Cooking your own food is the best way to gain better control of nutrition, but finding the time is challenging. Incorporate these five tips to squeeze in quick and healthy cooking despite a busy schedule.

Continue reading article

With only three simple ingredients, this recipe provides a nutritious sweet treat that you can make in minutes. Feel free to use any combination of your favorite fruits, but when using frozen fruit, check the label to ensure that there is no added sugar. For a soft frozen yogurt, serve straight from the ice cream maker. If you prefer a firm yogurt, place it in a freezer-safe container and freeze for one to two hours.

View recipe

Time

It's impossible to add more minutes to the day so exercise must become a priority on your to-do list. Research continues to support that three bouts of exercise lasting at least 10 minutes each are as effective as exercising for a full 30 minutes at one time. Climb the stairs for 10 minutes before work, take a 10-minute walk on your lunch break, and do a combination of squats, push-ups, and crunches for 10 minutes at night.

Continue reading article

What happens when I eat a low carb diet?

Carbohydrates are a major fuel source for exercising muscles, the brain, and the central nervous system. When you drastically lower your carb intake, your body lacks the glucose necessary to produce energy. Without adequate carbohydrates, the body enters a state of ketosis where it begins to burn its own fat for fuel. This may sound appealing at first, but the process also produces ketones, a byproduct of breaking down fat stores. Ketones have been linked to gout, kidney stones, and kidney failure.

Continue reading article

Store-bought granola bars are often loaded with added sugar and preservatives. Keep your snacking healthy by making a batch at home. These granola bars are packed with fiber-rich oatmeal, protein-rich seeds, and they are naturally sweetened with honey and almond butter.

View recipe

What Is High Fructose Corn Syrup?

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a sweetener used by food manufacturers. It is formed when corn starch is broken down into corn syrup. Enzymes are added to the corn syrup to convert some of its glucose to fructose. The result is a sweetener that is about 50 percent glucose and 50 percent fructose. It is a less expensive alternative to sugar, and it also serves as a preservative in packaged foods. HFCS is most often associated with regular soda, but if you check food labels, you will find it in pasta sauce, barbeque sauce, ketchup, sweet pickles, jam, bread, crackers, cereals, ice cream, and baked goods.

Continue reading article

The key to smart snacking is finding foods with a balance of complex carbohydrate, heart-healthy fat, and protein. This combination gives you long-lasting energy and prevents a spike in blood sugar that will leave you hungry in a few hours. Here are a few foods that will curb hunger and keep you feeling full.

Continue reading article

Store-bought sandwiches can contain as many as 1,300 milligrams of sodium. Making sandwiches at home allows you to select your own bread and cut down on condiments that are often heavily salted. Using roasted turkey that you make at home instead of lunch meat allows you to get lean protein without all the additives. An apple gives these sandwiches crunch and the caramelized onions add a sweet and salty flavor that requires no added sodium.

View recipe

Taste first.

If you reach for the salt shaker the second your plate hits the table, set it down and start tasting your food first. Most foods have plenty of salt added during cooking and they taste delicious once served. Break the habit and train yourself to taste your food before adding excess sodium.

Continue reading article

It is possible to lose weight by only reducing your calorie intake or by only increasing exercise, but research shows combining the two is a much more effective approach.

While reducing calories alone has a slight edge over exercising to lose weight, exercise can help you keep the weight off. Studies show that that those who successfully maintain their weight loss are often regular exercisers.

Continue reading article