Did you know that heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, is the leading cause of death among adults in the US? Did you also know that the beginnings of heart disease can start in your early 20s? Now’s a great time, no matter your age, to learn a little bit about what you can do to keep your heart healthy.

The USDA recently announced the 2025-2030 dietary guidelines along with the corresponding new nutrition pyramid, which has caused quite a stir in the nutrition community. The look of the new pyramid has not drastically changed. However, there are some differences and if you read the accompanying guidelines, you learn that they don’t quite mesh with the visual of the pyramid. How did this all come about? 

Your brain is a two pound organ. It uses 20% of your daily calories, is 60% fat, full of blood vessels and is the most important part of your body. Just like the rest of your body, your brain is impacted, both positively and negatively, by the lifestyle choices you make - including your nutritional habits.

You may have heard some buzz suggesting that we should aim to eat 30 different plant products each week. With wellness and health trends constantly cycling through our social media feeds, it can be hard to decipher what’s factual and what isn’t. So, are “30 plant products” a new, soon to pass trend? Not likely.

Ah, the holiday season. That time of year when Santa shows up in Target before the Halloween candy is gone and when every gathering involves trays of delicious sugary, calorie-filled sweets. I am a firm believer that it is possible to enjoy holiday favorites without completely throwing in the healthy eating towel – but it does require some thought. Read on for some ideas as to how you can handle the parties, restaurant meals and homemade treats.

I often hear from people that it is too expensive to eat healthy. I agree, especially now, that it can SEEM as though it’s not in our budget to buy healthy foods. However, believe it or not, with a little thought and planning, healthy groceries can be a cheaper option than the fast food value menu.

Protein bars are turning up in lunchboxes, backpacks, and gym bags everywhere. Their popularity may be due to their ease as a post-workout snack, a quick way to increase protein intake or simply because people like their taste. Though the concept of a protein bar may seem simple, it’s important to realize that not all protein bars are created equal. If you are consuming them for the purpose of increasing your protein intake, read on to see what to look for.

Do you feel like you need to run away shrieking from any food that is considered even mildly processed? Does social media make you feel like you shouldn’t eat anything with more than three ingredients? You are not alone. All of the talk about processed foods has many people confused about what they should and shouldn’t be adding to their grocery carts. Let’s clear up the confusion.

Your body is home to trillions of microorganisms which are referred to as microbiomes. The diverse group of microorganisms which reside in your large intestine are mostly bacteria, but also some viruses, parasites and fungi. This is known as your gut microbiome (also called your microbiota or microbes).

One of the most effective ways to combat inflammation is choosing a blanaced, healthy and nutritious diet. 

It’s important to note that our nutritional intake can play different roles in the development of inflammation. It can cause it OR it can fight it. Keep reading to find out what will help and what might make things worse.

It all begins with an “idea”