How to Lose Weight Without Cutting Carbs

Low-carbohydrate (low-carb) diets have been around for decades and continue to gain mainstream popularity as most people who go on these diets tend to experience rapid and substantial weight loss. If you've ever dieted before, at some point…

The Important Role of Protein During Dieting

Protein is one of three essential macronutrients and a key component of a healthy, balanced diet. It's mainly responsible for building, repairing and maintaining all the body's tissues and serves as a chief structural component of lean body…

Appearances Can Be Deceiving: Why Being Thin Doesn’t Equate to Being Healthy

A while back, former supermodel Cheryl Tiegs caused a major stir when she criticized Sports Illustrated for selecting plus-size model Ashley Graham for one of three covers of its 2016 Swimsuit Issue. Tiegs specifically claimed that the magazine…

Decoding Calories and Calories from Fat on Food Labels

All food labels list the number of "calories" in a given serving of food. This information is typically displayed directly below or around the serving size. The calorie is a basic unit of measuring the amount of "energy" the body obtains when…

Understanding Serving Size Values on Food Labels

The "serving size" of a packaged product is always shown at the very top of the Nutrition Facts label. This is essentially the amount of food recommended to account for one serving. Serving sizes are typically listed in pieces, grams, ounces,…

Interpreting Total Fat and Types of Fat on Food Labels

The Nutrition Facts label lays out the "total fat" in addition to the different types of fat contained in foods. Determining the type of fat can help you decide whether or not a food is rich in 'healthy' and/or 'unhealthy' fats. Trans fats and,…

Understanding Cholesterol, Sodium and Potassium Values on Food Labels

You can find the cholesterol, sodium and potassium content of packaged products in the middle of the Nutrition Facts label. These values are always listed in milligrams (mg) and it's important to monitor your intake of each. Now, I must point…

Using Food Labels to Track Your Intake of Carbohydrates

A section denoted "carbohydrates" can be found directly in the middle of the Nutrition Facts label. The amount of carbohydrates (carbs) per serving of a food is always listed in grams and typically followed by 2-3 additional lines containing…

Translating the Ingredients List of Food Labels

The "ingredients" list of food labels is where the food industry deceives unknowing consumers the most. You've probably heard this in some way before, but I'll just reiterate: If the ingredients listed on a package don't sound familiar, sensible,…

Simple Strategies for Deciphering Food Labels

As a healthy lifestyle blogger, shopping at Costco is by far one of my favorite pastimes. Not only is it a great way for me to stock up on affordable whole foods for the family, but it’s also an opportune time for me to observe the general…

Is It Possible to Eat Healthy at a Brazilian Steakhouse?

I'm always on the hunt for great food that suits the health-conscious eater, whether a vegan, vegetarian or die-hard meat lover. A while back I attended the official ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening event for a newly opened Fogo…

How to Boost the Flavor of Your Foods Without Salt

Growing up in Chicago, I spent a lot of time at my grandma's house. I have very fond memories of tasting fresh cucumbers and tomatoes from her garden during the warmer months of the year and the cantaloupe and honeydew melons she bought from…

Tangy Tagine of Chicken with Apricots

Chicken is undoubtedly one of the most widely consumed foods in the world. Whether baked, roasted, grilled, pan-fried or skewered, it's indeed a standard go-to food among virtually all meat eaters. While I regularly eat a healthy balance of…

Reconsidering Pork as Part of a Healthy Diet

A while back I wrote an attention-grabbing article entitled "Is Eating Pork Good or Bad for Your Health?" Since this article was originally published dozens of people have written me with counterarguments largely based on prevailing misconceptions…

Five Strategies for Eating Well with a Lung Condition

When compared to the average person, individuals with lung conditions (chronic bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema) use way more energy during breathing. Such breathing problems are primarily a result of narrowing and inflammation (swelling) of…

How Different Types of Fiber Affect Your Health

The average American diet is severely lacking in fiber. This is not at all a good thing, as eating a high-fiber diet promotes healthy weight management and substantially lowers the risk of developing diet-linked chronic conditions among which…

The Unique Nutritional Benefits of Eating Green Bananas

Bananas are by far among the world's most popular fruit. But, most people only eat bananas when they ripen from green to yellow since they tend to become softer and considerably sweeter in taste. This is unfortunate as bananas have a unique…

Why the Master Cleanse Won’t End Your Weight Loss Battle

The "Master Cleanse" is a liquid-based dieting program that has experienced widespread popularity for decades. Not surprisingly so, as it typically results in dramatic amounts of weight loss in a relatively short period of time. Also known…

How Pescatarian Diets Can Be Good for Your Health

In my 20 years of working within the health, wellness and fitness sector, I've vetted just about every diet plan that exists, from low-carb, ketogenic diets to very low calorie diets to those involving point systems and prepackaged meals. I…

Micronutrients: The Nutritional Building Blocks for Good Health

I always emphasize that a nutritionally balanced diet is of the utmost importance for weight management, disease prevention, and overall good health. When most people think of such a diet, the first foodstuffs that generally come to mind are…