August 30, 2018April 6, 2022

Can we all calm down about coconut oil?

I’ve gotten several emails from readers asking me to respond to a viral video in which a Harvard (Harvard!) professor asserts that coconut oil is “pure poison.”

It’s hard to imagine how someone with such a prestigious pedigree could make such as silly and sensational statement in public. Presumably she was pushed over the edge by the ridiculous claims that some people have been making about coconut oil lately.

Can we all just calm down about coconut oil?

Coconut oil is not pure poison. On the other hand, it’s also not going to make you smarter, thinner, younger, or fold your laundry for you.

Proponents of coconut oil make a big deal out of the fact that coconut oil is rich in medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). But, as I discussed in my podcast episode on MCTs, claims for these specialty fats tend to be exaggerated or unproven.

Coconut oil haters such as this Harvard (!) professor mostly object to the fact that coconut is is almost 100% saturated fat. But, as I discussed in my recent podcast episode on butter, saturated fat in moderation may even have some heart health benefits.

Despite saturated fat’s rehabilitated reputation, I still think it makes sense to limit saturated fat intake to around 10-15% of calories, if for no other reason than to leave room in the diet for other healthy fats. But if you want to spend your sat fat allowance on coconut oil, I see no reason to call in Poison Control.

August 16, 2018September 23, 2019

Surprising Link Between Diet and Brain Power

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

Every week seems to bring another study on the benefits of the Mediterranean diet–on heart health, longevity, cancer risk, you name it. But this study caught my eye due to a surprising connection between diet and academic performance.

The study involved a couple hundred high-school aged kids from Spain. The researchers found that those who more closely followed a Mediterranean diet pattern did better in school, getting higher grades in math, language and having higher grade point averages.

That’s not all that surprising. Previous research has found a link between Mediterranean diet and cognitive function in adults. All those healthy fats and antioxidants–and a minimum of added sugars and processed foods–appear to be good for the brain.

But the Spanish researchers found another potential explanation: The kids whose diets were most aligned with the Mediterreanean diet pattern also slept longer and better–and that this appeared to mediate the effect on academic performance. Previous studies have found that older adults who follow this dietary pattern also tend to sleep better.

But why would the Mediterranean diet lead to better sleep? Researchers have proposed a couple of possibilities.

We know that the Mediterranean diet tends to be anti-inflammatory and there appears to be a relationship between inflammation and sleep. When people get less sleep, their inflammation markers tend to go up. But may also be true that higher inflammation has a negative impact on sleep quality. So it could be that the anti-inflammatory effects of the Mediterranean Diet help you sleep better.

Some of the foods that are prominent in the Mediterranean diet, including olives, olive oil, grapes, and wine, are good dietary sources of melatonin, a hormone that regulates the circadian sleep-wake cycle. Perhaps the higher melatonin content of the Mediterranean diet has a beneficial effect on sleep rhythms.

Food for….zzzzzz

August 10, 2018

Should You Eat a Less Varied Diet?

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

“Eat a varied diet” is a fairly standard piece of advice. The idea is that by eating a greater variety of foods, you’ll be more likely to check off all the nutritional boxes. But a new report suggests that the enormous amount of variety in our diet may be leading us astray.

When we have lots of different foods on our plates (or on a buffet line), we tend to eat more. You’ve no doubt experienced this countless times. After eating a bowl of chili, we might feel no desire to continue eating…until a piece of cheesecake appears. Suddenly, we have a little more room.

But we can use this effect to our advantage, by limiting the variety of snacks and sweets that we keep around and increasing the variety of fresh vegetables, for example.

Just for fun, why not take an inventory of what’s in your house right now? How many different types of crackers, salted nuts, chips or other snack foods are on hand? How many different kinds cookies, cereal, muffins, granola bars, ice cream, chocolate, or other sweet treats? How many types of bread, rolls, tortillas, and other starchy foods?

Now open up that crisper drawer. How many different kinds of vegetables and fruits are in there, ready to eat? How many different sources of lean protein?

How does the variety (or lack thereof) of various categories of food correlate to your consumption patterns?

If you want to cut down on snacking, try keeping fewer snack foods around. If you want to eat more vegetables, surround yourself with more different kinds of produce.

June 27, 2018February 23, 2022

Protein density of foods

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

In this week’s Nutrition Diva podcast, I talked about the concept of protein density and why it really matters.

Plant-based sources of protein like legumes or nuts often contain a lot of additional calories in the form or carbohydrates and/or fats. It can be challenging to to increase your protein intake using plant-based sources without taking in more calories than you need. This is where the concept of protein density can help.

We can calculate the protein density of a food by dividing the protein by the calories and multiplying by 100. Foods with a higher protein density provide more protein per calorie. For example, black beans have a protein density score of 6.6, meaning that 100 calories worth of black beans contains 6.6 grams of protein. Edamame, on the other hand, has protein density of around 10. You get 50% more protein from the same number of calories. (Although the calories and protein will change with the serving size, the protein density will always remain the same.)

Here is a table of some common foods and their protein density. You can sort this list by any column by clicking on the column header.

Food	Amount	Weight (g)	Protein (g)	Calories	Protein density
Soy protein isolate	1 scoop	28	25	95	26.3
Whey protein isolate	1 scoop	28	25	100	25
Egg white	1 large	33	3.60	17	21.2
Chicken breast	3 oz	85	26.00	140	18.6
Cottage cheese, lowfat	1/2 cup	113	14.00	81	17.3
Steak, sirloin, broiled	3 oz	85	25.75	160	16.1
Tuna, white, canned	3 oz	85	22.55	158	14.3
Bok choi, cooked	1 cup	170	2.65	20	13.3
Hamburger, 90% lean, broiled	3 oz	85	22.19	184	12.1
Tofu, firm	1/2 cup	126	21.76	181	12.0
Mushrooms, grilled	1 cup	121	3.97	35	11.3
Pork loin, broiled	3 oz	85	23.22	206	11.3
Turnip greens, cooked	1 cup	144	4.00	36	11.1
Salmon, baked	3 oz	85	19.00	175	10.9
Asparagus, cooked	1 cup	180	4.32	40	10.8
Broccoli, cooked	1 cup	156	4.38	41	10.7
Edamame	1 cup	118	13.24	129	10.3
Bean sprouts	1 cup	124	2.52	26	9.7
Cauliflower, raw	1 cup	64	1.89	20	9.5
Kale, cooked	1 cup	67	1.78	19	9.4
Egg , whole	1 large	50	6.28	72	8.7
Yogurt, plain, low fat	1 container (6 oz)	170	8.93	107	8.3
Collards, cooked	1 cup	190	5.15	63	8.2
Mozzarella, part skim	1 oz	28	6.67	83	8.1
Lentils, cooked	1 cup	198	18	230	7.8
Brussels sprouts, raw	1 cup	88	2.97	38	7.8
Zucchini, cooked	1 cup	180	2.05	27	7.6
Provolone cheese	1 oz	28	7.19	99	7.3
Swiss cheese	1 oz	28	7.57	110	7.3
Snow peas	1 cup	98	2.74	41	6.7
Black beans, cooked	1 cup	240	14.47	218	6.6
Artichoke, cooked	1 medium	120	3.5	61	5.73
Yogurt, plain, whole milk	1 container (6 oz)	170	5.90	104	5.7
Cheddar, cheese	1 oz	28	6.42	113	5.7
Lima beans, cooked	1 cup	170	11.58	209	5.5
Cheese, feta	1 oz	28	3.99	74	5.4
Green beans, cooked	1 cup	135	2.01	38	5.3
Pumpkin seeds, roasted	1 oz	28	8.38	161	5.2
Milk, whole	1 cup	244	8.00	156	5.1
Tomatoes, canned	1 cup	240	1.90	38	5.0
Bread, whole wheat	1 slice	32	4.00	81	4.9
Vegetable juice, canned	1 cup	253	2.35	56	4.2
Peanuts, roasted	1 oz	28	6.84	165	4.1
Pasta, whole wheat, cooked	1 cup	117	7.00	174	4.0
Amaranth, cooked	1 cup	246	9.35	251	3.7
Pasta, cooked	1 cup	124	7.19	196	3.7
Quinoa, cooked	1 cup	185	8.00	222	3.6
Almonds, roasted	1 oz	28	5.90	168	3.5
Corn, yellow	1 cup	136	4.11	120	3.4
Egg noodles, cooked	1 cup	160	7.26	221	3.3
Baked potato	1 potato	299	7.86	284	2.8
Sunflower seeds, roasted	1 oz	28	4.80	173	2.8
Rice, brown, cooked	1 cup	202	5.53	248	2.2
Butternut squash, backed	1 cup	205	1.84	82	2.2
Sweet potato, baked	1 potato	114	2.29	103	2.2
Rice, white, cooked	1 cup	158	4.25	205	2.1
Hummus	2 tablespoons	28	2	70	2.8

June 9, 2018April 30, 2019

Your diet isn’t the problem

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

Most diets pay way too much attention to what you eat and not enough to why and how you are eating it. You get detailed instructions about exactly what to eat and what not to eat. And if you follow the instructions, you will almost certainly lose weight.

But if you are overweight, the real problem is not your diet. It’s your habits that need to change.

“Interventions that focus on changing an individual’s behaviour are not usually successful at changing an individual’s habits because they do not incorporate the strategies required to break unhealthy habits and/or form new healthy habits,” researcher Gina Cleo points out

Lose all the weight you want on whatever diet regimen you choose. If you haven’t fixed the underlying habits, you are almost certain to regain the weight.

Cleo’s latest study, published last month in the International Journal of Obesity found that overweight adults who lost weight through focusing on changing their eating and movement habits (as opposed to following a certain diet) were more likely to maintain their weight loss for up to 12 months.

“Maintaining weight loss is often the hardest part of the weight-loss journey,” she says, “yet it was successfully achieved by our participants on the habit-based programs, without the need for dieting or strenuous exercise.”

This is exactly what we are seeing in the Weighless Program, a year-long coaching program for sustainable weight loss. Although we certainly talk about food and movement, there is no prescribed diet or exercise program. Instead, we focus on dismantling that dieter’s mindset and creating the habits and mindset that lead to weighing less, permanently. (Here’s what that looks like.)

And it’s working! After 10 months in the program, 80% of our members have lost anywhere from 3 to 18% of their starting weight. Many have been successfully maintaining a lower weight for months. And no-one has spent a single day dieting. It’s exhilarating to witness people finally break free of destructive yo-yo dieting patterns and discover what it’s like to weigh less.

Click here to see what our members are saying.

You don’t necessarily need to join a group or a program to do this. But if you think some professional guidance and support would be useful, you can find more details about our next Weighless group here.

June 6, 2018May 1, 2019

Dieters Mindset vs Weighless Mindset

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

I’m guessing you’ve been on your share of diets. (And isn’t that, right there, proof that diets are not the answer?)

Although they rarely deliver permanent weight loss, diets do succeed fabulously at one thing: they’re great at creating a dieter’s mindset. And that mindset tends to follow us around, even when we’re in between diets.

What’s the dieter’s mindset? It’s a tendency to see every food as either “good” or “bad.” Even worse, it’s a tendency to see OURSELVES as “good” or “bad” depending on what we’ve eaten that day.

It’s the dieter’s mindset that puts thoughts like these into your head:

“I shouldn’t have eaten that cake after lunch. But as today is obviously ruined. I might as well go out for nachos after work.”

“I’ll be extra good tomorrow.”

“It’s sugar-free, so make it a large.”

“That’s it: No more carbs (or whatever…) until I lose five pounds.”

Ironically, that dieter’s mindset doesn’t actually help you weigh less, does it? No, it locks you in to a lifetime of dieting.

One of the most important things we do in the Weighless program is to pull that dieter’s mindset out by the roots. In place of those toxic messages, we plant ones that, over time, really do help you weigh less.

The Weighless Mindset is is about making friends with both food and yourself–and reinforcing the habits that support the life (and body) you want to have. Just ask the hundreds of Weighless members who have stopped dieting and started weighing less! Here’s some of what they have to say.

Ready to join them?

All the details are here.

June 5, 2018August 26, 2020

The case for super slow weight loss

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

One of the things that sets the Weighless approach apart from other weight loss programs is our emphasis on slow weight loss. Instead of coaching our members to lose a couple of pounds a week, we try to hold them to a couple of pounds a month.

Crazy, right? And yet there is a method to our madness.

Most people can only lose 2-3 pounds of body fat per month. If you’re losing weight faster than that, the rest is likely to be lean muscle. Believe me, that’s NOT what you’re trying to lose. Although our approach may seem like an insanely slow way to lose weight, we’re finding that it’s actually a much quicker (and less unpleasant) path to sustainable fat loss.

Interestingly, our members frequently report that after losing weight the “Weighless way,” they look and their clothes fit as if they have lost much more than they have.

Losing weight slowly not only preserves your metabolism and muscle mass. It also gives you more time to acquire the habits and practice the skills that will help you maintain a lower weight, heading off the dreaded–and seemingly inevitable–rebound weight gain.

It all makes sense, right? But occasionally, someone in the group will ask if there is published research to support the merits of the super slow pace of weight loss we endorse. Fair enough. I’ve built a reputation for being evidence-based, and most of the people who sign up for my programs cite this as one of the reasons they trust my advice.

Show Me the Research

A few studies have compared the effects of slow vs. fast weight loss. For example:

A 2016 study involving almost 60 subjects found that those who lost weight more slowly lost less muscle mass, which was associated with less weight regain. A similar (but longer) study dating back to 1994 compared the effects of “fast” vs. “slow” weight loss and found that the fast losers lost more weight initially but were much more likely to regain it.

The problem is that virtually all of the studies that compare fast and slow weight loss define “slow” as 1-2 pounds a week, which is still too fast by our standards.

There’s this 2008 study which found that small, cumulative changes in diet and activity (similar to the approach we use in Weighless) produced slow but sustainable weight loss–and was ultimately far more effective than giving people standard weight loss advice.

At the other end of the spectrum, the famous (and heartbreaking) “Biggest Loser” study demonstrates just how much damage fast weight can do to your metabolism. After six years, virtually all of the contestants had regained every pound (and more)–despite continuing to eat fewer calories.

Our approach is certainly informed by research–but it also draws heavily on our experience and common sense. And although we are not (yet) conducting a controlled trial, the results we are seeing and the feedback we are getting from our members are enormously validating. I think we’re onto something here…and maybe the researchers will take notice. In the meantime, you can learn more about our Weighless group here.

June 4, 2018June 20, 2018

What it’s like to weigh less

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

Sure, I can tell you what the Weighless Program is all about. But perhaps you’d rather hear from those who are actually in the program? Here are just a few of the emails and posts that have come in from our members over the last few weeks:

“This past week, I saw people I haven’t seen in a while and a few noticed that I’ve lost weight. On the numerous times when I’ve done Weight Watchers, I would lose the first 10 pounds in the first two or three weeks, and no one would EVER notice. I guess there’s a big difference between losing 10 pounds of fat in a healthy way and losing 10 pounds of god-knows-what in an unhealthy way. I haven’t spent the last three months weighing and measuring and depriving and monitoring like crazy. I’ve just spent the last three months living my normal life, with a few tweaks here and there.”

“Instead of making food choices in order to lose weight (Snackwells, anyone?), I’m now making decisions that improve my health. It’s a pro-health and pro-me approach to food and life. And my resulting weight loss feels like a welcome side effect. It doesn’t feel like deprivation, so it doesn’t feel so exhausting and scary. This non-diet Weighless approach has been free from the backlash, setbacks, binge eating and guilt that has plagued me with diets.“

“One of my favorite things about this program is that I do not dread special events. I’m not waiting until all the planets align and there are no special events on the horizon to start a diet. I have navigated weddings, vacations and holidays without obsessing over food choices. I’ve made good choices and poor choices, but overall I feel much more in control of my outcomes. No one indulgence is going to derail me.”

“I’m so very thankful for the Weighless program! I decided to try on a dress that I’ve always considered my “goal” dress and lo and behold it fit!!! My sweet husband said, “Wow, it’s so great to see you lose weight and get fit without dieting!” Life has been been chaotic the last few months, but I discovered the Weighless principles work no matter what is happening, especially as they become a way of life. I‘ve learned so much from Monica, Brock and all of the wonderful members of this group!”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for creating this amazing program. There are so many words to describe it – transformative, liberating, amazing, brilliant….I could go on. You have truly changed my life for the better. You have also helped me to model a more positive message for my two young daughters and for that – I am eternally grateful.”

Our next group is launching in just a few weeks–and then it will be another year before we start again. You can learn more here.