Bane's "Dietary Expertise"

Happy, Healthy Studying

It's that time of year again... and no, I'm not talking about the holidays just yet!  During exams, you may find yourself with unusual eating and sleeping patterns, and let's not forget STRESSED!  It's sort of a vicious cycle: studying causes stress and exhaustion, which causes eating to cope and stay awake, which causes more stress and more sleep deprivation... But why are eating, sleeping and stress maintanence so important?  Here are some ways that you can study happy this exam week:

Dear Chocolate, I love you but... are you good for me?

kaboose.com

By Marilyn Thomas, Meredith College Dietetic Intern:

Chocolate is a favorite treat, especially around the holidays. We enjoy sipping a cup of hot cocoa, making festive desserts, and stuffing stockings with chocolate candy this time of year. And let’s not forget Halloween, Valentine’s Day and Easter—all “chocolate occasions”! So we eat a decent amount of chocolate. Perhaps you’ve wondered how healthy—or how unhealthy—chocolate is.

Kickstart Your Metabolism!

fitnessmagazine.com

Simply stated, metabolism refers to the rate in which your body converts calories from food into usable energy. To lose weight, you must expend more energy (calories) than you take in.  Below are some nutrition tips to give your metabolism a boost:

Fiber: Not Just For Your Grandma...

healthlob.com

So what you do you think of when you hear "fiber"?  Prune juice?  Metamucil?  Something for you grandma, right?  Well, I'm here to tell you that fiber is NOT just for your those who are 60+, it's for people of all ages!

Coffee: Friend or Foe?

slashfood.com

I'd like to introduce our guest blogger for the week, Marilyn Thomas, Dietetic Intern from Meredith College.  Marilyn graduated from Winthrop University with a Bachelors in Human Nutrition. After completeing her internship, she'd like to earn her Registered Dietitan credential and pursue a job in the field of dietetics.

As the weather cools down, our drinks heat up, and a latte, espresso or mocha from Starbucks seems even more inviting.  In general, we love coffee!  And we drink it often…maybe to get that extra energy boost after a late night of studying, or simply to warm us up as we sit down to read a book.  Have you ever wondered about how healthy a cup of coffee is?  Is it in our best interest nutritionally speaking to drink coffee several times a week, or even every day?

Antioxidants: The Whats, Wheres and Whys

stockfresh.com

This statement may sound familiar: "They're really healthy for you because they're packed with antioxidants!"  And you may say, "OH!  Well in that case, I'll have some!"  However, what you really want to say is, "WHAT ARE ANTIOXIDANTS?  WHERE CAN I FIND ANTIOXIDANTS?  WHY DO I NEED ANTOXIDANTS?"

Buyer's Guide to Fruits and Vegetables

kids.britannica.com

I'd like to introduce our guest blogger for the week, Lindsey Carter, Dietetic Intern.  Lindsey graduated from Meredith College last year with a Masters Degree in Nutrition. After completeing her internship and obtaining her Registered Dietitian credential, she'd like to pursue a career in Maternal and Pediatric Nutrition.

When the grocery store has so many options for fruits and vegetables how can you tell which are actually tasty, fresh, and in season? We’ve all experienced buyer’s remorse at some point, when we’ve selected a fruit or vegetable that’s past its prime, not yet ripe or just downright nasty. How can you avoid these imposters of good taste, these “lemons”?

Portion Distortion

rd4health.com

As many of you already know, our dining halls are all-you-care-to-eat.  This is great when you want to get your money's worth but maybe not so great on your waistline.  It's important to know that when it comes to food, size does matter!  Sometimes portion sizes can be confusing, and who wants to walk around with measuring cups and spoons in order to know how much you should eat?  Did you know that you can help yourself to better understand portions by relating various sizes to every day objects?  Let's take a look...

Brain Foods

growthology.com

It's exam week which is a very crucial time for you to get your head in the game!  One of the best things you can do for yourself this week is to make sure you are eating the right foods to help give you energy and fuel your brain!

Sun-Fighting Super-Foods

www.awakening360.com

The weather is getting warmer and it's time to protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays!  Did you know that there are foods that can actually help prevent and treat sun damage?  They're known as "sun-fighting super-foods"!

Eating out, guilt-free!

johnbarban.com

Eating out doesn't have to be another slap on the wrist.  There's no reason why you should avoid it completely in fear that it may ruin your diet or make you feel guilty afterwards for cheating.  There are some healthy alternatives and ways you can improve your food choices when eating out.  With these helpful tips, you can eat out with your friends and enjoy your food while staying guilt-free!

Do I really need a multivitamin?

www.summarynewspaper.com

Whether your doctor has said you don't need them or you've heard that the body doesn't absorb them in pill form, you may be questioning whether or not you should be wasting your money on multivitamins.  What's the use?  You eat a well-balanced diet anyways.  BUT... I'm here to tell you, maybe you shouldn't turn your back on them...

To juice or not to juice?

themastercleanse.org

Juice diets and juice cleanses are increasing in popularity, promising weight loss, body detox, and treatment and prevention of colds and certain cancers.  But, are they really safe and effective?  Here are some truths about juice diets that may answer your question on whether to juice or not to juice...

How to Read a Food Label

www.123rf.com

Knowing how to read a food label and understanding the nutrition information can seem complicated, but it’s actually easier than you think!  Being able to read a food label is essential to choosing healthy, nutritious foods.  Let’s briefly discuss the break-down of the nutrition label so you can make better food choices.

Grocery Shopping Tips

www.prevention.com

If you're anything like me, grocery shopping is not something I thoroughly enjoy... Not only that, but it can be extremely overwhelming with all of the health claims out there.  How can you really be sure you're purchasing healthy products?  Here are a few tips that may make grocery shopping not such a headache:

FAT: the good, the bad, the ugly

www.hearthealthyonline.com

Low fat, reduced fat, fat-free, omega-3 fats... these are some things you see EVERYWHERE in the grocery store and it can get quite overwhelming.  What does it all mean?  Do you really need to purchase products that are the lowest in fat?  Fat has gotten a bad rep over the years and some of you may even be scared of fat.  But... did you know that there are some fats that are actually healthy for you?  Yep, that's right!  Some fats are essential for your body to be able to maintain health and function properly.  So, let's discuss the different kinds of fats: the good, the bad, and the ugly!

Look Beyond the Mirror...

bpdokc.blogspot.com

What is body image?  What are some things that can influence a person's body image?  How can having a negative body image lead to unhealthy habits such as disordered eating?

The Truth About Fad Diets

www.nutritionzen.com

Fad Diets have been around for decades, and the truth is they’re not going anywhere.  Someone is always looking for a new diet and gimmick to sell that’s supposed to help you lose weight.  When the results are said to be fast and effortless, it's easy to get sucked in.  Especially by the great looking models they hire to sell you the products...

Volumetrics

smartworkout.net

The fact of the matter is: People like to eat!  And if given the choice between eating more or less, they'll take more!  The key is to fill up on foods that aren't full of calories.  This concept, known as "Volumetrics", will allow you to eat more, while slimming down.