Recently, I came across a new idea (at least it’s new to me) – carb cycling. So what is this thing all about? Basically, you do not starve yourself. You have days when you eat normally (with regards to carbs) and there are days when you limit your carb intake. Take note, the word I used was limit and not prohibit.

So on the days that you are not limiting carbs, the suggested intake is about 300 to 400 grams (per day). Experts say that this is around the normal amount the average person eats anyway. On the days that you limit your carb intake, then try to eat less than 300 grams. The trick is to watch what you eat. Try to eat more of healthy carbs such as fruits and vegetables. Avoid or limit white flour and sugar.

Following this program, you can still get the energy you need from carbs without having to starve yourself to death. In this way, you will not feel deprived and you won’t have the tendency to go on a binge. Sounds good to me!

How can this happen? In the winter, houses need to be warm and insulated. Windows are most often closed to keep the cold out and the heat in. As a result, there is usually poor ventilation within. The air is not naturally replenished inside. Molds can be a complication as well due to the dampness in the air. To make matters worse, if there is a smoker in the family and he smokes within the house, the air is definitely more polluted.

As such, you should not take the matter of indoor health care lightly. At this time of the year when many people spend a lot of time inside the house, you should take care to ensure that the conditions inside the house contribute to your health and not the contrary. First thing you must consider are activities that pollute the air. Smoking was already mentioned. Avoid smoking within enclosed premises.

Using air fresheners and deodorizers may seem like a good idea but if not used properly, you may contribute to adding allergens inside the house. If you do need to use such products, make sure that there is at least a short period of time wherein you can get fresh air inside.

What many of us may not be aware of is that we consume way too many calories within the day. If we are aware of our caloric intake, then we can cut back and hasten the process of losing weight. Here are some tips to help you.

When you’re on a night out with friends…
Did you know that beer packs a LOT of calories? If you’re a beer drinker, your diet might be all for nothing. Instead of drinking beer, why not drink wine instead? If you cannot go without beer, then at least drink the light kind.

If you’re a cocktail person, stay away from frozen varieties. The simple reason is that the latter kind contains more mixes than the plain liquor on the rocks – more calories for slushies!

Love those chicken wings and fries? I don’t blame you – a drinking night is not complete without some sort of bar chow. To cut back on calories, avoid the rich dips such as ranch. Instead, load up on hot sauce and salsa.

Water up! Drinking water in between glasses (or bottles) is a good way to pace yourself. This will not only help you consume less calories but it will also keep you from getting a hangover the next morning.

In the next post, let’s talk about more tips.

But what about the economic crisis that we have been experiencing all over the world? Could it bring about something good as well? According to researchers, life expectancy increased during the time of the Great Depression – by 1.9 years to be exact. On the other hand, a 5 percent rise in the GDP lowered life expectancy by one or two months. Other studies have yielded similar results, not only in the United States but also in other countries.

So why is this the case? One possible reason is that people tend to drink and smoke less during a recession. More so, people also tend to eat out less and cook at home more. Another possible reason is that people tend to bond together and help out each other more in times of need. This level of social cohesion and support may actually help promote better overall health, hence the increase in life expectancy.

It does make sense, and you probably have had similar experiences in the past several years. Bottom line? Take control of what you can – your lifestyle and health habits – and make the best of the situation!

But did you know that some drinks contain way too many calories for your own good? Some drinks in the market actually contain enough calories to serve as a full meal! Yahoo Health recently featured some of the worst drinks there are. Let’s take a look at them, shall we?

Baskin-Robbins: Large Ice Cream Soda with Vanilla Ice Cream Float. This drink won the “Worst Float Award.” With 960 calories, 40 g of fat, and 136 g of sugar, a 32-ounce float can replace your lunch. I think that they’ve taken this out of their menu, though.

For the worst ice blended coffee drink, Così Gigante Double OH! Arctic (23 ounces) takes home the prize. A whopping 1,210 calories, 19 g of fat, and 259 g of carbohydrates – that’s what’s packed into this coffee drink. A strong caffeine jolt PLUS tons of sugar will certainly make you high.

And you thought that was bad? Here is the winner of the “Worst Drink in America Award” – Cold Stone Creamery Gotta Have It PB&C Shake. The name itself should give you an idea what it’s all about. Yes, it is so GOOD but it is BAD as well: 2,010 calories, 131 g fat, and 153 g sugar.

Not turned off? Well, you should be; unless you really do not care about your health.

Last week, officials in Benton County in East Washington announced that the first bird of the season tested positive for the West Nile virus. Susan Shelton, an environmental health specialist for the county, stated that “we consider this another important warning sign that the virus is active in our area. We are increasing our efforts to remind residents to take steps to avoid mosquito bites and to help control mosquito populations in our community. Preventing West Nile virus is a community effort.”

In most cases, the people who get affected by the West Nile virus do not get seriously ill. In fact, most people who get the virus only experience mild symptoms. These include fever, headaches, body aches, rashes, and swollen lymph nodes. Indeed, unless a person tests positive for the virus, he may not even know that he had contracted it.

However, at the other end of the spectrum, serious cases have been reported. This virus can cause inflammation of the brain or encephalitis. As such, severe headaches should be reported to the doctor immediately.

Some tips to guard against the West Nile virus:

-Do not keep standing water around your home.
-Avoid staying outside at times when mosquitoes abound.
-Use insect repellant.
-Install or repair screens in your home.

Q: What are the symptoms of swine flu?
A: They are pretty much the same as the “normal” flu: headache, body aches, sore throat, runny nose, cough or respiratory symptoms, diarrhea, and vomiting. The most important symptom is fever (at least 38C or 100F). If you do not have a fever, then you most likely do not have the swine flu. Of course, if you do have a fever, it still does not mean that you have this flu variant. The only way to be sure is go get checked.

Q: Am I at risk of getting the swine flu?
A: Young children, pregnant women, and obese individuals may have a slightly higher risk of acquiring the swine flu. Individuals whose immune system may be weaker than normal (such as those who have another condition) may also be at a higher risk. If you belong to these groups, then yes, you may be at risk of getting the swine flu.

Q: Will a mask keep me safe from swine flu?
A: Not really, and definitely not if you do not practice good hygiene. Experts say that masks, even the high-filtration ones, will have very little benefit. You will be better off washing your hands a lot.

In the Health section of the New York Times, they featured this topic recently and presented some questions that can help you analyze the cause of your pain. Here are some of them.

Are you diabetic?
I didn’t realize this but poor blood circulation can cause feet pain due to the distance between the lower limbs and the heart. Alternatively, this can cause loss of feeling. For diabetics, this is dangerous because you might get wounds in your feet without realizing it. This can, in turn, lead to more complications such as infection or amputation.

Do you have flat feet or high arches?
Both conditions have adverse effects on the muscles on the feet. Either way, you need to wear the right kind of shoes that will help you deal with the condition and avoid pain.

Are your shoes the right size?
Some people may not realize it but their shoes may be contributing to the pain and discomfort they feet. The best way to go would be to have your feet actually measured and get the right size and type of shoes.

Needless to say, you have to see a podiatrist if you experience consistent pain in your feet.

You see, as this strain of the flu is very new, there really is no vaccine against it. Even if you had the flu shots earlier this year or last year, it really is not a defense against swine flu. So here are some tips to keep it at bay:

*Be aware. If you know that there are swine flu cases in your area, then you can take the necessary precautions.

*Wash your hands often. The best way to go would be to use good old fashioned soap and water. If you are on the go a lot and you do not have access to water and soap all the time, carry a bottle of hand sanitizer with you AND use it often.

*Avoid or minimize contact with sick people. Whether they have swine flu or not, you do not want to take the risk. Coming down with some other bug is sure to weaken your immune system and you do not want that happening right now.

The good news is that experts also say that this recent outbreak of swine flu is not as bad as it could be, and is in fact quite mild. AJC has this report:

Most cases of swine flu occurring in the United States appear to be mild, health officials said.

In fact, “estimates of the confirmed and probable cases in the United States is probably not the best indicator of transmission at this point,” the CDC’s Jernigan said. “The outbreak is not localized, but is spreading and appears to be expanding throughout the United States. This is an ongoing public health threat.”

Jernigan said there also seems to be more cases of flu generally in the United States — both the seasonal and the new H1N1 swine flu — than is usually seen at this time of the year. “There are 22 U.S. states that are reporting widespread or regional influenza activity, which is something that we would not expect at this time,” he said.

Mild or not, it is best to always be on the alert and to stay as healthy as possible.