Nutrition

The leaves are turning bright colors and falling off the trees. The weather is getting cooler each day and the nights are getting downright cold. CarbSmart looks at some of the best seasonal foods you can get in October.

The Internet is ablaze with a scathing “news” story again about how coconut oil is bad for you. Again. This is the same old misinformed story we hear about the “dangers” of saturated fat. This is why we disagree.

I’ve come up with the occasional grocery store game. My favorite is “Count The Sugar.” I’ll grab an item generally purported to be healthful and count the varieties of sugar in it. For example, the folks at Metamucil have been touting their Meta Health Bars as a wholesome alternative to candy or cookies, stating outright that they are “heart healthy” and implying – though never actually saying – that they will aid weight loss. So when I saw Meta Health Bars at the cash register on a day when there was a considerable line, I grabbed one and played the Count The Sugar game.

After years of reading, I’ve finally come to the conclusion that there is a Sweet Spot of truth, where the science in different aspects of nutrition intersects. In fact, the place they all come together is pretty simple: no grains, no sugars, no processed foods, all real foods. And then you adjust for your personal needs, be they nutritional, what you can reasonably get where you live (so no raw camel milk here), or what you can afford.

Today, it is assumed that sugars are added to many of our foods to sweeten them and make them taste a little better. The sweetening of our diet has become something that we hear a lot about as it undoubtedly contributes to excess calories, promotes further intake, and adds on pounds. Despite more and more Americans opting for a “sugar free” lifestyle whereby we actively attempt to choose foods lower in sugar, Americans are still consuming more sugar than we should, 3-4 times more than recommended by the American Heart Association.

You have embraced healthy fats like butter and coconut oil, and adapted a fresh, real food approach to fueling your body. As a result you’ve shed pounds without feeling deprived, your energy levels have soared, and your cravings have been suppressed. But… you still feel slightly uncomfortable about telling your doctor the good news. Dietitian Cassie offers her top ten tips in sharing your new lifestyle with your doctor.

Dr. Nicole Avena examines and debunks the most common food and weight loss myths that refuse to fade away. Low carb dieters hear all the myths - here is the truth about nutrition for the low carber.

Everyone is different, so individualization is key; but just as important is keeping it simple. Sometimes we just need to take a step back from it all and bring it back to the basics with healthy eating.

"Enjoy the Taste of Eating Right" is the theme for National Nutrition Month March, 2014. Eating for health can taste as good as our low nutritive counter parts.

Do you bring your own lunch to work most of the time, or is picking up something on your lunch hour part of your routine? Let dietician Fransizka Spritzler help you make the best choices for your health and your wallet.

We all know about macronutrients–fats, proteins, and carbohydrates–but what about micronutrients? Mira Calton helps us understand their critical role in health and weight loss especially in relation to a low carb diet.