Gluten - the protein found in grains like rye, wheat, and barley - gets a bad rap. But the truth is, gluten can be a healthy part of most diets.   While there isn't enough research to suggest that gluten-free diets offer meaningful health benefits, there are certain groups of people, like those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, that should avoid gluten.  To help you figure out if you really need to cut gluten out of your diet, we spoke to two dietitians about the s...

Getting enough sleep each night is vital for your health, but there are several factors that can interrupt quality sleep. For example, you might involuntarily follow an inconsistent sleep schedule (maybe you work the night shift several nights a week) or drink caffeinated beverages or alcohol too late in the day or well into the evening. Or maybe you routinely go to bed on an empty stomach. All of these circumstances can interfere with your sleep cycle. But the foods you eat during the...

We’ve all been there: The clock strikes midnight, and our thoughts race on as if we’d just walked into the office with our first cup of coffee. Sleep? Never heard of her, minus a few quick minutes of shut-eye in between the tossing and turning. This scenario is all too common for many. It’s incredibly challenging to calm down a racing mind after a full day of working, parenting, and taking care of other responsibilities, not to mention trying to survive a pandemic. The good news is you c...

The godfather of fitness Jack LaLanne himself once told me that his secret to avoiding plateaus was religiously changing his workout routine every three to four weeks. He was pushing 90 at the time, and though certainly past his physical prime, he was still remarkably fit and strong, thanks to heeding his own advice. LaLanne understood that the human body is incredibly adaptable. That’s why we train: When you push the limits of what your body is comfortable with and capable of,...

Frozen foods have gotten a pretty bad rap over the years thanks to the rise of T.V. dinners and microwaveable mac and cheese. Traditionally, freezer meals are loaded with sodium, preservatives, synthetic flavors, and other sketchy ingredients to help prolong shelf life as well as enhance flavor that's seriously lacking. So to say that most frozen meals are unhealthy is pretty accurate. But stepping into the freezer section isn't all that bad. Along with all the bad of prepared froze...

Most Americans consume between 19 and 25 teaspoons of added sugars daily. The added sugars mainly comes from these items: Sweetened drinks (including coffee and tea with sugary add-ins) Desserts and sweet snacks Candy Sugar you add to foods (like oatmeal and pancakes) Breakfast cereals Bars (like granola bars) The health impacts of this sugar surplus are considerable. A sugar-laden diet ...

A strong lower body powers your stride and wards off injury. Incorporating resistance moves like squats into your strength-training routine is an essential—and easy—way to round out your training. Squats are a functional exercise that benefit your joint and muscle health, as well as your posture—all of which are important for improving your running form and speed, explains Noam Tamir, C.S.C.S., CEO and founder of TS Fitness in New York City. But the...

If your goal is to tone up, start by asking yourself what you're trying to achieve: weight loss or fat loss? You may be surprised to learn that these two terms aren't necessarily synonymous. Weight loss vs. fat loss While we often rely on the scale to validate whether or not we're doing a good job at sticking to our diet and exercise regimens, it's not always the best indicator. For example, if you notice your pants are becoming loose but the number on the scale hasn't changed after lifti...

Whether for health, ethical, environmental, or spiritual reasons, plant-based diets continue to grow in popularity, with nearly 10 million Americans adopting one. Here's what you need to know about plant-based diets and their potential risks and benefits. What is a plant-based diet? A plant-based diet consists of mostly plant-based food sources like fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and oils. However, some plant-based diets still include small a...

It can be hard to convince yourself to exercise, especially if it means dragging yourself to the gym. But not all exercise has to be a high-intensity sweat sesh.  In fact, just walking can help you meet the US Department of Health and Human Services exercise guidelines. Walking can also be a great, low-impact way to burn calories.  However, how much you burn depends on a few factors. Here's what you need to know about the calories you burn while walking and how to burn more. ...