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.
The foods you're putting in your body everyday are one of the most important factors to a happier and healthy life. Healthy eating begins with preparation and planning ahead. What most people know is cooking at home is always best and what does need?
Read MoreIf eating beets or drinking beetroot juice is not a regular part of your diet, you might want to reconsider. This root vegetable native to the Mediterranean region possesses a unique nutritional blend of health benefits.
Read MoreThere's a new oil in town —enter coconut oil. Speaking of healthy fats, did you know research claims have been made that link coconut oil health benefits to improving immune function, thyroid disease, heart disease, obesity and may even help prevent cancer. More studies are needed but nonetheless, it is a massively beneficial food to add to your diet. Here's why.
Read MoreThe foods we eat everyday play a major role in our health. From the drops of cream added to your coffee to the amount of oil in the pan, these foods are some of the unhealthiest choices that we're eating every day.
Read MoreThere are so many diets and weight loss tips spouted each day online. Of course it gets confusing. But we want to start with the basics a.k.a. finding the foods that fill you up, keep you fuller longer and fuel the metabolism.
Read MoreWe 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 MoreNew study: Weight loss surgery cures half of patients with type-2 diabetes, for at least five years. Published in the Lancet journal. The trial involving 60 people found none of those with type 2 had been cured by medication and diet alone. The surgery improves symptoms both through weight loss and by changing the way the gut functions. Experts said the results were "remarkable" and that too few people were getting access to the surgery.
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!
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