Food For Thought

Reality shows that feature glammed up toddlers are all the rage, boasting skyrocketing ratings. But what is so appealing about these shows? Why do some think these shows are “must see TV” while others charge they are “must flee TV?” Schadenfreude, or taking pleasure in the misfortune of others, may explain the popularity of “train wreck” television. Read More

If you are struggling to lose weight, you might want to take Friend-ventory. Friends have a profound effect on our body weight and health habits. Read More

Every office has them: the colleague who brings in the donuts, the other who brings in homemade banana bread loaded with fat, calories, sugar. How about the office celebrations, birthday parties, retirements, baby showers and an endless list of corporate events that provide a readily available feast of sugary indulgence that can sabotage even the most willful dieter? Read More

The human face is a reflection of internal well-being; beauty may be indeed in the eye of the beholder, but what makes a face attractive, young or beautiful may have more to do with hue rather than symmetry. Read More

Many patients who are discharged from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) frequently suffer health problems long after they've left the hospital. Read More

Today it was announced that Apple pioneer Steve Jobs chose to pursue alternative therapies to treat his pancreatic cancer, a decision he came to regret. After this announcement people began issuing judgments of how "such a smart man could make such a stupid choice." Harsh. Read More

Today's second steep stock market crash coupled with wallet-draining food prices have many Americans wondering, "Should I start stockpiling food?"  During times of economic uncertainty, people become anxious about the main stays of living: food, shelter and clothing. Read More

It's no secret that childhood obesity is a problem in the US.  Over 2 million American kids are considered "super obese." As a dietitian I have seen and counseled several severely obese children and their parents.  Over the past 20 years, I've only had to call child protective services once. The child in question was super obese and showed signs of neglect. Read More

"What do you do for a living?"  To the unemployed or underemployed person those words can trigger a wave of anxiety and embarrassment.  Stress levels and emotional distress are sky high in the jobless. A recent Rutgers study of unemployed US workers showed that 77% were stressed, 64% felt anxious, 61% reported feelings of helplessness and 54% were hopeless. Read More

It's that time of the year again when store aisles are crammed with brightly colored marshmallow chicks, bunnies and other characters. Peeps have long been an Easter season tradition and Americans consume over 700 million Peeps every spring. So what is so magical about the squishy, sugary treat? Read More

Perhaps you are one of millions of cold sufferers who tried a zinc supplement to rid yourself of pesky symptoms like runny nose and cough only to find disappointment. After a week of slamming zinc lozenges every two hours, maybe you are still plagued by a cough that won't quit and nasal congestion that makes your nose run so often that you could compete with Rudolph the Red Nose reindeer. Read More

Widespread frigid temperatures, mounds of snow and days of gray skies have millions spending this February 14th hunkered down at home with the winter blues, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Lack of sunlight and cold temperatures trigger a change in brain chemistry that turn SAD sufferers into drowsy, depressed eating machines. Read More

Exercise, I hate it, especially exercise classes. Never one to keep a rhythm, I'd lose my synch with the cardio kick boxing class and find myself with an increased heart rate due to frustration alone! Then I tried yoga. It was ok for awhile. I liked the concepts of focus, balance, stretching and strength, but yoga class was too slow and I would find thoughts wandering. Pilates. Hmm. Read More