3 mins read

Are Olives Good for Lowering LDL Cholesterol?

Your body needs some fat to function properly. While some types of fat, such as trans fat and saturated fat can be harmful, other types of fat, such as polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, can actually help you. If you have high cholesterol, you may be able to lower it by adjusting your diet and eating more foods that contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, such as olives and olive oil.

4 mins read

What Is Normal Body Fat Percentage for Women?

Adipose tissue, or fat, is essential for the body to function properly. According to the American Council on Exercise, women need a body fat percentage of 10 to 12 percent for the tissue to adequately protect the body, regulate temperature, provide insulation, produce sex hormones and supply enough fuel to carry out activities. Dangers arise when the body stores too much fat. The American Heart Association states that a higher body fat percentage can lead to greater risks for developing diabetes, strokes, gallstones, high blood pressure, cholesterol and heart disease, even among women categorized in the “normal” range for weight and body mass index (BMI). A study released in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that levels of inflammation, which indicates a future risk for obesity, heart disease and metabolic disorders, correlated with a woman’s percentage of body fat and not with body weight or BMI.

3 mins read

Metabolism-Booster Diet

Healthful foods help make bodies function properly. When we eat too much junk food, the fats, preservatives, sugars and chemicals can overwhelm our body’s ability to transform the food into energy, resulting in a slow metabolism. However, too little food can also drag down a person’s metabolism. This is what happened to Oprah Winfrey when she went on a liquid diet to lose excess weight fast. The low-calorie diet was unsustainable, and she gained the weight back–then had to put in extra effort to return her metabolism to a normal rate. There are concrete strategies you can employ to boost your metabolism and encourage your body to burn calories efficiently.

4 mins read

Why Drinking Water Is More Important Than You Think

Moms have a big health challenge these days. Between the latest sugared beverages and the tempting bubbly sodas, its hard to convince your kids (and yourself!) to drink water. But the benefits of staying hydrated with pure, clean water are endless. Heres why you should make an effort to commit to a healthy lifestyle and drink water. If you lead by example, your family might just follow suit. Weve also included some great tips to make drinking water throughout the day easy!