Prevent Osteoporosis Through Your Diet

Certain foods can help you fend off osteoporosis. Learn the best sources to get the bone-building nutrients your body needs.

Since researchers first described osteoporosis in the early 1940s, much has been learned about bone loss and how to prevent it. Osteoporosis is a disease that results from bone loss, or the loss of bone density and tissue. It is normal to lose some bone density as you age, but some people are at risk of losing a greater amount than others and developing osteoporosis. Fortunately, you can help lower your risk of bone loss by eating a diet rich in the nutrients that keep your bones healthy and strong.

Preventing Osteoporosis Through Diet: Calcium

Calcium is essential for healthy bones. The body uses and loses calcium every day. If more calcium is lost than is replaced, bone loss occurs.

Foods that Reduce Bone Density

Certain foods and nutrients can reduce bone density and increase your risk for osteoporosis. Learn how to tailor your diet to compensate.

You probably know that calcium and vitamin D are needed to build strong bones. But what you may not know is that there are certain elements in your diet that can actually reduce bone density, increasing your risk for osteoporosis.

Diet and Osteoporosis: Too Much Protein May Lower Bone Density

Good Sources of Potassium

Get the facts about potassium and learn some good dietary sources of this nutrient.

Potassium is a mineral that most of us get every day through the foods we regularly eat — and that's a good thing.

"Potassium is a mineral necessary for good health," explains Alexa Schmitt, a clinical nutritionist at Massachusetts General Hospital. "It aids in maintaining heart health by helping to regulate the fluid balance in the body."

Potassium is classified as an electrolyte, which means that it carries an electric charge in your body.

The body needs balanced amounts of electrolytes — including potassium, sodium, magnesium, and others — to keep the blood chemistry at the right levels so that your body can function at its best.

Choosing Protein Wisely

What makes protein good or bad? Find out — and learn to make smart protein choices.

Our bodies need protein to build strong bones, muscles, skin, and cells. Because we can’t store protein in our bodies the way we can store carbohydrates, we need to make sure we eat enough protein every day. But is all protein created equal?

Alexa Schmitt, RD, a clinical nutritionist at Massachusetts General Hospital, says that what makes a protein “good” or “bad” is its saturated fat content. Proteins that are high in saturated fats can raise your cholesterol level, which in turn puts you at higher risk for heart disease. Most adults need to eat 40 to 65 grams of protein each day. And though most Americans already eat more protein than they need, we don't necessarily eat enough of the "good" protein. So how can we make smart choices about which sources of protein to choose?

Say No to Soda, Yes to Healthy Drinks

Learn five reasons why soda is bad for you and five healthy drinks that are better for quenching your thirst.

Sodas are sweet, sparkling and tasty — but don't confuse them with a healthy drink. Doctors have discovered a ton of health risks connected with drinking soda pop. Worse, you're robbing yourself of a healthy drink alternative brimming with needed vitamins and minerals every time you chug down a soft drink.

"If you're choosing a soda, chances are you aren't choosing a healthy beverage," says Keri M. Gans, a nutrition consultant in New York City and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. There are a number of healthy drink choices you can make instead.

Good Fats, Bad Fats

Learn which fats are good for you and which ones to avoid.

The general wisdom for many years was that all fat should be avoided. Trans fat, saturated fat, unsaturated fat — just stay away from them all. But now scientists realize that fat — and how our bodies process it — is much more complex.

Our bodies need some fat for optimal functioning. But we need the right kinds of fat, and we need to practice moderation. Some fats are actually good for you, and others should be avoided at all costs. How do you know which is which?

Fats: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly

The Hidden Fat Content in Your Diet

Do you nitpick over every last calorie and crumb, but let fat content go by the wayside? Fat grams are just as important to consider as calories, and you may be surprised at which foods have a shockingly high fat content.

It's probably no surprise that greasy cheeseburgers, French fries, and pizza are loaded with fat. But did you know that even certain vegetables and healthy fish can have a high fat content? Keep in mind that fat is an important part of a healthy diet and while not all fat is bad, the fat content of a given meal should be evaluated just as closely as its calories.

Fat Content in Your Diet: How Much Fat Is Okay?

It's important to pay attention to how many fat grams you eat each day to make sure you're getting just the right amount of fat in your diet and no more.

A Guide to the Food Pyramid

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's food pyramid is a great way to remember how many servings you need from each food group. Use the newly redesigned, easy-to-read food pyramid as your personal guide to healthy eating.

Ever wish there was a quick-reference guide to remind you of the basics of good nutrition and healthy eating? If it's tough for you to track how many grains, meats, fruits, veggies, and dairy products you need each day, just think back to the food groups or food pyramid that we learned about as kids. Today’s food pyramid from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is new and improved, with even more great information to help everyone eat their way to good health.

Filling Up on Fiber

Weight-loss programs such as the South Beach Diet are fiber-rich plans, designed to encourage eating plenty of high-fiber foods, such as legumes, whole grains, and whole fruits and vegetables. Why the emphasis on fiber? A high-fiber diet can help normalize your blood sugar levels, improve your cholesterol levels, have a positive effect on bowel function, and help keep you from feeling hungry, which aids in weight loss.

"Fiber plays an important role in long-term health," says Dr. Arthur Agatston, preventive cardiologist and author of the best-selling the South Beach Diet, "but as a society, we don't consume nearly enough. According to some statistics, Americans only eat between 12 and 17 grams per day when they should be getting 25-30 grams per day."

Measuring Body Fat

The scale isn't the only way to tell if you're overweight. Read how body fat is measured and what percentage of body fat compared to your total weight is considered too much.

Many people who are watching their weight — or trying to lose some pounds — turn to their bathroom scale. But that old familiar standby is not the only way to measure one’s size. Another possibility to consider is your body fat percentage.

Body Fat: What Are the Dangers?

When most of us hear the words "body fat" they have immediate negative connotations. However, in the right proportion, fat is actually critical to our diet and health. In the not-so-distant past, the ability to store extra body fat allowed our ancestors to survive in times of famine, when food was hard to come by. Even today it’s essential to keep the body functioning, to preserve body heat, and to protect organs from trauma.

7 Veggie Burgers You’ll Actually Want to Eat

1 / 8   The Secret to Tasty Veggie Burgers

Are you turned off by the dry, tasteless, crumbly, or super salty veggie patties in the frozen aisle? If you’re sticking to a plant-based diet, looking to cut back on red meat, or want to save a few dollars on groceries, you don’t have to settle for highly-processed veggie burgers with questionable ingredients. With these mouthwatering combinations, you can make your own juicy veggie burgers at home — no meat required!

2 / 8   Beets and Brown Rice

Think beets are just for salads? It’s time to get creative with this vivid veggie! With the help of brown rice for binding, you can easily transform raw beets into veggie patties. These flavorful Indian-Spiced Beet Burgers from The Roasted Root are enlivened with a spice mixture of curry powder, cumin, turmeric, dill, and garlic. The result is a flavor-packed patty without the excess sodium that tends to come in processed veggie burgers.

Why Fruits and Vegetables Are Vital

Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is important for good health. Find out why experts say Mother Nature's bounty packs better nutrients than supplements.

If we are what we eat, then many of us must be tripping all over the place due to a lack of balance. That's because the average American eats about three servings of fruits and vegetables per day — a stark contrast to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) new guidelines stating that we should be eating 5 to 13 servings of nature's best, depending on the number of calories you need.

So if we want to grow to be strong like Popeye, why can't we just down some supplements instead of devouring a pile of spinach?

Nutrition Guidelines: Getting Started

With so many diets and quick weight-loss promises on the market today, it's hard to remember what a healthy diet really looks like. Start here with the basics of good nutrition.

Diet pills, fad diets, foods to boycott, foods to eat exclusively. With all the crazy diet advice out there, do you even remember the basics of healthy eating? Get rid of the clutter when it comes to diets, and use basic good nutrition guidelines and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s MyPlate as your framework for healthy eating.

Food Groups and Healthy Nutrition: MyPlate

So how do we know what healthy meals should look like? The USDA is responsible for publishing nutritional guidelines for healthy eating based on ongoing research. Although the basics haven't really changed, recently, there have been a few adjustments.

A Diet for Better Energy

Complex carbs are key for sustained energy throughout the day, while too many sugary snacks can lead to energy crashes. Find out which foods you need for round-the-clock energy.

Juggling the responsibilities of work, life, and family can cause too little sleep, too much stress, and too little time.

Yet even when you're at your busiest, you should never cut corners when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet. Your body needs food to function at its best and to fight the daily stress and fatigue of life.

Energy and Diet: How The Body Turns Food Into Fuel

18 Ways to Make This Your Healthiest Summer Ever

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of summer always being linked to the dread of bathing suit season when there are so many healthy aspects to celebrate this time of year. Fresh produce is abundant, beautiful, and more affordable. The weather (at least in most parts of the country) is perfect for outdoor walking, biking, hiking, and swimming, and the days are longer so you have more time to fit in physical activity. Vacations allow you time to relax, de-stress, and get active with friends and family, and your schedule may be more flexible, allowing you more time to focus on healthy habits.

With summer’s unofficial Memorial Day kickoff behind us, it’s the perfect time to set some health goals and embrace new opportunities to eat smart and get fit. Here are 18 ideas to motivate and inspire you throughout the sunny months ahead:

Diet and Diabetes

Making healthy food choices can lower your risk of developing diabetes or its complications. Learn about the diet and diabetes connection.

For most people who don’t feel well, a visit to the doctor can diagnose and fix the problem. Simple, right?

But some diseases can be silent predators, offering few or no warning signs to alert you early on that help is needed. One such disease is diabetes.

Not only does diabetes affect almost 24 million people in the United States, but 25 percent don’t even know they have it.

Half Day Diet

Is there a diet system that not only helps you lose weight fast, but also allows you to eat carbs, avoid hunger pangs, and stay on track for the long run? According to Nate Miyaki there is, and it is called the Half Day Diet.

In this review of The Half Day Diet we’ll take a look at what the diet is, how it works, pros and cons and hopefully you’ll be able to determine if it will work for you personally.

What Is It?

The diet sounds as though you would be eating for only half a day, however this not the case. Essentially, you will be eliminating certain foods from half of your day – mainly carbs.

The diet works on the fact that certain macronutrients work better with your body at certain times of day. Moreover, the amount of those macronutrients you put into your body can have an impact on your weight loss and overall health.

The Half Day Diet teaches you how much, what, and when to eat to promote maximum fat loss in your body now and in the future. All you have to do is follow the plan as laid out here.

How Does It Work?

Nate has figured out a way to make this diet work for anyone at any age at any weight. You simply choose what diet fits you and your lifestyle and then you follow the rules laid out for you.

There are three different sections to this diet.

1. First you will learn how to eat to lose weight.This means you will learn which foods to eat and at which times. You will learn when you need to eat carbs, as well as fats and proteins. And all of this will help you remove cravings, maximize fat burn, and create a sustainable diet that works.

2. There is also a customizable portion of the diet, because as Nate says, there is no single diet solution for everyone. Here you are able to tweak the principles in the Half Day Diet to work for you based on your lifestyle, needs, and likes.

3. Lastly, you will be able to figure out how to make this diet work for you a month from now, a year from now, and for the rest of your life with the evolution section of the diet. Nate recognizes that as you lose weight, your biology will start to change, and your diet will require more tweaking in order to make it work for you. This is a very unique aspect of the diet. It stays with you until you get results and then helps you to keep getting results for as long as you want.

You also get a few bonuses with the program that will help you make the most out of your weight loss efforts.

1. Restaurant & Fast Food Survival Guide

If you have ever gone to a restaurant on a diet, then you know the stress that comes with it. Will I order the right thing? Will this ruin my diet completely? With this guide you will have no fear and easily be able to make choices that keep your weight loss on track.

Read more: CLICK HERE

2. The Happy Hour Handbook

Planning on going out for some drinks in the future? This is the handbook that will help you make the most of your night – when it comes to your diet. You will learn how to go out and enjoy drinking, what to eat before you head out, and why you can’t drink yourself into a stumbling stupor.

3. The Flat Belly Platinum Club

Get 1 month access to this club that has tips, articles, recipes, videos, and a community of like-minded people ready to share their stories, inspire you, and learn from you. In addition, you may get some answers directly from Nate inside this club, which is invaluable to your weight loss success.

About Nate Miyaki

Nate Miyaki has completed post-baccalaureate studies in Kinesiology and is a certified personal trainer, certified specialist in fitness nutrition, and certified specialist in sports nutrition. In short, he understands nutrition and how food interacts with the body no matter what the body looks like or how much wear and tear has been done on it.

In addition, if you listen to him talk or read any of his work you will find that Nate is a compassionate guy who wants to help other people find the body and health they crave. He helps anyone who requires the help, including celebrities and people like you and me.

Positive Reviews

• Noticeable weight loss within a few days is promised
• Eat carbs on this diet and still lose fat
• At least once a week you can indulge in a decadent meal
• Gain energy, gain health, and lose weight
• Managing carbs, protein, and fat is made easy with the templates and insights inside the Half Day Diet
• Works for everyone, regardless of previous diet experience
• Will not slow down your metabolism
• Will easily adapt into a lifestyle plan that you enjoy sticking to
• Your stubborn fat will disappear on this diet
• You can do this diet without exercising
• All information is instantly accessible

Negative Reviews

You will have to tweak your diet and possibly make some uncomfortable changes at first
There is no physical book, only a downloadable one

Where To Buy

You can buy the Half Day Diet from Nate’s website only (click here to see the official website – opens in new window). At this time, it is not for sale anywhere else.

If you are worried about buying this diet and not being happy with it, then let us reassure you that you can get all of your money back if you are not happy with it.

Nate has put a 60-day money back guarantee in place for everyone who buys the diet. If you are not happy with the results, the diet, or the customer service you receive, simply ask for a refund and you will get it – no questions asked.

Is This Really Worth It?

Yes, this is totally worth looking into further. Because this diet not only works with you on a biological level, but also on a unique individual level, this should be the last diet that you will ever need if you follow it.

This doesn’t mean that it will be a super easy diet, because change requires a little bit of discomfort. You are going to have to change when you eat certain foods and how much of them you eat. However, that discomfort will go away when you start losing weight. Soon, eating this way will become a lifestyle that keeps you healthy and on track to your weight goals.

Read more: CLICK HERE

Can Diet Prevent Alzheimer's Disease?

Experts are studying how diet may affect the onset and progression of Alzheimer's disease. Learn the latest research into this memory-robbing disease.

Little in life is as scary as the idea of forgetting our loved ones, our histories, and ourselves. Yet that is exactly what is happening to the more than 5 million people in North America suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Mild forgetfulness in the early years of the disease slowly expands to include serious problems with memory, language, and abstract reasoning until eventually this brain disorder robs its victims of the ability to function.

Despite extensive research, both cause and cure for Alzheimer’s disease remain elusive. Experts theorize that a complicated combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors result in cognitive decline, though they are still working on exactly how it happens and what can be done to prevent it.