Healthy Eating

There may have been a time when you ate whatever you wanted without few, if any, health consequences. You might remember that time well! But it's true—nothing lasts forever. "After 50, metabolism slows, estrogen levels drop, and certain nutrient requirements rise," says Hillary M. Wright, MEd, RDN, LDN, co-author of The Menopause Diet Plan, A Natural Guide to Hormones, Health, and Happiness. "At this point, you'll probably need to make wiser food choices to help head off midlife weight gain and prevent conditions that are…

One of the most popular lunch proteins, canned tuna, has some pretty awesome benefits: it's one of the best sources of biologically active, anti-inflammatory, and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids; it's a great source of protein; and it's so convenient to eat— making it even easier to have healthy meals in minutes. But despite all the good of this inexpensive protein, there is a catch: One major health complication you have to be cognizant of when eating tuna is mercury poisoning. You ingest small amounts of mercury—a toxic…

Whether you typically eat your last meal a few hours after work or regularly find yourself heading to the fridge for a midnight snack, most people find themselves eating before bed on occasion. However, those late-night snacks may lead to more than just a full belly over time. A significant body of research suggests that eating before bed can have numerous side effects on everything from your weight to your performance at work. Before you start raiding the pantry again, read on to discover the side effects of eating before…

Once the celebrations for hitting your half-century mark fade and you've had a chance to take a good look at yourself in the mirror, maybe, just maybe, you'll think: "Gee, it's time to start taking better care of myself!" You know that the risk for many chronic health problems tends to increase with age. And, after 50, if you're realistic, you're playing on the back 9 of life. Not to bum you out, of course. On the contrary, the years after 50 will be some of your best, especially if, as you said, you start taking better care…

Eating healthy doesn't have to be expensive, despite the price tags you may have seen on the products of some major health-forward brands. The truth is, organic foods often come at a premium in comparison to conventional ones for a number of reasons. For one, the organic food supply is limited compared to its demand. Another factor to consider is the marketing and distribution processes of organic foods—both are costly and inefficient due to the relatively small volume of production. However, you don't need to buy organic to…

When you think about the top vineyards and wineries in the U.S., Napa Valley and Sonoma County likely come to mind. After all, California alone accounts for 85% of the national output of wine, with Washington, Oregon, and New York following as the next largest producers (domestically speaking, of course). However, there's another lesser-known wine region that was allegedly the "OG" capital of the U.S. wine industry. Before Napa Valley became the epicenter of American-made wine, the top producer was the Missouri River Valley.…

Ever notice how we recommend drinking more water in basically every article on weight loss, health, and fitness? We'd hate to sound like a broken record, but water is imperative for your health. (Our bodies are, in fact, made up of about 60% water.) So, it's not a bad idea to guzzle it and avoid dehydration so that your system functions properly. From stopping belly bloat to warding off diseases, getting enough water is one of the most important things you can do. There are some drastic physiological effects, so it's better…

Plastic poisons the environment—at this point, that's common knowledge. But recently there's been another imminent concern when it comes to the problematic and prolific material: how does plastic contaminate the human body? Summer always brings a wave of plastic-cupped parties. Entire games revolve around them, country songs playback refrains about them. But especially during the hottest time of the year when all you want to do is beat the heat with a cold, refreshing drink, there are a slew of potential health hazards to…

There is nothing worse than not getting a good night's rest. Not only will you feel tired the next day, but chronic sleep deprivation can also lead to more serious health issues like the risk of high blood pressure, mental health challenges, or impaired immunity from disease. So, it's extremely important to do everything you can to ensure you sleep well at night. If you're doing all you can to get more shut eye, but still struggling to wake up feeling rested, you may want to turn to supplements for help. Though there are…

We're all familiar with the fact that soda isn't so great for our health. This fast-food favorite drink has been linked to a higher risk of obesity and numerous other health issues. (We've got a whole list of them right here.) But weight gain from knocking back too many sweet, fizzy drinks doesn't necessarily come down only to excess calories from sugar. In part, it may also have to do with how soda's sugars affect your metabolism. You might (quite reasonably!) expect that caffeinated sodas would speed up your metabolism.…