In an eye-opening study that puts a whole new spin on sleep and wellbeing, investigators found that improving sleep quality over time boosts health and happiness on par with winning the lottery! For this study researchers followed the sleep patterns of 30,500 UK adults for a period of four years. Study subjects who reported […]
If you want to improve your shut-eye and brighten your spirits, losing a little weight may do the trick. In an uplifting report, researchers found that losing as little as 5% of existing body weight was enough to improve sleep quality and mood in overweight study subjects. For the study, scientists assigned 390 obese adults […]
I am a big believer in simple visuals for staying on track with healthy eating and was thrilled when the USDA adopted the “My Plate” icon to replace the confusing and essentially useless “food pyramid.” When I sit down to order a meal, I always aspire to create the “perfect plate” – with one-half of […]
Evidence is rapidly mounting that junk foods may be truly addicting. Both in animal and human studies, it seems that ultra palatable foods, especially those high in both fat and sugar (think donuts, milk shakes, cheesecake) can highjack our normal appetite regulatory mechanisms, throwing us into a perpetual cycle of desire and binging. A laboratory study […]
Past studies have repeatedly identified snacking as a risk factor for weight gain. As such, it was disheartening to learn that Americans are snacking at an all-time high. Based on this evaluation, snacking accounts for a whopping 25% of our daily calories or an average of 580 calories a day! Even more alarming, half of […]
Thanks to a landmark, new report, we now have definitive evidence that ultra-processed foods are uniquely fattening. In an era of unprecedented levels of obesity and the suffering to which it leads, the importance of this report cannot be overstated. For this evaluation, scientists from the National Institute of Health (NIH) admitted 20 adults (10 […]
Want a simple, quick, dirt cheap, and totally healthy way to improve your weight control? Drink a big glass of water 30 minutes before your meals. This was the encouraging conclusion from a clinical trial published in the journal Obesity. For this study, researchers had 41 obese study subjects drink 500 mls (about 1 pint) of […]
Although life-long success with weight control requires regular physical activity and eating a healthy diet, there is more to the story. Science has uncovered some additional key facets that, in my experience, most people are in the dark about. Getting quality sleep (7-8 hours a night). Sleep deprivation quickly disrupts metabolic function and boosts appetite […]
Midlife weight gain is one of the most predictable and unhealthy accompaniments of aging with most people gaining at least a pound or two a year. Unfortunately, midlife comes with a convergence of many different forces that bear on our waistlines – tipping the scales in the positive direction. The six primary drivers of midlife […]
If you are looking for a science-based tactic for choosing the very best fruits and veggies for weight control, keep reading. In an exciting study from researchers at Harvard, scientists found that those consuming the highest levels of a unique category of plant compounds called flavonoids, experienced superior weight control vs. those consuming lesser amounts. […]
I was blessed to discover the joys of healthy living at a young age and have been hooked ever since. I also know that there is no way I could speak to people with the heart, passion, energy and authenticity it takes to compel them to improve their health behaviors unless I practice what I […]
As even small amounts of excess body fat (especially if deposited in the belly) can boost your risk of a laundry list of deadly diseases – awareness of simple strategies to power up your metabolism can be very healthful. Simply stated – your metabolism is how many calories you burn for the production of energy […]
