Tag: foods

Even if you never touch a salt shaker and steer clear of potato chips and french fries, you are probably eating more salt than you think and much more than is good for you, an investigation from Consumer Reports shows.

Holiday Food Horrors

"Tis the season of temptation" and evidence suggests most of us give in. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows the average person puts on a pound during the holidays and never loses it. This adds up to serious weight gain over the years. And for those with high cholesterol or high blood pressure, landmines abound on the dinner table. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid the holiday food trap. See WebMD's list of foods that are naughty and nice.

Tea, coffee, chocolate, avocados, and fatty fish all have good-for-you qualities.

We all know that spinach and carrots are good for us, but would you believe that such seeming indulgences as tea, coffee, chocolate, avocados, and fatty fish also have properties that prevent disease and enhance your health?

It's true. Some of these five "superfoods" contain antioxidants, which are thought to fight the damage from disease-causing "free radicals" (unstable molecules that damage cells). Others have omega-3 fatty acids, which promote heart health and may even help to cheer you up when you're down in the dumps.

Even if you've always had a stomach of iron, pregnancy weakens your immune system and makes you more vulnerable to food-borne illnesses that could make you sick and harm your baby. So it's important to avoid certain foods during pregnancy even on special occasions.

"The risks are real, and need to be taken very seriously," says David Acheson, director and chief medical officer of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

It's not uncommon to feel down in the first few months after childbirth. Your body is recovering physically from labor and delivery, you're dealing with postpartum hormonal swings, and you're adjusting to life with the newest and most demanding member of your family. All of this can leave you feeling exhausted, cranky, and anxious. And while feeding yourself may be last on your to-do list, eating healthy foods, having regular meals and snacks, and following a few simple nutrition strategies can help boost your energy level and your mood. Read on for our best tips.