eDiets.com reserves the right to delete any comments we deem inappropriate.
College Students Who Sleep Get Better Grades!
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
A new study is out that proves college students who do not pull all nighters and actually plan their time efficiently are getting better grades.Denise, DTR, CPT-AFAA
Nutrition Specialist
Labels: sleep
Do You See Yourself in Your Child?
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
I remember when I was in 4th grade my dad came to visit the school. The teacher took me with her to the isle to greet him and they began talking about how good I was doing. I will never forget when she said, “Your daughter is a very good student, but GEEZ it seems she has ants in her pants because she cannot sit still!” Now that I have a kid and can see his “hyperactivity”, I understand where it comes from, at least in part.It has been known by behavioral professionals and experts that certain disorders and behaviors run in families as part of a genetic pattern. Chances of having kids with mood problems are eight times higher in parents with Bipolar Disorder. Also, the risk of having depression increases three times on those with parents who have also had this condition.
Although it is not right to diagnose ourselves through our kids’ conditions, there is no doubt that more parents have to confront their own “demons” of the past when they begin to learn about their son’s or daughter’s situation.
Perhaps this will help us understanding our kids’ life and how to make it better for them.
Ivelisse, BS, LD/N
Nutrition Specialist
Take Care, Take Control and Enjoy!
Labels: children, DNA and genes, emotions, kids, Mental Health, Parenting
If You Want to Lose Weight Without Eating Less, Try Trimming Your Beverage Intake
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
It may seem like a joke when you hear someone order a large hamburger with extra cheese, an extra large order of fries and of course a diet soda, but that may not be so funny after all. NO, we are not advocating extra large hamburgers, fries or extra cheese; however, the diet soda does make a difference.
According to the USDA, 10-14% of your daily calories do not come from food, they come from the beverages we consume with the food. You see if you had a 8 oz. latte with breakfast, an 8 oz. milkshake with lunch and a 12 oz. soda, you have just consumed a whopping 690 calories in beverages alone.
I know those beverages can be irresistible at times, but they don't satiate your appetite in the same way as solid food, and by eliminating them you can help you drop over 10 lbs per year.
While adapting healthy eating habits will ultimately contribute to a healthy weight range, trimming your beverage calories is a great place to start!
Michelle, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"The only journey is the journey within"
Labels: weight loss
Unscientific Process Place the Burden on HIV Visitors
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
Although we talk about the U.S. as a modernized country with the latest technologies available, it seems we still have a long way to go in terms of our mentality about HIV and AIDS. Since 1987, and based on U.S. regulations, HIV positive visitors have been prohibited to enter the United States. There are a few exceptions when a “special waiver” is granted ,but only after a very unscientific labeling and intruding process.The government administration has proposed changes, but experts in the matter indicate they are much more reclusive than before. With this proposed change to the existing process a person has to show that his/her condition is under control, will not require medical attention, has enough medications for the length of their stay, and the individual has enough assets (meaning money) or insurance coverage for any unforeseen medical expenses. Gimme a break!!! Not even Americans can provide these when traveling…
This only shows that the current administration has no idea about the different guidelines for HIV/AIDS treatments used worldwide, and that they don’t care if the different consulates do not have the knowledge to evaluate such requests for traveling here. I bet you none of the U.S. embassies have it either.
Ivelisse, BS, LD/N
Nutrition Specialist
Take Care, Take Control and Enjoy!
Labels: HIV
Working the Party Without Going UP a Size!
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
It's that wonderful time of the year...lots of parties, platters of food everywhere, but can you enjoy the party without going up a size or two before the season is through? When it comes to the many get togethers this holiday season affords us, psychologists at the University of Toronto have noted that regardless of how hungry we are, social cues dictate our food intake, which is usually too much. People eat more when they’re with a group, even in groups as small as two people can eat as much as 30 to 50% more than when eating alone.Like most things in life, here too the recommendation is moderation. Keep tabs on calorie intake. Remember, beverages count! Never go to the party hungry. Don’t deprive yourself of the things you love. Do be mindful of the portions being enjoyed. Compliment those caloric endeavors with more healthy choices.
One party during the season shouldn’t tip the scale terribly. However, multiple parties within the time frame of the holiday season could easily cause you to pack on 4 to 5 lbs.
Eat and drink responsibly, and have a very happy and healthy holiday!
Jerri, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
You never know what you can do, unless you try!
Labels: weight gain
Tattoos. Safe?
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
I've honestly never thought about the “dangers” of tattoos. They are so common that I'm sure many of us assume they're safe.But, when you stop and think about what a tattoo entails (injecting ink under your skin), perhaps we should be paying more attention to the possible risks. For example, what happens to the ink when the tattoo begins to fade?
Truth be told, the FDA does not regulate the ink used for tattoos. Surprising? According to the article, this is “because of other public health priorities and a previous lack of evidence of safety concerns.” Concerned?
Click here to learn more.Eunice, DTR, CPT-ACE
Nutrition Specialist
“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going”
Labels: tattoos
Want Some Honey with That, Honey?
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
We have all heard about those old wives' tales about homemade remedies to treat coughs, but now there is a study showing that one actually works...honey works to calm coughs!This is very interesting to me since trying to get my kids to take cough medicine is a true chore! I am willing to give it a chance so my kids can soothe their cough and get a good night’s sleep.
Denise, DTR, CPT-AFAA
Nutrition Specialist
It's one day at a time and that's what you need to focus on; each day that you do this will make you stronger for the next!
Labels: sick
Holiday Beverages Abound! Take Caution!
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
All alcoholic beverages from eggnog to champagne add empty calories to your diet. We all know this is true. During the holiday season there are many social gatherings and celebrations with our friends and family. Unfortunately, many turn to alcohol to help with anxiety and shyness when attending these parties. Some even believe they interact better socially when they have had a few drinks.Dr. Gail Saltz says, “There is nothing wrong with a drink or two. In fact, there are health benefits to a little alcohol.” But she also warns that one or two can turn into three or four very easily. We need to remember alcohol is a depressant so it really does not help your mood; it depresses the nervous system. It may relax you in the short term but as your tolerance increases it will take more and more and that can result in addiction.
Some great tips? Have some water in between each glass and eat your dinner. Most of all, try not to overdo it!
I hope you have a great holiday season!
Jerri, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
You never know what you can do, unless you try!
Labels: alcohol
Would You Like to See a Therapist or Send An E-mail?
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
Gone are the days you had to make an appointment to see a psychologist. You can also forget the dreaded leather couch sessions...no longer needed. All you need to do is send your therapist an e-mail or set up an instant messaging session.It is not for everyone, especially if you need the human contact and the face-to-face time. However, if you are busy and don't mind talking to your therapist via computer, this new method of therapy will save you time and provide anonymity. It will also force you to organize your ideas and get to the point quicker. According to the Journal of Clinical Psychology, more men tend to participate in on-line sessions versus traditional therapy, which is mainly dominated by women.
But do not think that just because it is on-line it is going to be cheaper than your regular face-to-face sessions. Oh no, it will cost you the same, but you will still get a resolution to your dilemma in shorter sessions and that in the long run can translate into savings.
Like I said before, these on-line sessions are not for everyone, especially those who are very depressed or have suicidal thoughts. It is just another alternative to traditional therapy. You always have the option to see a real person, but if you are shy and rather express thoughts through your computer then you may consider giving it a shot.
Wendy, BSc, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall"
Labels: internet
The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
Instead of getting your loved ones another gift they won't use this holiday season, why not get creative? With more and more people becoming health conscious, what better gift to give than that of health?Whether it's a spa treatment, personal training session, or a cookbook, there's at least one healthy gift that can be a good fit your friend or relative. Although your gift may not be a cure-all, it may get them moving in the right direction!
Eunice, DTR, CPT-ACE
Nutrition Specialist
“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going”
Labels: gift
How Healthy is Your Snack?
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
Picture this. It's late afternoon, you had lunch three hours ago and it's time to eat again. You are looking for a healthy snack and you consider the granola bars in the vending machine with a natural flavored Iced Tea...after all granola has whole grains and the Iced Tea is natural so it must be a good snack, right?
Well, not so fast! Granola bars may have gotten a reputation of being a wholesome, healthy snack, but when dipped in sugary syrups and filled with chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and other artificial ingredients, they are no better than a candy bar.
So, if you would like a back to nature kind of treat, make your own. You will need whole grain ready-to-eat cereal, raisins, Craisins and nuts. When choosing a cereal always go for one with 4 grams of fiber or more and limit your nuts to a teaspoon per serving.
As for that naturally flavored Iced Tea with all the super antioxidant power? Save your dollar because these types of tea drinks are not the same as brewed tea leaves. While many of the Iced Tea drinks contain brewed tea, they also contain as much sugar as their “arch enemy” soda!
The solution is to brew your own tea then add 100% fruit juice for added flavor. No more of that 2 oz. per 8 oz. of brewed tea!
Michelle, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"The only journey is the journey within."
Labels: snacks
What You Can Do to Teach Your Kids to Eat Healthy
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
How your kids eat is a reflection on how you eat. After all, kids do not do as we “say”, they do as we “do”. So, let's “do” the best thing! No one says it is an easy task, especially with the influence of TV and friends; although, teenagers may eat junk when they are out with their friends, studies show that they will be much more likely as adults to eat healthy if you practiced healthy habits at home.
We are all born with the a preference for sweets, however, repetitive exposure to foods rejected at first can help to increase the likelihood of later accepting those same foods. So don't stop offering different foods to your kids just because they don't like them! Just try to be wise about when and how you do so. I try to serve a new food, or rejected food, along with their favorite foods, but not when my child is cranky or tired.
Convenience is also something that we all look for, even young kids who are trying to be more independent. So, if you have healthy options readily available to your children, they are more likely to choose them. Cut up veggies and fruits in zip lock bags with healthy, low fat dips within their reach will make great snacks...and having this ready to take and eat is something that is helpful to you too!
Foods we usually refer to as “junk” are exactly the types of food that should not be in the house on a weekly basis. I mean, we are all human, so save those foods for special occasions and go “out” for them...don't bring them home. Make choosing healthy snacks easier for your kids and for yourself. That said, beware of becoming the “food police” causing your children to rebel. As we teach our kids about making healthier choices, it's important to remember that having an occasional indulgence is not only “okay” but healthy because it teaches them how to balance a healthy diet.
Renee, LD/N, NSCA-CPT, ACSM
“If you had one car to get around in your lifetime, how would you treat it?”
Labels: kids
Finally! We Are Not Getting Bigger
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
I blogged earlier that obesity rates were not improving, and it is has continued to grow and grow after the past two decades, but finally Americans are not adding to the numbers.More and more Americans seem to be taking their eating and exercise regimens more seriously. And this is great news, as these are the few things in our life that we control, but can easily abuse.
We just need to “think” about our long term health, and how we eat and exercise now will help enhance our chances for a healthy future.
Denise, DTR, CPT-AFAA
Nutrition Specialist
It's one day at a time and that's what you need to concentrate on; each day that you do this will make you stronger for the next!
Is Your Kitchen Your Next Best Friend?
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
Thanks to HP New Touch Smart PC, now you can have a computer that allows you to watch your favorite soaps, send emails, record messages and work on your grocery list. All of it is available right at your fingertips! The computer was designed with a touch screen allowing you to record messages, print photos, as well as use a wireless mouse and keyboard if needed. I do not know about you, but I can get used to having one around.My favorite feature is that it allows you to record, play and pause a live program without a TV signal. This means you and I can continue to cook without missing any part of our favorite shows!
I may have to put this one on my Christmas list...
Wendy, BSc, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"Thoughts determine what you want...Action determines what you get."
Labels: technology
Sitting Less May Help Combat Your Weight Issues
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
Of course most of us know that people who sit for long periods of time gain more weight than those who are moving around...but it doesn't stop there. Researchers have found that the enzymes that are responsible for burning fat shut down when we sit. WOW!I guess food is not the only enemy in the “Battle of the Bulge.” We need keep a closer eye on the amount of time we spend on electronic games, computers, and television. Companies may even want to reconsider going “paperless.”
What was startling in this research is that exercise alone will not turn on the enzymes, according to Marc Hamilton, associate professor of biomedical science at the University of Missouri Columbia and leader of the research team in this study. This is very Interesting information for those who are trying to lose weight.
The take home message: Along with diet and exercise you may also want to STAND UP!
Labels: office health
“Eat At Your Own Risk”
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
Men's Health magazine took it upon themselves to analyze menus, nutrition labels, and ingredient lists to “identify the food industry's worst offenders.” That's right...your new enemies!! Click here to discover the 20 worst foods our nation has to offer. And if you're like me, you may utter a “No way!” or a “You must be kidding!” or even shed a tear!
Tracey, MS, RD
Nutrition Specialist
"Where there's a will, there's a way"
Labels: dining out
Oh No! The Salt Police?
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
The U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend keeping salt intake at 2,300 mg or less daily, but for those people that are at a higher risk, like blacks, middle-aged or elderly people and those with hypertension, the recommendation can be 1,000 mg or less daily. This is true for half the population!
FDA officials have opened a debate about what is considered too much salt in the processed foods that we eat. This was put together in response to an advocacy group that would like to see some limits imposed on the amount of salt added to processed foods and warnings about the sodium content on food labels.
Fortunately, there is a consensus among experts and advocacy groups that Americans consume too much salt and that deaths associated to excessive salt consumption are taking a huge toll. However, some experts think that we should encourage the industry to slowly and gradually lessen the amount of salt added to foods. Other countries do it, why not us?
All that said, regardless of the outcome on this debate, we all know that it's our dietary habits that need to change.
Renee Brunetti LD/N, NSCA-CPT, ACSM
“If you had one car to get around in your lifetime, how would you treat it?”
Labels: salt
Is Your Food a 1 or a 100?
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
Nutrition food labels are great. They tell you how many calories your food has, how many fat grams, sodium, and all sorts of other information. Food labels are a wonderful tool.... if you know how to read them that is. Nutrition Specialist
Labels: Grocery shopping
Getting Paid to Lose Weight?
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
Life is a constant path with many forks in the road, but do we choose the fork with the chocolate cake or with the broccoli on the end?Many employers have started offering cash, gift cards and even cruises to employees who lose weight and get into shape. These companies have an interesting motivation...cutting health-care costs by millions. One Pennsylvania Blue Cross/Blue Shield offers a health and fitness program called Lifestyle Returns that pays $225 each year to employees agreeing to medical assessments, and free health and nutrition coaching.
At some companies, special kiosks are set up in common areas to track blood pressure, body fat and weight. When the employees reach their goals they are rewarded accordingly...sometimes as much as $400! Who wouldn’t say “yes!” to that?
Yet another company, the Freedom One Financial Group, started a program in 2005 that offers a four-day Jamaican cruise to employees who met certain weight loss and body fat reduction goals.
So, my question is, “How much would you need to choose the fork with the broccoli on the end?”
Jerri, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
You never know what you can do, unless you try!
Labels: weight loss
Not a good idea, I think. Many big people love their big body and pround of it, such as those at largeplace.com. Some may would not like to lose weight for being paid.
Wow! Americans ARE exercising more!
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
There is a new report out that Americans are exercising more than they were a few years ago.The obesity rates are still not on the decline, but exercise is rising. I think the fault here is that we still are not understanding that we need to watch what we eat in ADDITION to the exercise. I'm not sure why the combination of these two factors cannot be applied to each other.
Denise, DTR, CPT-AFAA
Nutrition Specialist
It's one day at a time and that's what you need to concentrate on; each day that you do this will make you stronger for the next!
Don’t Catch Yourself Singing the “Holiday Blues”
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
Although for many of us the holiday season means happiness and joy, there are still situations in life that can affect our spirit, especially during this time of the year; a change in life, moving, a death of a loved one, losing your job are just a few situations that can cause what is called the “Holiday Blues”.The Holiday Blues are generally caused by high expectations about the season and comparison with what it could be or was in the past. Since commercialism tends to over-do the holiday concept as the perfect season for everybody, people tend to think and dramatize how family members can become friendlier, the presents and abundance of food, and how people gather to enjoy each other. Then reality often falls short and depression sinks in.
There are things you can do to manage and even prevent these Holiday Blues so you can really have a good season. Accept and enjoy your present, and plan ahead so you can have a great holiday experience of your own!
Ivelisse, BS, LD/N
Nutrition Specialist
Take Care, Take Control and Enjoy!
Labels: emotions, holiday, Mental Health, Relationships
Sodium:The Silent Killer
Like the post? Add Your Comments | Digg This Post! |
Do you ever wonder where the extra pound is coming from after eating Chinese food? Well, the culprit is the sodium hidden in the foods. Too much sodium in your meals causes you to retain fluids and makes you believe you have gained weight overnight.In the United States, individuals eat nearly two teaspoons of salt daily or 3300-4000 mg a day. That is more than double the recommendation of 2300 mg of sodium per day. Now that the holidays are here, consider the turkey you are planning to cook. Did you know it is injected with salt water before you buy it at the supermarket? It is often used as a preservative and for flavor as well.
It is important to be aware of your sodium intake, especially since heart disease is so prevalent in our nation. So, next time you go to the supermarket look for the low sodium product next to the regular item. A combined effort by food companies and the Center for Science in the Public Interest has made these products available to you and there will only be more advances in the future.
The fight for sodium reduction in food items is becoming worldwide. The World Health Organization, more commonly known as WHO, is calling for reduction of processed foods and increased consumer education on cutting salt out of the diet.
Make these efforts worthwhile and do your part for your own health.
Wendy, BSc, DTR
Nutrition Specialist
"Thoughts determine what you want...Action determines what you get."
Labels: salt