Diet and Nutrition

How to Motivate Behavior Changes in Someone You Love

February is American Heart Month. It’s a time to bring awareness to heart disease and stroke, the number one killer in the United States, so you and people you love don’t become a statistic. I’ve been blogging about important topics like lowering your cholesterol, reducing heart disease risk and identifying heart healthy foods all month, and I want to continue the conversation with you by discussing how you can influence change in those you love.

My mom has heart disease and I’ve spent countless hours helping her with nutrition and exercise. So I’m coming at this post as a daughter with experience in trying to get a loved one to change more so than rattling off “book smarts.”

First, let me just say one important thing: it doesn’t matter how much you want someone to change, they have to want it too. Make no mistake. Change is not easy for many people. But I’m concerned that too many well-intentioned people are struggling and frustrated that their loved one doesn’t seem to be able to change. Above all else, they have to want it and secondly, they need support… and that’s where you can come in and can be successful.

So, if you aren’t sure if your loved one wants to change, you need to start there. Here are some tips to help you out. (more…)

Posted on February 18, 2024 by Rebecca

Tune In: Foods You Should Never Buy at the Grocery Store on The Dr. Oz Show

Tune in this Friday, February 19 to The Dr. Oz Show when Dr. Oz goes undercover in a grocery store and tells you what five things that should never land in your grocery cart.

As Dr. Oz made his way through grocery store aisles and poked around shoppers’ grocery carts, he pointed out these five foods that might be taking years off of your life and adding inches to your waistline.

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Posted on February 17, 2024 by heather

Recession Diet: Healthy Eating on the Cheap

One of the biggest complaints about eating healthy is that it costs a lot of money. While there is an element of truth to that, if you are going organic, it is a misnomer to think that you have to shed zeros on your account balance to shed weight around your waist.

First, you need a basic “hunting and gathering” strategy when you enter your local grocery store. Experts have long pointed out that the best strategy is to stick to the periphery of the store, where most of the healthy items reside. If you’re trying to save money, and who isn’t in these lean economic times, here are a few healthy food suggestions that won’t break the bank:

Beans – I love black beans and rice. And if you pair them up with whole-grain brown rice, you have yourself a healthy and cheap side dish.

Bananas – I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who thinks bananas aren’t a tasty snack. And, you don’t have to wait for them to be in season. At about 70 cents a pound, you have a great source of fiber and potassium. And, a diet rich in potassium is believed to reduce the risk of hypertension and stroke. Extra savings tip: use them before they go bad. Add ripening bananas to a smoothie or banana bread. (more…)

Posted on February 17, 2024 by Jason

Fuel for Olympic Champions: Nutrition and Meal Planning for Team USA

The closest I ever got to the Olympics was the USOC training center in Colorado Springs where I received sports nutrition training. As I write this, The USOC dietitians are in Vancouver with Team USA making sure they are well hydrated and fueled while they go for gold.

But what exactly do Olympic athletes need to eat? You probably heard the stories of Michael Phelps chowing down on 10-15,000 calories a day! It sounds like a dream come true. Believe it or not, many of the winter sports require smaller body sizes to excel. It’s no wonder there is concern for eating disorders to develop among athletes.

For example, the ski jumper must be tall and thin so their goal is to have a low BMI – 5′ 11″ and 140 pound male (model thin). Suzie Parker Simmons, a sports dietitian at USOC, says that ski jumping is problematic because the sport requires strength, power and low weight. “Because it’s a power sport, endless hours of fat-burning running [to reduce weight] is counterproductive athletically—explosive power for ski jump demands fast-twitch muscle fibers, not the slow-twitch fibers developed by endurance sports. That means caloric restriction, not extra exercise, is the primary means of keeping body weight low.” (more…)

Posted on February 16, 2024 by Rebecca

Tune In: Plus-size Supermodel Emme on the Rachael Ray Show

Tune in this Thursday, February 18 to the Rachael Ray Show when plus-size supermodel Emme stops by to help women who don’t fit into the slim size 6 fashion trends dress for their shape.

If you think you’re too fat for fashion, think again. Supermodel Emme is helping prove that there’s no such thing when she shows three women how to look and feel fabulous in their own skin!

Even though the fashion industry disproportionately features size 0 or size 2 models, the average American woman is actually a size 14.

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Posted on February 15, 2024 by heather

Three Steps to Lowering Your Cholesterol

February is American Heart Month. It’s a time to bring awareness to heart disease and stroke, the number one killer in the United States, so you and people you love don’t become a statistic.

Be honest. Do you know your numbers? Your cholesterol numbers. You should have your cholesterol measured once a year after age 30, especially if you have a family history of high cholesterol or heart problems. High cholesterol can double the risk for heart disease. It’s entirely possible that your body will produce too much cholesterol, even if you take steps to lower it. However, many people are successful at lowering their cholesterol with some simple changes.

There are three ways you can make your cholesterol levels better. (more…)

Posted on February 15, 2024 by Rebecca

Tune In: 100 People Who Each Lost 100 Pounds on The Dr. Oz Show

Tune in this Tuesday, February 16 to The Dr. Oz Show when Dr. Oz celebrates his 100th show by featuring 100 people who have each lost over 100 pounds.

The show will document the before and after images of these amazing weight loss success stories and many of the 100-pound “losers” will join Dr. Oz on stage to discuss how they did it as well as their weight loss secrets.

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Posted on February 14, 2024 by heather

A Healthy Valentine’s Day Dinner for Your Sweetie

In case you haven’t heard, money is tight these days and most restaurant meals are too big and have “too much” (calories, fat, salt… you get the idea) for people who are trying to lose weight. I think one of the most romantic and thoughtful things you can do for a significant other, friend, or Valentine’s singles is to cook for them.

Here are my picks for healthy menu items you can try. Add to the mood with candles, grocery store roses (call and ask for petals for cheap), and a Valentine’s-themed menu you make on your computer to place in front of the seats. I hope your Valentine’s Day is filled with love, hugs, and great food! (more…)

Posted on February 14, 2024 by Rebecca

Eating Chocolate Without Overdoing It

Guest bloggers, The Nutrition Twins® Tammy Lakatos, RD, CDN, CFT and Lyssie Lakatos, RD, CDN, CFT are the authors of The Secret To Skinny: How Salt Makes You Fat and The 4-Week Plan to Drop a Size & Get Healthier with Simple Low-Sodium Swaps (HCI, Fall 2024) and Fire Up Your Metabolism: 9 Proven Principles for Burning Fat and Losing Weight Forever. You can visit the Nutrition Twins website for more information on this dynamic duo.

Chocolate: It’s the mouth-watering aphrodisiac that’s synonymous with Valentine’s Day.

But can you enjoy chocolate without sabotaging your weight loss efforts?

Yes, you can! The trick is to have a small, yet satisfying serving.

Follow these pointers:

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Posted on February 13, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Dairy Alternatives to Rachael Ray’s Famous Vodka Cream Sauce

For those of you who are a fan of Oprah, I certainly was intrigued by a recipe featured by famous chef Rachael Ray, termed “You won’t be single for long” vodka cream sauce. Not only because of the famous chef association but the title of the dish as well. With Valentine’s Day tomorrow I wanted to bring this recipe to the attention of all our readers. Whether you are single or attached this recipe is for you and I provide my own spin on it to allow eaters of dairy and non-dairy to indulge.

Of course my first thought as a person that has a food allergy to cow’s mik was, “cream, that’s not something I’m going to be able to try.” Most times when I see “cream sauce” on menus I go running for the hills. But I am also not the type to give up that easily, so I ventured to Oprah.com to review the recipe details, which can be found here: You won’t be single for long vodka cream sauce.

Listed within the ingredients: ½ cup of heavy cream and 1 tablespoon butter. I immediately went to my fridge and started looking through all the staples I keep on hand for myself so I don’t have to feel deprived that I can’t always enjoy the same goodies that others can. One of my favorite alternatives for butter is a product called Earth Balance buttery spread; I saw Alicia Silverstone using it as well during a segment talking about her diet – the Kind Diet. It has the same consistency as butter with a very mild taste; I use it for all my cooking needs. (more…)

Posted on February 13, 2024 by Amy

The Best Healthy Aphrodisiac Foods

If you truly believe that you are what you eat, you might give credence to the thought that there are foods that have a positive affect on your libido. Here are six foods that have long been considered aphrodisiacs; he good news is that, if you don’t believe in this, all are yummy and part of a healthy diet.

Oysters: These ocean wonders are high in zinc and are thought to increase output of testosterone, which enhances libido in both men and women. A good source of lean protein, the legendary lover Casanova was reported to eat 50 oysters each day at breakfast to fuel his stamina.

Asparagus: Asparagus is a great source of potassium, fiber, vitamins A, B6, and C, and thiamine. Asparagus is also high in folic acid, which is said to boost histamine production necessary for the ability to reach orgasm for women and men.

Honey: A great source of boron, a trace mineral that helps the body use and metabolize estrogen. Studies have shown that this mineral may also enhance testosterone levels in the blood, the hormone responsible for promoting sex drive in both men and women. (more…)

Posted on February 12, 2024 by Carmen

Diet and Nutrition

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