Bounce Back From Cold or Flu Fast

11 best ways to soothe symptoms and speed up recovery

Fighting the Cold or Flu

First, the bad news: There’s no actual cure for cold or flu. But on the bright side, these viruses do tend to clear up pretty quickly—within 3 to 10 days, in most cases. While you can’t kill the bugs with medications, you can treat the symptoms so you feel more comfortable and prevent complications, like bronchitis or pneumonia. Here, 11 things you should do at the first sign of sniffles and sneezes.



Is it cold or flu?

Cold symptoms are mostly respiratory—sore throat, coughing, sneezing, runny nose. The flu can have these symptoms too, but it’s much more likely to produce fever and chills, along with headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. “It comes on more suddenly, and the symptoms tend to be much worse than with a cold,” says Christopher Czaja, MD, an infection control officer for the National Jewish Health Hospital in Denver.



Knowing the difference is important because if you suspect you have the flu, you can take an antiviral medication, like Tamiflu, which can shave a few days off seasonal or swine flu if started within the first 2 days of getting sick. Tamiflu is available by prescription only, so if think it’s the flu call your doctor--fast!


Rest and hydrate

Take Mom's advice: Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids, Czaja advises. "Drinking water helps thin mucus secretions in the lungs." What about that old standby, orange juice? It’s fine as a fluid, but don’t expect any bonus benefit from the vitamin C it contains. "Scientific studies have yet to prove it’s effective for preventing or treating respiratory infections," Czaja says.

Sip hot tea

All teas contain theophylline, which is a natural bronchodilator. Choose the brew you find most tasty. Add a little honey if you wish, says Gwen Huitt, MD, director of the Adult Infection Disease Unit at National Jewish Health Hospital. Honey coats the throat to soothe irritation and is rich in infection-fighting antioxidants. It also spurs saliva production, which can help thin out mucus.

Take an OTC med

Hit the pharmacy to find a med that treats your specific aches and pains. A pain reliever like aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen can provide relief from fever and body aches, says Czaja. For a cough, look for a product that contains dextromethorphan, a suppressant that can temporarily stop cough symptoms. For congestion, look for guaifenesin, an expectorant that can help dislodge mucus. Pseudoephedrine is a very effective decongestant (it helps unplug stuffy noses by constricting blood vessels).

Pick the right natural remedy

If you feel symptoms coming on, zinc or Cold-fX (a supplement that contains ginseng) could help shorten symptoms, research shows. Your body needs the mineral zinc to produce germ-fighting white blood cells, but don’t overdo it. More than 50 mg a day can actually backfire and suppress your immune system.



Ginseng bolsters levels of white blood cells and crucial immune system proteins called interleukins. Other remedies, like echinacea, Airborne, and—as previously mentioned—vitamin C, are not as effective as these, research shows.

Sip some chicken soup

This cold remedy has been used for centuries—with good reason. Cysteine, an amino acid released from chicken during cooking, is chemically similar to a common bronchitis drug. The soup thins mucus and calms the symptoms of a stuffed-up nose and wracking cough. A study published in Chest found that even most supermarket brands helped block inflammatory cells, leading to reduced cold symptoms.

Have a steamy moment

"Inhaling warm, moist air can help thin out and loosen mucus," says Czaja. Make a mini steam bath by leaning your head over a bowl of hot water, being careful not to scald yourself. Or indulge in an extra-long shower.

Cover your mouth

Cough and sneeze into a tissue, then toss it. If you don’t have one handy, use your shirtsleeve. As many as 19,500 flu viruses can be expelled in a single cough, so this is the best way to avoid spreading the infection around your house or workplace. If you expel thick, green mucus, you probably have a bacterial infection in your airways (in addition to your cold or flu virus). Call your doctor, who may prescribe antibiotics to clear up the secondary infection.

Call in sick

If you have the flu or a bad cold, take time off to recover at home. You could infect someone who has a weaker immune system than you and may develop much more serious symptoms. "And if you get stressed while you have the flu, your symptoms can get worse," says Philip Tierno, PhD, director of clinical microbiology and immunology at New York University. Unfortunately, you’re contagious until you’ve been free of fever without medication for 24 hours.

Keep your distance from new germs

Once you're on the mend, reduce your chances of catching another bug by avoiding contact with anyone who has a cold or the flu. Not possible? The next best thing is to wash your hands constantly and thoroughly, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if you're not close to a sink.

In case of emergency

If you have any of the following signs and symptoms, which could indicate a serious case or complications, call your doctor:



•Fever above 101.5 F

•Shaking chills

•A cough with phlegm that doesn't improve or gets worse

•Bloody mucus or phlegm

•Shortness of breath with normal daily activities

•Chest pain when you breathe or talk

•Inability to keep down food or liquids

Via Prevention Magazine

6 Major Health Problems Caused By Lack Of Sleep

How skimping on sleep hurts your health



Cardiovascular Disease

In a 2010 study published in the journal Sleep, researchers at the West Virginia University School of Medicine reviewed data from 30,397 people who had participated in the 2005 National Health Interview Study. They discovered that those sleeping fewer than 7 hours a night were at increased risk of heart disease. In particular, women under 60 who sleep 5 hours or fewer a night have twice the risk for developing heart disease.

Diabetes

According to a study in the journal Diabetes in 2011, University of Chicago and Northwestern University researchers found that when people with type 2 diabetes slept poorly at night, they had a 9 percent higher fasting glucose level, a 30 percent higher fasting insulin level, and a 43 percent higher insulin resistance level. Diabetics with insomnia fared even worse—their fasting glucose levels were 23 percent higher, their fasting insulin levels were 48 percent higher, and their insulin resistance levels were 82 percent higher than diabetics who didn’t have insomnia.

Breast Cancer

Researchers at Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine in Sendai, Japan, studied data from nearly 24,000 women ages 40 to 79, and learned that those who slept fewer than 6 hours a night had a 62 percent higher risk for breast cancer, while those who slept more than 9 hours a night had a 28 percent lower risk.

Urinary Problems

In findings presented at the May 2011 meeting of the American Urological Association, researchers at the New England Research Institute in Watertown, MA, reviewed data from 4,145 middle-aged men and women and here’s what they discovered:

Five years of sleeping restlessly or too little (fewer than 5 hours a night) can increase by 80 to 90 percent a woman’s risk of needing to wake at night to urinate (nocturia) or of becoming incontinent. A whopping 42 percent of the women classified themselves as restless sleepers, compared with 34 percent of the men. The researchers theorize that sleeping poorly causes inflammation, which in turn can lead to urinary problems.


Colon Cancer

In a study of 1,240 people published in 2011, Case Western University researchers found that those who slept fewer than 6 hours a night were 47 percent more likely to have colorectal polyps, which can become cancerous, than people who clocked at least 7 hours of sleep.

Mortality

A 10-year study of some 16,000 people by researchers at the University of Copenhagen connected the dots between a lack of sleep and an increased risk of mortality. It turns out that the men who reported sleeping badly, especially those under 45, had twice the risk for death than men who reported sleeping well. And men who had three or more sleep disturbances a night had a suicide risk five times higher than men whose sleep was undisturbed. Though sleep disturbances didn’t affect women’s mortality, both women and men who reported sleep disturbances were more likely to have high blood pressure and diabetes.




Via Prevention Magazine

A Quick Guide to Allergy Relief

Don’t let your seasonal sniffles keep you down. Learn the best ways to treat them.


The Facts
What is a seasonal allergy?
It’s an inflammatory reaction to something in the environment that causes unpleasant symptoms, such as sniffles, sneezes, and swollen sinuses. If you’re predisposed to allergies, the first time your system deems a compound (such as pollen) to be potentially dangerous, your body mass-produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E, or IgE. IgE attaches to mast cells, which are concentrated in the nose, the eyes, and the lungs and which many experts believe help protect the body from invaders. When the allergen returns, IgE latches onto it, signaling the mast cells to release histamines, chemicals that make you sneeze or cause your eyes to tear and itch.


How do you develop allergies?
There’s a genetic component to most allergies. If one of your parents has them, there’s an almost 50 percent chance that you will, too. It takes repeated exposure for allergies to develop fully, so several seasons might pass before a condition like hay fever sets in―which is why most kids don’t develop allergies until they’re 4 or 5. Seasonal allergies continue to develop throughout life. “New allergies can occur in any decade, but generally they tend to peak at around age 20,” says Linda Cox, an allergist and assistant clinical professor at the Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.


When do seasonal allergies strike?
The season typically begins in early spring, when trees, including oak, cedar, elm, birch, ash, maple, and walnut, start to pollinate. Grasses, such as timothy, Bermuda, orchard, and some bluegrasses, germinate in late spring and early summer. Weeds, like sagebrush, tumbleweed, and ragweed―by far the most prevalent seasonal allergen, affecting 75 percent of sufferers―kick in during late summer and early fall. (Goldenrod, often confused with ragweed, is sometimes blamed for allergy symptoms, but it actually produces sticky, nonairborne pollen.) Many people think that if they can just make it to fall, they’re in the clear. Unfortunately for some, moldy leaves, an often overlooked allergen, can extend symptoms almost until winter.

There’s good news for flower lovers, though. “Regardless of what you see on TV, you’re never going to have a strong allergic reaction to a bunch of roses,” says New York City ear, nose, and throat physician Jordan S. Josephson. People don’t have allergies to actual flowers. If you find yourself sneezing after a flower delivery, it’s probably due to grasses, ferns, or molds in the soil or the bouquet.


Diagnosis and Treatment
How do you find out whether you’re allergic and what you’re allergic to?
A seasonal allergy can feel like a cold, with symptoms such as chronic congestion, a runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes. But allergies produce a thinner nasal discharge, won’t prompt a fever, are 14 times more likely than colds to trigger a migraine headache, and tend to last longer. If you’ve been sniffling for weeks on end, it’s probably time to get tested.

Luckily, that part is simple. The skin-prick test is the most common. A doctor introduces a number of allergens, sometimes as many as 60, by quickly pricking the patient’s arm or back. If redness, itching, or swelling occurs within 15 minutes, there’s an allergy match. “The process is so superficial, it’s quite painless,” says Cox. Alternatively, or if that test is inconclusive, a doctor might try a more sensitive intradermal shot, which injects allergens deeper below the skin.


What are the most effective treatments available?
Don’t be stoic. It’s important to seek relief from your symptoms, because without treatment, allergies may worsen over time. Allergic reactions can spread deep into the lungs, putting you at an increased risk for asthma. In fact, up to 40 percent of long-term allergy sufferers also have asthma. Another 40 percent will develop sinusitis, an infection of the sinuses.

For mild to moderate allergies, drugs―some prescription, some over-the-counter―are usually enough. All work similarly, by trying to stop a reaction in its tracks. “The earlier you hit the medicine cabinet, the better your results,” says Daniel Ein, an allergist at George Washington University, in Washington, D.C. You might want to take something before going outside, or consistently treat yourself before the start of the season.


Antihistamines
They prevent cells in the body from releasing histamines, which trigger the coldlike symptoms. Oral over-the-counter options are often combined with a decongestant (generally tagged with a D) for more relief.
Pros: Treat throat and nasal itching, watery eyes, a runny nose, and sneezing. Newer brands, like Claritin and Allegra, claim not to cause drowsiness.
Cons: Alone, they won’t help congestion or inflammation. Some brands can cause drowsiness.


Nasal Corticosteroids
Stronger than antihistamines, these prescription sprays, like Flonase, block inflammation and have been shown in some clinical studies to be the most effective remedy for allergy symptoms. (An oral version is available for extreme cases.)
Pros: Very effective at treating congestion.
Cons: May take a week or so to bring noticeable improvement. There’s also a higher risk of mild side effects―including nosebleeds, irritation, and a burning sensation―than with other allergy medications.


Decongestants
Nonprescription and fast acting, decongestants are available orally or as a nasal spray. They work by constricting blood vessels, which in turn reduces the amount of fluid leaked from the nose.
Pros: Instant relief from congestion.
Cons: Duration is temporary. While the nasal sprays, such as Afrin, act faster than oral alternatives, like Sudafed, most doctors discourage their use for more than three or four days because of their strong “rebound effect.” Basically, once you start, you’ll need more and more to get the same relief. Long-term use can produce chemical burns inside the nose.


When to Consider Allergy Shots
If allergies send you to bed or medications produce unpleasant side effects, immunotherapy might be for you. This treatment builds up long-term immunity to one or many allergens by continually exposing patients to greater doses of them. Covered by most insurance plans, immunotherapy typically reduces symptoms by 90 percent. That said, it’s also a lot of work. Over three to six months and well before allergy season, patients receive one or two injections a week of specific allergens in increasing concentrations. Then, once or twice a month over the next three years, patients get maintenance shots of the maximum concentration reached during the buildup phase. Some people maintain their improvement indefinitely, but others relapse. Most relapses occur within three years of stopping treatment.

If you’re needle-shy, ask your doctor about sublingual immunotherapy, a method that substitutes under-the-tongue pills or drops for the shots. The dose is higher, but the treatment appears to be safer, and experts say the results compare well with injections.

Minimizing Symptoms
Check the pollen count and try to stay inside when levels are high. For current levels, go to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology’s website. You can also sign up for an allergen report via e-mail.


Close windows at night and delay morning jogs. Plants release pollen from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m., so the longer you stay inside during this period, the better.


Run the air conditioner and invest in a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, which is required to capture 99.97 percent of the particles passing through it. Because pollen from shoes, animal paws, and other things can get embedded in carpets, consider replacing permanent carpets with washable throw rugs. Be wary of nonairborne allergens, such as dander, mold, and dust, which can aggravate seasonal allergies.


Keep your lawn mowed short to prevent it from sprouting pollen-producing buds. Consider substituting nonpollinating plants, like ivy and myrtle, for grass. Get rid of leaves and compost piles quickly, before molds form.


Wear natural fibers. Synthetics, such as polyester and nylon, can create a pollen-attracting electric charge when rubbed.


Shower and wash your hair before going to bed. Daytime pollen can collect on your body, meaning you’ll be breathing it in all night.


Breathe through your nose. When it comes to keeping out foreign bodies, noses are much better designed than mouths.


Avoid secondhand smoke. A study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that exposure to secondhand smoke exacerbated allergic responses.


Clean the house often. Reducing the levels of pollen, dust, and mold in your home will reduce your symptoms. Use vacuums, mops, and microfiber dust cloths, which collect particles, rather than brooms, which recirculate them into the air. Buy pillowcases and mattress covers made from fabrics labeled “dustproof,” and wash them frequently at hot temperatures to eradicate dust mites and pollen. Don’t air-dry bedding or clothes, since damp cloth attracts pollen. And wipe down windowsills with a damp cloth before going to bed so you can breathe and rest easy at night.


Drug-Free Allergy Remedies
Change your diet. Some foods, particularly fruits, have the same allergens in them as tree pollens. Therefore some people who are allergic to tree pollens may have symptoms, such as tingling in the mouth, when they eat certain fruits. This is called oral allergy syndrome. Fruits this can occur with include apples, pears, and cantaloupes. Peeling or cooking the fruit usually prevents the reaction.

Use saline drops. Squirt a salt-water or saline solution up your nose once or twice a day using a bottle with an angled tip to rid nasal passages of residual pollen.

Try acupuncture. Results are preliminary, but a handful of studies have found that acupuncture can be effective at reducing seasonal allergy symptoms, according to a review published in the 2006 edition of Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Via Real Simple

10 Surprising Sleep Facts

You think your pilot got enough sleep? Maybe not.
When the National Sleep Foundation surveyed airline pilots about sleepiness on the job, a distressing 23 percent admitted that lack of sleep affects their performance at least once a week, and 20 percent said they had made serious mistakes as a result. Even more train operators reported diminished job performance (26 percent), and 14 percent of truck drivers admitted having a near miss because they were sleepy. Half of the pilots, and 44 percent of truck drivers, said they never or rarely get enough sleep on work nights. Safe travels!

Dreams Can Occur During Any Phase of Sleep
Researchers once thought people only dream during REM (rapid-eye movement) sleep. They now believe we dream during other sleep phases as well.

While REM dreams tends to have elaborate, fantastical plots, non-REM dreams are more like thoughts, such as fretting over the idea that you lost your iPhone or misplaced your shoes. These obsessive thoughts tend to repeat over and over, without the vivid images we usually associate with dreams.

Some People Have a Natural Alarm Clock
Researchers report that the signal that causes them to wake up when they want to is triggered by release of the stress hormone adrenocorticotrophin, in an unconscious anticipation of the stress of waking up.

Teens Need as Much Sleep as Toddlers
If your teenager never wants to get up in the morning, it’s probably because she hasn’t slept long enough. Teens need about 10 hours of sleep on the average, the same as young children, while adults only need eight hours a night. Women may need to sleep an hour longer than men; not getting that extra hour might keep them tired and more prone to depression. People over 65 only need an average of six hours’ sleep.

The Brain Never Sleeps
Your body may be slumbering, but your brain never stops working. It stays busy, constantly instructing your systems to keep functioning—breathing, digesting, pumping blood and all the other tasks that keep you alive while you sleep.

Nighttime Violence Could Be a Brain Symptom
People who kick and punch while they dream are known as "violent sleepers." They have a 50 percent chance of developing a neurological disease such as dementia or Parkinson’s disease as they age. People who act out violent scenes in their dreams should consider neurological testing.

You May Be Able To Reset Your Body Clock in Just One Night
If you’re traveling to a different time zone, or are switching to the night shift, it usually takes a week to adjust to the new schedule. However, you may be able to use your internal “food clock” to override your body clock, suggests a Harvard animal study. Here’s how: Stop eating 16 hours before you want to be awake. After you start eating again, your sleep/wake cycle resets as if it were the start of a new day.

Can’t sleep in a hot house?
Why is it that you love lying in the hot sun, but a hot bedroom is extremely uncomfortable? It’s because your sleep-wake cycle is closely connected to temperature.

In order to succumb to sleep, your core body heat must be in harmony with your skin temperature, and that works best between 64 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. For older people, the range is much more narrow—between 73 and 77 degrees—which contributes to sleep disorders in that age group.

Sleep Deprivation Can Make You Stupid
Researchers have found that a lack of sleep diminishes your attention and concentration, thereby affecting your problem solving abilities. Without adequate rest, you cannot learn well. It also keeps you from “consolidating” memories, so you cannot remember what you learned from day to day.

Lack of Sleep—or The Wrong Slumber Position—Gives You Wrinkles
When you don’t get enough rest, your bodies release extra cortisol, the “stress hormone.” Too much cortisol breaks down the collagen in your skin—the substance that keeps it smooth and elastic.

Ironically, even an adequate amount beauty sleep can increase wrinkles—if you habitually snooze on your side or belly, with your face mashed into the pillow. These habits gradually etch “sleep lines” that eventually become permanent, according to a study published in Scandinavian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery. Sleeping on your back, however, helps prevent or reverse the problem.

Via Yahoo! Health

Kelly Brook's Workout's Plan

Heart Attack: 7 Signs You're Having a Heart Attack

Heart Attack Red Flags

Extreme fatigue

In the days or even weeks before a heart attack, more than 70% of women experience debilitating, flulike exhaustion. You may suddenly feel too tired to cook dinner or lift your laptop.

Mild pain

Rather than the elephant on the chest, women may feel less severe pain--and not always in the region of the heart. Pressure or achiness can occur in the breastbone, upper back, shoulders, neck, or jaw.

Profuse sweating

You may find yourself suddenly drenched in perspiration for no apparent reason, or your face may be pale or ashen.

Nausea or dizziness

Prior to a heart attack, women often have indigestion or even vomit. You may also feel like you're about to pass out.

Breathlessness

Almost 58% of women report panting or inability to carry on a conversation because they couldn't catch their breath.

Sleeplessness

Nearly half of women have trouble falling asleep or wake up during the night in the weeks before a coronary.

Anxiety

"Many women experience a sense of impending doom or fear before a heart attack," says Dr. Legato, though experts don't necessarily understand why. Nonetheless, it's real and it matters. "That's your body telling you to pay attention. Trust those instincts," she advises.

Your Three-Step Survival Plan
1. Call 911 Don't make the common mistake of driving yourself to the hospital: You're endangering yourself and others on the road. And don't ask someone else to take you. In the ambulance, treatment can begin immediately, and the driver can speed you to the nearest medical center equipped to deal with acute cardiac arrest (because not all hospitals are).

2. Take an aspirin Keep a supply of full-strength uncoated aspirin in your home and purse, and chew and swallow one with water as soon as symptoms start. This can help prevent blood clotting and the damage it causes.

3. Get pushy at the ER--or have a friend or relative be your advocate. Forcefully say, "I think I'm having a heart attack," and insist on seeing a doctor within 10 minutes of arriving. The number one reason women give for not getting medical attention-they don't want to bother anyone--doesn't improve your chances of survival. Not only should you get an EKG to check your heart function, but you should also insist on blood tests to detect heart damage, because EKGs are not always as accurate for women as they are for men. Do not leave the hospital until you've been evaluated by a cardiologist.

Via Prevention

8 Lazy Ways To Flatten Your Belly

How to get flatter abs without starving or sweating—fast


1. Stand up straight
Standing up taller can make you look 5 pounds slimmer, says Deborah L. Mullen, a certified strength and conditioning specialist in San Luis Obispo, CA. How can you make it a habit? Try Pilates. According to a 6-month pilot study of 18 chronic back pain sufferers, Pilates is one of the best ways to improve posture and strengthen your ab and back muscles.

Jessica Cassity, Prevention’s senior fitness editor and a certified Pilates instructor, suggests two moves you can actually do while you’re still in bed that will set you straight for the day:

1. Belly Ins: Draw belly to spine.. Slowly, flattening lower back to bed by using your core (not your butt or legs), press belly down on an exhale, release on an inhale. Do 10 times.

2. Roll and Reach: Sit upright with legs bent and pressed together, feet flat on the bed. Reach forward over knees, palms down. Slowly, roll halfway down, then twist right. Reach right fingertips to the low back diagonal (if you’re facing the foot of your bed, you’ll reach toward to top right corner), while stretching left fingertips forward. Twist back to center, bringing right arm front and rolling up to sit. Repeat to left for one rep. Do 8 reps.

2. Dress in belly-flattening fashions
The right outfit can pull off a multitude of belly-flattening miracles. Meg Goldman (meggoldman.com), a New York City stylist who dresses women of all shapes and sizes—including curvy Weight Watchers success stories—shares her best belly-flattening tips.

•Choose fabrics wisely. Avoid lightweight knits, Lycra, and other stretch fabrics that highlight and emphasize rolls or bulges. Opt for woven fabrics (like woven cotton, silk or rayon blends, and lightweight wool blends) that skim the body rather than cling to it.
•Shop for a shift dress or wrap dress. The shift is a great way to show off your arms and legs, if they’re your best assets, drawing less attention to the midsection. The wrap creates a waistline and shows off a beautiful neck and bust.
•Pick tops made of woven fabrics as well. Shirts with detailing around the neckline and accessorized by a great piece of jewelry draw the eyes up to the face—and away from the stomach and hips. Blouses and tops with a small ruffle down the center are good for diverting attention away from the midsection as well. Wrap tops also slim quite nicely if they aren’t made from thin, stretchy fabric.
•Cinch your waist with a wide belt in a dark color. This separates the hips and bust, drawing the eyes to the center of the body. Look for one in soft leather that will mold with the body’s natural curves.
•Experiment with small patterns, like florals and geometrics, which tend to disguise bumps and rolls. Wear floral tops with a solid dark bottom to slim your lower half.

3. Turn in an hour earlier
You’ll be less likely to overeat the next day. Eating right and exercising regularly help ward off both stress and belly fat, but only if you’re getting enough sleep. Skimping on sleep causes levels of the stress hormone cortisol to rise, along with levels of deep abdominal fat. "There’s a definite association between lack of sleep, increased stress hormones, and weight gain," says Auburn University exercise researcher Michele Olson, PhD. In a 6-year study, Canadian researchers found that adults who averaged just 5 or 6 hours of shut-eye a night were 35% more likely to gain 10-plus pounds and were nearly 60% heavier around the middle than those who slept 7 to 8 hours. Now that’s a reason to skip Leno.

4. Swap soda for Sassy Water
A nice carbonated beverage can hit the spot when you’re thirsty. But you’ll have to skip the bubbles while you’re on a middle-shrinking mission—nutritionist Palinski says the gas will make your belly poof up right away. Drink plain old tap water to stay hydrated—and make sure you get at least eight glasses a day.

One delicious alternative: Flat Belly Diet Sassy Water (the eating plan’s signature drink). The special ingredients aren’t just there for flavor, either: The ginger helps calm and soothe your GI tract.

5. Munch more whole grains and protein
Trading refined carbs for whole grains is not only healthy, it can actually help you shed belly fat, too, according to research from a Pennsylvania State University study. Dieters in the study who ate whole grains shed more than twice as much abdominal fat as those who ate none. Whole grains reduce the production of insulin, a hormone that encourages fat storage, making it easier to lose belly fat. Add another belly fat‚Äìfighting component to your meal by packing in protein-rich foods. In a Danish study of 60 men and women, those following a diet that included 25% of calories from protein lost nearly twice as much fat after 6 months than those eating a diet with 12% protein. Include a serving of lean protein with each meal and snack—eggs for breakfast, a turkey sandwich for lunch, low-fat or fat-free yogurt or milk for a snack, and grilled fish and vegetables for dinner.

6. Have watermelon for dessert
The amino acid arginine, abundant in watermelon, might promote weight loss, according to a new study in the Journal of Nutrition. Researchers supplemented the diets of obese mice with arginine over 3 months and found that doing so decreased body fat gains by a whopping 64%. Adding this amino acid to the diet enhanced the oxidation of fat and glucose and increased lean muscle, which burns more calories than fat does. Snack on watermelon in the summer, and eat other arginine sources, such as seafood, nuts, and seeds, year-round.

7. Add this cupboard staple to your diet
The primary substance that gives ordinary vinegar its sour taste and strong odor may fight fat, suggests new research presented at a recent meeting of the Japanese Society of Nutrition and Food Science. In a study of 175 overweight Japanese men and women, those who consumed a drink containing either 1 or 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar daily for 12 weeks had significantly lower body weight, BMI, visceral fat, and waist circumference than the control group that didn’t consume any vinegar. Researchers credit vinegar’s acetic acid, which may switch on genes that pump out proteins that break down fat.

8. Go slowly at meals
Under stress, we tend to scarf down even healthy food. In fact, research has linked this behavior to bigger portions and more belly fat. But Elissa Epel, PhD, a researcher on stress eating at the University of California, San Francisco, hypothesizes that slowing down, savoring each bite, and paying attention to feelings of fullness may lower cortisol levels along with decreasing the amount of food you eat, thereby shifting the distribution of fat away from the belly.

Via Prevention

6 Carbs to Add to Your Diet to Help You Stay Slim

1. Whole-Wheat Pasta
Because sometimes you just need pasta—and whole-wheat kinds offer two to three times more fiber than refined white varieties, but they’re just as versatile and delicious. (Similiarly whole-wheat bread and brown rice are healthier choices than their “white” counterparts.)

To cook: Follow the package directions!


2. Quinoa
Consider it souped-up couscous. A delicately flavored whole grain, it provides some fiber (2 grams per half cup) and a good amount of protein (4 grams). Note: Research shows protein can help you feel full for longer. Rinsing quinoa removes any residue of saponin, its natural bitter protective coating.

To cook: Bring 2 cups water or broth to a boil; add 1 cup quinoa. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook until the liquid has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork.


3. Barley
Barley is available “pearled” (the bran has been removed) or “quick-cooking” (parboiled). While both contain soluble fiber that helps keep blood cholesterol levels healthy, pearl barley has a little more.

To Cook: Pearl barley—Bring 1 cup barley and 2 1/2 cups water or broth to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer; cook, covered, until tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, 40 to 50 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Quick-cooking barley—Bring 1 3/4 cups water or broth to a boil; add 1 cup barley. Reduce heat to a simmer; cook, covered, until tender, 10 to 12 minutes.


4. Bulgur
Bulgur is cracked wheat that’s been parboiled so it simply needs to soak in hot water for most uses—a perfect low-maintenance grain. It’s also a good source of feel-full fiber: just 1/2 cup delivers 5 grams.

To Cook: Pour 1 1/2 cups boiling water or broth over 1 cup bulgur. Let stand, covered, until light and fluffy, about 30 minutes. If all the water is not absorbed let the bulgur stand longer, or press it in a strainer to remove excess liquid.


5. Wheat Berries
Wheat Berries are the whole, unprocessed kernels of wheat. They're terrific sources of B vitamins, iron, magnesium, zinc and, yes, fiber.

To Cook: Sort through wheat berries carefully, discarding any stones, and rinse with water. Bring 4 cups water or broth and 1 cup wheat berries to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, but still a little chewy, about 1 hour. Drain.


6. Popcorn
Popcorn. Because when you’re craving pretzels or potato chips...you’re certainly not going to reach for a bowl of oatmeal. Popcorn satisfies a snack craving and it’s a whole grain. No, I’m not kidding: Three cups of popped popcorn (what you get by popping 1 heaping tablespoon of kernels) equals one of your three recommended daily servings of whole grains and contains 3 grams of fiber.

To cook: Toss a heaping tablespoon into an air popper.

Via Eating Well

15 Creative Alternatives to Coffee

Green Tea
Can't make it through the morning without your daily java? Try brewing some green tea, which has slightly less caffeine than a cup of Joe but enough to give you a boost without any of the coffee jitters. The refreshing drink is also packed with health benefits, says Nadine Taylor, registered dietitian and author of Green Tea: The Natural Secret to a Healthier Life. “Catechins are powerful antioxidants and potent disease fighters that are found primarily in green tea,” she says. .


Nutty Smoothies
Nuts, which are high in protein and fiber, make a healthy afternoon snack, but they're also nourishing whipped into a smoothie. According to certified nutritionist Angela Pifer, smoothies made using ingredients like cashew milk, protein powder, and nut butter help elevate your blood sugar levels. “A 3 p.m. slump is not innate to us,” Pifer says. “Since food gives us energy, it’s more of a problem with our blood sugar dropping.”.


Licorice Tea
Even if you didn’t like licorice candy as a child, you’ll appreciate the benefits of sweet, spicy licorice tea. The bold-tasting brew is actually caffeine-free, but supports overburdened adrenal glands, which are organs that respond to stress. “Licorice is an adrenal tonic and increases energy. It adds a pleasant taste to tea blends and can also be taken in tincture form,” explain Dr. Linda B. White and Steven Foster, authors of The Herbal Drugstore.

Wheatgrass Juice
This natural energizer is known as a liquid shot of essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Some people don’t mind the taste and others do, but all agree that wheatgrass is one of the most nourishing juices. “Because of its easy digestibility and rapid assimilation, it’s a natural energy supplement, whether alone or added to a protein-type supplement drink,” says Gloria Gilbère, doctor of natural health.

Siberian Ginseng Tea
Siberian ginseng tea gets its kick from the slightly bitter ginseng root, but if you can’t down the brew on its own, sweeten it with a dollop of honey. The herbal drink is supposed to stimulate your concentration, according to White and Foster. “This favorite, tried-and-true fatigue-buster is safe for long-term use in most people.'


Reishi Mushroom Tea
You've devoured mushrooms enfolded in tasty omelets or sprinkled atop your favorite pastas, but if you’re looking for a unique coffee alternative, try mushrooms in the form of tea. A staple in traditional Chinese medicine, the soft, flat reishi mushroom makes for one invigorating (and healthy) libation. White and Foster recommend combining 1/3 ounce of chopped or powdered reishi mushroom with 3 cups of water, then bringing the tea to a boil and simmering for 30 minutes before drinking in doses.


Chai
Native to India, this soothing beverage is commonly made with rich black tea, milk, and a variety of spices, like cinnamon, ginger, or cardamom. A steaming hot mug of chai tea will help you get over an afternoon hump. An added bonus? Though you're automatically cutting your caffeine intake by drinking chai, the tea’s smooth, creamy flavor tricks your mind into thinking that it’s coffee!


Carob Powder
If a post-lunch slump has you running to the nearest Starbucks for an espresso shot, you may want to think about keeping a stash of caffeine-free carob powder in your desk drawer. Similar to cocoa, naturally sweet carob powder tastes just as yummy mixed with warm milk and a touch of honey, and prevents you from experiencing a nasty energy crash later on.


Lemon Water
Creamy coffee drinks offer an instant jolt of energy, but you may find yourself feeling sluggish as the caffeine wears off later in the afternoon. Sometimes, it’s the simple things that will stimulate your senses. “I find that the best waker-upper is water with lemon zest and lemon juice,” says Lisa Rinna, television host and author of Rinnavation: Getting Your Best Life Ever. She suggests adding the juice of half a lemon and a teaspoon of freshly grated zest to your H2O.


Pomegranate Juice
Sweet and tangy, pure pomegranate juice is a delicious energy booster and easily incorporated into other beverage recipes. Sip the juice on its own, or blend it with other fruit juices or in a smoothie. “Pomegranate juice is full of antioxidants and energizers,” Rinna says. For a tasty pick-me-up, Rinna’s super energy drink recipe calls for a fusion of pomegranate juice, soy milk, a banana, spirulina, berries, and yogurt.


Green Smoothies
Introduce more greens into your diet with a fresh veggie and fruit smoothie. Experiment with different combinations of your favorites, like spinach, kale, mango, blueberries, and bananas, then put your blender to work. A chilled smoothie in the morning is a quick way to wake up! “Some people get a quick energy lift from nutrient-rich green drinks containing blue-green algae, spirulina, chlorella, or barley greens,” White and Foster say.


Schizandra Tea
The name may be difficult to pronounce, but schizandra herbal tea is an easy replacement for your daily java fix. Brimming with health benefits, the tea is brewed from schizandra berries, which are native to East Asia and popularly used in traditional Chinese medicine. “It has a subtle calming effect, improves sleep, balances blood sugar, is good for the liver, and may increase memory,” White and Foster say.


Flaxseed Shake
Adding flaxseeds and flaxseed oil to a morning shake will have you up and running in the a.m. For an icy beverage both high in fiber and energy, blend flaxseeds with yogurt, soy milk, ice, and the frozen fruit of your choice. Subtly nutty flaxseeds also add a deliciously satisfying crunch to any smoothie.


Prune Juice
With sugar and cream stirred in, coffee is one enticing morning treat. But next time you reach for your thermos, fill it with prune juice! The thick, crisp juice helps regulate the proper level of electrolytes in your body, which in turn leads to increased stamina, according to Staci Nix, author of Williams’ Basic Nutrition and Diet Therapy. If the flavor of prune juice is overpowering, try diluting it with water or apple juice for a thinner blend.


Peppermint Tea
Perk up with peppermint tea! As well as freshening your breath and calming your stomach after a meal, the cooling sensation of this minty drink is an instant revitalizer. “[Peppermint stimulates] the same nerve that’s activated when you revive someone with smelling salts,” says Alan Hirsch, director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation.

Via Shape.com

8 Things You Don’t Know about Calories

1. Portions sizes are out of control
You’ve all heard about the rapidly expanding serving sizes of restaurant and fast food portions, but just how bad are they? Portions sizes in restaurants may contain double or triple the calories of home-cooked meals, and studies show eating out is associated with a higher BMI. Unfortunately, those portions affect our waistlines. When there’s more food on the plate, people eat more—up to 30% more, according to an analysis of several studies.

Stop the confusion: Use this cheat sheet of portion sizes. We know it’s hard to look at your plate as decks of cards, tennis balls, and all the other, so start by measuring out your food servings at home and take a good look at what a half-cup of pasta looks like. Until the serving sizes are engrained in your brain, when dining out, aim to eat half of your meal, saving the leftovers for lunch the next day.

2. Serving sizes are deceiving
“There really aren’t standard serving sizes for packaged foods, which makes them confusing,” explains Elisa Zied, RD, author Nutrition at Your Fingertips. She gives the example of cereal. A standard serving size of breakfast cereal is approximately 50 g, but depending on the cereal, that could mean a cup and a half of flakes or half a cup of heartier granola. Depending on the type of cereal you’re eating, just eyeing how much you put in the bowl, like most people do, can lead to inaccurate calorie counts.

Not only that, but larger-than-life snack foods may seem like single servings even though they often contain 2 to 3 servings per packet. Buy a 16-ounce bottled Coca-Cola, and the nutrition label reads 100 calories…for one of the two servings in the bottle. Drink the whole thing, as many people do, and you’re really getting 200 calories. Eat the whole bag of Austin Zoo Animal Crackers, commonly found in office vending machines, and you’re getting 230 calories, nearly two servings, instead of just one.

Stop the confusion: This is as simple as reading nutrition labels before you open the bag. To make it even easier, opt for instant portion control with whole fruit, like apples and bananas, or buy items you typically overeat in single serving packets. Especially for healthy, but higher calorie, foods, portioning out servings prevents pig-outs. For instance, Trader Joe’s carries what they call “Just a Handful” of almonds, which are packets containing just one 200-calorie serving.

3. Not all calories are created equal
“You hear a calorie is a calorie is a calorie, but I’m not convinced that’s the case,” says Leslie Bonci, RD, coauthor of The Active Calorie Diet. Studies show that foods that take more effort to chew—like fruits, veggies, lean meats, and whole grains—can increase your calorie burn. “More calories are required to digest them, and they’ll keep you satisfied longer,” she adds. Not only that, but other ingredients can up the burn: caffeine and other compounds in coffee and tea, and spices such as chiles, cinnamon, and ginger fire up your central nervous system and can boost your metabolism.

So is 500 calories worth of celery really different than 500 calories of French fries? A 2011 breakthrough study discovered that the quality of calories might matter more than the overall quantity. Those who ate a greater amount of certain unhealthy foods, like processed meat, French fries, and sugar-sweetened beverages, gained more weight faster over time than people with healthier diets. Unsurprisingly, eating more notoriously healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and low-fat yogurt were associated with less weight gain.

Stop the confusion: Eating plenty of low-calorie fruits and vegetables at every meal ensures you’re keeping your calories in check. “Fruits and veggies do double duty,” says Bonci. “They’re rich in fiber, which works extremely well to keep you satiated, and they take a while to chew.”

4. Gym machine counts are bogus
Seeing you burned 600 calories on the treadmill in the morning may make you think you have a free pass to pig out for the rest of the day. But be wary of exercise machines’ calorie counts. The University of California, San Francisco, used a V02 test to track down calories burned while on machines. The VO2 analyzer calculated how hard the body is working with its height, weight, age, and body fat. The machines’ calorie counts and the VO2 counts didn’t match up—at all. Machines overestimated calorie burn by 19%!

Stop the confusion: If you really want to get an accurate number of calories burned, invest in a heart rate monitor, which will help you learn how intense your workouts are. If you don’t feel like splurging and you’re a treadmill lover, multiplying your weight times 0.75 will give you a solid estimate of the calories burned per mile of running. Multiply your weight by 0.53 to get an estimate of the calories burned per mile of walking. For ellipticals, stair climbers, and stationary bikes, assume the calorie count is off and aim to work out for a certain length of time, not a certain amount of calories burned.

5. Exercise makes you hungry
Though studies are mixed when it comes to whether exercise actually stimulates or suppresses appetite, many people think of working out as a way to eat whatever they like. “There’s definitely a mentality of ‘I have sweated therefore I deserve,’” says Bonci. However, with most people burning about 100 calories per mile, a short workout won’t give you a free pass to eat junk food. “If you walk two miles, eating a handful of chips post-workout can undo the calories you burned,” says Bonci. As mentioned above, gym machines don’t accurately measure calories burned, either.

Stop the confusion: To stop an after-workout binge, fuel up pre-gym, Zied suggests. “Have something before—something with carbs and a little protein, like whole wheat toast and peanut butter or a banana and milk.” Depending on the intensity of your workout, you may need something afterward as well. After a workout longer than 45 minutes, you should aim to eat about 200 calories.

6. Liquid calories are ignored
“People are spending hundreds of calories on beverages each day,” says Zied. Unfortunately, a lot of those calories are from sugar-sweetened drinks and alcohol, not milk and 100% fruit juice. According to a 2007 study, beverage intake accounted for roughly 12% of total calories in 1965 and steadily increased to 21% in 2002—that’s 222 extra calories a day from drinks alone! Because bottled drinks often contain multiple servings, it’s best to either pour a serving in a glass or look for mini soda cans and juice boxes.

Stop the confusion: The best way to minimize the calories you drink is to stick to calorie-free water and unsweetened coffee and tea. However, if you’re craving some flavor, consider making your own low-cal flavored water. Even though whole fruit is preferred over fruit juice, Bonci advises doing a glass check before pouring yourself some OJ. “Very few people have 6-ounce glasses, the recommended serving of juice. Most glasses are 10 to 12 ounces, which means you’re getting more than you need.” If you don’t want to buy new glasses, Bonci recommends mixing juice with seltzer water for a bubbly treat

7. Snack time is more like mealtime
Between 1977 and 2006, Americans nibbled and noshed approximately 580 calories each day from snacks, according to information presented at the 2011 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting and Food Expo. Though researchers debate as to whether this uptick in snacking is causing obesity or not, they can agree that the foods people choose as snacks aren’t always healthy choices. “Snack foods are tremendously popular, and Americans are eating tons of nutrient-poor, calorie-dense foods like energy drinks, candies, cookies, and cakes,” says Zied. These items often come in oversized packaging, and not the recommended 200-calorie snack portion, leading to extra calories consumed throughout the day.

Stop the confusion: Instead of buying a huge jar of almonds and noshing all day, pre-portion your snacks ahead of time. Even healthy foods can cause you to gain weight if you eat more calories than you burn off, so portion control is key. Try filling up on lower-calorie foods as snacks—baby carrots, grapes, etc.—or saving half of your lunch sandwich to eat in the afternoon.

8. “Health” foods contain hidden ingredients
“The so-called health halos are everywhere,” says Bonci. “But just because a cookie is trans-fat free doesn’t mean it’s calorie free.” She adds that buzzwords such as “natural” and “few ingredients” trigger people to think foods are healthier and lower in calories than they actually are. “Natural” foods still contain sugar, sodium, and other health-harming nutrients. Reduced fat and reduced calorie versions of your favorite foods should be eyed with caution too. “Usually when something gets taken away, something is added,” says Zied. “Reduced in fat usually means the product has added sugar.”

Stop the confusion: Chances are “natural” gummy bears are still going to be almost as unhealthy for you as plain gummy bears, but if you see the word “natural” on a loaf of bread, read the item’s nutrition label and ingredient list. Look for unhealthy ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup, large amounts of sodium, or small amounts of important nutrients.

Via Prevention