Brierley Wright

Health benefits of juicing vs. smoothies

Nifer — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:17:47 +0000

Juicing and smoothies are all the rage right now. While both can boost your fruit and vegetable intake (something most Americans need to do) and are great for getting a variety of produce into your diet, one is the better choice.

Is organic food healthier than conventional food?

Nifer — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:17:23 +0000

Here’s why you can feel good about organic: USDA–certified organic means your food is produced without synthetic pesticides, bioengineering or radiation; animals are raised without antibiotics or growth hormones. But the debate about whether organic foods are healthier for you continues. And two new studies add to the controversy. (Here are 14 foods you should buy organic.)

Gluten-free? Not so fast. Watch out for this list of surprising foods that contain gluten

Nifer — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 18:02:37 +0000

If you have celiac-disease, gluten-sensitivity or for some other reason you’re not eating gluten—the protein found in wheat, rye and barley—you probably know to steer clear of big, obvious offenders like bread, pasta and baked goods.

Related: 4 Easy Ways to Avoid Gluten

11 anti-aging drinks

Nifer — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 17:12:13 +0000

Aging is inevitable. Sadly. And there are many variables involved in how long you live. But you can also add years to your life by making smarter food choices. Keep your mind razor-sharp and body finely honed with these 11 anti-aging drinks.

What are trans fats & are there still foods with trans fats to avoid?

Nifer — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 16:24:19 +0000

First, some good news: manufacturers have significantly reduced the amount of trans fats in packaged foods. Even better, according to a 2012 Centers for Disease Control study of white American adults, blood levels of trans fats dropped by a whopping 58 percent between 2000 and 2009. “This decline shows substantial progress that should help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in adults,” says Christopher Portier, Ph.D., director of the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health.

2 foods you should really be eating at breakfast (and probably aren’t)

Nifer — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 19:14:55 +0000

Recently EatingWell asked our readers what they focused on when it comes to feeding kids breakfast. I quite was surprised by the most common answer. Many parents said they were focused on getting their kids to eat protein at breakfast. (Sound familiar? Find recipes for protein-packed breakfasts here.)

Diet myths that are keeping you from losing weight

Nifer — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:39:33 +0000

When it comes to dieting, who isn’t looking to lose weight as quickly as possible? In our quest for a quick fix, we latch on to diet notions that may or may not be true (Can You Safely Lose 10 Pounds in 10 Days?).

Here are 3 diet myths that may be sabotaging your weight-loss efforts.

How to eat to lose weight: what a 1,500 calorie day looks like

Nifer — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:24:52 +0000

Did you know that one-third of New Year’s resolutions pertain to weight, diet and health? It’s true. Unfortunately, the majority of us are successful for no more than one week. You’re 10 times as likely to keep your healthy-eating resolutions, however, when you set an explicit goal—like, say, by following a meal plan.

How to know how much sugar is in your food

Nifer — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:21:35 +0000

One of the biggest offenders in our diets is an abundance of added sugars.

Can probiotics keep you from getting sick?

Nifer — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 15:51:21 +0000

With cold and flu season just around the corner, our precautionary routine has shifted from sunscreen for skin protection to immune defense. There are so many immunity-boosting products out there, and the search for a natural way to enhance your germ resistance has potentially generated an almost endless list of possibilities. (Don’t be duped by these 4 immune-boosting myths busted.)

Is sugar really poison?

Nifer — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 16:47:12 +0000

I was surprised when I recently saw the statistic that Americans spend about 23 percent of our grocery dollars on processed foods and sweets today—nearly double what we spent 20 years ago.

Don’t Miss: 6 Surprising Sources of Sugar

How not to overdose on salt

Nifer — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:31:57 +0000

Limiting sodium is important for healthy blood pressure and overall heart health. Yet most of us consume, on average, 3,400 milligrams of sodium each day. That’s much more than the daily 2,300 mg recommended limit put out in the 2010 USDA Dietary Guidelines. (If that sounds like a lot to you, keep in mind it’s the equivalent of just 1 teaspoon of table salt.)

Don’t Miss: 6 Easy Ways to Cut Salt in Your Diet

How to cut 31 grams of saturated fat from your diet

Nifer — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 14:42:04 +0000

You might already know that you should limit your saturated fat intake to no more than 10 percent of your total daily calories. Why? Because it raises your cholesterol and is bad for your heart. (Are all saturated fats unhealthy? Find out how to tell the difference between good and bad fats here.) So, if you're eating 2,000 calories a day, that's 22 grams of saturated fat.

Are “natural” sweeteners really any healthier than sugar?

Nifer — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:29:22 +0000

People often look to me, as a registered dietitian, for my seal of approval as they douse yogurt with agave or flood their coffee with turbinado sugar because “it’s natural.” But you won’t find me giving a nutrition green light to use copious amounts of sugar, regardless of where it comes from. (How much sugar should you be eating?

Should you be picking organic apples?

Nifer — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:17:35 +0000

Depending on where you live, apple season is either just around the corner—or already under way. As a dietitian, I love apples for their super-healthy nutrition profile: one medium apple delivers just 95 calories and 4 grams of fill-you-up fiber. Apples are also packed with disease-fighting antioxidants.

Don’t Miss: How Apples Can Make You Skinnier & More Health Benefits of Apples