Baked or broiled fish for dinner?

January 11, 2012 By

Here’s another study to make you want to have a serving of baked or broiled fish. The new study finds that people who eat baked or broiled fish on a weekly basis may be improving their brain health and reducing their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

The study, presented recently at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, looked at 260 normal individuals from the Cardiovascular Health Study. Information on fish consumption was gathered using the National Cancer Institute Food Frequency Questionnaire.

Some 163 patients consumed fish on a weekly basis, the majority of whom ate fish one to four times per week. [Read more...]

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Study: High-Fat Foods Cause Brain Scarring

January 9, 2012 By

Keeping pounds off long-term is difficult for even the most successful dieter, and scientists may now be on the path to determining why.

A study published recently in The Journal of Clinical Investigation shows that high-fat foods cause damage to the hypothalamus – an area in the brain responsible for hunger, thirst and the body’s natural rhythms and cycles – in rodents.

“These are really important papers that begin to push the idea out that we’re not in control as much as we think we are,” says Dr. Steven R. Smith, co-director for the Sanford-Burnham Diabetes and Obesity Research Center, who wasn’t involved with the study. [Read more...]

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What Makes A Healthy Diet?

January 8, 2012 By

Weight lost doesn’t always equal health gained. That new diet that took inches off your waistline could be harming your health if it locks out or severely restricts entire food groups, like carbs, or relies on supplements with little scientific backing, or clamps down on calories to an extreme.

“People are so desperate to lose weight that it’s really weight loss at any cost,” says Madelyn Fernstrom, founding director of the UPMC-University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Weight Management Center and author of The Real You Diet. And when that desperation sets in, says Fernstrom, “normal thinking goes out the window.” Who cares if the forbidden-foods list is longer than War and Peace? Pounds are coming off. You’re happy. But your body might not be. [Read more...]

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Add Some Spice To Your Food And Boost Your Disease-Prevention Power

January 7, 2012 By

The holidays are over, January has arrived, and many of us enter the New Year determined to live our lives a little healthier than last.

If you’re a baby boomer, you may be noticing a few more aches and pains this year compared to last, or perhaps a little progression of some unwelcome medical problem like high blood pressure or diabetes.

We often hear about the health benefits of eating more fruits and veggies, getting a little more exercise, or getting your weight down, but did you know that adding more spices and herbs to your food can reduce inflammation and also reduce your risk of chronic disease?

Most cultures have used spices and herbs in their traditional cuisines for thousands of years; we often think of these ingredients as flavor-enhancers, but nature in her wisdom has also provided these plants to us for their powerful health benefits. [Read more...]

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Foods For Seniors To Drive Nutrition Trends In 2012: Report

January 6, 2012 By

Natural foods, caffeine-saturated energy products and senior nutrition are predicted to dominate nutrition trends in 2012, according to a report that polled 450 senior executives in the global food, beverage and ingredients industry.

In New Nutrition Business’s “10 Key Trends in Food Nutrition and Health 2012” report, the notion of “Naturality” topped the list and includes the free-from industry, such as gluten-free, dairy-free and sugar-free foods.

Where consumers can expect to see this trend proliferate is in beverage and snack foods, reported online trade site NutraIngredients.com, just as it’s helped catapult sales of Greek yogurt in the US, coconut water, almonds and pistachios in recent years: all are credible, all-natural, guilt-free snack options. [Read more...]

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How Toxic Is Your Nail Polish Really?

January 5, 2012 By

That shiny blue color flaunting all of its metallic glory on your painted nails might add a flash of style to your fingers, but it’s wreaking havoc on the environment — and your health.

You’re no eco-dummy. You don’t need to do a lick of research to know that a product that comes in every hue of the rainbow — and then some — is anything but natural. What makes that glossy nail polish so eye-catching-ly shiny and able to stick to your nails for days? A slew of chemicals, of course. We know you’re pretty eco-savvy, but do you know just how much bad stuff that one teeny nail polish bottle holds? [Read more...]

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6 Low-Cal Foods For Your Cravings

January 4, 2012 By

Choose foods that are heavy on the stomach but are low in fat. The ones that fall low on the glycemic index are said to stave off hunger for longer periods of time.

Know what these are and win over your urges.

Soup

A bowl or two of broth-based soup rather than higher-calorie cream soups works well. Add your favourite cut-up veggies, plus a protein such as beans, chicken, or fish, so you have all the elements of an energy-dense, satisfying meal. Due to its thick consistency, soup takes longer to absorb keeping your tummy full for a longer time. [Read more...]

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