruit for summertime. And their mild flavor lets them blend well with a variety of recipes. Health benefits include: • Good source of vitamin C and copper • 4 grams of dietary fiber per serving Try this recipe: Caramelized Onion-Pear Pizza Apricots Starting in May, enjoy the sweet, smooth, and faintly tart taste of apricots. Not only are they the perfect juicy addition to any meal, but they are also nutrient-rich. Health benefits include: • Beta-carotene and lycopene for heart health • Good source of vitamin A, an antioxidant that helps with vision and cellular growth Harvest season: May-July Try this recipe: Honey-Vanilla Poached Apricots Figs Though dried figs can be enjoyed year-round, fresh ones are in-season starting in June. The chewy texture of the fruit is a favorite for baking. However, roasting them in the oven makes a sweet, tender treat. Health benefits include: • Good source of dietary fiber • 15 percent of your recommended amount of potassium and manganese Harvest season: June-November Try this recipe: Oat-Topped Fig Muffins Corn Corn has been a summer favorite way before the days of gas grills and microwaves. Though it's sweet enough to eat on its own, summer corn tastes delicious with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. Health benefits include: • Almost 25 percent of vitamin B1, which helps cognitive functioning • Contains beta-cryptoxanthin, an antioxidant that may reduce the risk of lung cancer Harvest season: June-November Try this recipe: Savory Buttermilk Corn Cakes Okra Okra is often ignored as a summer veggie, but it is perfect for soups, canning, and stews. Its subtle taste enhances the flavor of tomatoes, onions, corn, shellfish, and fish stock. Health benefits include: • Contains insoluble fiber, which is essential for digestive health • Good source of vitamin B6 and folic acid Harvest season: June-November Try this recipe: Spicy Pickled Okra This article originally appeared on Health.com.source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/06/01/12-summer-fruit-and-veggie-recipes/

The best way to scorch fat and lean up for the summer

With less than a month left until summer, you've got to tone up fast. It's time to learn about Tabata, a Japanese method of training with sessions that's based on timing instead of counting reps and is absolutely perfect for scorching fat and getting toned up for the summer. Tabata is known for improving performance and muscle tone. In fact, a study in the Journal of Physiology found that short, intense interval workouts like Tabata can be a more time-efficient way to get in shape than longer, steadier paced workouts. RELATED: Last-Minute Beach Shape-Up Routine Try these four Tabata moves two to three times a week; it should take 20 minutes to complete. Each move should start with 20 seconds of flat-out effort on each move, 10 seconds of rest, and repeat eight times. Take a full minute to rest before moving on to the next exercise. You will also need weights that are about half the weight of your normal level so you can last through the time sets. Lastly, since this is a high-intensity exercise, you should try wearing a heart rate monitor to make sure that you're working out at 80 percent of your maximum heart rate, your optimal fat-burning zone. Let's get started! 1. Press-up Row. In a pushup position, grip the handles of two weights. Instead of lowering yourself down, bring one arm up to your armpit while holding yourself tight. Lower and repeat. RELATED: 24 Fat-Burning Ab Exercises (No Crunches!) 2. Leapfrog Plank.  Leave your weights to the side, get in the pushup position, with your shoulders and hands in line and your back straight. “Leap” your feet forward towards your hands, and then jump back to plank position. Do this back and forth as fast as you can. 3. Front Squat. Rest your weights on your shoulders, palms facing out, standing with feet hip-width apart. Slowly squat (remember to keep your butt tucked in and your back straight!) as far down as you can, making sure that your knees are aligned with your toes. then return to start. 4. Clean and Press. Stand with your weights at your toes. Squat down and grab your weights overhand. Stand up and lift the weights up and over your head, then lower them down to the floor. Repeat. RELATED: Fastest Fat Burners Ever! Jennifer Cohen is a leading fitness authority, TV personality, best-selling author, and entrepreneur.  With her signature, straight-talking approach to wellness, Jennifer was the featured trainer on The CW's Shedding for the Wedding, mentoring the contestants' to lose hundreds of pounds before their big day, and she appears regularly on NBC's Today Show, Extra, The Doctors and Good Morning America. This article originally appeared on Health.com.source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/30/best-way-to-scorch-fat-and-lean-up-for-summer/

Save yourself from summer dangers

Whether you’re hitting the beach or relaxing in your own backyard this weekend, it’s important to remember some important summer safety tips along the way.   Dr. Manny Alvarez, senior managing health editor for FoxNews.com, spoke to Dr. Mark Melrose, of Urgent Care Manhattan, about how to avoid common summer health hazards. Food poisoning If you’re attending a summer picnic or barbecue, take precautions to avoid food poisoning. After an hour or two in the heat, any foods that are typically refrigerated should be thrown out, Melrose advised. “Don’t be tempted to bring home leftovers that have been left outdoors all day long. You’ve got to toss them,” Melrose said. Water hazards A trip to the beach or a dip in the pool presents its own safety concerns, especially if small children are involved. Make sure children are never unattended near a pool or beach, and if you’re on a boat, everybody should wear a life jacket, Melrose advised. Also, look out for swimming injuries, especially when people are diving into the water, and react quickly if anyone gets hurt. “If you dive into a pool and hit your head, that would be a reason to call 911,” Melrose said. Sunburns and heat stroke People planning to spend time outside in the sun should also watch out for sunburns and heat stroke, Melrose advised. “The number one solution is to avoid the heat, get into the shade. Get into a cool building,” Melrose said. Most importantly, remember to stay hydrated on hot days, and don’t forget to put on lots of sunscreen when you’re spending time outdoors. “Summer time is definitely busier in hospital emergency departments and urgent care centers. If you take proper measures you can definitely save yourself a trip to the doctor,” Melrose said.source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/26/save-yourself-from-summer-dangers/

Proposed measure would require doctor drug tests

A proposed state ballot measure would require doctors to be randomly subjected to drug and alcohol testing. The San Francisco Chronicle reports the so-called “Pee in the Cup” initiative is being pushed by Bob Pack, a technology mogul and former executive at AOL and NetZero. Pack's campaign, already armed with $2 million in funding, will be launched this summer. He is touting a new poll showing 85 percent of California voters would support random testing of physicians. The newspaper says the initiative might also seek to lift the cap on damages in medical malpractice cases. The goal is to get the measure on the November 2014 ballot. A spokesperson for the California Medical Association calls the effort by Pack a “publicity stunt.”source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/20/proposed-measure-would-require-doctor-drug-tests/

Majority of pools are contaminated by poop, CDC says

There's poop in public pools, according to a new report. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found genetic material from E. coli bacteria in 58 percent of public pools they tested during the summer of 2012. This shows that “swimmers frequently introduced fecal material into pools,” which could spread germs to other people, the researchers wrote in their report. E. coli bacteria are normally found in the human gut and feces. They also found genetic material from bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, whichcan cause skin rashes and ear infections, in 59 percent of pools. The fecal material in pools comes from swimmers not showering before getting into the water, and from incidents of defecation in pools, according to the report. The average person has 0.14 grams of fecal material on their “perianal surface” that can rinse into a pool if a person doesn't shower first, according to the report. The Pseudomonas aeruginosabacteria in the pools may have come from the natural environment, or from swimmers, the researchers said. There were no samples that showed E. coli O157:H7, a toxin-producing E. coli strain that causes illness. Two parasites, Cryptosporidium and Giardia, which also spread through feces and cause diarrhea, were found in less than 2 percent of samples. The study included 161 pools in the Atlanta area, and the researchers noted their findings may not apply to all pools, but said there is no reason to think that contamination or swimmer hygiene practices differ between pools in the study and those in the rest of the country. The researchers collected samples of water from the pools' filters, and looked for the genetic material of specific bacteria. “Chlorine and other disinfectants dont kill germs instantly,” said Michele Hlavsa, chief of CDCs Healthy Swimming Program. Its important that swimmers shower before getting in a pool, not swallow the water they swim in, and avoid swimming when they have diarrhea, she said. The CDC also recommends that parents of young children take children on a bathroom break every hour, or check diapers every 30 to 60 minutes. Diapers should be changed in a diaper-changing area, not near the poolside, the CDC says. Copyright 2013 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.source : http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/05/16/poop-prevalent-in-public-pools-cdc-says/