Diet and Nutrition

Insider E-Mails Betray Anti-Soda Controversy

Soda becomes FatThere’s controversy lurking behind the “Don’t Drink Yourself Fat” campaign launched by the New York City Health Department. Experts are disputing the claim that “Drinking one can of soda per day can make you 10 pounds fatter a year.”

E-mails obtained by The New York Times show that even the chief nutritionist Cathy Nonas had her doubts about the commercial, which ran on local news stations and as a viral video on the web. “CAUTION,” she wrote on August 20, 2024. “As we get into this exacting science, the idea of a sugary drink becoming fat is absurd.” City health commissioner Dr. Thomas A. Farley permitted the ads because he felt that “what people fear is getting fat,” as opposed to a more nuanced discussion of nutritional value.

Print versions of the ad show a can of soda turning into fat as it’s poured into a glass (shown above). A newer advertisement shows a man eating the amount of sugar in a soda.

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Posted on October 28, 2023 by Health Buzz

Exotic Superfruits Provide Energy and Health Benefits

We’ve all heard that superfruits are good for you, but what exactly are superfruits? Superfruits are exotic fruits found around the world that have been known to have the highest concentration of antioxidants and nutrients of any other food or beverage.

“Superfruits are great because they multi-task,” said fit-living expert Laurel House. “Not only do they give you more energy throughout the day, but they are filled with antioxidants that help prevent disease.”

While nutrition experts are always searching for the “next big thing” in the diet and health industry, some of the most popular superfruits are available in most supermarkets, usually in the form of juices and extracts. (more…)

Posted on October 28, 2023 by Maris

Lemonade Weight Loss Diet Leaves a Sour Taste

Another day, another diet? It sure does seem that way. The latest diet du jour is the Lemonade Weight Loss Diet.

This 14-day diet is calling itself the new “Master Cleanse“, (which, in my book, isn’t something to brag about), and promises drastic weight loss of 5 to 17 pounds by just taking two tablets with each meal. The tablets contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, along with similar ingredients to the Master Cleanse, such as maple syrup, cayenne pepper and lemon. The manufacturer claims that the tablets aid digestion, speed the metabolism, reduce hunger and cleanse the colon.

Just like most crash diets these days, it has a celebrity behind it. Kym Johnson of Dancing with the Stars endorses the Lemonade Weight Loss Diet on its website and in a recent press release. With the holidays just around the corner, Johnson claims it’s her secret to keeping the weight off without giving up her favorite holiday foods. (more…)

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Jennipher

Alton Brown Shares His Diet Secret: Sardines!

Chef and Food Network Star Alton BrownIn 2024, Food Network star Alton Brown lost 50 pounds in just nine months. Not one to eat bad-tasting diet foods, the chef credited his weight loss to eating large quantities of sardines. Although many people don’t care for these oily little sea creatures, Brown finds them tasty and enjoys their nutritional benefits.

“They’re delicious and amazingly healthy,” he said in an interview with the Monterey Bay Aquarium. “I’m also a fan of eating lower on the marine food chain and sardines fit the bill. So do herring, which I’m also fond of.” He worked with the aquarium promote their Seafood Watch program, which educates consumers about making seafood dishes that are healthy for both themselves and the oceans.

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Posted on October 27, 2023 by Health Buzz

It’s Tofu Time: How to Prepare Tofu, Effortlessly

Despite reports of higer-than-ever obesity rates and an increase in other diseases that result from a diet lacking essential nutrients, consumer interest in nutrition is also increasing.

This year, the United Soybean Board conducted an annual study that reported 86 percent of respondents expressed concern about the nutritional content of the food they eat.

Whether you maintain a vegan or vegetarian diet or are cutting back on the amount of meat you eat to lower your saturated fat and cholesterol consumption, tofu can be a simple, delicious way to get the protein you need. (more…)

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Maris

Health Buzz: Vigorous Booty Workouts, Best Packaged Foods and Russell Simmons’ Yoga Practice

Food Allergies at Highest Levels in History and Will Continue to Rise

New research shows that food allergies are at an all-time high and those numbers won’t get any better anytime soon.

Russell Simmons Says Yoga Speeds Up Our Evolution

Our interview with mogel and star of “Running Rush” reveals how yoga helps him balance his hectic personal and professional lives.

6 New Pumpkin Recipes for Fall

The Biggest Loser Resort’s RD introduces six surprising ways you can use pumpkin puree for healthier meals and snacks.

Healthier Food Stamp Use Urged by Officials

In an effort to help curb the growing obesity epidemic, the government is supporting limitations on items that can be purchased with food stamps, encouraging healthier purchases. (more…)

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Health Buzz

140 Pound 3-Year-Old Expelled from Preschool for Being a Hazard

A typical 3-year-old weighs about 30 pounds. Xiao Hao, a three-year-old child from Guangzhou in South China, weighs 110 pounds more than that. He was recently expelled from several preschools because he is considered a hazard to the health of the other students.

Doctors are divided on the cause of Xiao Hao’s size. Many feel that he has a metabolic disorder, while others seem to think that he is a victim of so-called “Little Emperor” syndrome, an affect of the one child policy currently under law in China. They feel that the only child is a spoiled child and that Hao has been pampered, literally, almost to death. (more…)

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Carmen

Do You Know How Much Sugar Is in Your Food?

On average, Americans consume more than three times the recommended about of sugar daily, according to a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The American Heart Association recommends that women consume no more than 100 calories of sugar per day, and that men consume no more than 150. Eating foods with an excessive amount of sugar often prevents people from consuming more nutritious foods. Some studies even suggest that people who eat sweets habitually exhibit symptoms of  sugar addiction.

One of the difficulties facing people trying to lose weight is that a number of processed foods masquerade as healthy, when in fact they’re not. Many foods advertise themselves as “Fat Free” that are extremely high in sugar. Many portion-controlled foods are still as sugary as the normal versions. For example, did you know that a 100-calorie pack of Oreo Candy Bits has more sugar than a serving of Chips Ahoy! chocolate chip cookies?

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Posted on October 26, 2023 by Margaret

Simple Fat Swaps to Better-for-You Baked Goods

If you’re like me and have a serious sweet tooth, sometimes baked goods are just too hard to resist. But with many baked goods being high in trans fats (especially the processed ones or recipes with shortening) and low in nutrition, they’re really best eaten rarely- very rarely.

There is a loophole, though — making your own! When you bake at home you know exactly what’s in your food, so you can nosh guilt-free. In fact, there are tons of tricks to turning a regular recipe into a low-fat recipe! All it takes is a little ingredient experimentation and some time in the kitchen. (more…)

Posted on October 26, 2023 by Jennipher

Health-ify Your Favorite Pizza Without Sacrificing Flavor

Pizza has a reputation for being nutritionally unsavory: between its thick layer of dough, pounds of mozzarella cheese and a pile of greasy sausage or pepperoni, pizza is high in taste, but also delivers a whopping amount of calories and artery-clogging saturated fat.

While one slice of Pizzeria Uno’s Chicago Classic Pizza will cost you 770 calories and 55 grams of fat, pizza doesn’t necessarily have to derail your diet. Whether you make pizza at home or you have the local take-out joint on speed dial, you can slim down your deep dish with a few tips that will help health-ify your order. (more…)

Posted on October 26, 2023 by Maris

Four Ways to Use Leftover Chicken

Chicken is often considered a low-fat, low-cholesterol alternative to beef or red meat, but some cuts of chicken actually have as much, if not more fat. If you’re trying to cut back on fat and calories, skinless white-meat poultry offers a great low-fat protein option. If you’re also on a budget, roasted chicken is a simple, economical and time-efficient meal ingredient, especially for a family.

If you’re cooking for one or two, a roasted chicken can sometimes produce more meat than you can finish in one meal. Roasted chicken is versatile and you can easily turn one bird into multiple healthy meals. (more…)

Posted on October 26, 2023 by Maris