5 timeless habits for better health
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Is your breakfast cereal healthy?
When pain signals an emergency: Symptoms you should never ignore
Does exercise give you energy?
Acupuncture for pain relief: How it works and what to expect
How to avoid jet lag: Tips for staying alert when you travel
Biofeedback therapy: How it works and how it can help relieve pain
Best vitamins and minerals for energy
Should you take probiotics with antibiotics?
Staying Healthy Archive
Articles
Core exercise workout: 12 tips for exercising safely and effectively
Before you start any kind of exercise regimen, think safety first. Talk to your doctor before you begin any new routine. Monitor yourself when working out to make sure you don't run into trouble and be sure you know the best way to exercise. Here are 12 tips for exercising safely and effectively.
1. Warm up. Before a full core workout, march in place for several minutes while swinging your arms, or dance to a few songs. It's safe to skip this if you've already warmed up through other activities.
Feel the beat
Your resting heart rate can be an instant measure of your present and future health.
Image: Bigstock
One of the easiest ways to gauge your health can be done in 30 seconds with two fingers. Measuring your resting heart rate (RHR), the number of heartbeats per minute while at rest, provides a real-time snapshot of your heart muscle function.
It is easy to do. Place your index and middle finger on your wrist just below the thumb, or on your neck to one side of your throat, so you can feel your pulse. Use a watch to count the number of beats for 30 seconds and double it to get your beats per minute. Repeat a few times to get an accurate reading. A normal RHR for most adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute.
Cutting calories offers benefits for normal and overweight adults
Reducing daily calorie intake by 25% may improve health-related quality of life even in people who are not overweight, according to a new study. After two years following a specific diet plan, subjects lost an average of 16.7 pounds, compared with less than a pound in control subjects. They also had better mood, less tension, greater general health, higher sexual drive, and better quality of sleep.
3 trends worth tapping into
Activity trackers, farmers' markets, and mindfulness aren't just passing fancies. They can help you develop beneficial health habits.
Image: julia514/iStock
The word "trendy" has come to refer to a fad or fashion that may have little lasting value, so it can be a turn-off, especially when applied to health practices. But trends can also have lasting health benefits—for example, the trends toward making public places smoke-free or adding calorie counts to fast-food menus. There is increasing evidence that the three trends below fall into the "beneficial" category.
1. Wearing activity trackers
2. Shopping at farmers' markets
In the last 30 years, farmers' markets have moved from the sides of rural roads to the centers of major cities and everywhere in between. Although it may be coincidental, farmers' markets are tailor-made for people who are serious about following the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which advise a gradual shift to a plant-based diet centered around vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. In one recent study conducted by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, when people began to shop at inner-city farmers' markets, they also consumed less sugary soda and more vegetables than they had previously. Farmers' markets offer several other advantages over supermarkets:
Freshness. Just-picked produce is at its peak in flavor and nutrition.
Variety. You may find some fruits or vegetables you haven't seen before or new versions of old standards.
Information. Because the people who sell the produce are likely to have had a hand in growing it, they should be able to tell you the kind of farming methods used and offer suggestions on preparing the food.
Samples. If you're wondering if the cherries are sweet or tart or if the apples are crisp, ask for a sample. Most vendors are happy to comply.
Sustainability. Eating locally or regionally grown produce means less energy is expended bringing it to your table. And supporting regional agriculture is good for your community.
You can find a farmers' market near you by going to the U.S. Department of Agriculture website using the link at www.health.harvard.edu/farmers.
3. Practicing mindfulness
Where to go when you get sick
Do you know where to go when you get sick? If you can't see your own doctor, you might go to a retail clinic, urgent care, or the ER, depending on the situation. Dr. Terry Schraeder explains the difference and where to best seek the help you need.
5 timeless habits for better health
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Is your breakfast cereal healthy?
When pain signals an emergency: Symptoms you should never ignore
Does exercise give you energy?
Acupuncture for pain relief: How it works and what to expect
How to avoid jet lag: Tips for staying alert when you travel
Biofeedback therapy: How it works and how it can help relieve pain
Best vitamins and minerals for energy
Should you take probiotics with antibiotics?
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