When made at home, smoothies can be delicious and nutritious (store-bought versions often contain lots of sugar and an abundance of calories). But when it comes to feeling satisfied, a rich, thick soup has them beat. There’s science behind the diet tip to eat filling soup when the soup is a thick, blended puree. A…  read on >

Your kids had a good summer. You were able to get them away from the TV and outside to play for lots of exercise. But now, they’re back to school and you want them to keep off the pounds. The Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati says lunches provided by many schools are loaded with…  read on >

Friday, Sept. 6, 2019 (American Heart Association News) — Incorporating pumpkin pulp or seeds into a healthy diet may help reduce blood pressure levels, according to a new study using rats. The research, presented Thursday at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension 2019 Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, compared the effect of a control diet to…  read on >

Growing up in a poor neighborhood significantly increases kids’ odds of becoming obese adults, and the risk is highest among teens, a new study says. It found that children from poor neighborhoods had 31% higher odds for adult obesity, and the risk was much higher (29%) among 11- to 18-year-olds than for younger children (13%).…  read on >

Spices add not only great flavor to foods, but also micronutrients for a healthy diet. Spice blends can be especially zesty, but many on grocery store shelves are loaded with sodium, which can spike your salt intake and detract from the spices’ benefits. Mix your own blends instead. A very versatile mix is taco seasoning.…  read on >

Few ingredients span the range of international cuisines as much as garlic. Garlic has a rich and interesting history as both a flavoring and a medicinal food. The bulb of a plant in the allium family (along with onions and chives), garlic contains potent antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, and is immensely flavorful while being extremely…  read on >

Looking for an elegant dessert that’s healthy, too? Poached pears are ideal because they’re sweet and hold their shape well during cooking. They can also be topped with a sweet finish or a surprisingly tangy one. Either way, you can wow guests at your next dinner party. Pears are a filling fruit, high in fiber…  read on >

About half of all Americans take steps to limit or avoid saturated fats, the kind found in foods like fatty red meat and cream. But fewer than one-third stick to the limit set by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to keep saturated fat intake under 10% of daily calories. You might be surprised to learn…  read on >

For people who are obese and have type 2 diabetes, weight-loss surgery leads to more than a slimmer figure. It also reduces the risk of heart complications and premature death by about 40% compared to standard medical care, new research says. The Cleveland Clinic researchers compared the impact of various types of weight-loss (bariatric) surgery…  read on >