Diet and Nutrition

5 Ways to Enjoy Coconut

Coconut is shaping up to be one of 2024’s hottest ingredients in snacks, baked goods and beverages. From coconut water for quenching thirst to coconut oil for cooking and bacon, coconut is a very nutritious food that delivers numerous health benefits beyond its nutritional content. Rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, coconut is classified as a “functional food” and according to The Coconut Research Center, some cultures believe it to possesses healing properties far beyond that of any other dietary oil.

Coconut is a familiar flavor for many of us in indulgent treats like candy bars and pina coladas, but there are plenty of alternate ways to eat and cook with coconut in that won’t break the calorie bank. Look for coconut in the grocery store in various forms and think outside the box when you’re preparing it.

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Posted on April 14, 2024 by Maris

Royal Cocktails for Your Royal Wedding Watch Party

If you’re planning a cocktail party to celebrate the royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29, you’ve probably already started thinking about your menu. If you’re planning on serving libations along with your canapes, think beyond champagne and get creative with some festive cocktails.

According to Serious Eats, brown ale used to be known as “the beer of the British masses” but if you want to avoid a royal beer belly this year, opt for a lower-calorie cocktail and save the brew for after swimsuit season. We tracked down two cocktail recipes from Grey Goose that include fresh, light spring flavors so you can sip without wrecking your diet.

Whether you are watching the procession from Buckingham Palace or the comfort of your own home, toast to the bride and groom with an elegant cocktail fit for royalty.

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Posted on April 14, 2024 by Maris

Food Triggers Same Brain Response As Cocaine

I’ve long thought that there is a finer line between food and drugs than people may think. Now, studies are starting to prove that food cravings are a little more complicated than just being in a weak moment.

Researchers are now saying that the reaction to those guilty culinary pleasures is basically the same as how a drug addict reacts when they need a fix.

When experts looked at the brain activity in their subjects when presented with a chocolate milkshake, they found that simply seeing the sweet dessert activated the same parts of the brain as a drug addict who sees cocaine.

If this turns out to be accepted dogma in the scientific community, it could be a complete game-changer in the nutrition world.

“If food cues take on enhanced motivational properties in a manner analogous to drug cues, efforts to change the current food environment may be critical to successful weight loss and prevention efforts,” says a written statement by study experts. “Ubiquitous food advertising and the availability of inexpensive palatable foods may make it extremely difficult to adhere to healthier food choices because the omnipresent food cues trigger the reward system.” (more…)

Posted on April 14, 2024 by Jason

Grow Your Own Spring Salad on Regis and Kelly

Tune in Friday morning on April 15 to Live with Regis & Kelly for the first of a two-part segment on how to grow your own spring salad. Matthew Benson, a contributing editor at Organic Gardening magazine, will show you everything you need to know about starting your own organic garden. He will discuss fertilizers, planting seeds and protecting them from unexpected frost. Plus, Benson will discuss cool weather vegetables that you can take pride in serving as part of a home-grown salad.

This segment combines two of my passions: sustainable food and healthy eating. Not only are organic vegetables good for your health, they’re also good for the planet’s health. Check your local listings for exact show times.

Organic Gardening magazine is a valuable resource to gardening enthusiasts who are interested in cultivating their own food.

Subscribe to Organic Gardening here.

Posted on April 14, 2024 by Margaret

Los Angeles the Worst Jamie Oliver’s Seen in Food Revolution’s Season 2 Premier

The premier of season two of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution was better than I had hoped. It had everyone in my house shocked and engaged. I couldn’t keep up with the discussion on twitter because #foodrevolution was a trending topic with hundreds of tweets every minute. If you missed it this week, I will catch you up. Hopefully you can join the conversation tweeting live with us next week.

This season Jamie is in Los Angeles, but he has been banned from the LAUSD school system. Even after going before the school board, not like a celebrity but like any other citizen in a three minute slot, Jamie was dismissed unceremoniously. At one point, Jamie stated that his welcome in Huntington, WV, reportedly the unhealthiest city in the U.S., was warm compared to the cold shoulder he was receiving in L.A. Because he was not allowed in the schools, he asked school children and their parents to bring him food items from the school. Jamie stated that it was the worst school menu he had seen anywhere (and twitter seemed to agree). It was revealed that to save money, food is only prepared in one kitchen for all the schools in L.A. – the meals were only warmed in house.

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Posted on April 13, 2024 by Brooke Randolph

Ruby Finds a New Love Interest in Episode 6

Ruby got her groove back this week- and hopefully it sticks around.

Aside from a tough hike up Runyon Canyon in L.A. to prove her commitment to fitness and weight loss after an intervention of sorts from both her friends and trainer, this week’s episode focused on dating, and the insecurities it brings up for Ruby in terms of her weight, her tumultuous relationship with her ex, Denny, and perhaps surprising for some, her hair loss.

Ruby and her friends went to a fashion show for Evolution of Curves, a plus-size fashion line designed by a friend of Ruby’s, but she had her eye on something other than the clothes: a cute bartender, Ian.

With all the confidence in the world, Ruby starts chatting up the hot (smokin’ hot, if I do say so myself) guy, asking him about his tattoos, touching his arm, and batting her eyelashes like there was no tomorrow. Ruby was convinced that he would never be interested in her, but flirted her butt off anyway. To her surprise, however, they exchanged phone numbers, and he texted her almost immediately. Still convinced he probably only wanted to be friends, Ruby invited him to a concert anyway, where they had a fantastic time, and decided to do it again.

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Posted on April 12, 2024 by Kelly

The 17 Day Diet vs. The South Beach Diet

When it comes to really understanding different diets, sometimes it’s best to compare it to another popular diet. For example, The 17 Day Diet created by Dr. Mike Moreno is hugely popular right now. But in order to best understand its ins and outs, we thought we’d compare it to another popular diet- the South Beach Diet. Turns out, they have quite a bit in common!

Price

Both of these diets are fairly cost effective in that it just takes buying the book to learn how the diet works. You can buy either diet book for less than $20 on Amazon. When it comes to buying the food required in the diets, the cost is about the same, too, as both emphasize eating lots of fresh produce, lean meats, beans, nuts, dairy and whole grains (in moderation). Both programs also offer branded foods that are not required for success on these diets, but some may find convenient. South Beach offers a line of package foods, such as wraps and meal bars. There is a 17 Day Diet Meal Plan offered through the diet delivery service Bistro MD.

Accessibility

As of now, The 17 Day Diet does not have an in-depth online component (although I’d expect them to add that in the near future), but the website does offer free recipes and a caloric-needs and BMI calculator. On the other hand, the South Beach Diet has a robust online community and program costing $5 a week for your own customized meal plan; tools to track your weight, phase, and diet goals; and 24-hour online support and other online community features.

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Posted on April 12, 2024 by Jennipher

Is Being a Parent Making You Fat?

Being a parent has its challenges, one of them being able to keep a healthy weight. A new study has found that being a new parent makes it more difficult to keep the extra weight off.

I know I don’t need a study to have found that out. I have two little ones and it’s always a challenge juggling parenting responsibilities and fitness. Besides, it’s so exhausting being a parent, the first instinct is to hit the couch, not the weights or treadmill.

According to the new study parents get less exercise than adults the same age without children. Part of the problem is what we, as parents, end up eating as well. The study found that moms had higher BMIs and eat and drink more sugary and high-fat foods. Mothers ate about 400 more calories every day than women without children. (more…)

Posted on April 12, 2024 by Jason

Eva Longoria’s Favorite Recipes on Rachael Ray

UPDATE [8/1/2024]: This episode will air again on August 2, 2024.

Tune in to Rachael Ray today, April 11 to see Eva Longoria cooking up some of her favorite recipes. The Desperate Housewives star will demonstrate how to make delicious enchiladas rojas from her new cookbook, Eva’s Kitchen. The book is inspired by Longoria’s childhood on a ranch, so she’s invited her mom to be a guest on the show as well. Eva recently joked that she’s on the “divorce diet,” and will be dishing about her dating life with Rachael.

Also on Monday’s episode, Dr. Ian will show viewers how they can lose weight while still eating delicious foods with tips from his new book Eat. After all, losing weight works best when you find a way to eat fewer calories without feeling deprived.

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Posted on April 11, 2024 by Health Buzz

Low Cost Casseroles from Prevention on Today

Tune in to the Today show on April 12, 2024 for some great casserole recipes from Prevention magazine. Chef Ariane Duarte will show you three low-cost yet healthy casseroles, which are not only an easy dinner but also make for delicious leftovers. Duarte will demonstrate a four-cheese macaroni bake that only has 300 calories per serving and a curried chicken broccoli casserole that will spice up any meal. Lastly, she’ll also show off another easy casserole variation with creamy spinach. All of the recipes demonstrated on the show can be found on Prevention’s website.

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Posted on April 11, 2024 by Health Buzz

Soy Foods and Isoflavones Don’t Increase Risk in Breast Cancer Survivors

Ever since research has come out about soy and its inherent properties that allow it to act like extra estrogen in the body, thereby possibly increasing the risk of breast cancer in women, I’ve been somewhat cautious about adding too much soy in my diet. While I’ve never suffered from breast cancer myself, it does run in my family, so I don’t like to take any chances. I know a lot of women who feel the same way, and I know some breast cancer survivors who are very limited with the amount of soy they consume for these reasons as well. Although the research of late on soy and cancer have been a little back and forth, new research presented at the AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2024 that was held in early April has found that soy foods do not increase the risk of cancer recurrence or death among breast cancer survivors.

To understand the study, it’s helpful to know why soy foods have been suspect. Soy foods contain large amounts of isoflavones that are known to bind to estrogen receptors and have both estrogen-like and anti-estrogenic effects, according to the study. Scientists have been particularly concerned that the isoflavones in soy could compromise the effect of the breast-cancer-treatment drug Tamoxifen because both the drug and isoflavones bind to estrogen receptors.

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Posted on April 9, 2024 by Jennipher

Diet and Nutrition

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