4 Steps to Fighting Junk Food Cravings

Junk Food CravingsTrying to stay healthy or lose weight is hard enough as it is without those constant junk food cravings. Unfortunately, everybody has them, and giving in to those junk food cravings can really set you back when it comes to your health goals. The following are four steps that will help keep those junk food cravings from derailing your health goals:

1. Pay attention to your junk food cravings

When you think you’re having a craving for a certain junk food, it may just be your body telling you that you need something specific. For example, if your body needs sugar, you may just automatically think about your favorite sugary treat. Try to eat a healthy alternative, such as fruit, that contains healthier sugars that your body needs.

2. Indulge once in a while

When someone breaks their diet by indulging in a junk food, they often give up on their diet altogether, thinking that it’s hopeless. However, it’s okay to indulge once in a while. Instead of eliminating junk food altogether, try eating it less frequently at first. When you eat junk food less frequently instead of stopping altogether, you’ll have fewer cravings to deal with, making it easier to eventually cut out of your diet altogether.

3. Use methods of distraction

If you begin to feel a junk food craving, find an activity that will distract your mind. For example, playing video games for five minutes can help you forget about the junk food you were just thinking about.

4. Create an end-of-the-meal trigger

End your meals with a certain habit, such as drinking a cup of tea. Your body will begin associating tea with the end of a meal, which means that when you have a craving, you could help to get rid of it by drinking a cup of tea.

Use these four steps to learn how to deal with those junk food cravings, thereby allowing you to achieve your health goals. For more health tips or for assistance finding a health plan that best suits your needs, visit us at The Benefits Store today.

Women Face Higher Depression Rates

Depression RatesAlthough there is a better understanding of depression in this day and age, things are being discovered about depression every year. For example, a new study revealed that depression rates are much higher amongst women than they are among men.

Depression Rates Among Americans

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, American depression rates have not grown worse over the past ten years, there appear to be large disparities in those who do suffer from depression. In total, roughly eight percent of all Americans are reportedly depressed during any given two-week period. According to studies performed over a three-year period between 2013 and 2016, it was found that roughly 5.5 percent of American men experienced symptoms of depression. However, this number was almost twice as large for American women at 10.4 percent.

It was also found that depression rates differed widely depending on the ethnicity and income level of a person. For example:

  • 3.1 percent of Non-Hispanic Asian adults experienced depression
  • 8.2 percent of Hispanic adults experienced depression
  • 7.9 percent of non-Hispanic white adults experienced depression
  • 9.2 percent of non-Hispanic black adults experienced depression

According to the study, people with lower incomes were also more likely to experience symptoms of depression. Around 16 percent of those who live below the federal poverty level reported signs of depression, while only 3.5 percent of people living at 400 percent of the federal poverty level reported symptoms. The demographic least likely to experience depression was revealed to be men earning high incomes. Only 2.3 percent of this group experienced feelings of depression during the study period.

There are many symptoms of depression, including sadness, anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, irritability, feelings of guilt, feelings of worthlessness, decreased energy, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, changes in appetite and more.

Depression affects all walks of life, but it affects some groups more than others, especially when comparing the depression rate of women to men. For more health tips concerning depression or for help finding a health insurance plan that will benefit you and your family most, be sure to visit us at The Benefits Store.

Skin Cancer: 4 Facts Everyone Should Know

Skin Cancer: 4 Facts Everyone Should KnowAlmost everyone is well aware of how dangerous cancer is. What they may not know is, the most common form of cancer is skin cancer. There are currently around one million Americans who either have melanoma or had it at some point in the past. It’s why you should pay attention to your skin and get tested for melanoma, especially if you find any moles that have developed irregularities (such as if they don’t match other moles, change color, get bigger or are not symmetrical). The following are four facts about skin cancer everyone should know:

  1. There are several types of skin cancer – Melanoma is the skin cancer that most are familiar with, but it’s not the most common (although it is the most likely to grow and spread). The other main types of skin cancer include Kaposi sarcoma, lymphoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, basal and squamous cell skin cancers.
  2. Artificial tanning can increase the risk of skin cancer – According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, using a tanning bed can increase your risk of developing skin cancer by as much as 20 percent. This is because tanning beds often use UVA rays, which degenerate collagen and are more oncogenic.
  3. Using suntan lotion can help prevent skin cancer – Overexposure to the sun’s rays can increase the risk of skin cancer, which is why you should wear suntan lotion when you plan on spending time outside. You should get an SPF 50 product for the best results.
  4. Skin cancer is a genetic condition – Overexposure to the sun will increase your risk of developing skin cancer. Having a history of skin cancer in your family also increases your risk. You’re much more likely to develop it if your parents or siblings had or have melanoma, which means that you should be particularly careful when going out into the sun.

For more information on skin cancer or about getting the proper health insurance, contact us at The Benefits Store.

New Study Highlights 3D Printing on Skin

3D Printing on SkinOne of the biggest technological advancements made recently has been the 3D printer. The creation of the 3D printer has opened up almost limitless possibilities, including the use of 3D printing technology to print electronics onto a human hand.

3D Printing on Skin

University of Minnesota researchers were recently able to print electronics on a human hand for the first time using a basic 3D printer that cost less than $400, but the printer was slightly customized. The results were recently published in the academic journal Advanced Materials.

In addition to successfully printing electronics onto a hand, the team was also able to print biological cells onto the skin cell of a mouse. Another innovation made by the team in customizing their printer is the ability to accommodate minor movements made by the body during the printing process. They were able to prevent these movements from disturbing the printing process by putting temporary markers on the skin and then scanning the skin, allowing the printer’s computer vision to adjust to any movements in real time.

The way in which electronics were printed on a hand is quite innovative. A specialized ink consisting of silver flakes was used that could cure and conduct at room temperature, thereby preventing potential burns. Once printed, the electronic device could simply be peeled off.

The Potential of 3D Printing on Skin

This new breakthrough in 3D printing has a ton of potential! For example, soldiers could print chemical sensors onto their hands in the middle of the battlefield using a portable 3D printer. The technique could also be used to print cells onto the skin of patients who are suffering from skin diseases.

3D printing technology continues to advance at a rapid pace as new innovations are revealed every year. Find out more about how 3D printing can impact your life by keeping up with the latest health news at The Benefits Store today.

Firework Safety: Keeping It Safe and Fun

Firework SafetyOne of the biggest American holidays in the summer is the Fourth of July. It’s a day when families all over the U.S. get together, hold barbecues and go to a nearby firework show. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of injuries on this day because people mishandle fireworks. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, roughly 40 percent of all fires that occur on the Fourth of July are the result of firework mishaps. Here are a few important firework safety tips that you should follow Fourth of July 2018:

  • Supervise children – Obviously, you should never allow kids to play with fireworks. However, it’s not uncommon for children to play with sparklers. While they seem relatively harmless, sparklers can injure youngsters. Make sure there are adults present to supervise when children handle sparklers.
  • Only use legal fireworks – Although fireworks can be legally purchased in California, they must have a state fire marshal-registered seal.
  • Have a bucket of water nearby – If you’re lighting fireworks, make sure you have a bucket full of water or a water hose nearby. If a fire breaks out, you should be able to immediately douse it.
  • Be careful lighting fireworks – When lighting fireworks’ fuses, make sure you are not standing above other fireworks. Once lit, retreat to a safe distance. When lighting fireworks, also ensure there is nothing flammable nearby, like woodpiles.
  • Don’t relight fireworks – Any fireworks that didn’t torch the first time shouldn’t be relit. It means they are malfunctioning and relighting could be dangerous.
  • Douse used fireworks – Once your fireworks have burned out, douse them completely in water before you throw them away. If you don’t, they could catch fire in your trash.

These are important firework safety tips that you should follow this Fourth of July. For more advice on staying safe this summer, visit The Benefits Store today.