All articles tagged with #food choices
At 89, Marion Nestle, a renowned nutrition expert, shares her daily eating habits, emphasizing minimally processed foods, vegetables, and moderation, while critiquing ultra-processed foods and advocating for reading food labels to make healthier choices.
A study reveals that the brain uses two distinct neural pathways to regulate sugar and fat intake in mice, activated by energy deficits, which could inform treatments for overeating and metabolic disorders.
Jessica Biel revealed she bans McDonald's from her home due to concerns about food quality, preferring to treat her children to more upscale meals, despite her husband Justin Timberlake's past association with McDonald's advertising. Her stance has sparked mixed reactions among parents.
Several seemingly healthy foods, including digestive biscuits, diet khakhra, granola bars, breakfast cereals, brown bread, peanut butter, and packaged juices, are not as healthy as they appear. These foods often contain refined flour, sugar, preservatives, unhealthy oils, and high amounts of calories and sugar, making them less nutritious choices for individuals seeking healthier options.
Ivy League doctors from Harvard, Yale, and Rutgers medical schools argue that obesity should be classified as a chronic disease and not solely attributed to personal choices or lack of willpower. They advocate for a shift in understanding obesity as a biological issue rather than a behavioral one, emphasizing the role of genetics and an obesogenic environment. The doctors promote the use of drugs, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, as effective treatments for obesity, but stress that these medications need to be taken indefinitely to maintain weight loss. They attribute the rise in obesity rates to the prevalence of highly-processed and palatable foods, sedentary lifestyles, and poor sleep, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the obesogenic environment.
Certain foods can contribute to feelings of anxiety and stress. Processed foods, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, fried foods, high-fructose corn syrup, excessive salt, fast food, dairy products, monosodium glutamate (MSG), high-caffeine beverages, energy drinks, refined grains, red meat, artificial food coloring, and high-fat dairy are all potential culprits. Opting for whole, unprocessed foods, natural sweeteners, baked or grilled alternatives, water or herbal tea, herbs and spices for flavor, homemade meals, almond milk or dairy-free alternatives, MSG-free options, herbal teas or decaffeinated options, green tea or fruit for energy, whole grains, lean proteins, and plant-based alternatives can help promote a sense of calm and well-being. It's important to listen to your body and consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian for personalized advice.
A mother seeks advice on dealing with judgmental comments about her 3-year-old's food choices due to his medical condition of "Failure to Thrive." Despite offering a variety of healthy options at home, the child's picky eating habits and need for maximum caloric intake lead to him consuming processed foods. The mother wonders whether to share his medical history to avoid judgment or simply tell people to mind their own business. The columnist advises against revealing personal details and suggests responding firmly to unsolicited comments, emphasizing that what the child eats is not up for discussion.
Hotel breakfast buffets offer a wide variety of food choices, but not all options are equally healthy or safe. Omelets from the omelet station are a good choice as they allow for customization and use fresh ingredients. Bananas and oranges are nutritious and hydrating options, while sliced cantaloupe may pose a food safety risk. Trying regional breakfast foods can provide a unique dining experience. On the other hand, sausages and bacon are high in sodium and saturated fat, and processed meats can have negative health effects. Croissants are a popular but not the healthiest choice.
A study led by Stanford scientists suggests that consuming foods cooked at high temperatures, such as red meat and fried food, may increase the risk of cancer due to the absorption of heat-damaged DNA from these foods. The study observed that damaged DNA components from cooked food can be absorbed through digestion and incorporated into the DNA of the consumer, potentially leading to genetic mutations. While the findings are preliminary and based on lab-grown cells and mice, they highlight the need for further research into the health implications of different cooking methods and food choices.
Michiko Tomioka, a certified nutritionist and longevity expert from Japan, recommends foods that have medicinal properties and promote longevity. She avoids processed meats, fast food hamburgers, sugary sodas, sugary breakfast cereals, cream cheese, and candy. Instead, she opts for tofu, multigrain rice balls with tuna wrapped in seaweed, natto, kinako, chia seed pudding with honey or agave syrup, frozen bananas, and unsweetened dark chocolate. Her approach focuses on a plant-based diet, which is intentional and has helped Japan become home to some of the world's longest-living people.