Blog Posts by DietsInReview

By Rebecca Scritchfield MA, RD, LD - DietsInReview.com

Curious why weight loss is necessary in preventing heart disease. Controlling your weight is a step toward controlling heart disease risk factors, like blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Even if you don't have these heart disease risk factors now, you could always develop them.

If you're overweight or obese, it's vitally important that you try to lose weight. A minimal reduction of just 5 to 10 percent of your current weight can lower your risk for heart disease. For instance, if you weigh 200 pounds, a mere 20 pound weight loss can help to save your life and prevent this disease that is the number one killer of women in the U.S.

The most important thing you can do to promote weight loss is reduce your caloric intake by 500 to 1,000 calories each day, and engage in more physical activity, like a 30 minute walk daily. At a loss of two pounds a week, you'll reach your goal within three months. What's even better, it

By Carmen Staicer - Chief Mom at DietsInReview.com

Any woman who's had a baby will tell you that her body hasn't been the same since. Varicose veins, wider hips, extra weight, even bigger feet - nothing seems to go back to normal. It's worth it, though, when you look at that sweet little baby.

One area of a woman's body that suffers greatly, and gets very little attention, is the pelvic floor. This area of the body is responsible for carrying the baby, and endures a great amount of stress and often becomes weak. With this, women experience urinary incontinence. That's where kegel exercises come in, named for Dr. Arnold Kegel.

Often related to an enhanced sexual experience, kegel exercises help to restore and strengthen the muscles that surround and support the bladder, uterus, rectum, and urethra - the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles are also known as your pubococcygeal muscles. And if postpartum urinary issues are affecting you, this one surefire way to prevent it.

Kegel

By Rebecca Scritchfield MA, RD, LD - DietsInReview.com

In case you hadn't heard, February is American Heart Month, an initiative to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke, the number one killer in the U.S.

Eating a healthy diet can be a key method of preventing heart disease. We're highlighting five heart-healthy foods that can literally save your health. We recognize that these are not the only five foods that protect your heart, but they stand out as star performers and great additions to any diet.

1. Garlic: This herb is ideal for heart health. Numerous studies have shown the potential benefits of regular garlic consumption on blood pressure, platelet aggregation, serum triglyceride level, and cholesterol levels - all of which keep your heart performing. Garlic also makes a great seasoning for food so you can greatly reduce salt.

2. Salmon: Make the swap from a saturated fat burger to a salmon fillet. While some saturated fat is fine, a little goes a long way. The average

By Brandi Koskie - DietsInReview.com

Just three weeks ago you made a resolution to get fit, start a diet, or eat healthier. And then your doorbell rang and a Girl Scout announced that cookie season had begun and waved that tempting order form under your nose to coax you right out of your resolve and back in to the familiar loving arms of her $3.50 a box cookie haven.

If you're struggling between wanting to indulge in your favorite Thin Mint, Samoa or traditional Trefoil, don't fear the double-edged sword that is the Girl Scout Cookie. You can support your friendly neighborhood scout and not wipe out your weight loss goals in one crumby setting. It's mind over matter, and your mind is far stronger than the sugar in those cookies.

Follow these five tips for surviving Girl Scout Cookie season with your willpower, weight and philanthropic needs all satisfied:

1. Think Moderation. No matter what you're eating it's all about moderation. Don't eat the cookies three times a day, or an

By Heather Ashare - DietsInReview.com

Any woman will tell you how difficult it can be to lose the baby weight after having just one child. But what about losing that weight after having eight babies? Nadya Suleman could tell you it's actually not that hard!

After having a set of octuplets in January 2009, Nadya Suleman, aka "Octomom," dropped 150 pounds in the following nine months. She brags that she did it without surgery, without a trainer, and without a meal delivery diet. Weighing in at 270 pounds prior to the birth, she is now back to her pre-pregnancy weight, and wearing a size two.

Of course, we all want to know how she did it.

Suleman tells Star magazine, in which she is the featured cover story this week, that she simply followed the most basic and healthy of weight loss plans that professionals have been promoting for years: Eat less and move more.

While the Octomom may not be one of your favorite D-list, accidental celebs, the mother of 14 (octuplets plus seven previous

By Rebecca Scritchfield, MA, RD, LD - DietsInReview.com

Super foods are just "so last year." Simply put, there are far too many healthy, nutritious foods out there to isolate some as better than others. Regardless, Americans do not consume anywhere near the recommendations for vegetables and fruits and we could probably all use a little refresh on our food choices.

All fruits and vegetables are good for you. Period.

As you take on this new year, commit to changing up your menu. Here's a list of five foods you should be eating, if you aren't already, and a few ideas for enjoying them:

1. Whole Eggs - Don't ditch the yolk, which is a good source of choline. Contrary to what most people think of the yolks, the choline present can help lower homocysteine levels in the blood which actually reduces your heart attack risk.

2. Garbanzo Beans - You can get health in a can! I love to keep a container of drained garbanzo beans (or chickpeas) in the refrigerator for salad toppers. Bake them in

By Brandi Koskie - DietsInReview.com

Health, weight loss and fitness were buzz words heard everywhere in 2009. More than any other, this could easily have been the year when Americans really tuned in to the obesity and health problems plaguing our nation, young and old. And while the upside of that is that there was more of a focus on living active lifestyles and being more conscious of the foods being consumed, it was also true that fad diets die hard and they maintained as much popularity as they ever have.

We've narrowed in on ten trends that really made the most impact in the diet industry this year. We can only hope the trend will continue to gain momentum for the healthier approaches in 2010.

1. Spinning
This classic gym class was one of the hottest things going this year, as men and women alike took to these high intensity workouts. During a spinning session, attendees stand to burn about 1,000 calories during a one-hour class.

2. Jillian Michaels
Few "best of 2009" lists

By Brandi Koskie - DietsInReview.com

Oops, you did it again. And again, and again. No matter how well you managed your diet throughout the year or how well-meaning your intentions to keep your eating in check, the holiday season once again blew in and sabotaged you with its abundance of delicious treats and savory eats. Now as you take down the decorations and stand in line to return ill-fitting sweaters, you're staring down the new year with an extra pound, or ten, to contend with.

Know that you're not the only one and that you can take it away as quickly as the shopping season went by. It's also important to know that this weight never comes on over night and it certainly isn't ideal to try and take it off over night.

So we've got a few ways that will actually help you shed the holiday weight in a healthy and effective way.

1. No Quick-Fixes. That means no miracle diet pills, no fad diets, no detoxes and nothing that comes with over-hyped promises of being a size four by Super