Diet and Nutrition

Food Blogger Spotlight: Sonja and Alex Overhiser of A Couple Cooks

The more I started digging into whole foods, the more I started learning about whole foods blogs that boasted amazing recipes like Blueberry oat cobblers, Tuscan kale salads, and superfood nut butter cups (just to name a few). Such a blog is A Couple Cooks, run by husband and wife team Alex and Sonja Overhiser.

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We had the pleasure of speaking with Sonja recently about she and Alex’s blog, their approach to health, and their outlook on life. Here’s what she had to say.

Why did you start your food blog?
A Couple Cooks started as an offshoot of what was our personal blog at the time, which was quickly becoming filled with photos of food as we were falling in love with cooking. However, we also started it with a mission – as a place to inspire home cooking and healthy eating, which we’d found so much joy and fulfillment from in our own lives. It’s taken on a new life from when it started – it’s become a place where we can express ourselves creatively, as well as a way to connect to our local food community and others around the world who love food. It also gives us a place to think about advocacy and activism, be it for food/health issues, environment, or social justice. (more…)

Posted on April 28, 2024 by Dana

Jessica Alba Used Controversial Double Corset to Lose Baby Weight

  • In an interview with Net-A-Porter magazine, 31-year-old actress and mother of two Jessica Alba admitted to using a corset to achieve her sleek and toned body after babies. The star was quoted as saying “After birth I wore a double corset for three months. It was sweaty but worth it.”jessica-alba-corset-weight-loss
  • While corsets can serve many purposes, some rely on them for weight loss because of their supposed ability to create thermal heat through the midsection, causing users to lose inches “through the science of compression,” according to hourglassangel.com.
  • Many garments from hourglassangel.com also include latex, which is designed to compress the midsection, increase perspiration – as Alba noted – and flush toxins from the area, collectively speeding weight loss.
  • In an experimental report for ABC News, journalist Deborah Roberts wore a corset for two weeks. On day two she admitted being “starving and feeling a bit squeezed…After four or five bites [of salad], I can’t eat anymore. I feel full.” (more…)
Posted on April 26, 2024 by Dana

Study Up: 25 Healthiest Colleges List Released

Greatist.com has released their annual list of the 25 healthiest college campuses just in time for the end of the school year.

25 Healthiest Colleges

  • The ranking process started with nominations from readers, reader suggestions from last year’s list, surveys from the College Prowler and Princeton Review and examination of over 100 colleges’ websites.
  • Each school is scored for its dining services and awards, fitness facilities, health services, happiness rankings, and health and fitness initiatives.
  • The top five schools on this year’s list are Bowdoin College, Stanford University, Virginia Tech, Rice University and Washington University in St. Louis. (more…)
Posted on April 26, 2024 by Elizabeth

Forcing Kids to Clean Their Plate May Cause Obesity, Study Suggests

Are you a member of the “clean plate club”? That’s the saying that always stuck with me when parents (and grandparents) push kids to finish their meal. That sort of mentality, while well-intentioned, may have lasting negative side effects.

New findings have shown that pushing children to eat everything on their plate has a direct link to obesity. The University of Minnesota has published a study that shows this forced eating can be linked to unhealthy eating habits when the child gets to adulthood. Interestingly, while these kids may be at a normal weight at the time, this changes later in life.

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The researchers combined data from two studies including findings from EAT 2024 (Eating and Activity in Teens) and the Project F-EAT (Families and Eating and Activity Among Teens). Both of these gathered their data from asking about the eating habits of nearly 3,000 children and young adults. Each person was given a form that asked questions about weight and regular eating habits throughout the day. It wasn’t until the data from each individual study was compiled that the link to adult obesity was found. (more…)

Posted on April 26, 2024 by Jason

Ira Green Nurtures Teen Weight Loss at Camp Friends 4ever

The only way Ira Green avoided ridicule as an overweight teen was because of his athletic prowess. But when the structure of high school and college athletics disappeared, his adult weight ballooned to over 400 pounds. “When I had to have surgery to save my life,” said Ira, “I decided to teach kids at weight loss camps.”

camp friends 4ever

After losing over 200 pounds and directing 10 weight loss camps, Ira is gearing up for this summer’s all-girl weight loss camp on the campus of William and Mary. Camp Friends 4ever is based on Ira’s seven weight loss principles: structure, accountability, honesty, rewards, balance, game planning, and selfless selfishness.

While the camp does have a proven and successful curriculum, you won’t see Ira or his staff barking out orders. “Twenty years ago, these kinds of camps were more rugged,” said Ira. “We let the campers choose their activities and in turn, they want to work harder, and my staff doesn’t waste energy on disinterested kids.” His style of discipline is basic: when a camper misbehaves, Ira brings them to his office, sits them down and asks, “Have I ever disrespected you?”.

“They start bawling,” said Ira. (more…)

Posted on April 25, 2024 by Patrick

Chaz Bono’s 60-Pound Weight Loss Praised by Dr. Travis Stork

Chaz Bono has achieved the goal he set last November. At last weekend’s GLAAD awards, Bono revealed his 6o-pound weight loss. He credits his weight loss to changing his diet, using the Freshology meal delivery plan and staying active.

Chaz Bono

The former Dancing With the Stars contestant says that he is still taking dance classes and as also started martial arts training. Bono started his current weight loss journey with the help of The Doctors co-host Dr. Travis Stork, who recommended that at 250-pounds, 5 foot 5 1/2 inches, Bono should lose 5o pounds to 80 pounds.

“Everyone at The Doctors is proud of Chaz’s progress and we look forward to sharing his continued progress in the fall,” Dr. Stork told DietsInReview.com.

The child of singing sensations Sonny and Cher, Bono has struggled with weight his entire life. During his meeting with Dr. Stork he said, “Because I’m transgender, I was always completely disconnected from my body. I really lived in my head and just kind of tried to ignore everything from the neck down.” (more…)

Posted on April 25, 2024 by Elizabeth

15 Celebrities Who Overcame Eating Disorders

Eating disorders affect people from all walks of life, have varying symptoms, and can be easily disguised by those afflicted. Obsessive exercise, starvation, and laxative abuse are some of the most common behaviors of eating disorder sufferers. The reasons these symptoms are developed are wide ranging, but usually boil down to a lack of self-esteem and pressure to fit some imaginary societal mold.

Even the beautiful, rich, and famous suffer from eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia. We’ve compiled a list of celebrities—some surprising, some not so much—who have overcome eating disorders and managed to have a healthy relationship with diet, exercise, and themselves.

View 15 Celebrities Who Overcame Eating Disorders Slideshow (more…)

Posted on April 25, 2024 by Patrick

10 Shockingly High Sodium Foods and 4 Ways to Slash Your Sodium Intake

high sodium foods

By Team Best Life

Bloating, high blood pressure, extra calories… too much sodium in your diet can lead to all three, none of which are conducive to weight loss. Experts recommend 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium daily, or 1,500 if you have high blood pressure or diabetes, are African American, or 51 and older. That means about half the U.S. population should, theoretically, cap it at 1,500 mg, but it’s pretty much impossible unless you do all your own cooking and use very few packaged foods. In fact, you’d be surprised how easy it is to blow right by these levels. (Check out Why You Should Shake Your Salt Habit to learn why everyone should cut back on sodium.)

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You can slash your intake by:

Reading labels. It’s eye-opening how many foods are laden with sodium, from your go-to whole-wheat bread to your favorite salad dressing to your usual breakfast cereal. Make it a habit to check the label for sodium content before putting anything in your grocery cart. Choose foods that are lower in sodium in each category, or even better, opt for “no salt added” (canned tomatoes, canned beans, grain mixes).    (more…)

Posted on April 24, 2024 by BestLifeDiet

Win a Biggest Loser Resort Trip and Meet Hannah Curlee and Colleen Ketchum at the Women’s Health Expo

Join us Saturday, May 4 at the Women’s Health Expo in Lake Katrina, New York! This thirteenth annual event brings together the Upstate New York community to promote health, wellness, and fitness in a fun environment. The theme this year is managing stress for a better life. With that more in control everything else naturally seems to fall in to place.

hannah and colleen

This will be DietsInReview.com’s second appearance at the Women’s Health Expo, and our booth is a can’t-miss part of the event! Stop by to:

  • Meet Colleen Ketchum, creator of BeyondBarre.com, a cardio-ballet-barre workout that will sculpt, burn fat, and increase endurance. Join her demo in the fitness workshops, too.
  • Register to win a one-week stay at your choice of Biggest Loser Resorts*! With locations in Chicago, Niagra, Malibu, and Ivins, Utah you’ll find a resort close to you to help jumpstart your fitness goals. (more…)
Posted on April 24, 2024 by Natalie K

Julie Knapp Lost 100 Pounds with Nutrisystem and Reclaimed Her Life [VIDEO]

When did your weight struggles begin?
The truth of the matter is I was always a heavy kid. There was never an inciting incident that made me gain weight. From the time I started elementary school I was overweight and it got progressively more out of hand.

Where did your your bad eating habits come from?
My mom has told me before she wishes she’d have known or she’d have taken the bagel out of my hand, but it’s hard to tell your kid no. I agree with her. I think I would have very much resented my family for doing that. (more…)

Posted on April 24, 2024 by Dana

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Relationships with Big Food Soil the Good Name of Registered Dietitians

A couple of bad reviews on Yelp can put a restaurant out of business. It’s called a reputation crisis. Registered dietitians (RDs) face a reputation crisis due to the actions of their parent organization, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). AND is being called out for having close ties to the food industry. For their nutrition conferences and events, AND accepts sponsorship from big food and beverage corporations. Sponsorship gives the appearance of conflict of interest, and in reputation management, perception is everything.

apple money

It started last October when lawyer/author Michele Simon released a report, “And Now a Word from Our Sponsors.” She called out AND for having close ties to Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Mars, and the like because those companies sponsor their continuing education activities. Soon, celebrity nutritionists like Marion Nestle and Dr. Mercola were writing about “How the Junk Food Industry Controls Registered Dietitians.” And then, this month, another incident made the New York Times, Food Politics Creates Rift in Panel on Labeling. More negative press. I fear AND has sullied my unblemished reputation. (more…)

Posted on April 23, 2024 by Natalie K