Amy Hendel's blog

For the next four weeks, I will review some of the top 24 diets, in order from very best to best to “so, so”, as rated by a U.S. News and World Reports expert panel. Some of the programs are well known, others you may never have heard of before.

List 1: Toasted thin slices from a baguette, endive spears, celery sticks, small rye squares, baked pita chips

List 2: Pesto sauce, chunky tomato sauce, salsa, white beans pureed, hummus

List 3: Sliced pickles. cherry tomatoes cut in half, roasted peppers, thinly sliced cucumbers, sliced mushrooms, pine nuts

Headaches, indigestion, loss of appetite, muscle tension, sleep issues and allergic reactions could actually be signs of stress. Giving yourself time to pause, consider the situation and breathe deeply when you encounter these signals is the first step towards finding the cause and limiting it in the future.

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Past studies on food and color suggest that color can indeed affect your portion size or the amount of food you decide to consume. Things like a well lit or dim dining room or kitchen, and the color of the walls in these areas have been studies in terms of impact on food consumed. Now some new observations seem to indicate that:

Godiva Chocolates, the makers of those gold wrapped decadent treats, has been looking for ways to expand their presence and gain more consumers. So don’t be surprised if you see different sized treats and new packaging and formulations of your favorite chocolate treats. Chocolate makers want you thinking, dreaming of and eating chocolate…..lots and lots.

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Maybe you have a parent, grandparent or loved one who is older and struggling with weight issues. Lacking the financial resources to get help can be a huge impediment for seniors to lose weight and improve their health profile. Chronic obesity and recent significant weight gain can be an incredibly challenging health issue for the aging population.

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Recently there has been a fair amount of discussion about “safe amounts of weight to gain” during pregnancy, especially if you are already carrying excess weight. The Institute of Medicine has suggested that overweight pregnant women should target a lower range of weight to gain, when compared to average weight women.

Regular physical activity benefits every part of your body and can reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes and more. While it’s recommended that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity each week, every bit is better than nothing! It’s important to start moving and gradually increase intensity and duration.

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