Well stocked salad bars offer a quick and convenient opportunity to tap into the extraordinary nutritional benefits the right foods can provide. Fortunately – comprehensive salad bars are now easy to access. My personal favorites are Ruby Tuesday, Whole Foods and Earth Fare. To successfully navigate through the salad bar and get the most nutritional […]
Salads are arguably the best dish for “feeding your microbiome”. The microbiome refers to that rich ecosystem of beneficial bacteria that reside in our GI tract. Maintaining a healthy microbiome (which is vital to all-over health!) requires eating a broad array of plant-based foods. Salads are the perfect dish for giving those good bugs the […]
To dramatically reduce or even eliminate HCA’s, carcinogens that form on the surface of meats during grilling or broiling, season your meat prior with a liberal dose of black pepper and Italian Seasoning. (I love the big container of McCormick’s brand of Italian Seasoning from Costco.) Antioxidants in the herbs work in tandem with […]
Dark leafy greens are the healthiest foods on the planet. They provide more nutrients per unit calorie than any other food – including 19 different vitamins and minerals and countless disease-fighting phytochemicals all for just 36 calories per cup cooked. They provide protection from heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. They help prevent age-related […]
Exercise most days — If you don’t accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity most days of the week you are virtually guaranteed to accumulate belly fat. And the more the better! (I can always tell who is active and who is not active enough by looking at their bellies!) Eat an abundance of […]
Although trans fats are much less common in processed foods than in years past, they still haunt our food supply. Here are the foods that most commonly contain them. Many are kids’ favorites—so beware! Frozen pizzas Cookies Pie Crusts Microwave popcorn Stick margarine Cake mixes and frostings Pancake and waffle mixes Frozen dinners Refrigerated and […]
We are consuming record amounts of sugars in our diets. Based on the latest scientific reports, the average American consumes 350-475 calories a day of “added” sweeteners. That is the equivalent of 22-30 teaspoons! (“Added” sugars are those that are put into processed foods and beverages – not the “natural” sugars already present in foods […]
Tis the season for annoying spring allergies. Thanks to a new study, getting some relief may be as easy as popping a probiotic supplement. Scientist enrolled 173 adults who suffer from seasonal allergies in a study to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination of two beneficial species of bacteria – lactobacillus and bifidobacterium (available as […]
-Be sure to have some high quality protein at each feeding/meal. The digestion of protein gives rise to a prolonged and sustained blood glucose level which translates to a steady and robust energy level. My top picks for energizing proteins are omega 3-fortified eggs, nuts, beans, fish, low-fat plain yogurt, and skinless poultry. -Indulge in […]
To fully experience all the dazzling benefits of fruits and veggies, science says to aim for 8 or more servings a day. Here is my personal failsafe means of doing so. I eat 1 cup of berries (typically frozen) and ½ of a banana at breakfast = 2.5 servings I include a piece of whole […]
The single most powerful influence you can have on your microbiome is to “feed it” properly! The good bacteria in your gut thrive on the fiber present in the plant-based foods you eat. In contrast, the bad bacteria tend to prefer processed, industrial foods and animal foods that lack fiber. And when it comes to […]
Boosting metabolism, lifting mood, decreasing pain, and now living longer—those are some of the health accolades that have been tied to eating hot peppers. For this latest study, scientists analyzed chili pepper intake in over 16,000 Americans followed for up to 23 years. They then compared the study subject’s chili pepper intake to their risk […]
