Eating For Health

Everyone with diabetes or prediabetes knows how important it is to keep blood sugar levels in check. But did you know that simply walking for a few minutes after meals can help lower blood sugar — and offer many other health benefits? 🌿 A relative of mine with prediabetes recently had a checkup. Her doctor was impressed by how well she was managing her blood sugar. She said she tries to stay active, and the doctor replied that too many patients with prediabetes aren’t active — which raises their glucose levels. 🍽️ How Does Walking After a Meal Help? After you eat, your body digests food and turns carbohydrates from starches, fruits, vegetables, and desserts into sugar. This causes your blood sugar levels to rise. When you walk after meals, your muscles use that sugar for energy , helping lower blood sugar levels naturally. Think of it as turning your meal into fuel for your movement! ⚡ ⏱️ When Should You Walk? According to Suma Gondi, MD , “starting sooner tends to wo...

If you’ve spent any time on TikTok lately, you may have seen the term fibermaxxing pop up. While it started as a social media trend, there’s actually some solid nutrition science behind it — especially considering that most Americans aren’t getting anywhere near enough fiber . According to national intake data , about 90% of women and 97% of men fall short of recommended fiber levels (Dietary Guidelines for Americans; NHANES). That’s a huge gap — and it’s why fiber is considered a “nutrient of public health concern.” So, let’s break down what fibermaxxing is, why it’s trending, and whether it’s actually a good idea. 🌱 What Is Fibermaxxing? Fibermaxxing means intentionally increasing your daily fiber intake — aiming to meet (or even exceed) recommended levels. It’s rooted in the idea that higher fiber intake supports better gut health, appetite control, and long‑term disease prevention. Recommended intake : Women: ~25 g/day Men: ~38 g/day Or 14 g per 1,000 calo...

Protein is having a moment . Walk down any grocery aisle and you’ll see “PROTEIN!” splashed across labels—even on foods that aren’t exactly protein powerhouses (looking at you, cereal boxes). The truth is, most Americans get enough protein without trying. But what happens if you don’t ? WebMD highlights several important signs your body may be running low on this essential nutrient. Let’s break it down. 🍽️ How Much Protein Do You Actually Need? The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for protein is 0.36 grams per pound of body weight . Online protein calculators can help you pinpoint your needs, but here are a few examples: A 55-year-old active woman needs about 54 grams of protein per day. A 55-year-old active man needs around 65 grams per day. Athletes or people with intense training schedules may need 0.5–1 gram per pound of body weight daily. Your needs depend on age, activity level, and overall health—but protein is essential for everyone. ...

Processed meats are everywhere – on breakfast plates, in lunchboxes, at backyard cookouts, and tucked into charcuterie boards.   Think bacon and eggs, hot dogs, deli turkey sandwiches, pepperoni pizza, sausage and pancakes – they’re convenient, tasty, and deeply woven into our food culture.   But there’s a growing body of research showing that processed meats can come with a serious health risk, an increased risk of cancer, especially colon cancer. If you’re trying to eat healthier or you want to reduce your cancer risk, understanding why processed meats are linked to cancer—and how to make smarter choices—can lower your risk.   🥓 What Counts as Processed Meat? According to MD Anderson Cancer Center , meat is considered processed if it has been smoked, cured, salted, seasoned, or preserved with chemical additives . That includes: Bacon Sausage and bratwurst Hot dogs Deli meats and lunch meats Ham Pepperoni and salami Corned beef Jerky Even brea...

So many companies are revising their food products in response to Robert F. Kennedy’s MAHA movement.   Walmart has announced they will be removing synthetic foods dyes as well as 30 other ingredients from the Great Value store brand by January 2027.   This would affect about 1,000 food products.   🧪 Food Dyes Being Eliminated Walmart plans to phase out the following synthetic dyes from Great Value and other private-label brands:          Blue No. 1 and No. 2           Green No. 3           Red No. 3, No. 4, and No. 40           Yellow No. 5 and No. 6           Citrus Red No. 2           Orange B (hasn’t been used for decades )             Canthaxanthin Why?   Because artificial food dyes have been linked to a variety of health concerns such as behavioral health issues ...