HOW TO TURN YOUR BED INTO THE ULTIMATE HAVEN FOR SLEEP

Having trouble sleeping.  Besides exposing ourselves to a multitude of devices just before we go to sleep, not keeping a consistent schedule for bedtime. Even if you have different bedtimes for weekdays and weekends, it's important to try and be as consistent as possible, according to the National Sleep Foundation (http://sleepfoundation.org/ask-the-expert/sleep-hygiene).

According to a Huffington Post article, even though you "...stay away from caffeine after lunch, don't let Fido share your bed, ...give yourself some time to unwind before expecting to fall asleep, THE VERY THING YOU RELY ON MOST TO GET YOUR REST MIGHT BE SABOTAGING YOUR SLEEP."  (Emphasis mine.)

What is that "thing" the we need the most? Optimizing your bed for sleep. The HP article goes on to note: "...it's not always a matter of mattress firmness, material or size keeping you up...everything from the color of your walls to whether or not there's a lock on the door can play a role in sleep." The following infographic can give you some advice on how to optimize your bed for blissful sleep.

FOOD SERVING SIZES ARE GOING TO BE REVISED TO MEET WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD EAT, INSTEAD OF WANT THE MANUFACTURERS WANT YOU TO EAT

Earlier this year, the FDA announced its plans to change the 20-year old nutrition facts, panel that appears on food products, based on the standard portion size people are eating, derived from the Nationwide Food Consumption Surveys conducted in the Seventies and Eighties.  These are the STILL THE CURRENT standards for the FDA, manufacturers, and the dietitian community. these values are called Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed (RACC). 

The problem with the RACCs is that for many food categories the RACCs no longer represent the amount people actually consume.  

For example, the serving size, according to consumer behaviors, is no longer 1/2 a cup, but 1 cup, reflecting how people eat.  What does this mean, that a serving will contain twice the the calories, fat, sodium (as well as fiber, protein, etc.)

The bad news is that these changes have not yet been implemented, since the FDA is currently reviewing feedback from industry and the public. 

And it may take up to 3 years for the new labels to appear on your local grocery shelf. 

In the meantime, if you are counting calories, make sure that the amount you are eating matches your expectations, and what is best for your health.

This infographic illustrates the difference for two major snack staples: ice cream and soda:

SOURCE: Fooducate: http://blog.fooducate.com/2014/07/02/fda-serving-sizes-are-about-to-get-real