Health Briefs TV Reports on Limiting High Fructose Corn Syrup

High fructose corn syrup is in many diet sodas

There have been many reports on the effects high fructose corn syrup has on our bodies and health. Some good and some bad. Health Briefs TV reports on how to limit it in your diet.

High fructose corn syrup can be found in many food and beverages. From tomato ketchup, frozen treats and diet soda, it seems it is in most of the things we consume. Despite the recent medical finding that it can increase the risk for heart disease, there are steps we can take to limit the amount of high fructose corn syrup in our daily diets.

Avoid drinking diet soda or sugar-free drinks every day. These drinks have a higher amount of fructose corn syrup than other beverages such as iced tea or water.

Make homemade ice treats by freezing natural fruit juices in molds with popsicle sticks. They are easy and taste better than the store bought kind. If this is not convenient, read the nutritional info on the box and buy ones with a lower amount of high fructose corn syrup.

Avoid eating fast food which can contain a larger amount of high fructose corn syrup.

Skip condiments that have high fructose corn syrup in it.

The Health Briefs TV show suggests reading food labels and sticking to organic condiments which tend to not contain high fructose corn syrup.  To find more food and beverage products with little or no high fructose corn syrup, click here. 

Health Briefs TV Shares Green Ideas for Better Health

Shop at local farmers markets for produce

One of the easiest ways to celebrate Earth Day is make a healthy change or two for yourself and family.

Health Briefs TV believes that making personal health a top priority is one of the best ways to make a positive change in lifestyle. As the country honors and participates in the 45^th celebration of Earth Day on April 22, we want to share a few green ideas for better health with readers.

Choose organic meat, chicken and fish at the store. There are no antibiotics in them. Animals are fed a more natural diet.

Visit local farmers markets for produce of the highest and most Earth-friendly quality. It may cost a tad more than store bought, but it tastes better and is healthier to consume.

Invest in over the faucet water filters. They are inexpensive to purchase as are the replaceable filters. One water filter saves the Earth from thousands of plastic bottles.

Avoid wasting food not used. If a can is opened to gain a small amount for cooking, put the remaining contents in a reusable plastic container and freeze them. Don’t cover the can or bottle and put back in the fridge to get moldy.

The Health Briefs TV show also recommends filling up the freezer with seasonal produce not consumed yet. No vitamins or nutrients are lost when food is frozen. It also makes using those colorful fruits and veggies out of season a whole lot nicer.

Choose Earth-friendly cleaning products and paper goods for the home.

Earth Day 2015 is a great day to make positive healthy choices in your life. Choose one or more and be on the way to a greener and healthier living. 

Health Briefs TV Touts the Benefits of Regular, Moderate Exercise

Some people turn a deaf ear when they hear the word exercise.  They think long, hard, sweaty periods of time in the gym working out.  Health Briefs TV reminds readers that even moderate physical activity is beneficial for everyone.

Regular, moderate exercise, such as a 20 minute walk around the block aids in staying healthy and living longer.  Walking is a relaxing activity which can offer the walker time alone to think while giving the heart a mini workout. Riding a bike is also a pleasant form of exercise. One covers more ground on a bike and gains the health benefits from it. It boosts vim and vigor.  Moderate physical activity also raises the heart rate which pumps more blood and oxygen throughout the body. This in turn, helps us feel more alive. It stimulates the brain which keeps our mental faculties alert.

Our skin becomes more elastic and softer which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles.  It gives us flexibility which we all need the older we become.  It improves posture so we are not so slumped over in age.  Moderate exercise makes us feel stronger and more capable of handling the harder aspects of live. It boosts mood too. We could all use a little mood boost every now and then.  The Health Briefs TV show also testifies that a little moderate exercise every week helps us sleep more soundly. And a good night’s rest is one of the best health benefits everyone needs. 

Head outside if the weather permits and enjoy a short walk. Take in the sights. Soak in the sunshine. Feel alive and healthier.

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Health Briefs TV on What Your Cough Means

Sometimes, it seems that a cough is just a cough. But there are different types of coughs which Health Briefs TV shares with readers.

Asthma can cause coughing when airways become inflamed. It is a dryer cough which ends with a rattle or wheeze. It can get worse at night. If this sounds familiar, go visit the doctor who can order a lung function test. Over the counter meds and longer-lasting medications are usually prescribed for relief.

Allergies can cause post nasal drip which can produce an either wet or dry cough. Mucus drips down the throat tickling nerve endings which cause coughing. Coughing is worse at night. Itchy eyes and sneezing also are also symptoms of allergies.

Gastroesophagal reflux disease or GERD is the second most common cause of chronic coughing. It is a dry, spasmodic cough and one which occurs when gastric acid backs up in the esophagus. It is most common as soon as you lie down in bed at night or after eating.  

COPD is another kind of chronic cough. It is mostly caused by chronic bronchitis or emphysema from smoking. The Health Briefs TV show notes that is produces a wet, mucus cough and occurs mostly in the morning.

If you have one of these types of chronic coughs, visit the doctor to see if there is anything which can help lessen it.

Health Briefs TV Reviews Food to Reduce Stress

Food is often used as a means to make on feel better. Comfort food, like a cheeseburger or macaroni and cheese, comes to mind. However, there are better choices to make which can make one feel calm, relaxed and generally less harried. Health Briefs TV reviews which foods can help reduce stress best.

Green leafy vegetables contain folate which produces dopamine, a pleasure-inducing brain chemical that helps one keep calm. A 2012 study found that middle-aged and elderly people who ate more greens such as spinach had a lower risk of depression than those that did not.

Have a turkey breast sandwich. It’s true that the tryptophan in it can relax people. It is an amino acid which is found in protein-rich foods which helps produce the serotonin. This amino acid releases a chemical which stabilizes hunger and feelings of happiness.

Grab a cup of yogurt. The bacteria in the gut might be adding to stress, and yogurt contains probiotics, which reduces brain activity in the area that handle emotion and stress. Eat one of the flavored ones or doctor a small cup of Greek yogurt with honey and cinnamon.

Get a handful of pistachios. The rhythmic motion of getting one, cracking it open and eating it is calming and can reduce stress. It also takes longer to eat them so the little nuts are diet-friendly. The Health BriefsTV show knows they are also good for the heart.

Last but certainly not least is dark chocolate.  It contains cortisol which reduces stress hormones, and the antioxidants in cocoa can relax blood vessels.

Find a calming space to relax and let stress disappear with some of these goodies.

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Health Briefs TV and How to Avoid Processed Food at the Store

Processed and frozen foods are easy to prepare for any meal. They are already made and packaged and ready to heat and eat. But most of them contain more sodium than what is considered a healthy amount. Health Briefs TV offers suggestions about how to avoid the processed food at the store.

The easiest way to avoid processed food, or prepared food, in the grocery store is to shop along the sides. Start in the fresh produce section and stock up on all the healthy fruits and vegetables the family likes. Potatoes of all kinds are good meal fillers and sides since they pack a lot of fiber and vitamins. Most take a few minutes in the microwave to cook and can be spruced up with fresh salsa (also found in the produce section) low-fat cheese, sour cream or Greek yogurt.

The Health Briefs TV show also suggests grabbing some frozen fruits and veggies since they are often packed when they are ripe. Walk along the back wall of the store where fresh chicken, meat and fish are sold. Grab a few small fillets of the freshest fish, and some organic chicken for a few healthy and nutritious meals without the added salt and chemicals.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Americans consume an average of 3,500 milligrams of sodium per day. This does not include the salt from the shaker on the table). We can avoid the extra sodium with planned, smart shopping. Make a list before heading out and stick to it. Spend at least half of the food budget on fresh produce, fish and lean chicken and meat. Make meals at home and invite children to help. Avoiding processed food may seem challenging at first. But with some pre-planning, everyone’s health will benefit from consuming less salt.