Principles for a Healthy Lifestyle and Optimal Weight

Ilana Katz MS, RD, CSSD Researched and accepted dietary principles may guide the individual to finding a healthy and appropriate lifestyle for themselves. I have laid out a few of these that within my studies, experience and analysis of current articles in peer-reviewed journals with an understanding that each human is unique. Unique in their metabolism/physiology, in their emotional and stress (psychology) and in their struggles and challenges with daily living.  Therefore, it goes without saying that there is no single “diet” or “lifestyle” that works for the masses. Each […]

Continue Reading »

DECEMBER 2023 NEWSLETTER

Season’s Greetings Ah, the holiday season! This is a time to enjoy family and friends, and rich traditions, but it is also the time of year when tempting treats are everywhere we turn. Unlike other times of the year when the occasional wedding or birthday bash makes it easy to overindulge, the holidays are one back-to-back, high-calorie feast after another. Holidays revolve around food and family, but Christmas actually has its roots in a feast. Although Christmas represents serious temptation for a dieter, following these tips will help you succeed […]

Continue Reading »

Eat to beat Cramps

The physiology of cramps can be complex. Nutrition may or may not have a role to play behind the why!! Stretching out and massaging muscles can certainly be a good start but this is often NOT enough, since electrolyte balance plays a major role in muscle function and recovery. Key nutrients include sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride and calcium. On a personal level, having participated in master’s swim meet, while training for Ironman races, it is not uncommon for me to observe swimmers gathering at the lanes end in-between sets to […]

Continue Reading »

AUGUST NEWSLETTER 2023

 Happy August Wow, can you believe we are now into the second half of the year? Time flies…. and with time, comes renewals, regroupings, recommitments to all those earlier goals that somehow waiver as we get too comfortable with them. Take a moment to rethink, and hope you are on your way to health and happiness as the second half of this year progresses. If you re not half way there, hop, skip and jump, or just break a sweat everyday !! I dedicate this newsletter to Lactose, since I get […]

Continue Reading »

Emotional Eating: Awareness and Control

Ilana Katz MS, RD, CSSD Emotional (or stress) eating has always been a hot topic, mainly because one can find themselves turning to the pantry or fridge for a source of comfort, even though the appetite stimulant hormones are not active. How it can be controlled, comes with an understanding of what it is and why it happens and then developing an appropriate strategy on how it can be controlled. Recognizing signs of emotional eating may seem obvious, like feelings of stress, anger, or sadness drives you to eat.  Underlying […]

Continue Reading »

JUNE 2023 Newsletter

We are still living in unusual times, and we are all probably coming to terms with certain changes will be forever. However, there will always be a reason to stay healthy and keep your immune system boosted, specially in these times.  I hope to focus on some immune boosting tips and nutrients nd for those not yet feeling ready to venture out, to keep accountable on finding a schedule with meal planning to avoid emotional or boredom or stress eating, huh? JUNE to IMMUNE Start with what may seem obvious […]

Continue Reading »

March Newsletter 2023

GREEN IS THE THEME Oh yeah, y’all — St. Patty’s day! Now, in the spirit of celebrating this most festive of holidays responsibly, here are some topics on how incorporating more “green” in our lives will allow us to eat healthier, celebrate conscientiously, all while helping out our mother earth. St. Patty’s Day Fun Fact St. Patrick was actually of Scottish descent, not Irish, and contrary to popular folklore he never chased any snakes out of Ireland. Environment Have you heard of “Carbon footprint”? Well in short, it is a […]

Continue Reading »

Go with your Gut   –   GI Distress from a different perspective

Ilana Katz MS, RD, CSSD Since a big part of my work with athletes involves reducing the risk of Gastrointestinal (GI) distress I thought a different perspective of the GI environment and how to nurture it would be rather informative.  The organisms and their metabolic processes themselves, the majority of which live in the colon, are referred to as microbiome and they dramatically effect human health in general, not just for athletism. The microbiome is made up of trillions of microorganisms ranging between bacteria, fungi, viruses, and others., all of […]

Continue Reading »

FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER 2023

February is often associated with Valentines; in February I usually focus on “heart health”  for my newsletter theme. Whoever coined the phrase “You are what you eat” was rather insightful, because much of what you eat can be a life or death matter. I cannot stress enough that proper nutrition should be the highest priority to help reduce the risk of heart disease, the number one killer of both men and women in the United States. Taking a look at the food you eat is like taking an inside look […]

Continue Reading »

JANUARY NEWSLETTER 2023

Happy New Year! Nothing much changes from year to year, when it comes to making resolutions.  Each year the following resolutions are most popular: drink less alcohol get a better education or job eat healthy food / get fit / lose weight manage debt /stress quit smoking go green save money volunteer to help others In a study published in the American Journal of Health, researchers at the University of Missouri found that, after looking at over 99,000 participants,  any method that utilizes recording and tracking activity and results significantly […]

Continue Reading »