By Dr. Andrew Weil

If you are trying to reduce your intake of refined sugar, honey is one alternative – but not necessarily a healthier one. However, honey does have some health benefits over sugar, as it:

Read the full post on Is Honey Healthy?.

• Is sweeter than refined sugar, so you can use less.
• Has a higher proportion of fructose, which doesn’t stress the pancreas as much as sucrose.
• Has a slightly lower glycemic load than table sugar.
• Contains trace enzymes; minerals, including calcium, magnesium and potassium; amino acids; and vitamins, including a wide range of B vitamins such as riboflavin, pantothenic acid, niacin, thiamin and pyridoxine.

By Dr. Andrew Weil

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a cheap sweetener chemically derived from corn. This ubiquitous ingredient of junk food has been in the news lately, in part due to a proposed name change by the Corn Refiners Association – the group wants to rename it “corn sugar.” Whatever you call it, HFCS is a marker for low-quality food and has no place in a healthy diet. But unfortunately, it is widely used: HFCS is found as a primary ingredient in soft drinks and often hidden in processed foods including salad dressings and ketchup, jams, jellies, ice cream, bread and crackers. It is one of the biggest sources of calories in the American diet.

Read the full post on Is High Fructose Corn Syrup Bad For You?.

By Stacy Goldberg

Red meat has a bad reputation, but lean cuts, prepared with healthy cooking methods, and eaten in sensible portions are a great source of protein, iron, and zinc. Try this lean, affordable and delicious cut of beef, marinated and served with steamed vegetables.

Ingredients

Marinade:
10 cloves garlic, minced
1 t salt
1/2 t black pepper, cracked
1 t oregano
1 c orange juice
1 lime, juiced
1/4 c olive oil
1 1/2 lbs (24 oz) flank steak, trimmed of visible fat

Read the full post on Grilled Garlic Citrus Flank Steak.

By Dr. Joe

We all know that putting the wrong sort of fuel into the car will mean that it does not run well and may not even run at all. Whilst the body is in some respects “more forgiving” the fuels we feed ourselves will affect how well we function.

The connection between what we eat and our mood is an area, which is getting more attention. We know that substances like alcohol affect mood. Foods (not just magic mushrooms) can also have an affect.

Read the full post on Food Influences Our Mood.

By Stacy Goldberg

Full of flavor and packed with turkey, white kidney beans, and diced tomatoes, this hearty meal is the perfect way to prepare Thanksgiving leftovers! Not to mention, turkey and kidney beans provide a great source of lean protein, and tomatoes are a great source of the health-promoting antioxidant lycopene.

Prep Time:
10 Min
Cook Time:
50 Min
Ready In:
1 Hr

Original Recipe Yield 12 servings

Read the full post on White Bean Turkey Chili.

By Dr. Andrew Weil

Questions: What’s a Weil Thanksgiving Dinner?
Dr. Weil, I’m wondering what you serve for Thanksgiving dinner since you don’t eat poultry, beef or pork. Can you share a typical menu with us?

Answer (Published 11/9/2010):
I’ve found that it’s possible to have a delicious, crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving dinner without the turkey. Instead, I typically serve wild Alaskan salmon, either whole and baked or grilled. I eat salmon often, not only because it contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, but because I love it. You can make a very festive presentation of salmon at Thanksgiving dinner that will make your guests quite happy.

Read the full post on A Weil Thanksgiving Dinner.

By Dr. Joe

The world can be a crazy place at times. Never is this more apparent than when it comes to our approach to health.

In the last two months we have seen another weight loss medication removed from the market and the FDA knocked back two weight loss drugs under development.

Read the full post on Why Is Health Made Harder Than It Needs To Be?.

By Dr. Andrew Weil

Question: Is the Peel the Best Part?
Apparently the peel of many vegetables, such as cucumbers, contain the richest nutrients yet many people feel that with all the chemicals used in today’s farming, raw vegetables should always be peeled before eating. What do you recommend?

Answer (published 9/23/2003, updated 4/4/2005)
It is a myth that the peel of vegetables is the most nutritious part. In fact, the peel is there to protect the more nutritious part of the vegetable (or fruit) underneath. And I agree with the idea that raw vegetables (and those you plan to cook) should be peeled if you don’t know where they came from and, therefore, don’t know what pesticide residues they may contain.

Read the full post on Is the Peel the Best Part?.

Did you know?
The average person gains as much as 7 pounds during November and December from eating too much and exercising less.

Steps to take
Make plans that keep you moving, not just sitting and snacking. Limit serving sizes. Limit alcohol.

Fats…we need a healthy amount of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in our diets. These healthy fats are vital for sound mental health, prevention of cardiovascular disease, lowering dietary cholesterol and making us feel very full and satisfied.

In a study at the University of Sheffield, people living a low fat lifestyle were found to be much more likely to get upset, angry, and have mood swings rather than those who included dietary fats in their diet.

Low-fat diets are linked to reduced levels of serotonin, the ‘feel good’ chemical that lifts your mood in times of emotional stress and despair.

Read the full post on Snack on Sunflower Seeds.