Nutrition
Nutrition
The full effects of appetite suppression pills
Weight control, in its simplest form,seems pretty straightforward: We gain weight because we eat and we eat because we’re hungry. It’s completely logical, then, to assume that appetite suppressants hold the key to weight loss. But do these supplements really offer a useful solution? Are there any potential side effects associated with common, over-the-counter products? How They Work Appetite suppressants, as the name suggests, limit your cravings for food. The hope is that this will stop you from taking in the excess calories that get stored as fat. Different products try to . Generally, a stimulant such as caffeine, is also included to increase the effects. In fact, caffeine itself has appetite suppressing effects. Because of all this variety, it’s difficult to pinpoint the exact mechanism by which these products actually suppress your appetite. The question of whether or not appetite suppressants actually work is as difficult to answer as how they work, and for the same reasons. With all this uncertainty, you may not be comfortable investing money in some of these pills. Is there anything else you should know if you’re considering using appetite suppressants? Potential Concerns A major source of concern when it comes to the efficacy of appetite suppressants is this very lack uniformity. When combined with a lack of evidence regarding the usefulness of some compounds, […]
Nutrition
Power lunches: The healthiest ways to brown bag
Whether you work in an office or work out of your home, you have three choices for lunch. 1. Eat out. This limits your food options to what’s available nearby, and can double or triple your meal choices. 2. Skip lunch. This is more common than you’d think, and sets you up for poor productivity […]
Nutrition
Protein powders: What they do and don't do
One of the most widely used sports supplements by far is protein powder. Generally consisting of either dehydrated whey or casein, protein powder is featured in the routines of bodybuilders, runners and everyone in between. And while the research bears out the usefulness of protein powder in certain situations, it has also been promoted as […]
Nutrition
Condiments can make or break your diet
What would a burger be without ketchup? A sandwich without mayo? Or a baked potato without sour cream? It’s hard to imagine eating many foods without their condiment counterparts. But using high-calorie condiments may actually be sabotaging your healthy eating efforts. Condiments and Your Waistline Condiments kick dishes up a notch by adding flavor. But […]
Nutrition
Coconut oil: Miracle or myth?
Celebrity doctors and health food enthusiasts alike are touting coconut oil as the new miracle food. From preventing Alzheimer’s disease to promoting weight loss to giving you silky-smooth skin and even soothing diaper rash, it seems like there’s nothing that coconut oil can’t do. Or is there? Health or hype? Coconut oil isn’t a new […]
Nutrition
The truth behind negative calorie foods
Imagine a food that actually burns more calories than it provides, that helps you lose weight just by eating it. The idea sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? These so-called negative calorie foods have been promoted by many fitness books and diet plans. But do they work? Is there science to back this claim or is it […]
Nutrition
8 Alternative snacks
Between-meal snacking is either forbidden or essential, depending on which diet you choose to follow. Either way, most quick and available snack foods are decidedly weight-loss and nutrition unfriendly. Try these eight alternatives for your late morning, afternoon and after dinner munchies. 1. Good Ol’ Raisins and Peanuts (Gorp) There’s a reason hikers and campers […]
Nutrition
Chronic fat and why it keeps coming back
For some people, it seems like fat just melts off and losing weight is a matter of deciding that they want to. For many others, unfortunately, it’s not such an easy process. Many feel like they struggle their entire lives in a constant battle to lose the fat and keep it off. In fact, chronic […]
Nutrition
A crash course on cholesterol
Whether you have a family history of heart disease or are simply looking to take care of yourself for a lifetime, it’s smart to get a handle on your cholesterol status. The American Heart Association recommends regular screening of cholesterol blood levels for all adults over the age of 20, so if you don’t remember […]
Nutrition
Filling foods that won't pack on the pounds
It’s the dieter’s dilemma: you’re still hungry, though you just ate. Do you “cheat” and reach for more food? Or do you allow yourself to starve, which may make you more likely to overindulge later? Neither of these options are truly solutions. In fact, eating more than you should or not eating enough could end […]
Nutrition
Eating fresh in the winter cold
Unless you live someplace like California or Florida, eating fresh can be tricky during the winter months, and even in those warm locales, changing seasons still means changing availability of favorite crops. It’s not impossible to keep up your fruit and vegetable rotation in the cold seasons, but it does require some extra knowledge and […]
Nutrition
Finding the sweet spot: The best sweetener for you
Although sugar has a long history of human domestication and consumption, with records of its use going as far back as 510 BC., the sweet stuff has come under attack in the last 30 years. Common sugar, more correctly called sucrose, is generally taken from sugar cane or sugar beets and is available in many […]
Nutrition
Diet and exercise for seasonal depression
Short, grey days and cold weather are generally enough to drive even the most optimistic of us into a bit of a funk. But if you’re an avid exerciser who can’t get in your regular workout because of bad weather, the stress and rush of the holiday season can really throw you off your game. These […]
Nutrition
Diet reviews: The sardine diet
Fish, with its huge doses of omega-3 fatty acids, has received a recent push as a healthy protein choice. It’s no surprise, then, that many diets have been released that are specifically designed to help you up your fish intake. The Sardine Diet, as its name suggests, is just such a program. First detailed in […]
Nutrition
The skinny on holiday dieting
Staying on your diet during the holidays can be a real challenge, so much so that many people simply opt to call all of December a giant “cheat day.” This can lead to discouragement and destructive crash dieting come January. Instead, try any (or all) of these 20 basic tips to keep yourself on the […]
Nutrition
Beware of high-calorie holiday drinks
Nothing says “it’s the holidays” quite like a creamy cup of eggnog or a mug of spiced apple cider. But drinking too many of these festive beverages can leave you looking like Santa. Calories in Holiday Beverages Before you reach for that glass of cheer, take note: fancy beverages are often loaded with calories, fat […]
Nutrition
The Glycemic Index: What you should know
Your body is full of delicate balancing acts. Different chemicals are constantly competing to counteract each other and keep things running smoothly, in a process clinically known as homeostasis. This ability to self-regulate allows our bodies to maintain a healthy temperature, blood pressure and water levels. Another important example of homeostasis that has been receiving […]
Nutrition
Antioxidants, free-radicals and you
“Antioxidant” has become one of the most persistent, and successful, buzzwords in the fitness industry. The substances are portrayed almost as microscopic superheros, patrolling our bodies to fight against the evil free radicals. Prevailing theories tell us that antioxidants fight cancer, aging and just about every other disease and condition out there. But emerging science […]