Watermelon is mostly water, so it helps keep you hydrated. It’s also full of nutrients like potassium (640 mg in two wedges!) and lycopene that help fight inflammation when you exercise in the heat. https://wb.md/3zVwlhQ
Watermelon is mostly water, so it helps keep you hydrated. It’s also full of nutrients like potassium (640 mg in two wedges!) and lycopene that help fight inflammation when you exercise in the heat. https://wb.md/3zVwlhQ
You go to the store to pick up some apples. Seems simple enough — until you’re faced with a dozen different varieties in the produce aisle. You want the healthiest apple, so which one will keep the doctor away? Dietitian Mira Ilic, RD, LD, reveals the juicy details about this popular fruit. Big difference in taste, not nutrition Apples have slightly different nutrients depending on their type and color. For instance, Red Delicious apples have polyphenols that are exclusively found in dark red fruits. Polyphenols are plant compounds that may help prevent cancer, heart disease and other conditions. But if the thought of biting into a Red Delicious isn’t appealing, don’t worry. Any apple you buy will deliver a punch of health-boosting nutrients. “The nutritional differences among apple varieties are small,” says Ilic. “But the taste differences are big. Don’t choose an apple based on a small nutrient difference if you don’t like the taste.” Choose fresh and local apples Whatever apple variety you pick, make sure it’s fresh. Old apples aren’t as nutritious, don’t taste as good and could be rotten. “Choose a firm apple with no bruises,” says Ilic. “Look for bright color, keeping in mind that some apple varieties are naturally more colorful. Fresh apples usually have a nice aroma, too.” Whenever possible, go with local apples. The less your apple had to travel, the more nutritious it is when it gets to you. July through October is prime apple season in the U.S. During these months, local apples are easy to find. When you choose apples in the off-season, check the sticker for its country of origin. If your apple traveled a long distance, it probably lost some of its nutrition in transport. Try to choose apples that come from a nearby country. “We don’t have the option to eat local apples year-round,” Ilic says. “In the off-season, we have to get apples from other parts of the world. No matter where they come from, wash them thoroughly.” You don’t need any chemicals or tools to wash your apples. Wash your hands first. Then wash your apple with running water. Gently scrub the skin with a cloth or brush. Are organic apples healthier? Some organic fruits may be slightly more nutritious than conventionally grown ones. But you don’t need to buy organic apples. They tend to cost more, which can be a downside if you’re sticking to a grocery budget. “Growers use different growing practices for organic apples and while pesticides are used on conventionally grown apples, some organic growers may actually use pesticides approved for organic farming,” explains Ilic. “The government has guidelines about what pesticides growers can use. Both types are safe and nutritious. Just wash them well if you’re still concerned about pesticide residue or you can peel your apples, but you’ll lose some nutrients and fiber found in the skin.” Have fun with apple sampling With so many apple varieties, you’re bound to find one you like. Hold an apple sampling by picking a few different types. Cut them into bite-sized pieces, put them on a plate and label them. Have your family members try the different apples and choose their favorite. An apple sampling can be a fun way to get kids to eat more apples, too. Kids often like having some control over the types of foods they eat. All apples are amazing Whether your favorite is a sour Granny Smith or a sweet Honeycrisp, you can’t go wrong with apples. “All apples are a good source of fiber, including pectin, which may help lower cholesterol,” Ilic says. “They also contain phytochemicals like polyphenols, which are antioxidants linked to multiple health benefits. Some studies have suggested that apples may also help reduce the risk of some cancers.” Bottom line: An apple a day is a healthy habit, so don’t stress about picking the right one. “Eat the apples you like because they’re all healthy,” Ilic says. FACEBOOK TWITTER LINKEDIN PINTEREST Email applesfiber
As with other hangover symptoms, the main remedy for diarrhea after drinking is patience. Your symptoms should clear up within 24 hours, depending on how much alcohol you consumed. While you wait, drink plenty of water to counter the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Bland foods can also help prevent further intestinal distress. If diarrhea is severe, an over-the-counter antidiarrheal medication may also help.
As with other hangover symptoms, the main remedy for diarrhea after drinking is patience. Your symptoms should clear up within 24 hours, depending on how much alcohol you consumed. While you wait, drink plenty of water to counter the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Bland foods can also help prevent further intestinal distress. If diarrhea is severe, an over-the-counter antidiarrheal medication may also help.
It may come on in those first few sips of alcohol. Or maybe you’re hit with a hot flash whenever you’re a few drinks in. But whenever you drink, you seem to experience a sudden sensation of warmth, and your face, neck and upper chest become covered in red patches and blotchy skin.
Is facial flushing a sign that you can’t handle your alcohol? Or is this a symptom of something more severe? Dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, explains just what causes facial flushing, along with some truth behind some common misconceptions.
What causes your face to turn red when you drink alcohol?
There are a couple of different root causes for facial flushing. More technically termed the “alcohol flush reaction,” this occurs because your body either can’t fully digest the alcohol you’re consuming or because your body is having an inflammatory response to drinking alcohol.
“Your face may flush from alcohol for two reasons: Because of an enzyme deficiency or because of rosacea,” says Dr. Vij. “Both are tied to your ethnicity.”
Enzyme deficiency
Many Asian populations, specifically 35% to 45% of East Asians, have a deficiency in alcohol dehydrogenase, the enzyme that breaks down a specific substance in alcohol called acetaldehyde.
“Alcohol is toxic to cells, and when it gets into the cells of your blood vessels, it makes them dilate,” explains Dr. Vij. “This reddens the skin and can make you feel warm.”
But without enough of this enzyme, you can end up having too much acetaldehyde in your body, and this makes alcohol reach toxic levels much earlier in your cells. This results in your skin becoming flushed.
Rosacea
Fair-skinned people of Northern European backgrounds who flush when they drink may have some degree of rosacea.
You may be asking yourself this question if you’ve ever experienced facial flushing. On the surface, facial flushing might feel cosmetically embarrassing at most and may not come with any other dangerous symptoms. For those with an enzyme deficiency, facial flushing can occasionally be experienced with increased onset of nausea or vomiting because of your body’s inability to fully digest the alcohol you’re consuming.
“Alcohol most frequently passes through these sites,” states Dr. Vij. “Toxicity and DNA damage can build up in cells and, eventually, a cancer can form.”
But recent studies report that those who get an alcohol flush because of an enzyme deficiency are also at heightened risk of digestive, liver and respiratory cancers. These populations are more vulnerable to alcohol’s toxicity, as it’s processed and later eliminated in:
Your gastrointestinal (GI) tract, especially your stomach, where alcohol is absorbed.
Your liver, where alcohol is sent after it’s absorbed by your stomach.
Your lungs, where alcohol in your blood is released in your breath.
Is rosacea linked to cancer?
“We don’t think of rosacea as a precancerous disease,” Dr. Vij clarifies. “The biggest problems rosacea causes are a bulbous nose, like W.C. Fields had, and eye inflammation.”
(It was rosacea — not alcoholism — that made the storied comedian’s nose look large, red and bumpy, because of an overgrowth of the sebaceous glands, Dr. Vij adds.)
In addition, rosacea can make your eyes feel itchy, dry and chronically irritated. These eye symptoms can be managed with anti-inflammatory medication.
“We typically prescribe oral antibiotics like doxycycline or minocycline, often at lower doses than are required to kill bacteria,” he continues.
How to prevent facial flushing when drinking
If an alcohol flush makes you feel self-conscious when you drink, certain treatments can help:
Topical medications: Medicines like brimonidine (Mirvaso®) can block blood vessels in your skin from dilating.
Laser treatments: A series of laser treatments can shrink the superficial blood vessels in your skin. “You usually need three to 10 treatments to get the full effect, but it can last for years, and prevent broken blood vessels in the later stages of rosacea,” notes Dr. Vij.
But because these medications and laser treatments are considered cosmetic, they aren’t typically covered by insurance.
Are some types of alcohol more likely to cause flushing?
So, if your face flushes, are specific kinds of alcohol to blame? And can you avoid some but not others as an at-home treatment approach to facial flushing?
“It’s really patient-specific. Some people with rosacea flush more with red wine; others flush more with hard liquor,” says Dr. Vij.
If you have rosacea and keep track of what happens when you drink, you may be able to find your triggers. But if facial flushing is an issue for you at all, avoiding alcohol in all its forms might be the next best and most equitable solution.
“If flushing bothers you, and you know alcohol is a trigger, the easiest and most cost-effective solution is to avoid it,” suggests Dr. Vij.
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
It may come on in those first few sips of alcohol. Or maybe you’re hit with a hot flash whenever you’re a few drinks in. But whenever you drink, you seem to experience a sudden sensation of warmth, and your face, neck and upper chest become covered in red patches and blotchy skin.
Is facial flushing a sign that you can’t handle your alcohol? Or is this a symptom of something more severe? Dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, explains just what causes facial flushing, along with some truth behind some common misconceptions.
What causes your face to turn red when you drink alcohol?
There are a couple of different root causes for facial flushing. More technically termed the “alcohol flush reaction,” this occurs because your body either can’t fully digest the alcohol you’re consuming or because your body is having an inflammatory response to drinking alcohol.
“Your face may flush from alcohol for two reasons: Because of an enzyme deficiency or because of rosacea,” says Dr. Vij. “Both are tied to your ethnicity.”
Enzyme deficiency
Many Asian populations, specifically 35% to 45% of East Asians, have a deficiency in alcohol dehydrogenase, the enzyme that breaks down a specific substance in alcohol called acetaldehyde.
“Alcohol is toxic to cells, and when it gets into the cells of your blood vessels, it makes them dilate,” explains Dr. Vij. “This reddens the skin and can make you feel warm.”
But without enough of this enzyme, you can end up having too much acetaldehyde in your body, and this makes alcohol reach toxic levels much earlier in your cells. This results in your skin becoming flushed.
Rosacea
Fair-skinned people of Northern European backgrounds who flush when they drink may have some degree of rosacea.
You may be asking yourself this question if you’ve ever experienced facial flushing. On the surface, facial flushing might feel cosmetically embarrassing at most and may not come with any other dangerous symptoms. For those with an enzyme deficiency, facial flushing can occasionally be experienced with increased onset of nausea or vomiting because of your body’s inability to fully digest the alcohol you’re consuming.
“Alcohol most frequently passes through these sites,” states Dr. Vij. “Toxicity and DNA damage can build up in cells and, eventually, a cancer can form.”
But recent studies report that those who get an alcohol flush because of an enzyme deficiency are also at heightened risk of digestive, liver and respiratory cancers. These populations are more vulnerable to alcohol’s toxicity, as it’s processed and later eliminated in:
Your gastrointestinal (GI) tract, especially your stomach, where alcohol is absorbed.
Your liver, where alcohol is sent after it’s absorbed by your stomach.
Your lungs, where alcohol in your blood is released in your breath.
Is rosacea linked to cancer?
“We don’t think of rosacea as a precancerous disease,” Dr. Vij clarifies. “The biggest problems rosacea causes are a bulbous nose, like W.C. Fields had, and eye inflammation.”
(It was rosacea — not alcoholism — that made the storied comedian’s nose look large, red and bumpy, because of an overgrowth of the sebaceous glands, Dr. Vij adds.)
In addition, rosacea can make your eyes feel itchy, dry and chronically irritated. These eye symptoms can be managed with anti-inflammatory medication.
“We typically prescribe oral antibiotics like doxycycline or minocycline, often at lower doses than are required to kill bacteria,” he continues.
How to prevent facial flushing when drinking
If an alcohol flush makes you feel self-conscious when you drink, certain treatments can help:
Topical medications: Medicines like brimonidine (Mirvaso®) can block blood vessels in your skin from dilating.
Laser treatments: A series of laser treatments can shrink the superficial blood vessels in your skin. “You usually need three to 10 treatments to get the full effect, but it can last for years, and prevent broken blood vessels in the later stages of rosacea,” notes Dr. Vij.
But because these medications and laser treatments are considered cosmetic, they aren’t typically covered by insurance.
Are some types of alcohol more likely to cause flushing?
So, if your face flushes, are specific kinds of alcohol to blame? And can you avoid some but not others as an at-home treatment approach to facial flushing?
“It’s really patient-specific. Some people with rosacea flush more with red wine; others flush more with hard liquor,” says Dr. Vij.
If you have rosacea and keep track of what happens when you drink, you may be able to find your triggers. But if facial flushing is an issue for you at all, avoiding alcohol in all its forms might be the next best and most equitable solution.
“If flushing bothers you, and you know alcohol is a trigger, the easiest and most cost-effective solution is to avoid it,” suggests Dr. Vij.
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