Trying to Cut Back on Salt Is Hard to Do
The warnings have been loud and clear for a long time: High levels of sodium (salt) intake are hazardous to our health. Especially the so-called “Western diet,” which is dominated by processed foods,...
View ArticleRegularity, Only One of Many Reasons to Eat Fiber
If you are confused about dietary fiber, you are not alone. Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, dried beans and peas, nuts and seeds are all excellent sources. However, according to the Dietary...
View ArticleEven the Health-Conscious Prefer the Fast Lane
Fast food seems to be losing its grip on America’s eating culture. The industry’s behemoth, McDonald’s, is struggling with reportedly significant drops in profits, leading to the recent resignation of...
View ArticleGoing Gluten-Free by Choice Is Not Always a Good Idea
There are plenty of people who must avoid gluten for health reasons. But there are also many who only follow a gluten-free diet because that’s the message they are given in the media, from daytime TV...
View ArticleIn the Fight Against Obesity, the Odds Are Stacked Higher Than Ever, Experts Say
By the end of this decade, diseases stemming from poor diet and unhealthy lifestyle choices will top all other causes of death worldwide. At the same time, there are no effective policies in place to...
View ArticleGrowing Inequality in Health and Life Expectancy Between Nations
April 7 is World Health Day, an annual event sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote greater awareness of global health issues. Conferences and activities all over the world address...
View ArticleRestaurant Food, a Likely Culprit in Spreading Heart Disease Among Younger...
Eating out is generally considered a pleasurable experience, not least because of its convenience. Busy lifestyles as well as lack of cooking skills and amenities make it an easy choice for many...
View ArticleNot One ‘Plus Size’ Fits All
When it comes to treating weight problems, even experts believe that similar methods can be applied almost universally: Put your patients on a diet, have them engage in regular exercise, and, if all...
View ArticleWhat Happens When Stress Gets the Better of You
While much research has been done on the health effects of stress, surprisingly little is known about what happens when people are no longer able to cope with the challenges life throws at them. Yet,...
View ArticleLessons in Positive Thinking
For most of my career as a dietitian and health counselor I have paid much attention to the deficiencies in my clients’ diet and lifestyle choices and how these could be changed for the better. Over...
View ArticleNoise Pollution, a Widely Underestimated Health Hazard
You may get a headache, be unable to concentrate, become annoyed over seemingly simple things. Your heart races, you break a sweat, feel anxious and unsettled for no particular reason. And then you...
View ArticleNutritional Health Most Valued Among the Young and Affluent
You would have thought, “the older, the wiser.” But when it comes to diet and lifestyle choices, today’s young people seem to be doing better than any living generation before them. As surveys show,...
View ArticleSilence Please!
The fact that people make (or have to make) themselves constantly available via cell phones and social media increases the risk of “burnout,” commonly defined as physical or mental collapse by overwork...
View ArticleTime Changes Affect Us More Than We May Think
We do it twice a year without giving it too much thought. Come spring, we turn our clocks by one hour forward, in autumn we dial them back again. It’s called daylight saving time, and it affects about...
View ArticleNutritional Updates – What Dietitians Recommend Now
Can vegetarians get enough protein? What about antibiotics in meat? Do artificial sweeteners cause cancer? These are just a few of the questions that people often ask me in their quest for eating more...
View ArticleWe Can Improve Our Eating Habits by Returning to Our Roots
I just returned from a two-day conference that was organized by Oldways, a non-profit organization with focus on culinary and cultural diversity around the globe. Decades ago, its founder, Dun Gifford,...
View ArticleAlone But Not Lonely
It’s supposed to be to most wonderful time of the year. But for many people the holiday season is anything but joyous. Feeling left out when others celebrate and exchange gifts can be devastating and...
View ArticleThe 2015 Dietary Guidelines, at Long Last
The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans have finally been released. There are good and bad news. The new guidelines, for the first time, attempt to focus on foods and dietary patterns. Previous...
View ArticleEating Right – At Least Sometimes
Consumers generally want to eat better and are willing to spend more money on healthy foods like fresh and organically grown produce, but they also remain prone to reach for fast food and snacks,...
View ArticleCan Negative Thinking Make Us Ill?
Negative thinking has long been recognized as a culprit for many illnesses – as has the healing power of a positive mindset. Destructive thoughts and emotions can cause health problems, especially when...
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