Vegetables that aren’t as healthy as you think

You know you should eat more vegetables. We all do. If you’re one of the millions of people who are trying to live better, chances are you make a conscious effort to forego sweets and fast food for the occasional salad or green smoothie — because vegetables, no matter which ones, are always healthy, right?

“It is always better to choose a fruit or vegetable over processed food in a snap decision,” Dr. Konda Reddy of Physicians Weight Loss Orlando, told me in an interview. But, the truth is, not all vegetables are created equal. Here are some vegetables that aren’t as healthy as you think.

If you’re anything like me, corn probably ranks high on your list of favorite vegetables. From grilled corn on the cob to sweet corn salad, these little morsels of yellow goodness taste delicious no matter how you prepare them. And because they’re a vegetable, I always feel a little when I choose to forego French fries to nosh away at some corn instead. Unfortunately, most nutritional experts I spoke to weren’t as big of fans of corn as I hoped.

“Vegetables like corn are higher in carbohydrates, and the carbohydrates contained inside these veggies are not mostly indigestible fiber, but rather, strings of sugar also known as starches,” registered dietician Catherine Metzgar, Ph.D. told me in an interview. “These starches are very digestible and are quickly converted into sugar in your body, raising your blood sugar.”

 

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The temperature in your bedroom is perfect. Your blackout curtains have been drawn shut. And you’ve just finished a cup of chamomile tea and novel that made you laugh out loud and forget about whatever was bothering you earlier in the day.

You’re just about ready to drift off, and suddenly the air conditioner kicks on. Or a car alarm screeches through the night air. Or your partner sneezes. Suddenly, you’re wide-awake again. Your brain responds to noises when you’re awake and asleep. But if the interruptions wake you up, that can keep you from getting the restful shuteye that you need.

When ambient noise is disrupting your sleep, white (or pink) noise can help to smooth out the rough edges. Imagine sitting next to a person who is loudly chewing gum in a library. Then imagine sitting next to that same person in a crowded bar. It’s the same chomping gum, but underneath the drone of a crowded place, you can’t even hear it anymore. White noise, whether it’s from a sound machine, a simple fan, or crowd noise helps to mask noise-related disruptions by creating a constant ambient sound that makes a “peak” noise, like a door slamming, less of a contrast. And that makes you less likely to be startled awake.

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The temperature in your bedroom is perfect. Your blackout curtains have been drawn shut. And you’ve just finished a cup of chamomile tea and novel that made you laugh out loud and forget about whatever was bothering you earlier in the day.

You’re just about ready to drift off, and suddenly the air conditioner kicks on. Or a car alarm screeches through the night air. Or your partner sneezes. Suddenly, you’re wide-awake again. Your brain responds to noises when you’re awake and asleep. But if the interruptions wake you up, that can keep you from getting the restful shuteye that you need.

When ambient noise is disrupting your sleep, white (or pink) noise can help to smooth out the rough edges. Imagine sitting next to a person who is loudly chewing gum in a library. Then imagine sitting next to that same person in a crowded bar. It’s the same chomping gum, but underneath the drone of a crowded place, you can’t even hear it anymore. White noise, whether it’s from a sound machine, a simple fan, or crowd noise helps to mask noise-related disruptions by creating a constant ambient sound that makes a “peak” noise, like a door slamming, less of a contrast. And that makes you less likely to be startled awake.

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12 best and 12 worst foods to buy at Aldi

We’re all looking for ways to save money on our grocery bills, and if there’s an Aldi near you, that might be the way to go. With Aldi hitting a growth spurt in the US market, you’re more likely than ever to find yourself heading to this European favorite for your shopping. Not everything there is a great buy, though, so let’s talk about some of the best and worst things you can find at Aldi.

Why? Because their chocolate aisle is filled with deliciousness imported from Europe. You’ll be paying a little more, but it’s worth every penny. Pick up some Belgian or German chocolates, and you’ll be surprised to find how much creamier and richer they are than American chocolates.

If you bake with chocolate, take The Country Basket’s word for it that European chocolates melt much better than your American staples, and that’s true whether you’re using milk, dark, or even white chocolate. You’ll also find a variety of different flavors you won’t find anywhere else. Toffee and Irish cream liqueur? Yes, please!

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Things you probably don’t know about avocados

Avocados are having a serious moment. Just think about it, if you eat avocados, chances are you eat many more now than you used to. With the prevalence of avocado on the rise, you might think you know an awful lot about them, but there are probably an awful lot of things you don’t know about avocados, that you probably should.

From environmental impacts to human impacts, health effects and more, avocados are more than just the base for guacamole. If you love avocados or, at least, can appreciate them added to a sandwich, mashed into a dip, or blended into a smoothie, here’s what you need to know.

Americans insist on avocado on everything now. The demand is so great, farmers are doing whatever they can to grow more to meet the supply. As a result, some of Mexico’s pine forests are being illegally cut down to make way for avocado trees

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This Color Will Make You Feel

Just as you switch over your closet when the temperature dips, a change in seasons is a good time to switch up your goals, motivations, and even the colors you wear. The energy still radiating from the fall equinox, as well as the energy from the recent full moon in Aries, may make you feel like whatever goals, dreams, and priorities you manifested in the summer just aren’t working this fall.

If you feel confused, conflicted, or unsure of next steps this month, one great way to make a powerful change is to change up the colors you’re wearing. Use this guide to find out what color your body is craving, and how to use it to maximize and manifest your goals and dreams! —The Horoscope.com editors.

In “healing” speak, the chakras represent the seven energy centers of the body. Running from the bottom of the tailbone up to the crown of the head, these seven spots are especially key for harnessing our full potential. That’s because our life force energy (some might call it “spirit”) runs through these cosmic portals, “powering up” different organs and, in turn, ruling different areas of our lives.

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