Lifestyle Blogger

Question. I read an article about a doctor's research that says eating more protein and fat can help with weight loss and better health. But the article also mentions that these foods contain saturated fat, which we were told to limit. Can you explain why this is confusing?

Answer. You're right that we've been told to limit saturated fat because it can raise harmful cholesterol levels. However, there is disagreement about how much we should limit it. Some experts say 5-6% of our daily calories, while others say 10% is okay. A dietitian suggests a middle ground of 7%, which is the amount found in the Mediterranean-style diet mentioned in the article.

The dietitian analyzed the menu in the article and found that it had the right amount of saturated fat for a heart-healthy diet.



Mnemonics are tricks that help you remember things better. One type of mnemonic is called "look, snap, connect."

Here's how it works:

First, you need to really pay attention to what you want to remember. For example, if you parked your car in section 3B of the parking garage, you need to really focus on that.

Next, you take a mental picture of what you want to remember. It could be the actual sign in the parking garage or you can imagine something like three bumblebees to represent the 3B section.

Finally, you connect the mental picture you took with the information you want to remember. In this case, you imagine the three bees buzzing around in your car. So when you come back to the garage and want to remember where you parked, the image of the bees in your car will help you remember.



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Keeping your heart healthy is like taking care of a superhero inside you. There are two heart helpers, like heart doctors, who shared stories about how to make the superhero heart strong.

First, they say it's best to prevent problems before they happen, like stopping a bad guy before he causes trouble. If the heart has problems, it could be because of high blood pressure, too much cholesterol, or even a heart attack.

To make the superhero heart strong, you need to think about the future. Imagine what you want to do when you grow up. Do you want to run fast, play games, and enjoy life? Then, you need to focus on things like losing weight and keeping cholesterol in check. It's like giving your superhero heart the right training.

Also, keep an eye on your blood pressure. It's like checking if your superhero heart is doing well. You can do this at home, like having your own superhero gadget. If you notice any problems, tell your parents or a doctor.

Sometimes, the superhero heart needs special medicine. But some people are scared of taking it. The heart doctors say it's okay! The medicine is like a shield that protects your superhero heart. If you eat well and exercise, you might even need less medicine. You have the power to decide!

Next, you need to make time for your superhero heart. Exercise is like training for a big superhero mission. Plan when you will exercise, like making a schedule for superhero practice. If your plan gets messed up, have a backup plan. Maybe you can take a quick walk or do some exercises at home.

The superhero heart doesn't like extra weight. It's like carrying a heavy backpack all the time. So, make losing weight a team effort. Join a group of friends who want to be healthy superheroes too. Share your progress, tips, and challenges. It's more fun and helps everyone stay on track.

Lastly, be a portion superhero! It's like being a food detective. Measure your food to make sure you eat just the right amount. This way, you keep the superhero's heart happy and satisfied.

Remember, you are the superhero sidekick, taking care of the incredible heart inside you!

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This practice helps you keep your balance and works the muscles on the inside and outside of your thighs. Not only that, but it teaches your body to move forward and backward, not just back and forth. Start by standing straight up with your arms at your sides and your feet together. Moving: Keep your right foot still and take a big step to the side with your left foot. Put most of your weight on your left leg as soon as your left foot hits the ground. Then, lean forward at the hips and bend your left knee to lower into a lunge. Hold on to your left thigh with your hands, and keep your right leg straight. To get back up, press with your left foot, shift your weight to your right foot, and lift your left knee to hip level. As soon as you feel stable, take another step out with your left leg to do another lunge. Keep going for 30 seconds. Do the steps again, this time moving to the right for 30 seconds.

Some tips and tricks:

During the move, keep your back straight (neither arched nor bowed), your shoulders back and down, and your abs tight.

When you lunge, don't let your knee go further forward than your toes.

Making friends and improving health by getting over loneliness

It's hard to be lonely. It's possible to feel lonely when you don't have any friends and are missing someone to talk to, or when you are with people you can talk to, or even your family and friends.

In either case, being alone for a long time can be very bad for your health. It makes you more likely to get coronary artery disease, a stroke, depression, high blood pressure, memory loss, failure to do daily tasks, and even early death.

Here are three ways to make new friends and feel less lonely, which will make you happier.

Getting started
You can't always get over being alone by going out to meet new people. If you feel lonely even though you have relationships, you might need to talk to a therapist and check yourself from within.

For people who feel lonely because they don't have enough friends, meeting new people is more of an outward journey for them. As people get older, they tend to become less flexible in the way they live their lives. These days, making friends is harder than it used to be in the past.

These are the tips that will help you.

1. Look for people with similar beliefs.

You can make friends more quickly with people who like the same things you do.
First, think about what you like. Do you read a lot, watch a lot of movies, study history, farm, eat a lot, have a dog, or play sports? Are you really interested in a good cause, your neighborhood, or your history? Do you collect things? Are you crazy about old cars? Do you like changing the way old furniture looks? You might want to learn something new, like how to cook a Nigerian dish or speak a new language. If you are interested in any of these hobbies or things you want to try, Look for clubs, charity workshops, classes, or online groups that can help you achieve them.

When you join a group, you have to keep going to it so that you can make friends. It would be great if you could be there in person.

2. Learn how to get along with others.

Sometimes the simple social skills that help us really connect with other people get rusty over time. You'll be happier if you're not just hoping that someone will notice how interesting you are.

How to get better:

Make more smiles. When you smile, you make other people feel welcome and at ease.

Make things interesting. Are you ready to talk or ask something? One idea is to talk about the news or why everyone is here (if it's a class, ask someone how long they've been interested in the subject). Or, find something to talk about. That person may be wearing a pretty pin. See if there's a story behind it.

Try your best to listen. As you listen, show that you are interested in what they have to say. You can look at them, nod your head, or say "Mmm" while they talk to help. Feel like everyone is waiting to hear what you have to say.

There are more things you should ask. Don't go away when someone tells you they have an interesting story. If they hint at something, show that you're interested and ask them to go into more detail. They're leaving clues that will lead to a more in-depth talk.

3. Make chances happen.
If you don't want to join someone else's group, make your own. Hold events at your home or somewhere else. It only takes three people. You can say something like, "Let's read books, talk about a TV show, or have dinner together every week."

Here are some other ideas for weekly or monthly get-togethers:
  • Nights with games
  • A night of trivia
  • Hiking in beautiful parks, walks on the beach, trips to museums, cooking, knitting, sewing, or crafting, shopping, day trips to nearby towns, making jewelry, collecting comic books, old dolls, and baseball cards, and showing off your collection
Not just close friends can come; anyone you want to get to know better is welcome. It could be a friend or a coworker.

If they want to, set up times and places to get together regularly. The idea might only be thought about unless something changes. Don't be shy.

Even if you don't become friends, chatting can still be useful. The people who interacted with strangers, coworkers, friends, and family the most were happier than the people who interacted with the fewest types of people. This was found in a study from 2022.

Finally, talking to a lot of different people is good for your health, whether it's the cashier at the grocery store, a neighbor, an old friend, or a new friend. All of these connections might make you feel less lonely.

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