Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Arthritis – stiff, painful, swollen joints – is not a single disease. There are more than 100 arthritis-related conditions. The most common is osteoarthritis – “wear-and-tear”. Nearly 27 million Americans have osteoarthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Osteoarthritis, in which joint …
Photo by I Yunmai on Unsplash It’s that time of the year where gym memberships are at an all-time high. Many of us feel guilty for over-eating during the holidays and make a promise to do better for the new year. It’s a never-ending cycle, …
Happiness is probably one of the hardest things to define. Feeling happy is definitely subjective – what makes me happy may not put a smile on your face. But research shows that feeling mentally happy can have a bolster of positive effects on the body.
Research suggests that genetics may play a big role in our normal level of subjective well-being, so some of us may start out at a disadvantage. On top of that, between unexpected tragedies and daily habitual stress, environmental factors can bring down mood and dry up our thirst for living. Life is a roller coaster, so being able to manage the emotional ups and downs is important for both body and mind.
If you have a good sense of well-being, it’s easier to maintain good habits; Exercising, eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep are all important. People who have an optimistic mindset may be more likely to engage in healthy behaviors because they perceive them as helpful. Some researchers speculate that positive mental states do have a direct effect on the body, perhaps by reducing damaging physical processes.
You might be thinking: “Maybe I would be happier if I had more money.” There’s that old cliché “money doesn’t buy happiness” — but is it true? A 2010 study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that emotional well-being rises with income up to a point, which seems to be a household income of $75,000. Day-to-day happiness did not increase after that. In that case, money does buy you happiness if a large part of said happiness is taken away by the stresses of living paycheck-to-paycheck or otherwise poor living.
But what about right now — what can we do to make ourselves feel more positive immediately? If you’re seeking to increase your own sense of happiness, try mindfulness techniques. Mindfulness means being present and in the moment, and observing in a nonjudgmental way, Susan Albers, a psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic, told CNN in 2010.
A variety of smartphone apps are also available that claim to help you monitor and enhance your moods.
If you’re from a big city, live off of a busy road or just have a noisy family, falling asleep may be a struggle for you every night, which leads to more struggles the next morning. But, with Sleep Bug, your device can be transformed into the perfect device for sleeping – with sounds like waves at the beach, the sound of wind through a garden or animals in the middle of the jungle, this app will have you feeling relaxed and ready for sleep in no time at all. It even comes with a custom timer so it will turn off on its own while you’re already on your second dream. That should help people to fall asleep.
If you’re like most people who google their symptoms at the first sign of a cough to find out whether or not you should head to the doctor, this is the app for you. iTriage was developed by two ER doctors and asks you specific questions about how you are feeling and your symptoms to come up with a plan of action, so you’ll know whether you may just need some more rest or if you should head to your primary doctor.*
Now this app isn’t free but it’s worth sharing! Talkspace can help keep your wellness and mental health in check as it aims to make therapy more affordable by connecting users with licensed therapists at the touch of a button. This app connects you with people who can help – from a bad breakup to issues with weight loss.*
*Though these apps were intended to help you on your journey to better health, wellness and fitness, they should not be used as a substitute for licensed and certified professionals. Please speak with your primary physician about your health. Do not disregard any symptoms or illnesses you have.
Photo by Dominik Martin on Unsplash Ginger comes in many forms, from raw to powdered, and it has many health benefits and natural uses other than its great taste. For thousands of years, Arabic, Indian, and Asian healers prized ginger as both a food and …
When you’re sick, sometimes the best thing for your body may be a work out – or at least, you think so. But then your body decides that it’s just not having it. A fever, runny nose and shortness of breath can definitely make a …
We’ve all witnessed this scenario before – It’s mid-afternoon, your eyes are heavy, and unless you get a good caffeinated drink in you, the rest of the day is going to be shot. So, immediately grab a latte, coffee, or anything that’s loaded with sugar and caffeine. What’s interesting is that most of these coffee concoctions contain more fat and sugar than sweet treats you can actually eat— and many rack up more calories than a small meal. Here are a few culprits to stay away from, according to MSN.com –
DUNKIN DONUTS SUGAR COOKIE LATTE
230 calories, 6g fat (3.5g saturated), 35g sugar in a small
Even a small has 230 calories, plus it’s loaded with less-than-desirable ingredients: high-fructose corn syrup, four artificial colors, and something called “sugar cookie flavored swirl syrup.” Why bother?
Have this instead: Drink a cup of coffee with whole milk and pair it with an actual sugar cookie. You can skip the scary ingredients and still clock in at 205 calories.
MCDONALDS MCCAFE MOCHA
340 calories, 11g fat (7 saturated), 42g sugar in a small
McDonald’s McCafé Mocha will give you a sugar buzz: a small contains the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of sugar, or nearly twice what the American Heart Association recommends for the entire day. Artificial flavors and colors also lurk inside this treat.
Have this instead: Sip a small café au lait made with whole milk and savor an ounce of good-quality dark chocolate. You get your caffeine fix, and you get to eat chocolate, all for less than 200 calories.
STARBUCKS EGGNOG LATTE
380 calories, 18g fat (11 saturated), 38g sugar in a Tall
A 12-ounce eggnog latte at Starbucks has 380 calories—the size of a small meal. And those 38 grams of sugar don’t even include whipped cream.
Have this instead: Stir a little nutmeg into a container of vanilla rice pudding and spoon that up for less than 200 calories. Even if you serve your dessert with a cup of coffee with whole milk, you’re still coming in below 250 calories.
DAIRY QUEEN CARAMEL MOOLATTE
520 calories, 16g fat (13 saturated), 70g sugar in a small
This is really more milkshake than coffee drink; but then again, it is called a latte. With nearly 18 teaspoons of sugar, the concoction racks up three times more sugar than experts recommend you consume in an entire day.
Have this instead: Satisfy your caramel cravings by savoring a half-cup of Haagen-Dazs Sea Salt Caramel Gelato. It’s definitely an indulgence, but still, it contains about half the calories (270) and sugar (29 grams)
AU BON PAIN PEPPERMINT LATTE
240 calories, 7g fat (4 saturated), 38g sugar in a medium
Peppermint coffee already sounds like an odd combination to us—and with 240 calories and 38 grams of sugar, we’d just as soon not explore it.
Have this instead: We’d rather have 2 pieces of Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark with Dark chocolate, which has 133 calories and 11g of sugar.
You can easily add more nutrients into your daily diet with these delicious and healthy recipes. InVite®’s collection of smoothies, shakes, popsicles, and more healthy treats offers you a unique and enjoyable way to make sure you’re getting all the nutrition your body needs. Try out one of our great recipes today and let us know what you think!