Foods To Lose Weight

This post was originally published as The Food-Mood Connection by Laurel on Health Food.

The Seattle Times reports that the food we eat directly affects the mood we’re in. In her book, “The Good Mood Diet: Feel Great While You Lose Weight”, registered dietician Susan Kleiner writes that, “what and when we eat directly affects mood. And our mood not only affects what we choose to eat, but how our body responds to that food.” Then ten foods nutritionists recommend eating to enhance your mood are: milk, oily fish, strawberries, spinach, sweet potatoes, turkey, brazil nuts, low-fat yogurt, foods or drinks with caffeine, and cottage cheese.

Drinking More Kombucha

This post was originally published as Kombucha! by Laurel on Health Food.

I was always kind of “eh” about kombucha tea, until I tried some great local brands here in NYC. Now I’m crazy for the stuff. Kombucha is a fermented tea that’s been praised for its health benefits for centuries including increased energy, improved digestion, and prevention/treatment of illnesses including common flu and cancer.


I started drinking more kombucha over the last month or two after I stocked up on a bunch of bottles at the NYC Veg Food Fest. This is my personal opinion, but I definitely feel like a get an energy boost after drinking it and I especially love how it eases my digestion.


A few my local favorites are Kombucha Brooklyn’s grape flavor (kombucha mixed with a little concord grape juice) and Bao Fresh Kombucha’s mango flavor. I’ve even been thinking of buying one of the brew kits from Kombucha Brooklyn to make my own ‘buch at home. Hmm.


What’s your thoughts on kombucha? You like it? Or think it’s gross? Never tried it?

Cherries reduce inflammation

This post was originally published as Cut Belly Fat w/ Tart Cherries by Laurel on Health Food.

Natural News posted a new cherry study from the University of Michigan. Researchers found that adding tart cherries to your diet may help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. The study fed mice one of two diets: a high fat, moderate carbs diet (45% calories from fat, 40% calories from carbs) OR a low fat, high carbs diet (10% calories from fat, 75% calories from carbs).

Mice that were given added cherry powder to either diet had an 11% reduction in cholesterol after three months. In addition, the mice who had cherry powder had 54% body fat compared to 63% body fat in the mice that did not eat cherry powder. Most of the fat reduction was around the belly area of the mice.

The mice that ate cherry also had a 40% reduction in the TNF-alpha inflammation marker and 31% reduction in the IL-6 inflammation marker. The researchers found that “the activity of the genes producing these two compounds was reduced in the mice, suggesting that tart cherries may reduce inflammation at a systemic level.” (Natural News)

If you’re interested in learning more about tart cherries, check out this great informational page on About.com’s alternative medicine site: What are Tart Cherries and Tart Cherry Juice?

You can probably find tart cherries at your local health food store. I also searched online and found them on Amazon. You can get dried tart cherries, tart cherry juice, etc. I also wasn’t surprised to find tart cherries in a pill form.

Update: This article was featured on the Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival 98.

The easiest foods

This post was originally published as Almonds for Digestion and Immunity by Laurel on Health Food.

I feel like I keep talking about almonds lately…but there’s a good reason for it. They’re so good for you and they’re one of the easiest foods to keep at your desk, in your car, or anytime you need something filling and fast.

A study published in the Applied and Environmental Microbiology journal found that almonds may give your immune system a boost and also improve digestion. But how? Almonds increase the amount of good bacteria in your digestive tract. Women’s Health Magazine recommends eating one large handful a day to reap these benefits. (Ref: Nov 2008, p. 28)

To keep your portion in check, count out about 25 almonds before you leave the house for the day and take them in a small tupperware container or bag. For me, I spend long hours sitting at a desk during the week, so I keep a big jar at work. I count them out in a pile next to me so I can grab a few at a time when I want something to munch on.

If you were already trying to add a handful of walnuts into your diet, maybe try mixing the two up for your daily dose. About 10-15 of each on a daily basis.

Avoid getting sick

This post was originally published as Boost Your Immunity by Laurel on Health Food.

Women’s Health Magazine reports that some food and drinks will boost your immune system and help you avoid getting sick.

• Chamomile tea – polyphenols in the tea increase antibacterial blood activity
• Steel-cut oats – packed with beta-glucans (fiber) that activate white blood cell activity
• Salad dressing w/healthy fats (ex. olive oil & balsamic vinegar) – fat is essential for the body to absorb cartenoids (the antioxidants that improve your immunity)
  Tip: Do not choose “fat free” dressings. Your body needs healthy fats to absorb the powerful antioxidants.
• Whey protein (ex. whey protein powder or yogurt) – contains an amino acid called cysteine which converts into an antioxidant (glutathione) to protect your cells against bacterial or viral infections
  Tip: Don’t drain the clear liquid at the top of your yogurt carton, just stir it back in. The liquid is pure whey protein!
• Tomato – lycopene acts as an antioxidant to protect white blood cells from free radical damage
• Butterbur - herbal supplement that helps fight allergies
• Gatorade – increases immune response during intense exercise
• Wine – ethanol, organic acids, and low pH in wine can stop E. coli, listeria, and salmonella before they make you sick
• Hot sauce – capsaicin, a compoind in chili peppers, may improve immunity by increasing your number of antibodies and helping to remove toxins from your system

Read the entire “Immunity Diet” article here. Women’s Health includes reputable studies to back up their choices of immunity-boosting food and drinks.