sugar

As the temperatures continue to swelter during the summer, it has never been more important to understand the importance of staying well-hydrated, so M&F is diving deeper into the components of good hydration, and consulting with experts to learn more about the effectiveness of some of the...

We’ve all been there: It’s 4:30 p.m. and out of nowhere it hits you; a craving for a bag of chips or a candy bar. Surveys estimate almost 100% of women and nearly 70% of men report having experienced cravings — or intense desire for a specific type of food — during the past year. “A craving is...

Sugar. This five-letter word is one of the most controversial and talked about topics in nutrition. Everyone seems to have an opinion about this sticky subject. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you go rogue with the sugar dispenser in your morning coffee. It’s important to...

Carbohydrates are controversial among people trying to lose weight. Because individual carbohydrate needs aren’t one-size-fits-all, we’ve put together an informational guide to help you optimize your carbohydrate consumption and choose healthier options, whether you’re trying to lose weight...

As a new year begins, many athletes reevaluate how they can make the most out of the 365 days to come by scoping out new workouts and the latest gear, making big goals and generally revamping their healthy habits. Part of this annual refresh includes overhauling your diet to align with health...

Losing weight doesn’t always have to be about deprivation and denial. In fact, it shouldn’t be. Successful, sustainable weight loss is far more attainable when you focus on the quality of food rather than the quantity. Eat wholesome, nutritious, (and even calorie-filled) foods and you’ll be far...

Created by Melissa Hartwig (and her then-husband) in 2009, the Whole30 diet is a 30-day plan that eliminates food groups Hartwig claims are “psychologically unhealthy, hormone-unbalancing, gut-disrupting [and] inflammatory.” However, US News & World Report ranked it 37 out of 40 on its list of...

The quest to maintain a well-balanced diet can be confusing — especially when labels are marketed as healthy (just take the KIND bar controversy, for example). Next time you’re trying to make the best choices at the grocery store, remember these eight foods, which can mask themselves as healthy...

Low-carb and low-sugar have overtaken low-fat in popularity, according to Google trends for the past decade. Today, you know too much sugar won’t do any favors for your physical or mental health. And fruit, often touted as nature’s candy, can be first on the chopping block. Here, a look at three...

Whether you’re looking to lose weight or maintain, it’s important to eat a well-balanced diet that includes all three macros: protein, carbs and fats. And while carbohydrates often get a bad rap, certain types contain resistant starch, which can help promote good gut health, reduce inflammation...

Snacking can be a simple and effective way to promote weight loss and muscle growth — if done smartly. Unlike processed options (found in many vending machines), a healthy whole foods-based snack helps regulate blood sugar, sustains your metabolism, elevates mood and provides important...

While sugar substitutes (like stevia, Splenda, Equal and Sweet’N Low) may seem like an enticing way to save calories, there’s still a great deal of confusion and a lack of consensus about their purported health benefits. No-calorie sweeteners are typically hundreds of times sweeter than regular...

About half of bloating and gas woes are caused by swallowed air — the other half is due to what you’ve had to eat or drink. When the gastrointestinal tract can’t move food through efficiently, or is unable to digest a particular nutrient, gas builds up in the lower intestine, causing bloating...

When trying to eat healthier, one common strategy is opting for more nutritious versions of foods you already eat. For example, you might choose whole-grain bread in lieu of traditional white, or swap sweetened yogurt for plain protein-rich Greek yogurt topped with fruit. And since sugar and...

If you insist that everything you consume must be interesting, delicious, and pleasing, then you will never feel, look, and perform the way that you want to unless you’re willing to change your diet. I should probably say that again in a different way: if we want to create change, we must...

Every now and then a regular or diet soda can be an enjoyable part of a well-balanced diet that doesn’t put anything off limits. But regular soda often gets a bad rap for its added sugar content, while diet soda has health risks due to artificial sugars, so it can be confusing to decide between...

When trying to lose weight or manage insulin resistance, you may think it’s important to avoid any type of sugar. However, unlike sodas, candy and other highly concentrated forms of sugar, naturally occurring sugar found in fruit has been linked to decreased chances of obesity and other...

Entering a coffee shop these days can be complicated — there’s at least four different kinds of milk to choose from, varying brews, hot or iced and just when you think all of your decisions are made, a plethora of sweetening methods. The latest on which artificial or natural sweetener is...

Most dietitians will tell you that, generally speaking, it’s easy to get enough protein from whole foods alone. But sometimes — if you’re struggling to meet your protein needs on a plant-based diet, trying to build more muscle or are crunched for time, protein drinks offer a handy solution...

Many people instinctively reach for something sweet to start their mornings, whether it’s streusel-topped muffins, maple-brown sugar oatmeal, honey-clustered cereals or even vanilla and pumpkin-spice flavored lattes. These options can provide a quick burst of energy, but often leave you crashing...