Sometimes, the only thing that will hit the spot is a big plate of chili cheese fries. Unfortunately, that same plate will also cause serious digestive problems, such as bloating, gas, and possible constipation or diarrhea. We didn’t mean to gross you out from the start, but that is just the reality of scarfing down a big plate of chili cheese nachos. Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about that with this healthier vegan rendition.

This recipe comes together with a handful of pantry ingredients, many of which are rich in fiber, healthy fats, and protein. To accelerate the prep and cook time of this recipe, we opted to use a can of cooked lentils, instead of dried lentils. If you want to soak and then boil the lentils, you can go that route, but expect to add a couple extra hours to the total recipe time. With the canned lentils (try your best to get unsalted or low-sodium), you can drain and rinse them prior to adding them to the pot with the seasonings. Cook for five minutes and your chili portion of the recipe is ready.

For the best chili cheese fries, you need crispy fries. You can bake the fries in the oven, or you can cook them in an air fryer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the fries in batches. Once they are nice and crispy on the outside, the fries are ready. While the fries are baking, you can make the cheese sauce, which is from another recipe, but it was so good that we used it again! Let us know how you like this vegan creation!

SHARE:

The post Vegan Chili Cheese Fries appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

This spinach, banana, and almond butter smoothie tastes like it was made for a superhero. Although it doesn’t give you the ability to fly or superman-like strength, it does supercharge your body with healthy fats, protein, fiber, and more. Spinach, although it colors the smoothie green, takes a back seat to the sweetness of the banana and nuttiness of the almond butter. There’s no way to be sure, but legend has it that your taste buds do a little dance after every slurp because the smoothie is that tasty! The almond butter really adds that extra oomph of flavor, so much so that you’ll be slurping it down faster than you can say “superfood.”

Where do we begin in regards to the health benefits? This smoothie is like a professional shot to the liver, but in the best way possible. Spinach is full of iron and fiber, which works to keep you satiated and fuller for longer. Bananas offer a lot of a potassium, which not only works to keep sodium levels down, but also aids muscle recovery. The almond butter is an excellent source of protein and healthy fats, not to mention nutty goodness. When you add all of those ingredients together, even though it isn’t the longest list of ingredients, you end up with a tasty, nutritious smoothie. One glass may even have you feeling like Popeye! Just be sure to brush your teeth after because you don’t want to walk around with spinach in your teeth all day.

SHARE:

The post Spinach, Almond Butter, & Banana Smoothie appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Dining out with high cholesterol can seem like an unenjoyable experience, but only if you don’t know how to tackle the menu. You can still enjoy family nights out, festive occasions, or even romantic dinners at your favorite restaurants. All you have to do is educate yourself about the best low-cholesterol choices. 

In order to understand how to manage high cholesterol, you have to know what you’re eating. Reading the menu carefully and identifying problematic ingredients is paramount. How do you know what to look for, though? While going to healthier restaurants and making your own food is the best plan of attack, it may not be sustainable for everyone. This article aims to educate you on how to dine out if you have high cholesterol. 

If Eating Chinese Cuisine, Go For Steamed Instead Of Fried

Chinese restaurants usually have a lot of fried food options, but there are many low-cholesterol options to choose from. Instead of enjoying deep fried egg rolls, opt for spring rolls that are steamed. Better yet, see if you can roll the ingredients in lettuce leaves! Steamed rice is a better choice than fried rice, but try to ask for brown rice if it is available. For your main course options, seafood can be a good choice, especially if the protein is steamed. Boiled or broiled seafood entrees are also good options. Just remember to eat shrimp in moderation and choose entrees with lots of vegetables. Resist dishes with a lot of oil if you want to care for your arteries!

Go For Vegetables And Skip Ghee At Indian Restaurants

There are many vegetarian dishes at Indian restaurants, which is great if you want to eat on the healthier side. Chickpeas are a common ingredient in Indian cuisine, and a heart-healthy legume to consider. Try to order dishes with plenty of vegetables, but stay away from heavy dishes with ghee, which is clarified butter made from buffalo’s or cow’s milk. Just as in the above explanation about Chinese cuisine, ask if the dishes can be made with minimal oil, provided the dishes are made to order and not in large pots. 

Skip The Sour Cream At Mexican Restaurants

Believe it or not, one of the healthier dishes (and perhaps most eye-catching) to order when eating at a Mexican restaurant is fajitas. They usually contain a lot of vegetables and don’t have fried components. Black beans tend to be a better choice, since they are rich in soluble fiber. That said, some restaurants over-salt the beans, no matter what type they are. Try to choose corn tortillas instead of white flour tortillas, because corn tortillas contain fewer calories and less sodium, sugar, and saturated fat than flour tortillas. If possible, choose grilled fish as your protein because it is a leaner protein with lower fat and sodium content. Lastly, resist ordering nachos as an appetizer and skip the sour cream and queso, opting for pico de gallo instead.

Avoid Saturated Fats And Limit Fatty Meals

There has been an interesting development in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans. It no longer includes a specific limit for dietary cholesterol, but that isn’t an excuse to eat carelessly. The USDA guidelines and other dietitians advise people to eat as little cholesterol as possible. One study followed 30,000 men and women who did not have cardiovascular disease at the beginning of the study. After a 17-year period, researchers noted that for every 300 milligrams of cholesterol that participants added to their daily diet, they increased their risk of cardiovascular disease by 17%. 

Health experts suggest that cholesterol you eat impacts your blood cholesterol levels, but that isn’t the only factor to consider. Maintaining a balanced diet is the best way to manage your cholesterol levels. Reducing your consumption of meat, especially processed meats like bacon, sausage, and deli meat, can go a long way in reducing cholesterol and your risk of heart disease. Many foods that are rich in cholesterol, including high-fat dairy, bakery items, and fatty meats, also have a higher content of saturated or trans fats, both of which elevate cholesterol. For this reason, do your best to avoid these foods when you dine out. Such foods include pizza, burgers, tacos, sandwiches, and casseroles. Additionally, watch out for cheesy foods, palm oil, cookies, snack foods, and cakes. 

SHARE:

The post How To Dine Out When You Have High Cholesterol appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

A lot of people look forward to the Thanksgiving feast for months. Is it a healthy holiday? Absolutely not, but people excuse themselves from diet restrictions on Turkey Day to gorge on the impressive spread. Between the casseroles, turkey, stuffing, pies, mashed potatoes, and endless selection of other sides, it’s safe to say that you can easily rack up the calories. In fact, the Calorie Control Council estimates that the average American consumes about 4,500 calories during the Thanksgiving feast alone. That doesn’t even include the rest of the day!

Just in case you were wondering, 4,500 calories is more than double the recommended daily calories you should consume in a day. Research has shown that Americans experience an average weight increase of up to 0.2% over Thanksgiving, and 0.4% over Christmas. That may not sound like a lot, but the average person doesn’t lose that weight either. Year after year, this can accumulate and cause a lot of weight gain. 

While there are certain dishes that you can only get on Thanksgiving, exercise moderation and control when you encounter these foods. Most foods are on the “naughty list,” dietarily speaking, but that doesn’t mean you have to avoid them entirely. Enter the Thanksgiving feast with a game plan and do your best to control your portions, especially in regards to the following unhealthy dishes. 

Stuffing

People love to gobble up stuffing, which is nothing but a calorically dense, carbohydrate-rich, fattening side dish. It does taste good though, right? Most people use store bought stuffing mixes, which contain preservatives, excess sodium, and processed ingredients. Plus, stuffing often contains bacon, giblets, and sausage, which can increase the calories to 500 per cup. Many people often eat more than two cups, accounting for 1,000 calories with one dish. Get a small portion, or make stuffing a little healthier by using less meat in your stuffing. Consider reducing the butter content by 50% and using lower-calorie and lower-sodium ingredients as well. 

Green Bean Casserole

You either love it or you hate it, but green bean casserole is a staple on many holiday tables. It’s a vegetable dish, so how can it be unhealthy? Even though it may be the only green you see on the Thanksgiving menu, it tends to contain 200 calories, 22 grams of carbs, 8 grams of saturated fat, and 574 milligrams of sodium per serving. Keep in mind that most people use canned creamy soup and fried onions, increasing the sodium, fat, and calorie content. If you do make it, try to use fresh green beans and low-sodium soup to keep the sodium down. 

Pecan Pie

Perhaps the most calorically-dense item at the Thanksgiving feast, pecan pie tends to be a family favorite. You may want to rethink your dessert choice, now that you know a slice of this pie contains over 500 calories and a ton of sugar. Gut health experts agree that pecan pie is one of the worst food options at Thanksgiving. Try something a little lighter, less buttery, and less sugary for dessert. Baked apples with cinnamon topped with Greek yogurt are quite lovely!

Macaroni And Cheese

Traditional mac and cheese recipes call for milk, butter, piles of cheese, and potentially more milk and butter. Plus, you have the enriched flour and carbs from macaroni. That means that this staple side dish can topple over the 1,000-calorie mark per serving. It’s difficult to lighten this serving, but you can do it. Use smaller amounts of flavorful cheese like sharp cheddar or pepper Jack, and consider supplementing with reduced fat cheese. Add vegetables like chopped cauliflower or cubed butternut squash to your mac and cheese to replace some of the pasta. 

Candied Yams

For some people, Thanksgiving is not complete without a dish of yams topped with golden-brown marshmallows. Unfortunately, this dish contains about 450 calories per serving due to the artery-clogging fat from all the cream and butter. Plus, the processed, sugary marshmallows only add unhealthy preservatives and chemicals to the mix. There are so many ways to make this sweet potato dish a lot healthier! Use low-fat milk and flour for thickening instead of using heavy cream. Lastly, make a lighter, crunchy topping with some chopped pecans and a few pinches of brown sugar. 

Mashed Potatoes

Potatoes have an impressive nutritional profile, but the copious amounts of butter, cream, and milk make mashed potatoes quite an unhealthy dish. In fact, an average serving of mashed potatoes contains 400 calories. Drizzle a hefty amount of gravy on the potatoes and you raise the calorie count by 200. There are so many alternatives to mashed potatoes that offer more nutritional value, so long as you skip all the butter and cream. Opt for mashed cauliflower or a combination of potatoes and root vegetables like parsnips. Celeriac is another great potato alternative!

SHARE:

The post These Are The Worst Thanksgiving Dishes For Your Health appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

There are many things to love about Thanksgiving, and overeating is not one of them. It’s safe to say that most people eat enough carbs during the big meal to last them an entire month. Between the stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, pie, and other carbs, the Thanksgiving meal accounts for more than 3,000 calories and nearly 160 grams of fat. Those numbers are based on a full-on binge, and even though it only happens once a year, other factors like sodium and sugar can take a toll on your health. 

You don’t have to overindulge just because it’s Thanksgiving. It’s just so easy to add delicious options to your plate! We get that, but is it worth it to feel bloated and sick? Nutritionists suggest that it is better to choose smaller portions first and then go back for seconds of the foods you enjoyed the most. How exactly do you eyeball the right-size portions, though? Well, we have a little cheat sheet for serving sizes of the most common holiday dishes. Hopefully, this information helps you better navigate how much food you put on your plate. 

Mashed Potatoes

Is the Thanksgiving meal complete without mashed potatoes? Potatoes offer some health benefits, but all the salt, butter, and cream that goes into mashed potatoes renders them unhealthy. Not to mention the fact that people drown them in fattening gravy. Ideally, you will only serve yourself a half-cup of mashed potatoes, which registers 119 calories and 18 grams of carbs. Sticking to a scoop that is roughly the size of a 25-foot tape measure is best for your help. 

Gravy

You can’t have the aforementioned mashed potatoes without gravy, right? Some consider that a sin! People get carried away with gravy, ladling it over the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and even the occasional slice of pie. Nutritionists recommend the serving size for gravy to be no more than one-quarter cup, which is about one-and-one-half shot glasses. Gravy can be very high in sodium, so take it easy with the ladle, especially if you need to keep an eye on your blood pressure. 

Green Bean Casserole

Some people cannot let Thanksgiving happen without green bean casserole, while others don’t care for it at all. Vegetables are not usually the issue at Thanksgiving, but they are when you smother them in mushroom cream sauce and packaged fried onions. An eight-ounce can of cream of mushroom soup is very high in sodium and fat. The average green bean casserole yields about 735 milligrams of sodium and five grams of fat per cup. If you serve this dish at your Thanksgiving, try to keep the portion size to one cup. You can also go a little healthier, foregoing the cream of mushroom soup and fried onions and simply sauté green beans in olive oil with garlic, onions, and lemon juice.

Pie

There is never a shortage of pie at the Thanksgiving table. One could say that there are too many pies available to everyone. Desserts sneak a lot of extra calories, sugars, and carbs. A standard slice of pumpkin pie clocks more than 300 calories, not including whipped cream or cream cheese frosting. A slice of apple pie is very comparable, calorically speaking, but pecan pie is the densest and contains nearly double the calories. For a slice of pumpkin or apple pie, one slice is sufficient (about the size of a kitchen sponge). Cut that serving size in half if you go for pecan pie. 

Stuffing

Stuffing is like the mystery meat of starches, in that recipes vary so much (nutritionally speaking) depending on how you prepare the dish. Some people just use the classic box of stuffing mix and add in some onions, carrots, and celery. Others make their own croutons from whole-wheat bread and incorporate more vegetables, herbs, seasonings, nuts, and homemade vegetable stock. So many stuffings, however, contain tons of butter, bacon, sausage, duck fat, or even lard. This is not a dish that contains a lot of fiber or healthy nutrients. For that reason, nutritionists recommend the serving size be a half-cup.

SHARE:

The post Thanksgiving Portion Control: 5 Genius Hacks appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Caesar salad is potentially the most famous salad of all the salads. Parmesan cheese, romaine lettuce, croutons, and caesar dressing. Those are the components to a caesar salad, which was created by chef Caesar Cardini, an Italian chef who owned a restaurant in Tijuana, Mexico. The unfortunate reality is that most caesar dressings are incredibly fattening, high in sodium, and loaded with added sugar. Plus, these dressings aren’t vegan. 

Traditional caesar dressing contains anchovies, raw egg yolk, raw garlic, mustard, lemon juice, and parmesan cheese. What you get is a super zesty, garlicky, savory dressing that pairs beautifully with fresh, simple salads. This vegan caesar dressing is just as zesty and flavorful, only it doesn’t have anchovies, dairy, or eggs. In fact, you only need five core ingredients, plus a little water, sea salt, and black pepper to create this dressing. 

The dressing calls for tahini, lemon juice, garlic, capers, mustard, water, and seasonings. The reason that you need capers is because of the pickled, briny flavor they offer. Not only do they add a salty boost, but they seem to act similarly to the anchovies. You’ll also need a small amount of the brine, in which the capers are preserved. Blend everything together and you have yourself a tasty dressing to enjoy whenever you want!

SHARE:

The post The Best Vegan Caesar Dressing appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

We don’t know who needs to hear this, but sugar isn’t doing your body any favors, especially when it comes to excess sugar intake. Added sugars are the real danger because natural sugars, which exist in whole, unprocessed foods, supply the body with natural energy in appropriate amounts. Plus, natural sugars come with other nutrients like fiber, protein, vitamins, and antioxidants. 

Added sugars rapidly cause a spike in blood sugar, creating a cascade of metabolically damaging reactions. When you regularly consume large amounts of added sugars, you increase the risk of fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes, systemic inflammation, and insulin resistance. All of those health conditions are linked to overweight and obesity. 

Although the U.S. dietary guidelines suggest that people limit added sugar intake to less than 10% of their daily calories, three out of four people typically exceed that percentage. You may think that you are safe if you don’t add sugar to food, but several foods, which aren’t even sweet, account for 90% of added sugar intake. Here are the most common foods that are sugar bombs. 

Canned Soup

Canned soup is not only a source of excess sodium, but also lots of sugar. Tomato soups tend to contain the highest levels of added sugars, with certain condensed varieties containing 20 grams (g) of sugar per one-cup serving. The reason that manufacturers add so much sugar to tomato soups is to balance the taste and reduce acidity. Always check soup labels carefully before you buy them. 

Tomato Sauce

Sticking in the same lane as tomato soups, store bought tomato sauces in jars are sneaky sources of sugar. These sauces are convenient, but they contain high amounts of both sodium and sugar. Once again, the sugar cuts the acidic taste of tomatoes and helps extend the shelf life. Certain jarred sauces contain four grams of sugar in a half-cup, per the USDA. It is very easy to make your own tomato sauce without the need for excess sodium and sugar!

Granola And Snack Bars

When you enjoy granola for breakfast, are you actually eating glorified sugar? When you fuel up with a snack bar, are you overloading your body with sugar? Both granola and snack bars sound much healthier than they actually are. Some bars contain upwards of 10 grams of sugar, along with other processed ingredients that aren’t conducive to your health. If you see names for sugar at the top of the ingredient list, avoid those products. Watch out for brown sugar syrup, corn syrup, fructose, and other names for sugars. Instead, opt for a handful of raw nuts or unsweetened dried fruit.

Dried Fruit

Seemingly healthy, dried fruit can contain a lot of sugar, if you purchase certain varieties. A single handful of dried cranberries, for example, can contain 29 g of added sugars. That’s in addition to the naturally occurring sugars that already exist in cranberries. Just remember that added sugar levels tend to be higher in fruits that are naturally tart. If you buy dried fruit, look for options that only list the fruit as the ingredient. You want to avoid added sugars and preservatives like sulfur dioxide. 

Salad Dressing

Salad dressing is another store bought item that contains unhealthy fats, high levels of sodium, and lots of added sugars. The sad reality is that dressings seem healthy because they go on salads. Some dressings contain six grams of sugar per serving (about 2 tablespoons). Fat-free dressings tend to have the most added sugars and sodium because removing fat reduces flavor. Your best bet is to make your own dressings with olive oil, balsamic/apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and seasonings. 

Flavored Yogurt

Shouldn’t yogurt be on your list of healthy foods to enjoy for breakfast? This all depends on the type of yogurt you purchase. Plain Greek yogurt, for example, is a great source of probiotics and an excellent breakfast food option. If you buy flavored yogurts, or varieties that contain fruit jam on the top or bottom, the sugar content will be very high. Read the ingredients because you need to steer clear if you see sugar in the top three ingredients on the list. Enjoying plain yogurt with fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, cinnamon, or unsweetened dried fruit provide great flavors and nutrients.

SHARE:

The post 6 Foods With More Sugar Than You Think appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Honeydew melon, or honeymelon, is a fruit that belongs to the cucumis melo (muskmelon) species. It exhibits a light green sweet flesh, which is concealed by a white-yellow skin. Honeydew melons are very similar in size to cantaloupes and mini watermelons, and the consensus is that they are the sweetest of all melons. 

Although you can typically buy honeydew melons year round, peak season is from July to September. Honeydew exhibits a diverse nutritional profile, which is potentially honeydew’s most valuable asset. Among the vitamins and minerals, it contains beneficial plant compounds that are responsible for some of its many health benefits. The following nutritional information is based off of a one-cup serving of honeydew:

• Calories: 64
• Carbohydrates: 16 grams (g)
• Protein: 1 g
• Fat: 0 g
• Fiber: 1.4 g
• Folate: 8% of the recommended daily intake (RDI)
• Potassium: 12% of the RDI
• Vitamin C: 53% of the RDI
• Vitamin K: 6% of the RDI
• Magnesium: 4% of the RDI
• Vitamin B6: 8% of the RDI

Contains Vital Nutrients For Bone Health

Honeydew melon is a great source of magnesium, folate, and vitamin K, three nutrients that are crucial for maintaining strong bones. Folate works to break down homocysteine, a necessary function because elevated levels reduce bone mineral density over time. More research is necessary to draw conclusive evidence between the relationship of folate and bone health, though. Vitamin K, on the other hand, is essential for osteocalcin production, a structural protein in the bones. Adequate vitamin K levels, then, can help encourage healthier, stronger bones. 

May Improve Blood Sugar Control

There are several research studies that indicate that eating fruits, such as honeydew melon, may help regulate blood sugar levels. One study monitored half a million people for seven years. Researchers noted that those who consumed fresh fruit daily were 12% less likely to develop diabetes, compared to people who hardly ate fruit. In the participants who already had diabetes at the start of the study, eating fruit at least three times per week reduced diabetes-related health complications by 13-28%. 

Supports Hydration

One cup of honeydew provides more than five ounces of water. By consuming enough water, you can avoid dehydration. If the body enters a state of dehydration, it overheats and you can experience problems with mood, thinking, digestion, and kidneys. Drinking enough water can help flush waste from the body and lubricate and cushion the joints. According to one study, people who hydrate sufficiently develop fewer chronic conditions, including heart and lung disease. Well-hydrated people tend to live longer compared to people who don’t drink enough fluids. 

May Regulate Blood Pressure 

Because honeydew is low in sodium and high in potassium, it may help with blood pressure management. Potassium works to control blood pressure by causing the kidneys to excrete excess sodium. In excess, sodium is a nutrient that can cause high blood pressure. Potassium also works to reduce tension in blood vessels walls, which can further reduce blood pressure. Additional research shows that eating more fruits and vegetables that produce nitric oxide can help prevent and treat lifestyle-related disease, such as high blood pressure. 

May Support Skin Health

Honeydew is a great source of vitamin C, water, and anti-inflammatory compounds, all of which benefit the skin. Skin cells are dependent on vitamin C to produce collagen and regulate the collagen and elastin balance. It is this delicate balance that gives the skin its volume and shape. If you don’t consume enough vitamin C, you may experience dull-looking skin and skin inflammation. In fact, several studies confirm that low vitamin C levels are linked to aged or sun-damaged skin. 

May Improve Digestion 

Honeydew contains a lot of fiber, an integral nutrient for optimal digestive function. There is a lot of evidence that supports the link between adequate fiber intake and a healthy gut. Fiber works to slow blood sugar response, encourage bowel regularity, and promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria.

SHARE:

The post 6 Health Benefits Of Honeydew Melon appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

Americans love table salt, and they eat too much of it. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends keeping daily intake of sodium to under 2,300 milligrams (mg), most American adults exceed this figure. In fact, it’s estimated that people eat an average of 3,000 to 3,500 mg of sodium per day. All of that excess sodium increases your blood volume and with it, your blood pressure. High blood pressure increases your risk of serious conditions like stroke and heart disease. 

Sodium is a necessary electrolyte that the body needs for many bodily functions. For example, the body requires sodium to maintain fluid balance, transmit nerve impulses, and to maintain muscle movement. If you are worried about high blood pressure, especially if it runs in your family, you should aim to limit your sodium intake to 1,500 mg per day. Cutting back to 1,000 mg per day could improve your blood pressure even more. 

While most people are mindful to steer clear of certain salty foods, they may not be aware of sneaky sodium bombs. French fries and movie theater popcorn are common high-sodium foods, but you need to be on the lookout for less obvious sodium sources. From canned veggies to bread and tortillas, beware of the following salty foods. 

Vegetable Juice

In theory, vegetable juice should be healthy, but it is a sneaky source of salt. Always read your labels! Sodium content is always listed per serving size, and a low-sodium serving should be 140 mg or less, according to the National Academy of Sciences. A can of tomato juice can contain more than 900 mg of sodium per an 11.5-ounce serving. If you want to enjoy healthy vegetable juice, make your own with a juicer or strain a blended vegetable mixture through a mesh sieve. 

Pasta Sauce

Pasta is an easy dinner choice because it doesn’t require a lot of time or effort, especially if you use jarred sauce. If you want to be more mindful of your sodium intake, you may want to rethink how you prepare your dish. On average, one cup of spaghetti sauce has nearly 1,000 mg of sodium. If you enjoy meat sauce, then you have to factor in additional sodium from the sausage or meatballs. Alternatively, make your own sauce by using ripe plum tomatoes, garlic, onion, and fresh basil. You can also toss your noodles with fresh vegetables and olive oil for a healthier, sauce-free pasta dish. 

Breakfast Cereal

A large percentage of the sodium that most Americans consume comes from cereals and other processed foods. One cup of cornflakes, for example, contains almost 270 mg of sodium, which can add up quickly if you don’t measure portion sizes. When you get into sugary cereals, you enter a world of food dyes, artificial flavors, and added sugars, all of which sabotage your health. Pre-made pancake mixes can also be secret sources of sodium, exhibiting over 450 mg of sodium per serving. 

Deli Meats

Sliced deli meats, hot dogs, bacon, and even turkey bacon are packed with sodium. One hot dog, for example, can contain as much as 700 mg of sodium. Two slices of regular deli ham can have close to 250 mg of sodium. People often consume more than one serving of these types of food, which only increases sodium intake. If you want to enjoy animal protein, opt for grass-fed/grass-finished beef or wild caught fish. Always check nutrition labels on meats because you never know if they are “plumped” with sodium to help them retain moisture. 

Canned Soups And Vegetables

Anything in a can typically contains sodium, especially canned vegetables and soups. That’s why you always have to check the nutrition labels and choose low-sodium products or “no salt added” products. A 10.5-ounce can of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup contains 2,225 mg of sodium, which nearly accounts for the recommended daily allowance. Canned beans or vegetables can contain nearly four servings of about 400 mg of sodium or more. To reduce your sodium intake, opt for fresh vegetables instead of canned varieties. If you want soup, use low-sodium stocks with fresh vegetables!

Bread And Tortillas

A six-inch flour tortilla can contain more than 400 mg of sodium, but this depends on the brand and ingredients. That number only increases as the tortillas get bigger. If you want to eat tortillas, opt for plain corn tortillas, which may only contain 15 mg of sodium per tortilla. Another sneaky source of sodium is bread, with an average slice containing 100-200 mg of sodium. This, of course, depends on the type of bread and the brand. If you want to watch your sodium and carb intake, opt for a lettuce wrap or portobello mushroom bun for more nutrients and extra flavor.

SHARE:

The post 6 High-Sodium Foods You Should Avoid appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.

If you want to properly hydrate your body, you need more than high quality H20. Electrolytes are essential for hydration because they help cells maintain fluid balance. They direct water and soluble fiber to areas of the body that need them. During exercise or in hot weather, you sweat and lose electrolytes, and it is your job to replenish those charged particles to keep a healthy balance within your body.

A lot of people think that sports drinks are the only way to intake electrolytes. Most of these bottled beverages contain added sugars, artificial dyes, and preservatives. And drinking those beverages while sedentary doesn’t do anything for your body. One of the easiest ways to consume electrolytes is by eating watermelon, or drinking freshly made watermelon juice. This is because watermelons contain magnesium, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus, in addition to L-citrulline, an amino acid that may enhance athletic performance.

The lime and ginger help to give this juice a refreshing taste. Plus, ginger exhibits anti-nausea properties, which can help during the recovery period post exercise. This is especially helpful after extreme activities, where a queasy stomach is common after working out. Fruit juice alone is low in salt, which is surprisingly a crucial component for optimal hydration. For this reason, we added a pinch of Himalayan salt to the juice. Just don’t add too much salt, or this juice may taste off-putting and it may send you straight to the restroom.

SHARE:

The post Homemade Electrolyte Punch appeared first on Dherbs - The Best All Natural Herbal Remedies & Products.