Upgrade your ice, ditch this morning phone habit and check out this cucumber hack for eggs — plus 11 more health tips to help you have a great week

Yahoo

9 hours ago

Hello, health enthusiasts! My name is Kaitlin Reilly, and I am here to share the internet's best tips for living well this week.
It's Father's Day, and Yahoo Life spoke with some of our favorite dads about how they raise their kids and keep their bond strong. Actor and author Hill Harper, who is a single dad to his 9-year-old son, Pierce, tells Yahoo Life that he's limiting his child's screen time and instead prioritizing extracurriculars like sports — and even a Mandarin course!
Meanwhile, content creator and dad Strider Patton is connecting with his daughter in a unique way: by braiding her hair. He's also sharing videos of himself working on new hairstyles and building a girl dad community in the process.
One way you can show appreciation for your own dad — or father figure — this Father's Day? Write them a gratitude note. Research shows that it can increase our own feelings of well-being and happiness while making us more satisfied in our relationships. Plus, it's a way better gift than a new pair of dress socks.
Want to dive into your best week yet? Peek at the local weather forecast, and check out your horoscope if you're seeking some astrological guidance. Then read up on the small steps you can take this week and beyond.
This hack from Simply Recipes is genius — and it's zero waste! Next time you're cutting up lemon or ginger for a recipe, save a few extra slices and plop them on a tray. Stash them in the freezer, and hours later, you'll have 'ice' that doubles as additional flavoring for your water. This is especially good for people who find plain water a little bit blah and end up reaching for sweetened beverages, which come with extra sugar and calories instead. Another idea to try: Cube watermelon or cucumber and freeze them for a refreshing, vitamin-packed alternative to ice.
It's a common habit: Our alarm goes off, and suddenly, we're scrolling on our phones before we have a chance to even think about what we're doing. Heart health experts tell Parade it's time to stop. Why? There are a few reasons. Dr. Paul Bhella, a cardiologist, tells the outlet that psychological stressors are 'linked to high blood pressure and heart disease in the form of heart attacks and heart failure," and getting a stream of messages — or even just reading not-so-great news — can set us up for stress and anxiety.
But it's more than that. Experts say that the minutes you spend scrolling mean you have less time for healthy habits, like making yourself a nutrient-rich breakfast, exercising or taking mindful moments for yourself — all things that can protect your heart over time. So, instead of wasting 10 minutes in the morning checking texts, use that time for something more productive and stress-reducing, like stretching or taking a walk around the block.
Can you fry eggs without oil? Maybe … if you have a cucumber handy. A viral hack on social media claims that rubbing a cut cucumber on a hot pan can create a nonstick surface for frying eggs — no oil needed. There could be some science behind it, dietitian Heather Martin, who tried the trick herself, tells Today. Cucumbers secrete a starchy, gel-like liquid containing compounds like MLPs (major latex-like proteins), which might temporarily seal pan pores and reduce sticking. Martin tried the hack with multiple veggies — including cucumbers, zucchini and onions — and found that while all helped release eggs from both nonstick and stainless steel pans with minimal sticking, unlike oil, they required close attention to ensure the eggs would slide off smoothly. Still, if you're seeking to cut calories you would otherwise find in the oil — or are just curious in case you ever run out of your EVOO — consider slicing up a cuke and trying it yourself.
Summer is the season for stone fruit — think fruits with a pit, like plums, peaches and nectarines. These vitamin-packed fruits are rich in fiber, which is important for protecting gut health and even warding off colon cancer. Dietitian Valerie Agyeman tells USA Today that there are lots of fun ways to eat stone fruits, including throwing them on the BBQ. "Grilled plums with cinnamon make such a simple but sweet treat,' she shares. Spoon some protein-rich Greek yogurt on top for a healthy twist on dessert.
If you're struggling with a lack of motivation and feelings of disconnection, you may assume you're dealing with depression. It could be something else: functional freeze, a term experts use to describe that numb, detached feeling that can arise due to ongoing or overwhelming stress. Unlike with depression, in which you might feel overwhelming sadness, 'when you're experiencing a functional freeze response, one of the primary symptoms is dissociation,' Dr. Willough Jenkins, a child psychiatrist, tells Women's Health.
While seeking out professional help is important, one thing you can do is try grounding techniques to get you back into your body: Consider the 5-4-3-2-1 technique, in which you identify five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste. Or, try progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), tensing and then releasing a specific part of your body before moving on to the next.
Relationship experts spoke to Self about the bad habits you should nix in your romantic partnerships. One surprising thing to avoid is bringing humor into every conversation. While it's important to be able to laugh with your love, psychotherapist Janet Bayramyan tells the magazine that cracking jokes during difficult talks can occur when one person is 'uncomfortable or incapable of having tough conversations and emotional intimacy,' leading them to use 'humor to deflect.' If you find yourself falling into this pattern, she says, be honest. You can 'let your partner know there's a part of you that wants to deflect because you have a hard time with serious conversations.' Getting vulnerable — and being accepted for it by your person — can make you less likely to crack a joke and more capable of diving into the hard stuff.
Do you douse your sushi in soy sauce? You could be overdoing it on sodium, which can contribute to health issues like high blood pressure. One swap to consider is to use coconut aminos, experts tell Women's Health. This slightly sweeter sauce is rich in umami flavor but much lower in sodium (just 270 milligrams per tablespoon compared to soy sauce's 879 milligrams). That's a big deal if you're watching your salt intake or trying to stay under the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans limit of 2,300 milligrams. Coconut aminos are also naturally gluten-free and soy-free, so they're perfect for people with allergies.
Lobster rolls are a summertime favorite, but lobster is pricy, which is why you may be seeking an alternative for the iconic beach sandwich. One option, according to the Takeout, is to use monkfish instead. Like lobster, it's meaty rather than flaky, meaning it works great when mixed with mayo, chives and other ingredients common in this sandwich. Plus, monkfish has crucial nutrients, such as B vitamins and selenium. Sautée your fish in butter, or poach it in salted water for the best results.
As EatingWell reports, black pepper is getting more expensive due to shortages and looming tariffs. If it's your go-to way to jazz up a dish, the higher price point is a good excuse to shake something else on your food, including some other spices that have health benefits. Try turmeric to help fight inflammation — it adds warmth and color to soups and curries as well as scrambled eggs and roasted veggies. Or reach for cinnamon — yes, even when a dish is savory. Not only does cinnamon support healthy blood sugar levels, it also gives dishes like chili, roasted squash or chicken more depth of flavor.
A study published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes found that people recovering from heart issues, including heart attacks, had a much lower risk of another event if they swapped just 30 minutes a day of sitting still with some form of movement — or even extra sleep. Study participants who incorporated even light activity, like walking or standing more throughout the day, saw a 50% to 60% drop in repeat heart attacks or cardiac events. Why? 'Movement is the current that keeps everything flowing,' Dr. Robert Segal tells CNN. 'Sitting still for hours is like damming up a stream — things get sluggish, pressure builds and debris (in this case, fats, glucose, clots) accumulate in the blood vessels.'
One way to get up without doing a hardcore workout? Try 'exercise snacks' — aka movement that you sneak in throughout the day. Do some jumping jacks at your desk, run up the stairs instead of taking the elevator or walk to the bathroom on the far side of the office instead of using the one closest to you.
Diets like Atkins and keto say carbs are a no-go, but it's not necessarily the best approach, experts tell EatingWell. Cutting carbs drastically can lead to nutrition deficiencies, such as a lack of 'folate, antioxidants and fiber,' explains nutritionist McKenzie Caldwell. While cake and cookies are carbs that offer little in the way of nutrients, complex carbs like whole grains, fruits and starchy veggies are your body's preferred fuel source, dietitian Samantha DeVito adds. 'When you drastically reduce your intake, you might feel sluggish, irritable or find it harder to concentrate,' she notes. That's why it's so hard to stick to a low-carb diet long-term. Choose carbs like oats and sweet potatoes, and pair them with protein and healthy fats to support your blood sugar for sustained, steady energy and proper nutrition.
There's nothing more frustrating than trying to open a jar of pasta sauce for dinner and finding the darn thing just won't budge, no matter how much elbow grease you put in. Fortunately, our friends at the Takeout have a simple solution: Run the lid under hot water to expand the metal and loosen the vacuum seal. Hot water not doing the trick? You can also give the lid a few firm taps with a butter knife, or use the knife to gently pry under the edge like a lever. Both methods help break the seal and make twisting much easier.
Are you always reaching for chips after a tough day at work? Dietitian Jessica Levinson tells Prevention that you can break that stress-eating habit by getting into a better one. Instead of heading to the pantry when you're stressed, lace up your shoes and take a walk. This will disrupt your snacking and make you feel better afterward, which can lead you to no longer crave your previous snack. 'Exercise releases endorphins that can stimulate relaxation, and the fresh air is also a natural stress reducer,' she notes. Not only will you feel calmer and better able to make healthier food choices, you'll also break up sedentary time, which comes with a slew of physical and mental health risks.
Food scraps like broccoli stems, radish tops and beet greens don't need to end up in the garbage disposal. Instead, they can become flavorful dishes that stretch your grocery budget, plant-based blogger and Scrappy Cooking author Carleigh Bodrug tells CNN. The food expert says that simple swaps — like saving broccoli stalks for vegetable fries or tossing carrot tops into pesto — can help families save more than $1,000 a year on groceries. Another tip? Stop tossing food that is past its 'best before' date, which can be arbitrary, and use your senses to assess if it's worth throwing out. Slimy cucumbers or mushy fruit can get tossed, but cauliflower that still smells and looks fresh is OK. 'I still have waste, but if we're being more mindful about what we buy, we're going to have less waste over time, which really adds up,' Bodrug says.