Diet and Nutrition

Obese Children Have Adult Health Issues

Obesity rates for children are out of control. About a third of American children are overweight and one-fifth are obese.

I think most people are aware of this news, since it’s been reported for quite some time. But if you need even more convincing of the gravity of the situation, check this out: doctors are finding that obese children (as young as 10) have the arteries of 45-year-olds! There have also been other heart abnormalities found that greatly raise their risk of heart disease.

Dr. Geetha Raghuveer, of Children’s Hospital in Kansas City, and her colleagues used painless ultrasound tests to measure the thickness of the wall of a major neck artery in 70 children, ages 10 to 16. Almost all had abnormal cholesterol and many were obese.

The kids’ “vascular age” was about 30 years older than their actual age, Raghuveer said.

So, next time you see a young kid who is “chubby,” don’t just think it’s baby fat. Some will turn out OK (actor Jerry O’Connell, above, is one famous example), but as this study shows, they could be compromising their future health.

Posted on November 18, 2023 by Jason

Easy Ways to Incorporate Soy’s Health Benefits in Your Diet

Foods rich in soy protein serve as a good alternative to meat, poultry, and other animal-based products, but did you know that incorporating soy into your diet is great for your health? This would make sense because soy is much leaner and healthier than meats and meat products. Studies have shown soy to be beneficial in reducing the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels, building and helping with bone integrity, preventing certain cancers, and helping with hot flashes! Now that you know the health benefits of soy, you should be adventurous and branch out and try to add soy in your diet. (Note: It’s recommended to consume 25 grams of soy daily to reap the health benefits.)

Here are a few soy products to consider and try out:

Edamame
 Found in the frozen foods aisle, all you have to do is cook in water, either stove top of microwave, and then lightly salt to taste if needed, and enjoy!

Soy Nuts
Eat them alone or thrown into salads.

Soy Cereal
Normally found in the health or organic aisles of the store. (more…)

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Kinsey

Comfort Foods Are Diet Saboteurs

The idea of comfort food, foods that evoke a psychologically pleasurable response when ingested by an individual, is not new. Your idea of which foods are comforting is somewhat individual and based on a variety of factors. The pairing of sustenance with comfort has been said to start as early as the womb. This pairing continues with the bonding created by infant feeding, both physical and emotional needs are met at the same time, and rewarding toddlers and children with food for good behavior.

Many families use food to distract one from or heal negative emotions such as sadness, loneliness, hurt, and even boredom. Many of my family members admit to using food to love and care for each other, trying to meet both physical and emotional needs. How often do we express gratitude and caring during holidays with gifts of food? Is it any wonder that we use food as a drug to effect both our physical and emotional states? (more…)

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Brooke Randolph

Healthy Brains Come From Healthy Food

We have all heard the term “brain food” used to identify foods that can increase the health and functioning of your brain. Fish is the most well-known brain food due to the Omega-3 fatty acids, which promote brain cell health. Fish also contains Omega-3 DHA which keeps brain cell membranes healthy and aids communication within brain cells.

Other lesser known brain foods include brightly colored produce high in antioxidants, including strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, prunes, and my favorite blueberries. Whole grains and whole grain products such as bread, rice, and pasta contain B vitamins and magnesium which assist normal brain and nerve functioning.

Feeding your brain can increase your mental energy. Mental capacity is what we use to organize our lives. When your mental energy is low, you’re likely to become more forgetful, distracted, and have difficulty thinking and completing tasks. Maximum mental energy is derived from oscillation; changing channels mentally permits different parts of the brain to be activated while others rest and can facilitate creativity. (more…)

Posted on November 16, 2023 by Brooke Randolph

Family Meals Make for Healthier Teens and Children

Are family meals making a comeback? I know in my household we are trying to make an effort to eat most meals at the kitchen table instead of haphazardly around the family room. I’ve found that my two-year-old daughter will eat much better that way than just hanging out on the couch and eating in front of the tube.

I would have thought that most households eat meals informally. Everything is so fast paced and short attention spanned, people just eat when they get around to it. But, according to a 2024 Columbia University survey of more than 1,500 teens and parents, 59 percent of teens eat dinner with their families at least five times a week, an increase of 12 percent over the last decade. (more…)

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Jason

Meet Tracy Anderson, Madonna’s Fitness Guru

Most of us can only dream about having just a fraction of the personal training wisdom (and discipline) that Madonna has amassed over the years. From a soft and voluptuous “Material Girl” to the muscular warrior physique she now sports, Madonna’s iconic body gets about as much attention, if not more, than her music career, chameleon-like wardrobe and her controversies.

A few years ago, Madonna was introduced to the pint-sized trainer and former dancer, Tracy Anderson, through her best friend Gwyneth Paltrow. Anderson helped Gwyneth get in the best shape of her life following the birth of her second child, Moses, and now this ballerina-turned-trainer is a fixed presence within Madonna’s entourage of stylists, artists, chefs and dancers on her Sticky & Sweet Tour.

Anderson keeps her tiny body and many others in fabulous shape through her own signature method that revolves around variety. From cardio to strength-training, Anderson pushes her A-list clients, like Madonna, to the max by having them perform hundreds of repetitions of weight-based exercises that work muscles at different angles so that the muscle (and you) never becomes bored. (more…)

Posted on November 14, 2023 by heather

Warm Winter Veggie Roasts: Moroccan Tagine

Monica Shaw is a freelance writer who specializes in science, health, fitness and food. She is the primary author of the website and blog, SmarterFitter.com.

To many people, the word “roast” is typically reserved for meat.  However, there are plenty of ways that vegetarians can delight in the warm comfort of a roast dinner.  Winter vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, and butternut squash are prime candidates for roasting.  And with the temperatures falling fast, there are plenty of reasons to turn on the oven.

At its simplest, roasted vegetables are as easy as salt, pepper, and a liberal dose of olive oil in a roasting pan with your veggies.  But you can really bring out the flavor of those veggies by experimenting with different herbs and spices, such as rosemary and thyme. (more…)

Posted on November 14, 2023 by Natalie K

15 Ways to Spice-up Your Nutrition Life

Whether you’re just beginning to start eating healthier or you’ve been doing it for a while, you can easily find yourself in a rut and doing the same boring dishes over and over again. You may find yourself wanting to cheat more often or that healthy foods don’t sounds that appealing. However, you can easily introduce new and exciting ways to keep your nutrition efforts interesting.

Below is a list of 15 different things you can do to spice up your nutrition life:

1. Experiment with new foods and combinations. Purchase a new fruit or vegetable each week and try it in a meal. This way you can look forward to something new and you can really expand your food options.

2. Take advantage of ready-to-use foods. Fresh-bagged salads, frozen vegetables, etc. Just stay smart about it and read the food label.

3. Add legumes/beans to your salads.

4. Try meat alternatives. The food industry has come along way with providing us with tofu or veggy-based meat alternatives. Buy some and try it out!

5. Use herbs and spices to add color, savory taste and sensational aroma. (more…)

Posted on November 13, 2023 by Kinsey

David Beckham’s New Line of Healthy Kids’ Food

Soccer star. Underwear model. Now chef? Yep, that’s right. David Beckham has just launched his own line of healthy and nutritious food, targeting children, in collaboration with food manufacturer GO3.

His line of yummy and kid-friendly eats include things like fish sticks, wraps, pasta dishes and omelets. But rather than being laden with trans-fats, nutrient-void grains and artificial additives like most kids’ fare, these frozen entrees have nutritious ingredients like real vegetables, omega-3 fatty acids, and whole grains stealthily packed into each bite. (more…)

Posted on November 12, 2023 by heather

We Need Your Vote!

Thanks to all of our loyal readers, DietsInReview.com has been nominated for a Divine Caroline award! We’ve been nominated for their Web awards in the Body & Soul category.

Please visit Divine Caroline and vote DietsInReview.com as the best site in this category. We’re glad you’ve chosen us to be your resource for dieting, weight loss and healthy living.

Posted on November 11, 2023 by Natalie K

5 Tips for Surviving Thanksgiving

This month we’re pleased to have Lisa Chernick join us in the Diet Blog as our Featured Guest Blogger. Lisa is the Executive Food Editor at Weight Watchers, where part of her job is sharing nutritious and exciting dinner ideas in her series “What’s for Dinner?” Tune in to the Diet Blog every Tuesday in November to hear Lisa’s advice for living a healthy lifestyle.

Thanksgiving is a big deal in my family. Like some people’s Oscars or Super Bowl, it means months of anticipation and a big day when we all go nuts. For most of my life, my aunt’s kitchen has been our family’s holiday nerve center. But once my kids reached full-price-airplane-seat-age, schlepping them and my husband from NYC to Buffalo became very expensive. So it’s been a few years, and during those years I’ve hosted Thanksgiving twice. I did nearly all of the cooking myself, both times and I was shocked by all the work involved. Much more than I ever suspected. In fact, after my first time cooking, I phoned my aunt and gushed with 30 years worth of overdue, under-expressed gratitude for her efforts. The lessons of Thanksgiving planning, cooking and serving may have been lost on me in my formative years, but I have learned on the job. And now I’d like nothing more than to share some of the best things I’ve figured out. (more…)

Posted on November 11, 2023 by GuestBlogger