HCE Blog

Stop chugging Gatorade and other sports drinks and crack open a coconut! Well, you don’t have to actually crack open a coconut, but you should definitely consider replacing those sugary sports drinks with coconut water. Don’t get coconut water confused with its high-fat cousin, coconut milk. Unlike coconut milk, coconut water is a clear liquid taken from a young coconut instead of the matured v...

There are few things better than pancakes when it comes to breakfast food, at least as far as taste goes. Healthwise, though… not so much. But instead of ditching hotcakes completely, try a healthier alternative to the delicious, but artificial, syrup we all love smothering them in! You don’t have to stray too far from your norm, especially if you try using all-natural, pure maple syrup!  Pure...

Ditch those sugary and artificial fruit snacks and start packing fresh fruit salads in your child’s lunchbox!  While fruits are naturally high in sugars, it’s all-natural and unprocessed sugars. They are also packed full of vitamins and nutrients that aren’t found in the fruit snacks kids love. Throw together the fruit salad we mention below to give your kiddos a healthy and delicious snack! ...

Have you ever heard the phrase, “As sweet as a peach?” While peaches are naturally quite sweet, did you know that many companies that sell pre-sliced and packaged peach cups add in a lot of sugar? Some brands of fruit cups have up to 22 grams of sugar— that’s about 10 grams of sugar more than what naturally occurs in a peach!  There’s a simple solution to packing these sugar-filled cups of fru...

It’s lunchtime. Your child slams back a couple of Capri Suns, and by the time they get back to class, they’re buzzing. You may not have thought about it when you packed their lunch that morning, but a single Strawberry Kiwi Capri Sun has 16 grams of sugar! Classroom disruptions abound as your kiddo surfs on that sugar high of strawberry kiwi goodness, and you’re sure to get a letter to the pare...

Sometimes when you’re out walking on a trail or on a hike, you don’t always pay attention to the plants around you. Maybe you walked through a patch of poison oak or poison ivy, and you get back home and are breaking out with an annoying and itchy rash? Don’t bother with those expensive and smelly anti-itch creams when you can reach into your pantry and break out everyone’s favorite hot cereal—...

You probably shouldn’t rub salt in a wound, but it’s okay to add a little pepper! This hack is going to get a little spicy, so we hope you’re ready! If the cut is bad, we would prefer you come into your nearest Healthcare Express where we treat it all! But if you happen to be in the middle of making dinner for yourself or the family, this tip is for you! Black pepper is naturally antibacteria...

You know, Popeye may have been onto something. Even though that famous cartoon sailor ate spinach to make himself strong, this leafy green can also help in so many other ways. Within the past few years, spinach and other dark leafy greens have been hailed as superfoods and for good reason. Spinach is packed full of protein, iron, vitamins, and minerals. All of these things contribute to factors...

What can be used as shoe polish, a meal replacement, AND a face mask? Bananas! But did you know that they can make you happy as well? *Siri, play “Happy” by Pharrell! * Bananas are one of America’s most popular fruits! With their versatility and sweetness, it’s easy to see why we love them. They can help keep you fit as well! These berries—yes, bananas are berries—have many vitamins and nutrie...

Preparation H… it’s not just for your bum. Okay, we know that’s a little crass, but did you know everyone’s favorite hemorrhoid cream is good for treating more than just, well, hemorrhoids? The active ingredient in Preparation H that makes it so effective is an ingredient called phenylephrine. Phenylephrine reduces swelling and irritation, which makes it an excellent treatment for bug bites su...