Nutrition Corner

10 foods to avoid if you have arthritis: Although following a healthy diet isn't the only factor in helping reduce arthritis-induced symptoms, it definitely can help.

6 Antioxidant-Rich Foods Nutrition Experts Say You Should Be Eating For A Healthier Heart & Brain—They Lower Your Risk Of Disease: In the quest for optimal health, there's no denying that your diet plays a crucial role.

Recipe for The Day

Easy, healthy recipes for the week ahead - Turkey bolognese, vegetarian chili and more: Enjoy healthy meals that take little effort by relying on easy pantry staples and sheet pan and one-pot meals.

Lifestyle & Fitness Focus

What to Do When You Have No Motivation

• Act as If You Feel Motivated: You may be able to trick yourself into feeling motivated by changing your behavior. Act as if you felt motivated, and your actions may change your emotions. For example, rather than sit on the couch in your pajamas all day waiting for motivation to strike, get dressed and get moving. You might find that taking action will increase your motivation, which makes it easier to keep going.

• Argue the Opposite: When you’re struggling with motivation, you’ll likely come up with a long list of reasons why you shouldn’t take any action. You might think, “It’ll be too hard,” or, “I’ll never get it done anyway.” These types of thoughts will keep you stuck. Try arguing the opposite. When you think you’re going to fail, argue all the reasons why you might succeed. Or when you think you can’t finish a job, list all the evidence that shows you’ll be able to complete the task.

• Practice Self-Compassion: You might think being hard on yourself is the key to getting motivated. But harsh self-criticism doesn’t work. Research shows that self-compassion is actually much more motivating, especially when you are struggling with adversity.

4 Things That Can Happen to Your Body When You Cut Out Sugar

• You'll Reach Your Weight Loss Goals: Eating the same foods but without the added sugars normally in them means your total caloric intake decreases which could make it easier to lose weight and keep it off. A review of the evidence in a 2021 Clinical Diabetes study found that the overconsumption of added sugars contributes to overweight and obesity.

• You'll Decrease Your Diabetes Risk: Studies have shown that high sugar consumption—especially of sweetened beverages—can increase the odds of developing Type 2 diabetes. Scientists explain this in large part by the weight that people gain when they consume lots of calories in the form of added sugar. Being overweight or obese is often accompanied by problems with blood sugar control and reduced sensitivity to insulin that leads to Type 2 diabetes.

• Your Skin's Aging Process Will Slow: Cutting out excess added sugar and keeping blood glucose within healthy parameters may slow the rate at which skin ages. A high-sugar diet leads to the production of AGEs (advanced glycation end products), and AGEs are associated with acceleration in the skin's aging process. In fact, research suggests that decreasing sugar intake may slow the aging effects that AGEs have on the skin significantly, especially when your diet includes lots of fruits and vegetables.

• You'll Be Less Likely to Get Sick: Chronic, low-grade inflammation has been linked to nearly every major disease of lifestyle and aging, including arthritis, G.I. disorders and metabolic syndrome. Studies in mice have found that high sugar intake changes the balance of bacteria in the gut, increasing the type with pro-inflammatory properties.

The 3 Main Benefits of Including Ginger in Your Diet

• Nausea: The most common use of ginger is to help with nausea. Lisa-Marie Haberstroh, dietitian at Lanserhof Sylt, explains that ginger contains ingredients that help block the pain-transmitting receptors in the stomach that can cause nausea and vomiting. For this reason, regular administration of ginger is known through studies to help alleviate those symptoms associated with chemotherapy.

• Bloating and Other Digestive Issues: Haberstroh explains that ginger makes it easier for food to digest. The root's compound, gingerol, stimulates the production of stomach acid, saliva, and bile to help the stomach empty out quicker. Bloating occurs when there’s a delay in gastric emptying, so many believe that making this process easier will help decrease the likelihood of bloating and indigestion. She adds that the essential oil found in ginger can reduce painful flatulence.

• Colds: To boost your immune system, Haberstroh says that ginger can help protect against infections thanks to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. The root contains gingerol and shogal, which improves blood circulation in the mucous membranes and loosens mucus to remove it quickly. The essential oils in ginger are also pain-relieving, which she says can have a positive effect on dry coughs and sore throats.

The Full Body Workout You Can Do Anywhere (4 Rounds)

• Minute 1: 10 Air Squats + 10 Drop Squats

• Minute 2: 10 Alternating Shoulder Taps + 10 Alternating Kick Throughs

• Minute 3: 10 Alternating Cossack Squat + 10 (Total) Skater Squats

• Minute 4: 10 Push-up + Plank Hand Walk

• Minute 5: 10 Alternating Single-Leg Toe Touch + 10 Single-Leg Alternating Pivot Lunge

Get In The Inbox of 100K+ American Health Readers

Advertise with American Health to get your brand in front of thousands of Americans who are always looking for their next interesting product.

Why American Health? American Health is your go-to source for all things related to health and wellness. Our newsletter is dedicated to keeping you informed about the latest developments in healthcare, fitness, nutrition, and overall well-being. Whether you're looking for tips on leading a healthier lifestyle, staying up-to-date with healthcare policy changes, or exploring the latest trends in wellness, we've got you covered.

Help Share American Health

Wouldn’t the world be a better place if more people read fact-focused, health news? Take a minute to share this digest with your friends–they’ll thank you for it!

Send us your feedback at [email protected]. We’re ready to listen.