Category: Health

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5 Surprising Foods That Are Actually Unhealthy for You

Unhealthy colorful candies

Don’t be fooled by foods that may seem “healthy.” With labels that say “all natural” and “low calorie”, people are often led to believe that they are making good choices with their food. Often, these labels are misleading and could actually lead to a dramatic spike in your blood sugar, increase blood pressure, or contribute to your waistline. These five snacks are commonly misconceived to have health benefits, but in reality, provide barely any nutritional value.

Pretzels

Even though pretzels have less fat than chips, they provide little to no nutritional value. The white flour spikes your energy levels while leaving you hungry for more. Ingredients can include corn syrup, corn oil, and lots of salt. Plus, one serving of pretzels can take up a quarter of your days’ worth of sodium.

Trail Mix

Trail mix is another popular snack that many deem as “healthy.” This snack can add up to around 300+ calories per serving and is packed with added sugar and salt. Well portioned mixes with nuts, dried fruit, and no additives are a better alternative.

Protein Bars

Most protein bars are just candy bars with added protein and can be anywhere around 300-400 calories with outrageous amounts of sugar. Don’t let the packaging fool you; read the ingredients list and nutrition facts on the bar to see what you’re actually putting into your body.

Rice Cakes

This snack may trick you into thinking it’s healthy because of the low-calorie count. Like pretzels, these snacks provide little to no nutritional value. The flavored cakes add sugar, fat, and other ingredients that are doing no good for your body.

Veggie Chips

While veggie chips may seem like a more appealing option than traditional potato chips, they have just as much salt and fat. The nutritional value from the vegetable is gone through the frying or baking process. Eating actual vegetables is always the way to go!

Dr. Barbara Edwards, Princeton internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center and also serves as Medical Director of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Community Health Center.

Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennifercohen/2012/07/25/14-healthy-foods-that-are-actually-bad-for-you/#5a9cab615b15

https://www.active.com/nutrition/articles/10-healthy-foods-that-are-actually-bad-for-you/slide-10

https://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/50-seemingly-healthy-foods-are-bad-you

 

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Why You Should Reduce Your Salt Intake

Reducing the amount of salt you are consuming is an important step to living a healthier life. On a low-salt diet, you should notice an increase in your energy levels, some healthy weight loss, and lower blood pressure. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the leading cause of heart disease and strokes in Americans. If that doesn’t make you want to reduce the amount of sodium in your diet, a study was recently published stating that microplastics were discovered in 90% of table salts sold to consumers. Though there are no known health effects of this finding, it raises the importance of being aware of what we put into our bodies. Here are my tips on how, and why, we should be reducing the amount of salt we consume.

Hypertension

The daily recommended salt intake for a healthy adult is no more than 2,300 mg, or one teaspoon according to the FDA. For those who suffer from high blood pressure, the recommended amount is just 1,500 mg per day which is also the “ideal” amount for all people according to the American Heart Association. To reduce the amount of salt in your diet, it is recommended that you replace processed foods by increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Choosing foods that are labeled “low sodium” is another smart step. For those who just love adding salt to everything, try exploring other herbs and seasonings to use. Taking the time to read the food labels and serving sizes is also important—they are there for a reason and tend to be overlooked.

Exercise & Energy

Once you have the healthy diet portion down, exercising daily will feel easier to do. When you fuel your body with healthy, whole foods, you’ll be in a better condition to incorporate cardio exercise, which is known to increase your energy levels. Fitting in your 60 minutes of daily exercise will be the next step to a healthier lifestyle. It is recommended to exercise earlier in the day rather than at night, as energy increases can impact your ability to fall asleep easily. Regular exercise and healthy eating habits both contribute to your body’s ability to reduce body weight, lower cholesterol levels, and get in control of hypertension.

Dr. Barbara R. Edwards is a doctor of Internal Medicine in the Princeton, New Jersey area – practicing at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.

 

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Healthy End of Summer Dessert Recipes

Eating healthy and staying fit throughout the summer tends to be more difficult as many summer nights are spent with family and friends at the local ice cream stand. We all know how tempting and delicious dessert can be, but we also know how unhealthy it is. Dessert in the U.S. tends to be full of sugar and high in fat content—but isn’t that what makes it taste so good? These desserts listed below are just as tasty as traditional desserts but are far better for your health. Full of fruits, low-fat foods and natural sugars, these desserts are some of the best!

1. Vegan Chocolate-Drizzled Frozen Banana Bites

These delicious frozen banana treats are the perfect summer dessert. Not only are they easy to make, containing only 3 ingredients, but they taste great too. Frozen bananas can taste a bit like ice cream and you can store them for future nights. Low-calorie, one bite is just 58 calories, containing only 3g of fat.

Find the recipe here.

2. Pineapple Nice Cream

 

 

Because of the hot weather, ice-cream is likely the most popular dessert to have during the summer. Though it is tasty, traditional ice-cream can be very fattening. This healthy, fun twist on ice-cream is a great way to satisfy those cravings. The ingredients are all natural with no added sugars, but the sweetness of the pineapple takes care of your sweet-tooth. The recommended serving size is ½ cup and that is just 55 calories and 0 grams of fat!

Find the recipe here.

3. Mango Tiramisu

Packed with flavor, this mango tiramisu is a twist on the traditional Italian dessert. A healthier choice, the mango shares a bowl with Greek yogurt, whipped topping and agave syrup. The combination of these ingredients might make the version of tiramisu tastier than the original! The nutrition facts are just as impressive, a serving size of 2/3 cup is just 147 calories and 3 grams of fat.

Find the recipe here.

Dr. Barbara Edwards, Princeton internist, practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.

 

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5 Healthy Summer BBQ Foods

Dr. Edwards Princeton, Dr. Barbara Edwards Princeton, Dr. Barbara R Edwards

1. Turkey Burger

Summer is a time for family-fun and BBQ’s and eating healthy is not always the easiest. There are always healthy alternatives out there, like this tasty turkey burger, but often, we are attending other people’s BBQs and are left with no choice but to eat what they have. A helpful tip is to make 4 or 5 burgers and freeze them and bring them with you when going to the BBQ. These turkey burgers are low in fat and high in protein.

Find the recipe here:

https://thelivefitgirls.com/the-best-turkey-burgers/

2. Grilled Zucchini and Squash

Spice up the dinner menu by adding this savory side dish that also happens to be healthy. A grilled zucchini and squash side is a great option that pairs well with almost any main dish and is even kid-friendly. These ingredients also happen to be in-season during the summer, making it a convenient summer food. Zucchini and squash are good sources of vitamins A and C, potassium and fiber.

Find the recipe here:

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/222763/balsamic-grilled-zucchini/

3. Chicken and Veggie Skewers

Another great, tasty BBQ food is chicken and veggie skewers. Simple yet delicious, marinate the chicken cubes overnight and throw some veggies on the skewers and you have a flavorful, healthy meal. Veggies like onions, peppers, tomatoes and mushrooms are all great options to include on the skewer. Like the turkey burgers, the chicken is low in fat, high in protein and with this meal, and you gain all the nutrition from the veggies.

Find the recipe here:

https://ourbestbites.com/grilled-chicken-and-veggie-skewers/

4. Grilled Corn on the Cob

Simple and easy is the way to go during the summer in terms of cooking. Grilled corn on the cob is just that, simple, easy and healthy. Throw the corn on the grill and let the grill do the rest of the work. Lightly salting and using a low-fat butter can add some extra flavor to this light, healthy side-dish. Corn is a great source magnesium, potassium, vitamin C and even B vitamins.

Find the recipe here:

http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/super-simple-grilled-corn-on-the-cob-no-foil-no-husks-245576

5. Grilled Sweet Potatoes

There will be no turning back once you try these grilled sweet potatoes. Packed with flavor, this recipe will become your go-to for years to come. Perfect for all ages, the sweet potatoes are lightly coated in olive oil and salt, but the dressing is really what makes the dish. Sweet potatoes are full of fiber, vitamin A and C, potassium and B vitamins.

Find the recipe here:

https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/grilled_sweet_potatoes/

Dr. Barbara Edwards, Princeton doctor internal medicine practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.

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Summer Happenings at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center

Dr. Barbara R Edwards, Dr. Edwards Princeton, Dr. Barbara Edwards Princeton

Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center has undergone major changes in the past year. One of the most notable improvements for our patients this summer is the rollout of PennChart by Epic, an electronic medical record keeping system. The hospital, along with many of the outpatient departments went live on Saturday, June 9th and the launch went smoothly. Following the successful rollout will be six additional offices planned to go live August 14th. The system will be fully implemented throughout the hospital system this coming fall.

Benefits for Patients and Physicians

Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center has been working with Epic, a software development company who engineered this electronic health record system (EHR) for years. The goal of the EHR system is to unify all medical records for the entirety of the Penn Medicine hospital system. Along with making it easier for all medical staff to securely collect, store and share patient medical information system-wide, PennChart also has a patient portal. Within the portal, patients will have access to their records and will be able to schedule appointments and contact their physicians at their convenience.

Dr. Barbara R Edwards, Dr. Edwards Princeton, Dr. Barbara Edwards Princeton

Streamlined Medical Services

Hospitals all over the country have been using EHR systems similar to PennChart because they facilitate accurate patient diagnosing and prescribing of medicine. The goal of converting to complete electronic records is to make the patient experience more effective and efficient. With a patient’s entire medical history at the fingertips of the physician, the best care plan can be put into place. Epic’s EHR system is one of the top EHR systems on the market and is used in over 50% of hospitals in the United States. Penn Medicine has been working with Epic for over 10 years and is excited to see how this change will positively impact the hospital’s patients and physicians. The implementation of PennChart ensures the continuity and efficiency in the care of our patients, which is always our primary priority.

More information at https://www.epic.com/about.

Dr. Edwards, Princeton internist practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.