iOS 8 Health Apps: 8 Great Fitness Apps For iPhone 6

With constant prods from work like email and IMs, smartphones aren't generally connected with health, but apps made for the iPhone 6 are trying to do just that. Following the release of Apple’s iOS 8.0.2 update, a number of new health and fitness apps have begun emerging in the App Store.

But unlike their predecessors, these apps integrate with iOS 8’s Health app and Healthkit platform, a centralized location for users to store and share their health data between apps. From checking your heart rate to tracking your calories, HealthKit-connected apps have made it easier for users to keep track of their overall health. Here's a look at eight health and fitness apps to check out in the App Store:

Myfitnesspal (free)

Myfitnesspal allows users to track their caloric intake throughout the day with its detailed food-diary feature, which contains a huge database of foods and their nutritional values. The app can also track steps taken using the M8 motion sensor, along with water intake, exercise and weight to give users a clear picture of their health.

UP by Jawbone (free)

The new Up app by Jawbone takes away the need for its wearable device by using the iPhone’s M8 sensor to track walking goals, sleep goals and even weight loss. The app can also link up with other fitness apps such as Myfitnesspal through the HealthKit platform so data on both apps are up to date.

Map My Run (free with ads or $2.99)

Map My Run keeps a log of your runs and cycle sessions around town, with detailed maps, run times and distance covered. The app also has the ability to track a number of other activities, including sprints, trail runs, mountain biking, hiking, stair climbs and more.

Yummly (free)

Instead of just tracking food eaten throughout the day, Yummly provides a central place to search for recipe ideas and create shopping lists. Recipe nutrition value and calories can then be shared with the Health app after the meal is made.

Patient IO (free)

Patient IO works with health-care providers to monitor patient health data and provide relevant information to its users. Patients can also opt to send back information to their respective health-care providers or sync the data with iOS 8’s Health App. Though the app is free to download, the app only works with a participating doctor or clinic.

Fitnet (free)

Fitnet provides over 200 free fitness videos, which users can follow during their daily workouts. The app can also use the iPhone’s front camera to track and score user movement. For an extra push, users can also connect to a trainer to help guide and encourage their workouts. The workouts can also be shared with the Health app and other fitness apps.

24/7 Sleeptracker ($0.99)

MotionX’s 24/7 Sleeptracker keeps tabs on your sleeping habits using the iPhone’s motion sensors so it can wake you up at just the right time during your sleep cycle. The app can record sleep history as well as measure a user’s resting heart rate, which can all be shared with the iOS 8’s health app.

WebMD (free)

The WebMD app provides users with symptom checker and an extensive library of health content and tools. In addition it also integrates with iOS 8’s Health data collected from other apps, wearable devices and other fitness trackers to provide weekly insights on how to improve a user’s overall health.