Nutrition Corner

5 "Bad" Carbs You Should Be Eating to Lose Weight - You read that right: Rice, pasta, bread and other “off-limits” foods can actually help you achieve your goals.

Is Oatmeal Good For Weight Loss? Dietitians Weigh In: Oatmeal is a filling meal that dietitians say can help you lose weight.

Recipe for The Day

You've Got to Try This Viral Peanut-Butter Banana Chocolate Bark: The key to this sweet dessert is freezing the bananas so they form the base of the bark. We use peanut butter, but you could swap in your favorite nut butter for an equally delicious treat. Be sure to have the chopped peanuts ready to go as soon as you add the chocolate layer—it hardens quickly since everything is frozen. Press the peanuts lightly to make sure they adhere to the bark.

Lifestyle & Fitness Focus

Are Carrots Good for You? 4 Health Benefits

• Promotes Eye Health: The root veggies are full of a host of vitamins and minerals that play important roles in optimal functioning of many of our organs. Perhaps most famously, carrots are rich in beta-carotene (the compound that gives carrots their signature, vivid orange hue), which gets converted to Vitamin A in our bodies.

• Helps Skin Stay Healthy: In addition to its role in our vision, Vitamin A is also essential in protecting healthy skin. People who consumed more vitamin A and carotenoids had a reduced risk of skin cancer. Regular intake of carrots, which are one of the best sources of the pro-vitamin A carotenoid beta-carotene, can help ensure adequate vitamin A supply in the body.

• Great for Your Gut: Carrots have 2 grams of fiber per half-cup serving, and that's a mix of soluble fiber (in the form of pectin) and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber can slow down how quickly our stomachs empty, which increases feelings of fullness after meals. Insoluble fiber is responsible for helping us prevent constipation by adding bulk to our stool. Taken together, carrots are powerful tools for maintaining a healthy digestive system.

• Heart-Healthy: In addition to eye health, carrots are also high in potassium, which is important for cardiovascular health. Carrots are rich in disease-fighting phytonutrients with antioxidant properties, like carotenoids and polyphenols.

How to Be More Confident: 3 Tips That Work

• Stop Comparing Yourself to Others: Do you compare how you look to people you follow on Instagram? Or maybe you compare your salary to what your friend earns. Social comparison theory explains that making comparisons is natural. But it isn't likely to help boost your self-confidence. It may even have the opposite effect.

• Surround Yourself With Positive People: Take a moment and think about how your friends make you feel. Do they lift you up, or do they bring you down? Are they constantly judging you, or do they accept you for who you are? The people you spend time with can influence your thoughts and attitudes about yourself, perhaps more than you realize. So, pay attention to how others make you feel.

• Take Care of Your Body: This tip for how to be more confident is based on the idea that it’s hard to feel good about yourself if you’re abusing your body. When you practice self-care, you know you're doing something positive for your mind, body, and spirit—and you'll naturally feel more confident as a result.

3 Amazing Benefits Of Eating Yogurt In Summers

• Powerhouse: Excellent source of nutrients and replenishing fluids lost via sweating. High water content helps minimize fatigue.

• Yogurt contains live cultures and active cultures, making it one of the richest sources of probiotics: These good bacteria improve gut health, which helps digestion and boost the immune system.

• Nutrient Booster: Derived from milk, yogurt is a protein-rich dessert in India. It not only provides an adequate amount of protein, but also calcium, vitamin B-2, vitamin B-12, potassium, and magnesium.

4 Best Lower Back Stretches: Alleviate Aches With These Moves

• Long Angle Dumbbell Row: This is essentially the same exercise as the dumbbell row, except that you will bring the dumbbell up further back, closer to your hips, instead than towards your belly button.

• Close Grip and Wide Grip Pull-Ups: Both grips will provide unique benefits for your back. Wide grips use the lats muscle more and the biceps less, while close grip pull-ups incorporate the biceps and pecs more, allowing you to do more reps or more weight.

• Standing Cable Pullover: The exercise primarily targets and improves the lats. The latissimus dorsi are the largest muscle group located on the back of the human body. They are hugely important for all pulling exercises and provide stability and support for the spine.

• Reverse Grip Rows: This row variation targets the lower lats more than the middle of your back. Make sure you pull your shoulders back and stick the chest out to maintain the natural curve in your spine, advices Posternak.

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.