Huffington Post Blog

New and Healthy Food Finds

2013-03-26T03:10:34Z

I have a love-hate relationship with the Natural Foods Expo West that takes place in Anaheim each year. I love to go and find out what companies are up to with their products, how they interact with consumers, and how their products actually taste before I buy and/or recommend them.

On the other hand, navigating through the 3,000-plus exhibits along with 60,000 other professionals can be more than a bit daunting!...Read More

A Recipe for Life: 4 Ways to Change your DNA

2013-03-01T05:10:00Z

"I need to lose weight and change my health. What's the magic recipe and how can I get a jumpstart on it?"

Oh, how often I hear this! As a registered dietitian, I work with clients to put the puzzle pieces of their lives together for a picture that facilitates change. That looks different for each person with no "one size fits all," but there are some common ingredients.

Research shows that lifestyle changes in four areas affect your genes within just two weeks. This means your body can change the way it responds to your DNA within 14 days to making the way for lowering blood pressure, blood glucose levels, weight, and even how quickly your body ages....Read More

Don't Wait to Prevent Diabetes: Start Today With 3 Easy Ways

2012-12-15T04:58:00Z

With the holidays upon us, it might be easy to tell yourself to wait till the New Year to work on your diet, exercise plan or lifestyle. However, there's a good reason to start your plan today, and it's not about looking better in your clothes...Read More

5 Secrets of Supermarket Shopping

2012-11-08T22:22:00Z

Since childhood, the grocery store has been a fascinating place for me -- my own toy store with interesting and fun things to look at and tasty treasures to eat.

Today, the temptations are still there for me, but it has gotten increasingly complicated to make the right choices. For many items, it is difficult to decipher the contents. Then, when you do look at the labels, there are layers of mysterious ingredients. Increased options adds to the challenge, resulting in a barrage of products that can overcome your healthy due diligence to choose wisely...Read More

The Sweet Life: Protect Yourself Against Sugar Toxicity and Diabetes

2012-10-02T02:06:00Z

Remember the days when your mother said too much sugar would cause cavities? Well, not only was she right, but today's moms have more to be concerned about than just cavities. Multiple sugars and sweeteners abound in foods and maneuvering the maze of sweeteners is a far cry from a time when the only real two sources of sweetener were honey from bees and sugar from fruit...Read More

Junk in a Box: 4 Popular Foods Marketed as Healthy

2012-08-06T03:53:13Z

You've seen "protein bars" in the store - and they are good-looking! They might have a rock climber on them, or maybe a night sky. They seem like a quick and tasty way get your protein. However, flip them over, read the label and you'll find they are really processed...Read More

Confused About Carbs? 5 Common Myths

2012-06-12T10:26:00Z

Just like the Spice Girls, carbohydrates were at the height of their popularity during the mid-1990s. When "fat-free" became the desired state, people turned to carbs instead. Consumers soon learned that a high carb diet wasn't so healthy either. Today, between marketers who promote packaged carbs as "heart healthy" and fitness "experts" who espouse that all carbs are bad, it's easy to be confused. Here are some carb myths debunked...Read More

5 Myths about Everyday Foods

2012-05-17T20:34:00Z

When it comes to nutrition, sometimes it's hard to tell the fact from the fiction. Certain foods get a reputation as "bad for you," whereas others get promoted as "natural" or "good for you" when they are really not.

Sometimes myths about foods are based on urban legends that just get perpetuated for years until we actually believe they are research-based. Other myths are based on old research that was not done in a scientific manner. Whatever the reason, here are some claims around a few popular foods that need to be debunked....Read More

In Defense of Fats: 7 Surprising Facts

2012-04-21T20:47:33Z

Fat has the reputation as the bad boy of the nutrition world. Maligned for decades, the message from many health organizations has been the same: reduce or cut the fat. For those who are overweight or have chronic health issues, this is probably the right advice. However, the idea of fat as universally "bad" simply isn't true. Maybe it's time to reframe the conversation, starting with the real facts about fat...Read More

Tasty, New and Natural: A Registered Dietitian Shares Her Finds From a Western Foodie Convention

2012-03-24T02:29:00Z

The Natural Products Expo West, held earlier this month in Anaheim, Calif., is always an interesting show. As one colleague tweeted, it's a "Disneyland of new, organic, processed junk food." However, amidst the crowd of 22,000 who attend and the more than 1,500 exhibitors, there are some tasty finds at this mecca for foodies...Read More