Fruit canned in syrup

Fresh fruit is an important component of a healthy diet, but how it’s prepared matters. “You might think that canned fruit is as healthy as fresh, but if the label shows that it’s canned in “light syrup” or “heavy syrup,” it means that the fruit has sugar added to it,” Gorin says. “You want to limit the added sugar that you eat.” She suggests reading your food’s ingredients label to make sure it contains nothing but fruit. “Fruit canned in juice or water is usually a safe option,”

Ice pops

When summer rolls around, ice pops and fruit-flavored shaved ice may seem like a healthy, refreshing treat. But one quick glance at the ingredients might change your mind. Most are made of sugar, sugar, and more sugar with artificial flavors, preservatives, and colors. We already know added sugar is a problem, but an article in the Journal Neurotherapeutics suggests artificial colors are also a public health problem and have been linked with behavioral issues in children. Choose pops that are made primarily with juice, so that you’re getting some nutrition for your calories

Cotton candy

According to the USDA Food Database, cotton candy is 100 percent sugar. A one-ounce serving averages 110 calories and 28 grams sugar. This melt-in-your-mouth treat may seem “light” but it isn’t, and the effect on your teeth isn’t pretty either. The most recent available World Health Organization guidelines recommend added sugar make up no more than 10 percent of calories to reduce incidence of cavities and gum disease. That’s equivalent to about 38 grams of sugar for someone eating 1,500 calories a day. Given this, a single ounce of cotton candy contributes 73 percent of the recommended daily limit. Gum disease can be a sign of a more serious health condition; here are 7 signs of disease your teeth can reveal.

Frosting

That creamy delicious chocolate topping on your cake clocks in at around 140 calories with 18 to 19 grams of added sugar and about 2 grams of saturated fat in just 2 tablespoons, according to the US Food Database. You’ll find a host of other questionable ingredients including hydrogenated fats, a source of trans fat that are bad for your heart, according to the American Heart Association. At less than 0.5 grams per serving, trans fat doesn’t have to be declared on a label according to the FDA, so you won’t know it’s there—and let’s face it, you’re likely to eat more than two spoonfuls. Go for light whipped cream instead. It’s literally half the calories

Coffee drinks

NYC-based dietitian Natalie Rizzo, MS, RD, says some of the emptiest calories you can take in are found in sugary blended coffee drinks, like frappuccinos or caramel macchiatos. “To me, these drinks masquerade as a caffeine pick-me-up, but are more like a dessert. I absolutely think it’s OK to indulge occasionally but making these your go-to drink at the coffee shop is definitely not a good choice,” she says. “Sugar-sweetened coffee drinks can have more sugar, fat, and calories than most meals!” These calorie-free coffee hacks might just replace your Starbucks habit

White chocolate

All the health benefits related to chocolate don’t apply here. Primarily made up of cocoa butter, milk, or cream, flavors and emulsifying agents, as indicated in the FDA Code of Federal Regulations, white chocolate has around 150 calories, 5 grams saturated fat, and 16.5 grams of sugar per ounce according to the USDA Food Database. Unlike dark and milk chocolate, which contain varying amounts of the more antioxidant-rich cocoa, white chocolate contains zero cocoa. Choose dark chocolate for greater nutritional benefits,

Salt pork

A saturated-fat-and-salt bomb, 4 ounces of raw salt pork has 33 grams of saturated fat and over 3,000 milligrams of sodium, according to the USDA Food Database. Thankfully it is mainly used in relatively small amounts as a flavor enhancer in cooking, for example in baked beans or collard greens in traditional Southern cooking. Still, it’s best not to make salt pork a daily habit. Watch

13 Foods with Way More Salt than You Realized



Lisa Marie Conklin




What do instant oatmeal, cookies, and canned veggies have in common? They are all foods high in sodium—and you probably didn’t know they were.




Cottage cheese

Cottage cheese with fruit is an old lunchtime favorite, packed with protein and calcium. But if you’re aiming to lower your sodium, you might want to skip these creamy curds, as they’re actually foods high in sodium. Cottage cheese has at least 400 mg of sodium per half cup. For a tasty substitute, try Greek yogurt. You’ll get more protein, calcium, vitamin D, and as a bonus, some good-for-your-gut probiotics. Most Greek yogurts weigh in at only 70 mg of sodium per half cup.

41 Signs Your Kidneys Are in Big Trouble



Denise Mann, MS




More than 26 million Americans suffer from kidney disease—from kidney stones to infections to cancer. Learn the signs that your kidneys are in big trouble with this expert-approved guide.

Most people don’t think much about their kidneys until something is really wrong. Considering they’re you’re built-in detox machines, you might want to pay closer attention to these fist-sized, bean-shaped organs. Sometimes referred to as the body’s “master chemists,” your kidneys sit just below your rib cage, one on each side of your spine. They filter your blood to remove any waste and excess fluids, producing urine. They also ensure that you have the right amount of minerals, like potassium and sodium, in your blood; another key kidney job is producing hormones that help control your blood pressure.

How do you know if something is wrong?


Most kidney disease is completely invisible, and people only find out about it after a routine test that measures kidney function. By this time, there is pretty significant disease,” cautions Joel Topf, MD, a nephrologist at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Royal Oak, MI, and a spokesperson for the American Society of Nephrology.

The kidney test

According to Anil Agarwal, MD, director of interventional nephrology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, the best ways to diagnose kidney disease are through urine and blood screening tests. The urine test looks for blood proteins (which shouldn’t be in urine), bacteria, and minerals that can form kidney stones. A blood test can detect a waste product from your muscles called creatinine; unhealthy kidneys have trouble filtering out creatinine. Creatinine is normally removed from your blood by your kidneys, but when kidney function slows, creatinine levels rise. “Urine and blood analysis are a good idea, and sometimes kidney ultrasound can provide more clues,” says Dr. Agarwal

You are overwhelmed by sudden and severe pain

Each year, more than half a million people go to emergency rooms for kidney stones, according to the National Kidney Foundation. If you have high levels of certain minerals in your urine, kidney stones (hard, pebble-like pieces of material) can form in one or both of your kidneys. “Pain associated with kidney stones often comes on suddenly and is sometimes described as [as] excruciating as the pain associated with labor,” says Douglas Propp, MD, Medical Director and Chair of Emergency Medicine at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. Dr. Propp says most patients pass their kidney stones on their own, though doctors sometimes prescribe medication to either manage the pain or help the stone pass. Some stones may even require surgery

Blood in your urine
Another possible warning sign of kidney disease is blood in your urine. This can be a marker of kidney stones, kidney infection, and other kidney diseases. “The early signs of kidney disease tend to be vague but looking at your urine can give you important clues,” says Dr. Agarwal. “Any blood in your urine or change in the color that may indicate blood—as well as foamy urine (which

Your constant urge to pee

Because your kidneys produce urine, frequent—or very infrequent—trips to the bathroom can both be signs of kidney disease. For some people, kidney disease results in false urges to pee, while others will report a greater amount of urination that may even wake them up at night,

Pain when peeing

Because a kidney infection is a type of urinary tract infection, you’ll have inflammation all the way down your urethra. The bacteria don’t just invade the lining of your bladder and kidneys, explains Charles Modlin, MD, MBA, a urologist with Cleveland Clinic. They also can infiltrate the tissue and nerve endings of your urinary tract, activating pain receptors in the area. And when nature calls—ouch

Cloudy urine



Ajintai/Shutterstock

During a kidney infection, your pee might look cloudy. “Your body is sending white blood cells to fight the infection,” explains Nicole Ali, MD, a nephrologist at NYU Langone. “What you see in the urine is blood cells and bacteria building up

Foul-smelling
Noticing an unusual stench when you urinate could be another one of the kidney infection symptoms you experience. “That’s the fermentation of the bacteria,” says Dr. Modlin. Don’t jump to conclusions if it’s your only symptom, though. Cloudy, strong-smelling urine can also be a sign of dehydration, he says, so see if drinking more water helps.

Pus in the urine


In severe cases of kidney infection, you might see pus when you urinate because of a buildup of white blood cells and bacteria, says Dr. Ali. “At the point where someone is seeing pus in the urine, they probably have a bad infection,” says Dr. Ali.

Fever

Bladder infections don’t normally cause a fever; running a temperature could indicate the infection has traveled up to your kidneys. Certain types of kidney stones can also cause infections—and fevers. “When the kidney gets obstructed, it can lead to fever because there can be backup of urine and that can lead to an infection,” says Dr. Coogan.

59 Health Symptoms You Should Never Ignore



Dawn Yanek




Don’t dismiss these important cues from your body that could signal huge health problems. Your life may depend on it.




Pressure or tightness in the jaw, neck, or arms
Believe it or not, you might be having a heart attack—especially if you’re a woman. Women under 55 who have had a heart attack are actually more likely to have experienced lesser-known symptoms like this. They are also more likely to have experienced three or more symptoms other than chest pain before having a cardiac incident, according to a study published in Circulation. The problem is, these symptoms are often misinterpreted or ignored, even by doctors, and this puts women at an increased risk of dying in comparison with men of the same age. So be aware, be smart, and be your own best advocate.