EAT SMART. FEEL GREAT. MOVED TO I-EAT-SMART.COM

2011-10-29T10:48:00.003-05:00

Hi Folks, check out FatBurningMan.com for free nutrition, fitness, and health articles and a free E-Course!

Hi all, I've moved my blog to i-eat-smart.com! Update your bookmarks!

2010-07-08T10:56:00.000-05:00

Hi folks, I wanted to let you know that I've moved my blog to i-eat-smart.com so check it out and update your bookmarks!!!

Eating a healthy diet does not need to be expensive!

2010-06-27T13:20:00.000-05:00

Eating healthy foods does not have to be expensive. That's great news if you're a thrifty wallet-clutcher like myself. A recent study by the University of Navarra, indicated that a healthy diet only costs $2 more a day than a standard U.S. diet! Folks who follow a diet that incorporates olive oil, fish and vegetables only spend about $2 more than people whose diets are focused on dairy and meats. That equates to roughly $730 a year. Well worth it, I'd say! :)

Quote of the day

2010-06-23T07:38:00.001-05:00

To avoid sickness eat less; to prolong life worry less. ~Chu Hui Weng

How you can lower pesticide exposure by 90%

2010-06-17T16:27:00.000-05:00

When you're paying boatloads buying organic at Whole Foods, you must wonder, "Is this really worth it?" The answer entirely depends on which food you are buying. According to the The U.S. Department of Agriculture, even after washing, certain fruits and vegetables consistently carry much higher levels of pesticides than others.

A simulation of thousands of consumers found that people can lower their pesticide exposure by 90 percent by avoiding the top twelve most contaminated fruits and vegetables. Eating the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables will expose a person to nearly 20 pesticides per day! Creepy! However, eating the 12 least contaminated will expose a person to a fraction over 2 pesticides per day.

Based on an analysis of more than 100,000 U.S. government tests, researchers at the Environmental Working Group have developed the “dirty dozen” fruits and vegetables that they say you should buy organic, if possible, because their conventionally grown counterparts tend to be slathered in sticky, toxic pesticides. Most cost about 50 percent more, but they are well worth it.

AHHH! SO WHAT FOODS ARE THEY?!?!? Here goes...

12 Most Contaminated (Buy organic if possible)

 Peaches
 Apples
 Sweet Bell Peppers
 Celery
 Nectarines
 Strawberries
 Cherries
 Pears
 Grapes (Imported)
 Spinach
 Lettuce
 Potatoes

12 Least Contaminated (no biggie if you don't buy organic)

 Onions
 Avocado
 Sweet Corn (Frozen)
 Pineapples
 Mango
 Asparagus
 Sweet Peas (Frozen)
 Kiwi Fruit
 Bananas
 Cabbage
 Broccoli
 Papaya

It's crazy how many chemicals are generously sprayed, shot, and slathered on foods that are meant to be eaten. So knowing what you know, maybe you can save a few bucks on the least dirty fruits and veggies and splurge on the inorganic dirties.

Brown Rice may Lower Diabetes Risk!

2010-06-15T17:43:00.001-05:00

In the news today, we've learned that eating whole grains, specifically brown rice, lower the risk of diabetes. According to cnn.com,
"People at risk of diabetes should pay attention to carbohydrates in their diet and replace refined carbohydrates with whole grains," says the lead author of the study, Dr. Qi Sun, M.D., a nutrition researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health, in Boston, Massachusetts. If you eat a little more than two servings of white rice (about 12 ounces) per week, switching to brown rice will lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 16 percent, Sun and his colleagues estimate. And if you replace those servings of white rice with whole grains in general, they estimate, your diabetes risk will decline even further, by 36 percent."

If you'd like to see some of the other health benefits you'll get from eating whole grains, check this out!

Make your food attractive! Eat naturally colorful foods.

2010-06-11T14:10:00.000-05:00

“Not dressing up the meal with color is like sending someone out of the house without clothes” – Japanese proverb

My high school served a mostly-glorious buffet, and I remember sitting down on one particular night to behold a heaping plate of bread, udon noodles, mashed potatoes, and vanilla ice cream. (hey, it was after football practice and I was starving. Lay off). I stared down at the perfectly white plate and thought to myself, “This just looks wrong.” It was.

Not only does adding color to your food make your meal more attractive, but it also leads one to seek out fruits and vegetables loaded with healthy and filling fiber and relatively low in calories. A Cornell study found that although sampled Chinese adults ate about 30% more than the average American, they weighed about 25% less. The main reason: Chinese diets include a healthy smattering of colorful, plant-based foods.

Try to eat a rainbow of colors in you foods every day (no Skittles, I don’t want to taste YOUR rainbow). The majority of bright, deeply colored fruits and vegetables contain high levels of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, with different colors providing different benefits.
So what are the health benefits of different-colored foods?

Red
Many red foods contain lycopene, which is said to prevent certain diseases such as prostate cancer. Anthocyanin provides a rich reddish color and promotes a healthy heart.
A few red foods: tomatoes, watermelon, beets, cranberries, apples, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, spaghetti sauce, red beans, radishes, red carrots, red-skinned potatoes, red peppers, grapefruit, guava, blood oranges, red onions, pomegranates, rhubarb, red pears.

Orange
Orange foods are rich in beta carotene which is known to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer; maintain good vision; and boost the immune system.
Orange foods: cantaloupe, carrots, apricots, butternut squash, peaches, pumpkins, sweet potatoes

Yellow
Yellow corn is a great source of lutein which promotes healthy vision and the cardiovascular system. Yellow lentils are packed-full of cancer-fighting phytochemicals.
Yellow foods: corn, butternut squash, mangos, peaches, sweet potatoes

Green
Greens are packed full of magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, vitamins A, C, E and K, which strengthen your blood and respiratory systems. Don’t limit yourself to boring and nearly non-nutritive iceberg lettuce, be adventurous! “Branch” out to kale, red cabbage, mustard greens, and collard greens! Most green vegetables contain both beta carotene and lutein, which help to maintain good vision, reduce the risk of macular degeneration, and prevent cataracts and colon cancer.
Look at all these green foods: Leeks, Lettuce, Green onion, Okra, Peas, Green pepper, Snow Peas, Honeydew, Kiwi, Limes, apples, Green grapes, Green pears, Artichokes, Arugula, Asparagus, Broccoflower, Broccoli, Broccoli rabe, Brussels sprouts, Chinese cabbage, Green beans, Green cabbage, Celery, Chayote, Cucumbers, Endive, Leafy greens, Sugar snap peas, Spinach, Watercress, Zucchini, Avocado, kale.

Blue
Blueberries contain a variety of anthocyanins, which fight oxidation and them that unique blue color which is rarely found in nature.
Blue foods: lonely blueberries and blue jolly ranchers (don’t you dare!). It’s not easy being blue.

Purple
Purple fruits and vegetables contain varying amounts of healthy antioxidants which have anti-aging benefits.
Purple foods: grapes, eggplant, plums, prunes, raisins, Purple figs, Purple cabbage, Purple grapes, Purple asparagus, Purple carrots

White
Some white vegetables contain phytochemicals including allicin, found in the garlic and onion family and may help with the cardiovascular system. The mineral selenium is found in white mushrooms.
White foods: Bananas, Cauliflower, Garlic, Ginger, White nectarines, White peaches, Mushrooms, Onions, Parsnips, Potatoes (white fleshed), Shallots, Turnips, White Corn, Radishes

Brown
We all know that whole grains are awesome for you, being a good source of B vitamins, magnesium, vitamin E, iron and fiber as well as other tasty antioxidants.
Other Brownies: potato skins, chocolate, shitake mushrooms, brown skin on basic pears, portable mushrooms, brown grains and rice, beans

Black
Don’t be a jerk and say that black isn’t a color. It might not be, but it’s still healthy. In fact, Black may be the healthiest “color” around. For example, black mushrooms help to reduce cholesterol and lower high blood pressure, and contain polysaccharides that are thought to boost the immune system and inhibit the growth of tumors. And black beans are awesome sources of fiber and protein.
Black foods are crazy, man: Black Squid Ink, Licorice, Black Mushrooms, black beans, licorice, watermelon (just kidding)

Artificial colors are not cool, so no cheating! And no, there’s no such thing as blue raspberry in real life, which was actually invented by shifty food marketers to avoid customer confusion of raspberry with cherry. PS – your tongue is blue.

Why you should stop eating before you’re full

2010-06-07T21:01:00.001-05:00

Maybe you got crap from your parents growing up, saying “no dessert until you clean your plate.” Although the intentions are probably good, this type of thinking can backfire, encouraging you to obediently stuff down massive amounts of food regardless of how hungry you are. Yes, gentle reader, there’s a difference between eating until you’re not hungry anymore and eating until you’re full. If you’re full, you’ve simply overdone it.

Years ago, I celebrated Valentine’s day by spending hours cooking a (dare I say delicious) meal for my then lady friend. She was little, and so was her stomach. But she kept eating… and eating. A few minutes later, she literally collapsed on the couch and spent the next few hours doubled over in pain. No dancing or dessert – boo! Don’t stuff yourself - it’s never worth it!

The Japanese have a terrific little expression, hara hichi bu, which means that you should eat until you’re 80% full. Your brain doesn’t fully register that it’s not hungry until a 15-20 minutes after you’ve eaten. For many, that unfortunate lag leads to overeating and, in turn, packing on the pounds. When you put your fork down as you feel that first bit of fullness, your brain has time to realize that you’re not hungry anymore. This isn’t meant to encourage wastefulness, or mean that you should leave 20% of food on your plate. Especially if you’re eating out, the amount of food on your plate has no bearing on how hungry or full you are. Take small portions and think twice about getting seconds.

Another word about the wasting of food. In Japan and most parts of Asia, it’s poor form to leave food on your plate. Most meals are eaten “family style” as a group, and people are encouraged to only take the amount that they’re going to eat. Taking the perfect amount takes practice, but it’s better to start small to avoid waste.

Avoiding stuffing yourself has other benefits beyond calorie savings, as well. When you stop eating before you’re full you might find that you’re not forced into a food coma after lunch or dinner, you’re more satisfied with the meal, and you feel better. If you feel like you need to “nap it off” after lunch, that’s probably not a good sign. Food is meant to energize you, not knock you out. Practice some restraint, son.

A final reason to stop eating before you’re totally full: when you overeat you can easily stretch your stomach by 20%, and no, it doesn’t just snap right back. Next time you eat, you’ll feel less full with the same amount of food because you’ve actually stretched your aching stomach (and belly) to a ballooning, unnatural size. That's gross.

So don’t eat food just because it’s there; eat to energize yourself, until you're not hungry anymore. Work this little gem into your habits and you'll find you feel better and you'll be well on your way to maintaining a lean, healthy weight.

Can I eat carbs at night and still lose weight?

2010-06-04T15:10:00.001-05:00

The old adage goes, "Breakfast for a king, lunch for a prince, dinner for pauper." But is it true? Do you really gain more weight depending on when you eat different foods? If so, what should I eat, and when?

Some scientific evidence suggests that you’ll be more likely to store carbohydrates as fat if you eat them at night, since metabolism naturally slows down after dinner. In one study, three groups of people were separated by eating habits ate identical amounts of calories and were weighed after several weeks. Here’s what they found (on average for each group):

Those who consumed most of their calories at dinner and only a snack for breakfast and lunch gained weight
Those who ate a snack for breakfast and dinner and had most of their calories for lunch had no appreciable weight gain or loss
Those who consumed most of their calories for breakfast and only a snack for lunch and dinner lost weight

To support this finding, many nutritionists suggest following a "25-50-25 plan," where you consume 25% of your calories at breakfast, 50% at lunch, and 25% at dinner. Whether or not you retain more calories from evening meals, for many people it's easier to reduce daily calories on this eating regimen, which results in weight loss. As carbohydrates can be readily transformed into fat, it's advisable to limit your carbs at night.

So can I still eat carbohydrates at night? Yes, just don’t overdo it. Even if you’re a goodie-two-shoes all day, if you stuff your face with carbs at night you’re going to ruin all of your diligent and well-earned progress. If you must have carbs, avoid simple carbohydrates like white-flour-spaghetti and opt for whole grains like brown rice instead. Even better, eat dinners made up of lean sources of protein such as fish and chicken with a side of plenty of vegetables. Or, if you’re going out to dinner and don’t have those healthy options, stick to one carb at a time. For example, if you have potatoes, don’t eat bread. If you have white rice, skip dessert. It could add up eventually to a significant calorie savings.

But let's be serious here. Unless you are strenuously exercising all night (in which case you might have some more serious concerns), you don’t need no stinkin’ carbs. If you get a nighttime craving, try the following:

Brush your teeth early. The potential of that nasty after-brushing bitter taste in your mouth will encourage you to avoid eating.
Eat a small piece of fresh fruit. Sure, it’s not ice cream, but you’ll feel better after.
Split a small bag of low-fat, low-calorie popcorn with a friend.
Drink a glass of water - you probably aren’t hungry anyway. Squeeze in some fresh lemon to make it more interesting.
None of those worked? Okay, fine, have a very small portion of low-fat ice cream or sorbet. But just take out a couple of scoops and put it into a bowl, don’t shovel it straight out of the carton like the heroine of a chick-flick after the break-up scene. You’ve got more self control than that.

But why am I so freaking hungry at night?!?! It may be because you skipped a meal. Studies show that if you skip breakfast or lunch, you’re much more likely to binge at night and ultimately gain weight. So make sure you’re eating 3 healthy square meals a day and plan some sensible snacks in between. Also, it could simply be a bad habit that you head to the fridge at night whether you’re hungry or not. Break it! Don’t leave leftovers on the stove, put them away immediately. Put a note on your fridge that says, “Are you really hungry, or are you just bored?” Push your solid-wood antique desk in front of your fridge as a mission-impossible-esque barricade if you have to. More exercise. Bonus.

An important caveat: if over the course of the day you eat more calories than you burn, it doesn’t matter when you eat them – you’re going to gain weight. So don’t think you can cheat the system by having a greasy breakfast, an all-you-can-eat Chinese food lunch and a teeny dinner. So eat smart, and, as always, thanks for reading.

How will the BP oil spill affect my health? For starters, it may give you cancer.

2010-06-02T15:24:00.002-05:00

The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill is going to have an devastating effect on not just the environment, but on our health as well. Whether you like it or not, there is a chance that - soon and for years to come - you’ll be eating BP’s crude oil. The unimaginably massive amount oil that continues to blast out of BP’s broken pipe a mile below the sea is slathering countless plants and animals with a toxic soup of chemicals that will soon be passed up the food chain. Thanks BP.

Many animals are being killed and are washing up on the gulf coast beaches daily, coated in oil and dispersant. But perhaps even scarier are the plants and animals that are slowly absorbing or ingesting the toxic compounds into their bodies, creating a “silent killer” that could destroy their and our health for years to come. The heavy metals in BP’s oil, including nickel and vanadium, are known carcinogens. As an example of how contaminants could potentially work their way into foods, mollusks (such as oysters and clams), can incorporate those harmful compounds into their constantly-rebuilding shells and body tissues. Even if you don’t eat oysters or clams, you’re still at risk. Just like mercury becomes concentrated in predatory fish, harmful compounds released by the oil spill will be passed on to the marine organisms that feed on shellfish, and in turn to any other animals active in the food chain.

It’s not just the oil that will have a devastating effect, but also the dispersant that BP is continuously spraying over vast amounts of the gulf by gigantic gas-guzzling airplanes. Dispersants contain surfactants, which are similar to dishwashing soap. By partially breaking the oil down into small particles, dispersants allow fish and other organisms to ingest and absorb toxic chemicals, which can impair immune systems and cause reproductive problems. If you have any contact with these chemicals by ingesting affected foods, then you are also risking damage to your immune system and reproductive health!

This article is not meant to inspire fear-mongering; if you are fortunate enough to live in the US, chances are you will still have access to foods that are not affected by the toxins from the oil spill. However, it is extremely important to consider the effects of the spill on certain foods, especially seafoods from the gulf and southern United States, and do your best to avoid them. However, the oil is on the move.

According to the Associated Press, an expanding 22-mile plume of oil is dangerously close to an underwater canyon, where it will likely continue to poison the food chain for sea life in the waters in the gulf, coastal Florida, and beyond. This toxic soup of oil, chemicals, and water is expected to catch strong currents out of the gulf and swing around Florida, slap through Key West and other Caribbean islands, and creep up the east coast.

If oil is naturally occurring, then why would it be so damaging to the environment? This oil, virtually undisturbed for millions and millions of years, is being sucked from a pipe that was drilled 3 and a half miles below the ocean’s bottom. For obvious reasons, it’s much better to leave the oil where it belongs – imbedded deep in the earth’s crust and out of our carbon cycle (and food chain)! Yes, some amounts of oil naturally escape into the ocean, which has cute little waterbugs that digest small amounts of oil. But this situation is decidedly different. BP’s OIL SPILL IS OF MONSTROUS SCALE AND UNABATING, spewing incredible amounts of oil into the ocean in a very short amount of time. And the ecosystem cannot keep up.

At this point, the scientific community does not know a great deal about the effects of an oil spill of this magnitude on the environment and our health. But I think we can all agree that it is going to be absolutely devastating for our generation and the next, and we need to do everything we can to stop it and clean it up as swiftly as we possibly can. Click this link to see how you can help.

"BP has thrust upon us one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time." - EPA Secretary Lisa Jackson

How can I keep the weight off? When eating, pay attention!

2010-05-27T10:17:00.000-05:00

Whether it's in munching in front of the TV, sneaking a quick lunch at your desk, or a stuffing down a lightning fast breakfast on the way to work, everyone is guilty of mindlessly noshing like a zombie. As common as it is, this is bad. Why? You eat more food more quickly when you're not paying attention to the fact that you're eating.

Just like it's bad at telling you when it's thirsty as we learned in this article, your body is also pretty dang mediocre when it comes to telling you that you're full. When you eat while multitasking, the messages that tell your brain you're full are interrupted by inconsequential nonsense, like whether or not Donny Osmond really deserved to win Dancing with the Stars last season (and no, he didn't). In fact, studies have repeatedly shown that you consume significantly more calories when you're distracted. In one example, people ate nearly twice as many chips when watching late night TV than when they did not watch TV. For those of you who played ninja turtles through second grade math class, twice as many chips means twice as many calories! If I said you could cut your calorie consumption in half just by doing one simple, natural, free thing, would you do it? Of course you would. Don't eat in front of the TV. Not only will it turn your mind to mush, it will also make you fat.

But it's not just TV... at a higher level, you eat more any time you are distracted while eating: reading, arguing, driving, welding, whatever. Your brain actually needs you to concentrate on when you're eating or else your body doesn't register that it's full. From an evolutionary standpoint, it's not surprising that our bodies didn't account for all of our distractions: if our ancestors were eating, it probably meant that they finally got lucky and nabbed a wild boar with incredible feats of strength and courage after chasing it for days through the jungly wilderness. When they finally got their grub on, you can bet they'd be paying attention. These days food comes so easily that we need to consciously avoid it. At the very least, we need to pay attention when we DO eat it, so give your brain a break - when you're eating, just EAT and enjoy every savory little morsel.

So how can I eat more mindfully?

If you're right-handed, eat with your left hand (or vice-versa).
Wait a few seconds to chew food after putting it in your mouth.
Always sit down when you eat.
Avoid the TV, computer, and even reading materials while eating. Find a window and look out of it instead.
Take small bites and chew your food completely.
Use chopsticks to eat.
Start with a smaller proportion than you're used to. If you're ordering out, don't be afraid to take leftovers. In fact, consider it a bonus!
Try to make each meal last at least twenty minutes. People spend a little over an hour a day eating, while the average American spends about 3 hours watching TV. Trade some TV time for some healthy and rejuvenating eating.

Eat slowly, eat mindfully. We're so incredibly fortunate to be able to get our grub on at all, so enjoy it! You'll essentially cut your risk of getting or staying fat in HALF. How easy is that?

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well."
-Virginia Woolf

In the news today: further evidence that alcohol prevents Alzheimer's

2010-05-25T11:33:00.000-05:00

Thanks to this earlier post, you devout Honest Abe readers now know that drinking beer and alcohol offers health benefits, including a decreased risk of cardiac stroke and cognitive decline, strengthened bones, reduced stress, and an increase in good cholesterol, among other things. A new study published this month in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease also suggests a protective effect of alcohol consumption on the risk of Alzheimer's disease! Sweet!

"Researchers at the University of Valencia, the Generalitat Valenciana, and the Institut Municipal d'Investigació Mèdica, Barcelona, in Spain, carried out a study comparing personal and clinical antecedents of subjects affected with Alzheimer's disease with healthy people, both groups with the same age and gender distribution. Women included in the study were mainly light or moderate alcohol consumers. The risk of Alzheimer's disease was unaffected by any measure of tobacco consumption, but a protective effect of moderate alcohol consumption was observed, this effect being more evident in nonsmoker women."

You can read the rest of the article here. Remember folks, drink well, but drink moderately!

How to naturally increase your energy, boost metabolism, and improve skin tone

2010-05-21T17:40:00.001-05:00

Do you want a simple, cheap, and easy solution to increasing energy, maintaining a healthy weight, improving athletic performance, and improving skin tone? Who doesn’t? It could be as easy as drinking more water each day.

We humans need water to live, and lots of it. However, the majority of people, especially Americans, are dehydrated most of the time. With mild dehydration, you might experience the following:

Fatigue
Headache
Muscle weakness
Dizziness
Lightheadedness
Lack of saliva and dry mouth

So aside from avoiding those nasty conditions, what does drinking water do for me? While some of the effects of drinking water are not scientifically proven, there is general consensus in the medical community that drinking more water can only be beneficial your health. Water:

regulates and supresses appetite
increases metabolism
boosts energy levels
reduces water retention
alleviates headaches
helps to reduce blood pressure
ease joint pain
decreases the risk of some cancers
reduces chance developing kidney stones
releases toxins from the body
improves skin
regulates body temperature

Are you feeling a little under the weather? You could be dehydrated! I stumbled across a great book on precisely that subject entitled: “Water: For Health, for Healing, for Life: You're Not Sick, You're Thirsty!” The author contends that water is responsible for the following health benefits and healing effects: Improving Asthma, allergies, arthritis, hypertension, depression, headaches, diabetes, obesity, and MS. The author, Dr. F. Batmanghelidj, advocates obtaining optimum health by drinking more water and supports his claims with over 20 years of clinical and scientific research.

Our bodies are constantly losing water through sweat, urine, feces and even breathing. In order for our organs to continue to function normally, we need to replace the water that we lose. In severe heat, an adult can lose as much as 1.5 liters of water through sweat alone! Knowing that your body needs water so desperately every single day, you should probably go get yourself a cool glassful right now.

So how much water should I drink? The Institute of Medicine recommends that men consume 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day and women consume 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day. Thirst is completely unreliable as a signal for needing water. Generally speaking, you don’t feel thirsty until after you’re already dehydrated. In fact, since food and water are such related and interconnected needs from your body’s point of view, you often feel hungry when you’re actually thirsty. So if you feel a sudden craving for a 711 taquito and coke, try downing 12 ounces of cold, fresh water. Wait 5 minutes, then see how you feel. Bechya don't want it anymore.

In college, I was an orientation trip leader and took groups of freshmen on several-day hikes through the wilderness of New Hampshire. To avoid dehydration (which would be a serious drag when you’re miles from civilization) we played a very simple, but effective game called “Drink, okay.” It went something like this: every few minutes one of the trippies would point to another and say “Drink,” to which the other would obediently reply, “okay!” and take a chug of water from his nalgene. As far as games go, it wasn’t particularly fun, but it does illustrate my point: we’re bad at telling reminding ourselves to drink water.

So some of you are whining to yourself, "But Honest Abe, water is so boorrring." Then make it fun! Throw a lemon in there. Or a lime, strawberries, cucumbers, mint, emergency packets, hot sauce, whatever! As long as you’re not blasting it with sugar, you’re going to be in good shape.

Being healthy doesn’t have to be expensive, complicated, or difficult. Just changing a few little habits can have a huge effect. Drink more water. Simple, easy, fast, free, and natural. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Six simple tips to help you eat better and lose weight.

2010-05-18T14:56:00.001-05:00

Eat breakfast.
It’s not just an empty mantra: breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. In fact, being an unwavering fan of breakfast for lunch, I think it’s so important that I often have multiple breakfasts a day. Skipping your morning meal increases your chances of becoming obese, developing diabetes or even having a heart attack. Come on, it’s not like “making cereal” takes effort. And don’t say “you don’t have the time,” because I’ve seen a buddy suck down 5 hard boiled eggs in as many seconds (not that I would recommend that). So eat your breakfast, champ.

Surround yourself with other health fanatics.
Habits, both good and bad, are contagious. If you surround yourself with healthy people, you’ll be reinforcing positive eating behavior. If you’re the only one in the group with a Big Mac at lunch and all your healthnut friends are gagging, you’re going to be less likely to choke it down. In contrast, don’t hang out with college kids who eat cold chili fries and leftover pizza for breakfast. Not a good influence.

Turn bad habits into good ones… slowly.
Build good habits one at a time. If you try to go cold turkey on all of your bad habits, it’s likely that your good-faith efforts will leave you frustrated and you’ll snap and return to your former mischievous ways. Turn bad habits into good ones slowly. If you crave soda, try drinking unsweetened iced tea or seltzer instead, but don’t cut out all of your other little goodies at the same time. But don’t overcompensate by gorging on other unhealthy things just because you’re trying to focus on building one good habit at a time, you little sneak.

Make an effort to stay informed about health-related issues.
Keep learning! If you push yourself to constantly learn new things to about being healthy – articles, documentaries, magazines, tv shows, etc. – you’ll find that you’re “in the know” about the latest and greatest health trends and research, as well as more committed to following what you’re learning. Try to learn something every day. Honest Abe's blog could be your friend on this one… Just sayin’.

Eat fun things, not cardboard.
Healthy doesn’t have to mean boring! Try some flavorful, spicy, low-fat Indian food, crazy smoothies with watermelon and mint, whole wheat triscuits with homemade hummus, whatever! You don’t have to glumly chomp fiber one all day, every day. Actually, you don’t have to do that at all. Fiber one is gross.

Write it down.
If you have health goals (and you should), write them down! Putting your goals on paper forces you to think them through, organize them, and it creates an automatic reminder to follow them every time you pick up your notepad. Goals are good!

Good luck, folks! Talk to you soon.

Feel the burn baby: eat spicy foods to speed up your metabolism!

2010-05-16T12:54:00.001-05:00

You don’t need no stinkin' expensive pills to speed up your metabolism, you just need a few healthy dollops of hot sauce! If you like boatloads of flavor and kick, you’re in luck, buddy – curry powder, cayenne peppers and chili powder all help your body burn calories more efficiently, suppress your appetite, stimulate your digestive and cardiovascular systems, and give your sluggish metabolism a well-executed kick in the pants. Capsaicin (the chemical that puts the spicy in spiciness) also helps to inhibit inflammation and is beneficial in the treatment of arthritis and nerve disorders. Sounds like a home run to me.

So here’s what happens when you unwittingly munch on a face-meltingly-hot habañero: capsaicin elevates your body temperature and makes your heart beat faster, both of which require extra energy. The capsaicin also causes your brain to secrete more endorphins (“feel-good” chemicals), so you start to feel pretty awesome (after you regain feeling of your tongue). Additionally, capsaicin aids in blocking the transmission of substance P, which carries pain signals to the brain.

The more capsaicin, the spicier the pepper, and the more health benefits you'll encounter. Habañero and Scotch bonnet peppers bring home the ribbon for the most ridiculously hot, with jalapeños obediently following behind. But if you’re bit of a spiciness wimp, I’ve got good news for you, too. Even mild, sweet red peppers contain capsaicin and offer similar health benefits (albeit less pronounced). And all of these peppers pack an impressive vitamin C punch, as well. Sweet!

But the reasons for slimming down with spicy foods doesn’t end at the spiciness. Most of the foods that come along with spice are also pretty darn good for you in and of themselves – lentils, peppers and veggies, chicken, tomatoes, shrimp, and other goodies. Spices add bold flavors and aromas to your food, which tends to slow down your face-stuffing and makes you feel satisfied faster. What would you be more likely to binge on – greasy cheese fries or tortilla chips and a formidably spicy salsa? Let the tears streaming down your sweltering beet-red face answer the question for you.

Okay, spice is good. But what should I eat?
Chili peppers can add a little bit of zing to your five a day, and you can get creative with how you include them: raw, steamed, sautéed, grilled, or even pickled. The hottest part of the pepper is the white section or "ribs" inside. It must be said - after handling a pepper, wash your hands before you touch ANYTHING (especially your eyes). So how about a list of some tasty peppers? Ok, here goes (from hottest to mildest):

Habanero from Yucatan, Caribbean.
Scotch Bonnet (yellow) - Jamaica, Caribbean, Belize.
Jamaican Hot - Jamaica and other Caribbean islands.
Thai (green) - Southeast Asia, California.
Cayenne (red) - Louisiana, Mexico, Asia, Africa.
Serrano - Mexico, Southwest U.S.
Wax (light yellow) - Mexico, California, Southwest U.S.
Jalapeno (green) - Oaxaca, Chihauhau, Texas, Southwest U.S.
Rocotillo - South America.
Poblano - Puebla, Mexico City region, California.
New Mexico - Rio Grande Valley.
Pepperoncini - Mediterranean Basin, California.
Bell Pepper - Holland, Mediterranean Basin, California.
Sweet Italian - Mediterranean Basin, California.

As for spicy sauces, I’m a fan of the old favorite, Tabasco sauce. However, being in Texas offers the benefit of some serious Mexican spice as well. Another goodie is sriracha sauce (or as it is affectionately known, “cock sauce.” Now now, the name is on account of rooster on the bottle). Try some hot sauce on:

Chicken
Burgers, Hot Dogs and Sausages
Seafood
Eggs
Potatoes
Popcorn
Sandwiches
Dips (ooh hot pepper jelly!)
In your cheese (pepper, jalapeno or habanero jack)
And in Mexican, Indian, and Asian dishes

So spice it up! But before you go too crazy, a word from the wise - spice is hot on the way in and the way out. So start small and you can always add more spice later. Enjoy!

Is Coconut Water the new Gatorade?

2010-05-11T17:01:00.002-05:00

Imagine you just triumphantly returned from an arduous 7 mile run through the scorched streets of Austin, Texas under the 100+ degree summer sun. The rubber on your shoes is so hot it's sticking to your linoleum tiles, sweat is flying everywhere, and you're parched. You hobble to the fridge, swing open the door, and reach for an ice cold... Coconut Water?

Coconut water as a sports drink? That sounds ridiculous! Well, let me ask you this: how is drinking juice from a coconut any more ridiculous than a glow-in-the-dark-neon-yellow, sicky-sweet Gatorade that from a bpa-laced plastic bottle? Barely processed, containing only natural sugars, and made of one singular ingredient, coconut water is the "original Gatorade" and has quenched many a throat over thousands of years of human existence.

Coconut water is a natural isotonic beverage, and it actually has about the same level of electrolytes as in our blood. Some refer to coconut water as the "fluid of life." Get this: coconut water has been actually sucked straight from the nut into human bodies to give war-time emergency plasma transfusions! How awesome is that? I've never heard of Gatorade saving the lives of wounded soldiers.

Want to know a few more reasons why coconut water kicks serious Gatorade butt?

It contains more potassium than A BANANA, so kiss your runner's cramps goodbye.
Unlike commercial sports drinks, coconut water is low in sugar, calories, and sodium and high in nutrients.
It naturally contains the same compounds and electrolytes that Gatorade and other sports drinks advertise to hydrate as well as increase endurance and stamina.
Studies have found coconut water to lower blood pressure and improve blood circulation.
It contains lauric acid which boosts metabolism.
Packed with essential minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and amino acids, coconut water is a SUPERFOOD!

Contrary to popular belief, coconut water is not the same thing as coconut milk (which is squeezed from the meat of a mature coconut), and actually contains little to no fat (as opposed to coconut milk). A young coconut between holds approximately 750 ml of water, which, left untouched, eventually becomes the flesh of the mature coconut. But if you stick a straw in a young coconut, the water can slip quite deliciously down into your belly instead.

I find coconut water to be super tasty and refreshing, especially after vigorous exercise or a night of one-too-many beers. It's chock-full of the salts, natural sugars and nutrients that the bodies of sweaty urban joggers, rock stars, and hippies who don't believe in A/C beg for on a hot summer day.

So which bottle should I pick up?
For the most health benefits, make sure you're looking at 100% pure coconut water, without added sugar or additives. Here are some of the brands I recommend:

ZICO: Natural, passion fruit, and mango flavors
Vita Coco: Natural, açaí-pomegranate, passion fruit, peach-mango, pineapple, and tangerine flavors
O.N.E. (One Natural Experience)

So leave Gatorade for being dumped over the heads of football coaches and go pick up some coconut water - the natural sports drink!

Honest Abe's healthy quote of the day (care of Albert Schweitzer)

2010-05-10T17:23:00.001-05:00

"Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside."
~ Albert Schweitzer

You need more sleep. Here are some natural ways to get it.

2010-05-07T18:01:00.005-05:00

You deserve more sleep. And I’m going to tell you how to get it. Here are some natural sleep tips to help ease you into dreamland:

Get quiet. Noise, even slight - conversations, televisions, music, traffic - can make sleep difficult or impossible. If you can’t totally eliminate outside noise, try masking it with a fan, air purifier, white noise machine, or relaxing sounds or music (if that’s your thing). Also, earplugs are AWESOME! At a few cents a pop, I think it’s probably the best money I’ve ever spent.

Make sure your room is super dark. Even a little sliver of light from a computer or TV are enough to keep some people awake or prevent them from having truly restful sleep. Invest in some heavy shades to block light from windows. You’ll look like a doofus, but I’ve found that wearing an eye mask works wonders. If you think you’re too cool to look like a doofus, you aren’t – I see those bags under your eyes.

Cool it down, baby. If you can, make sure your room is a bit on the cool side and well-ventilated. Most people sleep best in a cool room (ideally 68 degrees). Think that's cold? Maybe, but cuddling up with your favorite stuffed animals under a big soft blanket is way better than sleeping in a sticky pool of your own sweat. Trust me, I live in Austin and my A/C technician is a hack. In fact, I'm sweating right now and it sucks.

Use your bed for SLEEPING. Your bed should be treated as a sacred place and used for only very specific (and terrific) things: 1) sleep, 2) another word that starts with “s” and ends in “x” (hint: and there’s an “e” somewhere in the middle). If you read or watch TV in bed, you're training your body to stay awake; however, if you consistently turn off the light and go straight to sleep, your body becomes accustomed to doing just that. Instead of perking up because it's expecting TV, your body will naturally slow down and slip right into some quality sleep time. And that transitions nicely to my next point.

Avoid TV. Let’s be honest: most late night TV is garbage (although Conan was pretty awesome before he got sacked... and $30 million dollars). If you have a TV in your bedroom, unplug it. Better yet, throw it out the window. You’ll find you suddenly have tons of free time to do whatever you please (maybe the other thing you’re supposed to do in bed, eh?).

Avoid bright lights for a few hours before bed. This is a tough one that most people don’t know about or simply ignore, but you’ll want to avoid bright lights for the few hours before bedtime. I changed the bulbs in my bathroom and bedroom to low-wattage (eco-friendly, of course), and it made it much easier for me to feel sleepy when I should. Remember, artificial lighting is just that: our bodies evolved to be in darkness at night, starting anywhere at 5-9 p.m. then total darkness. Artificial lighting tricks our hormone levels and circadian rhythms (natural body-clock) into thinking it’s still daytime and we should be awake. So turn down the lights and show your circadian rhythm who’s boss.

So how much sleep do I need?
It depends on your age and your genetics, but it’s usually in the range of 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Older folks require a similar amount, but the sleep may be a bit lighter and include a little nappie-poo during the day. However, if you’ve racked-up a sleep-debt, you’ll need some heavier sleep for a few days to get back to where you should be. If you find that you’re often groggy or exhausted in the morning, that’s a good indication that you need to get some more quality time in dreamland. If you’ve had enough sleep, you should be able to wake up without an alarm, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. And if you’re a compulsive snoozer like my fiancé, bad news: you need more sleep.

So do yourself a favor and go get some restful sleep. You might just turn into a morning person after all.

Honest Abe's healthy quote of the day

2010-05-06T14:28:00.003-05:00

Life is not merely to be alive, but to be well.
~Marcus Valerius Martial

Want to be smarter, live longer, and lose weight? Try sleeping.

2010-05-05T14:39:00.004-05:00

While scientists may be stumped as to precisely why we need sleep, there is a universal consensus that sleep is incredibly important to mental, emotional, and physical health. Here are a few benefits of sleep that may surprise you...

Sleep helps you maintain or even lose weight. Really? You're darn tootin! Chronic sleep deprivation can cause weight gain by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite, which often leads to overeating, as well as affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates. Have you ever noticed craving oreos, onion rings, big macs, donuts, double downs, and other gutbombs when you're sleep deprived? Yummy when you're stuffing them down, but not so much once they're angrily bouncing around your belly.

You'll be smarter if you sleep. Sleep enables the brain to store new information to memory. In fact, researchers have found that if you study before bed you actually learn the material better than you would if you crammed during the morning or afternoon.

Sleep repairs your body. As you're sleeping, you produce extra protein molecules which help to mend your body at a cellular level. Sleep also reduces stress, and I think everyone could do with a little less of that.

You get a healthy heart. A lack of sleep has been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular heartbeat. Your heartbeat actually drops around 10% during sleep. See? Your heart gets sleepy too.

Sleep deprivation seriously beats up on your immune system. On the flip side, good sleep habits may also help fight cancer, among other things. Personally, if I go a few days without steady sleep (and without making up for it), I've found that I often get sick. I still blame my 2 month bout with mono on finals in college. Stupid Econ class...

You feel awesome if you get sleep, and crappy if you don't. Okay, you've probably put this one together, but it's easy to forget (do you really hate the barista because she screwed up your nonfat macchiato, or are you just a tad bit cranky because you didn't get enough sleep?). Sleep loss causes irritability, impatience, inability to concentrate, and moodiness; it can suck away all desire to do almost anything (except, perhaps, watch reruns of Dumb and Dumber on TBS).

So how much sleep should I get?
For healthy adults, it's typically 7-8 hours. It's no biggie if you miss a night or two every once in a while, but you'll want to make up for it when you have the chance. Otherwise you're going to be running up a "sleep debt," which is a bit like overusing your credit card: you may be able to get by for a bit, but the loan sharks (in this case, sickness, fatness, and even early death) will eventually come a'knockin.

So sleep well, folks. And if you don't, stay tuned: I'll be writing soon about how you can encourage healthy sleep patterns naturally.

More reasons to avoid soda and processed foods - phosphate makes you old!

2010-05-03T14:19:00.002-05:00

As if we didn't have enough reasons to avoid soda and eat processed foods, here are some more: accelerated aging and early death. These effects are due to "phosphate toxicity"; high levels of phosphate in processed foods and soda have been linked to kidney disease, heart disease, skin changes from muscle atrophy, and increased risk for skin cancer and lung cancer. Yowza.

While some phosphate is essential to regular body function, excess phosphate is known to interfere with the body's production of calcitrol (a form of Vitamin D) and can lead to kidney damage. In fact, a measly two cans of soda per day can double the risk of early kidney disease in women.

In a recent study, scientists studied three groups of mice to understand the link between phosphorous in processed foods and soda and accelerated aging. The mice with lower phosphate levels lived longer than the group and the group fed a high phosphate diet. They concluded that higher phosphate levels produce signs of premature aging, and, even worse, lead to premature death!

"Soda is the caffeine delivery vehicle of choice for millions of people worldwide, but comes with phosphorous as a passenger" reports Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of the FASEB Journal, which published the study (http://www.fasebj.org). "This research suggests that our phosphorous balance influences the aging process, so don't tip it." So stick to natural, unprocessed foods and give your willpower a workout by avoiding soda. Because I want to keep you around for a while.

7 easy food and diet tips to improve your health

2010-04-29T16:12:00.002-05:00

Everyone is looking for quick, easy, and painless ways to improve their health. Here are a few I've recently worked into my habits without much effort:

1. Skip the soda! Instead of drinking regular or diet soda (which we've learned can lead to significant weight gain), try some unsweetened iced tea. Better yet, drink more water! The vast majority of Americans are dehydrated most of the time, and water can help you feel less hungry, become more alert, encourage weight loss, and lead to a number of other positive outcomes.

2. Use a low-fat dressings. In many cases, the toppings on foods can contain more fat and calories than the food themselves. For example, PF Chang’s Chicken Chopped Salad with Ginger Dressing assaults your mid-section with nearly 1,000 calories, 70 grams of fat, and over 2200 mg of sodium, with the majority compliments of the dressing. Make your own vinaigrette with apple cider or balsamic vinegar, olive oil, black pepper, and a touch of honey.

3. Make your own popcorn. Instead of clogging your arteries with "boatloads-of-butter" movie-theater microwave popcorn, make your own using a little olive oil or by air-popping. Use a little parmesan cheese as a topping if you'd like. Though unconventional, I'm a fan of topping my popcorn with a little tabasco for an extra punch.

4. Try your coffee and tea black. Especially with fresh, high-quality coffees and teas, I've found that the taste without added cream and sugar is just swell. You can actually taste the drink! You'll especially want to avoid the whole-milk latte or cappuccino: a peppermint white chocolate mocha latte from Starbucks packs 500 calories, 15 grams of fat, and 36 grams of carbs. By way of comparison, black coffee has 5 calories or less.

5. Avoid milkshakes at all costs. Okay, maybe this one hurts a little, but it's a point that must be made. A large chocolate shake thrusts an astonishing 1,160 calories straight at your love handles (that's more that FOUR cheeseburgers)! If you really must, have a small (or kiddie) ice cream to curb the craving.

6. Eat fresh fruits instead of drinking juice. Largely because they give you a natural source of fiber and water without added sugars, fresh fruits are much more beneficial for your body than fruit juice. The size of fruit juice bottles have been swelling as of late, and most fruit juices pack more calories and sugar than regular coke (250+ calories)! By contrast, an orange typically has less than 50 calories.

7. Don't eat potato chips or fries. Have you noticed that it's almost impossible to get back to work after having a sandwich with chips or fries as a side? That's because chips and fries are horrible for you, and I'm not even going to tell you why because, let's face it, you already know. Get a side salad (with light dressing on the side), or try some Triscuits, which are made with whole wheat, instead. If you really need a chip or fry or two, steal a couple from a friend. If he gets mad at you, tell him it's for his own good, and you just saved him 50 calories. You're welcome.

8. Read Honest Abe's Tips instead of CelebrityGossip.com. (Okay, this is a shameless plug, but I only promised 7 tips. So that one's a freebie, OK?).

What are the health benefits and side effects of fish oil and omega-3's?

2010-04-27T18:16:00.003-05:00

Fish oil has been responsible for a great deal of hoopla in regards to treating clinical depression and bipolar disorder. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil are known to as a mood stabilizer, and the countries that eat the most fish in their diets also have the lowest rates of depression. Other potential health benefits of fish oil include the following:

Reduced risk of cancer: Research suggests anti-cancer effects of n−3 fatty acids found in fish oil (especially breast, colon and prostate cancer)
Mental health benefits: fatty acids are responsible for the neuronal growth of the frontal cortex of the brain which is known to be responsible for personal behavior. Studies have actually shown that prisoners have lower levels of these fatty acids, and groups with higher levels have a lower rate of crime. Who knew? If you're looking for world peace, start with fish oil!
Cardiovascular benefits: The American Heart Association recommends the consumption of 1g of fish oil daily for patients with coronary heart disease. It should be noted that the highest benefits come from eating fish, not the supplement. However, not everyone has immediate access to a daily supply of tasty, fresh fish, so there's nothing wrong with popping a pill in a pinch.
Several studies have also reported a reduced risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

When I first started popping fish oil supplements, I thought they actually made me feel better. And interestingly enough, that was well before I had heard anything about the mental health benefits. It was hard to hammer down, and could have been all in my head, but even the placebo effect can be a strong, and good, thing to experience. I would be interested to hear if you folks out there experience something similar. So give me a shout, okay?

The only side effect I've encountered is a decidedly gross one: fish burps. No matter what the label screams at you, ("Fish burp free!"; "No fish burps - ever!"; "You'll never burp again!!!"), you may find yourself with a stinky, fishy surprise creeping up your esophagus. Fish burps are up there with the grossest burps ever (up there with tunafish sandwich and coffee burps, it must be said). I also once dropped a fish oil capsule, which promptly splattered all over the floor. The kitchen smelled like a freaking sardine factory for days, and I'm not likely to make that mistake again. (I just thought of a great dare - make a friend chew on a capsule - they will never listen to you again, but the look on their face would make it all worth it).

A few words of caution: a recent lawsuit alleges that some fish oil supplements contain excessive levels of PCBs, which are nasty man-made industrial chemicals reported to increase risks of cancer. However, the majority of these products were made from cod liver or shark liver oils. As the liver is the major filtering and detoxifying organ, PCB content is much higher in such products than in the more common fish oil produced from the processing of whole fish. So try to stick with fish oils made from the whole fish, not just the liver.

As much as I gripe, the fish burps are rare and fish oil capsules are no match for steady hands and an overwhelming desire to better myself. If it's any indication, I have a bottle of fish oil supplements sitting in my fridge, and I obediently take them almost every morning. And if they do in fact offer the many substantial health benefits attributed to them, then I think it's worth a few fish burps now and then. I just hope my fiance agrees.

Even When You're Dieting, Eat What You Like

2010-04-26T19:51:00.004-05:00

Here's a quick tip for the day: don't be afraid to eat foods that you crave even if you're on a diet or trying to lose weight. When you ban foods that you love from your diet entirely, you're creating a monster. You start to crave that particular food in a huge way, which often leads to frustration and a higher likelihood of abandoning your principled diet entirely. Also, the food you're cutting out might actually have some benefits when eaten in small quantities. For example, if you're trying to cut carbs, you can still eat moderate amounts of whole grain bread with complex carbohydrates which increase brain chemicals that are known to reduce overeating. Or if you crave a brownie, go for a few ounces of dark chocolate instead; this will likely curb your craving and make an all-out binge less likely.

Is Coffee Healthy? Yessireebob!

2010-04-24T10:12:00.002-05:00

In recent decades, nearly 20,000 studies have explored coffee's impact on health. And if you’re a java junkie like me, the majority of the findings might just make you smile (albeit with coffee-stained, not-so-pearly-whites). Coffee, especially that made from high quality beans, is loaded with antioxidants and other healthful stuff. In fact, just by obediently sipping on your favorite morning (and perhaps day-long) beverage, you could be reducing your risk of Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes, parkinson’s, and even gout! Here’s a list of some of the good things that could happen to you if you drink coffee regularly:

Reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease and Dementia
Reduced risk of gallstone disease
Reduced risk of Parkinson's disease
Reduced risk of Diabetes
Reduced risk of gout
Liver protection
Reduced risk of Cancer
Increase in Cognitive performance (Many people drink coffee for its ability to increase short term recall and increase IQ, which it has actually been shown to – temporarily – do)
Laxative/Constipation Prevention Mechanism (umm, coffee drinkers are probably uncomfortably familiar with this last one. This “benefit” often comes whether you like it or not, so be prepared…)

It’s interesting to note that although coffee itself is decidedly good for you, it’s actually the caffeine in coffee that is responsible for a lot of the positive effects. Caffeine actually helps tremendously in treating asthma and headaches. Though not widely known (or marketed), a single dose of pain reliever such as Excedrin contains up to 120 milligrams of caffeine to enhance pain relief – that’s more than in a standard cup of coffee!

Will coffee help you lose weight? No, probably not. Some studies say that coffee (with zero cream, milk, or sugar) has a slight effect of speeding up your metabolism, equivalent to 5 calories or so per cup. But your body burned that amount while you were sitting there reading that last paragraph. In fact, you probably burn more than that every time you enthusiastically lift your cuppajoe to your piehole. So don’t get your hopes up.

Actually, your coffee habit can have the opposite effect. My dearest mother is a nurse practitioner, and she tells a story of a man who came in for a checkup and complained about his recent weight gain of 20 pounds. The line of questioning went something like this:

Mom: “Have you made any changes to your eating or drinking habits?”

Man: “No, not really. I guess I started adding cream and sugar to my coffee.”

Mom: “Oh, okay. Well, how much coffee would you say you drink?”

Man: “Probably about 2 pots a day.”

Mom: “I’m sorry, I thought you just said you drink two pots of coffee a day. Do you mean two cups?”

Mr. Mcjitters: “No, I mean 2 pots of coffee. Like the carafe thing under the coffeemaker.”

Holy crap! No wonder you gained 20 pounds – you might as well pour your entire sugar bowl down the hatch and wash it down with a pint of half and half! Gross! Moral of the story: don’t treat your coffee as a clever delivery mechanism for sweets and fats. Also, don’t be a madman and drink 2 pots of coffee a day.

Is coffee 100% good for me? No, it’s not, but research shows that coffee is much more healthful than harmful. To borrow from WebMD, "For most people, very little bad comes from drinking [coffee], but a lot of good." says Tomas DePaulis, PhD, a research scientist at Vanderbilt University. However, if you have a sensitivity to caffeine, high anxiety, a heart condition, insomnia, or high blood pressure, you might want to opt for decaffeinated brew to avoid any possible negative effects of caffeine.

So go treat yourself to a tall cup of the good stuff. But don’t forget to brush your teeth.