Is Coffee a Superfood?

It’s not an exaggeration to say that America runs on coffee—some 400 million cups a day, according to the most recent data from the National Coffee Association. That works out to about 9 pounds of coffee per person per year. [Read more…]

The Link Between Food Insecurity and Binge Eating

Food insecurity—or not having access to enough quality food—is a significant risk factor for binge eating disorder, according to a new systematic review published earlier this year. [Read more…]

Does Hydration Impact Aging?

The human body is roughly 60 percent water. This vital nutrient is a building block of every cell in the body. It helps to regulate our body temperature, transport nutrients and energy through the bloodstream, flush out waste products, act as a shock absorber for our brain and spinal cord, and lubricate our joints. [Read more…]

The Ideals and Realities of Family Dinner with Young Kids

Family dinner is a cultural norm that most families in the U.S. strive for; it’s a goal that has endured for decades. Just think of an episode of “Leave It to Beaver” with June and Ward Cleaver and their two sons sitting around a table set with fine China and a white tablecloth, discussing the day and eating a healthy meal. [Read more…]

Which Diet Works Better, Low-Fat or Low-Carb?

If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, you’ve noticed the myriad of diet options out there: keto, paleo, WW (formerly Weight Watchers), the Mediterranean diet, and many more.

Is there a way to tell which one works the best? Public health officials have been asking this question for decades. The answer emerging from the most recent data is unexpected: They all work, and what works best for you depends on a variety of biological and lifestyle factors. [Read more…]

What You Thought About Your Metabolism May Be Wrong

Talk to people who are middle-aged or older about body weight, and you’ll likely hear them complain about how their metabolism has slowed down. But our commonly held beliefs about metabolism – primarily, that it slows for older people and women – are likely completely wrong, according to a new groundbreaking study published in the journal Science this month. [Read more…]

Drinking Coffee Is Actually Good for You

Sixty-four percent of Americans drink coffee, adding up to 400 million cups daily. That’s a lot of coffee!

Researchers have long debated the health effects of one of America’s favorite drinks. In 1991, coffee was listed as a possible carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Research has demonstrated that coffee increases blood pressure and heart rate, but less is known about its impact on cardiovascular health. Coffee is not recommended for pregnant women because it’s unknown how it affects unborn babies. [Read more…]

The Evidence on Detox Diets

Most people associate spring with the cleaning and scouring of their house, garage, basement, or car. Some people extend the ritual to an internal cleansing of their bodies through detox diets.

There are dozens of available plans for detox diets. One of the earliest, the Master Cleanse, was first introduced in the 1940s and gained popularity in 1976. It involves consuming a concoction of lemon juice, purified water, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup—and nothing else—for 10 days. Today, one of the most popular is the 10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse, in which participants drink green smoothies and eat raw fruit and vegetables, nuts, and hard-boiled eggs. Actress and entrepreneur Gwyneth Paltrow, through her wellness company Goop, promotes detox diets that prohibit alcohol, caffeine, added sugar, gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and nightshade plants, including potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant. [Read more…]

How Gut Bacteria Are Linked to Mental Health

Scientists have been studying how the human body functions for millennia, yet there are still countless workings that we still do not fully understand. Just in the past decade, health researchers have discovered an interesting connection — one that affects tens of millions of Americans. It turns out the bacteria that naturally occur in everyone’s digestive tract play an important role in our mental health. [Read more…]

Holiday Weight Gain Stays With Us

With COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths rising across the country, the holiday season will certainly look different this year for most Americans. Although most of us are stuck at home without the typical holiday parties and cookie exchanges, there will still be plenty of opportunities to indulge in cookie-baking, candy canes and holiday cocktails. Unfortunately, all of that delicious food means that most of us consume extra calories during this time of year. [Read more…]

The Link Between Food Insecurity and Mental Health

Unemployment rates rose to more than 14 percent in April this year with more than 23 million Americans without work when the U.S. shut down to stop the spread of COVID-19. Since economic activity in the U.S. has resumed, millions have returned to their old jobs or found new ones. But there are still more than 11 million Americans unemployed – more than double than were unemployed in February before COVID-19 spread widely in the U.S. [Read more…]

Clear Evidence: What You Eat Affects Your Mental Health

If there’s one concept health researchers have come to agree on it’s this: What you eat matters. Although they don’t always agree on what constitutes a healthy diet, medical experts have long understood that while certain foods can help to improve your physical well-being, others have the opposite effect. [Read more…]

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