6 Low-Sugar Popsicles for Your Summer BBQ

Popsicles are a warm-weather favorite. You may be used to picking up a box from the freezer aisle, but these treats are actually one of the easiest homemade desserts to make. Simply mix, pour, and freeze — what could be easier? What’s more, the bright, artificially-flavored pops aren’t exactly healthy, but going homemade allows you to cut out added sugars and add in superfood ingredients like Greek yogurt, leafy greens, and avocados.

Take advantage of fresh, seasonal fruits and veggies, and whip up one of these six mouthwatering recipes that’ll be perfect for your Memorial Day bash or as a guilt-free treat to store in your freezer when sweet cravings hit. If you don’t have an ice-pop mold, don’t worry! You can easily use mini paper cups. Simply fill them with the mix of your choice, insert a wooden popsicle stick, and freeze. Then peel off the paper cup when you’re ready to enjoy.

Almond Butter Jelly Popsicles

Do you have a soft spot for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? Then you won’t be able to get enough of these delicious AB&J popsicles. They’re the perfect, creamy indulgence for both kids and adults! Almond butter provides healthy, monounsaturated fats, while Greek yogurt offers up an extra punch of protein — and both ingredients majorly up the creamy factor.

Source By : everydayhealth

WHY THE SPECIAL WARNING FOR PREGNANT WOMEN?

In mid-April 2016, CDC experts confirmed that Zika can cause microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects. Microcephaly is a neurological condition where babies are born with small heads and sometimes small brains. The condition may also be associated with severe developmental issues and in rare instances death.

However, this does not mean that if you are infected with Zika during pregnancy that your baby will definitely experience health problems. It simply means that babies whose mothers are infected with Zika during pregnancy have an increased risk. Many women infected during this outbreak have delivered healthy babies. 

READ ALSO: Outcomes of 9 Pregnant Women with Zika

When a mom-to-be becomes infected with Zika virus, the virus can also infect the fetus. In Brazil, the number of cases of Zika infection and microcephalic babies spiked around the same time. Before the current outbreak, Zika infections in Brazil were extremely rare; since the outbreak, up to an estimated 1.5 million Brazilians have been infected. And between October 2015 and January 2016, more than 4,180 cases of microcephaly were reported by Brazilian health authorities; a total of only about 150 cases of microcephaly were reported annually in previous years.

Researchers are still investigating how often Zika can lead to birth defects, as well as whether moms are at higher risk during certain trimesters.

Source By : whattoexpect

Zika Virus: CDC Guidelines for Pregnant Women

If you’re a pregnant woman considering a trip to, or returning from, one of the 45 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean affected by the Zika virus outbreak, you’ll want to be aware of the new guidelines for pregnant women released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on January 19, 2016 and updated April 1.

Zika is an emerging disease spread by the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes and can also be sexually transmitted. For most people, the Zika virus causes only a brief, mild flu-like illness. But if you’re infected in any trimester of pregnancy, the viral infection can be passed along to your fetus and can cause serious health problems.

Zika Virus Concerns for Pregnant Women
In pregnant women in Brazil, health officials have linked Zika infection to increasing numbers of cases of birth defects including microcephaly. This birth defect is characterized by an unusually small head and brain and, frequently, mental retardation and developmental delays, notes the Mayo Clinic. Microcephaly was recently reported in one newborn in Hawaii whose mother contracted the Zika infection in Brazil.

Prevention and Monitoring for Zika Virus
Here are the new CDC recommendations for pregnant travelers to keep you and your baby safe:

First and foremost, if you’re pregnant and considering travel to an area where people are getting the Zika virus, which you can track on the CDC’s website (current notices are in effect for Puerto Rico, Mexico, and certain countries in Central and South America), the CDC says you should postpone your plans.
If you decide to go to one of these areas or are traveling there now, protect yourself from mosquitoes in the daytime by staying in screened or air-conditioned areas, wearing clothing that covers your arms and legs, and using permethrin-treated clothing and gear, as well as insect repellents.
If you’re pregnant and your male partner travels to or lives in an area where Zika virus is active, use condoms consistently, or abstain from sex during your pregnancy.
Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about your and your partner’s recent travels, and ask about Zika risks.
If you’ve traveled to one of the Zika outbreak areas, be on the lookout for symptoms of the Zika virus during your trip and for two weeks after you return home. These include fever, rash, muscle aches, and conjunctivitis (red, itchy eyes). If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor.
If an ultrasound shows signs of microcephaly in your growing fetus and you’ve recently traveled to one of the affected areas, you’ll need lab tests of your blood and urine for the Zika virus. (If you haven’t been to areas where Zika is endemic, you don’t need the tests.) The RT-PCR test looks for Zika virus DNA, and another test detects antibodies that your body makes in response to an infection. Your doctor can test a blood or urine sample and, if you’re 14 or more weeks into your pregnancy, may consider also looking at your amniotic fluid in order to test the baby.
The CDC and state health departments will be doing all Zika lab tests, and your doctor will work with these agencies to get the results. There is no commercial in-office Zika test available yet.
If the lab tests show that you have, or have had, a Zika virus infection, you’ll need to consider ultrasounds every three to four weeks to monitor your baby’s growth, as well as a referral to a specialist in infectious diseases and maternal-fetal medicine.
The link between Zika infection and the birth defects including microcephaly are not well understood, and researchers are still investigating the connection. But because the Zika virus was identified in babies born with microcephaly, which is on the rise in Brazil — a hot zone for the virus — healthcare workers are taking every opportunity to screen for infections in female travelers who are pregnant as a precaution.

Zika has no specific treatment or cure, but your doctor can recommend supportive care: rest, plenty of fluids, and fever-reducing medication. You should avoid aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) during pregnancy because of bleeding risks, according to the new CDC guidelines for Zika treatment.

Source By: everydayhealth

HOW TO DIET

1. Eat vegetables to help you feel full.
2. Drink plenty of water.
3. Get tempting foods out of your home.
4. Stay busy -- you don't want to eat just because you're bored.
5. Eat only from a plate, while seated at a table. ...
6. Don't skip meals      

Free KetoDiet eBooks

9 Common Digestive Conditions From Top to Bottom

Many digestive diseases have similar symptoms. Here’s how to recognize them and when to visit your doctor.

Most people don’t like to talk about it, but having a gastrointestinal problem is common.

There’s no need to suffer in silence. Here’s a top-to-bottom look at nine of the most prevalent digestive conditions, their symptoms, and the most effective treatments available. If you suspect you could have one of these issues, don't delay in speaking with your doctor.

1. Chest Pain: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

When stomach acid backs up into your esophagus — a condition called acid reflux — you may feel a burning pain in the middle of your chest. It often occurs after meals or at night, says Neville Bamji, MD, a clinical instructor of medicine at The Mount Sinai Hospital and a gastroenterologist with New York Gastroenterology Associates.

While it’s common for people to experience acid reflux and heartburn once in a while, having symptoms that affect your daily life or occur at least twice each week could be a sign of GERD, a chronic digestive disease that affects 20 percent of Americans, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). If you experience persistent heartburn, bad breath, tooth erosion, nausea, pain in your chest or upper part of your abdomen, or have trouble swallowing or breathing, see your doctor.

Most people find relief by avoiding the foods and beverages that trigger their symptoms and/or by taking over-the-counter antacids or other medications that reduce stomach acid production and inflammation of the esophagus; however, some cases of GERD require stronger treatment, such as medication or surgery.

2. Gallstones

Gallstones are hard deposits that form in your gallbladder — a small, pear-shaped sack that stores and secretes bile for digestion. Twenty million Americans are affected by gallstones, according to the NIDDK. Gallstones can form when there’s too much cholesterol or waste in your bile or if your gallbladder doesn’t empty properly.

When gallstones block the ducts leading from your gallbladder to your intestines, they can cause sharp pain in your upper-right abdomen. Medications sometimes dissolve gallstones, but if that doesn’t work, the next step is surgery to remove the gallbladder.

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5 Reasons Why Skin Cancer Surgery Isn’t So Scary

Get the inside scoop on Mohs surgery, the most popular treatment option for basal and squamous cell carcinomas.

Veva Vesper has dealt with more than her fair share of skin cancer in the last 25 years. The 69-year-old Ohio resident has had more than 500 squamous cell carcinomas removed since the late 1980s, when the immunosuppressant medication she was taking for a kidney transplant caused her to develop them all over her body — everywhere from the corner of her eye to her legs. 

While Vesper’s story is unusual, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. In fact, it’s currently estimated that one in five Americans will get skin cancer in his or her lifetime.  

Mike Davis, a 65-year-old retired cop, and like Vesper, a patient at The Skin Cancer Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, has a more familiar story. Earlier this year, he had a basal cell carcinoma removed from his left ear — the side of his face most exposed to UV damage when driving on patrol. 

The buildup of sun exposure over your lifetime puts you at greater risk for developing basal and squamous cell skin carcinomas as you age. Both Vesper and Davis had Mohs surgery, the most effective and precise way to remove the two most common types of skin cancer. 

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30 Simple Health Tips to Try Each Day.

Celebrate National Nutrition Month by making small changes that will lead to big improvements. 

Why wait until dinner to get your daily allotment of vegetables? Try adding a serving to breakfast instead.

Unlike "National Pancake Month" or "National Whipped Cream Month," National Nutrition Month is a yearly occasion that you can and should celebrate for 30 days straight. In fact, why stop at the end of March? I hope that, once you try the following tips, you'll want to continue practicing them all year through.

Here's how it works: Try one tip each day, starting today. (You can change the order, but be sure you try each one.) Then, repeat.

1. Cut portions.

If you think leaving just a little something on your plate won't matter, think again. It will. Small amounts of uneaten food add up to calories that stay on the plate – not on you.

2. Sip while you sit. 

Bring a cup or bottle of water with you whenever you sit (at your desk, in the car or in front of the TV, for example). Although moving is better than sitting, at least you'll be performing a healthy habit when at rest.

3. Make a move. 

Take the stairs, park a few blocks away or otherwise become inefficient and take extra steps to get where you need to go.

4. Have a vegetable at breakfast. 

Most people save their veggies for dinner, but it's healthful to think outside the cereal bowl and veg out at breakfast. For example, add a sliced tomato to your cheese sandwich or some mushrooms to your eggs.

5. Find fiber. 

Whether it's a bran cereal, nuts, oatmeal or an array of other fiber-filled foods, added fiber can make you feel fuller longer and provide a, well, moving experience.

6. Flip the package over. 

Read nutrition labels to see what's really in your food. Don't be fooled by a flashy front-of-package claim.

7. Don't fear fat – but don't go overboard.

Fat has more calories than other nutrients, but it has multiple benefits. If you watch your portions, you can enjoy its decadence.

8. Don't have guilt as a side dish. 

If you overindulge at a meal, move on.

9. Be mindful. 

Unless you're driving, close your eyes when you eat. Notice the food's texture, temperature and flavor.

10. Pick plants. 

Protein derived from plant sources such as seeds, nuts, tofu and tempeh, as well as from grains, can help lower cholesterol, improve your heart health and add a satiating blend of flavors to extend Meatless Monday to the rest of the week.

11. Tap into your dark side. 

Dark chocolate has been shown to have heart-healthy benefits and it can certainly boost your mood. Be mindful of portions, though, to help keep yourself feeling happy.

12. Eat something fishy. 

Enjoy fish as a dish at least three times a week. It's heart-healthy, low in fat and contains beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.

13. Take time for tea. 

Tea contains polyphenols, it's good for your bones and it provides a soothing cup of comfort in any season.

14. Cook with your kids. 

Don't think of this interaction as cooking lessons. Rather, realize that teaching your kids to put together a meal is a lesson they can use for the rest of their lives. 

15. Shake the salting habit. 

Replace salt with lemon, herbs and spices.

16. Eat when you eat. 

Try not to do simultaneous activities such as typing, watching TV or driving when you eat. You'll appreciate each bite even more.

17. Sleep more, weigh less. 

The more hours you're awake, the more time you have to nosh. Lack of zzz's can also mess with your hormone levels.

18. Be good to your gut. 

Include Greek yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir or foods high in fiber in your diet.

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