All tagged Healthy Heart

Full-Fat Dairy vs. Low-Fat Dairy…Is One Better than the Other? Which Should You Choose?

Full-Fat Dairy vs. Low-Fat Dairy…Is One Better than the Other? Which Should You Choose?

Chelsea Gloeckner

When shopping for cheese, milk, and yogurt, which is better for you?

Full-fat dairy?

Or low-fat or non-fat dairy?

These are questions I get from my clients, who often feel totally overwhelmed with making the “best” choices when they’re at the grocery store.

If you haven’t read my article, “Is Dairy Healthy? And Should You Switch to a Plant-Based Milk?” then read that first and then come back here. It will give you a thorough understanding of the science behind why you should (or shoudn’t?) be consuming dairy…

But once you decide to have milk, cheese, and yogurt, which type do you choose?

Fat-free? Skim?

1%? 2%?

4 %? Whole milk?

And why?

Let’s take a look at what the research is currently showing so that you can make the best decision for you 😊

Is Saturated Fat Bad for You?

Is Saturated Fat Bad for You?

Chelsea Gloeckner

I also remember eating SnackWell’s Fat-Free Devil’s Food Cookies after dinner with my Dad.

And my parents limiting the amount of bacon we had each week…

Why?

Because fat was the enemy.

And saturated fat was Public Enemy #1.

So what’s the deal?

Is fat, and more specifically saturated fat, bad for you?

Or is it good for you?

I thought we’d uncover what the latest research is showing, in hopes to get a clear answer on if we’re choosing to eat fat (or not) based on current science.

The One Food to Help You Be Happier

The One Food to Help You Be Happier

Chelsea Gloeckner

You know the expression, “Happy Wife, Happy Life?”

Well, I’m proposing an updated version of that:

Happy Gut, Happy Life!

You’re right, it doesn’t quite have the same ring to it…

But it does happen to be more accurate.

That’s because the happiness hormone, serotonin, is mostly made in our gut.

In fact, it’s a whopping 90% of serotonin that is made in our gut!

Serotonin is the “feel good” happy hormone that affects our:

  • Mood

  • Sleep

  • Appetite

  • Digestion

And if we’re low on serotonin, we:

  • Feel low

  • Have trouble sleeping

  • Feel anxious

  • Have cravings for sweet and starchy food

And chronically, low serotonin can increase the risk of:

  • IBS

  • Heart disease

  • Osteoporosis

So how do we make sure our bodies are producing enough serotonin?

Well, it all starts in the gut.

The microbes in our colon determine whether our cells make enough serotonin.

If we have a healthy and diverse group of microbes, then our cells can make serotonin.

And how do we make sure we have a healthy and diverse group of microbes?

We feed the good bugs in our gut!

And what do the good microbes eat?

FIBER!

Now, fiber comes in many shapes and sizes (soluble, insoluble, resistant) but there’s one type I want you to focus on:

PREBIOTICS!

Prebiotics are the specific fiber-rich, fermentable foods that feed the good microbes in our gut. 

Here’s your must-have list of prebiotics to add to your meals:

  • Bananas

  • Onions

  • Garlic

  • Artichokes

  • Soybeans

  • Oatmeal

  • Flax

  • Barley

  • Greens

  • Berries

When the microbes eat these foods, they grow and multiply and thrive.

And why is this all important?

Remember, Happy Gut, Happy Life!

When we feed the good microbes, they repay us by helping cells make serotonin.

And that serotonin, in turn, helps us live happier lives.

Need a few prebiotic-rich recipes to put in your meal rotation?

Try one of these to get you started:

>>Zero-Added Sugar Zucchini Muffins

>>Vegan Raspberry Muffins

>>Swiss Bircher Muesli

>>Rosemary White Bean Cauliflower Soup

>>Sweet Potato, Red Onion, and Spiced Chickpea Salad

 Your Action Step: Choose one prebiotic from that list that you will add to one of your meals this week!