Nutrition
Are Fish Oils Beneficial for Brain Health during Pregnancy and Post-Partum?
Fish oils are a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid found in moderate to high concentrations in fatty fish, as well as in other foods.
Is Whole Grain Intake Associated with Morbidity and Mortality?
Popular diets come and go. While no longer nearly as popular as it was a decade ago, a major emphasis of the Paleo Diet is to avoid grains, including whole grains. Although there is no scientific evidence to support this notion, Paleo enthusiasts claim that grains ‘cause inflammation’, which leads to an increased risk of chronic disease (morbidity) and early death (mortality). Before we look at what the science says, let’s review the basics regarding grains.
Should You be Nuts About Coconut Oil?
Over the past several years, a number of claims have been made regarding the benefits of dietary coconut oil (DCO).
Can Drinking Alkaline Water Help to Prevent Disease?
As you browse the bottled water aisle of the supermarket, you will notice a fair amount of alkaline water products. You will also notice that alkaline water is considerably more expensive than standard bottled water. Have you ever wondered why alkaline water is manufactured and sold in the first place and why people might want to drink it? Let’s dive in! (pun intended).
Rating the Diets: U.S. News and World Report Annual Rankings for 2023
It’s that time of year again! Countless numbers of individuals will make a resolution to lose weight in 2023. For 2023, a team of 33 nutrition experts including Registered Dietitians, physicians, weight loss researchers, and nutrition scientists rated the effectiveness of 24 different diets in the following areas: overall score, overall weight loss score, and healthiness score.
Dietary Guidelines to Eat and Stay Healthy
The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services first published the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) in 1980. Since that time, the DGA have been updated every 5 years.
Villain or Hero?: Understanding Dietary Fat
There are six nutrients that are needed by the human body for survival. Known as the essential nutrients, they include carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water.
A Closer Look at the Glycemic Index
Many popular diets focus on limiting foods and beverages that are high on the glycemic index. Is this really the best approach for healthful and long-term weight control? Read on to learn more!
High-Energy Protein Foods and Drinks: an Oxymoron?
An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction. One of my favorite oxymorons is ‘jumbo shrimp.’’ Some food and beverage manufacturers promote their products using terms such as ‘high-energy protein bar’ or ‘high-energy protein drink.’ These oxymorons will serve as the basis for our discussion below.
Dietary Carbohydrate: Facts and Misconceptions
Low carb/ketogenic diets have been cycling in and out of popularity for the past half century! During that same time period, obesity rates have skyrocketed worldwide.
Is High-fructose Corn Syrup Really any Worse Than any Other Simple Sugar?
In recent years, high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has been projected as one of the leading causes of the obesity epidemic in Americans. But, does science really support this view? With all the public shaming and campaigns against HFCS, we wanted to take a closer look at how HFCS stacks up against other types of highly-refined sugar before casting it as the dietary villain.
The Truth About the Keto Diet
Here we go again… The internet is buzzing about the latest dietary fad, the Ketogenic Diet. Unlike other diet plans, the Ketogenic (or keto) Diet isn’t actually new. This low-carbohydrate diet is similar to the Atkins Diet of the 1970s and the South Beach Diet of the late 1990s. Same diet, different name.
Light Exercise Following a Meal Has Tremendous Impact on Triglyceride Levels
Many studies have demonstrated that the timing of meals and exercise is important for glycogen loading, muscle building and improved nutrient uptake and utilization by the body.
Subway or McDonald's--Which is Healthier?
A recent study decided to assess if adolescents ages 12 to 21, purchased foods that had fewer total calories at a restaurant marketed as “healthy” compared to one of it’s competitors. The “healthy” chain studied was Subway and the competitor, McDonald’s.
The Blood Triglyceride:HDL Ratio and LDL Particle Size: Critical Issues for Determining Risk of Coronary Heart Disease!
Just about anyone who is health-conscious knows that LDL-cholesterol is nicknamed ‘the bad cholesterol’. It has long been known that individuals with elevated levels of LDL face an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), which can result in heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgery, or stent placement.
Does pickle juice relieve muscle cramps?
Muscle cramps during exercise are a frustrating challenge for many athletes, with 80% of triathletes and 50% of football players experiencing cramps during competition or training.
Tips for a healthier Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is just around the corner! That day of extreme gluttony and couch cruising that kicks off a season of calorie imbalance.
November is National Diabetes Month! Do You Know Your Hemoglobin A1C Number?
A normal fasting blood glucose level is between 70-99 mg/dL. Individuals with fasting glucose levels between 100-125 mg/dL on two separate occasions have prediabetes,
