Kristen N. Smith, PhD, RDN, LD
Counting macros is a common phrase in the gym and among athletes. It’s more fine-tuned than simply counting calories among those who want to lose weight or gain muscle, but counting macros still means counting calories. The difference is a focus on the quality of foods eaten, rather than just … Read More
Being constipated stinks—your bowel movements are dry, almost painful to pass, with little relief. Worse yet, you can manage to push something through only a couple of days a week. You feel bloated, fatigued, and just plain uncomfortable. It’s all you can think about. And, after a week or so, … Read More
In the world of ever-increasing numbers of sophisticated, expensive cholesterol-lowering treatments, there’s one highly effective, “old-school” therapy that tends to get ignored: fiber. By now, it’s a well-established fact that you can cheaply and easily lower LDL naturally by increasing your fiber intake, either through foods or supplements. And yet, … Read More
If you’re looking for a food that lowers cholesterol naturally, is exceptionally nutritious, packed with protein and phytochemicals, and will boost your immune system and give you energy all while tackling your cholesterol and triglycerides, Spirulina is it! A rich, deep-green powder, Spirulina is an ancient food source that is … Read More
In the quest for effective natural supplements to lower cholesterol, many people turn to supplements like fish oil, niacin, plant sterols, and red yeast rice. While these are often effective, sometimes they are not tolerated or an additional supplement is needed to optimize lipid levels. Berberine-containing products are moving to … 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
The most basic mission for any healthy eating plan is to incorporate a variety of whole goods into your diet. About one-quarter of your meal can be comprised of fruits, unless your doctor has instructed you otherwise. Here are the healthiest fruits you can find – the ones that provide … Read More
Green tea gets a lot of attention when it comes to healthy beverages that fight disease and keep you healthy. And this is for good reason; green tea is known to help with losing weight, lowering cholesterol, fighting depression, and more. And while green tea may well be one of … 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
One of the reasons why yogurt may be considered a healthy snack is that it contains beneficial bacteria called probiotics. Lactobacillus acidophilus, commonly known simply as acidophilus, is one of those healthy bacteria found in yogurt. But what is acidophilus, and what does it do for your body? Acidophilus has been … Read More
