When it comes to eating vegetables, you really can’t go wrong. Unless you’re slathering them with cheese, butter, salt, or sugar, vegetables are a nutritious complement to any meal — and you should eat them as often as possible. But with so many vegetables to choose from, it’s helpful to know which ones give you the most nutritional bang for your buck. And contrary to popular belief, the healthiest vegetables are not obscure plants that …
8 ways to sneak more vegetables into your diet
Let’s face it: getting more vegetables into your diet can be a challenge. Maybe you just don’t like the taste of veggies. Or maybe you find them too hard to prepare or simply don’t know how to cook them. These are valid concerns, but there are plenty of ways to overcome them. If you don’t like the taste of vegetables, it’s possible you just haven’t learned to cook them in a way that brings out …
13 nutrition facts everyone should know
The internet is full of nutrition advice that is contradicting and confusing. It’s no wonder so many of us have no idea where to start when it comes to getting healthier or losing weight. But, if we go back to basics, we can find a way to meet our health goals without losing our collective minds in the process. The following nutrition facts will help you get on the path to wellness. 1. There’s a …
From the doc: Yes, you need to eat vegetables
It’s the advice our mother always gave us and that health experts continue to push to this day: eat more vegetables. The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans say half of your plate should be vegetables. And yet, so many of us continue to eat far fewer vegetables than recommended. One study found that less than 14 percent of people are getting the recommended amount of vegetables each day! Chances are, you already know vegetables are …
6 best anti-inflammatory foods
Many people are living with chronic, high levels of inflammation in their bodies and they don’t even know it. This puts them at risk for chronic diseases and other health problems. But you can fight back with one simple thing: your diet. Eat these anti-inflammatory foods each day, and you’ll lower inflammation and help prevent many serious health issues. 1. Leafy greens The health benefits of leafy green vegetables such as kale and spinach are …
Ready to start losing weight? Start with these 5 habits
Many factors are at work in determining how easily you can lose weight and keep it off. Some are not in your control, including your DNA and genetics. But, if you focus on small, doable changes, you can get started on the path to a healthier you. Start with these 5 simple weight-loss habits. 1. Start a food and drink diary A food journal can help you identify your own personal diet patterns and determine …
How chronic inflammation can affect your mood
Earlier this month we discussed inflammation and the effects that it can have on your physical health. When looking at the effects of inflammation, there’s another important aspect that doesn’t always get as much attention: inflammation and mood. Inflammation, in its acute form, is helpful. It is the body’s way of fighting off an infection or illness. It is meant to be temporary. But when there’s no infection or no injury, and inflammation circulates at …
6 things you didn’t know can reduce inflammation
Inflammation is both a necessary body process and an enemy to good health, depending on the type of inflammation and what’s causing it. We need short-term inflammation to help heal trauma like injuries and infections. Chronic, long-term inflammation, however, can disrupt processes throughout the body and is linked to a number of serious health problems. But you don’t have to let inflammation hijack your health. There are a number of things you can do to …
From the doc: 7 evidence-based benefits of omega-3 fatty acids
Dietary fats have had a bad reputation for many years. For the longest time, low-fat diets promised weight loss, and people were told that eating fats would lead to weight gain. But certain fats are actually necessary for facilitating many processes in the body, and may even help drive weight loss. You’ve probably already heard of omega-3 fatty acids, but how do these fats benefit your health? Are you getting enough omega-3s in your diet? …
The link between stress and weight gain
Are you constantly stressed? If so, it could be affecting your weight. Ongoing, chronic stress is strongly linked to weight gain. When faced with stressful situations, our adrenal systems release cortisol — a stress hormone that regulates a series of bodily processes. Cortisol influences blood sugar levels, macronutrient metabolism, blood pressure, and the central nervous system, as well as many other functions throughout the body. Cortisol also affects our body’s production of the hunger hormones …