Food Facts and Myths | Optimal Nutrition For Life

Get Rich Quick : Create your Own FAD Diet

Published on May 5, 2012

I am currently designing a class for my students on the Red Flags of Fad Diets. I have been fascinated over the latest and greatest lengths dieters will take for the quick fix. My creative juices got involved: Here is my first Lecture… — GET RICH QUICK This is 100% guaranteed. A idiot-proof guide to make tons of money. It has never failed. Create your own FAD Diet. All you need are the right tools… Here are the secrets. INTRODUCTION Please note: This is a do it yourself project. It [...]

Filed in Category: Food Facts and Myths, Ilana's Personal Stories/Blog, Optimal Nutrition - Tags: atlanta nutritionist, diet humour, fad diets, metabolism, weight loss

DIET SODA – TRUTH OR DARE

Published on March 27, 2012

Ilana Katz MS, RD, CSSD Diet soda is often used as a “crutch” by many trying to lose or maintain weight. It has zero calories, so surely it has a role to play in the weight loss industry? Amazingly enough, however, there is no scientific research that demonstrates diet soda is proportional to weight loss. In fact, it has been uncovered as the culprit to much weight gain and many negative health issues. So what then is the reality behind a seemingly innocent beverage? As a dietitian that specializes in [...]

Filed in Category: Food Facts and Myths, Nutrition Science, Optimal Nutrition - Tags: diet soda, metabolism, nutrition

Garbage or Gourmet?

Published on August 16, 2011

The phrase “Eat healthy” more than likely creates a visual of fruits and vegetables in most people’s minds. Even I, in my office, have a poster that recommends “Eat a Rainbow” today. The poster represents a rainbow made from food, from red beets and tomatoes, to green leafy vegetables, yellow squash, bright orange papaya and even purple eggplant. Many of us actually do eat this way, but we also tend to throw away the parts of our rainbow that could offer a greater nutritional value than the parts we [...]

Filed in Category: Food Facts and Myths, Nutrition Science, Optimal Nutrition, Recipes / Tips / Recommendations - Tags: food budget, metabolism, nutrition, whole garden

ACAI – Superfruit, Superhero, or Superficial?

Published on June 27, 2011

Acai berries have been categorized by many marketers as a “superfood.” A superfood is a term sometimes used to describe food with high phytonutrient content that would offer health benefits as a result. Examples of commonly accepted superfoods are blueberries since they contain a most significant amount of antioxidants, or tomatoes, because not only are they rich in vitamins, but they also contain lycopene, which is linked to research showing it reduces prostate cancer. So before discussing acai there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, take [...]

Filed in Category: Body Composition/Weight Management, Food Facts and Myths, Nutrition Science, Optimal Nutrition, Weight Loss Tools - Tags: metabolism, nutrition, weight loss, weight loss tips

DISSOLVING SUGAR CRAVINGS

Published on May 12, 2011

One of my biggest challenges, not only with my own personal goals, but also with many clients, is to get to the bottom of the age old obscurity of sugar cravings. It’s not rocket science, right? Just don’t eat it ! Right? But oh we all know it, and live it day after day, it is just not that simple. Why? Because the physiological response to sugar is like an addiction. Sugar temporarily elevates the levels of various neurotransmitters and endorphins. The “feel good” chemicals, serotonin and dopamine are released [...]

Filed in Category: Food Facts and Myths, Nutrition Science - Tags: sugar cravings