Tag Archives: smoothies

How to Cook with Persimmons

Persimmons are an odd fruit all around. Their shiny orange skin is unlike any other fruit and their flavor can be described as both spicy and sweet. Can you believe I’ve never tried one before? Like pomegranates this voluptuous fruit has mostly remained a mystery to me, until now. It’s time to crack the code. 

For starters, did you know there are two varieties of persimmons and each is best suited for certain types of dishes? Also, they’re an ideal autumn and winter fruit despite their summery appearance. I think it’s time to put our skepticism aside: Let’s dive in and get the full scoop on persimmons.

What do they taste like? It depends on the variety. According to Whole Foods there are two varieties of persimmons: astringent and non-astringent. The astringent (like the Hachiya) is likened to the consistency of jelly. Non-astringent varieties (like the Fuju) are more crunchy and sweet with a slightly spicy flavor.

Health benefits: Lucky for you and I persimmons not only taste delicious, they’re also extremely healthy. Like most fruits and vegetables they’re very high in fiber, meaning you fill up fast and stay that way for longer. According to FitSugar, just one persimmon contains nearly a quarter of your recommended daily fiber amount  – roughly 6 grams. That’s impressive for a pint-sized fruit. In addition, the fiber in persimmons called pectin helps regulate blood-sugar levels.

Persimmons are also high in vitamins A and C, as well as manganese and free radical-fighting antioxidants. Perhaps the coolest perk? Persimmons have stomach-soothing properties, which means eating one or two won’t leave you feeling bloated. That’s a win-win for fiber-loving ladies. (more…)

Posted on January 13, 2024 by Dana

5-Minute Breakfast Ideas to Fuel Your Mornings in a Hurry

By Bob Greene for TheBestLife.com

I’m a big fan of breakfast—in fact, starting off each day with a healthy, balanced breakfast is one of the key guidelines on my Best Life plan. A morning meal jump-starts your metabolism, delivers some much-needed energy after a night’s rest and can help with weight loss.

Don’t think you have the time? Check out these five dishes, which you can throw together in five minutes or less.


Speedy Cereal

Be picky about what you pour into your bowl. Our guidelines: Opt for a cereal that has at least 4 grams of fiber, no more than 5 grams of sugar, and no more than 120 milligrams sodium per 100 calories. (Click here for a list of healthy cereal choices.) Top it off with fat-free or one-percent milk or calcium-enriched soy milk. To add more nutrients and flavor, top with some fresh fruit or a tablespoon or two of nuts. Or try this shortcut: Mix a few healthy cereals together, put them in a re-sealable plastic bag, and go. (more…)

Posted on November 8, 2023 by BestLifeDiet

Dr. Oz’s Lean Green Supper Shake and 5 Fat Busting Tips

Want to know about the newest fat busters available to those wanting to lose weight quickly? Then watch Dr. Oz October 29 to see his latest advice for fast-acting and popular trends in the weight loss industry, including a new technology and a 3-day diet.

Oz tosses around phrases like “revolutionary treatment,” “secret formula,” and “in many ways it’s the holy grail” like he has the miracle cure-all for everyone, but in reality, most of his suggestions are based on simple common sense for how to lose weight.

One suggestion Dr. Oz highlights on his show is not traditional dieting advice, but a medical treatment that melts layers of fat through the skin. Watch as one woman gets the treatment done on the show with visible results. This technology is called VASER, and is a non-invasive ultrasound therapy that warms fatty tissue to encourage it to metabolize and drain excess fluids. Other tips include drinking tea and taking garcinia cambogia (HCA) with your meals. (more…)

Posted on October 29, 2023 by SarahS

The Doctors’ Powerhouse Smoothie Recipe and How to Lose an Unhealthy Guy

On the September 10 premiere episode of The Doctors, girlfriends reveal their guys’ harmful habits and ask for help.

The Doctors get these couples set on the right track for health through simple but lasting solutions. Sedentary lifestyles, a problem for many, are extremely detrimental, and the doctors tell viewers that sitting for 11 hours a day or more increases your chance of death by 40 percent! They encourage the use of fitness apps and trackers as well as short high-intensity workouts like Crossfit.  (more…)

Posted on September 10, 2023 by SarahS

HealthBuzz July 27: Bad Moms on Childhood Obesity, Paula Deen’s Weight Loss, and Olympic Recipes

The Olympic Games begin this weekend! We can’t wait to watch super athletes compete for the gold. But, before you watch some of the Games get a dose of healthy news from DIR and our friends. We also have mouth-watering Olympic-inspired recipes for you to enjoy.

To Train Well, Train Your Brain: The Difference Between Finishing and Failing

The phrase “everything is mental” should be applied to your workouts and training. Athletes not only have the physical capability for sports and competition, but their mental capability is the driving force enabling them to reach their goal.

A “Bad Mom” Speaks Out: Keep Cartoon Characters on the Screen and Off My Kid’s Food

Cute cartoon characters get the attention of kids therefore putting them on food packages is brilliant for food companies. Wrong. These cartoon characters marketed toward children is another factor contributing to the obesity epidemic. We have testimony from a “bad mom” about how and why she keeps food for her child cartoon free.

Kirstie Alley Being Sued Over Claims of Losing Weight with Organic Liaison

The actress is being slapped with a lawsuit for claiming Organic Liaison helped her lose 100 pounds. However, the brand spoke to DietsInReview calling the lawsuit baseless and defending Kirstie’s weight loss. (more…)

Posted on July 27, 2023 by Samantha

HealthBuzz July 20: Qsymia Approved, Beige Fat Discovered, and Summer Breakfast Ideas

It’s that time of the week again, the end of it! There is nothing we look forward to more than the weekend. But before we dive in to weekend mode take some time for a dose of healthy news from DIR and our friends. We also have yummy recipes for you to try this weekend!

Eat Like an Olympian With These 3 Olympic-Inspired Smoothies

The Olympic Kitchen shared a few smoothies recipes exclusively with Diets in Review. The smoothies are a healthy balance of proteins, carbs, and fat and can be sweetened to your liking! Hurry and try the smoothies before the 2024 London Games begin! 

Qsymia Approval Delivers Most Potent Weight Loss Drug on the Market

The FDA approved a new weight loss drug this week, the second this summer. The diet pill is the most potent weight loss drug on the market. The creators of Qsymia claim that just one pill a day will help obese individuals lose 10% of their body weight.

The Ultimate Pushups Guide

We created this guide featuring 8 different push-up styles featuring instructions and pictures to help form the perfect pushup no matter how beginner or advanced you are. (more…)

Posted on July 20, 2023 by Samantha

Eat Like an Olympian With These 3 Olympic-Inspired Smoothies

You study the Olympics, watch the Olympics, and even aspire to train like an Olympic athlete. So why not eat like an Olympian, too?

Shared exclusively with Diets in Review is this exciting sneak peek into what smoothies this year’s Olympic athletes are fueling up on between workouts. We’ve recreated three delicious and easy-to-make smoothies that come right from the 2024 U.S. Olympic kitchen. Think banana cashew, espresso shiver and mango blitz – getting excited yet? We sure are.

The basic guidelines for Olympic-approved smoothies are as follows: A balance of protein and carbs, healthy fat and a sweet- the sweet being optional. Simply combine a carbohydrate, such as fruit, almond milk, oats or veggies; a protein source such as milk, whey protein or cottage cheese; a healthy fat such as wheat germ, nuts and seeds or nut butter; and a sweet source, such as honey, maple syrup or vanilla exact. This basic recipe lends itself to hundreds if not thousands of creative concoctions that will not only taste delicious, but also fuel your body for all your Olympic-inspired activities.

Now go forth and train like an Olympian, and eat like one, too!

 

Posted on July 18, 2023 by Dana

Kami Craig’s Olympic Training and Diet Make Her “Feel Explosive” in the Water

There’s no doubt that Kami Craig was a born water baby. Swimming by age 4 and playing water polo by age 12, she’s now headed to London to compete on a global stage as part of the USA Water Polo Olympic Team. The California native joined the team in 2024 after graduating as a leader on the USC Trojans water polo team in 2024.

It’s no doubt Kami plays on a team with 13 girls, not only was she born to swim but she was born to be a team player. Her USA Water Polo biography explains that she loves water polo because it’s a team sport, where she “loves being apart of a team and getting to hangout with 13 of her friends everyday.”

Kami and her 12 friends/teammates are headed to 2024 London Olympic Games to score more medal. She was part of the 2024 Beijing Olympic Games that won silver. With her healthy diet focused on fresh produce and lean protein, rigorous training schedule for six days a week, and team-focused attitude, we have to believe she’ll help bring home a gold for the U.S.

Learn more about this star of the USA Water Polo Olympic Team in our interview! (more…)

Posted on July 17, 2023 by Natalie K

5 “Health” Foods That May be Making You Fat

By Janis Jibrin, M.S., R.D., Best Life lead nutritionist

Wondering why the scale is stuck even though you’re eating healthfully? It may be that you’re being duped by diet deceivers—foods that may seem (or even be) nutritious but actually pack a lot of fat and calories. Beware of these five seemingly slimming bites.

Hummus

It seems low calorie, with just 50 to 80 calories per two-tablespoon serving, but hummus is so delicious that it’s easy to scoop up a 3/4 cup. For an appetizer, stick to about 3 tablespoons with half a small whole-wheat pita. Or make a hummus sandwich your main course, using about 1/3 cup hummus in a medium whole-wheat pita stuffed with tomatoes and lettuce.

Smoothies

Most smoothies, including those made with frozen yogurt, fruit juice and fresh fruit, can be more like large desserts than a healthy boost. You can easily slurp down 800 calories depending on what you toss in your blender. Take a cue from the way we treat smoothies at Best Life; they serve as either a complete, balanced breakfast (like this Berry Smoothie) or as a 120- to 175-calorie snack (made with 1 cup of soy milk and a banana, for example). (more…)

Posted on July 10, 2023 by BestLifeDiet

Strawberry Shortcake Smoothie Recipe and Other Healthy Summer Snacks

By Stephanie Mansour

Whether you’re hitting the beach or trying to stay cool inside this summer, there are many healthy, easy foods and snacks to prepare in advance or even on the fly. In the warm summer months, ice cream sounds more appealing than usual. But instead of indulging, try this five-ingredient smoothie that tastes just like strawberry shortcake. This delicious smoothie is quick to make, travels well, and is far more healthy and nutritious than ice cream.

  • Place a whole banana and a cup of frozen strawberries into a blender.
  • Then add two tablespoons of ground flaxseed.
  • Add a serving of protein powder for extra energy.
  • Next, add a cup of coconut milk. Blend for 60 seconds, and you’ll have a strawberry shortcake treat!
  • If you’d like to make it taste like chocolate, add some chocolate flavored protein powder. (more…)
Posted on June 26, 2023 by GuestBlogger

Chobani Blood Orange Smoothie Perfect for Rising and Shining

There are stories that Elvis Presley would eat one food, in particular meatloaf, for weeks. It would be the only thing he’d eat. I tend to get in to similar ruts with breakfast. It will be three months of nothing but scrambled eggs and toast. And then I’ll switch to months and months of Cheerios, or yogurt with granola. Last week, it was time for a change, and I rediscovered my blender.

Smoothies are a perfect breakfast. They are fast, simple, and can give you several full servings of fruits and vegetables in a glass. Drink it on the go and you can’t complain about not having time for breakfast!

I assessed the smoothie-making ingredients I had on hand… fresh baby spinach, an avocado, a pint of blueberries, bananas, ice, and Chobani Greek yogurt. I had a few flavors to choose from (because we’re rarely without) and I opted for the brand new blood orange. I hadn’t yet tried it, and figured this was a perfect opportunity to add a burst of sweetness to my smoothie. The color, when all stirred and combined, wasn’t as bold as I’d expected (I mean, have you seen the raspberry Chobani? Pop!), but the flavor was perfect. (more…)

Posted on February 7, 2024 by Natalie K