Food and Diet. Find daily health food tips and ideas from Dr. David Samadi. Discover healthy food for healthy living. Explore major food issues and debates related to health such as buying and cooking with organic food, genetically modified food (GMO versus Non-GMO), nutrition, dieting epidemic, obesity, disease prevention, best digestion foods.
We often talk about what we eat and how it contributes to an unhealthy lifestyle or weight gain, but the hidden calories (and pounds) are actually in the drinks. Here are some of the highest caloric drinks and healthy swaps.
Read MoreWhat you eat everyday can influence the development of some cancers or exaggerate a risk factor like family history. Cancers of the stomach, bowel, lung, prostate and uterus are more likely to develop if your diet is high in fat and low in fruit, vegetables and fiber. High-energy and high-fat diets can lead to obesity and are generally thought to increase the risk of some cancers.
Read MoreWe all know the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” It appears there’s quite a bit of truth in that statement. Numerous research has shown many positive advantages to eating one of the most common and favorite fruit in the world. From its origination in the Tien Shan mountains of Kazakhstan millions of years ago to even a mention in the Holy Bible - Psalm 17:8 “keep me as the apple of your eye,” - apples are still around and are recognized as being an important part of a healthy diet.
Read MoreIf a grocery store advertisement read - “Today’s special: a food low in calories, no fat, full of fiber, may help prevent diseases, aids in weight loss and taste delicious” – would you buy it? I would hope so as this ad is talking about one of the most healthful foods nature provides – berries. Berries are just about the perfect food to eat, whether fresh or frozen, and the variety to choose from is outstanding – blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cranberries, gooseberries, loganberries, raspberries, and strawberries.
Read MoreSugar substitutes or artificial sweeteners are substances that can be used to sweeten foods and beverages in place of table sugar. Artificial sweeteners are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar therefore much smaller amounts can be used to achieve the same level of sweetness without adding little or no calories. That has been the goal of sugar substitutes to find that perfect stand-in without having to sacrifice taste and yet reduce calories that promote weight gain.
Read MoreEarlier this year, Pepsi made headlines when they 'kicked aspartame to the curb' as they put it. We've talked a lot about sugary beverages leading the obesity epidemic and many companies are being forced to take a long, hard look at their ingredients. But let's break down what's really in our soda.
Read MoreIt's important with any prescribed medication that you understand all the side effects. One that is often overlooked is whether you should eat or not with the prescribed pill or if there are any foods to avoid. So much interacts with medicine and it's not just alcohol. There are a number of foods that can get in the way of how a prescription works in the body. Here are a few common combinations to avoid.
Read MoreFarming and 'Big Agriculture' has affected our food more than just GMO. A fascinating new book from journalist Mark Schatzker explores how alters in food production have made our food taste bland, forcing us to dump seasonings and add-ons to turn then edible. In "The Dorito Effect: The Surprising New Truth About Food and Flavor," Schatzker learned that as taste in food diminished, so has nutrition. These man-made flavors mimic flavors found in nature and make us believe we're getting nutrition that actually isn't there. He argues this is what's really driving the obesity epidemic. The solution? Retrain our palates.
Read More1. Buy a water filter.
When you’re trying to either lose weight or maintain it, one of the hardest things to deal with during the day is hunger pangs. We all get them, creeping up on us at the most inconvenient times - mid-morning, late afternoon, in the evening - we try to ignore them as best we can but often find ourselves giving in to the relentless cravings. What we need is food that fills us up creating a feeling of satiety - that pleasant feeling of fullness and the corresponding reduction of hunger.
Read MoreLosing weight is one of the hardest thing anyone encounters. It's of course, not always fun, but that doesn't mean tossing the scale out the window and giving up before you've begun is the way to go. The most important thing and often the weight loss strategy that's overlooked is setting actual goals that are achievable. This means, making smaller goals versus a big scary goal weight that seems so far in the future you can't even imagine it. Because it's a far-stretching goal, it's not part of your reality. Setting small goals and figure out what you want to do to get there.
Read MoreThe great vegan debate has everyone's head spinning these days. Many people are thinking about converting to this style of eating but struggle with relishing the thought of giving up bacon or delicious feta. Yes, there's no question eating vegan can be incredibly healthy but there are also challenges with it. Let's explore.
Read MoreWe've talked about refined sugars (white sugar) and artificial sweeteners as being one part of our diet that needs to be limited. So if we get rid of these sugars, what can we have? The answer is better sources of natural sugar. Maple syrup is one of them. Believe it or not, all-natural maple syrup, straight from the bark, can boost your immune system, calm stomach cramps and slow the aging process. But look for the natural ones, preferably straight from a maple farm. Traditional pancake syrups are often made with processed sugars like corn syrup.
Read MoreHealthy eating begins with preparation and planning ahead. What most people know is cooking at home is always best and what does you need for that? A stocked kitchen, of course! So here we've compiled a list of the 30 food items you need to treat as staples in your kitchen pantry, fridge and freezer. Happy shopping!
Read MoreThe Mediterranean Diet is a wonderful way to eat. It helps stave off chronic diseases, builds a healthy immune and keeps the weight off. But now a new study shows it may help reduce the risk of breast cancer. A new study out of Spain found that women asked to follow this way of eating especially with a high consumption of olive oil was integrated were 68% less likely to develop breast cancer than those who were advised only to reduce the amount of fat in their diets.
Read MoreSome of the dangers of diet soda stem from the highly processed sweeteners it contains, high fructose corn syrup and aspartame. If these dangers haven’t convinced you, maybe the fact that you haven’t reached your weight loss goals will convince you. Whatever the reason you are decided to cut the diet soda (and we hope that you are), good for you! It surely means you are on your way to better health. Cutting diet soda can help you live a better, and healthier life.
Read MoreFor many people, the waist is often the first place excess fat goes. Unfortunately, it is also one of the hardest areas on our bodies to lose weight. Having a “muffin top” is not only unappealing, but it is also unhealthy to have on our bodies. In fact, having excess belly, or abdominal, fat is worse than having excess fat on most other places on our body. Belly fat or visceral fat is a huge proponent of chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes and can even bring on stroke. Here are 5 ways to a flatter stomach.
Read MoreA new report was recently regarding the use of antibiotics in the poultry and meat of some well-known food chains including fast food and casual dining establishments. There have been previous warnings about the use of antibiotics in the country’s meat and poultry supply. The report was released by Friends of the Earth and the National Resources Defense Counsil. The majority of the restaurants received a grade F.
Read MoreThere has been so much about coffee in the news these past few months. A number of significant studies have look at its effects on reducing everything from heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Here's what you need to know. There's been a number of reviews around studies that have cited the benefits of various aspects of drinking coffee. Most studies recognize a "cup of coffee" being an 8 ounce serving and when we talk about coffee, we mean black coffee, not with milk, sugar, syrup and other additives. Across the board of most studies, 3-4 cups per day for most everyone is where the peak benefit can be traced to. Pregnant women and those who suffer from acid reflux and other issues should stay away.
Read MoreA new study suggests that regularly eating spicy food could also lower the risk of death from specific conditions. Through an observational study, published in BMJ, researchers concluded that daily diets which featured spicy foods on a regular basis lowered the risk of death from cancer, ischemic heart disease and respiratory disease. Previous studies have also showed this benefit among others for spicy foods such as red peppers. These foods contain bioactive agents in spices that have beneficial effects on the body, especially with regards to obesity and cardiovascular disease.
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