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Showing posts from March, 2019

Weekend Sweat Sesh

Don’t let the weekends be your weak-ends. They can get busy with activities, kid sports, parties, etc. It’s baseball season for us and that means less time in the gym and more time at the field. It’s so easy to put ourselves last and make excuses but not if we have a plan! This Sweat Sesh will allow you to get in your workout no matter what obligations you have this weekend. Let’s dig deep and make you non-negotiable. All you need is a pair of dumbbells and a jump rope, if you have one. This is a no-excuse sweaty workout that will make you feel so good. Are you with me?!   Weekend Sweat Sesh 20 mountain climbers 10 push-ups 10 shoulder presses 10 side lateral raises 10 bodyweight squats 100 jump ropes Rest and repeat for a total of 4 rounds. Gina’s Next Challenge Starts 4/1 – and that is no April Fool’s Joke. ;) Join her for some ABC Fun! Creating workouts one letter at a time … going to be so fun! Of course, no gym is necessary!   JOIN THE CHALLENGE < https:...

The Best Diet for Chest Pain

The Dean Ornish program that led to improved arterial function and the dramatic drop in angina attacks—a 91 percent reduction in reported frequency of angina—is not just about putting people on a plant-based diet. It also involves recommendations for moderate exercise and stress management. We know exercise alone can improve endothelial function, so how do we know diet had anything to do with it? This is the subject of my video Plant-Based Treatment for Angina . Going back to Ornish’s first publication, he put cardiac patients on a quasi-vegan diet, with no added exercise—just diet and stress management—and got the same 91 percent reduction in angina attacks within just 24 days. And Dr. Esselstyn was able to improve angina using a plant-based diet as the only lifestyle intervention. There are published case series going back to the 1970s documenting this. One study participant, Mr. F.W., had chest pain so severe he had to stop every nine or ten steps. He couldn’t even make it to...

Party Gurl

If I’m being honest, I like to party. Even though the wild child Savannah of her early 20’s has been (largely) reformed, every now and again I enjoy a night out…and by “now and again” I mean almost every weekend. Now, there’s nothing shameful about meeting up with friends and engaging in meaningless banter so […] The post Party Gurl appeared first on Fitness Gurls Magazine . from Fitness Gurls Magazine https://ift.tt/2toV7qm

Cancer-Causing Caramel Color

Caramel coloring may be the most widely consumed food coloring in the world.  Unfortunately, its manufacture can sometimes lead to the formation of a carcinogen called methylimidazole, which was identified as a cancer-causing chemical in 2007. For the purposes of its Proposition 65 labeling law, California set a daily limit at 29 micrograms a day. So, how much cancer might caramel-colored soft drinks be causing? We didn’t know…until now… My video Which has more Caramel Coloring Carcinogens: Coke or Pepsi? explores these questions and more. Researchers tested 110 soft drink samples off store shelves in California and around the New York metropolitan area, including Connecticut and New Jersey. None of the carcinogen was found in Sprite, which is what you’d expect since Sprite isn’t caramel-colored brown. Among sodas that are, the highest levels were found in a Goya brand soda, while the lowest levels were in Coke products, which were about 20 times less than Pepsi products. Inte...

4 Habits to Help You Start (and Keep!) Eating Healthy

It’s a misconception that in order to clean up your diet and eat healthy, you have to make big, sweeping changes to your life. Not true. Even small changes or tweaks can make a big difference. Turn those small changes into daily habits and you’ll be on your way toward losing weight — and keeping it off. To help you get started, here are 4 tips to help you start living your best (healthy) life from Ilana Muhlstein, M.S., R.D. and creator of the  2B Mindset  nutrition program. 1. “Clean” Your Counters It doesn’t matter how sensible I am as a dietitian, or how motivated a person is, what we see is what we’re going to eat. I always say, “OOSOOM: out of sight, out of mind.” This is critical especially for homes where the kitchen acts as a hangout as well. Clear your countertops of sliced bread, jars of cookies, bowls of candies, and boxes of cereal. Replace them with things that can be helpful if you’re feeling hungry like boxes of cherry tomatoes (my daughter reac...

What to Feed Your Gut Bacteria

For many years, it was believed that the main function of the large intestine was just to absorb water and dispose of waste, but “[n]owadays it is clear that the complex microbial ecosystem in our intestines should be considered as a separate organ within the body,” and that organ runs on a MAC, microbiota-accessible carbohydrates. In other words, primarily fiber. One reason we can get an increase of nearly two grams of stool for every one gram of fiber is that the fiber fermentation process in our colon promotes bacterial growth. The bulk of our stool by weight is pure bacteria, trillions and trillions of bacteria, and that was on a wimpy, fiber-deficient British diet. People who take fiber supplements know that a few spoonfuls of fiber can lead to a massive bowel movement, because fiber is what our good gut bacteria thrive on. When we eat a whole plant food like fruit, we’re telling our gut flora to be fruitful and multiply. From fiber, our gut flora produce short-chain fatty ...

New Eating Guide Now in Print

In January we launched the Evidence-Based Eating Guide, which is available for free download here . Today I’m excited to announce that you can now order hard copies of the guide at-cost over on DrGreger.org . The guide is a run-down of my practical tips in booklet form, including summaries of my Traffic Light system and Daily Dozen checklist, as well as tips for putting them into practice. As a current subscriber, you can also download digital PDFs: here’s an online version , and a fewer-page  printable version  (best when printed single-sided).  Now that there are physical copies, hopefully you’ll see stacks in a doctor’s office near you!   More Ways to Donate You can support NutritionFacts.org with Amazon Smile. Sometimes it’s easy to forget to type in  smile.amazon.com  before shopping at Amazon. To make sure you never forget, please consider using  Smilematic , a free browser extension that ensures your Amazon purchases will be able to su...

White Rice vs. Brown Rice

In 2012, a meta-analysis was published tying white rice consumption to diabetes, especially in Asian countries. Even in the United States, where we eat much less white rice, research shows the regular consumption of white rice was associated with higher risk of type 2 diabetes though brown rice was associated with lower risk, and that was after controlling for other lifestyle and dietary factors such as smoking, exercise, and meat, fruit, and vegetable consumption. The researchers estimated that replacing even just a third of a serving per day of white rice with the same amount of brown rice might lower diabetes risk by 16 percent. Since the publication of that 2012 meta-analysis, a study out of Spain suggested white rice consumption was associated with decreased diabetes risk. However, it was a tiny study compared to the others, with only hundreds in contrast to hundreds of thousands of people involved. In Spain, rice is usually consumed in paella, which is commonly prepared with...

Portion Fix vs. Ultimate Portion Fix: What’s the Difference?

If you’re an Autumn Calabrese fan, a Portion Fix follower, or if you’ve ever done a  Beachbody On Demand  program, you know those 7 color-coded portion-control containers are #LIFE. And by now, you’ve probably heard about the new  Ultimate Portion Fix  nutrition program. But you’re probably asking, “What’s the difference between Portion Fix and Ultimate Portion Fix?” Portion Fix* gave you the basic tools to master portion control; Ultimate Portion Fix is a 30-day nutrition program with shopping tips, meal preps, tracking tools, hundreds of recipes, and more. Think of it like this: Ultimate Portion Fix expands on the foundation set by Portion Fix and takes it to the next level with more nutrition information, more support, and more options. Autumn has refined and clarified her portion-control approach to teach you and your family — including your kids! — how to eat delicious, healthy portions for good. *Portion Fix is no longer available for purchase. Check o...

Happy Birthday, Shakeology!

Every great product has a great origin story — and Shakeology is no different. It all started 10 years ago with Beachbody CEO Carl Daikeler’s hate/hate relationship with vegetables. “I admit it — I ate like a second-grader. I needed a superfood health shake to make up for years of a terrible diet,” he says. So he turned to nutrition specialist (and wife) Isabelle Daikeler who teamed up with “ingredient hunter” Darin Olien to find nutrient-dense ingredients from all over the world. Together, they crafted a formula with a potent blend of high-quality ingredients. The result: Shakeology , the nutrient-dense superfood protein shake that you know and love. And even if you love vegetables, it can still be a struggle to get your daily greens in. “This is one of the reasons we created Shakeology. Even if you do eat healthy foods, you’re not assured you’re getting everything you need, ” says Isabelle. “Shakeology is a good way to get carbs, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and fiber....

St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Fried Eggs

Looking for a fun, simple and very kid-friendly way to start off St. Patrick’s Day? These adorable and delicious shamrock-filled eggs are sure to be a hit with the entire family! This breakfast is super easy and only includes a few ingredients that you most likely have on hand. You may fall in love with this one so much that it becomes a staple breakfast dish in your house. Not only are they simple and so good for you, but they also fit everyone’s diet— whether you are following a keto, low-carb, IIFYM, Paleo, Weight Watchers, Atkins or any other plan. This breakfast only has 150 calories and is loaded with yummy fats and protein. You can always spice it up in fun ways to fit everyone’s needs such as adding bacon, ham or sliced tomato over the top. You can also experiment with other seasonings to change up the flavor. Hope you enjoy these as much as my family does! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!   Ingredients: • 1 large green Bell Pepper • 2 large eggs • olive oil or coconut sp...

Fire Up Your Cardio

After being on the road for a week with minimal training time, I came home ready to sweat and with some extra calories to burn. Looking for some training inspiration, I browsed through the FitnessRx For Women online content and was reminded of the ultimate HIIT workout: Tabatas . Tabata training was founded by a Japanese researcher named Izumi Tabata. He defined an optimal work/rest interval of 20 seconds of high-intensity training followed by 10 seconds of rest, repeated for 8 rounds (or 4 minutes). Typically, multiple (3-6) Tabata rounds are performed back-to-back separated by a minute rest between rounds. This usually results in a 15- to 30-minute training session. I decided to incorporate these Tabata intervals into a steady-state StepMill cardio program . I used some of my favorite plyometric exercises for the Tabata intervals, and I was not disappointed. In less than forty minutes, I was drenched in sweat and my legs were on fire. I actually had to just sit on the ground for...

The Purported Benefits of Eating Fish

In the landmark Global Burden of Disease study, researchers compiled the top 20 causes of death and disability. Number one on the list was high blood pressure, two and three was smoke, and the fourth leading cause of loss of life and health was not eating enough fruit. Lack of exercise was number 10, followed by too much sodium, not enough nuts and seeds, not enough whole grains, and then not enough vegetables. Number 18 on the top 20 list was not getting enough long-chain omega-3 fatty acids like DHA and EPA found in seafood, due to their purported protective effect against heart disease. As I discuss in my video Is Fish “Brain Food” for Older Adults? , even years ago when the study was published, researchers were already questioning the benefits of these fish fats, as more and more randomized controlled trials put them to the test and they failed , culminating in the meta-analysis I profiled in my video Is Fish Oil Just Snake Oil? that appeared to put the issue to rest. Consumpti...

Aquaman Prize Pack Sweepstakes Official Rules

Quest Nutrition, LLC “Aquaman Prize Pack” Sweepstakes                                                                    Official Rules NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN OPEN TO RESIDENTS OF THE 50 UNITED STATES AND WASHINGTON D.C., 18 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER ONLY Sponsorship and Eligibility This sweepstakes is sponsored by Quest Nutrition, LLC,  777 South [...] from The Bloq https://ift.tt/ZW7Dv6

INSANITY vs. INSANITY MAX:30

At first glance, Beachbody On Demand’s   INSANITY and INSANITY MAX:30  look strikingly similar. They’re each the brainchild of Beachbody Super Trainer Shaun T , the workouts are rooted in high-intensity interval training (HIIT), both last 60 days and require no equipment, both will push the limits of your endurance and test your grit, and they’ll both elevate you to an elite level of fitness. But make no mistake: INSANITY MAX:30 is not INSANITY 2.0. They’re entirely different programs that take different approaches to help you get in the best shape of your life. What Are the Key Differences Between INSANITY and INSANITY MAX:30? Whether you do INSANITY or INSANITY MAX:30, you are going to lose weight . You are going to build strength and stamina. And you are going to become fitter, leaner, and more defined in just two months. Indeed, you’ll develop a whole new appreciation for your mirror, because you’re going to love the way you look. But understanding their key di...