The Truth About Coconut Oil
By Brittany Nelson, RD, CHWC Over the past few years, the coconut oil craze has taken off, which has provided a wide array of health information to consumers. With so much buzz, it’s hard to know what to believe. You’ve heard about all the perceived health benefits of coconut oil—such as decreasing your risk for […]
What They Don’t Tell You About Low-carb and No-carb Diets
By Ryan Lawson, exercise specialist, with Brittany Nelson, RD, CHWC It seems like every week we hear about a new diet claiming to be the latest and best way to achieve weight loss. Typically these diets focus on consuming a majority of your calories from certain foods or eliminating specific foods altogether, which means you’re […]
10 Tips for Adding Heart Healthy Foods to Your Diet
By Brittany Nelson, RD, CHWC You see them on menus everywhere—in sandwiches, salads, omelettes and more. Avocados have become trendy during the past few years—and with good reason. They’re full of healthy fats, which was one of the recommendations of the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The guidelines also warned against eating foods with refined […]
From the RD: Keep It Simple, Silly
By Brittany Wonnell, MS, RD, CHWC This time of year, reflecting on what has and hasn’t worked when creating healthier habits can be common. Asking yourself, “why can’t I just eat less sweets,” or saying “eliminating soda seems impossible,” may be some conversations you have with yourself. No matter where you are on your road […]
Menopause Symptoms? What You Eat Can Help
By Dennis L. Pippenger, MD Riverview Health Physicians OB/GYN Weight gain? Hot flashes? Your food choices can make things easier when you’re dealing with a mid-life transition. But first, know you’re not alone. Many women in their 40s or 50s find it difficult to keep extra pounds off. Because of lowering hormone levels and the […]
Truth About Cholesterol in Women
By Valerie Beard, MD Riverview Health Physicians Good cholesterol. Bad cholesterol. What number should be high? Which one should be low? If you’re not quite sure, you’re not alone. Cholesterol is a lipid, or fat. Your liver produces roughly 75 percent of your cholesterol—only 25 percent comes from your diet. Nearly 20 percent of American […]
Eating for Two––And Is Coffee OK?
By Polly Trainor, MD Riverview Health Physicians OB/GYN When you’re pregnant, you’re eating for two, (or more with multiples!) but that means eating extra in a healthy way—not just more. But how much more is healthy? And is coffee OK? The general rule is that pregnant women should eat an extra 300 calories a day. […]
What Are Probiotics?
By Brittany Nelson, RD, CHWC Not all bacteria are bad for you. In fact, you’ll often see “good” bacteria—called probiotics—on labels in the grocery store and in the drugstore aisle next to your vitamins. But what are probiotics and how do they help you? The name probiotics comes from pro and biota, meaning “for life.” […]
Quantity vs. Quality While Eating Healthier
By Brittany Wonnell, RD, CHWC Often at the beginning of the year, we begin new resolutions that can include changing the way we eat. When thinking about defining which foods are “healthy” or “unhealthy,” it’s important to understand not just the quality of your food but also the quantity you’re eating. You can gain weight […]
Carbohydrates: Friend not Foe
By Katie Boscia, MS, RD, IBCLC, CDE Everyone can benefit from a carbohydrate-conscious diet, not just people living with diabetes. When people are first diagnosed with diabetes, they sometimes cut carbohydrates, or carbs, completely from their diet. This is unfortunately not the way to go. Any extreme diet restriction that’s not medically necessary can deprive […]