Ubuntu Tips n Tricks: TechSource: How To Track Your Health With Android

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

TechSource: How To Track Your Health With Android

Posted: 19 Nov 2013 04:26 AM PST

If we put our trust into the rapid progress of science, there will soon come a day when you won't have to go to the doctor for a health checkup. You'll have all the resources and devices that will actively monitor your health and keep giving you information. If, at all, something goes wrong, it will automatically inform your doctor that something is wrong. Thus, you won't have to worry about your health as much as you have to right now.

But what about the present? Are there any devices that let you monitor your health? Well, there are plenty. In fact, on your Android device itself you can find some great tools that will help you track your health like a pro. Following is a list of Android apps that could help you improve your health.

Jawbone UP

Jawbone UP is one of the best wearable tools when it comes to tracking your health. The service lets you buy a band that you can wear around your wrist so that every detail of your health is tracked by it. Once started, Jawbone can track your sleep, your physical activity and your calories burnt. Furthermore, if you are health conscious, Jawbone provides a well-integrated system that motivates you to workout and burn some calories. For example, if the band detects that you've been idle for a while, it automatically reminds you to step outside and workout. Also, the band has a smart alarm that slowly wakes you up without jolting you out of your bed. All the stats, health goals, and the progress, can then be tracked using the Jawbone Android app that connects with the device.

MyFitnessPal

Many people who are planning to lose weight are advised to keep a food journal. That way, they can track whatever they ate thus making them more mindful of their eating habits. MyFitnessPal is an app as well as a service that lets you keep an intelligent food journal that not only lets you track your foods but also counts the calories for you. So, for example, you ate a large pizza, all you have to do is open up the app and search for pizza. The food then automatically gets added to that day's journal showing you how many calories you have consumed today. What's more, you can also set target weights on the app so that you can restrict your caloric intake in such a way that you achieve those targets in a set period of time.

Endomondo

If you like running, or simply walking outside, Endomondo is a great app to track how many meters you walked or ran. Not only does it track your movement using GPS, it also gives you a rough estimate of the number of calories you burned during that particular activity. Like in the aforementioned MyFitnessPal, you can set caloric targets to achieve your goals. Furthermore, you can also set distance-based goals that will help you push your limits. Overall, it is a worthy app if you like doing outdoor activities.