Diet and Nutrition

Is Diet Soda a Diabetic Nightmare?

For many people, drinking the occasional diet soda is perfectly acceptable and harmless. But, there is a mindset that since it’s “diet” and “zero calories,” you can drink as much as you want with no repercussions. Not only is this untrue, you may be provoking a physical response that is completely the opposite of your intentions.

Past studies have shown that people who drink excessive amounts of diet soft drinks not only don’t lose weight, they actually gain weight. It may also be associated with metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

In 2005, there was an eight-year study out of the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio on the effects of diet soda on weight. The study showed a 41 percent increase in risk of being overweight for every can or bottle of diet soft drink a person consumes each day. (more…)

Posted on October 1, 2023 by Jason

Woman Sues Relacore Because She Gained Weight

New Jersey’s Supreme Court has ruled in favor of allowing a woman to move forward with a class-action lawsuit against the makers of Relacore. Melissa Lee claims that she actually got fatter while taking the weight-loss supplement.

In court filings, Lee claims that she took Relacore for about four months and gained weight during that time. She contends that the makers of Relacore, Lee Carter-Reed Company, made false claims about the product in advertisements.

Before the Supreme Court’s ruling, a trial court and a state appeals court both denied Lee’s attempts to gain class-action status. (more…)

Posted on September 30, 2023 by Health Buzz

The Pros and Cons of Anthony Hopkins’ Diet

Anthony Hopkins is in his early 70’s and proving anyone who ever said, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” completely wrong. Hopkins enlisted the help of his wife, Stella Arroyave, to give his lifestyle a complete fitness-makeover. That was two years and 75 pounds ago.

So, how does he do it?  He leads an active life and eats small amounts of nutritious food. It’s also been speculated that he’s a vegetarian. It may sound simple and old-fashioned but the fact is, it works! Gone are the days of his addiction to fatty foods. He’s no longer hooked on carbs such as cookies and bread and Hopkins religiously goes to the gym six days a week and only consumes 800 calories a day.

Back up for a moment. This nearly 73-year-old man goes to the gym six days a weeks and power walks on top of that? My instinct here is that he sounds too active to be living on only 800 calories a day. A certain amount of calories is necessary to maintain the functionality of your brain and body. Severely low-calorie diets can be dangerous. According to an estimation on My Pyramid, Hopkins should consume closer to 2200 calories a day. It’s worth noting that many studies point to the conclusion that our food pyramid recommends far too many calories. Restricted calorie diets have many perks, but going overboard is simply careless. I suppose it’s all up for debate. (more…)

Posted on September 30, 2023 by Theresa

Go Vegan With Hugh Jackman’s Diet

Rumors have spread quickly about Hugh Jackman, who played X-Men’s Wolverine, becoming a vegan. Could it be true that Wolverine isn’t eating animal products anymore? It certainly could be, but it’s not. Jackman recently wrote the foreword for Brendan Brazier’s book, Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life. In the foreword, Jackman acknowledges that he is not 100 percent vegan but that he might be, in the near future.

In the course of preparing for his upcoming film, X-Men Origins: Wolverine 2, Jackman will be working hard to beef up for his role. Going vegan isn’t always simple, especially if you need to keep up your ripped-Wolverine persona. Thankfully, Jackman has a strong support system in place. He will be coached by personal trainer, Don Scott and vegan-nutritionist, Brendan Brazier. (more…)

Posted on September 30, 2023 by Theresa

Vegetarian Diet Myths Debunked

Vegetarianism isn’t just about eating ‘bunny food’ and pounds of tofu everyday. There are a lot of myths surrounding vegetarianism; everything from how healthy going vegetarian really is for the human body all the way down to how to make proper meatless nutrient substitutions. We have compiled a list of the most prevalent vegetarian myths out there and are here to set the record straight.

MYTH: Vegetarians don’t get enough protein.

FACT: Protein doesn’t only come from animal sources. Protein can be found in veg-head-friendly foods like beans, whole grains, and vegetables. Some great sources of protein for vegetarians are tempeh, quinoa, almonds, brown rice, and pinto beans. In addition, most people, vegetarian or not, get more protein than they need in a day, so extra effort to add protein to your diet is usually unnecessary. (more…)

Posted on September 30, 2023 by Kelly

The Facts on 100-Calorie Snacks

Pamela Ofstein is the Director of Nutrition Services at eDiets.com, a leading provider of weight loss services, information and products.

It seems that 100-calorie snacks are all around us – most companies have created a version of their own. There are a lot of 100-calorie snacks available in your grocery store, but keep a watchful eye on if they are truly 100 calories, or more than you bargained for!

Now when you think of 100-calorie snacks, you do expect the package to be just that – 100 calories. But, some packaged foods that are advertise as 100 calories only serve up that amount of calories if you eat the recommended serving size. Some packages contain two servings at 100 calories each; so you may end up eating more than you planned on (200 calories or more). (more…)

Posted on September 30, 2023 by GuestBlogger

Make Your Own Homemade Sushi

Ever since I moved to the west coast, I have been a die-hard sushi eater. I am a huge fan of spicy tuna, spicy shrimp, and spicy salmon rolls. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!!

Today, I am going to teach you how to make your favorite healthy sushi roll at home.

First, you need chopped raw tuna steak, shrimp, or salmon and mix them with a spicy low calorie sauce (I use a combination of two tablespoons of sriracha and a teaspoon of wasabi) in a large dish. (more…)

Posted on September 29, 2023 by Matt

We Love SkinnyGirl Margarita

Whether you are actively trying to lose weight or just maintain a healthy lifestyle, drinking alcohol should not be a typical part of your dietary intake. Being told to stick with ice water or club soda at parties can get boring after a while. Sometimes, a girl just wants to kick back and enjoy a cocktail without killing her diet. How can you responsibly enjoy a margarita when a typical mixed drink can set you back more than 500 calories in a 4 ounce serving?

Enter Bethenny Frankel to the rescue. Yes, Bethenny Frankel of Real Housewives of New York City fame. Before she was famous for her reality show, Frankel was a mixologist and a chef and was known for creating lower calorie versions of high calorie or unhealthy foods. On an episode of Real Housewives, she created her own, low-calorie version of a margarita and the response that she received from viewers convinced her that she needed to make a version available for purchase. (more…)

Posted on September 28, 2023 by Carmen

Ben & Jerry’s to Drop All Natural From Labels

The Washington-based Center for Science in the Public Interest has requested that the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Company drop the words “all-natural” from their labels. Ben & Jerry’s agreed to the label change on Monday, declaring that they would no longer battle over the definition of “all natural“. Ben & Jerry’s spokesman Sean Greenwood said that the change would happen gradually and hopes that it will help consumers make a more informed decision.

Ben & Jerry’s is not changing the recipes that make their best selling ice cream, which sometimes contain corn syrup, hydrogenated oils or other substances that are not natural. The CPSI has stated that the company should not use the term “all natural” unless it is truly all natural, with only naturally occurring ingredients. Ben & Jerry’s has agreed, and will no longer label their ice cream as such. (more…)

Posted on September 28, 2023 by Carmen

POM Wonderful Sued Over False Health Claims

POM Wonderful

UPDATE [9/28/10]: In response to the FTC’s charges, POM as issued a statement that they feel the allegations are “unwarranted” and that the health benefits of pomegranate juice are “backed by $25 million in medical research.” The juice producer goes even further by stating that the FTC “is wasting taxpayer resources to persecute the pomegranate.”

Yet another popular drink manufacturer must face government regulators over exaggerated health claims. While the Food and Drug Administration has called out several food and beverage producers, this time the Federal Trade Commission is stepping onto the field. The FTC is suing POM Wonderful LLC of Los Angeles over their claims about the wonders of pomegranate juice.

The commission is targeting POM Wonderful 100% Juice and POMx dietary supplements. They say that ads for these items make “false and unsubstantiated claims that their products will prevent or treat heart disease, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction.”

(more…)

Posted on September 27, 2023 by Health Buzz

Low Carb Diets May Cause Cancer?

People have been low carbing it for years to try to slim down. Following the Atkins diet and cutting out breads and pastas can help with weight loss, but a new study released in the Annuals of Internal Medicine shows that it is even more important to be careful with how you replace those calories.

The objective of the study was to examine the association of low carbohydrate diets with mortality during 26 years of follow-up in women and 20 years in men. The participants included more than 85,000 women under the age of 60 and 44,000 men from the ages of 40 to 75 years. The participants were free from heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. The study found that the death rate among people who adhered most closely to a low carb regimen was 12 percent higher over 20 years than with those who consumed diets higher in carbohydrates.

What was interesting was that the rate of death varied based upon the foods the dieter chose to replace the missing carbohydrates with.Those who ate more beans and nuts were 20 percent less likely to die than those who ate a high-carbohydrate diet. But, low carb dieters who ingested the majority of their protein and fat from animal sources, like red and processed meats, were 14 percent more likely to die of heart disease and 28 percent more likely to die of cancer. (more…)

Posted on September 27, 2023 by Carmen