Hellyeah Healthy

Those new little bottles at the checkout counter promise so much more than five-hour energy. They’re packed with amino acids (same as fish!), herbs (herbal!), and miracle compounds from the Amazon (exotic place-name!). It’s all very “plant-based” and “enlightened”—buzzwords that will help drive the global energy-drink market up to an expected $85 billion over the next six years. They’ll give you energy for sure, mostly thanks to straight-up caffeine—about ten times more per ounce than coffee. But do all the other ingredients make them healthier than a regular energy shot? We analyzed the four most popular ingredients—from the just-trendy to the just-might-work—in these new-gen energy shots.  Guarana People in the Amazon consume the seeds of this fruit when they need an energy surge. They contain four times as much caffeine as coffee beans, but the wake-up effects may be even stronger: “Guarana contains additional bioactive compounds that prelim...

There are plenty of reasons to exercise. For some, it’s because you booked a beach vacation, while others are focused on staying healthy. No matter what your motivation is, we can all agree that the benefits of exercise are obvious. But there’s a stealthier payoff: healthy skin. Read on to learn more about the skin and beauty rewards that come from regularly working up a sweat.

Protein is an essential element of a healthy diet. You may only think of meat when you think about protein, but this important nutrient actually comes in a number of different forms. Choosing a variety of protein-rich foods while still paying attention to your fat and cholesterol intake are the keys to healthy eating. Why We Need Protein Sure, protein tastes good, but why is it so good for the body? "It's an essential nutrient," says Anne Wolf, RD, registered dietitian and researcher at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Protein serves as a critical building block for cells and tissues throughout our body. "We need it for every function in our body — for healing purposes and for building muscles," explains Wolf.

There's no need to feel guilty about your morning cup o’ joe. On the contrary: People who drink four or more cups of coffee a day have up to a 20 percent lower risk of melanoma than those who sip the dark stuff less often, according to a 2015 study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. But this study is hardly the first one touting good news for java junkies. "Coffee is incredibly rich in antioxidants, which are responsible for many of its health benefits," says Joy Bauer, RD, nutrition and health expert for Everyday Health and The Today Show. And studies show that its caffeine content may also play a protective role in some health conditions.

Coconut oil has been called by many "the healthiest oil in the world." While it was once maligned for its high saturated fat content, recent research indicates that its medium-chain fatty acids and anti-microbial properties actually make it a healthy choice, according to Mark's Daily Apple website. Its hypoallergenic nature, nutritional profile and light taste make it a perfect ingredient to include in baby food, and its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties make it an excellent item to include in your baby's skin care regimen.

Beet roots have grown in popularity because they are nutritious and economically sustainable. Beside the raw natural form, dietary supplements are commercially available. Some common forms are capsules, juice, tincture and powder.