Diet and Nutrition

17 Healthy Carbohydrates You Should be Eating

The 17 Day Diet seems to be all the rage these days. Created by Dr. Mike Moreno, the diet was recently featured on The Doctors and the Dr. Phil Show. To go along with this “17” craze, we’re featuring a list of 17 healthy carbs that you should be eating for overall health.  With so many healthy options, you’ll never fall into a food rut again!

1. Oatmeal. It may seem boring, but oatmeal is such a delicious and filling breakfast choice. With lots of fiber, five grams of protein, 27 grams of carbs, three grams of fat and only 150 calories, you get a lot of nutritional bang for your bite!

2. Barley. Also high in fiber, barley is great in soups, as a whole-grain side or even as a healthy rice replacement in risotto!

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Posted on December 8, 2023 by Jennipher

What the Labels on Your Meat Really Mean

When it comes to the meat and poultry aisle in the grocery store, how much do consumers really know? Words like “mechanically separated” and “all-natural” can be convoluted, so we talked to some of the experts at Coleman Natural Meats to decode some of the most confusing labels that we see on meat packaging today.

Certified Organic: While organic food arguably offers some health benefits that conventionally prepared foods do not, an organic designation is not one-size-fits-all. In the US, any item that was made entirely with certified organic ingredients can be labeled “100% organic.” Products that contain 95% organic ingredients can use the word “organic” on their labels.  Any products that contain 70% organic ingredients, can be labeled “made with organic ingredients.”

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Posted on December 8, 2023 by Maris

Party Without Gaining Weight During the Holidays

Now that I’ve had a successful weight loss and kept it off for close to five years, I find that my life has changed. I love exercise, cooking (and eating) veggies more than once a day, and drink more water than I ever imagined. I have more energy and am much happier.

One thing hasn’t changed, though – I still dread holiday parties. Being surrounded by all the yummy foods, mixed drinks and amazing sweet treats, combined with an almost total lack of willpower can often be a recipe for disaster. A friend of mine recently decided that her annual Christmas party was going to have a Mexican theme, and when I first heard about it, I decided I wouldn’t attend. After all, Mexican food can be terrible for the waist, full of fat and calories, and one night of indulging could mean I need hours of work in the gym for a week or more. There’s no way that I could go to her Mexican Christmas party and still stay on task- or so I thought. I was bummed because this party was sure to be a lot of fun, with many of my friends present.

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Posted on December 8, 2023 by Carmen

Overweight Quickly Becoming the New Female Norm

We all know how startling the latest obesity trend numbers are. It’s estimated that 38 states in the United States have an obesity rate of 25 percent in its population. It turns out, this increase in obesity is having a negative impact on societal norms. In fact, being overweight may be the new norm for women!

According to new research from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston, more overweight women inaccurately perceive their body weight — but instead of these girls thinking of themselves as being heavier than they actually are (what you normally think of women doing), they are actually doing the opposite and categorizing themselves as at a “normal” or “healthy” weight, when in fact, they are not. The research will be published in the December issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and scientists say that this self-perception switch may make many women vulnerable to cardiovascular and other obesity-related diseases.

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Posted on December 8, 2023 by Jennipher

4 Tasty Ways to Have Fruit for Dessert

If you’re like me and have a bit of a sweet tooth (especially in the evenings — oye!), it can be hard to find healthy, yet delicious desserts that both satisfy said sweet tooth and don’t require a culinary degree. That’s why lately, I’ve been eating fruit for a dessert! Now, bear with me, I know fruit may not seem like the most exciting dessert option, but when you know how to do it right, you really can make a fast, easy, healthy and tasty dessert that isn’t boring in the least!

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Posted on December 7, 2023 by Jennipher

60 Day Potato Diet Yields Surprising Results

If you’re an Atkins or a South Beach dieter, you might worry that eating starchy spuds will cause you to pile on excess poundage. However, Chris Voigt, the head of the Washington State Potato Commission, could probably tell you otherwise.

It’s part of Voigt’s job to promote potatoes as a healthy, accessible and affordable vegetable. From October 1 to December 1, he decided to “walk the walk” and eat nothing but potatoes — about 20 potatoes per day- prepared in a variety of ways.

Over the course of the two month diet, Voigt lost 21 pounds and dropped his cholesterol level by 67 points to a healthier level. Registered dietitian Cynthia Sass appeared on the TODAY Show with Voigt to weigh in on the diet.

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Posted on December 7, 2023 by Maris

Vegetarian Meals Called for to Save School Lunches

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) wants to give every child access to healthy vegetarian meals for school lunch. Their goal?  To help slash the fat and calories and reduce rates of childhood obesity.

The committee is pushing to pass H.R. 5504, the House of Representatives’ version of the Child Nutrition Act, which supports meatless meals and dairy alternatives. The House has set that bill aside to pass the less elaborate Senate legislation, which does not stipulate any meatless alternatives.

“One in three kids is now overweight, but many schools are still struggling to serve healthy lunches,” Neal Barnard, M.D., PCRM’s president said in a news release. “Schools should offer low-fat vegetarian options every day, and Congress and the president should take additional steps to give schools the resources to make that feasible.”

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Posted on December 7, 2023 by Carmen

Biggest Loser Finale Watch Party Recipes from Chef Curtis Stone

Each season of the Biggest Loser, there are a few episodes where a certain Aussie chef makes a guest appearance to help the contestants prepare healthy food that also tastes and looks amazing. The contestants swoon, the fans drool (over the food, of course) and everyone leaves with a few new recipes. Chef Curtis Stone has a way with food that is creative without being complicated and delicious without being bad for you. We like to think it’s a gift!

It seemed only fitting that if you plan on throwing a watch party for the live Biggest Loser season 10 finale on Tuesday, December 14, that you should do so with a meal designed by Curtis. He made several appearances this season, each time leaving us a little more enlightened about healthy cooking. You’ll find below his recipes for pan seared halibut with quinoa and a roasted acorn squash salad, along with a decadent dessert recipe for a cider poached pears.

First though, we spoke with Curtis about what’s next for him, his tips for a healthy party, as well as how the Australians celebrate the holidays.

How has being a part of Biggest Loser influenced your own diet and cooking?

I’m generally a pretty healthy eater and try to exercise and watch what I eat as much as possible. Being a chef and being surrounded by food all day it’s pretty easy to put on weight without even realising it, so I have always been mindful of making sure I stay pretty fit and do everything in moderation. I think The Biggest Loser has really opened my mind up to how easy it is to substitute ingredients that may be lower in fat but taste just as good. 
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Posted on December 7, 2023 by Natalie K

The Coffee and Sugar Brain Power Connection

Coffee and sugar seem to go together in many ways. Whether you stir some directly into your java or nosh on a sweet treat while you drink your cup of Joe, the two seem to go quite literally hand-in-hand in most cultures. (Think sugary coffee drinks in America or pastries in France or even espresso with dark chocolate in Italy!) With so many of us trying to lose extra pounds, many of us are forgoing the sugar, as most sugar provides extra calories, causes a spike in insulin and provides no real nutritional value. However, new research is finding that the combination of glucose (sugar) and caffeine can boost brain power!

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Posted on December 6, 2023 by Jennipher

Vanilla Yogurt Parfait with Blueberries and Strawberries

Even in the winter, when you wake up craving a warm meal, a yogurt parfait can be a surprisingly satisfying choice. Yogurt is full of calcium and protein and when you need a quick breakfast before work or school, it’s easy to make a parfait that tastes gourmet with whole grains and fresh fruit.

If you like to get your kids involved in the kitchen, you can make a fun event out of prepping your parfaits – set out bowls of granola, fresh and dried fruit and other favorite toppings and let them compile their own tasty morning treats.

My favorite combination is vanilla yogurt, fresh blueberries and strawberries but off-season, frozen fruits will work in a pinch.

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Posted on December 6, 2023 by Maris

Five Supplements You Must Take on the Dr. Oz Show

Tune in this Monday, December 6 to the Dr. Oz Show to find out what five supplements you should be taking for optimal health.

Get a pen and paper ready as you make a list of the five supplements you need to stock in your medicine or kitchen cabinet to reduce your risk of heart disease, boost your energy and to lessen the side effects of menopause. (more…)

Posted on December 6, 2023 by heather