Is Fruit Still Part of a Healthy Diet?
Q: Can I really eat as much fresh fruit as I want and still eat clean? A: Unfortunately, no. Fresh fruit is a healthy choice and loaded with vitamins and antioxidants; however fruit still contains calories and carbohydrates. These are two things that can stop your weight-loss progress in its tracks if left unchecked. One of the reasons that fruit is so controversial is because it can be a double-edged sword. While fruit is a very nutritious food that should be included in a balanced diet, there may come a time when you will need to reduce fruit from your diet due to its sugar content. Let’s take a closer look at both sides of this controversy. Why You Should Keep Fruit in Your Diet The carbohydrates in fruit do not have a huge impact on your blood sugar levels, as most fruits…
What to Eat Before and After a Morning Workout
Anyone who’s ever experienced a growling stomach during Savasana or that on-the-verge-of-fainting feeling during a 6 a.m. spin class knows that acing breakfast is crucial if you also want to ace your morning workout. But just because you sweat before sunrise doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a bagel. Fueling for (and recovering from) exercise matters most when you up the duration and intensity of your workout, says Molly Kimball, R.D., C.S.S.D., a sports nutritionist in Elmwood, LA. So while pre-yoga eats may simply curb hunger; triathlon training meals prove key in helping you perform (and then rebuild). No matter your sweat session of choice, though, you want to make sure to eat any small snacks at least 20 to 30 minutes pre-workout, which leaves time for digestion; and keep any bigger meals to at least two hours before your workout,…
WTF Is the Snake Diet?
A big part of my job as a dietitian and health coach is to demystify food trends and field questions about the latest health crazes and fad diets cropping up online. I’ve been getting a lot of questions recently about the Snake Diet. Heard of it? Wondering what in the world this is and if it has you eating snakes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? Now that you’re officially creeped out, learn more about the Snake Diet and if it’s legit. What is the Snake Diet? So no, the Snake Diet is not a “slither away the pounds” meal plan or an “eat what a snake eats” gimmick (swallowing mice whole sounds pretty brutal), but rather a structured plan with a detox period, timed fasting portion, and maintenance phase. I was actually relieved when I heard the name started out as a joke….
25 Life Hacks to Eat Better
Though making time for food and preparing meals may sound like a chore, it can be one of the most important keys to the success of your health goals. If cooking at home seems overwhelming now, don’t worry. The more frequently you’re able to use the following tricks, the less overall time meal planning will take down the road. Before you know it, healthy lifestyle choices will become habits. For everyone racing through life at warp speed, these tips can help you to make the most of your time in the kitchen. Keep it simple. Instead of following some fad diet with lots of rules, keep your healthy eating routine simple. Eat real food that’s mostly plants with lots of color and variety. Balance every meal with high-quality proteins like lean meat, fish, tofu or beans and complex carbs…
What’s the Deal with Starvation Mode? | Ask the Dietitian
Ever skipped a lunch break only to be warned by a well-meaning buddy that it could put your body into “starvation mode” and damage your metabolism? Before you dash off to stuff a dollar into that vending machine, it’s important to understand the different ways that people define starvation mode and how it differs from actual starvation. WHAT IS STARVATION MODE? “Starvation mode” is a slippery term. While one camp wishes that the starvation mode myth would die already, another staunchly defends its existence. Unsurprisingly, this boils down to the differences in definition. The two most common definitions are: Starvation mode is a phenomenon where metabolism slows down because you’re not eating often enough. Starvation mode is a phenomenon where your metabolism slows down because you’re not eating enough calories. “STARVATION MODE” IS NOT EATING OFTEN ENOUGH The implied horror of being…
So You Want to Stop… Snacking Late at Night
Snacking late at night has been known to derail even my most motivated and disciplined clients and, believe it or not, we’re all hardwired to do it. According to the landmark work of Roy Baumeister and Dianne M. Tice at Florida State University, humans have a limited supply of willpower, and the ability to resist temptation is limited by available blood glucose. In plain English: Our willpower is weak when we’re hungry, making it tough to resist snacking. After a full day of making healthy choices, your willpower reserves are low—another reason why it feels nearly impossible to battle late-night munchies. But there’s hope: Baumeister’s and Tice’s research also shows it’s possible to train your willpower just like a muscle. Which means, getting into the habit of resisting night noshing will make you better at resisting those midnight…