Happy Monday, Fellow Fitness Enthusiasts! I look forward to posting some more healthy eating pieces soon. (I suffered from a back injury earlier this summer while in Rome, in case you were wondering, and then a reinjury in Chicago. Incredibly frustrating for this marathoner; I’m sure many of you can relate if you’re as active as I am.)
I did make a fabulous triple berry salad recently, though, featuring farmers’ market-fresh, summer-sweet strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries along with toasted walnuts on a crisp bed of spinach. It’s perfect for Meatless Monday, or any day. Is it time to give the “big salad for supper” idea a shot? This recipe will convince you, for sure, or perhaps this one will, which features sunflower seeds and a strawberry-balsamic vinaigrette. Or add your own veggies, grains, and protein and make it a meal to remember. And speaking of healthy eating, or, er, drinking, you can also check out my favorite summertime go-to beverage. (Kid tested, too, on my niece aged 3 and nephew aged 9 who visited me last week for the holiday.)
Anyway, today is the second in my two-part series encouraging you to seek out science when getting diet, weight loss, and nutrition advice: Use Science, and Win. The vast majority of people doling out diet advice aren’t qualified and greatly add to the reasons why people are confused about what to eat. Just because something is found online or in print doesn’t mean it’s true, as you all know. Yet it’s up to you to figure out the difference, so I rounded up the top 10 tips to help you differentiate science from anti-science. These pointers are helpful not only for nutrition advice but for any health-related recommendations – including fitness-related tips, for that matter. The list was developed by the United States National Institutes of Health, and it provides some great guidelines from the nation’s largest supporter of health-related scientific research dedicated to “turning discovery into health.”
So here’s the full article on how you can use science to win, and it’s not as boring it sounds. (Really.) And, hey, I’m not using the word “win” simply metaphorically, as in “I’m healthy! I feel great!” – though that’s also true. What I’m actually talking about today is how using science will literally allow you to win. Intrigued? Here’s the story, complete with pop culture references (think: movies) and sports (think: baseball). I think you’ll be entertained, but I also hope you’ll be inspired to think more critically about where you’re getting your nutrition and cooking advice in your quest towards better health. Just like staying in shape, cooking and eating to reduce your risk of disease, maintain a healthy weight, and enhance physical performance can take a bit of effort. And getting the right advice that is based on solid scientific research is a critical first step.
A guest blogger on Share It Fitness, Dr. P. K. Newby is a nutrition scientist and educator – and serious cook and foodie – who writes and vlogs about food, cooking, health, science, and sustainability on her blog The Nutrition Doctor is In the Kitchen. The first three posts to begin the series were on recalibrating your diet, measuring what you’re eating, and cleaning up your diet. To learn more about Cooking and Eating the P.K. Way, you can follow her on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, or check out her food porn on Pinterest.
Latest posts by Dr. P.K. Newby (see all)
- Scrumptious Post-Workout Peanut Butter Balls, the P.K. Way - April 11, 2013
- Better-For-You Granola: P.K.’s Recipe and Health Notes - April 1, 2013
- Breakfast Carb-loading: Stovetop Oatmeal in Five Minutes - March 11, 2013