Diet and Nutrition

Frankly You Can Celebrate National Hot Dog Month in a Healthy Way

by Rachel Larkey from Around the Plate

The hot dog we all know and love has been around for a long time. In fact, some records indicate hot dog-like foods going as far back as the 9th century B.C. And although they are one of the most popular processed foods around, the health concerns associated with eating them has caused many individuals to rethink their hot dog consumption.

In honor of National Hot Dog Month, here are a few ways to ensure that you can still enjoy one of America’s favorite summer foods without sacrificing your health.

Find Your Healthy Hot Dog

Many of the concerns surrounding hot dogs have to do with their long list of ingredients. This list can often include many harmful or just plain icky substances such as nitrites, fillers, and meat “trimmings” (the leftover parts of animals). While none of this sounds appetizing, there is a surefire way to avoid these unsavory and worrisome ingredients: read the label! (more…)

Posted on July 19, 2024 by Around The Plate

‘Fat Sex’ Author Contends Intimacy is for All Shapes and Sizes

A new book titled “Fat Sex” highlights an interesting truth about intimacy and weight. In the book, author Rebecca Jane Weinstein dispels myths about large-size people and their desires, and confronts the romance issues of all body types. Bottom line, regardless of our bodies, we all have an appetite for intimacy.

The book “Fat Sex: The Naked Truth” is a collection of stories from the author and many others. While Weinstein is obese herself, the book focuses on all types of people’s weight issues and their dealings with love and romance. Weinstein told TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie that she gave the book a head-turning title to get people’s attention and break down previous stereotypes about large-size people.

Weinstein wants people to understand that larger people aren’t unattractive to everyone, they’re not asexual, and are interested in sex and intimate relations. She felt these were the most common misunderstandings about people of her stature. (more…)

Posted on July 18, 2024 by Lacy

Qsymia Approval Delivers Most Potent Weight Loss Drug on the Market

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the weight loss drug Qsymia, which went through trials as Qnexa. Dr. Oz made it popular before the approval even came, with an episode about the “the silver bullet” diet pill this spring. It’s the second diet drug to be approved by the FDA in 13 years, and the second this summer, following last month’s Lorcaserin approval. It will be the most potent weight loss drug on the market.

The drug was approved by an FDA Advisory Panel by a landslide vote of 20-2 in February, and yesterday the agency announced its final approval of Qsymia. The drug was approved for adults with a (BMI) of 30 or greater, which is categorized as obese, or adults with a BMI of 27 or greater, categorized as overweight, who have at least one obesity-related disease like high blood pressure/hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.

Vivus, the creators of Qsymia, claim that just one pill a day will suppress the appetite and help obese individuals lose 10 percent of their body weight. The pill is comprised of two drugs that were already on the market in various weight loss drugs – one of which is phentermine, a type of amphetamine that stimulates the nervous system and increases heart rate and blood pressure. It’s used in weight loss drugs to suppress appetite, and is more commonly recognized as the “Phen” in the weight loss drug Fen-Phen, which was yanked from shelves by the FDA in 1997 after being deemed too dangerous for consumption. The other drug is an anti-seizure medication that helps stimulate weight loss.

(more…)

Posted on July 18, 2024 by Dana

Eat Like an Olympian With These 3 Olympic-Inspired Smoothies

You study the Olympics, watch the Olympics, and even aspire to train like an Olympic athlete. So why not eat like an Olympian, too?

Shared exclusively with Diets in Review is this exciting sneak peek into what smoothies this year’s Olympic athletes are fueling up on between workouts. We’ve recreated three delicious and easy-to-make smoothies that come right from the 2024 U.S. Olympic kitchen. Think banana cashew, espresso shiver and mango blitz – getting excited yet? We sure are.

The basic guidelines for Olympic-approved smoothies are as follows: A balance of protein and carbs, healthy fat and a sweet- the sweet being optional. Simply combine a carbohydrate, such as fruit, almond milk, oats or veggies; a protein source such as milk, whey protein or cottage cheese; a healthy fat such as wheat germ, nuts and seeds or nut butter; and a sweet source, such as honey, maple syrup or vanilla exact. This basic recipe lends itself to hundreds if not thousands of creative concoctions that will not only taste delicious, but also fuel your body for all your Olympic-inspired activities.

Now go forth and train like an Olympian, and eat like one, too!

 

Posted on July 18, 2024 by Dana

6 Problem Foods to Pass on and Healthier Swaps

By Janis Jibrin, M.S., R.D., Best Life lead nutritionist for TheBestLife.com

French fries, cola, cocktails—in a perfect world, you’d be able to eat these foods even while trying to lose weight. It’s all about moderation, of course…but moderation is easier said than done. After all, who can stop at just seven fries or six ounces of soda?

I’ve found that it can be helpful to go the other direction—ban problem foods, at least for a while (Bob Greene recommends four weeks on his weight loss website TheBestLife.com). Doing so trains down your tastes, helps curb cravings, and teaches you to enjoy more healthful alternatives while cutting calories. Bob chose the foods below because they’re so universally problematic, but you can substitute your own particular problem foods.

1. Alcohol

After you’ve had a few (or even one), your resolve to eat well can start to waver. And don’t forget about the calories: Wine is about twice as caloric as soft drinks, while an 8-ounce margarita can contain a whopping 535 calories. (For more on how alcohol can interfere with weight loss, click here.)

Have instead: Sparkling water with a twist of lime (more…)

Posted on July 18, 2024 by BestLifeDiet

New York’s Ban on Trans Fats is Working

A recent study shows that New Yorkers are eating much less of the trans fat since the ban took effect back in 2024.

The city passed the ban back in 2006 that limited the amount of trans fat per serving to be less than 0.5 grams.

Americans eat about a third of their meals away from the home which meant at the time a larger consumption of this dangerous fat. Trans fats are even more dangerous than saturated fats because not only do they raise total cholesterol levels but also lower good cholesterol, which helps fight against heart disease.

The recent study done by Christine Curtis, MBA, of the New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene, and colleagues looked to see how much, if at all, the effect of the ban was having on New Yorkers. They looked at 6,969 lunch receipts from before in 2024 and 7,885 after the ban in 2024. They reported their findings in the July 16 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. (more…)

Posted on July 17, 2024 by Kristina

Ditching Dairy? See Our Side-by-Side Comparison of Popular Milk Substitutes

Allergies, sensitivities, and avoidance of animal products are some of the most common reasons that people choose alternatives to the traditional cow’s milk. While raw milk and goat’s milk are growing in popularity, they do not eliminate the majority of problems with allergies, sensitivities, and avoidance of animal products. Courtney Hardy shared, “I started drinking non-cows milk after a series of allergy shots where I found out I was allergic to cottonseed. I am not allergic to dairy nor am I lactose intolerant, but since dairy cows are fed a grain mixed with cottonseed it comes through their milk.”

I stopped drinking cows milk when I was fairly young; I just didn’t enjoy it at all. I still used it for cooking, until I decided to limit the dairy in my diet to see if my allergies and sinus issues could be resolved. Recently, I have been comparing milk substitutes to determine what would work best for my family. Real Food University provides a very handy comparison chart that compiles and compares the nutritional information in an eight ounce serving. An eight ounce serving of whole milk contains 146 calories, 8 grams of fat, 13 grams of sugars, 8 grams of protein, 28% calcium, and 0% iron.

Soy

I did not consider soy milk because soy is a growing allergen. It’s been suspected that more and more people are showing allergies to soy as a result of the increase in genetically modified soy. I have read that soy can inhibit the absorption of protein which may persuade others to avoid soy milk as well. An eight ounce serving of soy milk contains 105 calories, 4 grams of fat, 9 grams of sugars, 30% calcium, and 6% iron. (more…)

Posted on July 17, 2024 by Brooke Randolph

Women Who Breastfeed Stay Thinner Later in Life, Study Shows

With countless benefits of breast feeding already widely known in the health community, British researchers have managed to dig up one more: it will keep you thinner over the course of your life. Vanity aside, there may be some truth to this idea.

Researchers have known for decades now that breastfeeding is extremely beneficial for the baby as it provides them with essential nutrients for growth and development. But a growing body of research has now focused on the benefits for mom – especially when it comes to weight management.

The study revealed that breastfeeding was associated a 0.22 drop in BMI among the women in their 50s and early 60s.

(more…)

Posted on July 16, 2024 by Dana

Dr. Oz Promotes ‘Fat-urday’ Cheat Day for Weight Loss

Does the thought of cheating on your diet get you excited? It does me. I eat clean Monday through Friday and once the weekend rolls around, visions of hamburgers and chocolate bars start swirling my mind. And because I believe in balance I don’t consider indulging ‘cheating,’ but rather allowing myself an occasional treat as a ‘reward’ in a sense. In fact, I eat ice cream and pizza just about every Sunday and I don’t feel bad about it since it’s a rare occurrence.

Apparently, having a ‘cheat day’ is quite a popular topic as Dr. Oz is dedicating an entire show to the idea. He’s calling it ‘Fat-urday,’ saying we should eat whatever we want one day of the week because it will lead to more weight loss.

This means if you eat healthy the six days of the week, Dr. Oz is giving you a license to eat whatever you want on Saturday be it donuts, milkshakes or an entire plate of french fries. Or all three! (more…)

Posted on July 16, 2024 by Dana

Worst Vacation Destinations for Your Waistline


A lot of people fall victim to diet traps while on vacation. Sure, you’re taking a break from work, but that doesn’t mean you can take a break from your diet, too. Doing that will mean you’re falling victim to a different kind of tourist trap! The biggest tourist trap of them all is in the Mediterranean, and it’s probably not the country you’re thinking.

Based on a study done by Fly Thomas Cook, which looked at 350 people from the U.K vacationing for an average of a week and a half, close to half of them came back with a few extra pounds as souvenirs. According to the study, men gained about five pounds while they were overseas and women came back with a little more than one pound. (more…)

Posted on July 16, 2024 by Kristina

The 10 Most Enviable Bodies of the 2024 Olympics

We’re kicking off our Olympic countdown in style with a steamy look at the top 10 most enviable bodies from the 2024 Olympic team. While there were hundreds of athletes to choose from, we highlighted the ones that stuck out most whether it be from their charm, impressive bragging rights, highly-decorated career, or of course, their head-turning physiques. Check out our slideshow to see if of your favorite athletes made the hot-body list.

 

Posted on July 16, 2024 by Dana