Browse Category: Nutrition

Save Both Time and Money with These 5 Easy Cooking Tricks

In today's economy, time and money are both valuable commodities.  One of the ways to save on both of them is with cooking!  In that arena, there are a number of ways to make the most of your time and money, especially when you’re not just preparing meals for yourself, but for a whole family. Keep reading for five easy ways to save both time and money in the kitchen.

5 Weight Loss Tips and Tricks

Looking to lose that excess weight? If so, this probably isn’t your first attempt. Most people who’ve tried to lose weight and experienced some success tend to put the weight back on—plus a few additional pounds—within a year. So how can you improve your chances of achieving your goal weight and keeping it off for good? Try these techniques.

The Pros and Cons and Consuming Alcohol

What do you think of when you hear the word “socialize”? Perhaps you picture a night out with friends, brunch with “the ladies” or happy hour with colleagues. While not always present, drinking alcohol is often an important part of the social lives of many people. You may drink to relax, drink to celebrate, or drink to have fun.

Good News: There are Healthy Benefits of Eating Dark Chocolate

If you like to eat chocolate to satisfy your sweet tooth, there’s good news: dark chocolate is more than just a delicious treat—it’s also good for you! Take a look at some of the things dark chocolate can do . . .

Go Greek: Health Secrets of the Mediterranean Diet

Looking to improve your overall health? Then the Mediterranean Diet may be for you! Based on the traditional eating practices of people living in countries around the Mediterranean Sea (Greece in particular), the diet includes high amounts of fiber, low amounts of fat, a small amount of trans fats, and moderate consumption of alcohol.

Leafy Greens: The Lowdown on Why We Love Them

Simply put, leafy greens are some of the healthiest foods available. Packed with vitamins, these plants are a valuable and necessary part of a normal healthy diet. For preventing disease and restoring an ailing body to health, leafy greens are a natural choice that can’t be beaten!

Is Sugar the New Cocaine?

Mmmmm . . . sugar. It’s that magical ingredient that makes foods such as candy, cookies, sodas -- even bread --taste delectable. But have you ever considered that your attraction to sugar and sugary-foods might be out of your control? While the term “addiction” has been tossed around for years in regards to sugar, new research is showing that sugar’s addictive properties may be more dangerous that previously thought . . . even more so than street drugs such as cocaine. Keep reading for more information on this recent research.

Dark Chocolate Lowers Inflammation, Cholesterol, Blood Pressure

The media always enjoys writing funny, punny or even sunny headlines about the latest chocolate-for-health studies. Yet a recent Italy study about the benefits of eating dark chocolate suggests taking the cocoa plant quite seriously because it appears to be capable of lowering inflammation in the body. Inflammation has been increasingly associated with heart disease by constricting circulation in the blood vessels. The Italian researchers showed that dark chocolate can lower C-reactive protein in the blood. C-reactive protein or CRP is an accepted biomarker of heart disease and hypertension. Dark chocolate appears to contain several antioxidant substances called polyphenol and flavanols that disrupt the production of CRP. That’s a delicious thought.

Stevia is FDA Approved: Get to Know this Natural Sweetener

The increase in obesity, and consequently diabetes, in America has urged many manufacturers to create sugar substitutes in the battle for better health.  You can find them in your sodas, desserts and in nearly every gum on the shelf. But many of these sugar substitutes have not been proven safe, and may create potential health problems including everything from headaches and nausea to cancer. One possible alternative to popular sugar substitutes is stevia, a natural sweetener. What exactly is stevia? And is it safe? Let’s take a look . . .

How to Jumpstart Your Family's Day with Breakfast

Are you a breakfast eater? Not everyone is, and for different reasons. Unfortunately, there’s no getting around it: breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day! And, even if you are on the breakfast wagon, it can be challenging to feed a diverse group of tastes and interests first thing in the morning. How can you make sure everyone in your family is getting the nutrients they need? Keep reading for some healthy breakfast suggestions.