Source: http://www.foodpolitics.com/2016/01/viewpoint-food-industry-funding-of-food-and-nutrition-research/

My latest Viewpoint, “Corporate funding of food and nutrition research: science or marketing,” was published yesterday in JAMA Internal Medicine 2016;176 (1):13-14.  doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2015.6667.

The longstanding influence of food industry funding on nutrition research, researchers, and professional societies1 threatens the credibility of nutrition science. So much research is sponsored by industry that health professionals and the public may lose confidence in basic dietary advice. Although most journals now require authors to disclose who pays for their work, disclosure—even done diligently—is not sufficient to alert readers to the extent to which industry funding influences research results and professional opinion. As is well established from experimental and observational research, drug company gifts and grants can have substantial effects. To recipients, however, these effects are almost always unconscious, unintentional, and unrecognized, making them especially difficult to prevent.

Medical schools and medical journals have increased efforts to minimize and manage conflicts of interest with industry. But from my observations, nutrition researchers, journals, and professional societies, like medical researchers, often fail to realize that food-industry funding may affect their work and its credibility.

Two recent investigative articles in the New York Times illustrate the concerns a…

Source: http://www.sonima.com/meditation/practices-for-health/

The practice of self-care is not something everyone is easily able to prioritize. By the time we’ve finished at work, picked up the kids, stopped at the post office, grabbed groceries, and sat down for dinner, the day is nearly done. We set intentions  to get in shape, eat right, and live healthy, balanced lives, but carving the time for structured self-care can be challenging.

Definitions of self-care can vary, depending on circumstances. The Maslow model for the hierarchy of needs tells us that there are varying levels of experience that comprise self-care. There are the most pressing, physiological needs, which include the basics—food, water, sleep. Then there are the more subtle levels: safety, love/belonging, self-esteem, and self-actualization, which require consistent attention and nurturing to bolster.

In order to function at your highest level, it’s important to satisfy your body’s most fundamental needs. Pillars that lay the groundwork for good health include rest, breath, and movement. These elements of self-care can increase relaxation and overall feelings of wellness, which in turn boosts immunity, brain function, and physical and emotional balance.

Each activity supports vitality and harmony; the key is routine and maintenance. “Your non-negotiable practice might be yoga, running, or meditation, but what’s crucial is that you determine what your practice is and do it every day,” says Erin Cas…

Source: http://www.fannetasticfood.com/2016/01/06/two-fast-easy-and-healthy-dinner-ideas/

Hey friends! Matt and I have been enjoying some great meals over the past week – here are two of our standard fast, easy, and healthy dinners for those nights when you want something good, but you want it FAST.

First up is my Creamy Mexican Chicken Chili Soup (<—recipe)! We made this earlier in the week now that the weather has turned and have been enjoying the leftovers since.

I followed my usual recipe but added green pepper to the mix (added to the pot once the onions were softened) to get in a little more veggie power.

I also used roasted red pepper hummus instead of regular hummus because it was what we had on hand – made it a fun bright orange color. <img src="http://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/72×72/1f609.png" …

Source: http://greatist.com/live/sleep-white-noise?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_http–greatistcom-

Anyone who sleeps with white noise is likely to tell you they can’t fall asleep without it. And when you count up all the apps and white noise machines on the market, it may seem like you’ve stumbled upon the holy grail of sleeping.

While sleep experts agree that white noise apps or machines (or the original version—fans) are definitely soothing, the data to back up whether it truly helps us sleep is limited at best. Yet with apps listed in the “Health and Fitness” category ,and manufacturers who claim “sleep is just a click away,” is there really any science behind it?

The Great White Way

For the people who say it helps them sleep, white noise functions as a kind of anti-noise, says Joseph Ojile, M.D., medical director and chief executive officer of the Clayton Sleep Institute. It’s a redundant noise, something that distracts your brain but you don’t have to focus on.

Not everyone needs it to catch some zzzs, but for those who do, white noise dampens other sounds, sort of like snow muffles noise. The whirring of a fan, an app, or a machine covers up all the little sounds that could be distracting to your brain—your partner’s snoring, a dripping faucet, or people talking outside your apartment on a Saturday night, says Christopher Winter, M.D., a fellow at the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and medical director at the sleep center at Martha Jefferson Hospital.

<img src="http://greatist.com/sites/default/files/styles/artic…

Source: http://greatist.com/live/encourage-healthy-habits?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_http–greatistcom-

We’re not claiming to be the pinnacle of perfect health, but whether it’s a friend, family member, or significant other, many of us have a loved one who needs a nudge in the right direction. Maybe it’s someone who could get off the couch more often. Or add some leafy greens to their diet. Perhaps drink a little less or give up smoking?

As you’ve probably learned, there are right ways—and wrong ways—to encourage others to adopt healthier habits. If you want to help someone if your life make a positive change in 2016, here are six ways to do so (without coming off as a condescending jerk).

1. Clear up misconceptions.

There’s a lot of info out there about health and wellness, so cut through the static for your friends and family. For example, many people believe that to fit in exercise, you have to go to a gym—and it has to hurt, says Heather Hausenblas, Ph.D., a kinesiology professor at Jacksonville University. “That’s simply not true. Just go for a walk or find an activity you enjoy.” (Maybe an Angry Birds or Star Wars workout is more your thing.)

The same illogic…

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/tinybuddha/~3/1pJfgOcdczk/

“’No’ is a complete sentence.” ~Anne Lamott

When I went to counseling for the first time, my therapist told me I needed better boundaries. I had no idea what he was talking about, and although the book he lent me on the subject helped a little, I still didn’t really get it.

I tried here and there to integrate the few concepts I’d picked up from the book into my life, but mostly I stayed away from anything that could be considered boundary setting, as I still couldn’t quite figure out what it meant.

A decade after my first introduction to the concept, though, two life coaches I admire happened to be teaching a free class on the subject, and I jumped at the chance to take my learning to the next level.

After hearing what they had to say, things finally started to click. I began to understand that it wasn’t about trying to control someone else’s actions, but rather about being clear on what action I would take if and when my boundaries were crossed.

Still, it was hard for me to set boundaries, because I felt very uncertain of myself and my worth. Was it okay to tell someone no? Or that I wasn’t satisfied with the way things were?

Since the world works in mysterious ways, chances to test my boundaries continue appearing in my life whether I …

Source: http://greatist.com/eat/food-stylist-secrets?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_http–greatistcom-

The food you see in magazines and on billboards looks unbelievably delicious for a reason. Burgers are seared to perfection and drink glasses are always frosted. What is this sorcery, you ask? The Guardian spoke with a number of food stylists, and while their tricks make food ready for its close-up, it’s rarely edible.

The milk in that Frosted Flakes ad is probably glue, and chances are those burritos in the Taco Bell commercial are perfectly plump thanks to instant mashed potatoes. The message here: Don’t trust everything you see, and don’t feel bad if your cereal looks soggy and your burrito a bit deflated. (At least you still have Instagram filters.)

And if you want to find out what food stylists use WD-40 and shaving cream for, check out the full story.

Read the Full Story

…

Source: http://greatist.com/live/napping-hoodie-inflatable-pillow?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed_http–greatistcom-

Photo: Hypnos Hoodie

There are few things we love more than naps, but it’s not so easy to zonk out away from your bed. At least it wasn’t, until some clever designers created Hypnos, the nap-anywhere hoodie. The zip-up sweatshirt has an inflatable pillow inside the hood that blows up with just a few puffs.

The hoodie seems like the inevitable next step in the be-comfy-anywhere athleisure movement—the Snuggie 2.0 if you will. But it’s backed up by some impressive industrial design that’s ergonomic, functional, and (most importantly) hidden. So you can wear it on the plane, to brunch, or out at a bar and be subtle about the fact that you’re stashing a super comfy pillow inside.

The bad news? Hypnos is still in its Kickstarter phase (it already crushed its $30,000 fundraising goal), but you can fork over $49 to pre-order. So you’ll have to wait a few months before you can properly pass out in public.

…

Source: http://www.sonima.com/meditation/ocd/

For most of my adult life thus far, each day begins something like this: I get out of bed, brush my teeth, take my antidepressant, and make coffee. I leave my bed unmade until I am somewhat caffeinated, at which point I return to my room to tidy it. Most notably, I always make my bed, and double check that my books are stacked and flush on the upper right corner of my nightstand by pressing my index finger against their spines. I’ve always thought of this last step of my morning routine (the entirety of my idiosyncratic cleaning ritual) as the most important, even as I recognize it to be an irrational source of comfort and control.

Don’t be charmed by what sounds like an apparent hyperbole. I am not just “a neat freak.” Despite the quirky and endearing examples of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) pop culture provides (Jack Nicholson’s character in As Good as it Gets comes most readily to my mind), having OCD involves much more than being neurotically organized. Sure, I probably spent hours of my childhood repeatedly making sure that the McCormick Cinnamon Sugar bottle was in alignment with the other spices in my parents’ kitchen cabinet after making myself toast. My weekend-morning routine in third grade centered on Windexing our glass coffee table and rearranging magazines. Even as a young kid, I knew that my seemingly uncontrollable desire to clean was bizarre, and that my parents always seemed to think it was a little funny,…

Source: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/01/05/462036387/best-diets-2016-from-fastest-weight-loss-to-conquering-cravings?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=thesalt

iStockphoto

When it comes to dieting, losing weight fast holds some appeal.

Perhaps that’s why U.S. News & World Report has added a Fast Weight-Loss Diet category to its annual rankings of best diet plans. And one of the diets that comes out on top is the HMR (Health Management Resources) Program.

HMR is a meal replacement diet that can be done on your own at home or under medical supervision in a clinic. In lieu of made-at-home meals, dieters can order low-calorie shakes, soups, nutrition bars and multi-grain cereal.

The U.S. News reviewers say the plus side to the HMR diet is its quick-start option and the convenience of having meals delivered to you. The down side: “The shakes could get humdrum,” and it’s tough to eat out while on this diet.

“A common misconception is that losing weight quickly is not healthy, not sustainable, and will just lead to future weight re-gain,” wrote Carol Addy, the chief medical officer at HMR, in a release. But she says, to the contrary, “numerous clinical studies demonstrate that following a lifestyle change program which promotes fast initial weight lo…