Vegetarianism receives much acclaim for fostering numerous health benefits, as it should. In nearly every country where the majority of people consume a plant based diet, rates of heart disease and other related illnesses are significantly lower. However, if the mere thought of eliminating meat from your diet makes your muscles shudder and scream steak, don’t be disheartened. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets are healthful if they are thoughtfully considered. Many of the health benefits of the vegetarian lifestyle are attainable without sacrificing your mom’s famous Thanksgiving turkey dinner. Read the rest of this entry »

If apples are good for me, then apple crisp, pie, or cobbler certainly must exude the same health benefits right? After all, apples make up the base, and rolled oats comprise the topping (albeit a minute fraction). Clearly that means it is a nutrition powerhouse dessert.

If this sounds like your rationalization when you want to eat a “sinfully” delicious food, try again. Most of us LOVE it when our favorite indulgences seem to carry health benefits. Any new articles on the “heart healthy effects of wine” and “chocolate as a health food” sell like hotcakes. But really, let’s be honest. Read the rest of this entry »

If the very sight of PEMDA drags you back to Algebra kicking and screaming, “No! I will not excuse your dear Aunt Sally!” you are in luck. When it comes to your health, reaching and maintaining your ideal weight has only 2 steps, and while the order of operation to achieve Read the rest of this entry »

Don’t you just love the books that say ‘Follow these 3 steps and you’ll be successful in life and business!’ Or how about ‘Do a, b, and c, and you’ll have the body of your dreams!’ Who actually buys into those formulaic prescriptions for success anyways?  When it comes to people who prioritize a healthy lifestyle, however, there are definite trends. So, for a nutritious variation on the famous Stephen Covey theme:  7 (of the many) habits of highly nutritious eaters.

1) They eat fresh and snack well
Nutritious eaters know that consuming the recommended 9 servings of fruits and vegetables in 3 square meals every day is a difficult feat. So they maximize Read the rest of this entry »

My favorite Seinfeld episode points out the truism that the best part of any muffin is the top. Nobody wants the muffin stump; it’s garbage. Muffin tops are coveted…except, well, when it comes to your health.

In nutrition, the afore mentioned “muffin top” is the dreaded accumulation of fat around your mid-section, or visceral fat. Everyone accumulates fat somewhere, but Read the rest of this entry »