Lose weight and still have dessert? It can happen! In fact, there are a lot of options for those who want to indulge in something sweet and keep up with their health goals. The trick is to look for treats that make you feel full.

One thing to look for are recipes for energy bites – something that might contain items like cocoa, peanut butter, oats, nuts, and dried fruits. Heart healthy and it tastes great!

You might think cookies and ice cream is a no-no, but there are some that are high fiber, and you’ll feel full faster. And if you’re feeling adventurous, look into ice cream made with avocado to gain nutrients like vitamins, potassium, magnesium and more!

If you’re a chocoholic, dark chocolate is rich in fiber and less added sugars.

Fruit, whether it’s fresh or frozen, with a low calorie whipped cream or Greek yogurt will combine carbs, protein, and a little bit of good fat, and most important – flavor!

There’s a lot of good choices out there – so you can still have fun even when you’re being healthy!

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We all know that regular exercise helps you burn fat and lower heart disease risks, but there are other more subtle ways you might not expect that exercise helps us.

While exercise helps clear our minds, it also helps with memory – enhanced synaptic activity was discovered in a new study, which means you might learn and retain important information more right after you workout.

Studies also show a healthier lifestyle can offset genetic predisposition to developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, as some exercise induces a hormone that protects against the disorders, and limits the risk developing those who may be vulnerable to them.

Researchers also found evidence that exercise also helps fight vision loss, slowing or even preventing macular degeneration; there’s even some evidence of exercise causing muscles to release certain metabolites into the bloodstream, that enhances cancer-killing properties of immune cells.

So beyond looking and feeling better, regular exercise may be helping you out behind the scenes in ways you never expected!

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Coffee may be king in the morning, but there’s another beverage out there that’s growing in popularity in the United States. As people switch from sodas and sugary drinks, we’re drinking more tea these days.

Aside from drinking for the taste of it, science is looking at how tea affects our brains. A new study shows increased connectivity in parts of the brain associated with memory.

Beyond that, tea has also been found to be a mood booster – there’s also suggestions that tea could improve the symptoms of depression.

And aside from our mental health, some benefits towards our physical health have been found – it’s been linked to longer life, a reduction of cardiovascular disease like heart attack and stroke, and it may also help reduce fat. The flavanols found in tea have been linked with lower blood pressure, along with other flavanol-heavy foods like berries and apples.

While these studies are still in their early stages, if you’re just looking for something to just help relax for a few moments of your day, a cup of tea may be just what the doctor ordered!

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