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Oil Pulling 101: What You Need to Know About Oil Pulling

January 9, 2015 by

Have you heard of oil pulling? This new holistic health trend, which is actually an ancient detoxification remedy, is said to boost overall health simply by swishing oil around the mouth once daily. The oil emulsifies with saliva in the mouth, becoming a cleansing agent that removes harmful bacteria, toxins, and plaque from the teeth and gums. The practice is also said to ease sinus congestion. But does oil pulling actually work? That's for you to decide—after checking in with your doctor or dentist first, of course.

If you'd like to give oil pulling a test spin, here's a handy guide to get you started.

1. Choose your oil.
The oils recommended for oil pulling are coconut, sesame, olive, and sunflower. You'll only need one tablespoon per pulling. If you choose coconut oil, let it liquefy before beginning your session.

2. Swish—and then swish some more.
Swish the oil around your mouth, just as you would with mouthwash. "Pull" the oil through your teeth. Your goal is to swish the oil until it becomes viscous and white. It usually takes 10 to 20 minutes to achieve this consistency, although beginner pullers can work their way up to that time.

3. Spit and rinse.
Once you've reached your allotted time, spit the oil into a trash can—not the toilet or sink, as the oil can clog pipes. (Don't swallow the oil!) Rinse your mouth with warm water, then brush your teeth. How often you practice oil pulling is up to you, although optimal benefits are said to achieved when oil pulling is performed several times per week.

Oil Pulling With Coconut Oil to Transform Your Dental Health [Authority Nutrition]
Oil Pulling: The Habit That Can Transform Your Health [Food Matters]
Oil Pulling for Oral Health [Wellness Mama]
What is Oil Pulling? [Coconut Oil Pulling]

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Spice Up Your Diet With These DASH Recipes

January 6, 2015 by

Any dieter will agree that healthy foods aren’t always the most exciting. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (or DASH) eating plan aims to incorporate convenient, tasty meals into your healthy diet, using only accessible ingredients that you likely have around the house. This NIH website offers a number of DASH-friendly recipes for every day of the week.

Here are three recipes you'll find there:

Chicken Salad
Just like the summer picnic favorite, this zesty chicken salad can be spread on sandwiches or placed on a bed of lettuce. Unlike its fattening counterpart, DASH’s chicken salad recipe contains less than 200 calories.

Vegetarian Spaghetti Sauce
Whether you follow a meat-free diet or not, this delicious spaghetti sauce tastes great over pastas or on other Italian dishes. It also contains only 479 mg of sodium per serving, significantly less than other sauces.

Chicken and Spanish Rice
A traditional dish with a zesty kick of flavor, this Spanish rice recipe contains much less sodium than other versions. By substituting brown rice for regular white rice and adding a variety of vitamin-rich vegetables, this fast and easy recipe can help you stay on track with healthy eating as well.

To find the full week’s worth of DASH recipes, visit the NIH website here.

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The Truth About the Five-Second Rule

December 26, 2014 by

You've probably all heard about the five-second rule at some point in your life. This "rule" states that if you drop a piece of food on the floor and pick it up in under five seconds, the food is still safe to eat. Many of us might even be living by this rule, but does the five-second rule have any basis in science? In short, no!

The origins of the five-second rule are unknown, but science has proven that the rule simply doesn't hold water. In 2003, Jillian Clarke, a high school senior, performed an experiment at the University of Illinois during a school internship. Her experiment proved that E. coli bacteria can transfer to food well under the five-second mark. Researchers at Clemson University took this experiment a step further in 2007. The scientists applied a large amount of salmonella to various types of surfaces to see how long the bacteria could survive. After three weeks, a good amount of salmonella was still living on the surfaces. The longer food was left on these surfaces, the more germs the food acquired. In just five seconds, the number of germs measured on a piece of food was between 150 and 8,000.

So, the next time you drop that beloved cookie on the floor, just throw it out and go buy yourself a new box of cookies. You never know what could have attached itself to your treat!

The Five-Second Rule [Kids Health]
5 Second Rule With Food On Floor [MythBusters]
Fact or Fiction?: The 5-Second Rule for Dropped Food [Scientific American]

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4 Tips for Serving a Safe Food Buffet

December 19, 2014 by

If you’re hosting a large party, you’re likely concerned with serving tasty foods, but your goal should also be to keep those foods safe for your guests. Here are a few helpful tips that will keep your food buffet just as healthy as it is delicious.

  1. Wash your hands. The first thing you should do when preparing a food buffet is wash your hands. This prevents you from spreading germs to your guests, but it also helps to keep you safe from food borne illnesses caused by raw meat, eggs, and other ingredients. Be sure to wash your hands each time you refill the buffet, as well.
  2. Cook foods completely. It’s safe to keep foods out on a buffet, provided that they’re cooked properly beforehand. Meats like beef and pork chops should be cooked to at least 145º F, while chicken and poultry should reach at least 165º F.
  3. Use the proper serving tools. If you’re serving hot foods, be sure to store them in a chafing dish, slow cooker, or warming tray to keep them from changing temperature. Cold dishes can be served in nesting bowls over bowls of ice, and they must stay at 40°F or lower in order to stop the growth of bacteria.
  4. Abide by the two-hour rule. Finally, never let foods sit on a buffet for more than two hours. Tossing food that’s been at room temperature for too long will ensure a safe and healthy party.

Serving Up Safe Buffets [FDA]
Serving Prepared Foods Safely [Whole Foods]
Holiday or Party Buffets [USDA]
Buffet Safety [NSF]

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How to Break Free From a Fitness Plateau

December 5, 2014 by

Even if you’re dedicated to your workout routine and have seen major strides, you can hit a point where your old exercises just don’t seem to work anymore. If this sounds familiar, you may have hit what's called a “fitness plateau.” Get out of the rut and back on track by mixing up your routine with these simple steps.

  1. Stay well-rounded. A good workout program incorporates both cardiovascular activities and strength training. If you’ve shed pounds by running every day, you’ll need to start lifting weights, doing yoga, or trying some other type of strength exercise in order to get out of the rut. Likewise, you’ll need to add a cardio exercise in order to see more results from weightlifting.
  2. Forget about the scale. Even if you haven’t lost weight in a few weeks, that doesn’t mean that your body isn’t changing. You could still see results in your cardiovascular health, strength, and other areas.
  3. Take a break. It may seem like working out every single day will yield better results, but you could actually be overworking yourself and diminishing your results. Your muscles need days off in order to grow, so plan a day of rest in between continual days of exercise.

Overcoming a Fitness Plateau [American Heart Association]
Fitness 2.0: How to Overcome Exercise and Diet Plateaus With Minimal Effort [Lifehacker]
How to Overcome a Workout Rut [U.S. News]

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How Much Oil Should You Consume?

October 10, 2014 by

Oil has a reputation for being bad for the waistline, but select oils are very beneficial when consumed in moderation. This helpful guide from the USDA provides simple, accessible descriptions of the main types of oils, then helps you to make informed decisions about which to use. Here are the highlights:

What are oils?
Oils are fats that become liquid at room temperature. Things like canola oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, and olive oil are common, as well as the oils found in foods like nuts, olives, avocados, and some fish.

How are oils different from solid fats?
Solid fats contain more saturated fats and/or trans fats, while oils contain more monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Saturated fats and trans fats raise the “bad” cholesterol in your body, which increases the risk of heart disease.

Why are oils important?
It is important to consume oils because they provide essential nutrients. Oils are the major source of essential fatty acids, which are necessary for your health, and they are also provide the majority of your body’s Vitamin E.

How much oil should I consume?
The average American adult needs anywhere from five to seven teaspoons of oil per day, depending on factors like your gender, age, and level of physical activity.

What Are “Oils”? [USDA]

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Are You Washing Your Hands Correctly? Find Out Here!

August 22, 2014 by

Washing your hands thoroughly can help to prevent you from contacting diseases, reduce the risk of food borne illness, and can even stop you from spreading germs if you’re already sick. Here are a few tips that will show you the correct way to wash your hands.

  1. Apply soap and water. First, completely soak your hands with warm water. Apply as much soap as you need in order to cover both hands—remember, the more the better.
  2. Rub palms together. Vigorously rub your palms together in a circular motion to clean germs from the center of your hands.
  3. Clean between fingers. Clean the hard-to-reach places between your fingers by placing one hand on top of the other as if you were holding hands with another person. Rub the fingertips from one hand between the fingers of the other hand, and then vice versa.
  4. Clean fingernails. Rub the fingernails of one hand across the palm of the other hand to remove dirt and germs. Clasp the hands together with the backs of your fingers to the opposite palm, and then rub the hands back and forth.
  5. Rinse and dry. Rinse hands completely with water, and then dry them with a single-use paper towel. Don’t forget to use the towel to turn off the faucet in order to prevent contacting more germs, and then toss it away.

When & How to Wash Your Hands [CDC]
How to Wash Your Hands Properly by Mary Calvagna, MS [BIDMC]
Clean hands protect against infection [World Health Organization]

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How to Reduce Your Daily Caffeine Intake

August 15, 2014 by

You might feel like you simply can’t function without your morning coffee, but that boost of caffeine may be doing you more harm than good. Caffeine addiction causes you to rely on drinking coffee, soda, and energy drinks throughout the day, and it is also proven to contribute to stress and anxiety. If you want to cut back on the amount of caffeine you consume per day, these simple tips will make it easier.

  1. Examine your intake. Studies show that 200 milligrams of caffeine or less is a healthy amount for the average adult to consume per day. This translates to about two strong cups of coffee, so this is an easy way to decipher how much you need to limit yourself. If you can’t make it through the workday without that third cup in the afternoon, that’s a good place to start.
  2. Gradually cut back. Quitting caffeine cold turkey is just as painful as quitting any other bad habit. To prevent headaches, grogginess, and other signs of caffeine withdrawal, mix your usual coffee with a bit more decaf every day, or work your way down to just two cups of coffee instead of your usual amount.
  3. Be smart about caffeine. Once you know that you can only have two cups per day, you should choose when to drink them wisely. If you feel most tired early in the morning and around 2 p.m., plan on drinking your cup of joe about an hour before those times.

Easy Ways to Reduce Caffeine Intake [U.S. News]
How to Lower Your Caffeine Intake Without Headaches [Fitday]
10 Ways to Start Your Day Without Caffeine [Everyday Health]
Caffeine [McKinley Health Center]

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Feeling Jittery? Avoid These Surprising Caffeine Sources!

August 5, 2014 by

You’ve already cut out your morning latte and ruled out the sugary energy drinks in an effort to reduce your caffeine intake, but you still occasionally feel jittery or prone to headaches. If you’re making all of the right steps toward a caffeine-free diet but just can’t seem to catch a break, these surprising products may be to blame.

  1. Dietary supplements. Frustratingly enough, one of your other attempts to lose weight and stay healthy may actually be the cause of your caffeine headaches. Dietary supplements, including multivitamins, often contain high doses of caffeine that aren’t always listed on the nutrition label. Some supplements even contain over 210 milligrams – that’s more than double the amount in one cup of coffee!
  2. Chocolate. Chocolate, another popular vice among many adults, is known to contain just as much caffeine as coffee in some cases. If you need a chocolate fix, indulge in less intense milk chocolate instead of dark.
  3. Tea. Switching your daily cup of Joe for a cup of tea still causes you to consume caffeine, contrary to what many may think. One cup of black tea has around 14 to 60 milligrams, while green tea contains 24 to 40 milligrams of caffeine.

What Am I So Awake? [CBS News]
12 Surprising Sources of Caffeine [Fox News]
5 ‘Hidden’ Sources of Caffeine [Live Science]

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How to Get More Vitamin A in Your Diet

July 7, 2014 by

Vitamin A provides a number of wonderful eye health benefits, from minimizing dry eyes to helping to absorb light in the retinal receptors. In addition to improving your eye health, it also supports cell growth and improves the health of the kidneys, heart, and other essential organs. Here are just a few surprising food sources for beneficial Vitamin A.

  1. Sweet Potatoes. Sweet potatoes are some of the best sources of Vitamin A out of any food, offering a staggering 561% of the recommended daily amount in just one whole potato. Better yet, the delicious sweet potato offers all of its priceless nutrients while adding only 103 calories to your diet. Simply bake one in the oven for a healthy side dish that’s absolutely packed full of A vitamins.
  2. Carrots. This other favorite orange food is equally as rich with Vitamin A. The carrot has been known for its eye health benefits for quite some time, though many people don’t realize that it’s because of the numerous A vitamins inside. One medium carrot offers a full 200% of the recommended daily intake, and it’s a great source of the Vitamins C, K, and B that your body also needs.

Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin A [Healthaliciousness]
Vitamin A [NIH]
26 Foods High in Vitamin A for Healthy Eyes [Bembu]

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