Families Like Looser ICU Visitation Policies

MONDAY, Jan. 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Many hospitals still restrict who can visit critically ill patients and when. But new survey results suggest that lifting such restrictions can improve family satisfaction and patient well-being.

“The term ‘visiting hours’ is obsolete due to the growing evidence related to the wide-ranging benefits of open access for ICU [intensive-care unit] families,” said senior study author Dr. Samuel Brown. He is director of the Center for Humanizing Critical Care at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah.

The study involved 103 family members visiting patients in the intensive care unit and 128 ICU nurses. About half were surveyed before an unrestricted patient visitation policy was implemented at the medical center and half were questioned after.

With the new policy, visitors are allowed at all times, if patients agree and are well enough. Previously, visits were restricted to 90 minutes each morning and evening.

The new policy dramatically improved family satisfaction with the ICU visitation hours and waiting room atmosphere, the study found. Nurses also perceived higher visitor satisfaction with the updated visitation policy, the researchers noted.

The study results were published Jan. 4 in the American Journal of Critical Care.

A growing number of hospitals have developed more open ICU visitation policies following a 2010 presidential memorandum and new regulations from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the researchers said in background notes.

“Numerous studies have shown that more liberal visitation policies lead to improved family, patient and nurse satisfaction without representing a safety risk,” Brown said in a journal news release. “In fact, studies have suggested that patients do better medically when their families are free to accompany them during their ICU stay.”

More information

The Institute for Patient-and-Family-Centered Care provides more on family presence in the ICU.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1PI1p9z

Pediatricians’ Group Says U.S. Lacks Resources to Treat Kids in Disasters

MONDAY, Jan. 4, 2016 (HealthDay News) — When a major public health emergency, disaster or act of terrorism occurs, the United States may lack adequate resources to treat children who are affected, according to a new statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The medical requirements of children — for example, drug formulations or dosing — would often be very different from those needed by adults when or if a chemical, biological, radiation or nuclear disaster strikes.

The AAP’s Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council says that while “significant strides” have been made over the past couple of decades in helping stockpile disaster supplies that are specific to children, more must be done.

“Many vaccines and pharmaceuticals approved for use by adults as medical countermeasures [in disaster situations] do not yet have pediatric formulations, dosing information or safety information” aimed at children, the council explained.

“As a result, the nation’s stockpiles … are less prepared to address the needs of children compared with those of adults in the event of a disaster,” the council stated.

Also, there’s not enough research “to assure effectiveness and safety [of these medicines] and to identify evidence-based dosing guidelines for children,” the council added in a news release.

In many cases, drugs meant to counter a biological or other threat have only been developed and tested on military personnel, the council said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration should begin to address this situation “by taking full advantage of all pathways currently available to ensure that products can be tested in pediatric populations,” the experts suggested.

Then there are practical concerns: Kids often balk at swallowing pills or drinking liquid medications with a “yucky” taste. Reformulating emergency medicines to make them more palatable to children could help speed care in a crisis, the AAP advisors added.

Another idea: Store caches of emergency supplies near places where children congregate, such as schools or child care centers. The council also said that devising easy-to-understand instructions for parents or caregivers on how to give a specific drug to children would prevent a lot of stress and error if or when disaster strikes.

All of this will cost money, but cost “is not an appropriate rationale to limit or exclude [children] from such research,” the council said.

“Children represent nearly a quarter of the U.S. population, but they are affected disproportionately by most disasters and public health emergencies,” the AAP team said. “The recommendations outlined in this statement should be used to guide pediatricians; federal, state, and local government agencies; and others in addressing this need.”

The statement was published online Jan. 4 and will appear in the February print issue of the journal Pediatrics.

More information

There’s more on the unique pharmaceutical needs of children at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1PI1r1b

What Going Gray Early Can Tell You About Your Health

Photo: Getty Images

Does going gray earlier mean I’m aging more quickly?

Silvery strands are one of the more conspicuous signs of aging. That said, getting gray hair doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re closer to the end of your life span than anyone else your age. Gray hair occurs when the hair follicles produce less melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color. It’s most common for graying to begin in your 30s, though some women spot a few grays in their 20s. Your graying age is related to your ethnicity (Caucasians tend to go gray earlier than Asians and African-Americans), as well as your family history, so you may want to ask your parents and grandparents when they noticed their first grays.

RELATED: 13 Everyday Habits That Are Aging You

If you think you’re going gray unusually early, there are a number of possible reasons why. Smoking, for one, has been linked to the early onset of gray hair. Environmental factors—like ultraviolet rays and air pollutants—may also be partially to blame. In rare cases, premature graying can be a sign of a medical issue, such as vitiligo (a condition that causes skin to lose its pigmentation), pernicious anemia (in which the body has difficulty absorbing vitamin B12) or problems involving your pituitary or thyroid glands.

Health’s medical editor, Roshini Rajapaksa, MD, is associate professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine and co-founder of Tula Skincare.

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1R4vmSV

How You Can Protect Your Children From Brain Injury

FRIDAY, Jan. 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — There are a number of things parents and coaches can do to protect young athletes — and non-athletes — from a concussion, an expert says.

Children should wear a helmet when appropriate, advised Dr. Kathleen Bell, co-director of the Texas Institute for Brain Injury and Repair, and chairwoman of physical medicine and rehabilitation at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

“Even at the youngest ages, football players wear helmets,” she said in a center news release.

“Ironically, however, football players do not suffer the most concussions. Increasingly today, bicyclists and skateboard riders are being seen in hospital ERs for concussions. While wearing a helmet does not guarantee prevention of a concussion, doing so can help minimize injury,” Bell added.

It’s also important for the helmet to fit properly and be in good condition.

“A loose-fitting helmet or one that’s not in good condition is almost as bad as no helmet at all, since the head can impact the helmet itself and contribute to injury. Make certain the helmet is in good condition,” Bell said.

Parents should meet with coaches and trainers to discuss concussion policy.

“At no age should a student athlete return to play the same day after experiencing a concussion, no matter how slight it might seem at the time,” Bell said. “In Texas it is required that students experiencing a concussion sit out at least a week. When in doubt, sit it out!”

Proper conditioning, training and skills development are also important.

“There’s a right way to head a ball in soccer, make a block, or tackle in football. Parents should take time to observe team practices to be sure the coaches are teaching these critical skills with a focus on safety first, not scoring,” Bell said.

Don’t let youngsters play if they are tired or dehydrated, because both conditions can increase the risk of concussion.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about concussion.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1OB2m4u

Move of the Week: Medicine Ball Russian Twists

Take your ab-sculpting to the next level by throwing a medicine ball into the mix. Adding weight to your standard Russian Twists will not only better-tone your obliques, but also boost your calorie-burn potential. Learn how to achieve perfect form by watching Health‘s contributing fitness editor, Kristin McGee, demonstrate Medicine Ball Russian Twists.

RELATED: Take the 30-Day Total Body Challenge

Here’s how to do it: Grab a five to eight pound medicine ball. Sit up nice and tall, scoop your lower abs in and hinge your upper body backwards. Draw your shoulders away from your ears. Toss one ankle over the other and float your legs up from the lower abs. Twist from the torso, bringing the medicine ball right to left. Try three sets of 15 reps three to four times a week.

Trainer tip: To really reap the benefits of this move, make sure to keep your body as steady as possible. Focus on solely moving your torso, with the help of your obliques.

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1RUZQqh

5 Things Cancer Taught Me About Loving My Body

Photo: Angelica Rios

I’ve struggled with my weight and body image since I was in the first grade.

For years, I would stand in front of the mirror and cry at the big and ugly girl that stared back at me. I hated my body and wished that I could disappear, all because the number on the tag of my dress and the number on the scale made me feel insignificant. I had very little self-esteem and a whole lot of insecurities.

Despite years of therapy and piles of self-help books, my self image didn’t shift until 2011, when at the age of 37, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. After all the treatments and surgeries, I realized how blessed I was to have a body that was strong enough to fight through illness and withstand surgeries and radiation. Despite the pain and trauma, I was in awe at the resiliency and power of my body—the same body that I had always cursed.

RELATED: 15 Thyroid Cancer Facts Everyone Should Know

To paraphrase author Kris Carr of Crazy Sexy Cancer fame, I would never call cancer a gift, because I would never want to give it to you… But it was the best teacher that I’ve ever had. It taught me to love myself and appreciate my body just the way it is. Here’s how cancer showed me the path to compassion and self-esteem.

Love what your body can do, not what it looks like

From 2011 to 2013 I had several surgeries and treatments, but the last and most intense one came in May 2013. Half of my pancreas was removed, and during the surgery my spleen ruptured and my ab muscles had to be cut open, leaving me unable to get in and out of bed or even walk to the bathroom without the assistance of an army of nurses and a cane.

For so long I had made self-deprecating remarks about my “fat” body, but now that my body was falling apart I came to the realization that my body was, and is, remarkable. I couldn’t stop thinking about how marvelous my abs and all of the organs and glands that I had lost were, and how well they had served me for most of my life. My long lost thyroid had provided me with energizing hormones that I needed to get me through my day; my spleen had protected me from disease; my lovely pancreas provided enzymes to break down my food into nutrients.

But it was my “fat” belly that I was most in awe of. Now that I couldn’t move, I came to appreciate how strong my muscles were—how my abs held me in plank position while I did yoga, and my strong legs and thighs carried me as I climbed inside the Great Pyramid of Giza.

RELATED: How a Running Vacation Rebooted My Spirit

The greatest gift of this whole experience was getting reacquainted with my body and spirit, both of which have ALWAYS been strong and resilient. Despite the pain, stitches, and wounds, I came to appreciate my body in a way that I had never done before, and I offered myself the compassion, love, and acceptance that I had never allowed before. My perspective shifted from wishing that my body looked like someone else’s to celebrating what had always been mine.

Fake it until you make it

I started off the process of change by just being grateful for each day and being grateful for being alive. As my marvelous body healed, I began using affirmations as a way to show my body and my spirit how much I admired its strength. Then on January 1, 2014, I made a conscious vow to love and respect myself in a way that I never had before.

It may sound superficial, but I used my love of fashion to get me there. For years I dressed like an old woman in mourning (head-to-toe black with a bun to match) and I used clothing to hide my body and become invisible. In retrospect, I now see that by doing so, I was letting the world know how badly I felt about myself without uttering a word.

I decided to say kind things to my body and experiment with fashion. I joined Gwynnie Bee, a clothing subscription site for plus size women, and stopped wearing frumpy dresses with flats. Eventually, I even let my hair down and stopped wearing it in a bun.

At first, I felt like I was faking it because I wasn’t used to showing myself any kindness (or even used to wearing a belted dress!), but I decided to keep going with it. Now I feel comfortable wearing bright prints, high heels and, literally, letting my hair down. But most importantly, I no longer let the size printed on the tag in my dress devalue me.

RELATED: Eat Your Way to Health and Happiness

People respond to your energy, not your looks

As I shifted my perspective from self-loathing to self-love, people started to treat me differently. And it wasn’t so much how I looked but the energy that I was projecting.

I was literally walking with my head up, smiling more, chatting with strangers, and exercising more compassion with myself and with others. I also changed the words that I used. I stopped insulting myself with phrases like “I look like crap” or “I’m so fat!” Words are powerful and I wanted to make sure that I chose them carefully when speaking to myself.

So many of my friends took notice. I’ll never forget when one of my co-workers, whom I first met before my transformation, told me how proud she was of me. Even though I hadn’t told her what I was doing, she had noticed that I was dressing differently (I do work at a fashion magazine, after all)—but most importantly, she told me that I was “projecting a strong confidence” that everyone could see. Something about what she said made me feel like the outside world could finally see me—the real me.

Look at yourself from 20 years in the future

One day while I was recovering from one of my surgeries, I found an old photo of myself from when I was 20 years old and in art school. Despite being a photography major, I hated getting my photo taken because I thought that I was so fat and worthless.

RELATED: Why Ronda Rousey Is the Body Image Role Model We Need

As I stared at the photo, tears welled up in my eyes. My 39-year-old self finally saw my 20-year-old self for who she really was—I was NOT fat and NOT ugly. My skin was luminous, my hair was shiny, and my athletic body was curvy and strong. I was beautiful!

Now when I’m having an off day or I’m in a funk, I think to myself, “What would 60-year-old me say about me at this moment?” The answer is always free of judgment and always filled with wisdom and compassion.

Loving your body helps you love your whole self

As I practiced the art of loving and taking care of myself, I began to let go of things that were weighing me down, all things that were painful and exhausting—everything from self-loathing and cursing my body to ending an unhealthy 18-year relationship with a man I’d thought I would spend the rest of my life with. As difficult as it was sometimes, the more that I started to treat myself with true love and respect, the less tolerant I became of toxic energy and the more confident I became.

Sharing the lessons that cancer taught me is now my passion. I never want anyone—especially women—to have to experience a traumatic event before they realize what a miracle their body is and has always been. My body went through cancer, several surgeries, and radiation and not only survived, but my body and I are thriving! My scars still hurt but I’m so proud of them—each one reminds me that I’m strong, resilient, and able to thrive in the midst of adversity.

My body is a miracle and my only regret is not falling in love with it sooner—before the cancer, before the scars, before I needed a cane to walk, before the hair loss, before the hospitals. But I accept this as not only part of my journey, but as part of my mission.

RELATED: What It’s Really Like to Have Thyroid Cancer

The most important lesson I’ve learned is that we need to live in gratitude for what we have—it’s the only way to transform into who we truly are. Be proud and let the world see who you are. You and I are beautiful so let’s celebrate ourselves in the New Year!

Rosaliz Jimenez is the Photo Director at People StyleWatch, and a body confidence advocate.

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1PB1WtT

Pulse, Plank, Plié: The Barre Workout You Can Do at Home

Photo: Getty Images

Take off your shoes but don’t get too comfortable. This barefoot barre workout will leave you sweaty and feeling the burn all over your body.

“This is a really, really great way to work the entire body in a low-impact way and to pretty much touch on every single muscle group, especially a lot of those little muscle groups that tend to get forgotten when we focus on the larger muscle groups,” says Daily Burn 365 trainer Becca Pace.

While most barre workouts require an actual bar, you can do these moves using just your bodyweight and a yoga mat. Plus, you’ll be happy to know you won’t be doing any burpees. Barre workouts are all about tiny movements that require you to focus on form, stability and balance. Need a break? Feel free to pause to roll out your your wrists or take a breather in child’s pose, Pace says. And prepare to work muscles you didn’t even know you had!

RELATED: The 12 Move Total-Body Workout: The Daily Burn Dozen

The 5-Move Barre Workout That’ll Work Your Whole Body

1. Walk-Down Planks
How to: Start in down dog, then walk your hands out into plank pose, letting your left leg float up a few inches off the ground as you move forward (a). Think about zipping your belly button in towards your spine and reaching the crown of your head forward. Your shoulders should be over your wrists, with your fingers spread apart (b). Keeping your elbows straight, hold the plank for 30 seconds (c). Bend your knees and slowly walk your hands back into downward dog and repeat on the opposite side.

RELATED: Burn Fat, Build Muscle: 3 Killer Circuit Training Workouts

2. Half-Moon Leg Lifts
How to: Get on your hands and knees, arms straight, knees bent at a 90-degree angle (a). Straighten your right leg and lift it off the ground. With your foot flexed, tap your toes out to the right side, off your mat (b). Then, engage your glutes to lift your right leg up and over your left leg, tapping the floor on the outside of your left foot (c). Repeat for 30 seconds, then switch legs.

RELATED: The Louis van Amstel Dance Workout You Need in Your Life

3. Forearm Plank Knee Taps
How to: Get into a forearm plank, shoulders over elbows, heels pushing back, spine long. Pull your shoulders away from your ears (a). Tap your right knee down to the floor, then your left knee. Alternate for 30 seconds (b). Then, tap both knees to the ground for 30 seconds.

RELATED: The 5-Minute No-Equipment Back Workout

4. Plié Pulse Series
How to: Stand upright, feet positioned wider than hip-width apart, toes pointed out at a 45-degree angle. Raise your arms straight out to your sides, holding them at shoulder-height, or place your hands on your hips (a). Bend your knees to go into a plié squat, then return to standing. Repeat for 30 seconds (b). Then, bend into a plié squat and pulse for 30 seconds (c). Repeat both variations one more time.

RELATED: Tone Your Thighs: 3 Moves for Awesome Legs

5. Inner Thigh Lifts
How to: Lie down on your left side, left forearm planted on the floor perpendicular to your torso to support your body. Lengthen your neck to avoid collapsing into your supporting arm (a). Bring your right leg over your left leg, bending the knee and planting your right foot in front of your left knee (b). Keep your left leg straight and foot flexed, and rotate your foot so it’s lying flat against the mat. Then rotate the foot so your toes point into the air, and lift your leg about six inches off the ground (c). Repeat for 30 seconds, then switch to opposite side.

All GIFs courtesy of Daily Burn 365.

More from Daily Burn:

The One Glute Exercise You Need to Try Now

5 Better Ways to Sculpt a Stronger Butt

11 No-Bake Energy Bites Recipes

Life by Daily Burn is dedicated to helping you live a healthier, happier and more active lifestyle. Whether your goal is to lose weight, gain strength or de-stress, a better you is well within reach. Get more health and fitness tips at Life by Daily Burn.

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1kxMAJE

Hitting the Slopes? Here’s How to Have Fun and Stay Safe

FRIDAY, Jan. 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Many families and outdoor enthusiasts hit the slopes this time of year. Skiing and snowboarding are fun for people of all ages, but you need to know how to keep yourself and others safe on crowded mountains, according to Nemours Health.

Having the right clothes and equipment can protect skiers and snowboarders from low temperatures and injuries. In addition to warm clothing, proper boots, poles, goggles and a helmet specifically designed for skiing or snowboarding are essential.

Every time you head up a mountain, this is what you need:

• Skis: Larger skis are typically harder to control. Buy or rent skis that are the appropriate size for your height and skiing ability. Have your skis fitted and tuned by a trained professional.
• Bindings: Bindings hold your boots to your skis or snowboard. They should be able to release if you fall to prevent serious injuries. Bindings that release too easily, however, can also be dangerous. Have your bindings adjusted by a pro.
• Boots: Make sure your boots fit correctly. Your feet should always be comfortable and warm. This will help you control your skis or snowboard. Boots should always be buckled securely to properly support your feet and ankles.
• Poles: Skiers should make sure their poles are the right length and have looped straps that go around wrists.
• Helmet: Wearing a helmet every time you ski or snowboard is the most important way to prevent a life-threatening injury. Be sure your helmet fits properly and always fasten the chin strap securely. Ski and snowboarding helmets have special ventilation for warm days and a place to attach goggles. Don’t wear a football or biking helmet for skiing or snowboarding.
• Goggles and sunglasses: The sun’s rays are stronger at the top of a mountain than at sea level. They can also reflect off the white snow, increasing your risk for exposure to harmful UV rays. Sunglasses are the best way to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays, but goggles can protect against the sun as well as cold, snow, tree branches and other hazards.
• Gloves or mittens: It’s important to wear gloves or mittens while skiing and snowboarding. Some gloves also provide a pocket for hand warmers. In very cold conditions, mittens may offer greater warmth than gloves.

More information

The National Ski Areas Association provides more skiing and snowboarding safety tips.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1ZEQ8tr

5 Tips to Help Make New Year’s Resolutions Stick

FRIDAY, Jan. 1, 2016 (HealthDay News) — New Year’s resolutions are more easily made than kept, but there are ways to turn them into lifelong habits, a psychologist says.

“Everyone is motivated when they first decide to make a New Year’s resolution,” Josh Klapow, a clinical psychologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said in a university news release. “The problem is that you can ride the wave of motivation for only a short while. If you want to stick with your resolution, you’d better make it a habit.”

Klapow advises those making New Year’s resolutions to follow the “S.M.A.R.T.” system, which includes the following five steps:

• Set specific goals. The more specific the resolutions, the more likely they will be followed. Rather than make general promises to eat better or exercise more, make a resolution to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily or walk 30 minutes each day.
• Monitor your actions. Keep track of your goals and monitor your progress. If you’ve resolved to exercise more, mark each workout on your calendar in a visible place in your home.
• Arrange for success. For you to meet your goals, you need to eliminate any barriers preventing you from reaching them. If you want to eat less sugar, remove sweet treats from your home. If you want to make it to the gym every morning, place a packed gym bag by your door so it’s ready to go.
• Recruit a support team. You’re more likely to stick to your resolutions if you have the support of others. Let your friends and family members know about your plans, so they can help you attain your goals. If you want to exercise more, a workout partner can also help you stay on track.
• Treat yourself. Reward yourself for sticking to your resolutions. Once they’ve become a habit, enjoy a movie, fun outing or a healthy treat to allow you to feel good about your success.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides tips on how to improve your health in the new year.

---

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1ZEQ6BC

9 Paleo Snacks You Can Eat on the Go

If you’re eating Paleo, then you’ve taken a pass on most packaged snacks, which tend to be full of Paleo no-nos like sugar and artificial ingredients. (And if you’re still not clear on what it means to eat Paleo, here’s everything you need to know about this diet.) So what’s a primal person supposed to gnaw on between meals—especially when they can’t be home to prep something from scratch? Read on for delicious bites to keep the munchies at bay.

Meat:

The New Primal Meat Sticks ($40 for 20; thenewprimal.com)

Remember those scary gas-station mystery-meat sticks? (Or is it just us?) Here’s a decidedly grown-up, much cleaner version made with pastured, grass-fed beef flavored with honey, lemon peel, salt and spices. It has all the primal satisfaction of chewing on a well-seasoned beefy stick, and the convenience of easy-to-toss-in-a-purse packaging, but without the mile-long ingredient list. Plus, it has a respectable 90 calories, 6g fat and 200mg sodium (and 6g protein to keep you going until your next mealtime).

RELATED: 17 High-Protein Snack Ideas

Field Trip Jerky ($6 for 2.2 oz.; amazon.com)

If you like jerky but are avoiding excess salt, you’ve come to the right place. Field Trip relies on a mix of spices and not a ton of sodium, and doesn’t over-season its jerky. So the result is a tasty, really enjoyable, satisfyingly beefy jerky that won’t leave you gasping for your water bottle. (Note: They have turkey jerky, too, if you prefer.) Also, notably, they use wheat-free soy sauce, so it’s gluten free. It’s also nitrite- and preservative-free.

Epic Coconut Carnivore trail mix ($5 for a 2-oz. package; amazon.com)

Jerky is a Paleo mainstay, but it can sometimes feel a bit one-note chewing away on dried meat after a while. Enter Epic with its trail mixes, innovative pouches that have a bit of jerky on one side, and a bit of trail mix on the other, so it’s more of a party for your taste buds. Our fave: The Coconut Carnivore (264 calories, 18g fat and 380mg sodium), which has grass-fed beef jerky and toasted organic coconut. It doesn’t get much more Paleo than that.

RELATED: 10 High-Protein Breakfast Recipes

Bars:

RX Bar ($19 for 12 bars; amazon.com)

You gotta love a bar that has so few ingredients, and such straightforward ones, that it lists them on the front of the package… in large type. RX Bars do just that. Though they come in several flavors (and obviously the Peanut Butter wouldn’t qualify as Paleo), our fave is the Blueberry. Made with egg whites, almonds, cashews, dates and, of course, blueberries, it really brings the berry flavor. Plus it’s soft and chewy, not chalky like some protein bars (though it packs 12g, for 210 calories, 9g fat and 11gmg sodium).

Exo Bar ($35 for 12 bars; amazon.com)

So, OK, yeah, these are the bars made with cricket flour. As in, flour made from ground-up crickets. But they also have almonds, dates, prunes, coconut and cocoa, so you get a satisfying, chocolate-y bar (with 260 calories, 15g fat and 45mg sodium, plus 10g protein and 8g fiber). Our brave taster noted, “If you can handle the idea that there’s ground up crickets in there, you will be fine. Some people are just grossed out by the thought, but you really can’t tell when you eat it. Also: Is it really more gross to eat ground up crickets than it is to eat say, a hot dog?” Fair enough.

RELATED: 5 Foods With More Potassium Than a Banana

Simple Squares ($26 for 12 bars; amazon.com)

Bars can be a mixed bag texture-wise, with some in the soft-and-smooth category, others leaning toward hard and chalky. If you love a grainy granola bar, you’ll really enjoy these. Though they’re grain-free, they have a soft, grainy texture, somewhere between a soft granola bar and an oatmeal cookie. Of all the interesting flavors (Sage! Chili Pep!), we enjoyed Coffee the most. All of the bars have a nutty, coconutty, honey flavor, and the addition of ground organic coffee beans really wakes these up (sorry).

Other:

Artisana Raw Coconut Butter squeeze packs ($17.50 for 10, amazon.com)

If you’re a primal eater, no doubt you’ve already discovered the wonders of coconut butter. This creamy, rich spread, made from pureed coconut meat, makes luscious Paleo desserts, bulks up smoothies, turns plain sliced bananas or apples into tropical treats. It isn’t practical to lug around a whole jar of the stuff, but luckily Artisana makes these convenient squeeze packs, perfect for school bags, purses, briefcases, carry-on bags, etc. With 197 calories, 20g fat and only 9mg sodium, you can eat one with abandon.

Go Raw Zesty Pizza Sprouted Flax Snax ($31 for 6 packs; amazon.com)

Admit it: Even if you’re the most dedicated primal eater ever, you miss pizza. And chips. (Come on, of course you do.) Good news: These wholesome, flavorful bites go a long way toward satisfying not only your need for crunch, but also that hankering for pizza. Since they’re made from sprouted flax, sunflower and sesame seeds as well as tomato and spices, you can chomp away to your heart’s content (an ounce has 180 calories, 13g fat and 290mg sodium – plus, find another chip that has 8 percent of your day’s iron and 5g each of protein and fiber).

Tiger Nuts ($6 for a 5-oz. bag; amazon.com)

These odd, chewy little bites may be new to the scene but certainly not to humanity; apparently they’ve been cultivated for the last 4,000 years. They are, in fact, not nuts, but small tubers, eaten raw. OK, that doesn’t sound delicious, and they’re definitely an acquired taste—but once you get into these little things, they’re kind of addictive; very chewy, slightly sweet, kind of chestnut-like. An ounce has just 120 calories, 7g fat and no sodium, but also packs in 10g fiber and 10 percent of your day’s iron. All that chewing means you don’t wolf them down and reach for something else, too.

from Health News / Tips & Trends / Celebrity Health http://ift.tt/1TtzJ7n