Happy and Healthy on the 4th of July

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Photo by john paul tyrone fernandez on Pexels.com

July 4th is about a week away and Summer is the time for grilling and eating outdoors. While everyone loves the taste of good barbecue, research shows that grilling meats can cause the formation of cancer-causing chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HCAs). People who consume well-done meat on a regular basis are 60% more likely to get pancreatic cancer. Longer cooking times and high heat might also increase the risk of stomach, lung, and breast cancer.

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to make grilling healthier while still preserving the flavor of the food.

Healthy Hydration

We write often about the importance of hydration. Here’s a healthy drink to prevent dehydration when you’re planning to be out in the hot summer sun or have spent too much time in dry, air-conditioned settings.

Coconut water is known for providing electrolytes, and this concoction will make it even better than sugary, artificially-colored rehydration beverages.

Ingredients

Our Favorite Green Juice Recipes

We all know we should eat our vegetables. With a green juice or green smoothie, you can drink your vegetables, too. Juicing provides an easily absorbed boost of vitamins and minerals in the form of a fresh, raw food. Green juice contains magnesium, potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C and it reduces acidity and inflammation in the body. An 8-ounce serving of green juice generally has 80-100 calories and it can provide more than one third of the recommended daily allowance of the nutrients mentioned above.

Learn to make juices at home, with or without a dedicated juicer with these simple recipes.