Diet Myths
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How to Combat Your Food Cravings
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Losing Weight the Healthy Way
Find out how to lose weight and keep it off in a healthy way, without following any special diets.
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Ask an Expert
Karen Handy, M.P.H.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
I exercise hard in the early evening and eat dinner after that. Each night at around 9:30, I'm ravenous. What is a good snack that will actually satiate the hunger without calorically unraveling the hard work of my work out?
Snacks with high fiber and water content, that also include some protein and just a bit of heart-healthy fat, will help you feel the most full and satisfied. That same fiber and water content will also keep you... continue reading about I exercise hard in the early evening and eat dinner after that. Each night at around 9:30, I'm ravenous. What is a good snack that will actually satiate the hunger without calorically unraveling the hard work of my work out?
Deborah Kurzrock, R.D.
Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
Can a person be overweight and still be in good health?
Can you be overweight and still be healthy?It is important to remember that the number on the scale is not the only key to your wellness. Regular physical activity is an essential component in maintaining a hea... continue reading about Can a person be overweight and still be in good health?
Junaid H. Khan, M.D., FACC, FACS
Eden Medical Center
My goal next year is to improve my overall health. Can you tell me if I should focus more on lowering my weight (as I'm a few pounds heavier than I should be), or concentrate more on exercising?
That is an excellent question. A study in the AHA journal Circulation, by Dr. Duck-Chul Lee from South Carolina, addressed this question. The title says it all: "Physical Fitness Trumps Body Weight in Reducing ... continue reading about My goal next year is to improve my overall health. Can you tell me if I should focus more on lowering my weight (as I'm a few pounds heavier than I should be), or concentrate more on exercising?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
I'm 54, eat well and exercise five times per week. Yet my BMI is 27, which translates as obese. Is a BMI of 27 really that indicative of my overall health?
First of all, congratulations on getting all of that wonderful exercise! Exercise is so good for your physical AND mental health. Don't go calling yourself obese just yet. Technically, a BMI of 27 classifies yo... continue reading about I'm 54, eat well and exercise five times per week. Yet my BMI is 27, which translates as obese. Is a BMI of 27 really that indicative of my overall health?
Astrin Damayanti, R.D.
Sutter Gould Medical Foundation
My daughter and I are vegans. We are knowledgeable and eat a very healthy diet. She is about 40 lbs overweight and I need to lose 10 lbs. She has significantly reduced her food quantity, but it's hard to get nutrition and diet at the same time. Any tips?
First off, great job for trying to improve your health and eating healthy! Weight loss is really comes down to calories in and calories out. Eating healthy is a good start but for weight loss, how many calories... continue reading about My daughter and I are vegans. We are knowledgeable and eat a very healthy diet. She is about 40 lbs overweight and I need to lose 10 lbs. She has significantly reduced her food quantity, but it's hard to get nutrition and diet at the same time. Any tips?
Karen Handy, M.P.H.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
My body seems to have found its favorite weight and its hard to budge it from there. Do people have a normal weight for their body, despite media pressure to be thinner or heavier?
Our society certainly sends a mixed message when it comes to our weight: the media bombards us with images that equate being beautiful and glamorous with being thin - and yet we are bombarded even more with ads... continue reading about My body seems to have found its favorite weight and its hard to budge it from there. Do people have a normal weight for their body, despite media pressure to be thinner or heavier?
Karen Handy, M.P.H.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
How do I compute my basic healthy calorie intake? What are some basic facts about how many calories a person needs to burn to lose weight?
I have a formula that you can use to calculate the calories you will need for your ideal body weight. Get ready for some math! Let's start by looking at how many calories you would need per day just to maintain... continue reading about How do I compute my basic healthy calorie intake? What are some basic facts about how many calories a person needs to burn to lose weight?
Deborah Kurzrock, R.D.
Mills-Peninsula Medical Center
What are goji berries and what are their health benefits? Can they promote weight loss?
The goji berry is also called the wolfberry. It is a bright orange-red berry that comes from a shrub that is native to China. In Asia, goji berries have been eaten for generations in the hopes of extending the ... continue reading about What are goji berries and what are their health benefits? Can they promote weight loss?
Patricia Hockett, M.D.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Why do men put weight on at their stomachs? My husband tries to lose weight, but his belly is very slow to go down. He doesn't drink alcohol. Do you have any suggestions on how he can lose this belly fat?
Weight gain and especially belly fat has been the topic of much discussion for years. This is evidenced by the plethora of websites and articles addressing it and claiming to have the solution to combat it. Whi... continue reading about Why do men put weight on at their stomachs? My husband tries to lose weight, but his belly is very slow to go down. He doesn't drink alcohol. Do you have any suggestions on how he can lose this belly fat?
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