Superfood chayote: Why this staple in Jamaica should be a staple on your table

Chayote is a fast-growing, sun-loving, nutritious vegetable that, left untethered, can completely take over a garden, fence or tree in your yard. In fact, that’s what happened to me. I recently found vines of chayotes sprawling across several of my trees! I totally forgot that I had bought one from Whole Foods a few years ago and planted it in my yard. I was able to pick three mature chayotes from the tree to eat -- a little taste of home.

Is guava a superfruit? The health benefits may have you searching high and low for it

Guava is a tropical fruit with light green or yellow skin, and a tasty inside that ranges in color from white or yellow to its infamous bright coral pink. If you’re wondering what guava tastes like, it’s been described as a mix of pear and strawberry – but nothing quite compares to trying this fruit for yourself! If its vibrant color and unique taste don’t have you convinced, then read on to learn a little bit more about the many health benefits of guava.

World Health Organization gets proactive to fight diabetes and obesity

Do you love soda? Nearing possible addiction? This is nothing to be ashamed of, and the World Health Organization feels your pain and wants to help. Sugar-sweetened beverages are a significant contributor to the worldwide rise in obesity and diabetes, WHO said. In fact, obesity has at least doubled since 2014, and diabetes has risen to nearly 10 percent of the worldwide population.

Diabetics can benefit from daily walks, but when should you walk and for how long?

If you have Type 2 diabetes, you may have heard that you could benefit from daily walks. But did you know that when you walk can make a difference? In a new study published in Diabetologia, scientists compared two sets of advice adults with Type 2 diabetes are often given: going for a 30-minute walk each day, or walking for 10 minutes after each main meal. What they found?

How much time do you spend on your phone daily? The average American spends nearly 11 hours of screen time

How often do you think you spend each day consuming media? Between your radio, TV, personal computer and devices, it may be more than you think! If you are like most Americans, you’re looking at 10 hours and 39 minutes of screen time, a recent Nielsen report shows. And because Nielsen collects data on media consumption only, that’s not even including the time you spend doing other things on your phone like taking photos or texting.

Try this to reverse prediabetes and avoid getting diabetes

You’ve been putting on some weight lately. It’s nothing crazy; it’s just a little bit each year. You know that it probably has something to do with your diet, or maybe that soda habit. Besides dusting off the old basement treadmill in January, you aren’t big on “working out,” though you know you probably should. You are out of breath much quicker these days so you make a mental note to self to try to walk more. Otherwise, you feel reasonably healthy, maybe a little high blood pressure or cholesterol.

How to lower blood sugar using just apple cider vinegar

Vinegar comes from the French word vin aigre meaning sour wine. It can be made from almost any fermented carbohydrate - wine, molasses, dates, pears, berries and apples have all been used to make vinegar, with apple cider vinegar being one of the most popular kinds. The benefits to apple cider vinegar are abundant.

Prediabetic? Try exercise to control your blood sugar levels

Staying fit into middle age may be one way to reduce your risk of prediabetes and diabetes, according to a new study published in Diabetologia online. Prediabetes simply means your blood sugar is higher than normal, but is not yet diabetes. It is estimated that half of all U.S. adults have either prediabetes or diabetes.

Standing at work, a proactive step you can take against Type 2 diabetes

Sitting is bad, and standing is good. That’s been the message of 2015 -- that even if you go for a run after work, the amount of time you sat helped to increase your risk for diabetes and death. Yikes. But a lot of jobs involve necessary sitting, and not all employers are health-minded enough to spring for standing desks. Nevertheless, desk workers have some hope. An article published in Diabetes Care shows that the bad effects of sitting can be alleviated by standing and walking intermittently.

Toddlers with Type 2 diabetes?

Did you know that even 3-year-olds can get Type 2 diabetes? Chronic diseases aren’t just for adults anymore. For many reasons, pediatricians are now having to handle Type 2 diabetes, a condition that most doctors considered to be an “after-40” type of disease. So what’s contributing to the surge in diabetes in children?

Be an informed patient: Statin among top-prescribed drugs

In 2014, the No. 1 most prescribed drug in America was branded rosuvastatin, or Crestor. IMS Health conducted a survey of the most commonly prescribed branded drugs, and this cholesterol-lowering pill came out on top with over 22 million prescriptions. FDA-approved in 2003, Crestor has been marketed as the most potent statin. Statin drugs stop an enzyme from making cholesterol in the body, sending LDL levels downward and making cardiologists and internists happy. But it’s not enough to just change a blood test result.

How diabetes and foot drop are related

If you have diabetes, or someone you love has diabetes, you are certainly not alone. According to the American Diabetes Association, 29.1 million Americans had diabetes in 2012. That’s 9.3 percent of the population. Among senior citizens, age 65 and up, the prevalence was even higher, at 25.9 percent. As you may already know, diabetes can cause problems with your feet, including “foot drop.” Foot drop refers to the inability to lift the front part of the foot. People who have this condition may be noted to lift their knees higher than normal to avoid dragging their toes.