Nutrition is the scientific interpretation of how nutrients and other substances in food relate to growth, reproduction, disease and health of organisms.
One of the most well established concepts in psychology is that animals (including humans) learn about relationships among the events they experience. These repeated experiences can change how we react to the events we’ve experienced. This is the basis of Pavlovian psychology. Research on the use of artificial sweeteners suggests just such a mechanism may …
No. In terms of weight loss, breads are arguably one of the worst foods to be consuming. There are grocery aisles with thousands of bread loaves on the shelf, yet very few could even be charactarized as healthy. Many of them contain high amounts of sugars or high fructose corn syrup. There is a large …
What Causes Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Syndrome? The last 20 years has seen an epidemic rise in Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes Mellitus in the United States. Extensive research has helped us to understand that the combination of high carbohydrate diets, lack of exercise and increased portion sizes has lead to this problem. Prehistoric humans …
If I Have Insulin Resistance or Metabolic Syndrome, How Can I Make It Go Away? Read More »
Another measure of how processing has altered the nutritional value of foods is the increasing calorie density of food. This can be measured as the number of calories per pound of any given type of food. A shocking example of this is what happens to corn as if goes through modern food processing. One pound …
So where does this unprecedented increase of dietary carbohydrates leave us in the modern era? Modern humans presently consume more carbohydrates in a single day than Stone Age humans consumed in a year, and 20-30% more than we did just a few decades ago. Part of the reason for the significant increase is that carbohydrate-based …
Modern humans evolved from our Stone Age ancestors that lived within a hunter-gatherer society whose main sources of food were animal meat and plants. The animal meat provided a significant source of protein and fat while the plants they ate provided a significant amount of vitamins, minerals and fiber. Scientists estimate that Stone Age humans …
Stone Age Humans And The Introduction Of Carbohydrates Read More »
I do! I’ve watched the show the ‘The Biggest Loser’ a few times and come away each time with the same thought, “This is the most dangerous, manipulative show I’ve ever seen on television.” Medically speaking, to encourage individuals to lose weight at these tremendous rates is very unhealthy and extremely dangerous. Weight loss experts …
Do You Think 'The Biggest Loser' Is Exploitative? Read More »
Many of my patients who are working on the carbohydrate restriction to improve their blood pressure, blood sugars, triglycerdies and weight often tell me that if they “fall of the wagon” and start eating high carbohydrates foods, they can’t seem to stop. There are scientific reasons for this. Eating a diet high in carbohydrates results …
Why Do We Crave Carbohydrates And How To Control It At A Party Read More »
For more than a decade there has been an ongoing debate arguing that organic products are better than non-organic. Both products have their pros and cons, but the biggest concern with consumers is the cost. While your organic red apple may be as red and blemish free as your non-organic red apple, the non-organic is …
Try eating more slowly if you’re looking to shed some pounds. When you eat too fast you can outpace your body’s normal hunger mechanisms that tell you when you are full. The more slowly an individual eats, the more the body is able to release hormones that suppress our hunger. So, eating a moderate …
One of the more intriguing health benefits I’ve observed in my patients from decreasing carbohydrate intake (to 25-30% of daily calorie intake) and increasing protein (20-30 grams per meal 3 times per day) is the significant and fairly rapid body sculpting effect that occurs. Patients will often comment how quickly they seem to shrink in …
As many as 100,000 cases of cancer could be prevented in the U.S. each year if Americans get rid of their excess body fat. The estimates suggest that heart disease, diabetes, and joint problems aren’t the only illnesses in which rampant obesity is causing havoc. A 2007 report from the American Institute for Cancer Research …
Just when you thought it was safe to escape the cold and cuddle up with your favorite snacks at the local movie theater, the people at the Center for Science in the Public Interest are popping the lid on movie theater popcorn’s calorie, fat, and salt content. A large popcorn packs the biggest punch, containing …
Don't Be In The Dark When Eating At The Movie Theater Read More »
The holidays can be difficult for those that are taking the low carb approach. Socially involved holidays can be an exception to enjoy your favorite foods. The ham or turkey, green beans, and the acorn squash are the best options for a low calorie and low carb approach, but you can still enjoy your mashed potatoes and gravy on …
For some families, Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving without the cranberry sauce. Cranberries are high in vitamin C and have a tiny bit of calcium per 1/3 cup serving. Eaten raw, they are naturally low in carbohydrates and sugars. However, on Turkey day these berries are traditionally served as a sauce or a relish, with sugar as the …
With Thanksgiving only days away, recipe planning and grocery shopping is at its peak. Before you head out this week with your grocery list, see if you can stock up on low carb alternatives to your favorite Thanksgiving dishes. A low carb plate alternative to a traditional plate can still be satisfying, such as stuffing, cranberry relish, …
All vegetables are carbohydrates, but you’d be amazed to hear how much lower they are in carbohydrates than grain products. Root vegetables are excellent sources of vitamins, but some rank better than others in terms of calories, fiber and carbohydrate content. Turnip: 1 cup 46 calories 8g carb 2g fiber 5g sugar 1g protein *high in vitamin C, …
Food is an important emotional component in many of our lives. We have incorporated food through the ages for ceremonies involving life, death, religion and family. Because of this, it is important to not feel like the most important meals of your life are being excessively altered by your effort to eat in a more …
We are social creatures. No matter what religion or nationality, food will always be present at a social event. With the upcoming fall and winter holidays, the pressure of foods at social events is inevitable. In order to prevent the weight gain, I recommend to my patients to follow a few pointers. 1. Have Fun. …
The holidays are meant for family and friends to be together. For people trying to lose weight, a worry of the holidays is the Thanksgiving meal. I’ve outlined the calories of a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Keep in mind, this breakdown does not include going up for second servings. Thanksgiving Meal: Food Amt Cal Fat Carb Sugar Protein Turkey breast 6 …
A 2004 study that followed mothers of chronically ill children showed that the stress of caregiving actually caused these women to age faster on a cellular level than did the mothers of healthy children who constituted the control group. When cells divide, the protective caps on the ends of the chromosomes, called telomeres, shorten slightly …
Sampling and cooking go hand in hand, yet the chef may consume an entire meal during their ‘taste testing’ before they actually serve their meals on a plate. Try to be conscious of the amount of food you are eating during the food preparation. Have a napkin or a plate nearby and place each item …
Have you ever browsed the grocery isles seen that a product is labeled to be high in vitamin C? Generally it catches your eye and so you think it would be better for you, correct? However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to buy the product just because it is a ‘good source’ of vitamin …
This recipe was recently served at a breakfast for our office. Everyone loved the dish because it was the main meal of a low carbohydrate pot luck for a staff meeting. Try this recipe for your family as it can easily be refrigerated and used the next day. Ingredients: 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 2 cups shredded mozzarella …
This recipe can be made once in preparation for the week. It is half the calories of an Egg McMuffin and half the price. Ingredients: 6 or 12 eggs 6 or 12 strips uncooked bacon 6 or 12 muffin tin (Optional) Avocado, tomato, cheese In a 6 or 12 muffin tin, curl an uncooked …
This is my version of an old San Francisco favorite known as New Joe’s Special. This was a favorite of my father’s when he was stationed with the Navy in San Francisco. It’s one of the many dishes my parents have passed onto the kids in our family, and most of us still cook it …
Recipe: New Joe's Special (Low Carb, Easy and Delicious) Read More »
As many of us have experienced, we can lose 6, 8 or 10 lbs within the first week of almost any weight loss plan. But as we also have experienced, weight lose will slow considerably over time, why is this? The weight dieters’ lose within the first few days is composed of 70% water, 5% …
As our modern carbohydrate supply becomes more processed, our bodies are experiencing more rapid absorption and intense spikes of sugar into our blood streams. The elevated blood sugar levels forces our bodies to produce higher and higher levels of insulin in order to maintain a normal level of blood sugar. The degree to which our …
Parents who work long and odd hours are more apt to buy fast food and prepared entrees, says the study by Cornell University researchers, published in the September/October issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education. And another coping mechanism is to skip some meals entirely. The survey study found that: About a quarter of moms …
The caloric density of foods that we’re exposed to has also changed dramatically in the last few decades. The more manufacturers process the food, the greater the caloric density the food product often obtains. For example, let’s look at the number of calories per pound of corn and corn products: Fresh Corn – 490 calories …
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