As football season kicks off, so does the tradition of tailgating. The hours leading up to kickoff is a time to gather with friends and family and indulge in food. However, maintaining a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to be sidelined in favor of game-day treats. We'll show you how to keep the flavor and fun alive while making smarter choices. Our tips and recipes will help make your tailgate both enjoyable and nutritious.
In this blog we talk to Brian Herritt, M.D., a bariatric surgeon at INTEGRIS Health Weight Loss Center about Ozempic and whether it is a safe option for weight management.
Breakfast: it’s the most important meal of the day! Right? This popular platitude has been echoed time and time again, but what kind of scientific support is there to back it up? Breakfast helps many people kick start their day with energy, but some morning meals can do more harm than good.
This eating philosophy is also sometimes referred to as the energy density approach. It’s all about evaluating foods based on nutrition, calorie density and fiber content. Foods with a lower calorie density contain fewer calories per gram than high-calorie-density foods. Fiber content is something to pay attention to because fiber keeps you feeling full.
There are changes to make when shopping to make adding more protein into your diet easier. Whether it’s revamped products that feature more protein or existing products that are healthier alternatives, consider these swaps the next time you’re at the store.
Finding a diet that works best for your body can involve trial and error, but once you find a diet that does work well for your body and your lifestyle, staying in peak physical health becomes much easier. We explain what a low-carb diet entails, who it might be good for and who it might not work well for.
Maybe you’re approaching a milestone anniversary and as you take stock of your beautiful relationship and flip back through old pictures, you notice something. Ten or fifteen somethings parked right around your middle. And you’re not the only one. Your sweetie looks a little less svelte than when you met. How did this happen? Can it be reversed?
Serving size and portion size are often used interchangeably, but the two terms are different. To help avoid confusion and to help establish healthier eating habits, this blog will dive into why it is important to know the distinction between serving size and portion size.
Type 2 diabetes is one of the most common diseases Americans live with. The latest figures show about 11 percent of the population has type 2 diabetes and an additional 96 million American adults have prediabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. While there isn’t a magic food to prevent diabetes, eating the right combination of healthy carbohydrates, fats and proteins can help you in the long run.
Diet and exercise are terrific tools for managing chronic inflammation. While you may not be able to prevent chronic inflammation through diet and exercise alone, you can certainly choose foods that inhibit your body’s inflammatory response. You can also make inflammation worse by eating certain foods.
These days, most of the milk or creamers in the dairy section don’t even contain any dairy. That’s because plant-based creamers are on the rise. What’s all the fuss about, though? Are they really that much healthier than half-and-half or heavy cream? We answer these questions and offer ways to make your own plant-based creamers at home.
Meat sweats is an unofficial phrase used to describe excessive perspiration when eating large quantities of any high-protein food – not just meat. Most often, meat sweats describe fatty foods such as steaks or barbecued meats.
Feelings and physical sensations that come with true (physical) hunger are low energy, an empty-feeling stomach and even fatigue. The longer it’s been since you last ate, the more noticeable the sensations will be.
As we enter the fall and winter months, there are lots of things to look forward to: Sweater weather, holidays, football, chilly mornings and cozy evenings. It’s also a great time to revamp your diet according to the season. Soups and hearty stews, while not very appealing during Oklahoma summers, are perfect for cooler temps. Done right, they can be warming, tasty and packed full of nutrients.
There are a lot of foods perceived as “healthy” that are packed with hidden calories and sugar. Despite your best efforts in choosing healthier snacks, many choices might be sabotaging your health and your weight.
Being obese comes with a long list of health risk factors that include diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, lung disease and 13 types of cancer. For decades, these effects have been well known. Researchers have discovered a new link between obesity and brain function.
Childhood obesity is a disturbing epidemic in the U.S. The number of children who suffer from it has more than tripled since 1980. This means the future health of our children is dire as they suffer from diseases that were traditionally reserved for adults - diseases like type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease. The good news is that childhood obesity is reversible.
Eating more veggies and fruits is never a bad idea, just be sure to incorporate enough complete proteins. Without them, you might feel sluggish and lose muscle mass. Fortunately, a little menu planning can help you include enough complete proteins in your diet.
Believe it or not, dietitians often rely on non-culinary images such as tennis balls and hockey pucks for portion control references. Once you master those, you’ll soon have more than a "sporting" chance of perfecting portion control.
What exactly constitutes a healthy energy drink, and are these products even good for you? This blog will examine what you need to know about these natural options.
Is maple syrup superior to table sugar? We sought out the answer to those questions by diving into more detail about how sugar affects your body and analyzing the potential health benefits maple syrup has over other options.
Certain foods can make IBS symptoms worse. Choosing what to eat can be a chore, so we put together a comprehensive guide on tips for dealing with IBS, what to eat, what not to eat and some recipes for you to try at home.
In a world full of culinary choices, many people simply don’t like to eat fruits and vegetables. Instead of losing out on vital nutrients necessary to carry out bodily functions, powdered versions of these whole foods have found their way onto store shelves and online marketplaces as a way to bridge the gap.
Magnesium helps keep our heartbeat steady and our bones strong. It supports a healthy immune system and aids the function in our nerves and muscles. It helps us make protein and regulate blood sugar. It’s absorbed in the gut and excreted through the kidneys.
As the emphasis on home cooking continues into 2022, people are getting more creative in the kitchen. We share a list of 12 health food trends to keep an eye out for.
If you’re looking to add more protein to your diet, don’t count vegetables out. There’s a common misconception that the only way to boost protein is by eating more meat. Plenty of vegetables pack a protein punch.
People who enjoy regular exercise feel better, sleep better, tend to eat better, have decreased incidence of diseases like type 2 diabetes and some cancers and they maintain better mobility as they age. And it doesn’t take as much as you may think.
Bedtime snacks are one of life’s little pleasures, something to look forward to. Savvy snackers also know that a bedtime snack is an opportunity to boost their nutrition, further their dietary goals and help ensure a better night’s sleep. Poor bedtime snack choices can thwart comfortable sleep, cause you to wake during the night, undermine a day’s healthy meals and even exacerbate conditions like heart disease or diabetes.
There’s a common misconception that sugar is only present in foods known for being sweet – sugary drinks, desserts and candy. Yes, these are the obvious culprits. But what about the ketchup you dunk your fries in, the dressing you generously drizzle on your salad or the bread you use for sandwiches?
We discuss how walking can improve various aspects of your mental and physical health and how many steps per day you should take to experience benefits.
Between processed foods, snacks, pasta, potatoes and heavy side dishes, carbohydrates make up nearly half of American diets. These foods may taste good, but they aren’t as good for your health and waistline. Instead of outright removing these snacks and treats from your diets, there are many low-carb alternatives on the market to help appease your cravings without feeling guilty.
Poor sleep, or not enough sleep, affects a slew of our bodies’ key systems, health and functions, from cognitive abilities to coronary heart disease, diabetes and even a shorter life expectancy. Poor sleep is associated with a generally poorer quality of life.
It’s beloved by the Paleo and Keto diet sets and touted by many for health benefits ranging from better skin and hair to weight loss. Coconut oil has been trending for years, and enthusiasts credit it for all sorts of health and nutritional benefits.
Aging brings about many changes. Your metabolism slows down, aches and pains become more commonplace and your mind may not be as sharp as it once was. With several areas of life working against you, it may be easy to let your food awareness slip and focus less on nutrition.
If you’ve never heard of plant-based jerky or if you’re looking for vegan-friendly snacks, we’re here to offer insight on this new food trend and provide plant-based jerky recipes for you to try at home.
A well-balanced meal can keep you fueled for as long as four hours, so another pro tip is to eat every four hours or so, to keep a steady flow of energy. What foods give you energy? We share 17 foods that will help keep you fueled.
Learn how you can incorporate more healthy foods into your child’s diet. We discuss how to talk to your child about nutrition, go over which nutrients your child needs to grow and share easy recipes you can try at home.
The idea behind intuitive eating is this: eat what you want, as much as you want, whenever you want. No foods are restricted or off limits. According to its adherents, food becomes something to enjoy, not something to constantly measure, regulate and evaluate.
The flexitarian diet is one of the more recent trendy diets to pick up interest, largely in part due to a movement toward plant-based foods compared to the traditional meat options. How does the flexitarian diet work?
Fermented foods are starting to make a comeback due to their health benefits and eco-friendly nature. We share how you can make your own fermented foods at home, and reap their many benefits.
Inflammation is a word we hear a lot in health and wellness circles. It’s something we’re encouraged to reduce or avoid. It’s bad news. But what is it? We break it down and share what foods to look for and avoid to help reduce inflammation.
Air fryers claim to offer the same taste, texture and golden brown crisp of fried foods but with a fraction of the fat and calories. While the capabilities of an air fryer sound convenient and delicious, are they healthy? We explain the benefits and share easy recipes to try.
It’s one thing to read a recipe online and rely on photos and text to guide you through the steps. It’s an entirely different experience when you can visualize how to make a dish through a recorded video or hands-on virtual class. We’ll walk you through the different types of virtual cooking classes, what you can expect and the options to choose from online.
The cooking oils section in your local grocery store seemingly grows by the day. How do you know which oils are healthy or the best to cook with? We’re here to help you understand it all.
Mindful eating is the idea that is that a slower, more thoughtful way of eating may help us to enjoy our food more, choose more healthful foods and make us less likely to overeat. We explain the differences between mindful eating and dieting.
With the start of a new year, you may be thinking about cleaning up your diet and making healthier lifestyle choices. There are so many different diet lifestyles to try, it can be overwhelming and confusing to figure out what dietary needs are right for you. We explain common diets to help you understand what might work for you.
It can be hard to take the slow and steady approach to build a healthy lifestyle when we're surrounded by advertisements for crash diets and 30-day fixes promising fast results. How much physical activity do you actually need? We're breaking down everything you need to know to establish healthy habits and a consistent activity level for the long term.
Apple cider vinegar is a low-cost ingredient that's said to restore your body's pH balance. Is it worth the hype? We'll walk you through what apple cider vinegar is, how it works within the body and a few popular home remedies you might have seen making the rounds online.
Between membership fees, childcare, crowded workout areas and drive time, gyms are not for everyone. The good news is, you don’t need a gym membership or fancy equipment to stay healthy and fit. In fact, you can get an incredible full-body workout with a set of dumbbells, or even just your body weight.
As the popularity spikes, the question has come up if sparkling water can be bad for you. We decided to delve into that topic and provide you with the truth about sparkling water. Along the way, we busted some myths and rounded up some tips so you can continue to enjoy the bubbles.
The type of carbohydrates you consume is more important than the amount you consume. In other words, think quality over quantity. To help set the record straight, we're here to explain how carbohydrates work, outline which healthy carbs you can add to your diet and provide easy recipes to try at home.
Working out at home can be a great alternative to help maintain your fitness goals without breaking the bank. To help you get started, we'll go over home gym essentials, including what equipment you'll need, how to combine design with functionality and where to buy equipment for your home fitness studio.
All school-aged kids and teenagers need nutrition that supports their growth and activity level, which is why it’s important to replenish their calories and nutrients after sports practices. If you’re looking for a healthier option to give your kids after sports practices, it comes down to understanding their nutrition and finding quick and portable options you can pack.
If you have tried the Keto Diet, the Paleo Diet, the Atkins Diet or any of the others that call for a high protein intake, you may have wondered just how much protein is too much. We’ve asked an expert for the answer.
While it seems everyone is always trying to lose weight, there's a significant number of people who want to gain weight, too. Being underweight can be just as dangerous as being obese, but if you do need to gain weight, what's the best way to do it healthily? An INTEGRIS dietitian explains.
