Brain Rewards. Restricting food intake increases the reward value of food, particularly high-calorie and appetizing food. The more successful people are at caloric-restriction dieting, the greater difficulty they will face in maintaining the restriction. Dieting by skipping meals and fasting is less successful than weight loss efforts characterized by intake of low energy, dense, healthy…

Low Vitamin D Levels and Cardiovascular Problems. Increased levels of vitamin D in the body result in lower levels of CRP (c-reactive protein) in the blood. High levels of CRP are associated with the hardening of blood vessels and a greater risk of developing cardiovascular problems. American Journal of Medicine, May 2013

Fight Inflammation! Chronic inflammation is a condition that can be triggered by obesity and can ultimately lead to both cardiovascular and metabolic disease. Some foods that are known to combat unhealthy inflammation are citrus fruits, leafy greens, tomatoes, wild salmon, and whole foods high in fiber. University of Alabama at Birmingham, March 2013

Just One Meal. A single fatty meal can cause the heart to beat harder and increase blood pressure. Researchers analyzed the effects of eating a high-fat fast food meal (42 grams of fat) and eating a meal with no more than 1.3 grams of fat. When subjected to a series of standard stress tests, those…

So How Much Salt and Potassium Should You Consume? The World Health Organization recommends adults should reduce salt intake to 5g per day and consume at least 3210mg of potassium per day. World Health Organization, January 2013

Diet and Exercise. While many experts advise to start eating a more healthy diet before starting an exercise program, recent research points to doing both at the same time for optimal results. Participants were separated into four groups: 1) Start exercise program first. 2) Start diet first. 3) Start both diet and exercise at same…

Unleaded Please! Levels of lead in rice imported into the United States (US) ranged from 6-12 mg/kg. For adults, the daily exposure levels from eating imported rice are 20-40 times higher than the Food and Drug Administration’s accepted levels. For infants and children, the daily exposure levels are 30-60 times higher. Lead is a neurotoxin…

Heart Disease and Red Meat. Carnitine, a compound abundant in red meat and added as a supplement to popular energy drinks, has been found to promote atherosclerosis (hardening or clogging of arteries). Nature Medicine, April 2013

Olive Oil and Satiety. Consuming olive oil as part of your normal diet may help increase satiety (the feeling of fullness) following a meal. Technical University of Munich, March 2013

Lack of Sleep and Your Diet. People who are sleep deprived are more likely to choose both larger portion sizes and more calorie dense meals and snacks than they would after a normal night’s sleep. Psychoneuroendocrinology, February 2013