15 Foods That Help You Stay Hydrated:Spinach

Spinach

Water content: 91.4% water

Iceberg lettuce may have a higher water content, but spinach is usually a better bet overall. Piling raw spinach leaves on your sandwich or salad provides nearly as much built-in hydration, with an added nutritional punch.

Spinach is rich in lutein, potassium, fiber, and brain-boosting folate, and just one cup of raw leaves contains 15% of your daily intake of vitamin E—an important antioxidant for fighting off the damaging molecules known as free radicals.

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The 16 Most Surprising High-Fiber Foods

Despite its popular association with trips to the restroom, fiber is no joke. The benefits of an efficient bowel aside, a high-fiber diet can also reduce the risk of stroke, hypertension, and heart disease. Unfortunately, fiber consumption is currently at an all-time low, with less than three percent of Americans meeting the recommended intake .

Why Fiber?

Fiber is something the body needs but never actually digests—in fact, it remains more or less the same from plate to toilet. It comes in two varieties, soluble and insoluble, and most plant-based foods contain a mixture of the two. Soluble fiber turns to gel in the stomach and slows digestion, which helps lower cholesterol and blood glucose. Insoluble fiber, on the other hand, remains unchanged all the way to the colon, making waste heavier and softer so it can shimmy through the intestines more easily. Regardless of these differences, neither type of fiber is ever absorbed into the body.

The Best High-Fiber Foods

Note: The amount of fiber in these foods can vary slightly between the raw and cooked versions.

1. Split Peas

Fiber: 16.3 grams per cup, cooked.
Go-To Recipe: Spinach and Yellow Split Pea Soup
A staple in Indian cooking, split peas form a terrific, protein-rich base for soups, stews, and dhals. This South Asian recipe is the best kind of comfort food: healthy, satisfying, and super filling.

2. Lentils

Fiber: 15.6 grams per cup, cooked.
Go-To Recipe: Lentil Quinoa Burgers with Sautéed Mushrooms
Lentils are kitchen all-stars—they take less time to cook and are more versatile than many other legumes. This recipe takes advantage of their slightly meatier taste and turns them into a juicy patty that’s held together with lemon juice, cilantro, and walnuts.

3. Black Beans

Fiber: 15 grams per cup, cooked.
Go-To Recipe: Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili
Sweet potato pairs perfectly with the smokiness of chipotle peppers and adds even more fiber to this hearty bean dish. Loaded with complex carbs and protein, this cold-weather stew makes a perfect post-workout meal.

4. Lima Beans

Fiber: 13.2 grams per cup, cooked.
Go-To Recipe: Leek and Lima Bean Soup with Bacon
Lima beans might sound unappetizing, but when cooked in bacon fat, paired with leeks, puréed into a soup, and topped with sour cream, they’re pretty darn delicious.

5. Artichokes

Fiber: 10.3 grams per medium vegetable, cooked.
Go-To Recipe: Roasted Artichokes for Two
Packing more fiber per serving than any other vegetable, artichokes are curiously underused in most people’s kitchens (perhaps because they look a bit… prickly). Get creative and try this simple recipe with lime, garlic, and black pepper.

6. Peas

Fiber: 8.8 grams per cup, cooked.
Go-To Recipe: Scallops on Minted Pea Purée with Prosciutto
Puréeing veggies is a great way to squeeze extra nutrients into any meal—this recipe comes together lightning-fast and is filled with protein, omega-3s, and, of course, fiber.

7. Broccoli

Fiber: 5.1 grams per cup, boiled.
Go-To Recipe: Paleo Broccoli Fritters
This caveman-friendly dish is pretty simple. To make these fritters, just combine onion, garlic, broccoli, eggs, and almond meal. Once they hit the table, you’ll be surprised how much broccoli gets finished in one sitting.

8. Brussels Sprouts

Fiber: 4.1 grams per cup, boiled.
Go-To Recipe: Hoisin Glazed Brussels Sprouts
Try this Asian twist on the old standard—this meal carries tones of ginger, sesame, and peanut that will keep you coming back for seconds (and maybe thirds).

9. Raspberries

Fiber: 8 grams per cup, raw.
Go-To Recipe: Raspberry, Coconut, and Oat Macaroons
Raspberries aren’t a hard sell—they’re basically nature’s candy. With the help of coconut, oatmeal, and vanilla, they make a relatively healthy dessert that pleases any palate.

9 Uncommon Uses for Bananas

Make a face maskWho needs Botox when you have bananas? That’s right: You can use a banana as an all-natural face mask that moisturizes your skin and leaves it looking and feeling softer. Mash up a medium-sized ripe banana into a smooth paste, then gently apply it to your face and neck. Let it set for 10-20 minutes, then rinse it off with cold water. Another popular mask recipe calls for 1/4 cup plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey, and 1 medium banana.

Eat a frozen “banana-sicle”As a summer treat for friends and family, peel and cut four ripe bananas in half (across the middle). Stick a wooden ice-cream stick into the flat end of each piece. Place them all on a piece of wax paper, and then put it in the freezer. A few hours later, serve them up as simply yummy frozen banana-sicles. If you want to go all-out, quickly dip your frozen bananas in 6 ounces (170 grams) melted butterscotch or chocolate morsels (chopped nuts or shredded coconut are optional), then refreeze.

Tenderize a roastBanana leaves are commonly used in many Asian countries to wrap meat as it’s cooking to make it more tender. Some folks in these areas say the banana itself also has this ability. So the next time you fear the roast you’re cooking will turn tough on you, try softening it up by adding a ripe, peeled banana to the pan.

Polish silverware and leather shoesIt may sound a bit like a lark, but using a banana peel is actually a great way to put the shine back into your silverware and leather shoes. First, remove any of the leftover stringy material from the inside of the peel, then just start rubbing the inside of the peel on your shoes or silver. When you’re done, buff up the object with a paper towel or soft cloth. You might even want to use this technique to restore your leather furniture. Test it on a small section first before you take on the whole chair.

Brighten up houseplantsAre the leaves on your houseplants looking dingy or dusty? Don’t bother misting them with water — that just spreads the dirt around. Rather, wipe down each leaf with the inside of a banana peel. It’ll remove all the gunk on the surface and replace it with a lustrous shine.

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Healthy Foods: 11 Fruits You Can Eat All Summer Long

The epitome of summertime may be sitting at a beach with an ice-cold beer, but the more time we spend under the sun, the more we should spend thinking about what we eat as well as drink.
"Being outside, we need to be aware of dehydration, skin sensitivities and vitamin and mineral deficiencies that may happen to our bodies during the peak of summer," says Rosanna Lee, a nutrition educator and community health promoter based in Toronto.
On top of drinking water, fresh juices and smoothies, eating fruit can also help your body stay energized and hydrated.
"These summer fruits not only taste great, but they also provide your body with water and a combination of nutrition, keeping your body healthy and happy."
Lee says dehydration is a common health risk during hotter months, and for some, it's due to the lack of a proper diet. Particularly children, older adults and endurance athletes are more likely to lose body fluids quicker, according to the Mayo Clinic.
It's also important to note that when the air outside is humid, our sweat can't evaporate and cool us down like it normally does, which can make us feel hotter and thirstier. 

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8 Amazing Health Benefits of Watermelon

Watermelon is by far, one of the most powerful, body-healing fruits out there! The amazing health benefits of watermelon cover everything from your brain all the way to the cells in your feet.
The best time to indulge in this fresh, succulent, juicy melon, is summertime, when they are in season and deliver an array of nutrients, vitamin and minerals.
Watermelon is incredibly hydrating (up to 92% water!) and is naturally low-fat. Make this melon a part of your daily diet and you will reap amazing benefits that range from improving cardiovascular health to nourishing your eyes and revving up your immune system! Read below and see for yourself!

Cardiovascular & Bone Health

The lycopene in watermelon is especially important for our cardiovascular health and is now being recognized as an important factor in promoting bone health. Consuming large amounts of watermelon has also been correlated with improved cardiovascular function because it improves blood flow via vasodilation (relaxation of blood pressure). Dietary lycopene (from foods like watermelon or tomatoes) reduces oxidative stress which normally reduces the activity of osteoblasts and osteoclasts (the two major bone cells involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis) – this means stronger bones for those consuming lycopene-rich foods. Watermelon is also rich in potassium which helps to retain calcium in your body, resulting in stronger bones and joints.

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How to Take Care of Your Skin (Face and Body)

Stay Hydrated. Water is an amazing beauty product. 8 glasses a day will give your skin a noticeable glow, and you'll feel much better in the process.

Exfoliate. For a home remedy, mix sugar and olive/almond/coconut oil (Whichever is available). Rub in circular motions over the body. Rinse thoroughly.

 

Bathe. For healthy, antioxidant-nourished skin, add at least 3 tea bags while the water is running for a bath. While you bask in this bath, take 2 of those tea bags and rest them on your eyes to avoid tiredness and puffiness.

 

Begin a skin regime. Make sure it consists of cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing the face. The extra money will go to good use.

 

Shave the right way. Do it about 3 minutes after you've entered the shower (This will soften up hairs). Try shaving with water and foaming shaving gel instead of soap, since soap may dry the skin out when used for shaving.

 

 

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How to Lighten Skin Naturally

Here are the top 10 ways to lighten skin naturally.

1. Yogurt

Yogurt, a by-product of milk, has many nutrients that are good for the skin. It also contains lactic acid that has bleaching properties. The following remedies are suitable for all skin types.

• Gently rub plain yogurt onto your skin. Leave it on for a few minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water. Do this once daily for several weeks to notice a significant change in your complexion.
• Alternatively, mix one tablespoon of fresh yogurt with one-half tablespoon of honey. Apply the mixture on your face and neck. Leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash it off with water. Do this daily to improve your skin tone and complexion.
• You can also add a little lemon juice and some oatmeal to yogurt to make a thick paste, and apply it as a face mask. This remedy will also help keep your skin supple and moisturized.

2. Oranges

The most important ingredient in skin care is vitamin C, which you can get in abundance from oranges. Plus, oranges have bleaching properties that can lighten your skin tone.
It has been found that regular consumption of fresh orange juice can greatly improve the overall texture of your skin as well as its suppleness. To lighten your skin, oranges can be used in two different ways.

• Make a paste by combining two tablespoons of orange juice and a pinch of powdered turmeric. Apply the paste on your face and neck before going to bed. You can also apply it on your hands and legs. Wash it off the next morning. Do this daily.
• Grind dried orange peels into powder. Mix one tablespoon of the powdered peels with one tablespoon of plain yogurt to make a paste. Apply the paste on your skin and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse it off with water. This will help lighten spots and other marks on your face. Do this once or twice a week, but no more than that.

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1.  Drinking lemon juice mixed with lukewarm water and honey may help to reduce belly fat and obesity.
Lemons are low in calories while honey is a fat free, natural energy booster. Their combination helps to melt down the fatty deposits in the body. Honey contains natural fruit sugar which is digested easily. Add one teaspoon of honey and three teaspoons of lemon juice to a glass of warm water. Stir well and drink it every morning to shed those extra kilos from the body.
2.  Honey and lemon concoction can also help to cure cough, bronchitis and asthma.
It acts as an expectorant and moves the phlegm out of the respiratory tract. This concoction is much more effective than any readymade cough syrup. Add 1 tablespoon of honey and 2 teaspoon of lemon in warm water. Drink this concoction several times a day. This will help to alleviate nasal and chest congestion. Honey soothes the throat and inhibits certain infection-causing bacteria.
- See more at: http://www.hopinghealth.com/top-10-benefits-honey-lemon-skin-hair-health/#sthash.A90kxy4M.dpuf

Both honey and lemon are acclaimed for their multitude of health benefits. Both have antibacterial and antioxidant properties which boost the immune system. A combination of honey and lemon works together to reduce weight and promotes healthy skin and hair. Some of the benefits of honey and lemon are: - See more at: http://www.hopinghealth.com/top-10-benefits-honey-lemon-skin-hair-health/#sthash.A90kxy4M.dpuf

Both honey and lemon are acclaimed for their multitude of health benefits. Both have antibacterial and antioxidant properties which boost the immune system. A combination of honey and lemon works together to reduce weight and promotes healthy skin and hair. Some of the benefits of honey and lemon are: - See more at: http://www.hopinghealth.com/top-10-benefits-honey-lemon-skin-hair-health/#sthash.A90kxy4M.dpuf

Both honey and lemon are acclaimed for their multitude of health benefits. Both have antibacterial and antioxidant properties which boost the immune system. A combination of honey and lemon works together to reduce weight and promotes healthy skin and hair. Some of the benefits of honey and lemon are: - See more at: http://www.hopinghealth.com/top-10-benefits-honey-lemon-skin-hair-health/#sthash.A90kxy4M.dpuf

Both honey and lemon are acclaimed for their multitude of health benefits. Both have antibacterial and antioxidant properties which boost the immune system. A combination of honey and lemon works together to reduce weight and promotes healthy skin and hair. Some of the benefits of honey and lemon are: - See more at: http://www.hopinghealth.com/top-10-benefits-honey-lemon-skin-hair-health/#sthash.A90kxy4M.dpuf

45 Wonderful Benefits And Uses Of Lemon

Here is an exhaustive list of the health benefits of lemon:

1. Cold Immunity:

Lemons are a rich source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential to keep you immune from cough and cold. Lemons contain flavonoids which work against viruses and keep the body fit.

2. Restores the Body’s pH Balance:

Lemons help alkalize the body by restoring the pH balance of the body.

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What Diet Soda Does to Belly Fat

A new study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that people who drank diet soda gained almost triple the abdominal fat over nine years as those who didn’t drink diet soda. The study analyzed data from 749 people ages 65 and older who were asked, every couple of years, how many cans of soda they drank a day, and how many of those sodas were diet or regular.
Those answers ended up being extremely predictive of abdominal-fat gain, even after the researchers adjusted for factors like diabetes, smoking and levels of physical activity. People who didn’t drink diet soda gained about 0.8 in. around their waists over the study period, but people who drank diet soda daily gained 3.2 in. Those who fell in the middle — occasional drinkers of diet soda — gained about 1.8 in.

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5 Best Remedies for the Stomach Flu

Nobody likes getting sick, especially when it’s the stomach flu: whether it causes a fever, nausea and/or vomiting, the chills, diarrhea, aches and pains, or some or all of the above, they add up to an awful feeling. While there is no cure for the stomach flu, the remedies below may help provide relief from this condition’s most difficult symptoms.

What Causes the Stomach Flu?

The stomach flu, or gastroenteritis, can be caused by a number of different viruses that attack your gastrointestinal system. These viruses can be contracted from food that was inadequately prepared or from coming into contact with an infected person, especially if you have bad hygiene. Certain bacteria can also cause gastroenteritis. People with the stomach flu often have symptoms of diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, fever, headache, and sore muscles.

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5 Ways to Beat The Heat– With Food!

Eat Light. You may find that you don’t want to eat the same heavy meals in the summer that you crave in the winter. Listening to your body about this is important as sticking to several lighter meals throughout the day really can keep you cooler. After we eat, the thermic effect of food takes place, in which our body temperature rises as we digest the food- the larger the meal, the greater this effect. In addition, just say no to spicy food on hot days as the compound capsaicin (which gives spicy food its heat) can also raise body temperature and make you sweat!
Freeze Your Favorites. Something ice cold always sounds good on a hot day, but slushies and sno-cones can pack on the calories. Instead, try freezing your favorite fruits and veggies. I love freezing berries and snacking on them on hot afternoons for a nutritious way to cool down. And you can do the same with some veggies too! I have a friend who loves to freeze English peas and let them melt in her mouth!
Bonus: Homemade Ice Pop Recipes Under 100 Calories
Eat Your Water. Did you know that 20-30% of your fluid needs should be met through high water foods like fruits and veggies? Eating plenty of these foods can help you stay hydrated and cool throughout the summer. Some produce is as much as 85% water, so shoot for those with highest water content. Best bets include: watermelon, strawberries, raspberries, grapefruit, broccoli, cabbage, and carrots.


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23 Super-Hydrating Foods to Beat Summer Heat

"There's recently been a lot of interesting research about how hydration affects our mind, our mood, memory and learning, thinking and reaction time," Seattle sports dietician Kim Larson, R.D.N., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told weather.com. "Even if you're just mildly dehydrated, it can lead to mood changes and fatigue."
For athletes, hydration is essential, especially during the hot, humid days of summer. Kids need water, too, particularly when they're outside playing in the sun all day. "Consistently drinking water during activities is really important," Larson said. "Drinking throughout the day in general is important, too. It's just as important for someone who is working at a computer all day [to drink water], as it is for somebody who is running a marathon."
A good rule of thumb, according to Larson: Sip half your body weight in ounces of water every day. A 150-pound person, for example, should then down 75 ounces, or just more than 9 cups of liquid daily.

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14 steps to a healthy summer diet!

1. Water is the best option to quench thirst.
It is a key ingredient in keeping the body cool. With high humidity levels, sweat will not evaporate quickly. This prevents the body from releasing heat in an efficient manner. This is why it is necessary to hydrate and drink water, even when you are not thirsty. Increase water intake regardless of your activity levels.
2. Avoid caffeinated or carbonated beverages, alcoholic beverages, and those high in sugar.
All these drinks contain preservatives, colours and sugars. They are acidic in nature and act as diuretics. They cause loss of fluids through urine.
Many soft drinks contain diluted phosphoric acid, which damages the inner linning of the digestive tract and, therefore, affects its functions.
An excessive intake of soft drinks increases phosphorous levels in the blood. This separates calcium from the bones and moves it into the blood.
This calcium displacement from the bones makes them porous and brittle. It also causes plaque on the teeth, kidney stones, arthritis and bone spur.

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7 benefits of regular physical activity

Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Look no further than exercise. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. And the benefits of exercise are yours for the taking, regardless of your age, sex or physical ability. Need more convincing to exercise? Check out these seven ways exercise can improve your life.

No. 1: Exercise controls weight

Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity, the more calories you burn. You don't need to set aside large chunks of time for exercise to reap weight-loss benefits. If you can't do an actual workout, get more active throughout the day in simple ways — by taking the stairs instead of the elevator or revving up your household chores.

No. 2: Exercise combats health conditions and diseases

Worried about heart disease? Hoping to prevent high blood pressure? No matter what your current weight, being active boosts high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good," cholesterol and decreases unhealthy triglycerides. This one-two punch keeps your blood flowing smoothly, which decreases your risk of cardiovascular diseases. In fact, regular physical activity can help you prevent or manage a wide range of health problems and concerns, including stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, arthritis and falls.

No. 3: Exercise improves mood

Need an emotional lift? Or need to blow off some steam after a stressful day? A workout at the gym or a brisk 30-minute walk can help. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.

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