The Healthiest and Unhealthiest Store-Bought Hot Dogs

by with No Comment HealthLifestyleNutrition

The Healthiest and Unhealthiest Store-Bought Hot Dogs

Claremont Colonic Newsletter

You’ll be surprised by the differences…

Hot dogs are a grilling mainstay, and when compared with a cheese-covered burger or a juicy bratwurst, a standard-sized hot dog can actually be a healthier option, believe it or not.

They cook quickly too, meaning you can have lunch or dinner on the table in a snap. But not all hot dogs are created equal, and some pack far more fat, calories and sodium into the casing than others. These are the healthiest and unhealthiest hot dogs.

All beef: Healthiest: Organic Valley Organic Uncured Grass-Fed Beef Hot Dogs

  • Calories: 130
  • Fat: 11 grams
  • Sodium: 370 milligrams
  • Cholesterol: 30 milligrams


Organic Valley Organic Uncured Grass-Fed Beef Hot Dogs don’t contain any additives. They’re made of organic grass-fed beef, water, sea salt, organic spices, organic garlic powder, organic onion powder and cultured celery juice powder. Go the extra mile with these sausages and bake your own buns to serve them in.

All beef: Unhealthiest: Ball Park Beef Franks

  • Calories: 180
  • Fat: 15 grams
  • Sodium: 510 milligrams
  • Cholesterol: 30 milligrams


Ball Park Beef Franks are made of much more than beef. In fact, corn syrup is listed as the third ingredient. There are also scary-sounding ingredients like potassium lactate, sodium phosphate and sodium diacetate — but don’t worry, they’re just flavor enhancers and preservatives and safe to eat. One thing to be aware of, however, is the sodium content of this hot dog — 510 milligrams. Processed foods with lots of salt are one of the foods that are putting your blood pressure through the roof.

Low fat: Healthiest: Hebrew National 97% Fat Free Beef Franks

  • Calories: 45
  • Fat: 1 gram
  • Sodium: 490 milligrams
  • Cholesterol: 15 milligrams


Hebrew National 97% Fat Free Beef Franks are primarily kosher beef, water and modified potato starch, which is used to add stability, texture or viscosity. The hot dogs contain no artificial flavors, artificial colors or animal by-products. When shopping for low-fat products, realize they may rely on fillers — like potato starch — to keep the calorie count low. While the nutrition facts seem promising, these products can be among those so-called healthy foods you may want to avoid.

Low fat: Unhealthiest: Ball Park Lean Beef Franks

  • Calories: 80
  • Fat: 5 grams
  • Sodium: 480 milligrams
  • Cholesterol: 20 milligrams


Ball Park Lean Beef Franks are primarily beef, water and modified corn starch, but they also include corn syrup, sodium phosphate and sodium diacetate; they’re nitrate-free. If you’re on a low-fat diet, this may not be the best option, given one hot dog still has 5 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat and 20 milligrams of cholesterol.

Mixed meat: Healthiest: Applegate Naturals Stadium Beef and Pork Hot Dog

  • Calories: 110
  • Fat: 9 grams
  • Sodium: 360 milligrams
  • Cholesterol: 30 milligrams


Applegate Naturals Stadium Beef and Pork Hot Dogs are made mostly of beef, pork and water. Other than that, it’s spices and the lamb casing. A good casing gives hot dogs that classic snap, which is one of those restaurant secrets home cooks should know.

Mixed meat: Healthiest: Oscar Mayer Classic Uncured Wieners

  • Calories: 110
  • Fat: 10 grams
  • Sodium: 420 milligrams
  • Cholesterol: 12 milligrams


Oscar Mayer Classic Uncured Wieners contain mechanically separated chicken and turkey, but they have relatively low amounts of fat and cholesterol for this type of dog. These franks have roughly the same calorie count — 110 — as a boneless, skinless chicken breast, another food that is great on the grill.

Mixed meat: Unhealthiest: Kayem Beef and Pork Hot Dogs

  • Calories: 140
  • Fat: 13 grams
  • Sodium: 430 milligrams
  • Cholesterol: 25 milligrams


Kayem Beef and Pork Hot Dogs have more fat than some of the other mixed meat hot dog options, as well as more cholesterol. They also have added ingredients, including corn syrup, potassium lactate and dextrose, a sugar. Save that sugar intake for tasty frozen fruit desserts.

Turkey: Healthiest: Applegate Naturals Turkey Hot Dog

  • Calories: 70
  • Fat: 3.5 grams
  • Sodium: 450 milligrams
  • Cholesterol: 35 milligrams


Applegate Naturals Turkey Hot Dogs contain 98% turkey and water; the other ingredients are salt, paprika, onion, garlic, cardamom, coriander, mace, ginger, black pepper, celery juice powder and cherry powder for flavor. Pair these turkey dogs with some pasta salad, green salad or other cold dishes perfect for hot summer days.

Turkey: Healthiest: Oscar Mayer Turkey Uncured Franks

  • Calories: 100
  • Fat: 7 grams
  • Sodium: 380 milligrams
  • Cholesterol: 8 milligrams


Oscar Mayer Turkey Uncured Franks have just 100 calories per hot dog, which leaves plenty of room in your diet for other great grilled dishes. If you’re following a low-sodium or low-cholesterol diet, these are also a good option with 380 milligrams of sodium and just 8 milligrams of cholesterol.

Turkey: Unhealthiest: Ball Park Turkey Franks

  • Calories: 110
  • Fat: 7 grams
  • Sodium: 540 milligrams
  • Cholesterol: 35 milligrams


Ball Park Turkey Franks are loaded with sodium. While the main ingredient is mechanically separated turkey, these franks do contain beef stock. The sodium sent this turkey dog to the bottom of our health ranking. If you are watching your salt intake and trying to improve your eating habits, these healthy recipes and tips from a doctor will make nutritious eating a cinch.


Contributor: Staff – The Daily Meal

End Stinky Feet with This Fermented Apple Elixir

by with No Comment HealthLifestyle

End Stinky Feet with This Fermented Apple Elixir

Claremont Colonic Newsletter
A little in your salad, a little in your foot bath! Apple cider vinegar’s long history as a natural remedy means that it has been used to treat everything from sore throats to obesity — and even the feet. Feet are particularly sensitive to their environment, making them susceptible to bacteria, fungi, calluses, and more. Apple cider vinegar contains many beneficial properties that could help improve these conditions. Here’s why you should soak your feet in ACV and how to create the optimal foot bath.
What’s so special about apple cider vinegar?

For centuries, people have turned to organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar (ACV) for medicinal purposes. Its high levels of acetic acid are believed to be the reason why. ACV is made from apples that have been crushed, distilled and then fermented, according to research published in the Journal of Food Science. Adding yeast to the mix is what ferments the sugars and turns them to alcohol. Bacteria are then added to ferment the alcohol further, which turns it into acetic acid — the active compound in vinegar. Studies suggest that the acetic acid (normally five to six percent) gives vinegar its pungency and many beneficial properties. Other health benefits of ACV are believed to come from a substance called the “mother.” This natural substance gives ACV it’s murky appearance and is made up of strands of enzymes, proteins, and friendly bacteria.

Why you should soak your feet in ACV

Since ACV protects against harmful pathogens like bacteria and fungi, soaking your feet in it could provide a natural remedy for common foot problems, including:

Foot Odor

Just like the skin under your arms and on your body, your feet are covered in sweat glands. When your feet are tucked away in tight-fitting shoes, they begin to sweat. And of course, sweat is the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, which emits that foul odor. Some people find their feet sweat even without engaging in exercise or strenuous activity. Vinegar makes your skin inhospitable to bacteria. Since ACV is antimicrobial, soaking your feet in a vinegar bath for 10 to 20 minutes a day can help kill the stinky bacteria.

Athlete’s Foot

Let’s face it; you don’t have to be an athlete to get athlete’s foot. However, walking around barefoot in public places like gyms and swimming pools will certainly help. Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is a contagious skin disease caused through contact with certain fungi. Wearing shoes or damp socks further allows the fungi to multiply thanks to the warm, dark, moist environment. Telltale signs of athlete’s foot include a scaly rash that usually itches, stings, and burns. It can often show up between the toes, but it is not limited to this area on your foot. Research suggests soaking your feet daily in an ACV foot bath can help repel fungal infections like athlete’s foot.

Calluses and Dry, Cracked Feet

ACV acts as a mild exfoliator for skin and even nails, thanks to the acetic acid. This makes it a perfect foot bath for callused, dry, and cracked feet. This gentle exfoliation, over-time, may help slough off dead skin cells and encourage new cell growth. It’s best, however, to use cool water instead of hot water, which can further dry your skin. Soak your feet nightly and follow with a moisturizer and a pair of socks to lock moisture in.

Toenail Fungus

If your nails have thickened and changed color, then you may have toenail fungus. Other signs include:

  • Nails that warp or change shape
  • Nails that become discolored and turn dark
  • Nails that become loose or begin to separate from the nail bed
  • A buildup of chalky nail fragments under the nail
  • Nails that become brittle, thickened and broken


ACV has always been a popular remedy for toenail fungus. Many people swear that over time, and with repeated use, apple cider vinegar’s antifungal properties cure toenail fungus. However, there is no clinical evidence that suggests ACV will definitely work. But it is a low-risk remedy and unlikely to cause any harm. Bottom line…it’s worth trying. Simply soak your feet in a warm ACV foot bath for about 15 minutes, twice daily. To avoid reinfection:

  • Soak Your Feet Regularly
  • Trim your nails straight across. File down thickened areas and smooth edges.
  • Disinfect your nail clippers after each use.
  • Wear sweat-absorbing socks and shoes that breathe.
  • Wear footwear in locker rooms and pool areas.
  • Choose a nail salon that sterilizes manicure tools regularly.
  • Stop using nail polish on your toes, or switch to a breathable polish.


Creating the Perfect Foot Bath

Start with clean feet, cleansed with a regular, soft soap prior to soaking. Apple cider vinegar will not hurt your feet. But for your footbath, you should dilute ACV with warm or cool water.

  • Fill a basin with one cup of apple cider vinegar and two cups of warm or cool water.
  • Continue to add one cup of vinegar and two cups of warm water until the basin is full.
  • Soak feet for 10 to 20 minutes
  • Dry feet thoroughly and finish with moisturizer.


Apple cider vinegar is generally safe for the feet and makes a wonderful, relaxing soak. However, it is still possible for vinegar to irritate inflamed skin, so use with caution. In addition, people with diabetes should consult with a specialist before using home remedies for their feet.


Contributor-Katherine Marko, AlternativeDaily.com

What Is the Connection Between Diabetes and Stroke?

by with No Comment HealthLifestyleNews and Information

What Is the Connection Between Diabetes and Stroke?

Claremont Colonic Clinic Newsletter
People with diabetes are 1.5x more likely to have a stroke. Make sure you understand this link so you can prevent stroke and stay healthy.


Type 2 diabetes is endocrine disease. It basically means that your blood sugar is elevated. There are two types of strokes. One is just an occlusion. The second one is the burst of one of these vessels, and in that case, we call it hemorrhagic stroke, meaning that these vessels burst and there is a bleed inside the brain. There is an acronym that I think synthesizes pretty good the signs of stroke, and this is FAST. F-A-S-T. F stands for facial drooping, A for arm weakness, S stands for speech, slurred speech or difficult to talk, and T stands for time, and it means that it is time to call 911.

Diabetes is an inflammatory disease, which means it causes inflammation in your whole body. This includes big vessels and small vessels. With this inflammation, basically what it causes is plaque formation in the walls of the arteries that down the road, can lead to an occlusion or even a burst of one of these vessels.

People with type 2 diabetes are at higher risk of a stroke when you compare them with people without diabetes. People with diabetes also are known to have other comorbidities, like hypertension and high cholesterol. People with diabetes can lower their stroke rate by diet, exercise, and having their diabetes under control with the appropriate medications. There are multiple types of medications that we can use, that include pills and even insulin, but always these need to be combined with lifestyle modifications like exercise and diet. You don’t have to let diabetes define you. With appropriate control and appropriate medications, you can have the same type of outcomes as people without diabetes.


Contributor: Frederico Trobo: Cardiologist and Heart Failure Specialist, HealthGuides-CNN.com

Talking on Zoom Could Help Older People Stave off Dementia

by with No Comment HealthLifestyleNews and Information

Talking on Zoom Could Help Older People Stave off Dementia

Claremont Colonic Newsletter

Talking on video-conference services like Zoom during the coronavirus pandemic has helped older people stave off the effects of dementia, a new study has suggested.

Researchers found that regular communication helps maintain long-term memory, and elderly people who often use online tools showed less decline in memory than those who don’t.

The study, by the University of West London’s Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory, studied the communication of 11,418 men and women over the age of 50.

They were asked how often they interacted with friends and family online, on the phone and in person, and then completed memory tests that involved recalling a list of 10 words at various intervals.

The participants who only used “traditional,” face-to-face communication showed more signs of cognitive decline than those who used technology to keep in touch with friends and family.

“This shows for the first time the impact of diverse, frequent and meaningful interactions on long-term memory, and specifically, how supplementing more traditional methods with online social activity may achieve that among older adults,” the study’s leader Snorri Rafnsson said.
“With more and more older adults now using online communication so frequently, especially during the past year of global lockdowns, it poses the question as to what extent technology can help sustain relationships and overcome social isolation, and how that can also help maintain brain health.”

As the pandemic has forced people to stay apart, video conferencing tools like Zoom, Skype and Google Meet have exploded in popularity.

In recent months Zoom has emerged as the most downloaded app on the Apple App Store, repeatedly breaking its download records.

A study last year found that negative thinking is linked to dementia later in life. And separate research found that apathy, the decrease in motivation and goal-directed behavior, could also be a trigger in older adults.


Contributor: Rob Picheta, CNN Health