Diet and Nutrition

Recipes for National Cherry Month

Although there not exactly in season, February is National Cherry Month, and we couldn’t let an opportunity to talk about some of the health benefits of this fruit pass. Cherries, particularly tart cherries like the Montmorency variety, are an excellent source of the antioxidant anthocyanins, which also gives the fruit its red color. In addition to antioxidants, cherries also contain vitamin A, vitamin E, melatonin and beta carotene.

Although the research is very preliminary, one study suggested that concentrated cherry juice may reduce soreness after workouts, and cherry anthocyanins have been shown to reduce pain in animal studies.

Research aside, the best way to celebrate National Cherry Month is obviously by incorporating some cherries into a meal this month. Here are a few of our favorite picks from our own recipes collection around the web.

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Posted on February 11, 2024 by Margaret

Try This Sweet Refresher to Honor Grapefruit Month

February is National Grapefruit Month. A fruit this powerful deserves its own month!
The fruit we know as grapefruit today was developed in the West Indies in the early 1700’s and was first introduced to Florida in the 1820s. Today, grapefruit hits its peak in February as it still grows in Florida and now even Texas. This fruit is truly worthy of the title super fruit.

Grapefruit contains many properties that are incredible for the body and prevents kidney stones, helps with liver detoxification, protects against lung cancer, reduces fever, lowers cholesterol, and acts as an indigestion aid. Grapefruit is high in vitamin C, even higher than oranges. Vitamin C rich foods can help ward off colds and free radicals which can reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and stroke. That’s some fruit!

Coming in at about 70 calories, grapefruit packs a big flavor in a small package. In addition to its health properties, grapefruit can help you stay trim! As the fruit is very low in sodium and high in fat burning enzymes, it burns fat while it helps flush out excess water from high sodium diets. And if that wasn’t good enough, grapefruit also helps boost metabolism. The high water content along with the enzymes and acid get the internal organs working. When eaten within 2 hours of waking, grapefruit gets the digestive system kicked on and stops the body from going into starvation mode. This super fruit is a perfect and powerful breakfast item.

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Posted on February 11, 2024 by Lacy

Dr. Andrew Weil’s Pasta Puttanesca Recipe from Dr. Oz

On today’s Dr. Oz, he visits with Dr. Andrew Weil to discuss the benefits of living a more holistic, naturally health lifestyle. Weil is a leader in alternative health practices, authoring books like Eating Well for Optimum Health in which he prescribes food as medicine.

On the Dr. Oz episode, Dr. Weil shares five secrets that allow you to naturally increase your energy, immunity, prevent heart disease, and to lose weight. He says “you’ll be amazed at the changes” you feel when you follow his advice. He talks up the benefits of including more fiber in your diet, as well as a supplement regimen that includes vitamins A, C, and E, selenium, CoQ10, and niacin.

Dr. Weil also shares with the audience a “cancer-fighting super meal,” also known as Pasta Puttanesca with Tuna.

Ingredients

2 (28 oz) cans Italian tomatoes, drained and crushed
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp dried hot red pepper flakes
2 tbsp capers
1/2 cup black olives, pitted and chopped
3 mashed garlic cloves
2 tbsp fresh basil leaves, minced
1 lb dried pasta
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 package/can of healthy pouch/canned tuna (low-mercury type) (more…)

Posted on February 10, 2024 by Natalie K

Pinterest Finds for Healthy Homemade Valentine’s Day Gifts

One of the sweetest holidays of the year is upon us, Valentine’s Day. We love the simple kind of Valentine’s Day; handmade cards and treats speak volumes over the manufactured and processed sentiments at the grocery store.

Before you default to the red and pink aisle at the drug store for your Valentine’s Day gifts, take a look at some of our finds from Pinterest. Whether for the love of your life, a dear friend, or your child’s Valentine’s Day party these homemade gifts and treats will show the love far more than anything in a cellophane-wrapped heart-shaped box.

We’ve become a little addicted to Pinterest recently (follow us there), and while we’ve come up with some clever ideas for taking the sugar bombs out of cupid’s bag of tricks, the crafty folks over there outdid us this year. In the slideshow, we found foodless treats like homemade crayons to attach to classroom Valentine’s cards, beet cupcakes for a splash of pink without the dyes, and an adorable way to ditch the conversation hearts and serve conversation fruit instead. Plus, many more darling homemade Valentine’s Day ideas.

Posted on February 10, 2024 by Natalie K

Jack in the Box’s Bacon Shake is a Nutrition Nightmare

It seems everywhere you turn, bacon is showing up from the typical morning fare to the not-so-typical places, like donuts or dipped in chocolate. Wherever you’re finding it, one thing’s for certain, bacon is on the scene.

Many say social media has led to a re-birth of bacon and its popularity. Others call it “hipster food.” Whatever the reason for its popular status, bacon today has outdone itself. Jack in the Box introduced its limited time Bacon Shake and those who don’t much notice fat and calories could not be happier.

The shake is being offered as an un-listed menu item. Those looking to try the meat shake will have to ask for it. Before anxious bacon lovers head to their nearest Jack in the Box they may want to know what their dealing with, though.

According to the Jack in the Box website, the bacon shake is made with real vanilla ice cream, bacon flavored syrup, whipped topping, and of course, a maraschino cherry on top. True bacon lovers may be put off by the fact that the shake is flavored with an artificial bacon syrup and not the real deal, but the syrup and flavor should be the least of any one’s concerns.

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Posted on February 9, 2024 by Lacy

Cake for Breakfast Can Curb Cravings Study Claims

A new study from the Tel Aviv University found that eating dessert with breakfast may keep you from craving sweets later in the day. Many studies have shown the importance of eating breakfast for good metabolic function, in addition to showing that a bigger morning meal aids in weight loss. How can starting your day with chocolate or cake possibly help you reach your weight loss goals?

Researchers Prof. Daniela Jakubowicz, Dr. Julio Wainstein and Dr. Mona Boaz argue that cutting sweets entirely out of one’s diet makes it much harder for people to stick to their diet plans. However, the timing of your indigence is also important. The morning is the best time to eat a high-calorie meal, because it helps the body regulate the hunger hormone ghrelin. Gherlin levels always rise before meals, but they will rise less after eating a balanced breakfast.

The researchers, however, aren’t saying that you should abandon calorie counting. The 32-week study placed obese participants on calorie-controlled diets, with 1600 calories for men and 1400 calories for women. The subjects were then divided into two groups. One group of participants was placed on a low-carb diet that ate a 300 calorie breakfast. The other group was given a 600 calorie breakfast that was high in protein and carbohydrates, and also included a dessert item such as chocolate, cake or cookies.

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Posted on February 9, 2024 by Margaret

Dr. Melina Jampolis Sounds Off on Paula Deen, School Lunches, and Heart Health Awareness

There are a lot of big things making some big headlines in the health space these past few weeks. We sought out some insight on the hottest stories of late from one of the most respected names in health and wellness, Dr. Melina Jampolis.

Known to most as Dr. Melina, she is an internist and board certified physician nutrition specialist whose focus is on weight loss and disease prevention. She’s previously published the No Time to Lose Diet, The Busy Person’s Guide to Permanent Weight Loss, and this spring will publish The Calendar Diet.

Watch our interview as she shares insight in to Paula Deen’s diabetes announcement, the new school lunch guidelines, and why heart month is pretty important.

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Posted on February 9, 2024 by Natalie K

Bread, Not Salty Snacks Responsible for Excess Sodium Consumption

The Centers for Disease Control compiled a list of the top sources of sodium in the American diet, and the list is likely to surprise you. Nine out of ten Americans consume too much salt on a daily basis, but the culprit isn’t salty snacks like pretzels or chips. In fact, you may be eating the two biggest sources of sodium in your lunch today: bread and cold cuts appear as the top two.

Mary Cogswell, one of the reports authors, explains that breads and rolls don’t necessarily contain more salt than other foods, but that people tend to eat more of them. However, you can cut your sodium intake by looking for breads that contain less than 150 milligrams per slice. Similarly, look for low-sodium deli meats and try to avoid salami, bologna and pimento.

Other items on the list include pizza, processed poultry, pasta dishes and soups. Salty snacks appeared at the tenth item on the CDC’s list, accounting for 3.1 percent of all sodium consumption. Like bread and other products, you can cut a significant amount of sodium from your diet by comparing the nutrition labels on the back of packages. The difference in sodium between one brand of potato chips an another can be as much as 150 milligrams.

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Posted on February 8, 2024 by Health Buzz

Marilyn Chivetta Lost 129 Pounds with Bistro MD and by Claiming Her Cleavage

Single, two kids, sick, unemployed, and weighing in at 315 pounds, Marilyn Chivetta’s story seemed hopeless. That might be most people, but it’s not Marilyn. This is a woman whose wedding was called off six days before the vows, and she still hosted the reception, a party she ended up calling the Broken Heart Ball.

“I celebrate everything, all of the time,” she told us. While she used the party to momentarily pick up the pieces of a life that unexpectedly shattered around her, it wasn’t long before she turned all of her focus to her young son and not herself. Then, a car accident would break her back leading to multiple health problems that would render her unable to work. At the end of 2024, when things couldn’t seem to get much worse, she received an eviction notice for her rented house; she learned the landlord hadn’t been making the mortgage payments.

“One thing lead to another and the next thing you know I’m over 300 pounds,” Marilyn said. “I started 2024 barely walking. Things were really bad, I was really sick,” she told us.

It was then that she had that all-important “ah-ha” moment. She says she prayed about what to do, and relied on her faith. Her plan was to “lose the weight and go see Oprah.” It didn’t quite happen that way, but her outreach to Oprah did land her an appearance on Dr. Phil in spring 2024. That was the turning point.

At her heaviest, Marilyn weighed 315 pounds. Today, she’s down more than 129, and notes that the number is “so far,” because she’s not done. She lost the weight in about 10 months, and credits the majority to her Bistro MD diet.

“I started feeling better within three days,” she says of the Bistro MD meals, which were afforded to her after her Dr. Phil appearance to help her lose weight and start regaining her life. (more…)

Posted on February 7, 2024 by Natalie K

Challenge: Buy 30 Days of Groceries at Whole Foods on a Poverty-Level Budget

Have you ever pictured yourself doing a happy dance in the grocery store because you could afford oranges? No? Me neither, but that’s what happened during my 30-day challenge to feed my family of three at or near the poverty level. There were also moments of frustration and a few tears shed. Here’s how it all started …

I was roaming around a section of the USDA website where they keep track of over 8,000 families and what they spend every month for groceries. This helps them set four different budget levels: Thrifty (near the poverty level), Low, Medium, and Liberal. Amounts are broken down by gender and age; kids and the elderly account for less money than 20-something guys, for instance.

If you think this is a futile exercise and a waste of taxpayer money, you’d be wrong. If you’re going through a divorce, it’s likely that the courts will assess child support at the “Low” level, no matter your income. The food that our servicemen and women are served is budgeted at the Liberal level. So this monthly assessment by the government has a bigger effect than you might realize.

When I looked at the numbers, I realized my family was living at the “Low” level, but that wasn’t taking into account how often we eat out (two to three meals per week between lunches and dinner). The amount we spend does reflect us eating a lot of organic foods. Plus, we can sometimes be too wasteful; I cringe some weeks at what we throw away. It’s not just a waste of money, but a waste of resources for the planet.

Could our family live at the Thrifty level? What would it take? And what if I tried doing this while only shopping at Whole Foods, aka “Whole Paycheck”? And then what if I also threw a dinner party for eight as the very last meal?

I contacted Whole Foods and suggested a bet. If I could feed my family of three for 30 days exclusively from items purchased at Whole Foods for $491.10 they would reimburse me for my food. If I didn’t make it, they’d owe me nothing. The budget worked out to $16.31 cents per day total for all three of us. In case you’re wondering, here’s what we bought for the month.

Whole Foods said yes, my family was gung ho, and we were off on January 1st, shopping for over 90 minutes, trying to figure out what we could afford. (more…)

Posted on February 7, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Billboards Blame Obesity on Cheese. Do Your Thighs Agree?

If you love cheese, you’re not alone, and you may not want to read this.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) believes cheese to be the guilty culprit of our nation’s obesity problem. They believe it so much that they have recently began a billboard campaign in Albany, New York. Large billboards display dimply thighs or flabby guts and read, “Your Thighs on Cheese,” or “Your Abs on Cheese.”

Are they right? Is the ooey gooey goodness of cheese really the enemy?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s estimates, Americans have tripled the amount of cheese they eat each year since 1970. Today, the average American eats 31 pounds of per year. Let’s be real, that’s a lot of cheese!

Neal Barnard is part of the PCRM and clearly stated how he feels about our cheese consumption, especially our children’s cheese consumption. “Cheese and other dairy products are the leading source of saturated fat that our kids are swallowing. And I think most Americans are totally oblivious to it.” (more…)

Posted on February 6, 2024 by Lacy

Diet and Nutrition

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