A new study finds that consuming chocolate may positively affect blood sugar and other health markers.[1] So, what’s the key to chocolate’s health benefits? Researchers chalk them up to a favorable nutrient profile and, surprisingly, the time of day the chocolate is consumed. 

Though a variety of lifestyle factors play a role in mental health, emerging research suggests that dietary patterns and food choices play a significant role in the prevention and treatment of brain-based disorders, specifically depression. No single nutrient or eating plan can cure depression, but the creators of the Antidepressant Food Score have aimed to classify foods and eating patterns best suited to alleviate its development and symptoms. 

I often get asked for perspective on how running as a mother is different from running life without kids. The answer is, I really don’t know. I didn’t start running with any amount of seriousness until after my first child was born, and this may be where my burst of visceral energy came from. Giving birth and raising children has been the most invigorating, exhausting whirl of momentum I have yet to experience in my life. For me, running and motherhood have always been woven together in a wild ...

Your body is your home. It’s also home to trillions of other living organisms. Trillions of microbes that is. And the composition of this microscopic community can have major implications on your wellness and performance. Fortunately, there are multiple steps you can take to support gut health and reap related benefits. Numerous habits, from meal timing, to sleep habits, to antioxidant consumption, can influence the makeup of your microbiome and its relationship with the rest of your body.

The start of a new year often comes with reflections and goal-setting, and this year, we’re challenging ourselves to reflect on our individual relationships with food. Mindful eating, a trendy approach to food rooted in ancient practices, relies on explicit attention to hunger and satiety cues and applying a set of habits to mealtime. Acknowledging sources of hunger, whether they be physiological or emotional, and paying singular attention when eating are healthy ways to modulate food intake ...

It’s the time of the year again where the days grow shorter as the seasons change. As daylight fades from fall through winter, we’re more susceptible to suffer from seasonal depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or S.A.D. According to Mental Health America, up to 5% of the population in the U.S. experiences seasonal depression.[1] But until more recently, the link between nutrition and mental health has been significantly overlooked. Here, we will take a closer look at how our ...

It’s no secret that many athletes or active individuals feel pressure to look a certain way or hit a specific number on the scale. But this mindset can often lead to overtraining or underfueling, both of which are harmful to an individual's mental and physical health. And though the occasional skipped snack or gel won't substantially affect long-term physical health, consistent underfueling, particularly during bouts of intense training, can impact performance, recovery, and overall health in ...

Cheese’s standing as a component of a healthy diet has long been debated. And it’s true that some animal products promote disease, but is cheese bad for you? Perhaps not—evidence shows that cheese doesn’t deserve to be treated the same as meat or milk. Cheese is a good source of protein and calcium, and research largely doesn’t support the theory that cheese contributes to chronic disease.