HealthCore

 It has now been almost two years that I have lived as a vegetarian and because of that, I can attest to how difficult it can be to find brands that fully, truthfully honor it. On top of that, no one feels like cooking all the time! Vegetarians should be allowed to pick up a frozen dinner from the grocery store too! So, let's talk about and compare some brands that I love!  If you have ever shopped in a grocery store, you have seen the brand Impossible Foods. This brand is essentially one that creates a variation of different frozen foods and meals using vegan meat or tofu. They have products such as ground beef, sausage, and chicken. What I love most about the Impossible brand is the fact that it is such a great base for meals. Though a lot of meal options can be heated and served as is, they also have frozen products that can be easily added to other recipes.  But, one of my favorite aspects of this brand is the fact that a lot of their base products come plain meaning ...

Since summer is around the corner, it got me thinking and recalling those worries I would have as this season approached in the past. In the past, I would get a lot of anxiety as the warm weather was nearing because that meant it was time for shorts, bathing suits, and overall just a lot more skin showing.  Those of you who have struggled with body image issues or continue to understand this feeling of panic. What am I going to wear? Is my body going to look good in it? Will other people judge my arms or legs?  I know it is naive to believe that I can end every single person's negative thoughts about themselves. However, I would like to say a few things... Every single person (even the ones you think are too 'perfect') has their own self-critiques. It does not come in one font. So, if you are to hear someone make a negative comment about themselves, remember it's real for them. Acknowledge their feelings and reassure them! It'll come back to you!  Something that has...

 Hi everyone!  I wanted to discuss a problem that I have been noticing and one that a few of you have brought to my attention. Protein bars! Recently, I found myself in the grocery store when a new brand of protein bar caught my attention. The brand stated on the front of the box that it helped promote gut health. So, if any of you know me, you know I am all over that. Additionally, as someone with food allergies and also just a general curiosity, I took it upon myself to read the ingredients.  What I found discouraged me. Upon looking at this protein bar, I found the product was very high in sugar alcohol. For those of you who do not know, sugar alcohol is often added to products as a low-calorie sweetener. However, it is prone to causing some digestive issues and irritating the digestive tract. Normally, this wouldn't bother me as much as it did because I know some products are not specifically promoting aid in digestion or something along those lines.  But, this b...

The keto diet was first introduced as an alternative to fasting which is a bit ironic now since almost everyone has heard of the infamous keto diet. I did my own trial run with a keto diet from November of 2023 to December of 2023 and decided to discuss my findings with this particular diet.                  First and foremost, I would rate my experience as a 6.5/10. A keto diet exists primarily to cut out high-carb foods. It is important to note that foods deemed low calorie can still be high carb! In other words, there is a lot of thought that goes into this diet.  The first (and hardest) step was to find alternatives for the foods a keto diet does not permit. For example, bananas had to go because they are high in carbs BUT the switch was made to berries only. Sweet potatoes, a favorite of mine, also had to go and were replaced with cauliflower.       After the first week, I found a lot of the food I was...

 It is no secret that high-fiber foods have been a key element in the health industry for some time now. Foods that are high in fiber are known to help lower cholesterol levels, aid in digestion and promote a healthy colon. Through the years, we have seen how different elements of our diets are picked apart and highlighted as either positive or negative. Fiber has always been one of the main elements in these discussions.  Furthermore, I would like to discuss the predictions I have regarding high-fiber foods in the 2024 year.  Foods high in fiber have become increasingly integrated into our everyday ingredients. For example, we are finding ways to incorporate higher fiber levels in cereals, snack bars, bakery goods, pasta, noodles, and even crackers. In addition to that, this element is also being introduced at a higher level to flavor additives such as vanilla extracts, honey, and chocolate.  With that being said, a prediction I have for the fiber food market movin...

So, I can only assume most of you have at least heard of the term "pescatarian". I can also only assume you hear the word pescatarian and immediately think of that social media influencer in LA promoting yet another catchy trend on her Instagram.  However, pescatarianism is indeed more than another dieting trend and many assumptions are floating around as to what a pescatarian actually is. To put it simply, a pescatarian diet is one that basically follows vegetarianism but with a few additions. Most pescatarians will include... -Fish and shellfish  -Dairy (yogurt, milk, and cheese)  -Nuts and seeds -Eggs  This of course is not a blanket statement as many individuals will eat intuitively and do what feels right for them!  Another common misconception of pescatarians which is a little on the lighter side... - You can't go out to eat anymore. - You will be a burden or inconvenience -You won't be able to eat at fast food places  Definitely not true! As someone ...

 Growing up, the reality show Weight Watchers was often playing on the TV. I remember sitting in awe of how someone could lose that much weight in that little time. As I began on my health journey, I would brainstorm some of how this show was inaccurate. Yes, this was indeed a reality show and much of what we see on TV does not depict the truth. However, I wanted to highlight some of the critiques I have for this show in particular.  First, I feel as though a lot of the contestants on the show were thrown into the deep end. Most of them did not have a lot of knowledge on the topic of health and exercise, which I believe is a crucial first step in beginning a health journey.  Instead, I would have each contestant take a course that taught the fundamentals of how one can lose and gain weight, how the food we eat affects weight gain or loss, and how one can lose weight safely.  Lacking proper education in this area can lead to unsustainable weight change. Without proper...