Diet and Nutrition

Beetroot Juice Found to Enhance Athletic Performance

Athletes may be caught juicing with a new performance enhancing product soon. But this product is legal and it really is juice. Recent studies have been conducted with competitive cyclists and a somewhat foreign ingredient called beetroot juice.

Athletes in these tests were given the beetroot juice before a time trial. Multiple distances were timed and the cyclists who drank the complete beetroot formula were found to be over 2.5% faster than they were without the juice.

Beetroot juice is a natural source of nitrate. The nitrate ingredient is what is believed to be causing the enhanced performance. Nitrate widens blood vessels which lowers blood pressure and allows for more blood flow. Nitrate also reduces the amount of oxygen needed by muscles during activity. These two effects combined are the source for the improved performance of the cyclists in the research.

The cycling tests have surely sparked the interest of other athletes as well. If this natural and legal product can improve performance in one physical area, it seems plausible that it can help improve the performance of other activities as well. When dealing with sports, where seconds can mean the difference between second place or champion, beetroot juice may soon needs its own sports agent.

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Posted on July 12, 2024 by Lacy

Pay with Cash to Stick to a Healthy Grocery List

For years, we’ve heard that the way to stick to a budget at the grocery store is to avoid paying with credit and go to a cash only system. Now, a new study has shown that paying for groceries with cash may be good for the waistline as well.

The study, which was published in the Journal of Consumer Research,  found that shoppers were more likely to buy items considered “unhealthy” when they paid with credit or debit cards than if they paid with cash. You might think that a person who paid with a debit card would be as conscious of spending as a person with cash, due to the fact that a debit card drafts money from your account immediately. The study showed the opposite, even when the subjects completed their shopping in a computer simulated task.

When you are trying to eat healthy, sticking to a budget and a well planned out grocery list can be one of your greatest tools. Grocery stores are designed to part you from your money, and the areas that are on eye level are often full of the foods that are the least diet-friendly. Companies often pay extra for the “prime real estate” and they place the foods with the greatest income potential in those sections.

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Posted on July 12, 2024 by Carmen

What Michele Bachmann’s Presidency Would Mean for Your Family’s Health

Republican congresswoman Michele Bachmann has recently announced her presidential candidacy. What will it mean for your health care if Bachmann ultimately wins the 2024 election?

According to her website, one of Bachmann’s top priorities is to repeal Obamacare because she considers its directives to be unconstitutional. As a constitutional conservative, Bachmann says on her website that she is a “champion of tea party values” and that “the solutions to our problems (don’t) come from Washington: more than ever, Washington IS the problem, and the real solutions will come from your businesses, your communities, your schools and the most basic and powerful unit of all, your families.”

This means that first lady Michelle Obama’s efforts to increase health-responsibility within the government are sorely frowned upon by Bachmann. Bachmann calls Mrs. Obama’s push for breastfeeding and other such efforts to eradicate obesity and promote good health a “nanny state” tactic. Currently, Mrs. Obama’s campaigns focus on children’s health, fitness and nutrition as preventative care. Although she’s been at the brunt of Bachmann’s criticism recently, Mrs. Obama isn’t the only first lady to push legislation with health initiatives. Both Hillary Clinton and Nancy Reagan were known for their persistence with health-related campaigns.

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Posted on July 9, 2024 by Theresa

Are New Food Laws Crossing the Line?

Do we put a fence around the pool to prevent drowning, or do we teach how to swim? When it comes to the new, pending, and purposed laws regarding food labeling, ingredients, and marketing, several states are at odds as to how best handle these issues.

Many new food related laws are being passed, such as the ban on toys in kid’s fast food meals in several cities or the requirement for nutrition information to be on the menu at any restaurant that has more than twenty chains that will be enforced by 2024. There is also the new federal law that will be setting new standards for the food sold and provided in schools. These and other new requirements are getting lots of attention.

The advocacy groups that are out to fight obesity are in favor of many of these laws, saying they could lead to a healthier country and reduce many of the ailments our children and adults are facing today.

Business owners and some legislators are seeing the other side of the coin, though. All these enforced requirements could make running a profitable business more difficult. The legislators who are supporting these thoughts are saying that it’s an issue of one’s rights and that simply it’s not the government’s job to tell people how to eat.

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Posted on July 9, 2024 by Lacy

Country Strong: The Kenny Chesney Workout

Being a famous country star has its perks and privileges, but the downside is that you can be scrutinized down to the very last detail. Musicians, just like Hollywood actors, are called out even for the slightest fluctuation in their weight.

It used to be that country troubadours looked were run-of-the-mill, working-class, salt of the earth, whatever-folksy-description-you-want-to-use. These days, image is just as important as talent.

Whether it’s for his image or a passion for staying in shape, Kenny Chesney is one of the fittest people in the music business. There is no denying his hard-fought trip to the top of the music business is exemplified in his dedication to fitness.

Chesney says that staying in top form is his way of making sure he gives his fans the best experience possible during his live shows. Since he’s grossed about $500 million in the last decade, his fans apparently approve. (more…)

Posted on July 8, 2024 by Jason

Fast Food Chains Adding Alcohol to Their Menus

“I’d like a double cheeseburger, the jumbo fries, and a DIET soda.” Does this fast food order sound familiar? The patron stressing the diet soda to lighten some part of the gut busting meal is a pretty common occurrence. Now, we might start hearing something like, “…and a LIGHT beer” tacked on to a fast food order. Alcohol is now being served at fast food chains around the U.S.

Very popular chains like Burger King, Sonic, and even Starbucks have begun introducing alcoholic menu concepts at select locations. The controversial change could be a result of the economy, as many say alcohol will allow them to compete with the casual dinning restaurants in the evening. While that fact may be true as adults may want to eat somewhere that has an alcohol option on the menu, that addition to fast food menus could cause more harm than reward.

Thankfully none of these restaurants allow for alcohol to be ordered from a drive-thru or car stall, but there are still some possible hazards. The risk of getting a quick meal and a quick beer and then driving off pose obvious dangers. However, assuming that adults are responsible enough to gauge what’s appropriate consumption, what about the health factor?

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Posted on July 7, 2024 by Lacy

5 Good Reasons to Eat More Blueberries

By Delia Quigley for Care2.com

July is National Blueberry Month, a fitting tribute given that’s when these wholesome, juicy little berries come in to the peak of their season. Learn more about the nutritional and health benefits from this tiny blue food, and find several healthy blueberry recipes.

1. Blueberries’ Antioxidant Force

The first thing to point out is that, although blueberries are loaded with taste and antioxidants, they are also low in calories and high in fiber. This makes them the perfect food for dieters and anyone looking for a nutritious snack. One cup of blueberries provides you with the equivalent antioxidant content of five servings of carrots, broccoli, squash, and apples. What this means for your health is a lower risk of heart disease, vibrant, firm skin, and a boost in brain power.

The primary force behind blueberries’ super power is the phytonutrient anthocyanin, a particular type of flavonoid—the one that gives blueberries that deep blue pigment. These antioxidant benefits of anthocyanin are thought to protect your body against the damaging effects of free radicals and the chronic diseases associated with the aging process. Based on data from the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, blueberries are among the fruits with the highest antioxidant activity. Using a test called ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity), researchers have shown that a serving of fresh blueberries provides more antioxidant activity than many other fresh fruits and vegetables. (more…)

Posted on July 7, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Are Raw Foods Really Healthier? The Nutrition of Raw vs. Cooked

Raw vs. cooked tomatoes and aspargus Raw food diets are getting a lot of attention lately, both on this blog and in the wider health community. The raw diet tied for the second best diet for weight loss in U.S. News‘ assessment, and raw cleanses are a hot trend this summer.

Supporters of the raw diet believe that raw fruits, vegetables and in some cases meat and dairy are the richest sources of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other nutrients. While a plant-based raw diet is certainly very healthy, cooking some plants actually increases some nutrients and can also make nutrients more bio-available.

Once you start to look at the question of raw vs. cooked foods, it immediately becomes a complex matter. Nutrition science has become quite sophisticated, yet there’s still only a limited amount of research available on the subject. Some nutrients may be lost during the cooking process yet others are enriched by cooking and exposure to heat. Yet, there are still many gray areas when it comes to the importance of many vitamins, minerals and other phytochemicals. Below are some of the facts that we do have about raw vs. cooked foods, organized by nutrient.

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Posted on July 7, 2024 by Margaret

Man-Made Meat May be Coming Soon

In less than one year from now we could be reading the food review of the world’s first in vitro hamburger. Yes, you read that right.

As an answer to our globe’s growing population and increasing meat consumption, scientists in the Netherlands are very close to debuting their meat grown from stem cells of healthy cows. The scientists have been working to grow muscle tissue from a small number of stem cells they’ve extracted from the cattle.

As awkward as this process sounds, the researchers believe it’s going to be beneficial for the world. As the trends lead us to believe that the world’s meat consumption is expected to double by the year 2050, this man-made meat will be able to be produced without the need for livestock.

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Posted on July 6, 2024 by Lacy

We Love Fiber One 80 Calories Honey Squares

Like any other child-at-heart, I love cereal. Whether it be a small bowl with breakfast or an afternoon handful, I simply can’t get enough. Cereal can be a good source of nutrients but it can also be an even better source of excess sugar (among other things.) While some cereals are falling to the wayside in a quest to introduce healthier foods to the masses, Fiber One has created a new option for cereal-lovers.

According to the nutrition panel, each ¾ cup serving of the Fiber One 80 Calories Honey Squares contains only 140 mg of sodium and a whopping 10 g of dietary fiber– that’s 40 percent of your recommended daily value! The ingredient list boasts whole grain corn as the number one ingredient but it also contains sucralose, which is fine in moderation although I personally prefer a natural sweetener.

It tasted great as a morning meal and I tried it with both vanilla almond milk and regular skim milk on different occasions. The texture was light and crunchy and it was very filling. I also tried it on top of a yogurt parfait and it added just the right touch of crunch without the amount of sugar that’s in the granola I usually splurge on.

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Posted on July 6, 2024 by Theresa

The Fat Whisperer Claims to Coax Fat Cells Away

She’s being called “The Fat Whisperer.” Hollywood starlets are flocking to her to shed unwanted pounds. Celebrities are claiming she can get them red-carpet ready as she uses the power of persuasion to encourage fat cells to leave the body. Who is this woman and what is she doing?

Mary Ascension Saulnier is the woman behind the “Fat Whisperer” nickname. Saulnier studied at the Santa Fe Academy of Natural Healing. She is also a Pilates instructor, a raw food chef, and now Hollywood’s new diet guru.

Saulnier runs a weight loss clinic where she has a plethora of treatments for her clients. Her services may include detox masks, teas, wraps, heated suits, or ultrasound treatments. While these are high tech and non-traditional tools in the weight loss arena, it’s the “whispering” that is really gaining notoriety.

Saulnier has a technique where she orders fat to leave a client’s body. She claims to be able to get to the emotional root of a client’s over-eating issue, listen to what emotions are in the fat cells, and then tell it how to move out of the body.

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Posted on July 6, 2024 by Lacy