According to a refreshing report from JAMA (JAMA August, 24/31, 2011), including the “right foods” has a greater impact on lowering cholesterol levels than excluding the wrong foods. It is well-established that reducing “bad” fats (saturated and trans) can lower cholesterol levels, but this clinical trial revealed that regularly consuming foods that contain the natural […]
There were so many sensational new reports extolling the benefits of physical activity I just could not decide on just one so here are the highlights from all of them! Using an “objective measure” of physical activity – researchers reported that older adults who were the most physically active were 90 percent less likely to […]
Control your portions! This can certainly trim your grocery bill and your restaurant bill and recent scientific evidence finds that consistently controlling portions is the fastest direct route to weight loss. According to an article published in Obesity Research, Sept 2004, controlling portions increased the chances of successful weight loss by almost four fold! Dump […]
The flood of new science from the past decade extolling the benefits of exercise for brain health are simply mind-blowing. Thanks to Columbia University researchers, we have yet another study to add to our “exercise for brain health” archive. After following the exercise habits of 1,238 elderly subjects over a six-year period of time, investigators […]
There is now a mountain of scientific evidence that belly (visceral) fat is particularly dangerous so I am excited to share results from a new report that identified two simple strategies for fighting this menace. For this evaluation, Wake Forest researchers followed 1,114 people over a 5-year period to determine what dietary and lifestyle factors […]
I consider plain yogurt an exceptionally good-for-you-food and encourage you to make your own. The taste and texture of homemade yogurt is sublime and it is as easy to make as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! (At least according to my daughter Lucie who is the yogurt maker in my home.) Here is how […]
Are you eating healthy when you dine out? Here are a few surprising facts about foods you may (or may not) have considered healthy choices: Many entree salads have tons of calories, especially when you add full-fat dressing or order them with breaded/fried chicken on top. Relative to most other choices, chili is a reasonably […]
Want to know where my passion for healthy eating comes from? This movie trailer says it all! Click to view: Forks Over Knives
The British Medical Journal (May 2011) reported that young children between the ages of 3-5 who slept less than 11 hours per day were significantly more likely to become overweight by the age of 7. Conversely, for every additional hour of sleep a night for children ages 3-5, the risk of being overweight at the […]
All varieties of nuts offer a treasure trove of healthy goodness, but walnuts are emerging as the crown jewels. Like all nuts, walnuts provide heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, fiber, and several key minerals, but can also claim two additional features that push them further up the ladder of nature’s most awesome disease-fighting foods. Relative to other […]
The importance of optimal sleep in terms of health and quality of life cannot be overstated. Inadequate sleep has been consistently linked to a growing list of modern day ills including weight gain, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, emotional disorders and metabolic syndrome. According to a new study, it appears to be a major “brain […]
I promised to keep you abreast of the flood of new science related to vitamin D and health so here goes…. In a study that included 554 generally healthy middle-aged adults, those with lower vitamin D levels had stiffer arteries and poorer blood vessel function. Those with full-fledged vitamin D deficiency had abnormal blood vessel […]
