Diet and Nutrition

Chris Deacon Lost 200 Pounds and Finished the Chicago Marathon

From a vacation that resulted in too many rest breaks and breaking the restaurant chair to completing the Chicago Marathon. This is just one way to sum up the journey Chris Deacon has been on since he’s dropped nearly 200 pounds with proper diet and exercise.

At his heaviest Chris weighed in at 393 pounds. He admits to always being overweight and always struggling with diets. He’d try one, lose 50 pounds, then gain 70 back. Chris explained how the demands of adulthood made things even harder for his growing weight issue.

“…as I approached my 30s, there was a perfect storm that led me from overweight to obese. I moved from a retail job where I was always on my feet to a desk job. At the same time, I got married and, because we were both in school, began to eat fast food a lot more.”

Obesity caused many struggles in every aspect of Chris’ life, but especially in the physical sense as it begun to drain his energy. “This influenced my life professionally as well as socially. I also had trouble getting around,” he said. “I would get winded going up a single flight of stairs. Anytime friends would want to do something remotely active, I would bow out.”

Chris’ rock bottom moment came when he and his wife vacationed in Savannah, Georgia.

“We spent a lot of time walking around historic Savannah and I would have to sit down every block or two. I was in constant pain and discomfort. Then we decided to take a horse drawn buggy tour. Climbing out of the buggy, I split my pants for everybody to see. We had to drive for some time to find the ‘big and tall’ store, because nothing else would fit.” (more…)

Posted on September 18, 2024 by Lacy

Children’s Blood Pressure Rises as a Result of Salty, Processed Foods

Our kids can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to their diet. New research is pointing to an elevated consumption of sodium in children that’s leading to another childhood health issue: high blood pressure.

Just like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure was once thought of as an adult disease – something that happened to adults who spent a lifetime of shaking too much salt on their food and getting too little exercise. It seems this isn’t true anymore.

NPR’s food blog, “The Salt,” reported about new findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new research found that children between age 8 to 18 are taking in nearly 1,000 more milligrams of sodium than is recommended and this is resulting in high blood pressure.

In fact, 15 percent of the children in the study were found to have high or elevated blood pressure. It’s important to note that the association with high blood pressure was higher in those children who were also overweight.

What’s interesting about these statistics is that these kids aren’t getting their sodium from too many shakes of the salt shaker, which may be the culprit for their grandparents; they’re getting too much sodium from the abundance of processed foods in their diets. (more…)

Posted on September 18, 2024 by Lacy

Kirstie Alley Opens up on Dr. Oz About Weight Loss

On September 17, Kirstie Alley joins Dr. Oz to talk about her weight gain and dieting struggles. Hollywood’s most infamous dieter answers questions about her life, healthy changes she has made, and whether or not her weight loss is for good this time.

The actress, who rose to stardom on the television show Cheers, was a Jenny Craig spokesperson from 2005 to 2024, when she started regaining the estimated 75 pounds she had lost while on the program.

In 2024 she launched her own weight loss program, Organic Liaison, claiming she lost 100 pounds through it. However, Alley is being sued for that claim, as she appeared on Dancing With the Stars the same month and may have lost the weight as a result of her intense dance workouts.  (more…)

Posted on September 17, 2024 by SarahS

Rural Americans More Likely To Be Obese Than Urban Dwellers

Does your environment have an impact on your lifestyle?  According to a new study published in the journal Rural Health, the answer is ‘yes’ as those living in the country are more likely to be obese than Americans living in cities.

As reported by ABCNews, approximately 70 million of Americans call rural areas home and face many challenges concerning their health as a result.

Christie Befort, an assistant professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center, comments on the result of the study: “The rates of obesity were much higher than previously reported based on self-report, with 39 percent of rural Americans being obese compared to 33 percent of urban Americans.”

To collect data for the study, researchers manually measured participants height and weight, doing so in person as people tend to exaggerate how tall they are and how much they weigh.

In addition to finding rural Americans to be more obese on average than urban Americans, researchers found that younger generations between the ages of 20 and 39  living in rural America are more likely to be obese than their urban counterparts. Because of changes in technology, manual labor in rural areas has decreased and young adults have less physical work to do. (more…)

Posted on September 17, 2024 by Samantha

Battle of the Biceps: Between Obama and Romney, Who’s Healthier?

With the presidential election just around the corner, President Barack Obama and his opponent Mitt Romney have come under intense scrutiny regarding their policies, beliefs and respective plans for the future of our nation. But political issues aside, we can’t help but wonder about the health of the presidential hopefuls. If it came down to it, which candidate is healthier?

Barack Obama

First up, President Obama who is dedicated to his fitness regimen with a particular fondness of the basketball court. Whenever he has time, he enjoys a fast-paced game of basketball, always playing a game on election days.

In an interview with Men’s Health Magazine, Obama divulged his workout routine as a mixture of 45 minutes of cardiac-strengthening, weight lifting, and running on the treadmill six days a week.

When it comes to vacation time, Obama doesn’t slack off on his workouts and neither does his family. While vacationing in Hawaii recently, the Obamas enjoyed hiking, swimming and golf, all in addition to President Obama’s early-morning workouts at a fitness center. (more…)

Posted on September 17, 2024 by SarahS

Healthy Fall Decadence with Pumpkin Spice Protein Balls

If the dawn of fall brings thoughts of pumpkin spice lattes and plenty of seasonal sweet treats, then you’re in the right place. However, what you won’t find with these pumpkin spice protein balls is butter, added sugar, eggs or anything refined for that matter. Instead, you’ll find four simple ingredients: oats, almonds, dates and pumpkin pie spice. The top ranked diets are featured in a comprehensive list made available in the link here.

We whipped these up last week as the weather was starting to cool and it was rainy outside. As the pulse of the food processor brought all of the ingredients together, the aroma of pumpkin pie spice filled the air – it was almost enough for me to wish summer good riddance, even though it’s undoubtedly one of my favorite seasons. But fall? It takes a close second. (more…)

Posted on September 17, 2024 by Dana

How to Cook with Apples

Fall is nearly upon us, at least here in the Midwest. With leaves falling and the weather cooling down, we have three things on our mind: fall baking, pumpkin lattes and apple picking.

With autumn in full bloom, the selection of apples is beginning to grow at our local grocery stores and we can’t help but get excited at the thought of all the delicious things we can make with this nutritious fruit.

Health benefits: Apples are loaded with good-for-you vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, beta-carotene, riboflavin, calcium and vitamin B-6.

They’re also a great food for healthy diets as they’re incredibly filling and high in fiber, which will keep you fuller longer than less water-dense foods.

Apples also contain an antioxidant called quercetin, which can help oxygen flow to the lungs. There have been countless studies surrounding apples and among the many benefits discovered, they’ve been found to help with asthma, protect our bone health, help prevent Alzheimer’s and even lower cholesterol. (more…)

Posted on September 16, 2024 by Dana

Librarian Loses 85 Pounds on Starbucks Diet, But is it Healthy?

When you think of the food and drink selection at Starbucks, what items come to mind? Venti caramel macchiatos, thick slices of lemon pound cake, bagels with plenty of cream cheese? Not exactly a great picture of what any successful diet would look like I presume. However, one pint-sized librarian from Alexandria, Virginia, who has managed to lose 85 pounds by eating nothing but Starbucks would argue otherwise.

Sixty-six-year-old law librarian Christine Hall used to weight 190 pounds, but these days she’s a trim 114 pounds. Several years ago Hall wanted to shed some pounds so she decided to start tracking her calorie intake online at Livestrong.com.

By utilizing the website, Hall begin taking careful measure of everything she was eating. When she discovered that Starbucks puts nutrition labels on all their items, she started going there exclusively for all her meals.

As reported by TODAY, Hall turned to Starbucks because she had a busy schedule and that’s what worked for her. “I know exactly what I’m getting,” she said. “I can plan my day in advance because I’ve memorized the calories in every item.” (more…)

Posted on September 14, 2024 by Dana

HealthBuzz September 14: NYC Bans Soda, McDonald’s Shares Calories, and Healthy Comfort Food Recipes

Ah, the weekend is upon us and it is time for a dose of healthy news. This week’s HealthBuzz is filled with buzzworthy headlines from DIR and our friends, like Shape, iVillage, Fitday. Plus, we offer some guilt-free comfort foods like 12 healthy pop-tart recipes from Undressed Skeleton.

You don’t have to wait until the last day of the week to hear from us! Follow us on Twitter, Pinterest, or ‘Like Us’ on Facebook! 

New York City Soda Ban Passes; Soda Industry Plans to Fight

Since Mayor Bloomberg proposed NYC’s soda ban a couple of months ago, citizens have been vocal about their support or opposition. As of Thursday morning, NYC approved the ban of sugared beverages over 16 ounces. But, Major Bloomberg and public health officials in NYC shouldn’t celebrate their victory just yet. There is a possibility that the soda industry plans to fight back. New Yorkers for Beverage Choices has already started campaigning in opposition of the ban.

McDonald’s Posting Nutrition Information on Menus Nationwide, but Will it Do Any Good?

Get ready to see calorie counts on McDonald’s restaurant and drive-thru menus. Wednesday morning the company announced that they will be posting their meals’ nutrition information on their menus. Do you think the nutrition information will change the eating habits of fast food customers? Our resident dietitian, Mary Hartley, comments.

Regular Yoga Practice May Increase Productivity at Work

Yoga offers a great deal of health benefits, like less stress, toned body, and improved digestion. September is National Yoga Month, and our yoga expert Jill mentioned that those who practice yoga regularly may even see an increase in productivity at work. See what other benefits practicing yoga brings. (more…)

Posted on September 14, 2024 by Samantha

Kid-Approved Butternut Squash Macaroni and Cheese Launches ‘Pimp That Recipe’ Makeover Series

By Abra Pappa for Nutritious America

The idea behind most recipe makeovers is to take out or replace the “naughty” foods with “lighter” versions in order to reduce the big numbers from calories and fat. While reducing numbers is a piece of the health puzzle it doesn’t tell the whole story. Specifically since high fat/high calorie items are frequently replaced with chemically processed or highly processed “lite” versions which leaves a recipe that, quite frankly, can have a negative impact on your overall health.

This recipe makeover, however, is based on a non-reductive food philosophy; one that doesn’t just rely on taking high calorie foods OUT but focuses on adding the right foods IN. Adding in real whole foods, clean foods, foods as close to nature as possible.

So off we go with a new way of re-doing recipes. Pimp That Recipe will take your favorite comfort foods and upgrade them to a new, wholly health supportive, nourishing, satiating, and delicious version. Surely you’re on board with that!

Pimp That Recipe Mission 1: Macaroni and Cheese

I am jumping right out of the gate with a tough one. Macaroni and cheese is delicious. There, I said it. I understand why many of my clients are in love with this rich, creamy indulgence. But, holy cow traditional macaroni and cheese is not a waist-friendly food. It typically weighs in at 600 calories and 30 grams of fat per serving, with very little micro-nutrients to speak of. Additionally, the standard white pasta and heavy dairy will wreak havoc on gut health, blood sugar stabilization, and your body’s ability to effectively burn fat. Let’s turn this yummy delight into a health friendly, (yet delicious) masterpiece. Shall we? (more…)

Posted on September 14, 2024 by Nutritious_America

Obesity Prevention Begins in the Womb: Mom’s Blood Sugar Affects Baby’s Development

By Emily Wade Adams, CNC for Natal-Nutrition.com

Nearly 10 percent of infants in the U.S. are overweight. As they get older, this percentage grows along with them: almost 70 percent of U.S. adults are overweight or obese. But weight gain is largely preventable – and prevention begins in the womb.

Mama-to-be? Keeping your blood sugar steady can prevent your baby from having an excessive birth weight. It can also help your baby stay lean throughout his life. High maternal blood sugar prompts the fetus to develop more fat cells, which can make it easier to become fat later in life.

Not only can your blood sugar levels affect your baby’s development, but they can also affect your comfort levels during pregnancy. Low blood sugar is associated with morning sickness, and high blood sugar may lead to pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes (Hudson, 2024). Gestational diabetes, in turn, predisposes your baby to obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes later in life.

Keeping your blood sugar stable is easier than it sounds – but it requires a little advance planning. Here are some tips to help you maintain a steady blood sugar level in order to protect you and your baby: (more…)

Posted on September 14, 2024 by GuestBlogger