Drink that can lead to diabetes

Why do we keep drinking diet soda? (Photo: Getty Images)

Yet another study confirms what people have been saying for ages: Stop drinking diet soda. Like, right now. Drinking just one 12-ounce can of an artificially sweetened fizzy drink per week can increase your risk of Type 2 diabetes by 33 percent, French researchers found. And given that most people don't stop at a single weekly serving, your real risk for diabetes could actually be much higher.

Boost Your Testosterones and Icrease Your Manpower

A testosterone shortage could cost you your life. As if losing muscle mass, bone density, and your sex drive to low T levels wasn't bad enough, new research shows the decline can also increase your risk of prostate cancer, heart disease, and even death. Follow these steps to lift your levels and lengthen your life.

1. Uncover Your Abs

As your waist size goes up, your testosterone goes down. In fact, a 4-point increase in your body mass index, about 30 extra pounds on a 5'10" guy, can accelerate your age-related T decline by 10 years. For a diet that'll help keep your gut in check, try the all-new Men's Health e-book, The Six-Pack Secret. You'll learn how to sculpt rock-solid abs in 4 weeks. We believe it's the most effective muscle-up weight loss program ever.

Bedbugs on the rise in U.S

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  ABC News - Top City for Bedbugs Named (ABC News)

Bedbugs are on the rise again in the U.S., which means business is booming for pest control companies like Orkin.

With increased travel, both internationally and domestically, and higher bedbug resistance to existing pesticides, Orkin has seen an almost 33 percent boost in bedbug business compared to 2011.

Tips to Protect Yourself From the Next Sandy

It is impossible to see the images of devastation without feeling incredible sadness for those who are suffering in the wake of the Sandy superstorm. From across America, people are reaching out to help those in need, sending money, sending repair crews, sending their prayers and wishes.

There is something else that everyone who was not affected by this storm can do right now: get prepared. Now is the time while you are seeing those images and thinking about what you would do if you were faced by this kind of tragedy.

It may seem as though this is something that couldn't happen to you but that is not true. In the past decade, every single state in America has had a Presidential Disaster Declaration. Every one. Severe storms are the most common disasters but we also face flooding, tornadoes, fires and earthquakes.

Surveys show that fewer than 10 percent of Americans have taken the basic steps to be ready for a disaster. The good news is, it is not hard to do. The bad news is that if you wait until the disaster has struck, it is too late. There are three basic steps: make a kit, make a plan and get informed. If you do these three things, you will be ready:
Tip 1: Make Sure You Have an Emergency Kit
Making a kit isn't hard to do. We purchased two kits from the Red Cross but you can easily assemble your own. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists what you need.
In short, you need to have a three-day supply of nonperishable food and water; flashlight and batteries, first-aid kit, 30-day supply of medications, copies of your medical information, cellphone and chargers and a battery-powered radio. You should also have supplies for your pets. They will need to evacuate or shelter as well. The CDC lists other optional items that you might want to consider.
Tip 2: Solidify Your Emergency Plan

Next, you want to make a plan. Go through the checklist and figure out the evacuation route from your community, and decide where you would meet and who you would call if you got separated from your family. The Red Cross created a Safe and Well website that allows people affected by a disaster to post information for their loved ones letting them know that they are OK. As part of your planning, make sure that you have smoke detectors and carbon-monoxide detectors in your home and that they have fresh batteries. Learn how to turn off your power, water and gas in case you are instructed to do so.

Tip 3: Know What Disasters to Look Out For
Lastly, get informed about the disasters most likely to hit your community and what you should do for each. It isn't hard. Most states have this information available on their public health or emergency preparedness websites. Figure out how your local authorities will share information. What are the radio stations they will use? What websites will have information? Then make sure you listen to warnings and heed the advice.
If a storm might hit your area next week, now is the time to fill your car with gas, check your batteries and plan where you would go if you are told to evacuate. And please, if you are told to evacuate, do so. Many lives are lost by people who decide to ride it out at home.
Yes, there will be times when communities are evacuated and the disaster does not materialize. Consider that a drill for the times when the evacuation was actually needed.
My advice is this: Do these things today. Now. When your mind is on the disaster we are seeing on television and in the papers. After the media coverage passes, it is too easy to forget about it. The steps you take today could save your life and the lives of your family.

Essental Fact To Help Deal With Leg Discomfort That Wakes Me up in the Night

What you likely have is called restless leg syndrome, a type of involuntary movement disorder that causes itchiness, tingling, prickling, and other vague symptoms that prompt sufferers to feel they have to move their legs. There are many ways to treat it, depending on the factors that might be triggering it.

One of the first things to consider is whether your problem might be related to another health issue. People who have restless leg syndrome often suffer from some other condition, such as diabetes, arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, iron deficiency anemia, vitamin B deficiency, thyroid disease, or kidney problems.

If you know you have one of these other conditions, make sure you're getting good treatment to keep it under control. And be sure to mention to your doctor that you're also experiencing restless leg syndrome, since the conditions could be related.

Many medications can also cause restless leg syndrome, so you'll need to discuss with your doctor whether you should change medications or dosages to help you sleep better. Some antidepressants, some antihistamines, and lithium, for example, are known to bring on restless leg syndrome.

Diabetes Review

Type 2 diabetes touches many lives but is particularly prevalent among older, overweight, sedentary adults. Fortunately, this chronic disorder can often be managed through lifestyle changes in combination with medication and regular health checks. But left untreated or poorly managed, diabetes can cause numerous health problems.

7 Astonishing Reasons Why You Wake Up Tired

When you can't sleep, you know it. But what about when you can, yet you wake up feeling tired and achy or you're groggy again a few hours later? What's that about? All too often, it turns out, the problem is one that doesn't keep you awake but does sabotage your sleep in more subtle ways, so the hours you spend in bed don't refresh and revitalize you the way they should. Here are seven signs that you have a sleep problem that's secretly stealing your rest.

1. You sleep poorly and wake with a bad taste in your mouth.

What it's a symptom of: "Morning mouth" can be a signal of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or asymptomatic heartburn. Recent sleep studies have shown that up to 25 percent of people who report sleeping poorly without a diagnosed cause have sleep-related acid reflux. But because they don't have obvious heartburn symptoms, they're unaware of the condition.

How it interrupts sleep: Acid reflux causes the body to partially awaken from sleep, even when there are no symptoms of heartburn. The result of this "silent reflux" is fitful, uneven sleep, but when you wake up digestion is complete and you can't tell why you slept poorly.

A Perfect Pre-Race Breakfast

What—and how much—should you eat and drink before you run?

If you’re like most runners, you spend the final days before your half- or full marathon feasting on high-carbohydrate foods. But a good nutrition plan doesn’t end with that last plate of pasta the night before your race. Just as important is your prerace breakfast, which helps restock the liver glycogen (or stored energy) that got depleted overnight. “Liver glycogen keeps your blood-sugar level steady during exercise,” says Jackie Berning, Ph.D., R.D., sports nutrition and metabolism professor at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Your morning meal provides fuel for your brain, helping to sustain motivation and concentration during a long race. But just how much should you eat on race morning to optimize your performance? Probably more than you think. Here’s how to choose the ideal amount and combination of foods and fluids to power you through to a strong finish.

THE RIGHT STUFF
The best prerace breakfast consists mainly of carbohydrates, since they’re digested most rapidly and are your body’s preferred fuel source, says Penny Wilson, Ph.D., a Houston-based registered dietitian who works with endurance athletes. Small amounts of protein will help stave off hunger during the later miles. Limit or avoid fat and fiber; the former takes too long to digest, while the latter can cause bloating and GI problems. “I recommend foods like a bagel and peanut butter, oatmeal with milk and dried fruit, or yogurt and toast,” says Wilson. Other good options include a banana and high-carb energy bar, waffle with syrup and strawberries, or even a bowl of rice.
For runners who tend to feel queasy on race morning, sticking with liquid carbs can help prevent GI problems while still providing energy and hydration. Smoothies, juices, and sports drinks all pack quick-digesting carbs that empty easily from your stomach, says Wilson.

5 Foods That Help You Lose Weight

    Don't get sucked into the idea that food is your enemy when you're trying to lose weight. In fact, it's just the opposite: Befriend the right foods, and the pounds are much more likely to peel off than if you just try to cut calories across the board. Here, seven foods known to nutritionists to boost your body's fat-burning potential.
1. OatsWait a minute -- aren't oats a carb? Yes and no. Oats are a whole grain, and they're high on what nutritionists call the "satiety index," meaning oats have tremendous power to make you feel full. Not only that, they're also high in soluble fiber, so they cut cholesterol and blood fat. Oats digest slowly, so they don't raise your blood sugar, and they keep you feeling filled up well into the late morning. Old-fashioned steel-cut and rolled oats, with up to 5 grams of fiber per serving, are best, but even instant oatmeal has 3 to 4 grams of fiber per serving.

2. Eggs

Nutritionists have been trying for some years to restore the reputation of the lowly egg. No longer thought to be a cholesterol-booster (eggs contain a different type of cholesterol than that in humans), eggs are a concentrated form of animal protein without the added fat that comes with meat. Dietary studies have repeatedly found that when people eat an egg every morning in addition to (or instead of) toast or cereal, they lose twice as much weight as those who eat a breakfast that's dominated by carbs.