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The Great GMO Experiment

10/12/2014

One of the fiercest debates raging in the food community these days (or maybe ever), is the debate about genetically modified organisms - and particularly, foods. In truth, the debate is more about politics than it is about health, but health is where we need to start. The pro-GMO camp swears that GM foods are totally safe, while the other side counters with a range of arguments, from the seemingly reasonable contention that GM foods should be labeled as such, to the extreme position that GMOs could be the end of life on this planet.

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you probably can guess that I fall somewhere in the middle. But I still think it's an important topic to address, especially considering how much of our food now contains genetically modified ingredients.

For one thing, the contentions that GMOs are "safe" for humans to eat really don't have a lot of long-term evidence to back them up.

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Good Trans Fats vs. Bad Trans Fats (Guest Post)

9/14/2014

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We're back!! I'm so sorry for the long absence! My husband and I moved into our new house a couple of weeks ago, and I had a guest post all lined up for you while we were moving, but we had some issues getting our internet set up, so I wasn't even able to post that unfortunately. It's great to be back in action, although we have a lot of work to do on the new house, and still a lot of unpacking to get done! While we're getting settled in, here's a great guest post for you from one of my favorite health and nutrition "gurus." He agreed to share some valuable and eye-opening information about one of the most misunderstood nutrients of our time - of course I'm talking about fat! And even more surprisingly, trans-fats....

You've probably heard of trans-fats, and most likely, what you've heard is that you should avoid them. But did you know that, as with most fats, there are good and bad kinds of trans fats? This week's post will attempt to clear up some of the confusion around trans fats, and expose the truth about which types of fat you really should be avoiding.

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3 Ways to Conquer Cravings & Eat Healthier

8/10/2014

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We all know it's no fun to be hungry, but even more than that, hunger can derail even the best intentions to eat healthy. When you're hungry is when the cravings arise, and the next thing you know, you're face down in a bag of Doritos, with a box of Oreos on the side.

If you crave foods that aren't so good for you, it can seem a daily struggle to eat healthier. But there are ways to change your eating habits - without giving up all of the foods you love.

Here are three tips to curb those bothersome cravings, and keep yourself on track with your healthy eating goals.

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Coconut Oil: Miracle Cure or Hype?

7/27/2014

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One food item people often ask me about is coconut oil. Probably one of the most hyped-up natural remedies since apple cider vinegar, coconut oil has been touted as the cure to everything from tooth decay to Alzheimer's disease. But is it really? Can this tropical nut oil truly do all that the stories circulating the internet claim?

Today I will address some of those claims, and also share some facts about coconut oil in an attempt to clear up the confusion about this subject.

First, the hype. From the fact that a search for "coconut oil" pulls up 16 million hits on Google, you can tell that a lot of people are talking about this topic! From the Dr. Oz show, to the New York Times, coconut oil has been making headlines for a few years now. But how to separate the fact from the fiction?

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How to Eat Less Crap: Part 2: Salt & the Solution

7/20/2014

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As we discussed last week, part of the reason it's so hard to stop eating junk food is because we are biologically conditioned to love the taste of fat, sugar, and salt. (No, it's not your fault!) Last week we discussed why you love fat and sugar - if you missed it, click here to check it out! This week, we're going to address the final piece - salt, and then offer some simple solutions to help you curb the junk food habit, and eat (and be) healthier.

Here's Why You Love Salt:

As with fat and sugar, you are hard-wired to love the taste of salt - and it's no wonder why, as salt, like fat, is also essential for health. However, unlike fat (and sugar), your body can't produce salt on its own - it has to come from dietary sources. Salt is included in many, many bodily processes - and I won't get too technical here, but if you're an athlete, you know how important electrolytes are for maintaining hydration and keeping your bodily functions going. Salt is included in every bodily fluid, and sodium chloride is the major electrolyte that your body uses to keep your cells properly balanced and functioning. Salt also helps transport toxins out of the body, conduct electrical impulses in the brain and body, keep your blood at the right pH level, and much more. As with fat, you would die without salt. Your taste buds know this - and so do the food processing companies! So they give it to you - and a lot of it - in just about every processed food known to man.

Personally, salt is my main craving. I can do just fine without sugar (unless I've become temporarily addicted to it - which happens a couple of times per year - especially around the holidays), and I love fat, but I don't feel deprived of it, since I make sure to include enough good fats in my diet. I can walk right by a plate of brownies, cookies, or a cake at a party, with barely a glance. But that bag of Doritos is another story.... (Yes, I - a self-proclaimed health nut - love me some spicy nacho cheese Doritos!) Who knows why that's my weakness? The rest of my family are all sugar-a-holics, but I've always been all about the salt.

Back to Our Sugar Addiction for a Moment....

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How to Eat Less Crap: Part 1: Why You Love Fat & Sugar

7/13/2014

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Eating junk food and processed foods is probably the main cause for obesity in this country. And it's not that people aren't aware of this - we all understand there's a reason they're called "junk foods" - it's because nutritionally they're junk. Or to put it plainly, we know they're bad for us, and yet we all eat them anyway!

Now, I'm not talking here about things like the difference between good and bad fats, or whether fat or carbs are worse for you, or the mountains of conflicting and confusing information about nutrition that are thrown at us every day. Today I'm not talking about any of those seemingly complex issues (although you can find many enlightening posts on those topics on this blog - just click the "Food & Nutrition" category).

Today, I'm talking about the highly processed and nutritionally unhealthy foods that the majority of Americans already know as "junk food," and guiltily eat anyway - many of us almost daily. (And with all my passion for health, you may be surprised to learn that....I'm not immune to junk food cravings! More on that later....)

So why do we eat them? If we know they're unhealthy, we know they're bad for our bodies, we know they make us fat, what keeps us returning to the bag of chips over and over? Why do we continue to scarf down a half package of Oreos at a time, when we know it can only have negative consequences? Are junk foods really addictive? Do food processing companies add some secret substance that makes us unable to control our urges to eat more and more of them, despite knowing they are bad for us? And beyond that, is there anything we can do about it?

This week and next, I will unpack answers to all of these questions and more.

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The Truth About Butter

7/6/2014

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It both amazes and frustrates me how pervasive the low-fat myth has become. Despite dozens of books, and hundreds of research studies, articles, and reports in medical journals demonstrating proof to the contrary, the vast majority of people still seem to believe that foods like butter (and other saturated fats) are bad for you.

In actuality, this was never a proven fact to begin with. As I explained a couple of months ago, the originator of this myth, Ancel Keys, actually described his conclusion as "the lipid hypothesis" (meaning it was only a theory). But somehow, the idea got into the mainstream media, and before you know it, the low-fat frenzy was on. With thousands of food companies now mass producing low-fat processed food products by the millions, and doctors still recommending a low-fat diet to patients right and left, it's going to be a slow process to turn the tide of public opinion.

That's why I was both surprised and elated to see BUTTER featured on the cover of Time magazine last month!

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Do You Really Need Nutritional Supplements?

6/22/2014

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There has been a lot of controversy over the past several years about the value of taking vitamins and nutritional supplements. Some swear by them, and others say they are unnecessary and expensive. Conflicting studies have shown they have no effect, and conversely that they are very helpful in maintaining health and preventing (sometimes even treating) various diseases and conditions.

So what is the truth?

Should you take supplements or not, and if so, which ones?

As with so many things when it comes to health, the real answer is...it depends.

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Review: Fresh: New Thinking About What We're Eating

6/8/2014

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We're back!! Jamaica was amazing - beautiful, relaxing, and fun - everything a honeymoon should be.... I'm still getting caught up on all of the things I missed while gone, so I don't have a long rant or expose' for you today. Instead, I thought I would review for you one of my favorite food-related movies I have seen; it's called Fresh: New Thinking About What We're Eating. It's definitely worth a watch, and here's why.

I watched the documentary film, Food, Inc. a few years ago, after it was recommended to me by several different people, many of whom described it as "shocking," "appalling," or "you'll never look at food the same way again." While I'm sure they felt that way, it didn't do much for me. Already being familiar with so many of the atrocities committed by our industrial food system, the film contained little that was new to me, and I was left wanting more.

For me, Fresh is that "more." In a way, Fresh picks up where Food, Inc. left off.

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#1 Worst Food That Causes Aging

5/26/2014

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I actually didn't have time to write an article for you this week because.....I'm getting married this weekend!

That's right guys - this gal is officially off the market! :-)

Luckily, I've got a great guest post for you from one of my favorite health and fitness "gurus" - Mike Geary. Mike is best known for his great courses on fitness and weight loss, but what I like best are his hard-hitting articles exposing the truth about REAL health and nutrition. This week he's talking about the #1 food that causes faster aging. For those of us wanting to stay young and healthy as long as possible, you'll definitely want to sit up and take notice.

Also, due to honeymoon/travel plans, we will not be posting next week, but be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for a special peek at an article that goes hand-in-hand with this one - on a certain type of exercise that actually AGES you - you'll want to stop doing these exercises right away!

Check out the article below, have a wonderful week, and enjoy your Memorial Day!

Rose.

The #1 WORST Food that Causes Faster Aging
by Mike Geary - Certified Nutrition Specialist
& Catherine Ebeling - RN, BSN

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