Blueberries owe their deep, blue color to a class of phytochemicals called anthocyanins. Like lycopene, anthocyanins have potent antioxidant power, but they are also true workhorses when it comes to fighting inflammation. Science is now telling us that excessive inflammation plays a major role in the development of a broad range of diseases, including heart […]
Chocolate and dessert lovers rejoice! I have a recipe for a healthy chocolate sundae that will have your mouths watering. Simply take 2 scoops of “Purely Decadent” brand coconut milk ice cream (vanilla bean or coconut flavor) and smother it with 2 ounces of melted 72% (or higher) dark chocolate (I like Ghiradelli’s “Midnight Reverie”), and […]
The data on vitamin D and health just keeps pourin’ in. Here are some highlights: For teens living in the “sunny” south, low vitamin D levels were common, including 56 percent with insufficient levels and 30 percent with full-blown vitamin D deficiency. (Pediatrics, June 2010) In a study that followed 531 women over six years, […]
Thankfully great news on exercise is always forthcoming and here are three notable headlines: An analysis involving a total of 218,000 study subjects found that regular physical activity can stifle the effects of the powerful FTO gene. The FTO gene is one of the most common and well-documented genetic markers for obesity risk. (Another remarkable […]
An eye-popping report adds to growing evidence that diet drinks may be working against us in our efforts to lose weight. Researchers who followed 474 people over a 10-year period found those who used diet sodas experienced a 70% increase in their belly circumference vs. those who did not drink diet sodas. For frequent diet […]
If burning fat is one of your goals for working out, you may want to skip your post-workout snack. Reporting in the Journal of Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism (2007), investigators found that after a 1-hour walk on the treadmill, study subjects experienced a 40% boost in insulin efficiency (which translates to a faster metabolism […]
Perhaps one of the most eye-popping and important scientific developments on the health front has been the recognition that prolonged sitting is definitely hazardous to our health. Regardless of the amount of “exercise” you get over the course of the day – sitting for long segments of time comes with a host of adverse metabolic […]
In a report that constitutes one of the most thorough review of alcohol and cancer-related deaths in the U.S. over the past 30 years – scientists made some eye-popping conclusions that everyone needs to be aware of. Here are the highlights: Alcohol use is one of the leading causes of preventable cancer deaths. Alcohol is […]
Scientists already determined that eating chili peppers (and other hot foods) can boost mood by triggering the release of the brain’s natural feel good chemicals – and thanks to this lab study, we have another happy reason to eat them. Scientist determined that the chemical capsaicin, which provides chili pepper’s spicy hot kick, can boost the activity […]
Drink green tea – Known in my world as the true elixir of youth – drinking green or white tea is perhaps the easiest and most relaxing way to infuse our bodies and brains with age-defying antioxidants. Both provide over 4 thousand bioactive compounds including the famed “flavonoids” like berries and dark chocolate. One particular flavonoid […]
Building the Best Lunch To keep your children’s bodies and brains in peak performance mode and to safeguard against the ravages of unhealthy foods, be sure your child powers up with a nutritious lunch. The three basic building blocks for the best lunches include: Healthy protein Fiber-rich carbs, to include at least one serving of […]
Travel means dining out and dining out comes with a host of forces that can work against you on the wellness front. Take advantage of the following guiding principles to transform this high risk eating endeavor into one that provides sensory pleasure without sacrificing your health or sabotaging your waistline. Eat out, but eat smart […]
