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 recently touched on the health benefits of coconut oil, which helps from everything to regulating our blood sugar levels to weight loss. The fats from coconut have special fat compounds called medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) that have been shown to help the liver burn fat. So, to take the coconut trend even further, enter coconut vinegar.
Read MoreVitamin C is arguably the best known vitamin but many people misunderstood its value and the daily amount. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that should be included as part of your daily diet. And luckily, as a water-soluble vitamin, too much won't hurt you. Vitamin C helps modify precursor proteins in order for collagen production. Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. It is used to make and strengthen skin cartilage, tendons, ligaments, bones and teeth. Vitamin C also acts as one of the main antioxidants in the body. It protects cells from potentially damaging by-products.
Read MoreBerries are extremely high in vitamin C, high in fiber, and low in calories. Vitamin C is important to helping our body reduce tension and boost the immune system. Fiber helps to regulate our blood sugar levels. Regulating blood sugar levels is important because drastic changes in our blood sugar can cause us to have mood swings, which may contribute to anxiety.
Read MoreFirstly, let’s briefly touch on the unhealthy dietary fats: saturated fat and trans fat. These fats are commonly found in animal food sources. Saturated fat raises blood cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad” cholesterol) and can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes. Trans fats are most often a result of food processing and are often referred to as synthetic or industrial. Synthetic trans fats can increase LDL and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good” cholesterol), thus increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease.
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. Now a new study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that regularly drinking coffee doesn't increase the chance of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity. Here's what you need to know.
Read MoreWhen we say the word “diet” what exactly do we mean? Most of us associate the word with “trying to lose weight.” But the actual definition of the word diet means “the food and beverages a person usually eats and drinks.” So if we all agree that we eat and drink something every day, then aren’t we all on a “diet?” My point is that all of us are on a diet or a way of eating and it’s best to strive to make your diet meet your own individual nutrient needs keeping you as healthy as possible.
Read MoreThe truth is what you snack on in between meals goes a long way, especially in keeping your metabolism burning. If you have a regular exercise routine, it can also help continue to tone your muscles throughout the day. But oftentimes, snack time gets mistaken for a time to treat yourself, but that can lead to unwanted weight gain. Here's 7 snacks to avoid at all costs.
Read MoreThis type of deficiency causes anemia in the body, which means the body doesn't have enough red blood cells. Certain conditions include Crohn's disease, celiac disease, pernicious anemia, alcoholism and make it hard for the body to absorb enough of the vitamin. Lack of this essential vitamin can cause fatigue, and even in some severe cases paralysis and nerve damage. Treatment with a balanced diet or B12 supplements or shots brings levels back to normal.
Read MoreTwo out of every three American adults drink alcoholic beverages and nearly 17.6 million of them have alcohol issues or have become alcoholics. Also called ethanol intoxication, acute alcohol intoxication, alcohol poisoning, occurs after one drinks enough alcohol to change your behavior and impair your physical and mental abilities. Symptoms include impaired judgment and coordination, slurred speech, blurred vision, trouble concentrating or other cognitive issues as well as a slower reaction time or drowsiness.
Read MoreAccording to a study published in Cell Metabolism, a fasting mimicking diet can actually reduce your risk factors for aging, cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This is not the first study to broach the concept of intermittent fasting and its potential benefits to our health. We’ve heard that cutting calories could be the secret for healthy weight loss and body detox, but according to the study it isn’t skipping meals that is the answer here.
Read MoreToday is National Eat Your Vegetable Day. Vegetables should be the cornerstone of every meal you eat. Filling half of your plate with veggies is one of the key ways you can get your daily intake, stay full and keep your weight at bay. But which veggies are a lot fiber which helps keep you fuller longer, curbing your appetite? Let's explore.
Read MoreThe concept of intermittent fasting has been thrown around a lot in light of recent studies exploring the health benefits and its effects for weight loss. Let’s explore what exactly this method entails. Intermittent fasting is not a diet, consider it a dieting pattern. In simple terms, you make a conscious decision to skip certain meals.
Read MoreFor years we have been told to stay away from fat, essentially naming it our dietary enemy. But everything we’ve been told could be wrong. A new report by the federal Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee says that limiting our total fat intake is NOT better for our health. Yes, you heard that right. Apparently, what we thought about fat has been wrong all along. Fat isn’t bad for us, and fat isn’t making us fat.
Read MoreSugar has certainly come under fire as a culprit for a plethora of health concerns, ranging from cancer to obesity. The average American consumes approximately one third of a pound of sugar each day, translating into nearly 130 pounds of sugar per person every year. As a nation sugar usage exceeds 9 million tons a year.
Read MoreFrom salmonella, E. coli and even metal bits, food production has run into some issues this year. Here are 5 of the latest food recalls you need to know about from 2015.
Read MoreHave you heard of the 80/20 rule? Originally called the Pareto Principle, this theory can be applied to many different areas of your life...and it might just be the secret to losing weight and actually keeping it off. Here's what you need to know.
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