Magazine

Granola: The Calorie-Heavy Crunch Trap Granola: The Calorie-Heavy Crunch Trap (image credits: flickr) That innocent sprinkle of granola might be sabotaging your smoothie bowl more than you realize. A tiny ⅓-cup serving can pack as many as 200-plus calories along with lots of added sugars and saturated fat. Even worse, typical granola can run you 200 calories for a 1/4 cup serving and over 10 grams of added sugar—as much as a small candy bar! The problem isn’t just the calories; it’s how deceptively small those serving sizes are. A third of a cup of granola is going to look … Read more

Rice Cakes Rice Cakes (image credits: unsplash) Rice cakes are a classic light snack, but when it comes to long-lasting fullness, they tend to disappoint. According to a 2023 review in the Journal of Nutrition, rice cakes have a high glycemic index, meaning they cause a quick spike in blood sugar followed by a rapid drop, which often leads to hunger shortly after eating. Their low fiber and protein content make them less satisfying compared to most other snacks. Many people reach for rice cakes thinking they’re a healthy choice, but in terms of satiety, they fall flat. Even pairing … Read more

Acidic Foods Are Ruining Your Pan’s Seasoning Acidic Foods Are Ruining Your Pan’s Seasoning (image credits: pixabay) Picture this: you’ve spent months building up that perfect black coating on your cast iron, only to watch it slowly disappear because you keep making marinara sauce in it. A properly seasoned pan can be used with acidic foods, but is not the best choice if the food will be simmered for a long time, like tomato sauce, according to Virginia Tech food scientist Sean O’Keefe. When cooking acidic foods in cast iron, it’s best to keep the cooking time below 30 minutes; … Read more

Flavored Yogurts: Sweetness Beneath the Surface Flavored Yogurts: Sweetness Beneath the Surface (image credits: pixabay) Most of us grab a cup of flavored yogurt thinking we’re making a healthy choice – after all, it has probiotics and calcium, right? But here’s where things get tricky. The American Heart Association recommends a limit of 24 grams of added sugar per day for women and 36 grams for men, yet a single serving of some flavored yogurts can pack up to 20 grams of sugar. That’s nearly the entire daily limit for women right in one innocent-looking cup. What makes this especially … Read more

for Gut Health, Ranked from Weakest to Most Powerful Whole Grains: The Foundation of Gut Support Whole Grains: The Foundation of Gut Support (image credits: unsplash) Think of whole grains as the steady, reliable friend who’s always there for you. They may not grab headlines like fermented foods, but fiber serves as a prebiotic, or food for the “good” bacteria in the gut, promoting a healthy microbiome. Oats pack a particularly impressive punch with their beta-glucan fiber, which slows down digestion and reduces sugar absorption into the bloodstream, which lowers overall body weight and the risk for type 2 diabetes. … Read more

Chicory Root: The Gut Microbiome’s Superstar Chicory Root: The Gut Microbiome’s Superstar (image credits: unsplash) Chicory root stands out as the most concentrated source of inulin, a prebiotic fiber that has been proven to nourish beneficial gut bacteria. Recent research published in 2024 found that chicory root can increase Bifidobacteria populations by over 30% in just three weeks of daily consumption. This prebiotic not only boosts microbial diversity but also improves stool frequency and consistency, with multiple clinical trials showing significant relief for people struggling with mild constipation. Chicory root extract is now commonly added to functional foods, and its … Read more

Olive Oil: The Mediterranean Darling with Delicate Limits Olive Oil: The Mediterranean Darling with Delicate Limits (image credits: pixabay) Let’s be honest—olive oil is probably sitting on your kitchen counter right now, and chances are you’ve heated it more times than you’d like to admit. While olive oil typically has a smoke point between 374-405°F (190-207°C) and all olive oil has relatively high smoke points, the real issue isn’t the heat itself—it’s what happens when you reheat it repeatedly. When vegetable oils are reheated, they form aldehydes, which are toxic and carcinogenic, and prolonged consumption of food cooked in reheated … Read more

Flavored Yogurt Flavored Yogurt (image credits: unsplash) Flavored yogurt lines the dairy aisles with promises of gut health and protein, but many brands pack more sugar than a candy bar. A 2024 study by the American Heart Association found that some popular yogurts contain up to 19 grams of added sugar per serving—almost five teaspoons. That’s nearly half the recommended daily limit for adults in just one snack. Many people reach for yogurt thinking it’s a smart breakfast or snack, not realizing the fruit at the bottom or blended flavors are loaded with syrups. The World Health Organization has warned … Read more

The Crowds Have Officially Taken Over Paradise The Crowds Have Officially Taken Over Paradise (image credits: unsplash) Imagine trying to find a peaceful spot on the beach only to realize you’re competing with 16.68 million international tourists and 8.53 million domestic tourists who’ve also decided to visit this year. That’s the reality of Cancún today. The destination that once felt like a hidden gem has become something of a victim of its own success. Walking through the Hotel Zone now feels more like navigating Times Square than escaping to a tropical paradise. The beaches that were once spacious enough for … Read more

Bhutan’s High-Value, Low-Impact Philosophy Faces Growing Pressures Bhutan’s High-Value, Low-Impact Philosophy Faces Growing Pressures (image credits: unsplash) Nestled high in the Himalayas, Bhutan imposed a Sustainable Development Fee of 1,200 rupees on Indian nationals per person, per day in September 2022, which severely impacted tourist footfall, with arrivals dropping to just over 100,000 in 2022-2023. In 2023, Bhutan collected around $26 million in revenues from the Sustainable Development Fee alone, marking the highest earnings from the SDF in Bhutan’s history and exceeding revenues collected before the pandemic. The Department of Tourism sets a $100 per person, per night fee for … Read more