A ‘Fantastic’ Diet Plan? Really?
Maybe he knows something about business, but Donald Trump in his 2004 book Think Like A Billionaire, misses the mark on how to avoid weight gain: "To summarize the Mar-a-Lago Diet: It has to be served in a fantastic setting. It has to look fantastic. It has to taste incredible. It cannot make you gain weight. If you…
Read MoreNew Guidelines for Old
Late in 2013 new guidelines were published for health care professionals to manage people at risk of cardiac or vascular (stroke) disease. The guidelines were written because the old guidelines did not 1) address the risk of stroke, 2) consider younger patients with risk factors but normal cholesterol numbers, and 3) make recommendations in the…
Read MoreA Re-Evaluation
"Hello, Susan. Come in and sit down. I've been expecting you." Dr. Robbins came from behind his desk, motioning to a leather arm chair."Good afternoon, Dr. Robbins," Susan responded."Yes, mother's heart attack got my attention." She perched on the edge of the chair, tightly clutching her purse."I suspect it did," he mused aloud, leaning against…
Read MoreSmall Dietary Changes Add Up
Ben Franklin said, "A penny saved, is a penny earned." Yet we haven't yet learned the corollary: A few calories skipped, results in significant long-term weight loss. NHANES data reveals that between 1971 and 2002 Americans increased their daily caloric intake by 200 calories for men and 300 for women. Yet, the calories per eating episode…
Read MoreHigh Nutrient Plant-based Diet Reduces Hunger Pangs
Ever tried eating less--then experienced uncomfortable "hunger pains"? Researchers have discovered that consuming a plant-based diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, with beans, seeds and nuts can reduce the discomforts of hunger by nearly 90% compared to those who consumed high levels of animal products and processed foods.PositiveTip: Eat more plant-based foods…
Read MoreOnly 1200 Calories, and I Can’t Lose Weight!
Frustrated with your weight loss efforts? Try some honest realism. A quick visit to MyPyramid Tracker will reveal that the average baked potato served in America has 2.5 times more calories than the one listed in the food tables, thus underestimating actual calories. Or maybe one day you did eat 1200 calories, but the next…
Read MoreOverheard in a Food Mart
“Kate? Is that you, Kate?” Clarissa froze in her tracks, blocking the entry door to the food market, mouth open, staring. “Hi, Clarissa,” her friend answered while pulling out a grocery cart. “Better come in before you get run over.” Kate jumped out of the way of several shoppers as they rushed by. “I didn’t…
Read MoreCycling Keeps the Pounds Off!
We know that brisk walking helps to control weight. Now a 16 year follow-up of 28,414 healthy women found that bicycling as well as brisk walking resulted in less weight gain. Slow walking showed very little benefit to weight gain.PositiveTip: If you don't care for brisk walking, hop on the bicycle and pedal away to…
Read MoreVisualize the Impact of High Sugar Sodas
How would you illustrate the consequences of drinking one can of soda per day for a year? Last year the New York City Department of Health unleashed a series of posters in a campaign to get people to reduce their intake of sugary sodas. Now they have kicked it up a notch with a wordless…
Read MoreAn Hour of Exercise a Day Keeps the Pounds Away
A thirteen year study of 34,000 middle-age women in the Women's Health Study has found that over any three year period women who engaged in moderate exercise less than 420 minutes a week (or 60 minutes a day) were significantly more likely to gain five pounds while eating their usual diet. However, this worked only…
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