Tag: weight loss

This week: cricket tacos, manuka honey, unusual veggie recipes, garcinia cambogia, and more

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

cricket tacosMy column in this Style Magazine has tips for stashing vegetables in places neither your kids (nor your dinner guests) will ever suspect. All’s fair in love and vegetables, I like to say.

If, however, you decide to jump on the bandwagon and feature “micro-livestock” at your next dinner party, I advise against secrecy. Your friends may be able to forgive undisclosed cauliflower but might not feel the same about insects. I discussed the nutritional, ecological, and culinary arguments for eating bugs with (a rather squeamish) Tom Hall of WYPR as well as in this article for Food and Nutrition Magazine.

Mealworms on the menu too gross for you? My extended conversation with Jonathan Bailor of the Smarter Science of Slim focused on more conventional crops (!) and the role of urban gardens, the farm bill, and schoolyard vegetable patches in bringing communities closer and obesity rates down.

One thing that probably won’t be all that much help in the fight against obesity is garcinia cambogia. Despite its popularity, a review of the science suggests that any advantage might be more mental than anything else. I’m afraid the news on manuka honey wasn’t much better.

For those who enjoy cooking, here are two somewhat unconventional ways to cook two very conventional items that are in abundance at the the farmer’s market right now.   And, while I hate to take sides in a mother/daughter nutrition spat, I’m afraid I had to side with Mom on this one.

Keep those questions coming! (What would I write about otherwise??)

This week: garcinia, red wine, juicing, chlorophyll, insect protein, and more!

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

Does Red Wine Block Cholesterol?Nutrition myths were crumbling left and right this week. In this podcast, I look at the research on garcinia cambogia for weight loss. (Short answer: Save your Money)  In another show, I looked into rumors that drinking red wine blocks cholesterol in red meat. As it turns out, no red meat was involved in this research!

While I was at it, I tackled the urban legend that chlorophyll strengthens your blood. And speaking of blood, this episode discusses whether juicing is a healthy habit or a blood sugar bomb.

It wasn’t all myth-busting though. It’s a fact that certain nutrients can help protect your eyes as you age. Here are the best food picks for  healthy eyes.  And for those who are easily distracted in the kitchen, here’s reassuring news about the effect of overcooking on protein. (No promises on taste or texture, though.)

Finally, here’s one of the most, ah, interesting stories I’ve reported on this year:  a movement to shift the world toward insects as a safe and sustainable source of protein. No crickets were harmed in the writing of this story. At least, not by me.

 

This week: pros and cons of late night eating, B12 injections, best nutrition apps, and more

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

Monica Reinagel on evening snackingRecently, a surprising pair of research studies shed new light (from two different directions) on an old question: Is late night eating bad for you?

The first finds that our appetite tends to peak at around 8pm. Should we listen to our bodies or to the weight loss gurus who tell us NEVER to eat after dinner? My thoughts in this podcast.

The second study found that eating late may, in fact, impede weight loss–even it doesn’t lead to eating more.  Drat.  My thoughts on how (or whether) to change your meal schedule in this podcast.

There was the usual round up of interesting questions in the Nutrition Diva mailbag:

Elsewhere across the web, my thoughts on sprouted grains in Men’s Fitness, some great new apps that can help you  eat healthy and well for Intel IQ, and the debut of my new Smart Food column debuted in Baltimore Style magazine.

 

Crowd-sourcing your motivation

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

Originally published on Intel IQ

crowdsourcingOne of the most inspiring things about our brave new world of technology is the way it seems to bring out everyone’s collaborative nature. From open-source coding to crowd-sourced encyclopedias, we’re working together like never before, sparking creativity and accelerating the pace of progress.

Turns out, you can even crowd-source your motivation! Whether your goal is to run your first 10K, quit smoking, or lose that last (or first) ten pounds, tapping into a network of supportive friends or even like-minded strangers can increase your chance of success. Continue reading “Crowd-sourcing your motivation” >

This week: the science of satiety, nutrition and hair loss, misleading nutrition labels, and more

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

Can’t get no satisfaction? Then you definitely don’t want to miss this week’s two part series on satiety and satiation. Part 1 is on foods that help you feel full on fewer calories. Part 2 deals with foods that help keep you feeling full longer.  If you’re trying to limit your calorie intake you want to use both of these factors to your advantage.  Plus, learn how your environment can make you more (or less) hungry!

Calorie counters may also want to check out this item on “zero-calorie” salad dressings. There’s definitely more going on here than the nutrition facts label may suggest.

In the mailbag this week, we have a question from a young man wondering whether dietary changes might help  him hang onto his prematurely thinning hair.  Also, a note from a young lady hoping to become pregnant, wondering how to get enough DHA to support healthy brain development without exposing her unborn child to dangerous levels of mercury.

Upcoming Appearances:

Saturday, March 9th, Spokane, WA:  Using an Anti-inflammatory Diet to Optimize Performance

This week: soda and osteoporosis, aspartame and arthritis, high cost of healthcare, plus turkey tips

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

I know this is a week when most of us put our nutritional concerns on the shelf, but if you’re in the market for some tips on how to enjoy the feast without doing yourself too much damage, check out my pre-Turkey Day interview with Tom Hall on WYPR-FM.org.

And when you’re ready to turn your attention back to matters nutritional, this week’s podcast reviews the latest research on soda and bone health.  Soda drinkers seem to have thinner bones, but is it something in the soda itself or other lifestyle habits?

While we’re on the topic of soda, find out whether diet soda could be the next arthritis treatment.  And while we’re on the topic of dieting,  I’ve got some advice on how to lose weight without triggering painful gallstones in the Nutrition Diva newsletter.

I also published an open letter to my health insurance company this week, which triggered a good discussion on the Nutrition Diva Facebook Page. It’s a complicated topic…I’d love to get your views.

Enjoy the holiday weekend!

Truth about TCBY’s new Super Fro-Yo, Perils of Unplanned Eating, and more

by Monica Reinagel, MS, LDN

With the eye of Sandy bearing down quickly, I’m not sure how much longer I’ll have power, so I will post a quick update while I still can!

Last week’s Nutrition Diva podcast talks about unplanned eating and how these “calories of opportunity” can sabotage a healthy diet.  This week, I went on an undercover stake out [LIVE VIDEO] to get the “scoop” on TCBY’s new Super Fro Yo, which they are promoting as a “guilt-free indulgence.” Get all the gripping details here.

Speaking of yogurt, the Nutrition Diva newsletter featured a listener question about what happens to the nutrients in milk when you make it into yogurt and another on the value of calcium-fortified foods. Are they any better than supplements?

Finally, I was honored to be nominated for Best Health and Lifestyle podcast in the 2012 Stitcher Awards.  I’m always flattered to be nominated for these things but, to tell you the truth, I’m unwilling to subject my network to the relentless “get out the vote” effort that winning requires.  Still, it’s nice to be noticed. (If you do want to vote, which you can do daily, you can do that here.)

Stay safe in the storm! If you lose power, save the canned goods and pasta and eat the most perishable items first!  I’ll see you when it’s over.