Healthy Support

How Olive Oil Fits into a Nutrient-Rich Diet

The Mediterranean diet
The role of olive oil
Nutrients in olive oil
Heart-healthy benefits
Fighting inflammation
Using olive oil in cooking
Embracing the Mediterranean diet
Resources 
Further reading

The Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet stands as a renowned model of healthy eating, citing numerous health benefits. An abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds characterizes the diet. It also includes moderate fish and poultry consumption and low to average intake of dairy products.

A central part of a Mediterranean diet is olive oil, the consumption of which has been recognized for its health benefits for many years. The golden oil contains antioxidants and monounsaturated fats, particularly heart-healthy oleic acid and polyphenols, associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases.

Its use in cooking, dressings, and even drizzled-over finished dishes helps explain the low rates of heart disease and extended lifespans observed in Mediterranean regions.

​​​​​​​Image Credit: Foxys Forest Manufacture/Shutterstock.com​​​​​​​Image Credit: Foxys

… Read the rest
more
Healthy Support

9 heart-healthy foods to lower cholesterol and blood pressure

Food can start you on a path to heart disease — the leading cause of death in the U.S. — or help prevent high cholesterol, clogged arteries and heart attacks.

Diet can have a huge impact on heart health, says Dr. Sean Heffron, a cardiologist in the Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease at NYU Langone Health in New York.

“What we eat can influence our blood pressure, our blood sugar, our cholesterol levels, certainly our body weight,” Heffron tells TODAY.com.

“All of those things have a direct impact on the vasculature of the blood vessels of the body and can drive atherosclerotic heart disease. So what we eat is very important.”

The first step in the right direction is eliminating processed foods, which are high in salt and fat, and eat more whole fresh foods like fruits and vegetables, says Dr. Nieca Goldberg, a cardiologist, clinical

… Read the rest
more
Healthy Support

Exercise, eat well, avoid excess: how healthy habits in your 30s help in later life | Making health click into place

For anyone who has recently blown out the 3-0 candles on a birthday cake, it can feel as if your whole life is still ahead of you. An exciting whirlwind of weddings, travel, job promotions and new house keys awaits. So, the last thing you are likely to be thinking about in terms of health – beyond finding the energy to fulfil a packed diary – is your long-term physical wellbeing.

Yet, there’s plenty of scientific health” data-link-name=”in body link”research to show that developing healthy habits during your 30s, rather than waiting for your body to stop functioning as it should, will not only leave you feeling better right now but also set you up well for the future. “Our lifestyle habits impact on our risks of various diseases – the longer we smoke, for example, the greater our risk of suffering from heart disease and multiple cancers,”

… Read the rest
more
Healthy Support

Eating At This Time Of Day Can Help Lower Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

Irregular mealtimes are now thought to be a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.

Irregular mealtimes are now thought to be a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.

Irregular mealtimes are now thought to be a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.

Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day, according to a recent study on the risk factors of Type 2 diabetes.

Genetics, physical activity and a healthy diet all play an important role in diabetes risk. However, a study from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health highlights another variable: what time of day you eat.

The study, which included more than 100,000 participants, found that eating breakfast after 9 a.m. increases the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 59%, compared to people who ate breakfast before 8 a.m. And if you’re thinking about skipping breakfast altogether, the study found that people who did so also had a higher risk of developing the condition.

More than 37 million Americans have

… Read the rest
more
Healthy Body

I’m a GP – here’s when your excess body fat is REALLY dangerous and 2 ways to eliminate it

WHEN it comes to our health, excess fat rarely has a positive impact.

But while all unwanted body fat has a bad reputation, there is one place on the body that is particularly dangerous for us to store those extra pounds.

Visceral fat can lead to all sorts of health complications

1

Visceral fat can lead to all sorts of health complicationsCredit: Getty

Excess belly fat, also known as visceral fat or the “spare tyre”, is what doctors refer to as “deadly weight”, and it gets this dark nickname for a very good reason – belly fat can seriously impact your life expectancy.

In a major study from the Journal of the American Heart Association, UK residents aged 40 to 69 were assessed and researchers found that women who carried more weight around their middles had a 10-20 per cent greater risk of heart attack than those who carried the same amount of extra weight over all.

… Read the rest
more
Healthy Support

Why You Should Always Eat Watermelon Rinds and Seeds

fresh ripe watermelon slices on wooden table

13 Ways Watermelon Can Supercharge Your HealthHUIZENG HU – Getty Images

Nothing tastes like summer more than a crisp, juicy, refreshing bite of watermelon. It’s a staple of backyard barbecues and well-stocked at your local farmers’ markets this time of year. And if you can’t wait to slice into this summertime staple, pat yourself on the back for partaking in a super nutritious seasonal tradition — new research says that watermelon eaters tend to have a higher quality diet featuring more fiber, magnesium, potassium, vitamin A and other antioxidants, plus lower in added sugars and saturated fat than watermelon non-connoisseurs, says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RDN.

Watermelon is technically available year-round, but don’t miss out on its summery moment in the sun because that’s when it’s at its peak. “During the summer months, you’re more likely to find melons grown in the U.S.,which means it has less travel

… Read the rest
more
Healthy Support

What Are Healthy Fats? 8 High-Fat Foods for Your Diet

d3sign / Getty Images

d3sign / Getty Images

Medically reviewed by Suzanne Fisher, MS, RD, LDN

The type and amount of dietary fat you consume matters when it comes to your overall health. Healthy, high-fat foods, such as those with unsaturated fats, are important in a balanced diet.

Fat is an essential part of human diets, providing the body with energy, supporting cell function, helping to absorb some nutrients, and creating hormones. Fats also help keep your body warm and protect your organs.

This article discusses what healthy fats are, the top healthy fat foods to include in your diet, and unhealthy fats to avoid.

d3sign / Getty Images

d3sign / Getty Images

What Are Healthy Fats?

Unsaturated fats are generally referred to as the “good” or “healthy” fats. These types of fats are mainly found in plant foods, such as avocados, nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils. When consumed as oils, they are liquid at room temperature. Unsaturated

… Read the rest
more
Healthy Information

What’s Healthy About Brown Rice?

<p>Kinga Krzeminska / Getty Images</p>

Kinga Krzeminska / Getty Images

Medically reviewed by Jonathan Purtell, MS, RD, CDN

Brown rice is made up of three different parts: a germ, bran, and endosperm. It is less processed than white rice and gets its color from the remaining bran and germ layer. Brown rice is considered healthier than white rice because of its nutrient content, which contains dietary fiber and many vitamins and minerals.

This article discusses brown rice’s benefits, varieties, and nutritional information.

<p>Kinga Krzeminska / Getty Images</p>

Kinga Krzeminska / Getty Images

Benefits: Why Is Brown Rice Good for You?

There are several health benefits associated with eating brown rice because it contains the bran and germ, which are removed during processing to make white rice.

These parts of brown rice offer several nutrients not found in white rice. Some possible health benefits of consuming brown rice are listed below.

Heart Health

Brown rice is considered heart-healthy because of the

… Read the rest
more