Kale (along with other cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, bok choy, cauliflower, and cabbage) is goitrogenic, which means that it contains a substance called thiocyanate — which can interfere with iodine production if eaten raw.However, in practice this is really only a concern for anyone who already has hypothyroidism (an under functioning thyroid), or individuals who are already iodine deficient, which can include people on a restrictive diet such as vegans or vegetarians.And it will only affect people with a thyroid disorder due to iodine deficiency, not autoimmune hypothyroidism (the latter accounts for nearly 90% of cases).View this post on Instagram seasonal greens shot & edited on my new @google pixel 2…I don't know about you guys, but I am beyond impressed with the camera on this phone!produce from top to bottom: fennel, homegrown avocados, kiwi, romanesco cauliflower, bosc pears, apples, papaya, lime, feijoa & curly kale ? .
21 Diet Foods That Can Make You Gain Weight
Diet foods, such as those labeled “low-fat,” “low-calorie” or “fat-free,” are specifically marketed to people looking to shed excess weight.Smoothies and protein shakes can easily be consumed too quickly, stuffing your body with excessive calories and sugar.When fat is removed to reduce the calorie content of certain products, sugar is usually added to heighten flavor.Drinking fresh fruit juice regularly can contribute to excess calorie consumption, which may cause you to gain weight.Stick to juices that contain mostly non-starchy veggies like kale and low-sugar fruits like lemon to control your calorie intake.Even though these products are often deemed healthy, going overboard with any sweetener — even natural ones that aren’t as processed as white sugar — can contribute to weight gain.Many diet foods contain preservatives, unhealthy fats and artificial sweeteners that may harm your body.For instance, a Starbucks Venti Cinnamon Dolce Latte made with skimmed milk — and without added whipped cream — crams in 280 calories and 12 teaspoons (50 grams) of sugar (10).Premade salads, such as those in grocery stores or fast food restaurants, can be very high in calories, sugar and unhealthy fats.For example, one PowerBar ProteinPlus Chocolate Brownie product contains over 6 teaspoons (24 grams) of sugar alongside 330 calories (11).Diet soda has also been found to negatively impact gut bacteria, thereby increasing your risk of diabetes and other metabolic diseases ( 13 ).While a few studies have associated a high intake of diet soda with weight gain, there is no solid evidence that it is a cause of overweight or obesity.However, while granola can contain nutritious ingredients like oats, nuts, seeds and coconut, many are saturated with added sugars.Plus, any type of sugary beverage can spike your blood sugar levels, which can lead to insulin resistance and weight gain ( 14 ).For example, a study in over 7,500 children and teens noted that those who regularly drank sports drinks weighed significantly more than their peers ( 15 ).Although this may seem like a good choice for weight loss, diet peanut butter regularly harbors unhealthy oils and added sugars.Natural peanut butter made with limited ingredients is a better choice for weight loss.Although they may contain fewer calories than traditional desserts, low-calorie baked goods, candies and other confections can be packed with sugar and artificial ingredients.In order to decrease calories while maintaining taste, manufacturers replace fats with sugars or artificial sweeteners.At the same time, artificial sweeteners like sugar alcohols can cause digestive symptoms like bloating, diarrhea and gas ( 18 ).Plus, consumption of artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose is linked to an increased risk of obesity and may even encourage sugar cravings and dependence ( 19 ).Additionally, the enticing, sugary toppings offered at most frozen yogurt shops can stuff your dessert with even more calories and sugar.To keep your intake under control, opt for the smallest yogurt cup available and choose natural toppings like fresh fruit, unsweetened coconut and nuts.While coconut water is much lower in calories and sugar than beverages like juice and soda, it’s best to limit your consumption of any sweet drink. .
25 Food Myths That Cause Weight Gain — Eat This Not That
Sure, it's good for you, but the ranking of kale as our greatest green is just one of many word-of-mouth myths that drive our nutritional decision-making, often in the wrong direction.Much of what we believe about food is really just hearsay, a game of nutritional telephone handed down from science journals to newspapers to television to your aunt to your mom and then to you, with marketers in between.Learn how to separate fact from fiction and you might finally shed the habits that are silently sabotaging your weight loss efforts.In fact, simple spinach and even Romaine lettuce beat the alleged supergreen, as did parsley and chives.Whether HFCS is worse than plain ol' table sugar has long been a contentious issue.HFCS's real sin is that it's super cheap, and as a result, it's added to everything from cereal to ketchup to salad dressing.Everyday table salt comes from a mine and contains roughly 2,300 milligrams of sodium per teaspoon.Advocates point to the fact that sea salt also contains other compounds like magnesium and iron, but in truth, these minerals exist in trace amounts.What's more, traditional table salt is regularly fortified with iodine, which plays an important role in regulating the hormones in your body.What's more, a University of Maryland study found energy drinks to be 11 percent more corrosive to your teeth than regular soda.The obesity-research community is becoming increasingly aware that the artificial sweeteners used in diet soda lead to hard-to-control food urges later in the day.Researchers have also linked regular diet soda consumption with decreased response to artificial sweeteners and a decreased link between sweet tastes and energy value, meaning their bodies may grow to disassociate sweetness with satiety cues, making it easier to overeat and, therefore, gain weight.As it applies to food marketing, the term "low fat" is synonymous with "loaded with salt and cheap carbohydrates.".A 2008 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that over a 2-year span, people on low-carb diets lost 62 percent more body weight than those trying to cut fat.But here's the deal: Due to an inextricable link to heart disease, the World Health Organization advises people to keep trans fat intake as low as possible, maxing out at about 1 gram per 2,000 calories consumed.If your cupboard's full of foods with almost half a gram per serving, you might be blowing past that number every single day.The American Journal of Health Promotion recently published an article urging the FDA to rethink its lax regulations, but until that happens, you should avoid all foods with "partially hydrogenated oil" (meaning, trans fats) on their ingredients statements.Case in point: 7UP boasts that it's made with "100% Natural Flavors" when, in fact, the soda is sweetened with a decidedly un-natural dose of high fructose corn syrup.Unfortunately, a half-hour trot on the treadmill isn't going to help you lose weight if you reward yourself by downing a few slices of cake and an order of French fries.The bottom line: It's near impossible to out-exercise a bad diet unless you plan to spend half your day in the gym.What's worse, fasted workouts can cause low blood sugar and lightheadedness, which can be dangerous when you're breaking a sweat.To reap the weight-loss benefits of the Paleo diet—without paying for it later—nix the processed junk and oils as the diet suggests, but keep the protein in check.In addition to boosting satiety, protein also has a high thermogenic effect compared to fats and carbs.In fact, "eating the right type of bedtime snack actually boosts metabolism and aids weight loss—not the opposite!".On the flip side, eating the right snack can help keep blood sugars stable so the fat-burning hormone glucagon can do its job.".Apple slices and almond butter, berries with heavy cream, and carrots with guacamole all fit the bill.If you find that you have trouble sticking to reasonable portion sizes for some of the more caloric healthy foods in your diet, look for portion-controlled packages.Buying mini sizes in lieu of bigger tubs of food helps keep calories in check and teaches you what a proper serving looks like.Although packaged protein products can be a part of an all-around healthy diet, they aren't any better than a sit-down meal comprised of similar nutrients.A number of the pumped-up foods also use artificial sweeteners in lieu of sugar, which can increase cravings for sweet treats and cause weight gain over time.Our advice: If you want to include bars and shakes in your diet, opt for one of our Best Nutrition Bars for Weight Loss and whip up your own protein shakes at home using fresh fruits, veggies, milk or water, and a low-sugar vegan protein powder."Drinking water does not guarantee weight loss—especially if you're still eating an unhealthy, high-calorie diet," says Lisa Moskovitz, R.D., founder of Manhattan-based private practice, The NY Nutrition Group."Staying hydrated throughout the day is a great habit to maintain for good health, it's just not the only change you'll need to make for permanent weight loss," Moskovitz adds."In fact, the FDA recently announced they are reevaluating the term 'healthy' as it applies to foods with good-for-you fats, like pistachios," Newgent continues.In a 2014 study in the journal Health Psychology, aptly titled "The Myth of Comfort Food," researchers showed participants depressing films to "induce a negative effect.".Most peanut butters are highly processed and loaded with sugars and trans-fatty oils, and contain less of the healthy monounsaturated fats that you truly need.Once the proud spud stud of the American dinner plate, potatoes have been downgraded in recent years to a status not seen since the Irish blight.You haven't heard of them because they were previously believed to exist only in Chinese medicinal plants, but they have been shown to lower blood pressure by decreasing free-radical damage and inflammation. .
10 Health Benefits of Kale
Kale is a popular vegetable and a member of the cabbage family.It is a cruciferous vegetable like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens and Brussels sprouts.Given its incredibly low calorie content, kale is among the most nutrient-dense foods in existence.Eating more kale is a great way to dramatically increase the total nutrient content of your diet. .
8 foods that'll never make you fat
Though chocolate and other sweet treats didn’t make the cut, we’ve got a dietician-approved list of foods you can eat unlimited amounts of without sabotaging your diet and fitness goals. .
Hold the Kale! Juicing May Be Bad for Your Health
Grapefruit juice, for instance, can interact with certain drugs that lower cholesterol, like Lipitor (atorvastatin); medication that lowers blood pressure, like Procardia (nifedipine); corticosteroids like Entocort (budesonide); and antihistamines like Allegra (fexofednadine), says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).In addition, as the Cleveland Clinic points out, consuming too much vitamin K at one time can counteract blood thinners like warfarin.That said, a study published in March 2016 in the journal Medicine concluded that there’s no evidence to suggest you should forgo vitamin K–rich foods while taking these meds.For instance, before starting to drink green juice daily, talk to your doctor to see if you’re on the correct dose of medication or if any necessary adjustments need to be made.On the other hand, switching out a glass of juice with a naturally calorie-free beverage, like water, black coffee, or tea, decreased that risk by up to 10 percent.If you’ve been told you have type 2 diabetes, eat whole fruit in moderation instead of drinking juice, advises Carol Koprowski, PhD, RD, assistant professor of clinical research in preventive medicine at Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.For fruit, fresh, frozen, or canned varieties without added sugars are all great options, says the American Diabetes Association.Fruits and veggies are naturally rich sources of potassium, which is usually a good thing — the mineral plays a key role in blood pressure regulation, according to the American Heart Association.If you have chronic kidney disease (CKD), that function doesn’t work as well, and potassium can build up in your blood.As such, you’ll have to limit your potassium intake, as too much of the mineral can cause dangerous side effects, including an irregular heartbeat or heart attack, according to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF).For anyone who has CKD and has experienced weakness, numbness, or tingling — signs of potassium overload — call your doctor immediately, advises Judy D. Simon, RD, a clinical dietitian at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.While cold-pressed juice might taste the freshest, it’s not pasteurized, and it may increase the risk of food poisoning, the FDA warns.Typically, people with healthy immune systems are fine, but those who are compromised, such as pregnant women, children, and older adults, are at a greater risk.Compared with homemade or ready-to-made varieties, pre-bottled cold-pressed juice poses a bigger risk for food poisoning because microbes have more time to multiply.Yet if you’re making your own juice at home, you still need to take proper food safety measures, including washing your hands and the produce during prep, to reduce the risk of illness, says Kelly Johnston, RDN, a health coach with Parsley Health in New York City.Furthermore, a juice alone won’t deliver the nutrients needed to stabilize your blood sugar and give you the sustaining energy necessary to make it through the day, she adds.The addition of fat slows digestion, enhancing satiation, while protein helps balance your blood sugar.That’s because juice removes the pulp — or fiber — necessary to keep your colon in good working order, reduce heart disease risk, lower cholesterol, and help improve blood sugar levels if you have diabetes.Eating them can cause a spike in blood sugar that subsequently takes a dive, resulting in an energy dip, says Johnston.The macronutrient preserves and builds lean body mass, which helps keep you healthy and even burns calories, Youdim explains.In that event, use lemon and ginger to add a hint of sweetness to green juice — but try to avoid larger amounts of fruit, which are higher in calories and sugar compared with veggies.Bottom line: “If you want to live a healthy life and prevent chronic diseases without spending a fortune, eat whole vegetables and grains, not ‘detox’ [products],” says Youdim.
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Food That Can Make You Gain Weight or Cause Health Problems
While many of us do our best to eat right and steer clear of those “bad” foods we hear so much about (basically anything that tastes super delicious), we still may be sabotaging our health and diet goals unknowingly.While fresh fruit is a great source of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, it also contains a lot of sugar, albeit the natural kind.“Ideally, one should only consume two servings of fresh whole fruit, such as apples, mangoes, grapefruit, blueberries, and strawberries, a day, suggests Brian Tanzer, nutritionist (MS, CNS) and product formulator for the Vitamin Shoppe.“A vast majority of non-fermented soy in the United States is genetically modified and highly processed, leaving us with a ‘food’ that has a nutritional profile similar to plastic,” she says.Processed or not, soy can be harmful in high doses, says Dana Kofsky of Nutrition Styles, since it contains plant compounds that resemble human estrogen.“This can block your normal estrogen and disrupt endocrine function, cause infertility, and increase your risk for breast cancer,” she explains.Morgan says that if you really need to buy bars for snacks, make sure to check the labels and steer clear of any with artificial ingredients, including sugar alcohols (malitol and sorbitol), BHT, canola, and corn oil.Schatzle says that nuts are packed with nutrient dense vitamins, proteins, and good fats—meaning that they can be a great grab-and-go, good-for-you snack… if you watch your portion size.While spinach and kale rank at the top of the list for nutrient density—they are both rich in vitamin A, C, and K and are loaded with protective antioxidants—eating too much of them is not good, according to Tanzer.Consuming kale and spinach in excess can increase the risk of kidney stone formation in susceptible individuals.” So when it comes to fruits and vegetables, variety is key.While agave is touted as a “natural” healthy sweetener, health and wellness expert Dr. Mona Vand says that it’s really no different than the rest.Although Kofsky says that quinoa is an excellent source of fiber and contains protein, most people don’t watch their portion sizes when they eat it. .
Why Raw Kale Can Make You Fat: Day 14
I woke up feeling very hungry, so I made a ham egg and cheese sandwich with Sonoma Sun from Alvarado St. Bakery for breakfast this morning.Someone critiqued my menu choice and said I don’t eat enough salad and raw green vegetables.“But eating raw vegetables are good for you, all the fresh vitamins and antioxidants are killed in the cooking process.”.These raw vegetables contain chemicals that block the production of thyroid, and can be harmful to people struggling with their weight, not knowing that they could have hypothyroidism.In addition, raw spinach contains oxalic acid which blocks iron and calcium absorption.I don’t know which health guru started this eating-raw-vegetable trend, but obviously, they didn’t study the science of nutrition.My dinner tonight included steak, caramelized onions, portabella mushroom, asparagus and Puratos O-tentic Baguette.
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Top 6 Kale Myths—What You Need to Know About Kale
The past few years have seen kale rise to star status at farmers' markets and grocery stores.As part of an overall healthy pattern of eating, research has linked the cruciferous veggie and/or its nutrients to a number of potential health benefits:.Just for reference, one study in the Journal of the North Carolina Academy of Science found that a typical adult could chow down on 153 pounds of kale daily and still be under the safe limit of lead exposure set by the World Health Organization.Given that less than 10% of U.S. adults eat the five servings of fruits and veggies a day recommended by public health experts, you probably don’t have to worry about “dangerous” levels of kale.The leafy green’s high levels of vitamin K could interfere with the medication’s effectiveness, which might necessitate a dosage adjustment.Both kale and spinach are low in calories, provide antioxidant benefits, and deliver a unique mix of nutrients.Spinach is slightly higher in magnesium, iron, and folate, which are important for circulation, muscle function, and cognition.FACT: Whether celery juice or the alkaline diet, it seems we’re always hearing about some “wellness” trend promising fast and easy weight loss.Lasting weight loss generally involves multiple aspects of a person’s lifestyle, including physical activity and healthy patterns of eating.FACT: Sure, juicing may seem like a quick and easy way to consume more kale, especially if you don’t love the slightly bitter taste of its leaves.This eating style has surged in popularity over the past few years, thanks in part to social media influencers waxing poetic over pretty pics of raw, rainbow-color fruits and veggies.A writer, editor, and content strategist based in New York, she specializes in health & wellness, lifestyle, consumer products, and more.This article was reviewed for accuracy in July 2021 by Tiffany Bullard, PhD, manager for clinical research at WW.
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Kale crackers and hibiscus tea: My five days on a 'fasting diet'
The ProLon diet includes all the calories you'll eat for five days, packaged in a small white box.I’ve decided to try the ProLon diet — five days of “mimicking fasting” that is supposed to help me lose weight, trim belly fat, drop my cholesterol and glucose levels into healthier zones, and even slow aging.I’ve been researching the science behind fasting — check out my full story on that topic here — so I’m excited to try it myself.I sift through the futuristic-looking — and tiny — packets of olives and freeze-dried soups, kale chips, and nut bars.That’s according to its inventor, biochemist Valter Longo, the director of the Longevity Institute at the University of Southern California.Fasting, Longo says, pushes the body to burn fat, rejuvenates cells, and lowers risk factors for a host of diseases.I’ve read the scientific studies and there’s ample evidence that fasting can have great benefit for research animals, such as the mice in Longo’s lab.Short-term studies have shown that fasting can improve certain data points in human subjects (such as lowering cholesterol levels), but there’s no proof yet that such improvements are sustained in the long run — or that they’ll lead to clinical benefits such as fewer heart attacks or longer lives.There’s also no proof that Longo’s particular blend of foods works any better than any other low-calorie diet or intermittent fasting regime.Newsletters Sign up for Daily Recap A roundup of STAT's top stories of the day.Most people can choose any five-day period for the diet, so they can avoid big social events or strenuous athletic activities.(I get the tests done at USC, so Longo can pull the results, but STAT pays for the lab work.).A blend of macadamia nut butter, almond meal, and coconut, it tastes like a dessert.Lunch is tomato soup that I microwave, olives, and kale-and-seed crackers with a kick of pepper.I end up staying a long time so I don’t even get to eat my lunch of mushroom soup and olives until about 3.My husband decides to make his childhood favorite meal for dinner — sloppy Joes.While I eat my “Quinoa Mix Soup,” my family raves about how good their sloppy Joes are.I crawl into bed early, with laptop, and start devouring episodes of “Queen of the South.” Thank you, Netflix, for giving me something to binge on.The author (left) and a friend enjoy burgers and pulled pork sandwiches (with fries!).I need to finish up an article and I feel a little dopey, so I admit to the scientist I’m interviewing that I’m on a fasting diet.Wednesday, I have a busy day shadowing several groups of elementary school kids for another story I’m writing.Shelehchi advised me that I might not want to drive while fasting, for safety, but between work and my kids’ many activities, that’s just impossible.I’m worried about going into a grocery store while fasting, so I steel myself out in the Trader Joe’s parking lot.I look at the food — the shrink-wrapped meats, the frozen pizzas laden with cheese — and it all looks kind of … disgusting.I run some errands and end up staring at a man eating Mexican food out of a styrofoam container.Which is good, because Longo advises transitioning your stomach back to normal food with soups, juices, and light meals on the first day after the diet.After the blood draw, I sit and chat with Shelehchi at a coffee shop near the clinic.I tell her one benefit of the diet is that I realize I can eat a lot less food than I do — that right now, much smaller portion sizes and light soups for lunch seem a really easy way to keep losing weight.I also saw big improvement in my levels of IGF-1, or insulin-like growth factor-1, which is linked to higher rates of cancer.I’m a cynical journalist and I’m known to be skeptical — especially about faddish health food claims, heavy marketing, and quick fixes.Nearly one month after ending the diet, I’m still eating much smaller portions, many of them plant-based, and limiting my protein intake. .
