Diet & Nutrition

Since the passage of the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990, labels titled "Nutrition Facts" have been required to appear on a majority of packaged food sold in the United States. One of the most important parts of being a healthy shopper is reading and understanding the information provided on these labels.

The following is a section-by-section look at the information included on the nutrition label, along with tips on how to apply these facts to your dietary plan.

SERVING SIZE

Obesity is commonly viewed as having three primary influences: genetics, diet, and exercise. But if future studies support recent research, a fourth factor may eventually be added to that list: economics.

You did it! After years of self-doubt, you educated yourself, adopted a healthy new lifestyle, set clear and measurable objectives, and finally lost the excess weight you'd been lugging around for way too long.

Your family and friends watched - first with trepidation, then cautious optimism, and finally in celebration - as you transformed yourself into the person you've always wanted to be. When you reached your target weight, they let you know how proud and impressed they were by what you'd accomplished.

It doesn't take an economist to realize that getting out of the grocery store is becoming an increasingly expensive proposition. But as food prices rise to unprecedented heights, an expert's analysis may come in handy to help consumers get the healthiest bang out of their food-buying buck.

The negative health effects of being overweight or obese have been well-documented, but that doesn't mean all efforts to lose weight are inherently beneficial to one's health. In fact, individuals who resort to drastic measures to rid themselves of excess or unwanted weight risk significant consequences as a result.

Can you eat satisfying portions of food and still take in fewer calories? New research shows you can. Studies suggest that one person eats roughly the same weight of food most days. On average the weight of food an individual eats on a daily basis one week will be quite similar to the weight of food the same individual eats on a daily basis another week. Therefore, if you consume the same poundage or volume of food but with fewer calories than usual, you will lose weight without feeling hungry.

Do you enjoy nibbling on a muffin from a well-stocked pastry case while you sip your morning coffee? The next time you do, take a close look at this common baked good. Today's nibbles look like yesterday's mouthfuls. Muffins sold in corner coffee shops, grocery stores, and vending machines are larger than those sold in the past, and are more than three times the size of one standard portion.

Previous research has shown that calorie restriction may slow aging and increase lifespan in small mammals. But would the same apply to humans? Two recent studies supported by the National Institutes of Health indicate this may be the case.

For those of us working daily to achieve and maintain our health and weight loss goals, the holidays present significant challenges.

How to enjoy without overindulging?! Here are some tips to help you pass on high calorie temptations and stay fit through the holidays.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for weight control. Recent studies are beginning to identify eating patterns that are associated with healthy body weights. But none of these findings are of much value unless they are personalized for you. So get ready to look inward and reflect. You too can be successful if you take the time to get to know yourself.