Diet and Nutrition

Vitamin guide from A to Zinc – Series Kick-off

Hand with vitaminsAs a holistic health counselor and a relatively healthy eater (yes, I eat ice cream and can be seen eating french fries), I take supplements every day. The reason for this is because despite eating a healthy American diet, it is virtually impossible to get all the vitamins and nutrients our bodies need.

In a new weekly series that will launch on Saturday, November 28th, I’m going to feature specific vitamins and provide an overview as to why you need it, what it does for your body and where you can get it.

More and more people are deficient and with busy schedules you can start to feel even more run down especially heading into the holiday season.

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Posted on November 21, 2023 by Amy

Is Your Thanksgiving Buffet too Complex?

Most people overeat at Thanksgiving, it’s a matter of fact. According to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the average “Turkey Day” plate is 3,000 calories. That’s not counting “seconds” or any snacks people have before the big meal. One way to cut back on the calorie damage is to make healthier versions of your favorites. (Do you really need four sticks of butter in that stuffing?) One of my personal faves is making an apple pie with 1/2 cup of fresh cranberries and instead of a high fat top crust, use thinly sliced apples that get crispy with baking.thanksgiving dinner

But could there be something else going on that has nothing to do with how the food is prepared or the portion size you choose? Heck yeah. Is your diet diva going to tell you? Absolutely.

It’s called food “complexity” and “taste satiety.” Basically, you overeat at Thanksgiving because you are eating mindlessly. You’re not taking the time to intentionally slow down, serve yourself a small amount of food, and enjoy and savor each bite. If you did this, you’d get full well before you hit the 1,500 calorie mark, maybe even before hitting 1,000 calories. (more…)

Posted on November 19, 2023 by Rebecca

Four Ways to Celebrate with Thanks Instead of Turkey

thanksgivingJust a little football and family are enough to make any day a holiday for me, but Thanksgiving seems to be defined by turkey, casseroles, carbs, sugar, and overindulgence. We teach our children that the first Thanksgiving was a feast shared by the Pilgrims and the Natives in celebration of the bountiful harvest that followed a harsh winter. It may have partially been intended to build up stores of fat to help survive the approaching winter.

As modern day Americans, we do not have to be concerned about weather conditions making food unavailable. We have 24-hour grocery stores and shelves stocked with options. We can be thankful for this every day. As a result, our Thanksgiving celebrations can be more than feasts. This is particularly dangerous for those who are trying to alter their approach to food.

While overeating can make one sluggish, disappointed in one’s self, and unhappy with appearance, giving thanks will help you focus on the positive things in life and improve outlook and mood. This year, instead of recognizing the day by raising your fork, try one (or all) of these tips. (more…)

Posted on November 19, 2023 by Brooke Randolph

Male Athletes with Weight Problems

Emanuel Tiny YarbroughWhen you think of athletes, it’s usually safe to assume that they are in good shape. This isn’t always the case. The most obvious example is offensive and defensive lineman in football. Sure, they are as strong as oxen. But, once football is over, that spare tire around most of their waists will just be a health burden.

There are more examples where that came from. The New York Daily News spotlights 36 of their favorite “fat-letes.” Here are a few interesting examples:

  • Emanuel “Tiny” Yarbrough is a sumo wrestler from Rahway, New Jersey. He weighs about 800 pounds, and holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest athlete. (more…)
Posted on November 19, 2023 by Jason

Mike Morelli’s Biggest Loser Recap – Episode 8.10

It is makeover week on the Biggest Loser! Makeover week is a very fun and exciting time for the contestants, and all of us fans as well. For weeks they have been going through hell to change their lives, but the contestants never really have a chance to get a feel for their new bodies. Makeover week is the first chance that these contestants can really see what they’ve done for themselves. Everyone looked amazing for their makeovers, you can really get a feel for how much weight each contestant lost.

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Posted on November 18, 2023 by Mike

Hungry Girl’s Healthy Holiday Tips

hungry girlWho doesn’t love the Hungry Girl? With bestselling books like Hungry Girl: Recipes and Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World and Hungry Girl: 200 Under 200, Lisa Lillien is one of the most creative and fun foodies who knows how to have her cake, low-fat of course, and eat it, too.

Just in time for the holidays, DietsInReview.com had a chance to talk with Lisa as she shared with us some of her tips for making the season fun, festive and healthy. She also gave us the scoop on her soon-to-be-released, Chew the Right Thing, a perfect guilt-free gift for the holidays.

Listen now to the audio of my conversation with Lisa, or continue reading the transcipt below.

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Posted on November 18, 2023 by heather

The Ultimate Biggest Loser Prize Pack Giveaway

biggest loserWe’re giving away our biggest prize pack of Biggest Loser goodies ever! It’s just in time to help you put those early resolutions to work and start living a healthy lifestyle at home. The person who walks away with all of this Biggest Loser loot will have no more excuses, everything you need to get started and stick with it is right here.

The Biggest Loser prize pack, valued at $286.76, will include:

It’s so easy to be eligible to win the drawing:

  • Click here to post this giveaway on Twitter. (You must be following @dietsinreview to be eligible.)
  • Sign-up for any of our free health newsletters, including our weekly Biggest Loser Newsletter

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Posted on November 18, 2023 by Natalie K

Sleep and Relax to Prevent Diabetes

waking upIf you read my previous post on the top three ways to prevent diabetes then you know eating healthy, exercising more, and losing weight (especially belly fat) are keys to preventing diabetes. But there are actually lesser-known actions that can help you slash your diabetes risk because they help you stick to the “top three” more effectively. In this post, I’ll describe how sleep and stress management can help prevent and control diabetes.

Manage Stress

Is it me or are most people pre-wired for high anxiety and the go-go-go mentality? Work pressures. The economy. Life drama. No matter what day it is, you can bet there’s something going on that is making your blood boil. You don’t see it, but it’s killing you.

Chronic stress is linked to six of the leading causes of death. The link between stress and diabetes is hormonal. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a stress hormone that increases with severe or prolonged stress. The main effect of the hormone is increased food intake, increased proportion of energy stored as fat, and decreased physical activity. Uh oh. If you read the post on preventing diabetes, you know that excess fat, especially in the belly area, significantly increases your diabetes risk. (more…)

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Rebecca

Get a Grocery Makeover with the Healthy Family Grocery Shopping Guide

groceriesWe all get into a grocery shopping rut. We walk through the store, either with or without a shopping list, and toss the same items into the cart each shopping trip. They may or may not be the best choices for our bodies. Recently, I agreed to share my grocery list with Amy Crews, Holistic Health Counselor and editor of the Natural Health Newsletter here at DietsInReview.com.

I provided my grocery list in six areas: Fruit/Veggie, Bread, Frozen, Dry Goods, Meat, and Cold items (like dairy). As you will see, the list of foods that I buy could stand some improvement. Why not use this list as a springboard to make over your own grocery list, keeping in mind that the most important changes to your shopping list need to be both manageable, sustainable and will help you to be as efficient and healthy as possible – always a bonus for all of us!

See our Healthy Family Grocery Guide now. Download, print, and use to inspire your own grocery makeover!

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Carmen

DietTribe Recap Episode Six

diettribe season twoOn episode six of Lifetime’s DietTribe, Stephanie turned 40 and celebrated the milestone with her friends and family aboard a glamorous boat for a memorable birthday.

The episode first kicked off with an emotional reunion between sisters Tiffany and Stephanie and their family members who came in to town just for the birthday celebration. Then to the tune of music, dancing, teary speeches and of course, birthday cake, the girls, clad in gown sizes they hadn’t worn in years, toasted not just Stephanie’s birthday, but their collective weight loss success as well.

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Posted on November 16, 2023 by heather

How to Dine Out: Pub Food

pretzel and beerWith football, basketball and hockey season in full swing there are plenty of opportunities to get together with friends at your local pub or watering hole for dinner and drinks while watching the games. Menus at these types of restaurants aren’t typically diet friendly with appetizers and entrées encompassing mostly fried options. The key to navigating this type of menu, and making your choices, is to mix and match items you see on the menu. Try the rice from one dish matched with the grilled chicken from another dish; don’t feel you have to stick to how the meals are laid out in front of you.

Pub food recommendations and tips: (more…)

Posted on November 14, 2023 by Amy