The 31 Healthiest Foods Of All Time

The food guide to end all food guides: here are the healthy foods you should be eating now

Extra virgin olive oil is high in monounsaturated fats that can help lower cholesterol. Read more: ti.me/Psjqpz

A compound in red wine called resveratrol has been linked to longevity and lower risk of diabetes and heart disease. Read more: ti.me/Psjg1n

Dark chocolate has a high concentration of cocoa, which is packed with disease-fighting antioxidant plant chemicals. Read more: ti.me/PsiWQ9

Greek yogurt counts toward your daily dairy intake and it packs plenty of protein to keep you full for longer. Read more: ti.me/PsiL7v

Eating low-fat or nonfat dairy has been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Read more: ti.me/PsiiSH

Tuna is high in protein, vitamin B, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids. Read more: ti.me/PshX2r

Almonds are a rich source of protein, calcium and monounsaturated fat. Read more: ti.me/PshvRQ

Chia seeds protect against inflammation, arthritis and heart disease. Read more: ti.me/Ps61xF

Flaxseeds are high in the plant-based omega-3 fatty acids called ALA and are very heart healthy. Read more: ti.me/Ps5Kux

Article Link:  The 31 Healthiest Foods Of All Time 

By TIME Magazine

Be One in a Million this American Heart Month

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; one in every three deaths is from heart disease and stroke, equal to 2,200 deaths per day.

"Heart disease takes the lives of far too many people in this country, depriving their families and communities of someone they love and care for—a father, a mother, a wife, a friend, a neighbor, a spouse. With more than 2 million heart attacks and strokes a year, and 800,000 deaths, just about all of us have been touched by someone who has had heart disease, heart attack, or a stroke."
- Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius


February is American Heart Month, and unfortunately, most of us know someone who has had heart disease or stroke. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; one in every three deaths is from heart disease and stroke, equal to 2,200 deaths per day. These conditions are also leading causes of disability preventing people from working and enjoying family activities. Cardiovascular disease is also very expensive—together heart disease and stroke hospitalizations in 2010 cost the nation more than $444 billion in health care expenses and... Read More

Article Link:  Be One in a Million this American Heart Month 

Overweight and Obesity - U.S. Obesity Trends $$$450 billion annually

National Obesity Trends

About one-third of U.S. adults (33.8%) are obese.
Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese.
[Data from the National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES)]


Trends by State 1985–2010

During the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States and rates remain high. In 2010, no state had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-six states had a prevalence of 25% or more; 12 of these states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia) had a prevalence of 30% or more.
The animated map below shows the United States obesity prevalence from 1985 through 2010.

Percent of Obese (BMI > 30) in U.S. Adults
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2010 State Obesity Rates
State	%	State	%	State	%	State	%
Alabama	32.2	Illinois	28.2	Montana	23.0	Rhode Island	25.5
Alaska	24.5	Indiana	29.6	Nebraska	26.9	South Carolina	31.5
Arizona	24.3	Iowa	28.4	Nevada	22.4	South Dakota	27.3
Arkansas	30.1	Kansas	29.4	New Hampshire	25.0	Tennessee	30.8
California	24.0	Kentucky	31.3	New Jersey	23.8	Texas	31.0
Colorado	21.0	Louisiana	31.0	New Mexico	25.1	Utah	22.5
Connecticut	22.5	Maine	26.8	New York	23.9	Vermont	23.2
Delaware	28.0	Maryland	27.1	North Carolina	27.8	Virginia	26.0
District of Columbia	22.2	Massachusetts	23.0	North Dakota	27.2	Washington	25.5
Florida	26.6	Michigan	30.9	Ohio	29.2	West Virginia	32.5
Georgia	29.6	Minnesota	24.8	Oklahoma	30.4	Wisconsin	26.3
Hawaii	22.7	Mississippi	34.0	Oregon	26.8	Wyoming	25.1
Idaho	26.5	Missouri	30.5	Pennsylvania	28.6

"According to the recent McKinley Quarterly report, the economic impact of obesity, including the $160 billion health care cost (much of which is related to obesity related issues), is $450 billion annually. An increasing contingency suggests primary interventions such as tax deductions for measured activity participation and health insurance sponsored physical activity programs should replace the awareness campaigns, whereas others believe taxing the obese or creating more personal financial burden for their health care is the answer."

Top Advice to Quit Smoking - 20 Reader Tips to Stop Smoking for Good

"Are you among the 70 percent of smokers who wish you could quit? Then you probably know firsthand that quitting smoking is not easy, and usually requires multiple attempts before you successfully stop. But quitting smoking for good is possible: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, about 48 million adults are former smokers; there are more former smokers in the nation than current smokers.And many of them are Everyday Health Facebook fans, who recently shared the strategies that helped them kick butt. Here are some of our favorite motivational tips and inspirational stories."

Keep an Inspiring List

"I smoked two packs a day from age 15 to 35 and quit cold turkey 15 years ago. I wrote down all the reasons for quitting and looked at them several times a day. I kept a running total of how much money I was saving. I kept lots of hard candies. I scrubbed my house and car so they smelled good. And I walked when I really needed a smoke. The first three weeks were miserable. The next year was challenging. The second year I realized how much better I felt and freer I was." — Sharon Blavier Hargrove

Start a Healthy Hobby

"I gave up smoking and picked up running. The fitter I got, the less I wanted to ruin that feeling by smoking." — Janice Gadd

Find a Go-To Healthy Snack

"The hand-to-mouth habit is hard to break; hence why people typically gain weight, so I recommend almonds to snack on." — Tara Smith Caron "I used lollipops at first but then I switched to baby carrot sticks because I didn’t want to put on weight. I never even noticed that my pants were getting tighter until I couldn't get into them. I have gained a lot of weight since the day I quit, but I would take that because dieting is a lot easier and less drastic than dying." — Celeste Lamasa 

 

Consider Your Cancer Risk

"[I stopped] cold turkey! My best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer and it [spread] to her bones. When the cancer went to her brain, I quit — for myself, and my son! Watching her slowly die was one of the worst things I ever had to do. But I had to be there for her. If that wasn't enough to make you want to quit, I don't know what would! It’s been five years, and I crave a cig once in a while. I breathe in and out think of something different and then it’s gone!" — Pam Goodwin McGee
"I quit cold turkey five years ago. My grandmother passed away from cancer and emphysema; watching her suffer and smother was all I needed." — Dana Brantley McMullan

Quit for Your Kids

"I gave up [smoking] 25 years ago when my 4-year-old was imitating me with a cigarette while she was playing with her dolls! I was a pack-a-day smoker, and am happy I quit. Our mind is a powerful thing ... make up your mind and stick to it!" — Simona Vasquez
"I quit July 1982 after my 5-year-old son came into kitchen pretending to "smoke like mommy does.” Immediately threw out the rest of the pack, and have never looked back. It can be done. Where there is a will, there is a way!" — Eileen Kaye Carter

  

Artilce Link: Top Advice to Quit Smoking - 20 Reader Tips to Stop Smoking for Good

Compiled by Lauren Gelman

Happy St. Patrick's Day! - The Health Benefits Of Beer

"Take heed all you beer lovers. It is now a proven fact that beer -- yes, BEER -- can provide the same health benefits as wine. No matter what type of ale you prefer, studies show that drinking beer in moderation (up to 2 drinks a day for us guys) can and will reduce your chances of strokes, as well as heart and vascular disease."