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Seven Diet Sins

Posted: 04/11/2011

You read all the books; buy all the right vitamins; you know the buzzwords to look for on food labels. By all standards, you're certain your nutrition report card should be filled with straight A's.But before you start pasting gold stars onto your refrigerator door, take heed: Nutrition experts say most of us think we are eating a lot better than we actually are. "It's easy...

Super Food: Salmon

Posted: 04/12/2011

Wild-caught Alaskan salmon is one of my favorite foods. It is an excellent source of high-quality protein and essential omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s offer protection against:Heart attack and strokeCancerInflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritisMental and emotional problemsWild salmon is available fresh, frozen and canned, making it a versatile choice; however, how you...

Add Muscle, Not Fat

Posted: 04/11/2011

Goals of Building Muscle Mass1. Most people think that the more protein they eat the more muscles they will build but excess protein intake does not store as bulging muscles. 2. What you need in order to add muscle is extra calories and those extra calories should mostly come from carbohydrates. Carbohydrates fuel your muscles so they can perform intense muscle-building...

Does Chocolate Addiction Exist?

Posted: 01/04/2011

Chocolate craving is very common, but can we actually be addicted to it? Can these powerful urges to eat truly be classed as an addiction? We generally crave foods due to external prompts and our emotional state, rather than actual hunger. We tend to be bored, anxious, or depressed immediately before experiencing cravings, so one way of explaining cravings is self-medication...

8 Healthy Habits for Weight Loss

Posted: 01/04/2011

Losing weight and keeping it off is a matter of cutting back what you eat and increasing your amount of exercise. "The simplest equation in the world, calories in and calories out, determines your weight loss," says Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, of Sarasota, Fla., spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. But if that's all you do, you may find yourself ultimately regaining...

The Link Between Stress and Obesity

Posted: 01/04/2011

For years, many people have suspected that stress and obesity are linked — and now scientific research has found evidence to support this connection. Specific biochemical reactions appear to help explain this link and, as doctors better understand these reasons, they may be better able to address the obesity epidemic facing the United States. The most insidious aspect of...

Your Diet, Your Health

Posted: 01/04/2011

We've all heard the old saying “you are what you eat.” And it's still true. If you stick to a healthy diet full of vitamins and minerals, your body reflects it. You feel healthy, energized, and just all-around great. However, people who limit their diet to junk foods will undoubtedly suffer the consequences of not giving their bodies what they need to thrive. The...

Is It Hunger or Stress?

Posted: 09/23/2010

Have you ever noticed that when you get stressed about work or family, you find yourself reaching for the nearest chocolate candy? While some people lose their appetite (and may even feel sick to their stomach) over stress, you might be conditioned to soothe yourself with food, and end up taking in more calories than you want. Continual stress eating can start packing on the...

Drinking Green Tea Can Help You Lose Weight

Posted: 09/23/2010

Green tea is an ancient Chinese tea that has become very popular in the last few years. It is made from the Camellia sinensis plant. Black tea and oolong tea are made from the same plant. However, unlike the the black and oolong varieties which are fermented, green tea is made by steaming young, fresh leaves. This causes it to retain more antioxidants and nutrients than other...

Why we eat when we’re not hungry

Posted: 08/26/2010

A bell rings; a dog drools. This is the oldest trick in the Psychology 101 book: That’s all it takes for the pooch to expect something to eat. Dumb dogs! The poor suckers.... Oh, wait. We humans are just as nefariously conditioned to eat when we’re not hungry. Which might explain the staggering tally of calories you ingest some days but don’t especially remember...