Smoothies, granola bars, muffins... They're just three of the top 10 "healthy foods" that may be undermining you weight loss attempts. "We put a health halo around some foods that really haven't earned it," says registered dietitian Nora Norback. See how many of the top 10 foods you are guilty of slipping into your struggling diet. For the full story, go to http://www.bnd.com/yourlife/story/779986.html...

Nearly 96,000 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with the potentially deadly bacterium E. coli 0157:H7 have been recalled by an Illinois meat packer. E. coli 0157:H7—which can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea, and kidney failure—poses the greatest danger to the very young, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems, says the USDA's Food Safety Inspection Service. For the recalled products and a complete report on who's at risk, check this link: http://health.msn.com/nutrition/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100239058>1=31036...

Osteoporosis and low bone mass are a major public health threat for almost 44 million U.S. women and men aged 50 and older. Women are four times more likely than men to develop osteoporosis. The 44 million Americans with either osteoporosis or low bone mass represent 55 percent of the people aged 50 and older in the United States. By the year 2010, it is estimated that over 52 million women and men in this same age category will be affected. If current trends continue, the figure will climb to over 61 million by 2020. So with that being said we...

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's "What We Eat in America" report, the seven most neglected nutrients are calcium, potassium, fiber, magnesium and vitamins A, C and E. Atlanta Journal-Constitution writer Carolyn O'Neil tells you how to load up on these important nutrients when dining out. It's nice for a change to be told what to eat rather than what not to eat. Order up! For the rest of O'Neil's feature, head here http://www.ajc.com/services/content/health/stories/2009/05/20/seven_nutrients.html...

Color me stunned.... and happy... and determined... and ecstatic... and amazed... The scale tells me I have lost FOUR MORE POUNDS. So, after 7 weeks on the Diet-to-Go Carb30 plan I am down a full 30 pounds, having slimmed from my all-time high of 256 to a much better 226!! The actual scale number was 226.4; just last week I weighed in at 230.5! This had been one of those weeks when I felt I had either plateaued or maybe even gained back a few tenths. But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... I lost four more pounds. I simply LOVE this low-carb diet. When...

May. What a great month. There’s May flowers (and an end to April showers)… there’s Mother’s Day… there’s the Indianapolis 500… and then there’s Memorial Day. And with Memorial Day comes that old familiar cry… Ladies and gentlemen, start your grillin’! While Mr. Bad Food tends to grill year round – through snow, sleet, hail and anything else Mother Nature can toss my way – I know Memorial Day Weekend is considered the unofficial start to the grilling season. So, if you’re taking a break from your delicious home-delivered Diet-to-Go foods, it’s time to brush off the grill, clean out the ashes or swap...

If thin people don't diet, how do they maintain a roll-free figure? Well, "not dieting" is just the tip of the iceberg. "The majority of thin people — whether they have been lean all their life or managed to lose weight and keep it off — share several healthy strategies that help them stay thin and healthy with seemingly little effort," says Sally Wadyka, who wrote 10 Secrets of the Effortlessly Thin for MSN. For all 10 secrets you need to know in order to join the ranks of the thin, go here: http://health.msn.com/weight-loss/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100218116>1=31036...

How many times have you been driving in a hurry to get to a particular destination only to find that the road was blocked, detours were set up and your familiar and quick route was impassable? Frustrating, isn't it? Weight loss can be much the same way. We start on a diet - usually it's the latest trendy plan. We're armed with good intentions and plenty of desire as we head of down this all too familiar path. And then suddenly... a roadblock! Maybe someone brings donuts to work, you forgot your healthy lunch at home or worse, you had a...

Don't you just hate when the scale needle refuses to budge? Learn how to walk off a plateau with help from Prevention magazine and AOL. Walk this way to weight loss progress. "If the scale hasn't budged in weeks, your problem could be sleepwalking. No, not the middle-of-the-night kind. This type of sleepwalking strikes in broad daylight, and veteran walkers are most at risk. It happens when you become so good at your workouts that your body gets lulled into maintenance mode, burning fewer calories than before... For the rest of the story/workout, go here: http://www.aolhealth.com/diet/weight-loss-program/walking-for-weight-loss...

If you had bun, you had 'em all. We're talking about burgers and hot dogs on the grill. This Memorial Day weekend why not get a tad more daring with your grill menu? Yep, you can easily shake up your barbecue routine this summer by thinking beyond patties and dogs. For some, barbecuing means an eternal rotation of hamburgers and hot dogs. But with a little creativity and a few minutes of added prep time, there are enough healthy, tasty possibilities to grill a different meal every night for the rest of the summer, without ever having to sear a single...

The food police have combed through the nutrition information of some of your favorite dining spots to reveal some shocking facts about how they go overboard on acceptable daily allowances of calories (2,000), fat (65g) and sodium content (2,400mg). Warning: These are some choices that would make Mr. Bad Food gag. Sample this: Domino's BreadBowl Pasta, 3-Cheese Mac-N-Cheese, whole dish Calories: 1,460 Fat: 56g Sodium: 2,840mg That's just for starters. Get the complete feature here: http://www.aolhealth.com/diet/basics/bad-fast-food?icid=main|main|dl5|link4|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolhealth.com%2Fdiet%2Fbasics%2Fbad-fast-food...

We've got a bone to pick with chicken. Boneless, skinless breasts are convenient, but they dry out easily and pound for pound, they're a more expensive option. That's the expert insight of Jennifer Iserloh who helps AOL with its "smart swaps" portion of its Kitchen refresh page. For the rest of the chicken tip -- and a smorgasbord of other great advice -- go to http://food.aol.com/kitchen-refresh/food-swaps?icid=main|main|dl3|link6|http%3A%2F%2Ffood.aol.com%2Fkitchen-refresh%2Ffood-swaps...

Fuzzy nutrition numbers... underserved medical claims... fat-free but calorie-rich... These are just three of the scary 13 secrets that many food manufacturers rely on to lure us in to buying their products. Take candy products like Swedish Fish, Mike and Ike, and Good & Plenty. The packages boast a "Fat Free" claim. Sure, that's true. However, there's no fat but there is oodles of sugar and processed carbs. Check out the complete story and be prepared to be fascinated and grossed-out at the same time! The link to the feature by Men's Health editor David Zincenko and Matt Goulding is http://health.msn.com/nutrition/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100238557&Gt1=31036...

An exciting new report reveals a home-based exercise and diet program helped older survivors of colorectal, breast and prostate cancer stay healthy. According to the study authors, older cancer survivors represent an important target because cancer and its treatments are associated with accelerated rates of functional decline. I just had a brother undergo cancer surgery so news like this literally hits home. I am sure many of you can relate... unfortunately. Eat right and exercise -- common-sense advice like this just may be the magic bullet of a healthy life! For the complete story go to http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=21434...

Top of the morning to you! Despite a crazy week of travel and concerts -- 1,000 miles in a car and Bruce Springsteen live WOO HOO -- I dropped another 1.5 pounds on my Diet-to-Go low-carb meal plan. After 6 weeks of great eating and little to no exercise (my fault), the scale says I have lost a total of 25.5 pounds to go from 256 to 230.5! That means I have hit my first not-so-mini goal of 10% body weight and can now shoot for Goal #2 -- 10% more of my body weight. Wish me luck as I endeavor to...

A recent report on differing diet regimens discovered that there is no single magic bullet where weight loss is concerned. Nope. The factor that seems to matter most is the number of calories ingested. Many people came away from this heavily promoted study proclaiming it's all about calories... and a calorie is a calorie is a calorie. But is it? If you consider that a vegetable stir-fry with brown rice contains the same number of calories as a slice of lemon-meringue pie (around 350 apiece), does it matter if you skip the healthy meal and go straight to dessert? Or if you choose...

The FDA is muscling in on a popular cereal's claims that it can lower cholesterol and ward off a host of other scary health issues. Cheerios, which is made by cereal giant General Mills, has been playing the "foodaceutical" (food as a medicine) card for quite some time. But the governing agency apparently thinks the science behind the heavily hyped health claims may be on the soggy side. The FDA told General Mills to stop promoting Cheerios, the country’s best-selling cereal, as a product that can lower cholesterol levels, reduce heart disease and reduce the risk of cancer. The agency...

Many of your favorite eateries are guilty of salt and battery. Unsafe levels of sodium chloride, aka salt, in chain restaurant meals increase your chance of developing hypertension, heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease! So says the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit food safety and nutrition watchdog. This past Monday CSPI released its dire warning about sodium and restaurant food. Check it out here http://www.cspinet.org/new/200905111.html but be ready for some salty language!...

Most people get too much sodium in their diet. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend 2,300 mg of sodium or less per day. This is equal to 1 teaspoon. Other recommendations call for 1,500 mg or less per day for certain high risk groups. 10 Sneaky High Sodium Foods • Condiments – marinades, barbeque sauce, catsup, etc. are typically high in sodium. Limit the amount you use or look for low-sodium versions. Mrs. Dash makes a great marinade that can even double as a salad dressing. • Salad dressing – read labels and choose dressings with the lowest amount of sodium. Better yet,...

While sodium occurs naturally in foods, most of the sodium in our diet comes from salt or sodium chloride that is added to foods. Too much sodium can contribute to high blood pressure, a risk factor for heart disease. A high sodium diet alone does not cause high blood pressure but can contribute to it in those with risk factors. 10 Ways to Kick the Salt Habit • Read labels! Choose foods with less sodium than calories (per serving). • Fresh is best – opt for fresh fruits, vegetable, meats, poultry and fish. • Look for no salt added, low-sodium or less-sodium canned vegetbles, beans,...