It’s all too common to just not feel very good. We’re stressed and tired, our backs hurt. A lot of us are carrying around extra weight. We have headaches and heartburn. Stomach troubles are always lurking. And there is a weird dry patch on your elbow. Yeah, a detox sounds like it might just do the trick. Continue reading
You’ve probably heard that food cravings have little to do with true hunger, but if they aren’t a part of our biological need for fuel, then how do they work? What kinds of foods do you “crave” when you are stressed or upset? Are they sweet or salty? Loaded with carbohydrates? Packed with fat? Drizzled in chocolate?
First, let’s talk about why these specific foods and macronutrients (e.g. carbs, protein, and fat) are commonly craved and then we can sift through some helpful ways to overcome the urge. Continue reading
Ever find yourself wondering which beverage to choose from the endless rows of choices available? It is especially hard when each one advertises that it will make you healthy, your hair shine, give you a special new specific nutrient that is going to keep you disease free, or some similar promise. Let’s clear up some of the confusion around these promoted-to-be healthy drinks that keep popping up and give you some tips so you can choose your beverages wisely. Continue reading
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
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
Maybe you have heard that sugar is as addictive as cocaine. Well, don’t sign up for rehab just yet! In this post, we will explore what the research says about the power of sugar and what we can do to reverse it—so we have the power over sugar. Continue reading
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
Interested in which types of fat you should be putting in your body? Well, you came to the right place. Yes, I said you should put fat into your body! For years fat-free or low-fat diets were the answer to our health problems and although we should limit some fats, other fats are healthy for us. Continue reading
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