Need a Plant-Based Source of Protein? Consider Edamame

Edamame, which are young soybeans (so they are legumes and not veggies) that are usually still in the pod (but can also be bought shelled), are a great plant-based source of protein. And protein is one of the six nutrients we need to stay healthy. (The other nutrients are water, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals). Our bodies use protein to build and repair tissues and make enzymes, hormones and other body chemicals.

Do Older Adults Need More Protein?

Kids fall down and get bumps, scrapes and bruises all the time, and it’s usually no big deal. But one mother in the United Kingdom recently had the scare of her life when her eight-year-old son developed sepsis after what seemed like a harmless fall at the zoo.

Are You a ‘Protorexic?’ You May Need to Change Your Protein Consumption

It has been suggested that the term ‘protorexia’ was coined to “describe an unhealthy fixation with protein-heavy foods and supplements, such as protein shakes and chicken,” according to one source. The overemphasis of a single nutrient like protein may be unhealthy. The key lies in balancing the nutrients. You have to have the right amount of protein, carbohydrates, water, minerals, vitamins and fats in order to properly nourish your body.

When Eating Protein Becomes Deadly!

Meegan Hefford was a 25-year-old bodybuilder competitor and mother of two. She seemed to be the perfect picture of health. As she prepared for an upcoming competition, Hefford visited the gym religiously and maintained a strict diet that included egg whites and protein supplements.

5 healthy reasons you may want to choose gelato over ice cream

Gelato recently went viral after i-Creamy, a gelato store in Sydney, Australia, posted the most gorgeous photos of their flower-shaped gelato on Instagram. However, though beautiful, it’s the health benefits we’re most excited about.

Have you heard of breadfruit? A tropical superfood packing tons of health benefits

There is a fruit so rich in nutrients, it very well could end hunger in tropical regions of the world. And the crazy part? You probably haven’t heard of it! It’s called breadfruit. Cultivated and enjoyed in the South Pacific for over 3,000 years, explorers brought breadfruit to the Caribbean islands in the 1700s, allowing breadfruit to continue to spread in tropical regions.

Are you vitamin B12 deficient?

So how much do you really know about the famous vitamin B12? You see it in energy shots at the convenience store, but if that’s all you know about it, you're missing the whole picture! Read on to make sure you are not deficient in this critical vitamin.

Sports nutrition guide for high-intensity athletes

In my younger days, I was a track and field athlete. But I had no idea about sports nutrition. However, I did pay attention to what made me perform better or worse. Having more carbs was fine, especially for running, jumping and other cardiovascular exercises. But fats and greasy foods made my body more sluggish. A runner might eat more carbohydrates because his muscles will use them for energy, whereas fats and proteins are converted to energy much slower.

Be Proactive and Eat Just the Right Amount of Protein

Protein seems to be one of those nutrients where people resort to extremes. Some people consume more protein than they need because they want to be strong and lean, while others aren't getting quite enough because they haven't fine-tuned their plant-based diet. High-protein diets are among some of the most popular for weight loss, but they may actually come with unwanted side effects like weight gain and greater risk of death in people with heart disease risk factors. But somewhere in the middle is a healthy, balanced protein diet that is just right for the average man or woman.

Are all protein powders created equal?

Protein powders have become the go-to meal replacement option. According to Euromonitor International, 2013 sales of protein powders were at least $7 billion for sports nutrition powders as well as weight management protein shakes. Conditioned by years of meat-industry proclamations of protein being good for building muscle, yet stymied by the dangers of animal fat in the diet, consumers are turning to powders to get the protein they feel they need. But, potential dangers lurk in certain protein powder supplements.

Does eating breakfast really help control your weight?

It may seem like skipping a meal would help you lose weight, but it turns out the opposite is true. Eating breakfast actually helps with weight loss and long-term weight management. Eating breakfast is a daily habit for members of the National Weight Control Registry. These people have maintained a 30-pound (or more) weight loss for at least a year, and some as long as six years. 78 percent of them ate breakfast every day, and almost 90 percent said they ate it at least five days a week, showing that starting your day with breakfast may be an important part of losing weight and keeping it off.

Proactive hospitals opt for antibiotic-free meats

Recently, as I was waiting in a hospital lobby, an article in their newsletter caught my eye. It said that they are now serving antibiotic-free meats in their cafeteria. I was elated! Why? Because by serving antibiotic-free meats, the hospital may very well reduce the likelihood of its patients developing a resistance to antibiotics.