Great (Free!!) Health Apps

This week, I found this article in TIME and decided to try out a couple of the free apps that may be helpful to college students who are trying to stay healthy. I found them both to be pretty awesome, so keep reading for brief reviews of them!

Fooducate (iPhone and Droid)

This app is definitely a new favorite of mine. It’s really easy to use, and the barcode scanner is quick and works well, even if the barcode is a little crumpled or your hand isn’t completely steady. I have tried other barcode-scanning apps that didn’t work nearly as well as this one does.

Each product in the app’s database comes with a grade based on its nutrition facts in comparison to other foods in the same category. If you want to know more about why something was given a certain grade, you can tap on the grade icon to read the reasoning behind it. For instance, I was shocked to see that Oreos get a ‘B-’! In the “Product Details” section, the app explains that as far as industrial cookies go, Oreos aren’t so bad. They don’t contain artificial colors or hydrogenated oils, and they even have less sugar than most juices do! (That is assuming you stick to the serving sizes… but let’s be honest; one does not simply eat 2 Oreos and then put the rest away.)

(I'm going to pretend I didn't see this)

The database already has tons of foods and products, but if you scan something and find that it is not in there yet, you can opt to take a few pictures (of the front of the package, the nutrition facts, and the ingredients) and e-mail it to them (It pops up automatically with a default message. All you have to do is hit send.)

Some other cool features: an “alternatives” button that offers some replacement suggestions; the "add to list" button which lets you create a shopping list that can be exported to your e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter; and a “Daily Tip” blog.

If you want to get quick facts about a food product, this free app is for you!

Lose it! (iPhone and Droid)

Once you provide some information, including your current weight and your goal weight, and then sign up with your e-mail, the app gives you a calorie budget for the day. You can add foods by searching them or scanning the barcode (this scanner also works amazingly), and they will be subtracted from your budget for you so you don’t have to do any of the math. If you are on the go, you’ll have to be able to guess the amount of each food (how many ounces, tablespoons, etc.) but if you start measuring out your portions at home, you’ll get the hang of estimating.

You can also add exercises, choosing from theirs or creating your own, which can be saved to “My Exercises,” and the calories you burn will be added back onto your daily limit. If you want to add your own exercise, you will have to know how many calories you burned, but luckily the app already has plenty of exercises to choose from. Track your calorie input and output each day like this, and stick to your calorie limit, and you'll be on your way to your weight-loss goal.

 

There is also a “Motivate” tab that allows you to connect with other friends who have the app. My only warning is this: don’t try to race your friends to lose weight unless you are absolutely sure you are all doing it in a healthy manner. Everybody is different and will see results at different rates, so make sure you aren’t too concerned with others’ weight loss achievements. Focus on achieving your own goals at your own reasonable pace, and make sure you are feeling healthy and happy overall. A positive outlook will help you out way more than you might think.

I also downloaded "RunKeeper," an app that tracks your runs with your phone's GPS, but I haven't had a chance to use it yet. I'll be sure to update this post with a review once I do!

Until next time, stay healthy everyone!