Diet and Nutrition

Fasting 16 Hours a Day Shows Benefits Over Calorie Counting

In the world of health, fitness and weight loss, there seem to be a large number of studies constantly conducted to help us figure out how to fight obesity and get healthy. Recently, another study with important outcomes has published with some drastic results.

Identified as a way to have your cake and eat it too, this study shows that eating your last meal of the day earlier, and then fasting for a 16 hour stretch before eating breakfast, can decrease the risk of weight gain and decrease the onset of weight related diseases. The study was headed by regulatory biologist Satchidananda Panda of the Salk Institute in California. and was done on mice. He made the statement, “We have to come up with something that is a simple alternative to calorie counting.” The results of the study were published in the journal Cell Metabolism. Within the study, the participating mice were divided into groups and had a regulated diet for a total of 100 days. (more…)

Posted on May 18, 2024 by Descygna

Coffee Linked to Longer Life, Study Shows

When coffee is in the headlines, I tend to shield my eyes. I don’t want to hear why one of my dearest pleasures in life is potentially bad for me. And if you’re a coffee drinker, I imagine you feel the same.

Well, take heart fellow java lovers, because today’s news will inspire you to drink up! A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine is suggesting that coffee may be linked to a longer life.

The AARP joined researchers from the National Institute of Health to conduct a very long study regarding coffee consumption. The study lasted 13 years, to be exact. And during that time, researchers followed more than 400,000 healthy men and women between the ages of 50 and 71. In the time frame of 13 years, 13 percent of the participants died.

The research concluded that overall, coffee drinkers were less likely than their peers to die throughout the study. Also, the more coffee the individuals drank, the lower their mortality risk seemed to be. This is compared to those in the study who drank no coffee at all. The male coffee drinkers who drank more than six cups of coffee a day were 10 percent less likely to die during the study; while the females with the same consumption were 15 percent less likely to die during the study. (more…)

Posted on May 18, 2024 by Lacy

Fructose Makes Rats Dumber, Study Shows

It looks like the soft drink industry and other sugar-laden product companies are going to take another hit in the name of fructose.

A recent study on fructose’s effects on rats showed that when fed water laced with fructose for a period of six weeks, the rats’ performance in maze navigation was slower.

This experiment was conducted by researchers at UCLA, and the results concluded that the brain is responding to insulin from the fructose consumed by the rats. The senior author of the study is UCLA professor Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, and the findings were published in the Journal of Physiology.

Of the study, Gomez-Pinilla said, “Our study shows that a high fructose diet harms the brain as well as the body. We’re concerned about high-fructose corn syrup, which is added to manufactured food products as a sweetener and preservative.” Gomez-Pinilla specified that this study is not just about high-fructose corn syrup, though. He mentioned that all sugar, including table sugar, juices and any form of added sugar should be avoided. Studies like this have repeatedly shown that the sugar contributes to instances of obesity, diabetes and blood-fat disturbances in rodents. (more…)

Posted on May 18, 2024 by Descygna

Why Eating on a Schedule Can Keep You Slim

If you’re a foodie like me, then you try to experience as many delicious foods as possible throughout the day without gaining weight. This can prove to be a difficult task, but one of the keys I’ve found to be most effective is eating on a regular schedule. Turns out, this now has some scientific backing thanks to a new study validating the health benefits of scheduled eating.

In an effort to confirm whether or not weight gain may be caused in part by eating on an odd schedule, scientists conducted a study involving the eating patterns of mice. They fed two groups of mice a high-fat diet, but allowed one group to eat whenever they wanted. And not-so surprisingly, this group gained weight.

For the second group of mice, scientists restricted their allotted meal times to an eight-hour window. As a result, these mice did not gain weight even though they consumed the same amount of calories or more than the mice with an un-restricted eating schedule.

Over the course of the 18-week study, the mice that were time-restricted experienced fewer negative effects on their high-fat diet, and even saw an increase in metabolism when compared to the un-restricted mice. The restricted group also reportedly gained 28 percent less weight and suffered less liver damage. (more…)

Posted on May 18, 2024 by Dana

Healthy Diets are Less Expensive than Unhealthy Ones, Study Says

For those who think Twinkles and Pop Tarts are the cheaper way to go when it comes to a budget-friendly diet, think again. A new study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows that eating a diet consisting of healthier foods doesn’t necessarily cost more than one made up of mostly unhealthy foods.

Reason for the study was motivated in part by the perception that diets that align with the USDA dietary guidelines are not affordable; and that eating a diet higher in fat, sugar and processed foods is less expensive.

The study was led by a group of economists at the USDA, one of which was Andrea Carlson who helped analyze the cost of more than 4,400 foods. In their research, she and her colleagues considered each item by price per calories, price by edible gram, and price per average portion. (more…)

Posted on May 17, 2024 by Dana

SlimKicker App Offers Prizes as Users Meet Fitness Goals

I like being fit and healthy. I also like winning prizes. This list of likes can be hard to make a reality, but SlimKicker – a new smart phone app – might make winning prizes and getting fit a little bit easier for all of us.

SlimKicker may seem like just another weight loss app, especially since there are plenty of fitness apps out there. But app market experts are saying that, “SlimKicker turns your diet and weight loss goals into a winnable, level-up game.”

At first, even the tagline seems similar to other game strategy weight loss tools on the market. But after reading a little deeper, SlimKicker may truly have a different and highly effective concept for its users.

Here’s a brief rundown of SlimKicker’s four main functions, as described by the company. (more…)

Posted on May 17, 2024 by Lacy

School Soda Bans Cause Sales Slump, Forces Healthier Options

Carbonated sodas are finding themselves unwelcome in more and more places than ever before. Most recently, the Faulkton, South Dakota school district has banned soda to be sold inside or brought in the school. This is one of the first complete instituted bans on soda in the country. As this trend continues, soda companies are attempting to make up for the loss of sales.

Many schools have been removing soda and sugary drinks from vending machines in the last few years. It is assumed more total bans will take place as soda is being named public enemy number one by many health organizations. The link between the obesity crisis and sugary drinks seems fair as Americans drink nearly two sodas a day on average. Those two sodas add up to nearly 25 pounds of sugar a year. That sugar equals a plethora of issues for the human body, including weight gain. Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest describes how prolific the consumption of soda is in America.

“We get more calories from sodas and sugary drinks than any other individual food — cake, cookies, pizza, anything.” (more…)

Posted on May 17, 2024 by Lacy

Cook Yourself Healthy with 4 Nutritious Spices

By Abra Pappa for NutritiousAmerica.com

Don’t ignore the nutrient powerhouses hidden away in your spice cabinet. Spices contain phenols which stimulate your immune system to protect against disease and are rich in anti-oxidants to protect your body from free radical damage. Spices can elevate a simple dinner into a nutrient dense, delicious masterpiece.

Here are my four favorite spices and their amazing health and healing properties. Plus, how to use them in your kitchen.

Smoked Paprika – This has been my “spice crush” for quite some time. A little dash turns a simple vegetable dish into something richer, heartier, and so delicious. Paprika, because of its high vitamin C content, helps your body absorb iron rich foods and fight infection. Try smoked paprika in these yummy recipes:

Smokey Joe’s

Smokey Tomato and Greens Soup

Smokey Salmon Kebabs (more…)

Posted on May 17, 2024 by Nutritious_America

Kitchit Offers an In-Home Dining Experience Like No Other

An intriguing food-service company called Kitchit just opened its third location. Kitchit offers diners the opportunity to have tailored meals prepared and served in their own homes by high-end and even celebrity chefs.

As an alternative to paying the high overhead at some of the nation’s top restaurants, Kitchit comes to you, offering a unique dining experience. The services include custom dinners, lunches, brunches, cocktail parties, and even picnics and barbecues. All meals are prepared and served in the home and the chefs do all the shopping and cooking. I wonder if they clean up as well?

Customers set their prices, starting at $40 a person per meal. Beverages, including wine, are additional costs. Servers and flowers can be offered at an extra cost, too. Once the a date is set, the customer then chooses the available chef and the event begins to take shape. The host works with the cook to determine the menu, and Kitchit has designed a concierge service to work out all of the other details.

(more…)

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Lacy

Why the U.S. Organic Industry is Expecting Major Growth in 2024

We know organic matters, but people are finally starting to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to the food they buy.

Americans are eating more organic food now than ever before, and the Organic Trade Association (OTA) says it’s because consumers are growing more willing to pay for value-added products.

The OTA is a membership-based association for organic agriculture and products that’s been around since the mid 80s. According to a recent in-house study, the organization forecasted that in 2024 and 2024, organic food and non-food sales will continue to rise to nine percent annually or higher.

They also reported strong growth for organic food in 2024, with the U.S. organic food and beverage sector growing by 9.4 percent, translating to $29.22 billion in sales.

Of the sector as a whole, the fastest growing portion was the meat, fish and poultry category, which saw a 13 percent growth over their sales in 2024. However, the OTA speculates that these spikes are likely related to the increased food safety concerns related to our meat supply. Pink slime, mad cow and meat glue, anyone? (more…)

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Dana

7-Eleven is Sucking the Calories Out of Slurpees

7-Eleven just announced its newest product called Slurpee Lite, a sugar-free version of their wildly popular frozen slushy drinks.

The sugar-free version of the convenience store’s Slurpees will come in several flavors, including mango, strawberry banana, and cherry limeade, with more flavors to be introduced later. The drinks will be flavored with sugar-free Fanta soda and will contain 50 percent fewer calories than the original.

An eight-ounce serving of a Slurpee Lite contains a mere 20 calories. Currently, a 12-ounce Coca-Cola Slurpee has 97 calories and the Fanta flavors in the same size have 99 calories.

This shift for the frozen treat comes as a response to soda, juices, and other various high-sugar, high-calorie drinks being named as the biggest culprit in the obesity crisis. Just last week the Institutes of Medicine recommended the total ban of sugary drinks in schools. Soon it is believed that a government enforced calorie reduction on drinks and snacks will take place. 7-Eleven may just be trying to get ahead of the game. (more…)

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Lacy