Veganism is the strictest form of vegetarianism, in which individuals avoid all animal products such as meat, dairy, eggs, and even honey. Other forms of vegetarianism include semi-vegetarian (avoiding red meat), pescatarian (only eat seafood and fish), and lacto-ovo vegetarian (no animal meats, but will eat dairy and eggs).  Does becoming a vegan intrigue you? Have you heard that following a vegan diet could improve your hair, skin and nails? Famous folks like Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Mike Tyson, Ellen Degeneres, Usher, and Alanis Morissette are vegans, but would you feel socially isolated and unable to eat at parties or order food at restaurants? What about nutrient deficiencies and getting enough protein? Maybe it could help you lose weight…Read on to learn which common beliefs about vegan diets are fact, and which are just pure fiction. Continue reading

coconut and coconut oil

Recently, coconut oil has been proclaimed as the new miracle food! Not only is it said to cure Alzheimer’s and decrease the risk of heart disease, it can whiten teeth and moisturize your hair too! A single jar sitting in the cupboard is seen as the solution to all nutrition and beauty problems! But is this too good to be true? Although there is still a lot of research to be done, it may not be as great as everyone says. Understanding how to use it can help you decide whether or not it’s right for you! Continue reading

artificial sweeteners vs sugar

Artificial sweeteners, or non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) are a low calorie alternative to other sweeteners such as sugar, honey or agave. There are currently seven NNS that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These include stevia, aspartame, acesulfame K, neotame, saccharin, sucralose and luo han guo fruit extract. NNS actually come from both natural and artificial sources. You may know them as the “fake” sugar packets you add to foods and beverages. You can also find them in products you may already buy like diet soda or other beverages,sugar free coffee creamers, sugar free candy, xylitolgums, jam and cereal, just to name a few. Continue reading

Cup of tea

Tea is the world’s most popular beverage second only to water. Across the country, restaurants and coffee shops are serving up premium freshly brewed teas, while supermarkets, convenience stores and vending machines are purchasing more and more bottled tea. According to the Tea Association of the USA, 160 million Americans consume tea and in 2012, 2.25 billion dollars were spent on tea in the US.

We are drawn to tea not only for its delicious flavors and capacity to sooth, but also because of the buzz on its many health benefits. Continue reading

You may have heard lately about the health benefits of probiotics or good bacteria. Experts have been telling us for years that we need to avoid bacteria. Now they are saying that they are good for you? It turns out that our bodies are teaming with over 100 trillion bacteria, outnumbering our body’s cells by 10 to 1. These microorganisms play an important role in our health. Let’s take a closer look at probiotics and what we know about them. Continue reading

Rice Bowl southwestern style

If you’re like me, juggling work, school, friends and family, it can be hard to make time for a home-cooked meal after a long day. However, with a few tips and a little planning, it’s easy to make quick and healthy meals throughout the week.

For example, by having one or two quick recipe ideas in mind and the ingredients in your kitchen, you’ll be able to cook up a homemade meal at any time. Let’s say you’re a fan of grilled cheese with tomato soup. Make sure to have those ingredients on hand so they’re there when you’re hungry for a healthy and balanced meal at home. Continue reading

Yogurt

For a long time, yogurt has been touted for its health benefits, ranging from gut health to possibly contributing to weight loss.1 Did you know yogurt is full of probiotics, calcium, protein and many other healthful nutrients? However, yogurt can be chock-full of sugar. Many single-serving yogurts contain as much sugar as a Snickers candy bar! But yogurt can be part of a healthy balanced diet. Knowing how to read the label can help you decide which ones to buy and which ones to leave out of your shopping basket. Continue reading

sticks of butter yummm

Every good story has a villain, and when it comes to food and fad diets there’s no exception. One of the top nutrition demons for over 40 years has been saturated fat –found in high amounts in many baked and fried goods, meat, and full-fat dairy products such as milk, yogurt, butter, and cheese. The rationale? Saturated fat is associated with increased LDL, or “bad” cholesterol that clogs arteries. We’ll come back to this.

The US Dietary Guidelines tells us to limit saturated fat due to studies linking saturated fat to heart disease, the number one killer worldwide. However, more and more research has since led experts to question this link. Continue reading