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5 Common Causes of Belly Bloat
Tweet Share on Facebook November 21, 2012 CommentAmong the many matters of dietary and digestive distress, my patients most commonly complain of gas and bloating. Given how often I encounter this problem, one would think I'd have developed a magical dietary prescription to fix it, fast. But alas, I have not.
Here's why: Bloating is in the eye of the beholder. To some, it means excessive belching. To others, it means passing gas excessively. Some people define bloating as feeling like their stomach is distended; this type of bloating may or may not be accompanied by constipation. And then there are those to whom bloating is an appearance thing—the tummy that wakes up flat but looks "pregnant" later in the day, or the belly protrusion that persists despite weight loss.
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How to Have a Winning Winter Workout
Tweet Share on Facebook November 21, 2012 CommentWorking out in cold weather may seem less strenuous than exercising on summer days. But winter poses its own challenges.
Although you may not feel as sweaty and heated during your outdoor workout, you are still losing a lot of water and must stay hydrated. If you're going to run outside for at least an hour, you should bring water, and possibly food, with you. Plus, drink two glasses (16 ounces) of water before starting your run. You can use your urine as a good indicator for your hydration—it should be pale yellow throughout the entire day.
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Tips for Giving This Thanksgiving
Tweet Share on Facebook November 20, 2012 CommentWhat better harvest celebration is there but Thanksgiving? If you garden or will spend the holiday with someone who does, you may get to enjoy home-grown versions of traditional favorites like mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, green beans with slivered nuts, fresh salads, and, perhaps, even the star of the table himself.
Sharing what we've grown, however, is only one way to share the "garden of your life" this Thanksgiving. Here are some others:
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The Alpha and the Omegas
Tweet Share on Facebook November 16, 2012 CommentThere is a class of essential dietary fat that has long been referred to as "fish oil" that is now increasingly referred to as "the omegas."Both names are misleading and wrong.
For starters, the essential class of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs; we will call them that) is (1) by no means limited to fish; is (2) not found in all fish; and is (3) not all found in fish. It's true that fish, and seafood, are a premier source of n-3 PUFAs. It's also true that for now at least the majority of n-3 PUFA supplements sold worldwide are made from "fish oil," so it's understandable that the name stuck.
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10 Small Diet Changes to Start Making Now
Tweet Share on Facebook November 16, 2012 CommentWhy is it that most people who want to lose weight think they need to make immediate, drastic changes in order to be successful? They go into a "diet mode," they try this or that fad, and they start depriving themselves of all the foods they enjoy. Eventually they feel frustrated and give up—again.
My approach has always been to focus on small changes. I believe that if you feel good about one small change, you can easily make another, then another. Success breeds success. Bottom line: You should never feel like you are on a diet—healthy eating should be part of your lifestyle, not something that you simply try out for size. Here are 10 easy adjustments to start making today:
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How to Beat 5 Embarrassing Ailments With Your Diet
Tweet Share on Facebook November 15, 2012 CommentSurrounded by cellphones, search engines, and apps at our fingertips, we expect to get everything we seek with lightening speed. But it's not just information we want quickly—we also expect weight-loss diets to take effect immediately, and we want our workouts to make us look like body builders as soon as we join the gym.
You may never have to pick up a telephone book or encyclopedia again; but when it comes to losing and maintaining your weight, you'll need to put in some time. On the other hand, there are some digestive problems that can be controlled in a relatively short period of time just by manipulating some foods in your diet. Although these tips may not "cure" your digestive conditions, this quick reference guide may help keep some of the following ailments from disrupting your daily routines.
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Why You Should Invite Charles Darwin Over for Dinner
Tweet Share on Facebook November 14, 2012 CommentEvolution. We all know the gist of how that works. It's survival of the fittest, where the weak and the weary don't live long enough to pass on their genes to the next generation, leaving only the strongest and healthiest to populate the future. It's a powerful force of nature—and it belongs in your kitchen.
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Why Grown-Ups Should Play Outside
Tweet Share on Facebook November 14, 2012 CommentAfter Superstorm Sandy hit New York, my gym, the Park Slope Armory YMCA, became a shelter for over 600 people (it's closed until further notice). I was happy that so many folks were getting help, but I was getting cabin fever. I didn't want to gain the so-called "Sandy Five" and was itching to get back to my kettle bell and spin classes. Although I love running outside, achy knees keep my mileage to about 10 a week.
Feeling a bit desperate, I reached out to one of the gym instructors, Joanna Paterson. I knew she had a personal training business as well and led an outdoor boot camp in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. After making sure that Joanna and her daughter had weathered the storm, I asked, "Got any classes this week?" Happily, Joanna had actually increased her offerings due to the Armory situation, and when I showed up for my first Bodiesynergy class, I saw that I was not the only gal who had been jonesing for a workout.
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Happy Thanksgiving! Hold the Gluten, Nuts, Dairy, Etc.
Tweet Share on Facebook November 13, 2012 CommentHosting Thanksgiving dinner these days is not for the faint of heart. As the guest list grows, so too does the list of dietary restrictions.
There have always been your vegetarian cousin and your uncle with diabetes. But this year, your sister with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is bringing her gluten-intolerant boyfriend, and your nephew with the nut allergy will be joining you. Mom called to remind you that your dad's cholesterol is through the roof, so please go easy on the saturated fat when cooking this year. Oh, and did she mention she's just been diagnosed with lactose-intolerance?
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Whack Weeds in Your Garden—and Your Life
Tweet Share on Facebook November 12, 2012 CommentMention weeds and, let me tell you, it's a sure way to clear a room. No one wants them. No one wants to hear about them. And no one really wants to deal with them—although I have met a rare soul or two who finds weeding relaxing. If you meet people like this, do everything you can to keep them as volunteers for your corporate or community garden!
Stick with me a bit, and I promise I'll not only give you some easy, earth-friendly ways to eliminate unwanted weeds (I say unwanted, because some weeds are just a balsamic dressing away from being a side dish), but I'll also show you how to reduce the weeds, metaphorically-speaking, in your life.
