Kristen N. Smith, PhD, RDN, LD
Pumpkins mark the fall season with decorative flair on front porches and tabletops as well as in our favorite fall flavors—pumpkin spice has quite a following! It’s boosted pumpkin’s pizazz beyond pies and lattes to hummus, pasta, and even facial scrub. The most popular winter squash—pumpkin and pumpkin seeds—has a … Read More
If you want to lower LDL naturally, the answer may lie in your spice rack. Turmeric is the Indian spice that gives curry its golden color. While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind for cholesterol health, research indicates turmeric's benefits include that it is one … Read More
Cumin may well be my favorite spice. It is a staple flavor in my favorite quinoa salad, I use it in all my Mexican-inspired cooking, and it is also delicious in Indian cooking. I was thrilled when I learned that cumin isn’t just a tasty addition to flavor a dish, … Read More
Are you tired of being told to eat oats, nuts, soy, and plant sterols to lower your cholesterol? There have to be other cholesterol-lowering foods, right? The good news is that there are actually many more foods that lower cholesterol. Researchers tend to get fixated, understandably, on those with the … Read More
Rice is a grain commonly consumed all over the world. It’s the world’s third highest-produced grain crop, after corn and wheat and is consumed by millions. Two of most popular types of rice are long-grain brown and white. Both are delicious, versatile, and economical forms of nutrition. Plus, they’re gluten-free, … Read More
Potassium deficiency is the result of hypokalemia—the medical term for blood serum potassium levels that are below normal. Normal blood potassium levels are typically between 3.6 and 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). A potassium level that is very low (less than 2.5 mmol/L) can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical … Read More
Hydroxycut is a popular line of weight loss supplements that has received a fair share of attention by the FDA over the last ten years due to safety concerns. Although Hydroxycut ingredients have changed over the years as a result of safety issues, adverse health outcomes linked to the newest … Read More
In Part 1 of this article you learned about a study showing how chronic fatigue can be successfully treated with iron supplements in women who have iron deficiency but don’t have full blown anemia.[1] (Find 9 Iron Deficiency Symptoms here.) The French and Swiss researchers found that iron supplementation for 12 … Read More
Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) has garnered a great deal of attention from diet and nutrition experts in recent years due to its nutrition profile. Quinoa is actually a seed, although it’s commonly referred to as a grain for obvious reasons (quinoa seeds are grain-like in size, texture, and consistency when cooked). … Read More
Make sure your diet includes whole foods high in potassium—a mineral so vital that it contributes to the health of our cardiovascular system, our muscles, and our bones. The primary functions of potassium include the regulation of fluid balance and control of electrical activity of the heart and other muscles. … Read More
