Transforming Healthcare: A Blog By Gwinnett Medical Center

Did you know that 60 percent of your body weight is water? That tells you how important water is to your health. Summers are supposed to be carefree, but there is one thing we need to be extra cautious about when the temperatures rise – hydration. It’s easy to underestimate the heat and how fast our bodies become dehydrated.

You’re burning calories right now while reading this. Credit your metabolism, which is the chemical process your body uses to convert food into energy. The faster your metabolism, the more energy your body exerts, even while sitting still.

This soup, brimming with fresh vegetables, is a delicious way to enjoy summer produce while you watch your weight. Consuming low-calorie soup helps you fill up so you can eat less, according to research.

If you can start a healthy habit when you’re young, it will be yours for life. But sometimes it’s hard getting your kids to eat healthy foods. If you disguise healthy food as something fun or new, your kids will be more excited about eating it, and maybe will even realize that they like the healthy stuff!

Everyone has an occasional sleepless night. But if you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or are extremely tired during the day even if you’ve had a full night’s sleep, you might have a sleep disorder. Here are the most common types:

Although not botanically a grain, delicate-tasting quinoa shares health benefits with whole grains, potentially reducing your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

We all know what it’s like to get a sudden craving for a particular snack. If you satisfy your craving now, you are less likely to overeat and binge later. Here are some tweaks you can make to boost the nutritional value of your favorite treats.

Summer time is the perfect time to run around and play outside. More time outside means more opportunities for allergic reactions, bites and stings. The American Academy of Pediatrics has some tips on what you should do if your child is stung, bitten or has a reaction.

This classic chilled tomato soup is the perfect dish to cool you down on those hot summer nights.

Once you get hooked on smoking, it’s difficult to quit. Nicotine is an addictive drug that affects the chemistry of the brain and central nervous system. But the good news is that when you put out that final cigarette, your health will improve in just 20 minutes. When it comes to enjoying better health, the sooner you quit, the sooner you start.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death among Americans and the No. 1 cause of disability in adults. That’s the bad news. The good news is 80 percent of strokes are preventable. What is stroke? Blood vessels that carry oxygen to the brain become blocked or burst. When the brain cannot get enough oxygen, cells begin to die, causing disability and sometimes death. Who’s at risk? Anyone, at any age, can have a stroke. Certain factors, including being 55 and older and being male, put you at greater risk.

Summer just wouldn’t be summer without some juicy, thirst-quenching watermelon. But did you know that this tasty treat is also bursting with nutrition and health benefits. Watermelon is an excellent source of vitamins A, B6 and C, a known immune-booster, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). What’s more, watermelon is packed with lycopene, an antioxidant that may help reduce the risk of cancer and other diseases, according to the American Cancer Society.  Watermelon contains even more lycopene than tomatoes.

Your eyes. They allow you to see the soft glow of a sunrise and the first steps of your child. They also enable you to drive a car, watch television and enjoy countless other activities. So why risk your sight?