We often associate sugary drinks like sodas with the obesity crisis, which has been plaguing the U.S. since late 1970s.
In 2010, chicken overtook red meat as the most popular meat consumed in the U.S., according to the United States Department of Agriculture (or USDA). One reason is red meat consumption is considered a risk for heart disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. But is it really? If you love steaks and cheeseburgers, keep reading, I may have some good news for you.
Do you prefer to stay at home instead of meeting up with friends? Are you a loner who prefers to get lost down rabbit holes online than talk on the phone? Don’t go to church or belong to active social groups?
If so, you may be risking your health. Even for the otherwise healthy, lack of social connection has the same impact on your overall health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
That’s according to the U.S. Surgeon General, who recently reviewed reams of research on the health effects of isolation and declared social disconnection a pandemic.
The social ties we develop – between ourselves, our family and our friends — shouldn’t be taken lightly. There’s an ever-growing body of scientific evidence that supports these social connections and highlight the negative health effects when those bonds break.
Many people don't like working out. They see is as a chore, despite knowing that regular exercise helps manage weight, lower stress, strengthen bones, improve sleep, elevate mood and ease some conditions.
Experts also credit exercise with some brain-health benefits such as improved memory, better cognition and lower risk of dementia. Studies have found that exercise helps:
You’re probably familiar with subcutaneous fat – the type of fat that settles under your skin that you can pinch. It usually accumulates in the thighs, hips, belly and buttocks. And you may have heard of visceral fat, the type that settles in the abdomen and wraps around internal organs.
Do you love spending time in the sun? It’s important that all of us do because sunlight as it helps kill bacteria, elevate your mood, lower stress and produce vitamin D, which strengthen bones, supports the immune system and improves sleep. Studies suggest that vitamin D supplements are not as effective as vitamin D from sun exposure.
How many cups of coffee do you drink a day? How many sodas or energy drinks?
If it’s a lot, you may also be consuming too much caffeine. Four cups of coffee or two energy drinks can have more than the recommended daily allowance of caffeine, which is 400 mgs. And drinking more than that can have consequences for your health.
Even if you drink less, caffeine can cause challenges, especially if you take prescription or over-the-counter medications.
The FDA classifies caffeine as a food additive and a drug. Like any of either classification, there are benefits and downsides. Researchers continue to study caffeine, but they’re research has often been controversial and contradictory when it comes to its benefits for or detrimental impact on our health. That’s because our body’s relationship with caffeine is complicated as it is with many drugs.
Many of us can relate to German composer and musician Johann Sebastian Bach when he said: “Without my morning coffee, I'm just like a dried-up piece of roast goat."
Most of us feel that way because the country seemingly runs on caffeine: 93 percent of Americans consume caffeinated beverages, 75 percent drink them at least once a day, and 25 percent knock back three or more caffeinated beverages daily.