ArcaMax

When I see someone serious about losing weight, they typically have a habit of tracking their calories. Most use an app on their smartphone such as MyFitnessPal or Lose It! or MyNetDiary. There are many others as well. These happen to be free (although some offer premium upgrades for a fee).

Besides tracking calories, these apps can help ...Read more

I think we're still learning how important adding fruits and vegetables can be to our health.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPlate, based on the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, recommends filling half our plate -- every time we eat -- with fruits and vegetables. That's not likely to change with the 2020 Dietary Guidelines.

Plant...Read more

Gut Health

All diseases begin in the gut, according to Hippocrates. We're finding out he was right.

Research links the microbiome and gut bacteria to a host of diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, metabolic syndrome and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, according to an article in the journal ...Read more

COVID-19 has changed the way we buy groceries and make meals. Data suggests that we are eating more at home, shop for groceries online more and are more concerned about preparing foods that support our immunity.

A survey for Kroger found 51% of respondents are cooking and baking more often than before the crisis; 40% say they are eating more ...Read more

There was a song we used to sing: "The thigh bone is connected to the knee bone, and the knee bone is connected to the ... " From that childhood song, I learned how interconnected our bodies are. So, it's not a surprise that we can preserve our brain health through a heart-healthy diet; heart health and brain health are interconnected. ...Read more

My uncle and my father-in-law both suffered from Alzheimer's. It's a terrible disease. So, is there a way to lower Alzheimer's risk?

A new study finds we can with some lifestyle changes.

The study, published recently in the journal Neurology, found that healthy lifestyle choices were associated with a lowered risk of developing Alzheimer's ...Read more

Most of us have a lot on our plates in September -- literally. It's back to school (whatever that looks like this year), back to schedules and back to meals at home. Wait, haven't we been doing that in this shelter-at-home, don't-go-out-to-eat time?

We have. But September is National Family Meals Month, and if you're like me, there's always ...Read more

A new report finds that less than 7% of adults in the U.S. practice all five of the healthy behaviors recommended by public health organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Cancer Society.

So, what are those behaviors?

No. 1: Exercising regularly (150 minutes per week).

No. 2: Eating a healthy ...Read more

Every so often, we need a checkup. When you visit the doctor for almost any appointment, it's common to answer some questions about your health. They can range from the medications you're taking to whether or not you're feeling sad or depressed.

As fall approaches, it's a good time to have a healthy eating checkup. There are two questions that ...Read more

Like coffee, eggs and many other foods, nuts can be confusing. Are they good for you? But aren't they high in calories? Don't they cause weight gain? Should you snack on nuts?

Nuts really do have a split personality; they are healthy, but they do pack a lot of calories in a small handful. The good news is that nuts are a great choice to include...Read more

So, how much sodium is too much? Depends on how much sodium you've had already. It's the total amount for the day that matters the most -- a combination of salt from the shaker and sodium in processed foods.

The American Heart Association recommends consuming no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. That's equivalent to a little more ...Read more

My daughter recently had my first grandchild (pretty exciting, right?). She's on a journey to getting back to her prepregnancy weight and lowering her blood pressure and the accompanying swelling that she struggled with. She's cut out processed and salty foods, and she's exploring an anti-inflammatory diet.

Just what is an anti-inflammatory ...Read more

There's a new diet plan that may help you remember things. It's appropriately nicknamed the MIND diet. It stands for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay.

A study at Rush University found people who followed the diet closely had a 53% lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Those who followed it moderately had a 35%...Read more