Does eating fat make you fat? How much fat should I eat? Is there really such a thing as good fats and bad fats? If you have ever asked yourself any of these questions, you are not alone. The amount of conflicting information about dietary fat can leave one feeling a bit overwhelmed! First we were told to shun carbs and embrace fat with the introduction of the Atkins diet in the 1970’s. Fast forward to the 1990’s-fat was definitely out and “fat-free” everything was in!

Newly published research in the peer reviewed medical journal JAMA Oncology found those who ate a pro-inflammatory diet were more likely to develop colon cancer than those eating an anti-inflammatory diet. Researchers from Harvard who followed more than 126,000 health professionals over 26 years found that those with the highest intake of inflammatory foods had greater rates of colon cancer. Women who consumed pro-inflammatory diets were 22% more likely to develop colon canc

What’s high in protein, a great source of fiber, and gluten free? Quinoa (pronounced keen-wa), that’s what! Although considered a whole grain, quinoa is related to the spinach and Swiss chard family. Quinoa is a bit of a superstar because it’s not only high in protein, but it is considered a complete protein with all of the essential amino acids. This is great news for people who eat primarily plant based diets. Easy and quick to make and delicious hot or cold, you can go c

There is nothing like a hot cup of soup on a cold day to warm you up inside and out! Soup is also a great way to get those needed vegetables. Broth based soups with non-starchy vegetables are low in calories, yet also filling. This Sichuan Carrot Soup includes a unique combination of distinct flavors from the Sichuan province of China that can be enjoyed cold on a warm summer day or hot on a cold night (my personal favorite)! Ingredients: 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 onion, c

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a calculation that describes relative weight for height. While it’s a quick and easy tool to classify weight status, it’s not a perfect measure of health. To calculate your BMI, take your current weight in pounds, divide it by your height in inches squared, and multiply the resulting number by 703. For those averse to math, you can enter your height and weight into this BMI calculator from the National Institutes of Health. Now that you know your BM

Mention the word “organic” and most people automatically think of two other words: “expensive” and “healthy.” There is some truth to both associations. But does organic really mean “healthier”? Let’s start with a clear understanding of the definition of organic. Foods labeled as organic are grown and produced according to U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations. Organic farming practices are environmentally friendly practices. Organic operations must demonstrate they

It’s that time of year-along with the Golden Globes, we also have the “best” diet awards! I can’t help but be amused by the fact that the organization ranking diets also does research that is guiding college searches for my high school junior. According the US News and World Report, we have a tie for the #1 best overall diet in 2018. For years, this title was held by the DASH diet, but this year DASH is sharing #1 with the Mediterranean Diet. So, what are each of these diet

You’ve heard the terms “mindful” and “mindfulness”, but do you really understand what they mean? If you guessed that mindfulness is the opposite of mindlessness, you’d only be partially correct. All of us have probably experienced a “mindless” moment at one time or another. You know, you drove yourself to work but you don’t quite remember the drive- you just suddenly find you have arrived. Or how about that time you were watching your favorite show with a giant bowl of pop

Inflammation is a normal process that is critical to survival. Short lived inflammation is beneficial, while chronic inflammation is the culprit of many common chronic medical conditions and even some autoimmune disorders. Hence, an anti-inflammatory diet may help decrease risk of inflammatory illness. You may already know of Vitamin D as the “sunshine vitamin” because it is synthesized when sunlight hits your skin. But did you know that Vitamin D is also considered an an

Sugar-it brings a smile to our face. Our love sugar starts early in life, and often continues to grow. For some of us, sugar is an addictive ingredient we are trying to eradicate from our lives. For many others, sugar is a common source of confusion. Here are three common sugar fallacies followed by facts: Fallacy #1: All sugar is bad. Fact: Sugar is the main source of energy for your body. Without sugar, your body can’t function. Sugar comes in many forms. In fact, na