As the saying goes: there’s an app for that. Exercise, activity and sleep are as important to your health as nutrition. If you need a motivational assist with your wellness program, tracking your nutrition and lifestyle is the perfect way to visualize results and build in accountability.
The new iPhone 7’s latest operating system update improved features that weren’t all that useful. Its Health Plus app fully integrates all your information from trackers and apps, giving users a streamlined dashboard. Health Plus also allows you to easily integrate third-party apps for a truly comprehensive overview of your weight and wellness.
Remember to check with your health care provider before changing your diet and/or fitness regimen.
Comparison of (iPhone 6) Health and (iPhone 7) HealthPlus features
The iPhone 7’s Health Plus now features four categories: activity, sleep mindfulness and nutrition. The app integrates information from your Apple Watch and other third party apps and devices into one window. Apple even suggests apps that will integrate well with the four major health categories and help you track data.
Weight – Standard feature for most trackers
Body Fat Percentage – calculate using a plug-in like the Withings Smart Body Analyzer
Dietary Calories – automatically syncs with MyFitness Pal nutrition/exercise tracker
Active Energy – automatically logs the calories you burn every day when iPhone is in your pocket or if you wear an Apple Watch
Built-in Step Counter
If you prefer to save money on a wearable fitness tracker, your iPhone will count your steps and track this information over days, weeks, months and years.
Wearable fitness trackers are usually designed for the wrist or upper arm and often worn around the clock. They not only measure vitals (heart rate, calories burned, activity (steps, miles, etc.) but can also tell you how well you’ve slept. The price range can vary from $20 to several hundred dollars.
Top iPhone Fitness Apps
Calorie and Nutrition Trackers
MyFitnessPal Easily tracks nutrition and calories with this app’s standard (free) and premium (fee-based) versions. The app’s database is loaded with both grocery items and chain restaurant meals. You can import recipes from the Web or manually enter your own. MyFitnessPal is programmed with common workouts, so you’ll know how long it’ll take someone like you (height, weight, gender) to burn off that danish.
Lifesum ” … works with apps from Withings and RunKeeper to give you an accurate assessment of your daily calorie intake.” Like MyFitnessPal, it “features a built-in barcode scanner that can pull up nutritional data on millions of items.”
Sports/Exercise
As always, consult your healthcare provider before beginning an exercise program.
Carrot Is an artificial intelligence-based virtual personal trainer: it “threatens, inspires, ridicules, and bribes you — whatever it takes — to get you moving. It’s a wonderful motivator that features a “7 minutes in hell” workout that will require you to do 30 seconds of 12 punishing exercises, and will berate you if you don’t.”
Running
The 2016 releases give runners a choice between entertainment and the superior functionality of a “robust workout summary” fit for an Olympian.
Zombies, Run immerses athletes in a post-apocalyptic world where they venture beyond the safety of their base to well, run from zombies.
Runkeeper boasts a GPS tracker to “map your runs while logging the speed and distance run.”
Charity Miles allows you to turn your daily routine into cash for your favorite cause. “Running this app before beginning your exercise routine will earn 25 cents per mile for your selected charity (bikers earn 10 cents per mile). You will, however, have to share your activity on Facebook for the charities to receive the donations.”
Yoga
Yoga is for everyone, regardless of age, fitness level or flexibility. You don’t have to carve out time to commute to a studio: it can even be done in the middle seat on an airplane!
Airplane Yoga – shows you how to feel like you’re in first class even while stuck in coach. These small stretches can be done while seated at work or at home, too!
Daily Yoga – Free for beginners, fee-based ($13/quarter) for intermediate and advanced students.
Yoga Studio lives up to its name with “more than 65 individual classes, ranging from 10 to 60 minutes at any difficulty level, Yoga Studio guides you through poses with HD video classes.”
Gas sufferers will find the calorie counting apps’ handiest feature is nutrition analysis. You’ll be able to find out how many carbs are hidden in an unfamiliar food, or learn what’s in your entree before you order dinner.
As many who are troubled with intestinal gas can tell you, carbs are not your friend! If a meal causes intestinal gas or bloating, CharcoCaps® dietary supplement can be taken after you eat.
CharcoCaps® dietary supplement relieves gas and bloating FAST!* Enjoy your favorite foods without worry! *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Sources:
http://www.cultofmac.com/409676/how-to-turn-your-iphones-health-app-into-an…
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/best-health-and-fitness-apps-for-iphone/#ixzz4Myjlx0cY
http://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/iphone/12-fitness-trackers-that-work-with…