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Is Dairy Healthy or Not?
Tweet Share on Facebook November 30, 2012 CommentFew nutrition topics are in a more constant state of froth than the place of dairy in a healthful diet. And that's really saying something, because nutrition topics in general are pretty frothy.
I have made my case now, more than once, that despite our decidedly imperfect knowledge of nutrition, we do have actual knowledge of nutrition—and that it is the basis for opinions worth sharing. Knowledge and expertise should be the basis of widely disseminated opinions about nutrition, just as they are the basis for such opinions in engineering, architecture, and rocket science.
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Exercise for the Right Reasons
Tweet Share on Facebook November 30, 2012 CommentWhen most people set out to get some exercise, it's for one reason: to look better. Whether our end goal is weight loss, toning up, or building muscle, we tend to be motivated to exercise by external benefits. However, recent research on willpower hints that this external focus may be counterproductive to our overall success.
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Are All Nut Butters Created Equal?
Tweet Share on Facebook November 29, 2012 CommentWhen I was growing up, peanut butter seemed to be the only option as far as nut butters went. I also remember my mother buying the natural type long before I was ready to give up my conventional brand. Boy, how times have changed. Today, there are so many options available: from almond to cashew butter; creamy to crunchy; organic to conventional. How can consumers know they are making the best choice when they hit the supermarket?
Below is a comparison of various nut butters, with no salt added. I am including sunflower butter even though technically it is made from a seed. One serving—2 tablespoons—of each packs:
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Spice Up Your Exercise Life
Tweet Share on Facebook November 28, 2012 CommentThe only way to build fitness is to continually change up your routine. If you do the exact same movements every time you work out, you won't be getting the most out of your fitness commitment. That means you can and should be finding new, interesting ways to exercise.
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Of Course There's Such a Thing as a Bad Food!
Tweet Share on Facebook November 28, 2012 CommentOf course there's such a thing as a bad food. At least there is if "bad" is defined on the basis of health. In a sense, a bad food is one whose risks outweigh its nutritional benefits when consumed regularly. And while there is certainly room for disagreement over what should or shouldn't be considered bad, some foods are pretty straightforward. Take lollipops for example. There's nothing nutritionally redeeming about a lollipop. There are no vitamins or minerals to speak of, and virtually all of its calories come from sugar. Consequently, I'd certainly label them "bad." Still, I'll occasionally give them to my children, whom I love more than life itself. But the fact is, just because a food is nutritionally bad doesn't mean we shouldn't ever eat it.
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What Are Sprouted Grains?
Tweet Share on Facebook November 27, 2012 CommentThere are a number of healthy foods that were once considered fringe fare, relegated to the realm of health-food stores and to the diets of people who preferred tie-dye to neckties. Yogurt, granola, hummus, and goji berries are all examples of "alternative" foods that debuted on the margins but have since gone mainstream. And to this list, it appears we may soon add sprouted grains.
On a recent visit to the supermarket, I noticed that a variety of sprouted-grain products had taken up residence in the cereal, pasta, bread, and snack aisles. A company called TruRoots markets sprouted lentils, mung beans, quinoa, and brown rice. Advertisements on two new cereals from Arrowhead Mills boast that they're made with sprouted corn and sprouted rice for improved digestion and nutrient absorption. Food for Life's Ezekiel 4:9 brand promotes breads, pastas, and cereals made from sprouted wheat, spelt, barley, and lentils. There are even tortilla chips by a company called Way Better Snacks that are made with sprouted beans and sprouted quinoa. Is this just the latest fad, or are sprouted grains poised to become the next big health-food craze?
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How to Eat for Your Age
Tweet Share on Facebook November 26, 2012 CommentWhen juggling work, friends, relatives, exercise, and perhaps a little leisure time, food shopping is rarely No. 1 on our to-do lists. Like it or not, even with today's food-delivery services, we still have to make decisions about the best foods to buy for ourselves and our families. Although we all could benefit from making choices based upon the federal government's Dietary Guidelines for Americans and its MyPlate icon, we often choose foods for personal reasons—as a result of our desires, our companions, our environments, and our emotions.
Depending on age and activity level, we need different nutrients for the different cycles of life. Whether your body is young and quickly changing, or you're getting on in years and want to feel young, it's important that your food can meet your needs. And no matter how old you are, your supermarket has something to offer you.
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Healthy Multitasking: Get Your Exercise While Gardening
Tweet Share on Facebook November 26, 2012 CommentDo you laugh out loud when people say they get their exercise by gardening? If so, you may be thinking that gardeners simply putter about, planting pansies. Sounds like you've never tended to a community garden, where you may haul 500 pounds of cow manure or plant 30 trees!
Simply putting a few wheelbarrows full of fresh wood chips around a raised garden bed may have you feeling sore the next day. In short, gardening can be a major workout. Here's how to make it safe and effective:
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Pumpkin, 3 Ways
Tweet Share on Facebook November 22, 2012 CommentEven though Halloween is over, pumpkins are everywhere this month, and you can do just about anything with them. Pick them, paint them, carve them, and yes, eat them. You may normally eat them in pie form, so you know that they can taste pretty delicious. But, let’s take them out of the crust, and give them a more substantial—and healthy—role in your diet.
Pumpkins are pretty unique in that they have two nutrient-dense parts: the pulp (also known as the meat) and the seeds. The meat is saturated with all sorts of nutrients, including vitamins A and C. You probably know vitamin A for its role in protecting your peepers, but it also boosts your immune system, supports cell growth, and even plays a role in reproduction. With a similar consistency to butternut squash, the culinary possibilities for pumpkin meat are endless. It’s hearty enough to bake on its own, “heavy” enough to stand in as a starchy side, and creamy enough to blend into a soup.
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How Often Should You Eat?
Tweet Share on Facebook November 21, 2012 CommentI'm amazed at the emotions that charge the answer to the question of how many times a day we should be eating. Some people swear by six small meals, while others stress three square ones. Others argue that two daily meals, or even one, will suffice. I've also met folks who passionately believe that snacking ensures a successful diet, while others firmly believe that diets can fail on snacks alone.
The medical literature isn't much help in these matters. There are studies clearly demonstrating that frequent eating benefits weight management. Other studies, however, show that frequent eating leads to caloric excess.
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