Health Expert The HealthGal shares health management news and commentary at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/59238/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/59238/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/59238/index http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/161017/therapeutic-osteoarthritis Thu, 23 May 2013 20:57:49 -0400 The HealthGal Judy is in her early 60s.  When I first met her as a client close to eight years ago, she was carrying about 45 extra pounds.  The excess weight bothered her – she did not like the way she looked, and she had a knee issue that was diagnosed as early osteoarthritis.  Her cholesterol profile was not picture perfect by any means, and her blood pressure was elevated.  When I asked Judy which of these issues bothered her the... http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/161017/therapeutic-osteoarthritis http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160916/eating-junk-pregnant-makes Fri, 17 May 2013 20:47:48 -0400 The HealthGal A new study out of University of Adelaide seems to link a junk food diet during pregnancy, to offspring craving those very same foods too, and at an early age.  In fact, regular consumption of these “junk foods,” during pregnancy and while nursing your baby, seemed to program babies to have heightened cravings, even addictions to those foods, by the time they are weaned.   One of the explanations for this phenomenon seems... http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160916/eating-junk-pregnant-makes http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160863/salt Tue, 14 May 2013 23:38:31 -0400 The HealthGal IOM Latest Position on Salt We are a nation that eats too much salt.  A report issued by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently, suggests that despite the efforts of the health community, and a public policy that has attempted to nudge Americans to eat less salt, the average adult is consuming 3400 mgs. of sodium daily.  That, despite strong recommendations for most people to, at minimum, consume below 2300 mgs. of sodium, and for... http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160863/salt http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160805/coca-cola-health-platform Thu, 09 May 2013 22:38:08 -0400 The HealthGal That's right - Coke is going healthy!!! Well, not exactly, but on May 8th, the 127th anniversary of Coca-Cola, the company announced its new efforts to step forward and provide commitments, actions, and solutions that contribute to healthier, happier and more active communities.  They specifically cite four initial provisions: Offer zero or low calorie drinks in every market globally Provide “front label nutrition... http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160805/coca-cola-health-platform http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160782/fueling-cravings Thu, 09 May 2013 00:18:56 -0400 The HealthGal You’ve probably heard the term body clock or circadian rhythm, an internal system that guides wake and sleep cycles, energy highs and lows during the wake cycle, and according to a new study published in the journal Obesity, hunger and cravings in the evening for sweet, starchy, salty snacks.  Our ancestors may have needed this natural internal phenomenon to guide “energy storage” during times of famine or dire food... http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160782/fueling-cravings http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160728/fat-failure Sun, 05 May 2013 20:20:54 -0400 The HealthGal I recently read a blog that was getting a lot of attention – not very positive – in the blogsphere.  The blog posted at MailOnline.com, was written by a woman who for the last 30 years, “diets every day of her life.”  She describes hosting a dinner party and being gifted a delectable and large box of chocolates.  It ended up in the garbage, covered in coffee waste that I assume was meant to ensure that it... http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160728/fat-failure http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160674/diet-work Wed, 01 May 2013 21:04:29 -0400 The HealthGal There’s an old saying in the world of diet and nutrition that suggests that the best diet for you is…..the one that works.  It’s all fine and dandy to read the latest headlines that shout a new diet trend, or to hear celebrities dish on what has worked for them – who knew that a corset helped Jessica Alba and other new celebrity moms look slimmer and “eat less” because of the tight fit??  The bottom... http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160674/diet-work http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160511/obesity-person-environment Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:55:02 -0400 The HealthGal  A recent Washington Post article explored the notion of looking to the animal kingdom for answers that might help to address human health issues.  For example, the article noted that jaguars have a high rate of breast cancer, while dairy cows have a low rate of this disease.  Believe it or not, grasshoppers apparently binge (eat), koalas can get sexually transmitted disease, wallabies are susceptible to drug addiction, and zebras... http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160511/obesity-person-environment http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160480/food-trends-future-part-ii Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:41:08 -0400 The HealthGal   Here are the rest of the food trends from the April issue of Food Technology magazine.   #5 Wanting More information Consumers are now more concerned about food safety.  So they want more information about the use of hormones and antibiotics in animal products, and they want to know whether a food is genetically modified (though it's still unclear how that impacts health), whether the food is pesticide free, whether the food... http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160480/food-trends-future-part-ii http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160450/food-trends-future Sun, 21 Apr 2013 20:20:40 -0400 The HealthGal Food Technology magazine’s contributing editor, A. Elizabeth Sloan compiled an interesting food trend list for 2013 that showcases some new consumer trends and predicts some interesting future food trends.  Stone Hear   th News covered the article, which was reported by Newswise.   Trend #1 Repositioned Palate Consumers used to mostly focus on sustenance that should mostly taste good.  Now the trend appears to... http://www.healthcentral.com/obesity/c/59238/160450/food-trends-future