Beware of the muffin. For years people have assumed that muffins are a healthy, diet-friendly option. When presented with the choice between a donut, a bagel or a muffin, they’ll opt for the latter, thinking it’s the best move for their waistline. However, that isn’t the case. Some muffins come…
Detox diets seem to be all the rage in the diet and celebrity worlds. But many of them are dangerously low in calories, incorporate suspect supplements or are simply too expensive. A detox diet is too low in calories to maintain for an extended period of time, but it can…
Restaurant portions have gotten bigger… and so have our waistlines. Frequent your local eatery and you’ll quickly find you got more than you bargained for, or actually needed. Restaurant portions are the ultimate diet trap. Those pasta portions are often enough to feed a family of four. Most portions of…
Millions of us can’t start the day without a cup of joe – or several. Studies show that coffee is Americans’ primary source of antioxidants. But the news about java isn’t all good. Coffee has several negative health effects, and it’s obviously addictive. Here are a few reasons to try…
Preparing your own meals at home is a great way to reduce portion size, fat and calories. But be careful of all the sampling and tasting that’s so tempting to do while you’re cooking. A taste of that fettuccine or a nibble on that loaf of fresh hot bread or…
We bet you didn’t know it was National Sleep Awareness Week. According to the National Sleep Foundation, this year’s focus is on “springing forward,” the process of losing that precious hour of sleep for Daylight Savings Time. The amount of rest you get is directly related to how you perform…
Short on cash and wanting to do a workout at home? No time to hit the gym? No problem. You can be the chair-man of your own fitness program by simply having a seat. Find a sturdy, four-legged chair, and you can complete many muscle-toning moves without leaving the house….
Feeling down? Maybe you’re nervous or angry about something. What you eat may have an impact on your mood and help you get happy. To release dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with the pleasure centers of the brain, try eating bananas or leafy greens or drink a glass of milk. Make…
Everyone can benefit from and enjoy exercise, but what if weather, transportation or time restrictions keep you away from your favorite workout? Novice exercisers may feel uncomfortable at a gym or exercising in public, so what is there to do when embarking on a fitness plan? You might want to…
Just because we’ve been raised to eat three big meals a day doesn’t mean it’s the right — or the light — way. Research shows the best way to keep your metabolism revved up is to eat small, frequent meals. Some studies have found that people who consume more meals…