Popular topics:
Diet News, Diet Reviews, Diet Shows, Diet Tips, Diets in Review, General
Welcome to Diets in Review! If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Watch as Annie Bell Muzaurieta speaks with Matt Lauer about helping the environment by going green with your diet. Learn some simple easy tricks that not only help the environment but also help you increase your healthy food intake. Annie is the food editor at thedailygreen.com.
Did you know that consuming too little of the electrolyte potassium can actually increase your blood pressure and your chances of having a stroke? And increasing it might help some to reduce the amount of blood pressure medication they are taking. This latest news is according to the Harvard Medical School. Foods that are high in potassium are meat, fish, poultry, bananas, apricots, honeydew melon, avocado, spinach and a host of others.
Most of us get adequate levels of potassium in our diet, but for those who exercise and sweat a lot and for those who follow a very restricted diet with few calories, they should be very aware of consuming enough of this mineral.
A deficiency is usually marked by generalized weakness. But those who need to be concerned about getting too much are those with diabetes and in renal failure. They can no longer metabolize or break down electrolytes and therefore run the risk of having too much potassium running through their systems. If you’re concerned that you fall in either of these extreme categories, talk to your doctor.
Whether you’ve done it or just heard about it, doing a cleanse is a hot and popular undertaking these days. Even though cleanses have been around for hundreds of years, a few like The Master Cleanse have enjoyed some time in the spotlight recently. The purpose of a cleanse varies. Some do it to clean out their system of toxins, others do it to lose weight and still others undergo this feat of discipline to improve their energy and sense of well being.
The kind of cleanse varies also. From all-juice fasts to eating just vegetables, most cleanses rely on just a few staple foods to get you through a predetermined amount of time. Typically, cleanses occur at the change of seasons like the shift that we are experiencing now of ushering in spring as we say farewell to winter.
Most Western medical professionals find cleanses unnecessary since they believe the human body has an innate system to rid itself of unwanted sludge. However, many health professionals, usually those with an alternative health focus, promote cleansing as a necessary part of maintaining and improving health. If you’re thinking about doing a cleanse, it’s safe to consult with a health practitioner who helps guide people through a cleanse. He or she can help you choose a cleanse that fits your energy needs and your ultimate goal.
I’ve done one cleanse in my life. It lasted for three days. The first day I ate nothing but fruit and vegetables and the remaining two days, I drank nothing but fruit or vegetable juices. At the end, I felt pretty darn good. So much so that I swore off of sugar and anything remotely processed for about a month afterwards. Not bad for a first time cleanser. I’m thinking about doing it again in the coming weeks to herald in spring. If you have a cleansing experience you would like to share, I’d love to hear from you.
Hi All! Being a guest blogger, I feel as though I have to introduce myself. My name is Roni and I normally blog over at my place, WeightWatchen.com. My claim to fame, if you will, is losing 70lbs on Weight Watchers, which I’ve kept off for 2 years now.
One of the things that helped (and helps) me become successful on this weight loss attempt (believe me, there were MANY attempts) was my willingness to try new foods. I think most of us now know that a successful weight loss plan needs to be something that we practice long-term. Dare I say a lifestyle with all the advertising that’s going on. Anyway, if the plan we choose has only specific meals or foods we can eat that may put us in a position of getting bored, returning to old eating habits and going off plan. Which may lead to disastrous results, like gaining even more weight (yes I’ve done that too).
So what’s the answer?
Well, it may lie in your refrigerator.
Shortly after I joined Weight Watchers, I hit my kitchen. Soon, I realized with just a little creativity and some practice (ok, ok A LOT of practice) I can make good healthy foods at home. Something I think that is very necessary for long-term weight loss success.
I’m not sure I would be where I am now (weight-wise, that is) if I didn’t get creative and keep things fresh in the kitchen. Now I know that not everyone has the ‘cooking gene’ but there are many resources out there to help give you ideas, hold your hand and even inspire you.
A few months ago I started GreenLiteBites where I share my kitchen adventures on cooking and eating light. I post about new foods I’ve tried, share my recipes, and even post tips.
Don’t worry, if an amateur blog isn’t your style, a lot of places are focusing on healthy, light recipes, like CookingLight.com, Healthy Cooking at TasteofHome.com and even the Food Network.
So I say, give it a try! Hit your kitchen and see what you can come up with, you may surprise yourself!
Thank you, Roni, for sharing your kitchen and weight loss insights with DietsInReview!
If you plan on sitting on your duff this weekend watching the March Madness Sweet 16, do yourself a favor and don’t fill up on the typical watch party snacks. Greasy potato chips, fried chicken wings and calorie-packed cheese dips are common fare at these parties. Whether you’re hosting the crowd or have been invited to attend, be prepared with healthier snack options. Your guests won’t notice the difference and you’ll look like you’re helping out the host if you are the guest. These are our top two seeds:
Cherry Almond Clusters are a sweet, crunchy twist on traditional popcorn balls.
Ingredients
19 cups air-popped popcorn
2 cups granulated sugar (substitute Splenda, with zero calories)
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 tsp. vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tsp. almond extract
1 cup maraschino cherries, cut into quarters (use fresh cherries to reduce calories)
1/2 cup blanched, whole almonds, toasted
Preparation
1. Keep popcorn warm in a 300 degree F oven
2. In a heavy medium-size saucepan, combine sugar, water, corn syrup, vinegar and salt
3. Bring to a boil; clip candy thermometer to pan
4. Cook syrup to 250 degrees F (hard ball stage)
5. Remove saucepan from heat
6. Quickly stir in almond extract
7. Scatter cherries and almonds over the popcorn
8. Slowly pour syrup over all; toss lightly to coat evenly
9. Spread popcorn on sprayed cookie sheet and let cool
10. Separate into clusters with a fork
Caribbean Chicken Kabob have a refreshing flavor and offer plenty of protein and fresh veggies.
Ingredients
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 lime rind, finely grated
2 Tbs. lime juice
1 Tbs. rum
1 packet sweetener
1 tsp. cinnamon
Fresh veggies and fruit like mushrooms, peppers, onions, zucchini or pineapple
Preparation
1. Cut chicken into bite sized chunks
2. Place in a bowl with the lime rind, juice, rum, sweetener and cinnamon
3. Marinate 1 hour
4. Save the juices and thread chicken on 4 wooden skewers with desired vegetables
5. Cook the skewers under a broiler or grill for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally and basting with the juices
Click here to find hundreds of free recipes at Diets In Review.
Well, maybe not exactly, but more and more research shows that not getting adequate sleep each night is a risk factor for obesity. Lack of sleep has a negative effect on the hormone leptin, whose function is to control appetite. Sleep deprivation results in lower levels of the hormone circulating in our bodies. We register this biological happening by feeling like we are more hungry and thereby eating more. Additionally, low levels of leptin have been associated with obesity.
Even though it’s a badge of honor in our culture to say that we get by on 5 or 6 hours of sleep each night, this seeming feat is actually working against us. Perhaps getting adequate sleep, or about 8 hours of sleep each night, should help us start to lose weight.
eDiets.com made its mark online for offering professional guidance through meetings and personal guidance for its members. Now, there are more and more companies taking their health expertise to the masses via online counseling and guidance. Plenty of people can lose weight. But it’s often the case that people will gain back that weight they were so dedicated to shed. Researchers have found that people who have lost weight were more apt to keep it off if they had periodic personal chats with a counselor.
If you wear a shirt that says “Feed me, I’m Irish” on March 17, then you need to read this post! Just like
any other holiday, St. Patrick’s has its fair share of calorie- and fat-laden foods that everyone can’t wait to get their hands on. Namely, of course, is the beer. Pubs and bars will use more green food dye Monday than any other time of year. If you feel you must indulge in the green-tinted libations, opt for a light beer and save some calories.
As far as meals go, we’ve selected some Irish favorites that are “lucky” enough to have a healthy variation, either low-carb or low Weight Watchers Points.
We’ve all taken the food quizzes that determine what kind of personality we have based upon the kinds of snacks and foods we gravitate towards, but more and more studies show that what our bodies are designed to eat are the foods found in nature which are crunchy and chewy. I know - this doesn’t bode well for all of us ice cream lovers out there or mac and cheese fans where the creaminess and smoothness doesn’t make our teeth work too hard but it does make us appreciate how evolution has worked for both our ancestors and for us to keep us fit and healthy. Crunchy apples, crisp broccoli, hearty almonds are foods low in calories, high in fiber and low in unhealthy fats. It’s no wonder that diets are packed with fruits and vegetables which take longer to eat and make us feel full.
According to a recent study on green tea, the catechins, a kind of antioxidant, have a better absorption rate if you squeeze a bit of citrus juice in your cup of the healthy brew. Most of the catechins are never absorbed so even though you think you are getting a hefty slug of some disease-preventing antioxidants, you aren’t getting nearly as many you thought. The study found that lemon juice seemed to have the best boosting effect followed by orange, lime and then grapefruit juice. To get the most antioxidant punch for your tea, opt for a 50/50 split between green tea and the citrus juice of your choice.
The Diet Column is about all things health and diet related. We bring you the latest
diet news, reviews and helpful tips daily.
More >
Get Our Feed
