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Breakfast
If you are trying to lose weight, make sure to eat a healthy breakfast.
Too often, dieters make the mistake of thinking that they can save a few hundred calories each day by forgoing their first meal.
But according to research, people who are the most successful and losing weight and keeping it off are those who eat a healthy breakfast.
Here are just two reasons why breakfast may be your most important meal of the day.
*If you skip breakfast, you're likely to be starving before noon -- and also more likely to overindulge at lunch. The end result: weight gain -- not loss.
*Your brain needs breakfast because it needs glucose (from carbohydrates) to function well. Breakfast should include some of the following: whole grains high in fiber (e.g., bran cereal, whole-wheat toast), fruit, protein (e.g., eggs), and/or calcium (e.g., yogurt, milk).
These foods will energize your brain, keep hunger pangs at bay longer, and provide the nutrients to keep you healthy long-term.
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'The flu vaccine gives me the flu'
Well, technically, it can't. But a few people who get a flu shot report feeling sick -- like they have mild case of the flu. What's going on?
The flu vaccine is made from inactivated virus, so it can't cause the flu. But it occasionally does produce symptoms that mimic a viral illness. Symptoms can include various combinations of red eyes, cough, wheeze, sore throat, fever and fatigue, and even facial swelling. Symptoms can start within several hours of getting the shot and last about 24 hours.
One Canadian study reported that people who got sick after their shot were more likely to be receiving the vaccine for the first time. And one particular brand of vaccine appeared to be associated with more symptoms than other brands.
In any case, if you do get sick after your shot, know that it is not the flu and that you should feel better within 24 hours or so.
Bottom line: Most people do not get sick after a flu shot. But even if you do get sick, it's probably still better that becoming ill with the flu, which makes you very miserable and lasts far longer.
Source: Clinical Infectious Diseases, Vol. 36, Pg. 705
HOPE HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Metabolic syndrome
Preventing heart disease requires more than just watching cholesterol, and in the future you'll probably be hearing more and more about metabolic syndrome.
Adults who have metabolic syndrome are twice as likely to have heart problems and more than three times as likely to develop diabetes than those without the syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is defined as having three or more of the following health conditions:
1.Fat around the stomach. (A waist size over 40 inches for men and 35 inches for women).
2. High levels of triglycerdies, a fat-like substance in the blood.
3. Low levels of HDL 'good cholesterol.'
4. High blood sugar.
5. High blood pressure.
The good news is that the progression of metabolic syndrome can be prevented through diet and exercise, and when necessary, medication.
Source: Hope Heart Institute, Seattle
HOPE HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Stiff neck? How to prevent it in your daily activities
Although usually not serious, a stiff neck can be painful and uncomfortable. Common causes are sleeping in an awkward position, a sudden twist or turn that catches you off balance, or being exposed to unusual temperatures, like sitting directly under air conditioners.
Some things that may help prevent a stiff neck include:
*Wash your hair in the shower instead of the sink
*Do not tilt your head back when washing or shaving
*If you use the telephone frequently, don't rest the phone on one shoulder and tilt your neck to hold it in place. Use a headset or hold the phone with your hands.
*Use a pillow to protect your neck when you're leaning against a sofa or the back of a chair
*Try to sleep on your side or back instead of your stomach
*Use a headrest to support your head while driving
*On long trips, make regular stops to rest
*Take frequent breaks during work and leisure activities. If you're doing something sedentary, get up and move around.
Source: All About Joints, Irwin M. Siegel, M.D., Hope Heart Institute, Seattle
Smoke-free lifestyle - Coming Soon!
Monthly Cholesterol & Hypertension Articles- coming soon!
Line Dancing - coming very very soon!
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