Tag: Weight Loss

Posted on

Parmigiano Reggiano: The King of Cheeses

benefits of reggiano parmesan

by Donnie Yance

Parmigiano Reggiano, a cheese to which I am somewhat addicted, offers a delicious sharp, nutty, and slightly salty flavor that has earned it the nickname “King of Cheeses” among culinary enthusiasts worldwide.

The Health Paradox of Cheese

Cheese is a nutrient-dense fermented dairy product consumed worldwide, though its health effects remain controversial. It provides high-quality protein (mainly casein), essential minerals (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium), vitamins (A, K2, B2, B12, folate), and beneficial bioactive compounds including probiotics. However, cheese also contains significant amounts of saturated fat and sodium, which are generally considered unfavorable for cardiovascular health.

The molecular structure and nutritional profile of cheese varies substantially by type. While many varieties contain potentially problematic levels of fat and sodium with limited nutritional value, others like Parmigiano Reggiano offer exceptional health benefits despite being cheese.

Multiple meta-analysis studies provide comprehensive perspectives on cheese consumption research, identifying uncertainties, biases, and knowledge gaps in existing evidence.1 Parmigiano Reggiano is characterized by exceptional nutritional qualities, containing substances with specific biological actions. According to the definition established by the European Union, it can be fully classified as a ‘functional’ food.2

Continue reading “Parmigiano Reggiano: The King of Cheeses”
Posted on

Healthy Carbs Can Help You Lose Weight

healthy carbs for weigth loss

By Donnie Yance

Contrary to popular belief, carbohydrates can be powerful allies in your weight loss journey when you understand how to use them properly. There are better carbs and worse carbs, and healthy carbs can actually help you lose weight.

For years, carbohydrates have been villainized in diet culture, portrayed as guaranteed weight-gain culprits. This misconception has been reinforced by the popularity and widely publicized success stories of low-carb approaches like the Atkins and ketogenic diets. However, this oversimplified advice lacks crucial nuance about how carbohydrates actually function in our bodies.

In reality, high-quality carbohydrates, for example from whole grains, play an essential role in fat-burning and metabolic health, and just might be the missing piece in your fitness puzzle.

Continue reading “Healthy Carbs Can Help You Lose Weight”
Posted on

A Healthful Approach to Weight Loss

For many people, weight loss is a challenge. Sure, it’s easy to drop a few pounds on a crash diet—but as you’ve likely discovered, this type of weight loss rarely lasts. Many people end up in a seemingly endless cycle of dieting/regaining weight/and dieting again. The side effect of this approach is that each time you diet, you lose muscle; and each time you regain weight, the muscle you lost is replaced with fat.

Developing A Healthy Relationship With Food

The first step in having a healthy relationship with food begins with your spirit, which connects with your mind (intelligence), emotions, and physical self. It’s important to consider your cultural heritage when choosing a diet, and to pay attention to choosing foods that are balanced and appealing in taste, smell, color, and texture. It’s essential to also consider the source; in other words, to choose fresh and wholesome foods from the earth, prepared with love and consumed with the intent to deeply nourish.

Continue reading “A Healthful Approach to Weight Loss”

Posted on

The Truth About Grains, Part II

In my last post, I shared my thoughts about the current dietary fad of avoiding grains and my personal approach to a healthful diet. In general, I recommend replacing refined grains with whole grains and suggest two servings of whole grains per day, served as part of two balanced meals. In this post, I delve deeper into the truth about grains, including scientific research that can help you make an educated decision about including grains in your diet.

Continue reading “The Truth About Grains, Part II”

Posted on

The Truth About Grains, Part 1

At one time it was fat and cholesterol, then it was yeast, and then salt. Today, wheat is considered the “villain” and the cause of many health problems. In the popular press, wheat is blamed for everything from brain fog, to dementia, to obesity and cancer. How can a grain once considered “the staff of life” that has helped to sustain humanity since approximately 10,000 BC now be considered detrimental to health?

Why Grains Are Not The Problem

Fueling this trend are so-called experts who are vehemently anti-grain, and in particular, anti-wheat. They profess that wheat is the root of all disease, and cite a great deal of research in support of their theory—but in my opinion, they are overly simplifying the complex science of nutrition, and are picking and choosing research (and misinterpreting studies) simply to support their platform. The internet is a great resource for disseminating information, and that includes misinformation. In my practice, I often hear statements such as “I’ve heard that eating grains causes cancer,” or “Everything I read on the internet says that the healthiest way to eat is to avoid grains.” As a result, I spend a great deal of time helping to correct these misperceptions and to provide my patients with a more balanced perspective.

Continue reading “The Truth About Grains, Part 1”