Browse Category: Nutrition
The holiday of Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexican pride and heritage and is a great excuse to enjoy some delicious (and often spicy) food. Not only are Mexican dishes yummy, but many of them also pack quite a healthy punch . . . along with oodles of flavor!
I don't know about you, but I personally wouldn't touch anything affectionately called "pink slime." If you’ve seen any of the news stories lately, or have been subject to the round of photos on Facebook and Twitter that reference this nasty stuff, then the term immediately conjures up images of heavily processed mutant chickens becoming long, pink globs . . . that eventually become the McNuggets of a certain Mc-Fast Food joint.
If you keep meaning to give nutrition a little more thought, and want to make some changes to the way you eat, then what better time than to kick it off now – national nutrition month! The theme this year is “Get Your Plate in Shape.” The name alone, aside from being catchy, is already indicative of the changes that you can make.
During the cold winter months, do you enjoy sipping hot chocolate and indulging in deliciously
sweet cupcakes or cookies (especially those this time of year with green and red frosting)? You might have realized that almost immediately after finishing the tasty snack you were happier, more content and had an overall more positive lookout on life.
Ok, you’re right . . . there’s not really a
truly healthy alcoholic beverage when you think about it, given their “empty calories.” But there are options that are healthier than others!
Unbeknownst to some people, certain "health" foods have the potential to do much harm than good. Case in point:
Soy. As one of the most popular replacements for meat protein, soy has become a staple in many people's diets . . . ranging from health advocates and vegetarians to everyday consumers who just want to reduce their meat intake.
In the fashion world, you often hear “pink is the new black” or “(insert color here) is the new black.” It’s because black is the basis of fashion – the standard, if you will. You can always count on black to be fashionable. It’s just right – in any situation.
You could very well say the thing about vegetables and nutrition. They are virtually never wrong. They are the basis – the standard – of good nutrition.
Well, according to Congress, who has betrayed American children’s health once again, “pizza is the new vegetable.”
The
holiday season can be tough on your diet. The candy from Halloween, the Christmas and Hanukkah feasts, and the Chinese food on New Year's Eve can all undo your healthy eating intentions . . . and even prolong them until spring starts. Perhaps the
most unhealthy holiday dinner, however, is that of Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Day is celebrated to give thanks for our blessings and for the wealth of food that we have in the United States. Traditionally, turkey has always been part of the menu, along with cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, stuffing, and vegetables. However, many people have decided not to eat meat based on health factors, or the belief that we shouldn't kill animals, or the understanding that a vegetarian diet offers better healthy food alternatives. Whatever the case, the popularity of the vegetarian diet has gained stride in recent years. Here are five yummy vegetarian recipes to enjoy for the Thanksgiving holiday!
If you are interested in losing weight, you must know that the most important step in lowering body fat and maintaining a healthy body weight is making the right choices when it comes to food and nutrition. You could exercise five days a week for an hour, but if you continue eating
Wendy's hamburgers or Hungry Man frozen dinners, you will not see a drop in weight.
Before knocking back a few shots of your favorite vodka (or liquor of your choice), you may have already eaten a nice, filling meal because you know that if you drink on an empty stomach the result will not be pretty. Astoundingly, there are some people, specifically those with eating disorders, who drink heavily on a
very empty stomach. The media is calling this destructive behavior "drunkorexia," and a recent study from the University of Missouri shows that in addition to providing a hangover like no other, drunkrorexia could also affect a person's long term health.
As Americans, we think a lot about our food. As a matter of fact, we feel rather strongly about it. Despite the growing
obesity epidemic (or perhaps because of it) we want to know what kind of nutrients our food contains, how much fat, how many calories, and how we can get the most nutrition for a dollar already stretched too thin. While shopping at farmer's markets has become a popular trend, the vast majority of us rely on the corner grocery store to supply us with reasonably priced fresh, healthy food. But does it?
Hot dogs, baseball, and apple pie. What could be more American than that? But if you tend to enjoy a hotdog (or two) while watching your favorite team, you may want to think twice next time you're in line at the concession stand. Some experts say you might as well light up a smoke. Yup, it’s true. Hot dogs are just as bad as cigarettes when it comes to your health.
Cleansing the internal body to release harmful impurities is becoming very prevalent these days, and for very good reason. However, the concept of cleansing is not new. Ancient cultures from around the world have understood the benefits of cleansing and have practiced various forms of cleansing for thousands of years. Unfortunately, the growth of our global society has resulted in continual industrial expansion, subjecting us to increasing levels of toxins throughout our daily lives. Ironically, this increased exposure to toxins comes at a time when modern society is regressing from many of the healthy lifestyle traditions of our ancestors. With our modern convenient lifestyle, cleansing the body has never been more crucial than it is today.
As an integrative physician, some of the most important recommendations I make for my patients are centered around healthy eating habits. But what about healthy cooking? The right cooking techniques which increase nutrient availability are certainly an important part of a healthy diet, but many people don’t consider the fact that some cooking methods also increase the presence of toxins in your food as well.
Do you remember when milk was a symbol of wholesomeness, good health, good looks, and strong bones and teeth? Perhaps it’s one more sign of the times, but scientists have recently determined that one glass of milk isn’t so pure and nourishing anymore. You may be shocked to learn that one glass can have a concoction of as many as 20 antibiotics, painkillers, and growth hormones mixed in.
Sea vegetables are not common staples in the Standard American Diet, but they have been enjoyed for thousands of years in the Asian diet. Whether sea vegetables are brown, green, purple or red, they all contain a number of beneficial nutrients such as vitamins A, C, E, B complex, including B12, as well as calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and trace minerals.
What if I told you there is an
ingredient in your food that is making you fat . . . slowly, secretly, by making you consume more? Then what if I told you that this same ingredient is also behind your child’s allergies and hyperactivity, and your spouse’s migraine headaches? Surely, you would want it banned by the FDA, or declared on every product with a giant warning label. Well, what if I told you that the FDA knows of these damaging side-effects and still has not stopped the ingredient from being slipped into grocery stores and restaurants? Surely, you would feel betrayed by a system that is supposed to protect our best interest. You would want answers, and would likely get none.
We all know healthy living largely entails foregoing
junk foods that are high in calories, sugar, and saturated fats. We also know a large amount of the population has a very difficult time “just saying no” to temptation. But should the government step in once more to try to save us from ourselves? Health advocates seem to think so, as they want states and cities to tax unhealthy foods, specifically sodas and sugary noncarbonated drinks.
In today’s ever health-conscious world, the Raw Food Movement is on the rise, gaining new devotees as well as critics.
