Diet and Nutrition

RECALL: Ground Beef in Southern California

gound beefMore than 3,000 pounds of ground beef patties are being recalled by a California company for potential E. coli contamination, and other ground beef products may also be affected. The U.S.  Department of Agriculture made the announcement this weekend after the American Food Service of Pico Rivera recalled the products.

The recalled beef was produced on January 31, and carries the establishment number “EST 1913” inside the USDA inspection mark. The beef was sent to restaurants in the southern region of California. The USDA fears packages of the contaminated beef are still in the freezers of many restaurants.

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Posted on February 7, 2024 by Health Buzz

Jennifer Hudson’s Weight Loss on Oprah

Oprah WinfryWe all know Jennifer Hudson got down to a size six on Weight Watchers, but how did she really do it? Tune in to Oprah this Thursday, February 10, to get all the details behind her weight-loss transformation.

Weight Watchers is an extremely flexible diet plan that doesn’t count out any food if you eat in moderation, but we’ve been wondering about some of the details. Did Hudson stick to veggies and fruit, or did she use her points on fattier foods? Did she try the new Weight Watchers PointsPlus program? How did she work out? Plus, Hudson has a special premiere performance in store for the audience and viewers at home.

Check your local listings for show times.

Posted on February 7, 2024 by Margaret

Cancer Survivor Proves Benefits of Healthy Living

Maruchy Lachance is president of Running Ninja!, a lifestyle brand for runners by runners. Running Ninja! offers a wide variety of apparel and gifts for runners to keep you happy and inspired while you’re on the run.

Last weekend I participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. My husband and I run this race every year, but this year it was personal. I had the honor of running alongside my friend and breast cancer survivor. It needs to be said that she beat my time by about 15 minutes. While we ran she talked about her diagnosis, the double mastectomy, the months of chemotherapy and radiation and finally, her conviction to surviving.

As we ran, I thought back to how surprised I was that she continued her health and fitness routine. If anyone had an excuse to jump off the health wagon it was her. These were the times she could have easily indulged in comfort foods and laid off the exercise.

One of the first things she purchased was a wig with a baseball cap sewn to it so she could wear it to the gym. As she began healing she returned to running. Before long she was back to her usual impressive pace. (more…)

Posted on February 6, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Research Finds Dark Roast Coffee Best for Getting Antioxidants

Good news if you like your cup of Joe dark roasted like I do! Researchers at the University of British Columbia have discovered that coffee’s antioxidant benefits seem to be traced to valuable compounds developed during the roasting process. According to previous research on coffee and health, java drinkers are less likely to die of heart disease, develop a malignant brain tumor and suffer from gout.

Coffee beans in their natural state are green. According to the study, food scientists found that the antioxidants found in dark roasted coffee that’s brewed actually comes from the process of green beans being browned under high temperatures. Previous studies believed the antioxidants came directly from the caffeine or the green coffee beans- not the roasting. The research is to be published in Food Research International.

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Posted on February 5, 2024 by Jennipher

The New Mexico Diet Rich in Healthy Green Chilies

New Mexico is known for cuisine that reflects the combination of the Native American, Mexican, Spanish, and American cultural traditions. A few of the most common foods found in this style of diet are blue corn, enchiladas, sopapillas, and red and green chilies. Green chilies are harvested when they are green and turn to a red color as they ripen. Green chilies are typically known for their somewhat mild, bitter taste and sinus cleansing heat, but the nutritional benefits are often overlooked.

Green chilies are extremely rich in vitamins A and C (the dried version higher in vitamin A while the raw or fresh version is higher in vitamin C). In fact, a single green chili contains six times more vitamin C than an average sized orange. Green chilies are also a good source of the antioxidant beta-carotene, vitamin B and E, and iron and potassium which allows them to help block the body’s absorption of cholesterol and help promotes normal body functioning.

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Posted on February 4, 2024 by Matt

McDonald’s Healthiest Menu Choices

It’s happened to all of us. You’re on the road, you’re hungry and your only option is fast food. So what do you do? You choose the healthiest option possible! But looks can be deceiving. We did some research on what is the healthiest menu option at the popular fast-food chain McDonald’s and if you’re looking for a meal, there weren’t a lot of choices, but there are some.

We selected the below food options based on feedback from registered dietitian Rebecca Scritchfield. All meals have less than 500 calories and about 500 milligrams of sodium, as part of the new daily sodium recommendations from the U.S. government.

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Posted on February 4, 2024 by Jennipher

Empty Calories Comic: Super Bowl Tackles Diets

See more Empty Calories right here in the blog each week, or receive one each month when you subscribe to our free newsletter. (more…)

Posted on February 4, 2024 by Health Buzz

Satisfy a Salty Craving on a Diet

Your mouth waters and your mind wanders. You’re eating a deliciously balanced plate of grilled chicken and green beans with a whole grain roll but something is missing. You know what it is: you left the salt shaker in the kitchen. The question is, do you go and get it? Cutting salt out of your diet can be a difficult process, especially when you experience salt cravings. Cravings are a complicated phenomenon and can arise for a multitude of reasons. Understanding your salt cravings and developing strategies to combat them is one of the keys to a well-executed diet plan.

Why do we crave salt? First of all, it’s important to remember that salt is of vital importance to the proper functioning of the body. There was a point in time when salt was among the most valuable objects in the world. A salt craving can sometimes be a signal that you’re mildly dehydrated. If you have a glass of water before indulging in your salt craving, you may find that you’re simply thirsty. In most cases, cravings are experienced because a person is accustomed to a heavily salted diet. In these situations, the cure is a matter of adjusting to the taste of foods with less salt. Consider consulting a physician if your craving is accompanied by excessive thirst, dry mouth or dizziness. Sometimes a salt craving can indicate severe dehydration, complex electrolyte imbalances, Addison’s disease or certain adrenal diseases.

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Posted on February 3, 2024 by Theresa

Health Buzz: Taco Bell’s Beef, New Dietary Guidelines and Heart Disease Risk Factors

Lawsuit Says Taco Bell Doesn’t Use Real Beef

The fast-food giant is being called out for the less than 35 percent beef used in their tacos and burritos. However, Taco Bell is fighting back saying they use 88 percent, plus a secret ingredient, in these “truth ads.”

The New 2024 Dietary Guidelines have Released

The USDA and HHS released the pentennial report with new nutritional recommendations for Americans. Included is direction for consuming less sodium, sugar and saturated fat, and consuming more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Make Your Own Junk Food for Super Bowl

When you make food at home, you can control the ingredients and the portions. Try some of these ideas and recipes for serving healthier Super Bowl favorites at your party. (more…)

Posted on February 3, 2024 by Health Buzz

How the New Dietary Guidelines Affect Your Children

Every five years, the  USDA and Department of Health and Human Services work together to update the Dietary Guidelines to reflect changing and new research. This is the year that the new 2024 Dietary Guidelines for Americans have been released, and the changes were minimal for the most part, although there was an additional emphasis on addressing the ever increasing obesity epidemic. There was a special section devoted to the health and well being of our children.

To illustrate how times have changed for our children, let’s take a look at the rates of obesity and how they have increased. In 1970, less than 5% of all children were classified as obese. In 2024, that figure has doubled. Similar rates of increase were seen for most other age groups. The most shocking increase was seen in children ages 6-11, a group which showed an increase of 400%, jumping from just 4% to more than 20%.

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Posted on February 3, 2024 by Carmen

Javier Bardem Lost Weight while Shooting Biutiful

Javier BardemActor Javier Bardem already won the Palm d’Or at Cannes for his leading role in Alejandro González Iñárritu’s film Biutiful, and he’s poised to take that title again on Oscar night. To play the troubled Uxbal, Bardem not only sunk himself into the character’s physiological state, but also underwent a dramatic physical transformation.

As a man struggling with cancer, Bardem lost a significant about of weight during the film’s grueling five-month shoot. The film was shot in chronological order, which made this process a little easier. “There’s something big—the disease—going on, and the effect that it has on the mind, the body, the soul, but also little details of behavior that have to do with the chronological order of being affected by [the disease]. It’s a great luxury for any actor, but I couldn’t imagine doing this any other way,” said Bardem.

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Posted on February 3, 2024 by Health Buzz