It’s fun and healthy to make pizza on the grill. It’s also quick and easy — and sure to be a family favorite. Experiment with different vegetables and fruits on your grill this season for healthy, tasty meals.
Ingredients
1 package prepared whole-wheat pizza crust (found in refrigerated section)
1/2 cup prepared pesto sauce
4 ounces soft, low-fat goat cheese, cut in small cubes
1 large ripe tomato, sliced thin
1/3 cup fresh or canned roasted red pepper, drained well and cut in thin strips
6 ounces precooked chicken breast, cut into small chunks
Directions
Spray or brush grill grate with oil. Preheat grill to medium-high.
Brush or spray a cutting board or large pan with olive oil. Spread out pizza dough with oiled fingers into the desired crust shape.
Prepare vegetables, chicken and cheese in small cups or bowls. Set aside.
When you’re ready to grill, put pizza dough on grill and cover.
Cook for approximately 2 to 3 minutes, or until the top begins to bubble and the bottom is lightly browned.
Flip over and brush with pesto sauce.
Working quickly, add the tomatoes, roasted red peppers and chicken. Dot with cheese.
Cover and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Take off the heat and enjoy!
Nutrition information (per serving)
Makes 6 servings Serving size = one slice
Calories: 428 Protein: 24 g Total fat: 12 g Saturated fat: 5 g Sodium: 540 mg Calcium: 95 mg Fiber: 6 g Sugar: 3 g Potassium: 410 mg Magnesium: 80 mg
It’s fun and healthy to make pizza on the grill. It’s also quick and easy — and sure to be a family favorite. Experiment with different vegetables and fruits on your grill this season for healthy, tasty meals.
Ingredients
1 package prepared whole-wheat pizza crust (found in refrigerated section)
1/2 cup prepared pesto sauce
4 ounces soft, low-fat goat cheese, cut in small cubes
1 large ripe tomato, sliced thin
1/3 cup fresh or canned roasted red pepper, drained well and cut in thin strips
6 ounces precooked chicken breast, cut into small chunks
Directions
Spray or brush grill grate with oil. Preheat grill to medium-high.
Brush or spray a cutting board or large pan with olive oil. Spread out pizza dough with oiled fingers into the desired crust shape.
Prepare vegetables, chicken and cheese in small cups or bowls. Set aside.
When you’re ready to grill, put pizza dough on grill and cover.
Cook for approximately 2 to 3 minutes, or until the top begins to bubble and the bottom is lightly browned.
Flip over and brush with pesto sauce.
Working quickly, add the tomatoes, roasted red peppers and chicken. Dot with cheese.
Cover and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Take off the heat and enjoy!
Nutrition information (per serving)
Makes 6 servings Serving size = one slice
Calories: 428 Protein: 24 g Total fat: 12 g Saturated fat: 5 g Sodium: 540 mg Calcium: 95 mg Fiber: 6 g Sugar: 3 g Potassium: 410 mg Magnesium: 80 mg
As more people are drinking less, there’s been an uptick in more drink companies creating nonalcoholic options. But it can still be tough to figure out which of these options are healthy. Keep an eye on ingredients like sugar, artificial sweeteners and caffeine. If you're… pic.twitter.com/ijka3qWtlU
As more people are drinking less, there’s been an uptick in more drink companies creating nonalcoholic options. But it can still be tough to figure out which of these options are healthy. Keep an eye on ingredients like sugar, artificial sweeteners and caffeine. If you’re choosing nonalcoholic alternatives, consider options that are low in added sugars and free from unnecessary additives. Consulting a healthcare provider can help ensure your choices support your overall well-being.
“Eat your broccoli,” may be a familiar refrain from your childhood. Maybe you didn’t love broccoli as a kid, but your parents were onto something. The “little trees” are full of fiber, folate, vitamins and more.
Broccoli is a member of the Brassica genus of plants, also known as the cabbage family. Broccoli’s relatives include Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chard and watercress. Many Brassicas have strong flavors and mix well with meats and other vegetables.
“A pile of steamed broccoli doesn’t appeal to everyone,” recognizes registered dietitian Beth Czerwony, RD, LD. “But broccoli is incredibly versatile and can be used in so many different dishes. Toss it in with your stir fry, chop it fresh in a salad or roast it with your baby potatoes. And with an abundance of nutrients, there are many benefits of eating broccoli.”
It’s worth finding ways to add broccoli to your diet because it’s a health-boosting dynamo. Here’s some motivation for you to get your green on: Some of the beneficial substances in broccoli are somewhat unique to the Brassica family of vegetables. Broccoli provides nutrients that may:
Reduce your risk of cancer.
Help control blood sugar.
Protect your gut.
Boost immunity.
As a superfood status, broccoli can improve your health with these five components:
1. Compounds to reduce cancer risk
“Broccoli offers some powerful molecules that protect your cells from damage,” says Czerwony. “Some of them even destroy cancer cells.”
Detoxify certain substances that promote the growth of cancer cells, which means they don’t remove the substances, but they remove the harmful effects.
Provide antioxidants, which prevent cell damage that can lead to cancer.
Stop the growth and spread of cancer cells.
Support apoptosis, your body’s process for destroying cells that could turn into cancer.
These anticancer molecules are in several of broccoli’s cruciferous veggie relatives, too. These nutrients don’t survive cooking or freezing. So, to get the benefits, raw broccoli is best.
“Some of these compounds are even more concentrated in broccoli sprouts,” notes Czerwony. “You can find broccoli sprouts in health food stores and many grocery stores. Sprouts are also easy to grow at home using a sprouting kit.”
2. Nutrients to help manage blood sugar
Both human and lab studies suggest compounds in broccoli may help lower blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes. This effect may be due to the antioxidants in broccoli, like vitamin C.
Research shows that fiber can also help with blood sugar management. At 2.5 grams of fiber per cup, broccoli is a good source of this nutrient.
3. Ligands to protect your gut
In a nonhuman study, researchers found that broccoli can help protect the lining of your small intestine. Compounds found in broccoli, called aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands, help keep small intestine cells working well.
Why do those cells matter so much? When your small intestine lining is healthy, it only allows water and nutrients to pass through it into your bloodstream.
But when the cells of the lining are damaged, undigested food particles, bacteria and other disease-causing particles may pass through. A damaged small intestine lining can lead to infections and inflammation. It can also prevent you from absorbing the nutrients you need.
4. Vitamin C to boost immunity
Vitamin C is well-studied as an immune-boosting nutrient. When you don’t have enough vitamin C, you’re more likely to get infections.
The antioxidant effects of vitamin C also help your body keep free radicals under control. “Free radical damage is linked to all kinds of problems, including Alzheimer’s disease, autoimmune diseases, cancer, heart disease and Parkinson’s disease,” says Czerwony. When you don’t have enough antioxidants to neutralize free radicals, they damage your cells.
Surprising but true: Broccoli has more vitamin C than oranges. In 1 cup of the green cruciferous veggie, you get a whopping 81 milligrams of vitamin C. That’s 90% of the daily U.S. recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for adults. (An orange has about 70 milligrams.)
5. Nutrients to help heart health
Research suggests certain bioactive compounds in broccoli may boost your heart health in a variety of ways. It may:
Lower triglycerides and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol: “High LDL can lead to fatty deposits on your artery walls, increasing your risk of artery disease, stroke and heart attack,” Czerwony explains. Research shows that eating broccoli can lower triglycerides, a type of fat, as well as LDL.
Reduce calcium buildup in blood vessels: When calcium builds up on your blood vessel walls, it increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. According to research, broccoli can help reduce this calcium buildup.
Is frozen broccoli healthy?
“If you want those anticancer compounds like sulforaphane, choose fresh broccoli,” advises Czerwony. Freezing inactivates sulforaphane.
“Frozen broccoli also loses a bit of its vitamin content. But overall, frozen broccoli is still very healthy. It’s better than not eating any broccoli because you still get a lot of the health benefits,” she continues.
Need some broccoli-inspired meals? Try these easy recipes:
Probiotics are good bacteria that keep the gut healthy and help fight infections and #inflammation. Fermented foods like yogurt, pickles, sauerkraut, and sourdough bread are great sources: https://bit.ly/3zPQxl4#HarvardHealth
Wearing glasses doesn’t make your eyes weaker. Your eyes are already headed in that direction anyway, thanks to age. Glasses are one of our best tools to help you see more clearly. 👓🤓 pic.twitter.com/YToLhFOmuu
Eating foods with fat is part of a healthy diet, and some are definitely healthier than others. Unsaturated fats – found in avocado, fish and nuts – can help lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides, and give your body the fuel it needs to live a long, healthy life.
Everyone likes a bargain, and lap swimming is a good deal when it comes to exercise. Swimming is a remarkably effective workout because it combines three important types of exercise in one: aerobics, stretching, and strengthening. “Simply keeping yourself afloat activates the core muscles in your back and abdomen. And you have to move all of your muscles to swim,” says Leigh de Chaves, a physical therapist and clinical supervisor of rehabilitation services at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital. (She also swam competitively in college.)
Are you a good candidate for lap swimming?
Consider lap swimming if you’re generally healthy, you’re a good swimmer, and your doctor says it’s okay. It’s no problem if you’re not a fan of the crawl: “Any stroke is fine. The breast, side, and back strokes are often favored because a lot of people don’t like putting their face in the water, like you have to do with the crawl,” de Chaves says.
However, lap swimming might be not be doable if you have an underlying condition, such as heart disease or a seizure disorder, that puts you at risk for a life-threatening event in the water. You may also need to skip lap swimming if you’re not strong enough to climb in and out of the pool easily. And you should be careful if you have injuries to your shoulders or neck. Lap swimming may increase your pain.
Start your lap swimming routine slowly
A green light for a lap swimming routine doesn’t mean you should start with 20 laps. Ease into it. “Focus on the amount of time you spend swimming, at first. For example, swim for five or 10 minutes, a few times per week. Gradually increase the amount of time each week, and note how many laps you can do within that time. Eventually, set goals to increase your speed by doing more laps in your set time, so that you can measure your progress,” de Chaves explains.
A big payoff
Once you’re in the swim of things, you’ll notice lots of benefits to lap swimming. It’s easy on the joints, thanks to buoyancy in water, and it has a meditative quality that forces you to focus on your movement and breathing.
Lap swimming also
improves endurance and cardiovascular health
helps lower blood pressure
increases flexibility
helps you control your weight
boosts your balance
reduces fall risk
helps sharpen thinking
helps reduce stress.
Some dos and don’ts for lap swimming
De Chaves points out that it’s important to warm up your muscles before diving into a lap swimming workout. All it takes is a few minutes of gentle paddling, and then static stretches of your shoulder and leg muscles.
Some other dos and don’ts:
Do wear nonslip shoes or sandals when walking on the pool deck.
Don’t forget to apply sunscreen if you’re swimming outdoors.
Don’t forget to stay hydrated before and after a workout.
Don’t skip stretching your muscles after lap swimming. You’ll want to stay flexible so you can get back in the pool.
For the nonswimmers in the pool
If you’re not a lap swimmer, you can still benefit from aquatic exercises — exercising in the shallow end of a pool. You might take a class with a trainer who leads a group through a set of exercises with special water weights or flotation devices (like a pool noodle). Or you can simply try water walking; working against the resistance of the water is good for your muscles and bones.
“If you have balance problems, it’s a good idea to exercise with a friend who can assist you. I also recommend wearing a buoyancy belt around your waist to keep you upright,” de Chaves advises.
Look for aquatic exercise classes — such as strengthening or aerobics — at the local YMCA, a fitness center, or a community center.
About the Author
Heidi Godman, Managing Director
Heidi Godman directs all news gathering for Harvard Health Publishing, and also directs the curation and production of HHP’s four monthly subscription publications (the Harvard Health Letter, Harvard Heart Letter, Harvard Men’s Health Watch, and Harvard Women’s Health … See Full Bio
healthcareatoz 
Healthaware 