Posts in Diets & Eating Approaches
Keto + Intermittent Fasting: Is It a Safe Combo for Weight Loss?

Combining IF and Keto? This was new to me, and something that felt pretty restrictive when you combine a small eating window and limited food choices. I checked out the latest research for Cooking Light to see if I could find evidence that there is any potential benefit – or need – for adopting a restrictive eating pattern like this. Here’s what I learned.

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The Alkaline Diet: Is It Just Too Complicated?

Ever wondered if there was really something to those alkaline waters you see on the shelf?  Me too! Yes, even dietitians get intrigued by diet fads and health trends! But more importantly, friends had been asking me about eating the Alkaline Diet over the past few years, and I wanted to understand the premise behind it too. So, naturally, I started researching. Here’s what I found.

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The Plant Paradox: What's FACT, What's FICTION?

Lectin-free is being called the new gluten-free and for good reason! The Plant Paradox by Dr. Stephen Gundry - a diet book that Kelly Clarkson credited on the CMT Awards red carpet a few weeks ago as helping to improve her health and to lose 37 pounds - promotes a lectin-free diet and claims to ultimately cure chronic disease. But is it fact or just fiction?

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Is the Keto Diet the Secret to Better Brain Health?

The most common issues affecting brain health—dementia, memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease—all have slightly different symptoms and etiologies, yet are all the result of some type of reduced brain cell functioning or deterioration. Science hasn’t had much success to date in preventing or slowing brain conditions like these, but following a ketogenic diet is being suggested as a potential way to do this. Is there any truth to it? Let’s find out.

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What a Dietitian REALLY Thinks About Tom Brady's Diet

Lots of athletes follow specific eating regimens, but most don’t make headlines. Yet, Tom Brady’s diet is one of continuous intrigue for athletes and non-athletes, and has even been featured in publications like Men’s JournalThe Washington PostThe Boston Globe, and Business Insider. Is it the NFL player’s picturesque life with supermodel Gisele Bundchen that makes people want to know more? Or is there solid science behind his diet principles that we should all be following? Follow along as I break down the science that separates the fads from and facts.

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Eat to Beat Chronic Inflammation

Chronic Inflammation is triggered by the immune system responding to irritants or foreign compounds, often in food or the environment. With no overt symptoms, chronic inflammation is a little harder to understand or even recognize. However, research has linked it with obesity, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Here's the scoop on what to eat and what to skip.

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Whole30 : Is It REALLY As Healthy As It Claims?

Focusing on healthy eating changes—albeit pretty drastic for most people—for a set time period makes Whole30 more appealing when compared to other diets with an infinite end. But how much impact can the Whole30 program really have on health, food cravings, and future food choices? Better yet, is it a safe way to eat long-term? Here’s everything you need to know.

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Weight Watchers Is One of 2018’s Top Diets—but Does It Actually Work?

For many of us, Weight Watchers is a household name. You’ve either followed this popular, points-based diet, or you likely know someone who has. And while it may not be as buzzy as Keto or Whole30, this long-standing weight loss program has existed for nearly 60 years and continues to be a leading diet plan today.  But does Weight Watchers live up to the hype?  Let's find out. 

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An RD's Experience with Intermittent Fasting

Even if it’s a fad or trend that has little scientific basis, I often like to try out different eating concepts—just to get a first-hand understanding of the effects to my body and lifestyle.  Sure, dietitians want clients to trust us because we only share science-based information, but I like to be able to share first-hand experience as well – good or bad.  So I decided to try (after much persuasion) intermittent fasting.  Here is my experience - the good, the bad and the surprising. 

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Bulletproof Coffee

Bulletproof coffee is a key component for many intermittent fasters. However as a dietitian, it’s a trend that I’ve dismissed for several years now as just that – a trend that I could never tie enough consistent, credible research to justify recommending or trying.  But over the past eight weeks, bulletproof coffee has slowly become a staple in my morning routine.

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Intermittent Fasting and Metabolism

Nothing prepares you for when something totally contradicts your professional knowledge base. This happened to me last year when Cooking Light’s Digital Editor asked me to write content on Intermittent Fasting and Metabolism, something that I honestly thought would be a breeze! Who knew research would show that going longer periods between meals didn’t actually slow metabolism. In fact, many studies suggested this may be a healthier way to eat and be a more effective approach for weight loss. 

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