Diet and Nutrition

Overindulge Over the Holiday? Exercise Every Day to Counteract the Effects

If you’re clothes are feeling a little tighter today, you are certainly not alone. Christmas is a time for family and feasting, and we understand if you subjected yourself to some holiday binging. However, the overeating you did yesterday doesn’t have to completely derail your health. In fact, according to a new study published in The Journal of Physiology, the adverse effects of binge eating can be solved by continuing to exercise.

Studies taking place before this one showed that even just a couple of days of consuming more calories than you burn negatively impacts health. The energy imbalance this creates can have a major impact.

The new study shows that daily exercise, even if it’s for a short amount of time, can greatly improve your health even if you ate thousands more calories than you burn.

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Posted on December 26, 2023 by Elizabeth

The Must-Read Diet and Fitness Book Titles of 2024

At least where we are, the weather outside is frightful making it a delightful time to stay inside and curl up with a new book. Though 2024 was full of great reads about health and fitness — did you see our Best Books of 2024? — we’re excited about what 2024 will bring.

Whether you’re looking to try something new or want the latest edition of a diet or expert you know and love, the new year’s new releases have something for you.

Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle by Tom Venuto

Tom Venuto is at it again with another best selling book. Focusing on nutrition and fitness, Venuto has dubbed this his “nutrition bible.” Released earlier this month, we think this is a great book to start your New Year’s fitness resolutions.

Release Date: December 10, 2024

Happy Hormones, Slim Belly by Jorge Cruise

Based on science that says women naturally crave carbohydrates, Jorge Cruise’s new book will help women over 40 find the balance between eating carbs in order to balance hormones and cutting carbs to lose weight. Look for it on bookshelves today!

Release Date: December 23, 2024 (more…)

Posted on December 26, 2023 by Elizabeth

“Don’t Eat Fast Food!” McDonald’s Tells Its Employees

Update 12/26: McDonald’s has announced it is taking down it’s employee resource site for good. Lisa McComb, spokeswoman for McDonald’s released this statement, “We have offered the McResource program to help our valued McDonald’s employees with work and life guidance created by independent third party experts. A combination of factors has led us to re-evaluate, and we’ve directed the vendor to take down the website. Between links to irrelevant or outdated information, along with outside groups taking elements out of context, this created unwanted scrutiny and inappropriate commentary. None of this helps our McDonald’s team members. We’ll continue to provide service to them through an internal telephone help line, which is how the majority of employees access the McResource services.”

A surprising new source is offering healthy eating advice: McDonald’s. The company recently launched a website with easy-to-follow, sensible dietary advice for its busy employee. But the suggestions made on the site may surprise you: In an effort to promote healthy eating McDonald’s actually casts many of its own foods in a less than positive light. As you can see here, in this image pulled directly from the employee site, the fast food retailer has chosen some of its own food to represent an unhealthy meal:

That’s right: McDonald’s, home of a 750 calorie cheeseburger, is offering its employees sage eating advice, recommending their employees, “eat at places that offer a variety of salads, soups and vegetables to help maintain your best health.” (In other words, not at McDonald’s.)While the fast food giant does offer salads many are loaded with fat and calories, including one that maxes out at 450 calories. These meals are healthier than a Big Mac, but not by much.

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Posted on December 24, 2023 by Elizabeth

Food Blogger Spotlight: Tina Paymaster “Eat Clean. Live Green.”

Tina Paymaster is a green-smoothie-loving health coach who strives to eat in a way that’s clean and free of processed foods, but that doesn’t mean she never eats “fun” food or that her diet is limited to kale and carrots. In fact, because of her vast knowledge about the newest NYC restaurants, her friends call her, “The walking Zagat.” Not only does she seek out interesting food when she’s dining out, she creates unique pairings and daring recipes on her blog too.

More from Tina –

Why did you start your food blog? I’ve always been inspired by the recipes and photography on healthy food blogs. I used to be a photography major in college so I loved how photos could bring out the flavor and beauty of each dish. Once I started building my business as a health & lifestyle coach, I knew that it was the perfect time for me to show others that cooking clean, nutritious food could be fun, easy and absolutely delicious!

How would you describe your approach to eating/health? First and foremost, health has to be looked at as multi-dimensional. Balance must be achieved in all areas of your life for you to achieve optimal health, not just nutritionally. In terms of eating, I believe in consuming mainly clean, unprocessed, whole foods and cooking at home as much as you can. Although I eat a primarily plant-based, gluten-free diet, I do occasionally have a cheat meal and I think that’s totally fine as long as it’s not a severe compromise to your health and you don’t go overboard.

Have you always had an interest in healthy food or did it come later in life? My interest in healthy eating started when I went to college and began to work out more consistently. I started to pay more attention to how the food I was eating affected the results I was seeing in the gym. After going through years of digestive issues and severe fatigue, I got more interested in the internal effects of food on my body and my interest in health and nutrition just kept climbing from there.

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Posted on December 24, 2023 by Dani Stone

Grain Brain Take 2: Another look at how wheat, carbs, and sugar affect your brain

This morning I read a nutrition article that was popping up all over my Facebook feed. The story, This is Your Brain on Gluten, which appeared in The Atlantic, covered the science behind a new book called Grain Brain. From the sound of things, the author of the article, James Hamblin, who is a medical doctor, had been hesitant to cover the book—he wasn’t sure what to make of the general hypothesis, which is that eating all grains ultimately causes mental deterioration such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. But because it’s been a best-seller since its release he finally gave it a read.

To say Hamblin remained skeptical after reading the book—and speaking with the author of Brain Grain, David Perlmutter, MD, as well as a handful of other notable researchers and physicians, including David Katz, MD—would be an understatement. He pokes holes in some of the claims and reminds readers that much of the “science” that the diet is based on is either not widely accepted or is simply speculation—a connecting of dots that can’t actually be proven.

Hamblin’s overview of the book and the scientific basis for following or eschewing this type of diet seemed spot-on, but it also felt familiar. After a quick search on DietsInReview I realized why: Our resident dietitian Mary Hartley, RD, wrote a similarly cautionary article on Grain Brain back in October!

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Posted on December 23, 2023 by Jessica Cassity

Whole Foods Severs Ties With Chobani, Citing GMO Concerns

It’s another blow for Chobani as the year draws to an end. The popular Greek yogurt company will no longer be sold at Whole Foods stores starting in early 2024.

This move by Whole Foods is unrelated to the Chobani recall that happened earlier this year. In September, more than 100 people became ill after eating yogurt that had been contaminated due to Mucor circinelloides, a mold commonly found in dairy. Though frequently used to produce natural flavor compounds, the mold had been causing products to swell and bloat.

Chobani powered through the recall without much fallout and looked to a smooth end to a year that saw Greek yogurt making up 50 percent of all yogurt sales. That changed last Wednesday when Whole Foods announced they would no longer sell Chobani yogurt.

Whole Foods has said this decision is due to its desire to sell more non-GMO and organic yogurts. Chobani produces Greek yogurt made with milk from cows which are often fed GMO feed.

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Posted on December 23, 2023 by Elizabeth

Banana Bread French Toast Will Make Your Breakfast Weak in the Knees

Everyone’s homes smell like banana bread and cookies and cinnamon rolls right now. Because it’s Christmas and winter and that’s what houses smell like this time of year.

But how many houses smell like Banana Bread French Toast? Not enough as far as we’re concerned. Simply not enough.

This year, let’s join forces. Let’s band together as one and change this culinary injustice. One and all, let’s turn that boring ‘ole log of banana nut bread in to one of the finest breakfast pastry indulgences yet seen.

I’ve been making this for my husband for years. There’s no time that isn’t the right time for Banana Bread French Toast. But just like the old gnarly black bananas that make the banana bread even better, there’s something about letting a fresh loaf turn a bit crusty before drenching it in a sticky milk and egg bath (I spike mine with a generous pour of vanilla, too) before grilling that makes the best breakfast ever. (more…)

Posted on December 23, 2023 by Natalie K

Food Blogger Spotlight: Karla from Foodologie

Karla De Leon’s bio is one of the sweetest things I’ve read. Hi, I’m Karla. I’m a pretty normal lady. . . I like to bake for fun and take pictures of things I make… Want a pie? I’ll probably make you one, just ask. She even bakes teeny pies in jars, you guys! They’re adorable.

On her blog, Foodologie, Karla not only conceives and shares great recipes, she writes about her friends, family and real-life experiences, like that time she went to Peru got really sunburned and tried eating guinea pig. Her blog is so popular because she makes you feel like you’re part of her world.

For the record, I want to be part of her tiny- pie-eating world, not the guinea-pig-nibbling part.

More with Karla about Foodologie –

Why did you start your food blog? I started blogging when I was in grad school as a way to have a hobby outside my studies. Cooking, writing and photography kept me sane after hours of reading and writing about urban development.

How would you describe your approach to eating/health? It’s all about balance. I’ve tried so many diets, but ultimately I found that having everything in moderation really works best for me. I’m happier and healthier when I don’t feel deprived.

Have you always had an interest in healthy food or did it come later in life? My interest in healthy food started when I was in high school. I lost 50 pounds and after I lost the weight, maintenance was always in the back of my mind. Because of that, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to have foods that I enjoy while still staying healthy.

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Posted on December 22, 2023 by Dani Stone

Devin Alexander Lost 70 Pounds and Became a Bestselling Cookbook Author

Today, cookbook author,Devin Alexander discuses her inspirational true weight loss story. After struggling with loss at a young age, Devin turned to food for comfort. She remained overweight until she learned that cutting a small amount of calories can add up to a big loss. Below, Devin tells more about her struggle, the epiphany that changed her perspective, and how she’s using what she learned to help others

Tell me when your weight struggles began: I was around 8 when my struggles began in a way that you could see it on me, but I remember eating five whole hot dogs with buns at a church picnic when I was 6 or 7. By the time I was a teen, I was brutally bullied and had a really hard time. I had been on the cheerleading squad in Little League then got chubby by Jr. High and didn’t make the squad, but ALL of my friends did. I desperately wanted to be back on the team but I just kept getting chubbier. All of my former friends were busy going to cheerleading practice and games, and I wasn’t.

What habits specifically led you to gain weight? I had experienced loss as a kid and the fear that others close to me might also die unexpectedly had me turn to food for comfort. Then, after getting a little bit chubby, I was no longer jumping around as a cheerleader or in other active ways – mostly because it’s just not fun when you’re heavier. Once things spiraled out of control, I didn’t know how to fix it. I felt overwhelmed.

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Posted on December 21, 2023 by Dani Stone

7 Holiday Cooking Staples That Just Might Kill You

Oh, the holidays. A time for fun, family and potential cyanide poisoning. I know that last one isn’t a common item on people’s list of things to think about when preparing for Christmas, but maybe it should. Many of the foods that are commonly used in holiday dishes are surprisingly dangerous.

We’ve listed the seven most serious offenders so you can be on the lookout at your Christmas dinner.

Cherries
With his nose like a cherry, Santa sounds like he’s as much of a fan of the ruby fruit as we are. We’ll put cherries in pretty much anything, including the summer mainstay cherry limeades. Learning the cherries can also be harmful is the pits. Literally, the pits. Cherry pits are full of cyanide, but thankfully it can only cause harm if you manage to chew through them.

Almonds
I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite things about fall and winter is breaking out the nutcracker and mixed nuts, especially almonds. Something about the flavor instantly makes me think of the holidays. That flavor comes from sweet almonds which, unlike their wild cousins, don’t contain cyanide. (more…)

Posted on December 20, 2023 by Elizabeth

Why Should You Eat More Nuts? Enjoy 9 Tasty and Healthy Reasons

By Janis Jibrin, M.S., R.D., lead nutritionist for TheBestLife.com

Now that a new study found that regular nut eaters are less likely to develop a number of diseases, including biggies like heart disease and cancer, I feel even better about all the nuts I eat. While I do snack on nuts, I tend to use them more as part of a meal. Staying conscious of their high-calorie content, I often sub them in for other foods—not in addition to. For instance, instead of sprinkling feta on a salad, I’ll top it with sunflower seeds or pecans.

Besides being so tasty, nuts provide healthy fat—the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated types. These fats keep our cell membranes healthy, reduce the risk for heart disease, and play other roles in the body. Plus, you need a little fat in the meal for satiety (keeping you feeling full for longer).

Here’s how I use nuts (and seeds, which also have health-promoting properties) in meals:

In smoothies: 1 tablespoon of almond or peanut butter along with milk or soymilk and a banana makes a complete breakfast.

Atop cereal: The 2 to 3 tablespoons I typically add are often the only fat in my skim-milk-fruit-cereal breakfast. (more…)

Posted on December 20, 2023 by BestLifeDiet

Diet and Nutrition

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