Diet and Nutrition

The Color of Cutlery and How it Affects What We Eat

A team of white coats from Oxford University have published findings that will no doubt complicate your already muddled understanding of dieting. In Flavour Journal, the Brits reveal that taste, craving, and satisfaction of certain foods are determined by the manner in which they are served. Hors d’oeuvres are consumed more quickly when served on red plates, yogurt tastes better on a white spoon, and cheese tastes saltier when eaten off a knife. These findings, while great cocktail party fodder, could have a profound affect on your personal diet.

Researchers Vanessa Harrar and Charles Spence lead the study and used variables like weight, size, color, and shape of cutlery to determine whether or not sensory cues from earthenware influenced eating. “The results revealed that yogurt was perceived as denser and more expensive when tasted from a lighter plastic spoon,” they said. “Food was rated as being saltiest when sampled from a knife rather than from a spoon, fork, or toothpick.” These seemingly trivial findings show that how we eat could be just as important as what we eat. (more…)

Posted on June 28, 2024 by Patrick

The Skinny on Menu Calories: Pros and Cons of Published Calorie Counts

For many healthy-minded consumers, calorie postings on menus and menu boards greatly impact their decision when making food selections. While grabbing food on the go, it’s useful to know how this item will fit into a person’s allotted daily calories. Even though it may not feel like overeating, before you know it, you’ve consumed over half of the recommended daily calories.

For instance, see the calories in typical menu items. Seeing and internalizing the number of calories allows us to realize that snacks and seemingly healthy foods may, in fact, not be so healthy at all.

Medium fries – 380 calories
Gourmet cupcake – 300-600 calories
Grilled chicken salad with dressing – 400 calories

Our country’s obesity epidemic is growing exponentially much like the waistbands of many Americans. Just twenty years ago, no states had obesity rates above 15 percent. Today, 38 states have obesity rates more than 25 percent and the U.S. national obesity rate is a record 37.5 percent. Americans are eating more of their food outside their homes, whether dining out, purchasing prepared food, or grabbing a vending machine treat. (more…)

Posted on June 28, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Atkins Releases Three New Frozen Meals that Pass the Taste Test

The name Atkins is synonymous with the low-carb diet fad of the early 2000s. However, that name means much more than a passing fad and the brand is continuing to release products that are intended to provide great food, healthy ingredients, and still remain lower on the carb scale. They just released three new frozen meals, and it looks like they accomplished their goal.

The three new frozen meal flavors are sesame chicken stir-fry, Italian-style pasta bake, and chicken marsala. They all average about 350-400 calories, about 25 grams of fat, and a nice rate of about 25 grams of protein. The meals net about 4-7 grams of carbohydrates per meal and they are appropriate for anyone at any phase of the Atkins Diet. Furthermore, the ingredients are pretty good too. Very few additives or “things that are hard to pronounce” on the label. The company boasts how they use no fillers in the meat, premium cuts of vegetables, real butter and natural creams in their sauces. This all sounds great, but the real test came when the meals were put to the taste test.

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Posted on June 27, 2024 by Lacy

New Rules Will Remove Junk Foods from Schools by July 2024

The days of going through the lunch line at school and picking every greasy, cheesy, fatty option are soon coming to an end. The Department of Agriculture has outlined new regulations for the kinds of foods that can be sold to kids at school. For the first time, the government is tackling the content of “a la carte” lines, vending machines, snack bars and other sources of food regularly available on school campuses. According to Registered Dietitian Mary Hartley, “the policy would increase student exposure to healthier foods and decrease exposure to less healthy foods.”

Previously unregulated, the “a la carte” lines and similar non- standard lunch line options provided kids access to foods like nachos, pizza, chocolate sandwich cookies, and other unhealthy treats. Now under the new guidelines those foods will be replaced with more healthful options like granola bars and yogurt. The new regulations also outline a difference in the beverages that can be sold in schools. Elementary and middle schools will only sell water, carbonated water, low fat and fat-free milk and 100 percent fruit and vegetable juices. Sodas and sports drinks that contain 60 calories or less will be made available in high schools. Though the changes don’t have to be in effect until July 1, 2024, several schools will start implementing them in the upcoming school year. It has been found that schools with this type of reform already in place have seen little to loss of revenue from food sales.

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Posted on June 27, 2024 by Elizabeth

The Dangerous Ways Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Ruin Our Health

By Team Best Life

Think about it: Your choice of beverages 100 years ago was pretty much limited to milk, water, coffee and tea. The same goes for the span of human history prior to that. Sugary drinks are a 20th-century phenomenon, and the very modern toll they take on our bodies encompasses more than just obesity.

Here are a few facts to help keep the sugar you drink in check.

Sugar’s effects are multifaceted. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and disorders that affect our metabolism can all be attributed to over-consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB).

It starts early. The SSBs and fruit juice children consume are responsible for up to 15 percent of their daily caloric intake. (more…)

Posted on June 26, 2024 by BestLifeDiet

‘Grazing’ Fad Being Put Out to Pasture with New Type 2 Diabetes Study

The six meal a day diet fad may be on the outs. In recent years, it’s been suggested that eating six small meals throughout the day, colloquially referred to as “grazing,” is a better approach to weight loss than the more traditional three squares. The American Diabetes Association has released a study confirming that eating two meals a day led to more weight loss than six small ones.

The study is by no means supremely revelatory—the sample size was a meager 54 people and they all had type 2 diabetes—but it has sparked debate over how many daily meals is appropriate for weight loss. Additionally, the researchers lowered the participants’ usual daily caloric intake by 500, which would lead to weight loss either way you slice it.

In the ADA study, 27 people ate six small meals a day, and 27 ate just breakfast and lunch, skipping dinner entirely. Both control groups lost weight—an average of 0.82 BMI points for the grazers and 1.23 points for the minimalists—but there are flaws with both schools of thought. The average person is too busy to prepare and eat six meals a day, and refraining from eating entirely after lunch is just silly.

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Posted on June 25, 2024 by Patrick

Hugh Jackman’s Extreme Wolverine Diet – 5,000 Calories a Day Plus Fasting

For his Oscar-nominated role as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, Aussie mega-star, Hugh Jackman, admitted to extreme fasting and even cutting his water intake to achieve the emaciated look needed for his physical deterioration during the movie. To prepare for his next role, the actor chose a different approach, a 5,000 calorie a day diet with intermittent fasting. On this diet he gets to eat chicken, lots of chicken.

To reprise his role as Wolverine in the X-Men, premiering July 26, Jackman knew he needed to bulk up. This is an actor who is well known for his commitment to a role, whether it’s on screen or the Broadway stage. There will be no CGI muscles, bulky costumes or other Hollywood magic. Hugh wanted the real deal and he wasn’t afraid to go to extremes to get it. In this case, “it” would be the ripped abs and biceps needed to play the superhero. In addition to spending more time in the gym than the Biggest Loser contestants, he’s also using the 16-8 Diet to pack on lean muscle.

Jackman recently talked about his Wolverine routine. “What I do is I eat in an eight hour period, it’s all the rage this diet now. It’s called the 16-8 diet. For sixteen hours of the day, I fast, so I don’t eat. So between 10 in the morning and six at night, I eat 5,000 calories and then I eat nothing.” During the eight hours he’s consuming all those calories, I’m betting there’s not a donut, candy bar or soda in the bunch. In fact, according to the actor, “‘I quite like everything I ate, but it’s more bland. It’s chicken breast, but steamed and no salt, and steamed spinach.”

Some people might think that having an eight hour glutinous window to gorge up all those calories would be easy, but according to Jackman, there were days when he had to use mind over matter to get it down. “‘This is a disgusting amount of food, I can’t eat another bite,” he would say to himself. “I literally talk to myself like I’m training – One more mouthful, c’mon man. You can do it. Just one more mouthful. Half a chicken breast to go and then you’ve got it. Just two meals left!'”

While the 16-8 diet may have been the way to go for Jackman who readily admits, “I’m quite a skinny person by nature so I’m eating ridiculous amounts of food,” it’s not for everyone. The eating routine, seen by many as a lifestyle, not a diet, does not dictate the daily calorie count a person must consume. Always check with your doctor before starting an extreme diet routine. The Wolverine may need 5,000 calories a day but mere mortals do not.

Also Read:

Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway Drop a Combined 50 Pounds to Star in Les Miserables

Fasting May Reduce Risk of Coronary Disease and Diabetes

Janet Jackson on Body Image and Extreme Dieting

Posted on June 24, 2024 by Dani Stone

Food Blogger Spotlight: Jackie from Tasteovers By Jackie

One of the best things about chef Jackie Newgent is that once she cooks you a delicious healthy meal, she can tell you exactly why it’s so delicious and healthy. As a registered dietician and award-winning cookbook author, Jackie is considered a “culinary nutrition, diet, and green cuisine expert.” She is frequently featured on Planet Green’s Emeril Green and Martha Stewart Living Sirius Satellite Radio’s Whole Living.

On her food blog, Tasteovers by Jackie, one of her favorite things to do is take a not-so-good-for-you recipe and give it a makeover. She never shies away from a challenge. Even decadent dishes like fettucini alfredo get a scrumptious healthy redo. Recently we spoke to Jackie about her blog.

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Posted on June 23, 2024 by Dani Stone

Rachel Habegger Lost 85 Pounds in Spite Of Medical Setbacks

When Rachel Habegger made the decision to lose weight by starting an online fitness campaign, she didn’t realize she would be doing it with the added stress of a serious medical diagnosis, debilitating headaches, and a spinal tap. Some people might’ve used the circumstance as an excuse (a valid one) to push back the start of a new rigorous exercise routine but Rachel didn’t. Once she made the commitment to herself, as well as the online trainer, she fought through the pain and forged ahead, eventually losing 85 pounds.

As a former cross country and long distance runner, Rachel had once been fit and healthy, but after the birth of her first child, Rachel failed to lose the additional weight, then gained more with her second, and her third. Eventually, Rachel stopped running on the pavement altogether, but she was still running away from something in her past. “I was an emotional eater,” she said, “and also trying to hide behind my weight as a sexual assault survivor.”

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Posted on June 22, 2024 by Dani Stone

Our Exclusive Recipes Featured at NatureBox.com

NatureBox is an amazing site where we are happy to contribute some of our favorite recipes. The folks over at NatureBox are focused on helping people find the healthiest, best-for-them snacks possible, and you know we love a good, healthy snack! Primarily, they do so by sending a box full of healthy, delicious snacks to their clients in a monthly subscription box. Their all-natural food combinations are a great way to start a healthy-eating journey. They also share great recipes on their blog for those who want to make their own healthy foods at home. We love what they’re doing to encourage eating more healthfully, and hope our recipes provide you with a little inspiration.

Click through each link to discover our exclusive recipes for NatureBox. You may just find something you want to make today!

Fizzy Limeade

As the summer heat bears down on us, we’re all looking for ways to cool down. Perfect for summer sipping, our Fizzy Limeade will have you cooled and refreshed. Simple to make with just a few steps and ingredients, our limeade can be customized to suit any flavor palette. Mix your favorite sweetener with water and add lime juice and club soda; it’s as easy as that! (more…)

Posted on June 21, 2024 by Elizabeth

Obesity Deemed a Disease by the AMA, Medical Establishment Faces Tough Questions

Obesity is no longer a disorder, it’s a disease.

This week, the American Medical Association voted to reclassify obesity—a $150 billion annual health care headache—from a chronic health condition to a disease. According to the CDC, 35 percent of adult Americans are obese. To be considered obese, you must have a Body Mass Index of 30 or higher. A healthy BMI is is between 18 and 25, and the CDC has a handy BMI calculator on their website.

Obesity

Dr. Richard Besser, Chief Health and Medical Editor for ABC News, couldn’t care less about the formalities. “I think it matters little whether we call obesity a disease, a condition, or a disorder,” he told us. “It matters less what we call it than what we do to prevent it.”

The question is, how will medical treatment change in response to this new decision? Labeling obesity a disease quickly left those in the medical establishment with uncertainty about the future of obesity treatment. There are a slew of surgical procedures that combat obesity, none of which cure it completely. The onus is on the patient to follow through with the treatment and reach a healthy weight. Obesity is a unique disease because nutritional education, fitness awareness, and simple willpower are the most effective remedies. “We need to get physical activity back into everyone’s lives, starting with our kids,” said Dr. Besser.

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Posted on June 19, 2024 by Patrick

Diet and Nutrition

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