Healthy Eating

The avocado has become a symbol of good nutrition, thanks to the bounty of research pointing to its health benefits. This darling of the health-conscious is prized for its monounsaturated fat content and other beneficial nutrients that can improve your health. "Avocados are a heart-healthy source of fat," registered dietitian nutritionist Toby Smithson, MS, RDN, CDE, told Eatthis.com. "They are free from cholesterol and saturated fat. Studies have shown an association with consuming the good type of fat (unsaturated) in…

Maybe you've heard that digesting celery burns more calories than are actually in a stalk. It's an intriguing theory, but today, a report suggests that downing more celery could not only amp up your metabolism, but it could actually keep you safe in the heat. With parts of North America seeing extreme heat this summer—and with the National Weather Service citing heat as the leading cause of weather-related fatalities—drinking celery juice just may help you avoid the dangers of heat exhaustion or even heat stroke. Read on to…

While there is no surefire way to extend your life, there are certain behaviors that will improve your chances of living longer as well as ones that can do the opposite. It's no surprise that smoking fits into the latter category. While heart-healthy activities like exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, and staying connected to the people around you can help to extend your life. Now, according to new research, not having enough of this nutrient in your diet could be shortening your life—turns out, having a low…

After a hectic, jam-packed day, the last thing you want to do is cook yourself a homemade meal. And while another easy option is to order takeout, you may not feel like you would make it another hour without waiting. That's where frozen dinners come in. You can have a full meal from the comfort of your home in just minutes—what could be better than that? Well, we'll tell you: Although they're incredibly convenient, eating frozen dinners regularly may not do your body as many favors as they do your busy schedule. We spoke to…

If you grew up in the '70s or '80s, your idea of a refreshing summer food might be very different than what people are enjoying now. But that doesn't mean those vintage recipes and retro summer foods should be forgotten! These classic meals and snacks are timeless for a reason, and we say you should bring them back this summer. From Jello molds to Fluffernutter sandwiches, sometimes a throwback comfort food is just what you need. So to make your summer a little more fun, go ahead and whip up one of these throwback treats!…

Navigating which supplements to add to your daily routine may feel overwhelming and daunting given the endless options available. Supplements can be a great compliment to a well-balanced diet and help fill gaps in nutrient intake, and, in some cases, may be able to provide disease-prevention benefits, too. When it comes to heart health, there are supplements that may reduce disease risk factors and lessen your chances of developing a cardiovascular condition in the future. While diet, exercise, and stress management play…

If you're someone who prides yourself on your ability to take care of your body, you may already know about the different kinds of inflammation, as well as the benefits and risks associated with each. For example, while acute inflammation—like when a minor injury swells and turns red for a short amount of time—can actually protect your body, other kinds of inflammation can do some damage if left untreated. Chronic inflammation, or low-grade inflammation over a long period of time, can eventually lead to a host of health…

If you love to throw a good party, you might admit: The heart-pulsing prep is half the thrill. But as you approach those final moments before the anticipated get-together, a hand surgeon is warning you to watch out for a few unexpected cooking injuries that commonly happen in summer—including from one beloved food that, shockingly, causes 50,000 injuries to Americans each year. Ryan Rice, M.D., is a surgeon who is double-board-certified in plastic and general surgery, as well as the chair of ambulatory surgery at…

If you've got some frozen meat that you want to cook up and also have a couple of hours to kill before you want to start the cooking process, it only makes sense to defrost it by letting it thaw on the counter. That way you're not having to worry about the side effects of defrosting meat in the microwave or other questionable spots in the kitchen. Instead, it can thaw out naturally by sitting at room temperature for a while. But there can be serious problems if you are defrosting meat out on the counter for too long at an…

If you're looking to lose weight, slashing your calories for a brief time might seem tempting—especially if you start dropping pounds almost right away—but you could be causing a negative ripple effect in your gut, according to new research in Nature. To determine what kind of link existed between caloric intake and gut bacteria changes, researchers studied 80 older women whose weight ranged from slightly overweight to severely obese. For 16 weeks, half of the participants followed a medically supervised meal replacement…