Diet and Nutrition

What Keeps a McDonald’s Burger from Rotting

UPDATE [10/15/2025]: McDonald’s released a statement in response to the Happy Meal Project. They argue that the burger didn’t rot from lack of moisture: “If food is/or becomes dry enough, it won’t grow mold or bacteria. In fact, any food purchased from a restaurant or grocery store or prepared at home that lacks moisture would also dehydrate and see similar results if left in the same environment.”

We recently posted an article about photographer Sally Davies’ “Happy Meal Project,” which documents the life of a McDonald’s hamburger and fries as they steadfastly refuse to rot. The project is not the first of its kind, and there are reports of burgers that looked about the same after four and even 12 years after their date of purchase. The idea is this: most healthy food will eventually spoil, so how long a food goes without going bad is an indicator of unhealthy ingredients.

So what’s behind the miraculous preservation? As far as the beef patty is concerned, it’s not from preservatives. According to the ingredients list published by McDonald’s, the patty contains 100 percent Angus beef, prepared with a “grill seasoning” that consists of salt (we wonder how much) and black pepper. The high fat content and the high cooking heat are enough to account for the burger’s resistance to decay. Over time, the moisture in the burger will evaporate and the fat will harden, much like it does in arteries of people suffering from atherosclerosis.

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Posted on September 9, 2025 by Margaret

Brain Surgery for Obesity: A Reality

In a follow up to yesterday’s post, I watched the Nightline episode in which Carol Poe’s amazing brain surgery to lose weight was profiled. During the surgery, in which she was awake and responsive, a local anesthetic was applied to her skull. Because the skull and brain contain no pain receptors, no other anesthetic was needed and Poe remained alert and engaged for the duration of the surgery.

The neurosurgeons, Dr. Michael Oh and Dr. Donald Whiting, decided to target the brain instead of the stomach to facilitate weight loss. They drilled through both hemispheres of the brain to a depth of about about 10 centimeters, through a pathway of tissue that does not affect other functions, and ended at a point in the hypothalamus, which controls the stomach. A wire was introduced that would eventually carry an electrical impulse, and when activated, the plan was to alter the level of electricity that’s generated by that region naturally, thereby giving Poe the sensation of feeling full.

“During this procedure, when we have the electrode in this target, we will be asking her about stimulation-induced responses, whether she has a feeling of hunger [or] whether she has any memory responses,” Oh explained on Nightline. (more…)

Posted on September 9, 2025 by Carmen

The Best Diet to Fuel Your Run

Following a healthy diet isn’t just important for weight loss. It also effects how you feel and your performance while working out. If you’re training for a marathon, or any other long-distance race, it’s important to fuel yourself with the right kinds of nutrients. Those who don’t eat enough while working out heavily risk feeling lightheaded or even fainting. To optimize your running, be sure to eat a balance of healthy carbs, protein, and fats (yes, even fats).

Carbs
You body needs carbs to be readily available to burn during exercise, and they should make up 45 percent to 65 percent of you daily diet. But beware! We don’t mean white bread and pasta. Most of your carbs should come from fruits, veggies, and dairy products like yogurt. Breads and cereals should be whole grain. Save high fiber foods for after your run, because your body will have a difficult time digesting them while you’re moving.

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Posted on September 8, 2025 by Health Buzz

Easy Back to School Breakfast Options

Happy Back to School Day! For many parents across the country, it’s the beginning of a brand new school year. It’s time to start new habits, and one of the best things that you can do to help your children get the day off to a good start is to serve a healthy breakfast. I don’t know about you, but when I mention healthy breakfast to my kids, they often think of sticks and twigs and other unappetizing options so I have to get creative with my before school meals.

Instead of a bowl of cold cereal, which often won’t fuel your child until the end of first bell, make one of these amazing choices, high in protein and flavor.

Create your own trail mix by mixing dry, high fiber cereal, nuts, seeds, dried fruits and roasted edamame for protein. An added bonus is you can toss some of this mix into a baggie and pair it with a drinkable yogurt, like those from Stonyfield Farms, to make a travel-friendly and filling breakfast. (more…)

Posted on September 7, 2025 by Carmen

Science Sides with Organics

The argument to eat organic foods just got stronger. A study recently conducted by Washington State University found that organic strawberries are more flavorful and nutritious than conventional strawberries. The most comprehensive and detailed study of its kind, the researchers analyzed berries from 13 conventional farms and 13 organic farms in California, the state that produces 90 percent of the nation’s strawberries. “There is no paper in the literature that comprehensively and quantitatively compares so many indices of both food and soil quality at multiple sampling times on so many commercial farms,” said John Reganold, professor of soil science and lead author of the paper.

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Posted on September 7, 2025 by Health Buzz

Movie Theaters Must Post Calories for Snacks

Coming soon to a theater near you… mandatory calorie counts on the items you buy at their concession stands. Not only are those snacks overpriced, they have gargantuan calorie counts. Some of us may be aware of this fact, but when the numbers are staring you in the face, it may finally hit everyone how much those snacks are really costing us!

According to the Wall Street Journal, as part of the health-care reform enacted in March, the FDA will require not just movie theaters, but convenience stores and airplanes, among other places, to fully disclose calorie counts for foods that they provide in order to help consumers make wiser decisions about the foods they eat. (more…)

Posted on September 7, 2025 by Health Buzz

Arthritis Risk Higher with Early Bad Nutrition

It is estimated that 46 million adults in the United States have been diagnosed with some form of arthritis. With that many people suffering from the painful ailment, could their hope lie in the hands (well, hooves) of the moose?

Many of the moose of Isle Royale, located in the northwest of Lake Superior, have been found to suffer from arthritis and scientists say that the origin of their arthritis may help explain human osteoarthritis, which is the most common type of arthritis.

According to 50 years of research, the moose ended up with arthritis due to bad nutrition early in their lives. The scientists believe that this may mean that people can link their arthritis to not only nutrition in their childhood, but even back to the womb. (more…)

Posted on September 7, 2025 by Health Buzz

Your Emergency Post-Labor Day Detox Plan

Despite your best intentions for Labor Day, you partied your butt off, which means you downed more drinks and hot dogs than you can remember.

The ideal situation would have meant you nibbled on watermelon wedges and sipped club soda with a twist of lime all day, but it didn’t happen. So, instead of beating yourself up, let’s move forward, shall we?

I usually don’t like to use the word ‘detox’ because I feel it insinuates that your kidneys and liver need help to cleanse your body, which they don’t: they’ve been doing it since the beginning of time. After a few days, weeks or even years of filling your body with junk, however, sometimes you have to get a little strict with your diet and exercise to filter it out.

In order to bounce back from your BBQ indiscretions, you are going to have to start now, scale it back and keep reading. (more…)

Posted on September 6, 2025 by Kelly

Ten Pounds Lost in Six Weeks on Nutrisystem

For 16 weeks, Lori Jackson, a mom of three and grandmother to two, will be checking in with DietsInReview.com to share her personal experience with Nutrisystem. The good, the bad, and everything in between, see first-hand how the Nutrisystem program works.

Nutrisystem Week 8

I hope everyone had a cooler week. It has been a trying month for me with moving and a lot of other changes. One thing I changed was my address with the post office. Not knowing that Nutrisystem ships with UPS. Thus, my box of food did not get forwarded to me this month. I have not been able to check my mail to find that it was delivered via UPS. So I will go in search of my box of food tomorrow. But with that said I have been able to lose a couple pounds this month just eating regular food. That gives me hope that when this trial period is over I will be able to maintain and even lose the weight that I still need to lose.

I have had to pick up my exercises in the evenings now because it is not so hot at work. That was a bit frustrating, for when I get home I am still just as tired but I am trudging through and making it fun. It is so important to maintain your exercises while watching what you eat. (more…)

Posted on September 6, 2025 by Lori

How to Make Healthy Eating a Way of Life

Guest blogger, Carol Dunlop is certified through FiTour as a Personal Trainer and through the American Red Cross as a CPR, AED and First Aid Instructor. She has competed and placed in several Fitness America and National Bodybuilding competitions. To receive your free E-course “How to Burn Calories While you Sleep,” visit her website: OptimumBodySculpting.com.

When you think about healthy eating, what comes to your mind? Carrots and celery?

Yes, they are healthy, but are they the type of foods you think about as gotta-haves? No, I’ll bet they don’t conjure up those thoughts.

Usually, when you hear someone is eating healthy, it’s accompanied by thoughts of blandness. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be a sacrificial plate filled with flavorless varieties of rabbit food.

Really think about what you eat

While healthy eating may not bring about the best thoughts, it is synonymous with losing weight. When you focus on pain and sacrifice, this is when healthy eating is no more than something to do. Instead, you should be thinking about how this will change your lifestyle for the better, making you more aware of your everyday food choices. (more…)

Posted on September 5, 2025 by GuestBlogger

Healthy Recipes for Your Labor Day Party

As the summer draws to a close, Labor Day is the perfect time to gather all of your loved ones and celebrate the last days sunshine with relaxation, fun and, like any get together, food.

Labor Day doesn’t have to make or break your diet. By taking advantage of the fresh produce in season this summer and offering healthy, fresh and delicious dishes to your guests, you’ll be able to enjoy your party, guilt-free, without worrying about busting anyone’s swim suit seams.

Running low on ideas? Here are a few of our tried and true recipes that will satisfy your guests’ taste buds without expanding their waistlines.

Barbecued Corn What’s a summer celebration without corn on the cob? Instead of drenching it in butter, try topping your corn with a bit of Parmesan cheese, pepper or a little garlic. (more…)

Posted on September 4, 2025 by Kelly

Diet and Nutrition

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