Author: Helena Sampaio
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Eat More Fruits and Veggies: A Simple, Practical Guide
Want more energy, a healthier heart, regular digestion, and even better sleep?One of the easiest and most powerful steps is to eat more fruits and vegetables. What do these foods do for us? How much is “enough” in real life? Easy measures: How much to eat per day: Golden tip: More helpful tips: Not a…
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What Are Ultra-Processed Foods? 5 Quick Ways to Spot Them
Do You Know What Processed Foods Are? Ultra‑processed foods are made more by industry than by your kitchen. What makes a food “ultra‑processed”? Why does the food industry use all these ingredients? To make the food taste better and sell more. But this kind of “delicious” can hurt your health. Why Should You Care About…
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How Much Sugar Is Too Much? What Do the New Dietary Guidelines for Americans Say?
Did you know most Americans—adults and kids—eat more sugar than they should? The new 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans share a clear message: cut back on added sugars at every life stage. What is “added sugar,” exactly? Added sugar is the sugar someone put into the food or drink—it’s not the sugar that naturally comes…
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Choosing to Drink? Keep It Safer with These Tips
Hi there. We took a year-end break, but we’re back now. Drinking alcohol can harm your health. The safest choice is not to drink. If you choose to drink, these tips can help lower your risk of health problems. Let’s start with how much. There is no safe amount. Health organizations say that 1 to…
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Understand Your Health Plan: Key Terms, Smart Questions, Clear Next Steps
Our post today is all about health insurance plans. We know those contracts can be full of confusing words, right? So, we’re here to help you get a clear handle on them. Our goal? To make sure you know what costs to expect and, most importantly, help you dodge those frustrating surprise bills! Ready to…
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Real Stories: How Improving Health Literacy Changes Everyday Decisions – Part Two
Continuing with our series of real-life stories about how being proactive with your health can help you stay healthier, let’s learn how health literacy can help you with that. These three stories show that following a few simple steps—ones we’ve talked about before—can make a big difference. Case 1 Miguel, 52 — Hospital discharge: avoiding…
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Real Stories: How Improving Health Literacy Changes Everyday Decisions – Part One
In this blog, we’ve been encouraging you to be more proactive about your health. We’ve already covered many topics. Think with me. What happens when you pay closer attention to what you plan to do at your visit with a healthcare professional? Or to what’s written on a medication label? Or on a food label?…
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How to Read Your Lab Results Without the Stress
Have you ever opened your lab results and felt lost in a sea of numbers and medical terms? You’re not alone! Understanding your tests is an important skill to take better care of your health—and you can start without the headaches. Why are tests ordered? Healthcare professionals request tests for a few common reasons: Practical…
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You Care for Them—Care for You: A Practical Caregiver Checklist
Are you a caregiver? Let’s take care of you At some point in life, many of us care for someone we love: a parent, grandparent, spouse, partner, child, another relative, or a friend. Caring is an act of love. But caregivers need care, too. Important: Many caregivers end up getting sick—often from fatigue, stress, and…
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How to Read Your Medication Label (Made Simple) – Part Two
In our last post, we talked about how to understand the label on prescription medications. Today, let’s help you make sense of a label on an over-the-counter (OTC) medication—the kind you can buy without a prescription. OTC (Over-the-Counter) medications are sold in pharmacies, grocery stores, and online.They’re meant for common health problems such as: OTC…
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How to Read Your Medication Label (Made Simple) – Part One
Many times, when we receive a medical prescription or buy an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, questions come up about how to use it correctly, what the risks are, and what all that information on the package means. Understanding medication is part of health literacy and can prevent mistakes, dangerous interactions, and even hospitalizations. Medicines are regulated…
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The Easiest Way to Read a Food Label (No Science Degree Needed) – Part Three
Quick recap from Parts One and Two Today: Short on time? You can still make smart choices in the grocery aisle. This post gives you quick, practical tips you can use today—without memorizing a textbook. Let’s go! Soda Tomato Sauce Bread and Cereals Yogurt Bagged Snacks Nuts and Seeds Canned Foods Meats and Deli Meats…
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The Easiest Way to Read a Food Label (No Science Degree Needed) – Part Two
If you read part one, you know that understanding food labels helps you eat better—without giving up taste or convenience. In our previous post, we looked at what appears on a label: the Nutrition Facts panel, the Ingredients list, allergen statements, and information about additives and preservatives. Let’s review the Nutrition Facts label: Look at…
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The Easiest Way to Read a Food Label (No Science Degree Needed) – Part One
Have you ever picked up a food package at the grocery store and felt confused by all the information on the label? You are definitely not alone. Food packages must show you what’s inside. Laws make sure that food companies tell us important things about their products. This helps us choose foods that are right…
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A Healthier You: Easy Tips That Make a Difference
Taking care of your health doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple choices, made every day, can greatly enhance your quality of life. Start investing in caring for both your body and your mind. Have you ever told someone you don’t have time for fun, for sleep, or just to relax? If so, you’re not alone.…
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Health Fake News: What They Are, How to Identify, and How to Combat
1. What Are Health Fake News? Fake news means lies. In health, fake news are stories about health that are wrong or made up. The person sharing these stories wants to trick you. Sometimes, these lies are just silly and don’t harm anyone. But other times, they can be dangerous. Think about this: homemade recipes…
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Healthcare at Your Fingertips: How to Make Your Institution’s Phone Service Friendly and Efficient
Did you know your feedback has the power to transform the phone support at your healthcare institution? Great phone service isn’t just a convenience—it’s a direct line to the care and information you need, increasing your confidence and satisfaction every step of the way. But here’s the catch: if you don’t speak up about your…
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Why You Should Tell Your Healthcare Providers About Every Medication—Including Supplements
When we visit the doctor, most of us focus on the main reason for the appointment. But there’s another important detail that can make a world of difference to your health: making sure your healthcare team knows all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take. 1. Why Complete Medication Communication Matters Every substance you put…
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Asking questions during a health appointment is important
Picture this: you’re in the doctor’s office. The doctor has just explained your diagnosis and the next steps in your treatment. You listen closely, and when they ask if you have any questions, you say, “No, I’m good.” Sound familiar? This happens all the time—but asking questions is truly essential when it comes to your…
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Welcome!!
A blog made for you — to help you take charge of your health through clear, simple information. Hello, everyone.Today is the very first day of this blog. This blog is for you — someone who wants to take better care of your health. But why the name UnderstandHealthLiteracy?Because health starts with understanding. That’s what health literacy…