In an article written by Gillian Mohney for ABC News, she discusses how being thin doesn’t necessarily mean being healthy: In the ongoing war on obesity, health officials have consistently focused on Body Mass Index, or BMI, as a measure of weight appropriate to a certain height. The bad news is that more than a third of Americans, 34.9 percent, are obese, with a BMI of over 30, according to 2014 study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Another third of Americans are overweight, according to the CDC, with a BMI of between 25 and 30. But that’s not where the bad news ends. Many health experts have long been concerned that BMI does not properly account for people who look svelte but have fat hidden away, making them “normal weight obese.” Those people can still store away reservoirs of fat in the body Read the full article →
In an article recently written for Yahoo! Health by Noelle Howey, she lists seven non-candy treats that are bad for our teeth. It’s not exactly a startling revelation that candies and other sticky, sugary treats are bad for teeth. But it’s not just the most obvious foods — say, caramels, taffy, or lollipops — that can wreak havoc on your chompers. According to Matthew Messina, DDS, a Cleveland, Ohio-based dentist and consumer adviser for the American Dental Association, problems can arise when foods are sugary, sticky, starchy (meaning they cling to the teeth longer), or hard (since chewing them can cause tooth cracks or breakage). We asked the experts to share the top teeth-destroying culprits. But don’t panic if you find your favorite snacks or drinks on the list — “there are no absolute nevers,” Messina tells Yahoo Health. “If you brush well in the morning and before bed, and Read the full article →
In an article written for CNN, we learn about the risks of listening to loud music. “Hey dude — can you turn your music down?” If anyone says this to you while you’re wearing your earbuds, take note: You are probably endangering your hearing. More than one billion teens and young adults are at risk of losing their hearing, according to WHO (that’s the World Health Organization, not the rock band). It’s not just old folks who suffer hearing loss. Just by listening to music at what you probably think is a normal level, or hanging out in loud bars, nightclubs and music and sporting events, you can permanently damage your hearing. By analyzing listening habits of 12- to 35-year-olds in wealthier countries around the world, WHO found nearly 50% of those studied listen to unsafe sound levels on personal audio devices and about 40% are exposed to damaging levels of music Read the full article →
In an article written for WebMd.com, we learn about the physical side effects of oversleeping. Physical Side Effects of Oversleeping When it comes to sleep, can you have too much of a good thing? It’s true a good night’s sleep is essential for health. But oversleeping has been linked to a host of medical problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and increased risk of death. Researchers are careful to note, however, that two other factors — depression and low socioeconomic status — are strongly associated with oversleeping. Those two factors may be the reason for the observed negative health effects. For example, people of lower socioeconomic status may have less access to health care and therefore more undiagnosed illnesses, such as heart disease, which, in turn, may cause oversleeping. Oversleeping: How Much Sleep Is Too Much? The amount of sleep you need varies significantly over the course of your lifetime. It depends on your Read the full article →
In an article by Tanya Zuckerbrot for Fox News, we learn some of our favorite warm winter treats can actually help us in our efforts to slim down. Steamy soup Soup can be a satisfying and slimming lunch that’s about 500 calories lighter than a sandwich with pretzels. Skip creamy varieties and instead opt for broth-based soups made with filling fiber-rich vegetables and lean meat or beans for healthy protein. Take off a chill with this amazing recipe for Moroccan Lentil Soup. Sip warm tea Thirst can mimic the symptoms of hunger, so if you are watching your weight you definitely want to stay well-hydrated. Coffee may seem diet-friendly because it’s low in calories, but keep in mind that caffeine acts as a diuretic. For a soothing, hydrating hot drink have a steaming cup of herbal or green tea, which contain antioxidants that actually promote weight loss by boosting metabolism. Warm & Hearty Read the full article →
