Jo-Ann Heslin, MA, RD, CDN

In a very large study with over 449,500 participants, researchers found that drinking 2 to 3 cups of coffee a day is linked with a longer lifespan and a lower risk for heart disease. It did not appear to matter if the people in the study drank ground, instant or decaffeinated coffee. Only in the … Read More

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Americans love popcorn, eating 43 quarts of it per person every year. Popcorn explodes when the water inside the kernel becomes super heated and creates 135 pounds of pressure per square inch on the starch inside the kernel causing it to explode. Uncontained popcorn kernels can jump up to 3 feet in the air. Popcorn … Read More

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With 42% of adults in the US dealing with obesity, bariatric surgery is an option that can not only help someone lose weight but can additionally offer positive health outcomes. Bariatric surgery can help control type 2 diabetes over time, lowers the risk of progression to liver disease, and decreases the risk for serious heart … Read More

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The Merriam Webster Dictionary continually evaluates language to decide on new words that have become part of our lexicon and should be added to the dictionary with a definition of use. This year nine food words were added. Omakase (noun) is small servings or courses, usually sushi, offered at a fixed price with the selection … Read More

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When your healthy microbiome is altered, because the number of good bacteria in your body is reduced, an overabundance of unhealthy microbes can take over. This can happen in a number of ways. Overuse of antibiotics kill off not only harmful bacteria but destroys some of your healthy microbes as well. Infections can overwhelm your … Read More

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Is your gut healthy? What does that even mean? Though 46% of Americans say that improving gut health is important, very few know how to go about doing just that. Did you know that 100 trillion organisms live in your body microbiota? These are the microbes that have been with us since birth – bacteria, … Read More

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Teens who get less than 8 hours of sleep each night are more likely to be overweight or obese and are more likely to have excess fat around the middle, high blood pressure, abnormal blood fats and blood sugar levels. In short, the less a teen sleeps the more likely they are to be overweight … Read More

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And, you can’t count French fries. We are in a fruit and vegetable consumption crisis. Almost no one in the US meets the recommendation for 5 or more fruits and vegetable servings each day. Close to 80% eat too few fruits – even in the middle of the summer when fresh fruit is everywhere. Over … Read More

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According to a recent study, the apple is the best choice for teens. Ultra-processed foods are foods manufactured from ingredients and additives that have minimal amounts of whole foods. Soda, cakes, cookies, ready-to-eat frozen dinners, salty snacks, instant and canned soups, french fries, candy, ice cream, and store bought desserts are a few examples. There … Read More

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Mixing balsamic vinegar with flavored sparkling water to make a healthier, lower calorie alternative to Coke is a current TikTok trend with over 6.3 million views. Both sparkling water and balsamic vinegar are acidic. If you drink acidic beverages regularly, they can contribute to tooth erosion, the wearing away of enamel that protects your teeth. … Read More

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