Just a decade ago, milk really only meant one thing: moo-juice. It was white. It came from cows. Sometimes it was chocolate or 2 percent or whole. But our interest in the stuff really stopped there. These days, everything has changed. A new milk substitute flashes on the scene every few years claiming to be the perfect product for vegans, dieters, hipsters or what-have-ious, and we all give it a glance. While these non-dairy, plant-based milk alternatives can be a real convenience for those who are lactose intolerant, allergic or ethically opposed to cow’s milk, the high number of modern options has left everyone a bit confused. Cow’s milk has been long recommended as part of a healthy diet. It provides several vital nutrients like vitamins D, B2 and B12, calcium, potassium and phosphorus. But the truth is, many of these milk substitutes aren’t really milk at all. Instead, seeds, nuts, beans and other foods…
4 reasons why your vegan diet isn’t helping you lose weight
Vegan diets conjure up images of lean, healthy folks, happily chowing down on massive bowls of leafy green salad. And science backs this image. In a large study of 40,000 adults, conducted by Oxford University, vegans were found to have the lowest BMIs among any of their peers, while meat-eaters, not surprisingly, had the highest. But not every vegan sees the same results after cutting out animal products from their daily diets. Some don’t see changes at all, and some can actually gain weight. If you’ve made the switch to vegan in attempt to shed pounds, here’s what you might be doing that could be sabotaging your efforts. Reason 1: Your overestimating portion size Sure, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and whole grains are healthy food our bodies require to fuel new cell growth, and regenerate healthy hair, nails and muscles, but we don’t need an infinite amount of these nutrients. The amount…
These were the top 5 most-Googled diets of 2017
No one has ever found a magical meal plan for weight loss, but that hasn’t stopped people from trying. In attempt to get out of the rigorous exercise and rigid eating plan that a super fit body requires, people instead peruse the internet looking for the next fad diet that claims to effortlessly drop pounds. Some of them are backed by a little science, but others don’t have much merit (suuuuure Emily Ratajkowski. We totally believe you eat pastries every day). Here are the top 5 Googled diets of 2017 that you may not even know existed. https://www.instagram.com/p/BW-JOv0hT29/?tagged=applecidervinegardiet 1. Apple Cider Vinegar Diet Apple cider vinegar enthusiasts claim that it can aid in digestion. Proponents say they take anywhere from a teaspoon to a tablespoon a day to relieve bloating and encourage weight loss. But how well do these claims actually hold up? A 2009 study found that after a high-fat meal, mice…
This one dietary change could help America reach greenhouse-gas emission goals
For many Americans, the idea of giving up meat is unfathomable or even alien. What’s the 4th of July without a hamburger? But a new analysis of beef consumption in the States shows that our carnivorous habit is holding us back from reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Conducted by a team of scientists from Oregon State University, the study states that if more people switched to a plant-based diet, America could still come close to meeting the greenhouse gas goals set by former President Barack Obama in 2009 — even in the face of current president Donald Trump backing the nation out of the Paris Climate Accord. If every American were to replace the beef in their diets with beans — even while continuing to eat chicken, pork and dairy products — the country could reach 46 to 74 percent of the previously set 2020 target. This is true even without any changes to the current energy infrastructure…
The sneaky calories you’re slipping into your diet
It’s time to rethink your drink. Unless you are a natural water lover, chances are you’re consuming unnecessary calories through ice teas, coffee, juices or sugary smoothies and sodas. According to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the average American consumes 400 calories a day from beverages — that’s about 37 percent of our total daily diet. Research suggests that drinking calories isn’t as satisfying to us a eating the same amount of calories in solid food form, so if you’re looking to maintain a healthy weight, you should start to pay attention to what you’re pouring down the hatch. Here’s how to make the switch to healthy drinks that still taste great, but won’t have you pushing your calorie limits. Know what you’re drinking: Read those nutrition labels. Beverages like energy drinks and iced teas can be deceiving because they advertise their health benefits while hiding…
Why you should never start a diet on a Monday
It’s Friday and your next three days are full of booze, brunches and backyard barbecues. Monday is the day you’ll start to diet, you tell yourself. But start a diet on a Monday, and you might not have much success. According to a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, people eat the most meat on Saturday and Sundays and the most carbs and alcohol on Fridays and Saturdays. The most calories are consumed Friday through Sunday. While this likely doesn’t come as a shock, these habits make dieting on Monday — and sticking with it — all the more difficult. “Typically, the ‘I’ll get back on track on Monday principle’ is a dangerous one,” says dietician Jaime Mass, R.D. “It indicates an all-or nothing-mentality, which can lead to unhealthy eating habits overall,” she said. As soon as you cave into your cravings at some point in the week, it…
Germans ditching pork heavy diets
Germans have steadily been reducing their consumption of pork products in recent years. New research shows that the once sausage-loving country has been slowly switching to a more plant-based diet. Traditionally the largest pig-producing and pork-eating country in Europe, the Germans intake of pig products is down to just 79 pounds per personal annually — a drop from 86 pounds per person — a plunge of about 10 percent nationwide, according to the Agricultural Market Information Co. (AMIC). Pork still makes up more than half of the mean eaten in the country, but demand for products like ham and sausage has continued to drop for the past three straight years, reflecting a change in German attitudes about modern social and environmental concerns. The change is credited a growing awareness about healthier diets, as well as the environmental damages caused by large scale animal agriculture.
Pippa Middleton’s restrictive and risky pre-wedding diet
What does a British socialite and sister to the Duchess of Cambridge eat to drop pounds just days before her wedding? In less than one month, Pippa Middleton will marry James Matthews, chief executive of Eden Rock Capital Management Group, which has offices in London. The world has been watching Pippa since 2011 when she walked into Westminster Abbey lifting the train of Kate Middleton’s royal wedding dress. While it was her backside that had us wondering what she ate then, with impending nuptials of her own, we wonder what she may be doing now to get in even better shape — if that’s possible. Elle reported that Pippa was photographed leaving a fancy fitness center in London, on Wednesday after taking a 75-minute pilates class. Elle also gave details of Pippa’s pre-wedding diet — something most of us have never heard of — The Sirtfood Diet. The strict diet includes 20 specific foods,…
Diet Sodas Linked to Increased Risk of Dementia and Stroke, Study Finds
Given everything we’ve been told about sugar being bad for us, you might think reaching for the “diet” or “sugar-free” option is the smarter choice. But you’d be wrong. According to a new research published in the American Heart Association’s (AHA) journal Stroke, the sweeteners used in these alternative beverages are linked to higher rates of stroke and a risk of developing dementia among consumers. The April 2017 study asked more than 4,000 participants, three times each over a span of seven years, about their eating and drinking habits during that time. Over the next 10 years, the researchers continued to follow the participants’ health records and tracked which among them had strokes or developed dementia. Researches found that those participants who consumed at least one artificially sweetened “diet” or “sugar-free” drink per day — whether soda or juice — were nearly three times more liked to suffer a stroke…
Rihanna’s Personal Chef Gives Us Insight to the Pop Star’s diet
If you’ve ever wondered what pop stars eat and who cooks for them, Bon Appétit recently cooked up an interview with Rihanna’s person chef, Debbie Soloman. In the interview, they discuss everything from how she landed the job to what she cooks for the famous multiplatinum-selling artist and shoe designer. The Jamaican-born chef credits Rihanna’s mom for helping her learn the nuances of the Barbadian and Guyanese food Rihanna grew up eating in Barbados and often requests, but Soloman said Rihanna is a “moody eater,” so the pop star doesn’t decide what she wants to eat until that day, rather than planning out a menu for the week. Rihanna eats “every protein that you can think of,” along with vegetables, rice, and pasta. The singer and chef also travel with a case of spices that includes bouillon-like maggi cubes, curry, jeera (also known as cumin seeds), Old Bay seasoning, adobo, and five-spice, as well as…