HealthBeat: Wellness & Nutrition

There's a new health craze sweeping the nation, and it's made its way to KELOLAND. Eating out and eating healthy.

Nothing says the 4th of July like a good ol' hotdog or hamburger. But to make sure your Independence Day doesn't give you any of your own fireworks in the stomach, there are a few safety tips to follow. 


First make sure your hands and cooking surfaces are clean. The same utensils and plates that are used on your raw meat should not come in contact with the cooked meat.

If you literally drag yourself to the gym every day, or every week, you're not alone. Working out may seem like a chore, especially if you're solo. 


But working out with someone else or as a team, may prove to be more beneficial. The Avera McKennan Weight Loss Challenge has those fighting weight gain, fighting it together.

We've all heard the saying, a child's mind is like a sponge, and that goes for just about everything...including what they hear about the foods they eat.
But a group of kids in Sioux Falls are getting an opportunity to change the way kids all over the world learn about being healthy. 



KIds can easily get mixed messages when it comes to living and eating healthy.

With the price of food these days, you want to make sure you make the most of it when you get it home. But as Jaine Andrews shows you in tonight's HealthBeat, there are things everyone does in the kitchen to rob their food of some of its nutrients. 


No matter how many HealthBeat stories you watch or how many articles you read, it's easy to get mixed up about food.

Most American adults have had their cholesterol level checked at one time or another. And while many people know that number needs to be below 200, that's only part of the story. 


It's not enough to know just one number when it comes to your cholesterol level. Doctors say there are three other numbers you should consider when decoding your cholesterol count. 



It sounds simple enough.

Did you get a President's Physical Fitness Award in elementary school? If not, the government's giving you another chance to prove you're in shape. 


The test is being called the "President's Challenge" and it incorporates several of the exercises that millions of school kids undertake each year as they aim for a certificate signed by the President. 



Remember this? The much coveted blue patch you nearly died trying to earn? They managed to cut the rope climb over the years, but the curl-ups and the one mile run are still required.

South Dakota health officials are issuing a challenge to people in the state, urging them to give up sugar-sweetened drinks, especially pop. It's called the "Sodabriety Challenge” and your addiction to caffeine is only one reason you should kick the habit. 


Whether your beverage of choice is Coca-cola, Pepsi or Sprite, there is no doubt that soda is something many people love to drink from time to time.

While it probably doesn't surprise you to hear you can find whole grains in things like bread and cereal, you'll also find the fiber in such things as soup and baking mixes. You've probably heard you should get more whole grains in your diet. But do you know why? 

Just as some people do body building, there also a way to build your brain. These exercises are an increasingly popular way for people of all ages to keep their minds alert. And the benefits to "brain training" are even greater than you might think.

Researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden say adults have about the same number of fat cells in their body, no matter how much they diet...or don't. And just what your weight is, they add,
depends on how many of those fat-hoarding cells you have in your body. That number is actually set by your weight and eating habits during adolescence. 



Every year the scientists say ,whether you are fat or thin, whether you lose weight or gain it, Ten-percent of the fat cells in your body die off.

Life expectancy may have reached an all-time high in this country but a new, nationwide survey shows that depending on where you live, your life expectancy could actually be shorter, especially if you're a woman.

Slimming down your diet isn't always easy, but replacing a just a few ingredients can make all the difference. 


You might think a batch of brownies would be full of fat, but it doesn't have to be. 



"I'm going to cut the fat and calories by just using egg whites," said registered dietitian Colleen Doyle, co-author of The Great American Eat Right Cookbook. 



Doyle says by swapping the eggs for egg whites, you'll save more than 60 calories.

Last January many people began the New Year with a new resolve to feel great in ‘08 by eating healthier and exercising more. HealthBeat's Jaine Andrews was among those resolutionists and while most of them have forgotten their resolution, 12 weeks later Jaine is still at it. Here are her final results. 


Since early January, I have broken a sweat four or five times a week and broken through my fruit and vegetable avoidance issues to a healthier diet.

Many people blame a few extra pounds, on a slow metabolism. If you're doing things to slow it down, surely there are ways to speed it up, right? 


Think exercise isn't for you? It needs to be, if you want to lose weight. Experts say exercise is the single best way to increase the rate at which your body burns calories, otherwise known as your metabolism. 



But Sanford Health Registered Dietitian Teresa Beach says in addition to exercise, some other lifestyle changes can be just as effective.

Remember when you used to eat food just because you liked it? Now we invest our time and money into diets that make some foods appear bad and others better. And, the result can be some distorted facts when it comes to food. 


Actually, they're food myths. Sort of urban legends, if you will, that have been passed down the grocery aisle for ages.

If you're a couch potato who finds yourself tired all the time, we have the answer for you. But we should warn you, you might not like the solution. It’s a simple fix for chronic fatigue. 


If this is the last place your family and friends are likely to find you, chances are you probably spend more time in front of the TV than in the gym.

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese--conditions that often lead to high blood pressure and diabetes. Losing weight can be challenging. But, a new study shows certain lifestyle changes are helping some people lose pounds and keep the weight off. 


Researchers point out that even small amounts of weight loss can offer health benefits such as lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol levels and helping prevent diabetes.

You may have heard of websites that help you track your calorie intake and exercise progress. But now the Internet is offering a new way to drop the pounds, by making you put your money where you mouth is. 


"Is eating a donut worth $50? Because that's what it may cost at the end of the week," said Erin Finnegan, who’s trying to lose those last ten pounds. 



Finnegan says she’s tried just about everything to reach her goal weight. 



"Every pound you lose it's like you lose a pound of motivation," she said. 



Finnegan is now trying a free website, www.stickK.com, where you bet your hard-earned cash you'll meet your goal. 



If you succeed, you get the money back.

Wheat is the foundation of our diet. You'll find it in everything from the bread you eat to the coffee creamers you drink. But for some people, consuming any wheat is off limits.