Real World Nutrition News You Can Use

There is a lot of misinformation about nutrition. And nothing in this field is black-or-white, yes-or-no, but many shades of gray and a lot of “it depends.” So, my goal is to help clear up some of that misinformation with some snark, entertainment, and facts (with some opinion thrown in). 

Many of these topics come from interactions with the public, friends, clients, and students. I see sheer misinformation about the science of nutrition, and I do my best to clear things up one blog post at a time. 

If you have a topic you are wondering about, let me know

Looking for a specific topic? Search to see if it is already here.


Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

Simple Food Swaps for Your Heart

While there are many foods you can add to your diet for heart health, consider some simple swaps for things you are already eating. Not all foods warrant a trade or swap, but consider what you could do. Today I list five simple food swaps for your heart and your health.

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

Heart Disease and Cancer - Many Diseases Under Those Names

February is American Heart Month. It is also Cancer Prevention Awareness Month. So this month, most of my articles/posts will address several things related to both disease classes. However, this post explains a bit more about what is considered heart disease (there are many things) and that cancer is not just one disease but many. Consider this article foundational for additional information coming in the following several articles.

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

The Case for Planning, Meal Planning

The case for meal planning. Now, don’t confuse this with meal prep – making the bulk of your week’s meals in one major cooking session at the start of the week. That is a different topic. Meal planning and meal prepping are two different topics. This is meal planning to save you time.

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

No Weight Loss? That is Probably Okay

Are you frustrated with your scale and apparent lack of weight loss? Consider this: the number on the scale tells only part of the overall health story. Does it say anything about our overall health? Not really. It just shows mass, and changes in mass, day-to-day. That's it.

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

Five Foods (and Beverages) to Consider Fueling Your Fitness

In the last post, I wrote about fueling fitness and how most people either don’t do it correctly or at all or believe it requires supplements. So today, I am giving the top five things to ensure you properly fuel, and recover from, your fitness.

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

Fueling Fitness

One of the most significant issues I see when it comes to diet and exercise is that people need to fuel their bodies in preparation for exercise - but they don't. While doing a 30-45, or even 60-minute run or lifting session, there isn't a need to carbo load, pound protein, or take pre-workout. However, properly fueling will help with a productive workout and feeling like it is easier.

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

Five Weight Loss Myths Busted

While I am always promoting that people should focus on their overall health and mental and physical wellness, weight loss is still a big focus for many people – not just in January, but year-round. Many drastic measures to lose weight are temporary and will result in weight regain when old habits return. I have found that many weight loss myths persist. Here are the top five myths regarding weight loss.

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

Small Steps and Your ONE Mission for 2023

Here we are in January 2023, and once again, people say they would like to lose weight. Great. Now what? Whether this is your first, fourteenth, or 40th time embarking on a weight loss plan, you need to find what will work and is sustainable for you and your lifestyle. What is the reason, or reasons, for doing this? Why now? Because it is January? To look better, feel healthier, have more energy, or all of these? No matter the reason, consider small steps to reach more significant changes rather than a temporary overhaul.

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

Five Things To Start (or Continue) For Optimal Health in 2023 and Beyond

With the new year less than one week away and another inevitable list of resolutions for a healthier life, today is a list of the top five things you can do now and for life to help ensure a healthier life. And you may think this is nothing “new” here. Of course, it isn’t, but oddly, this comes up perennially, so why not repeat it?

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

Quality vs. Quantity

As we enter this last couple of weeks of the year and a couple more holiday celebrations, let’s talk about quality vs. quantity. Not about gifts, nor about time with family and friends, though it should apply. It is about food.

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

Stop Black-And-White Thinking

When it comes to food and our behaviors around the food, we need to stop thinking in black and white. It is NOT ONE food, one meal, or even one day that turns our health for the better or, the worse. But the consistency of that food, meal, or day over and over.

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

The Magic of “Ten Pounds

People come to me to learn how to help and improve their health. I work with people on how food, nutrition, and behavior modification can do this and how it applies to their lives.

These things are never a one-size-fits-all approach. Ever.

I can have a framework for people. I can make a “blueprint,” – but it is never the same for everyone because we are all different.

And with weight loss, when that is their goal or what they want, we discuss this more.

The most magical number that comes up the most is TEN. The first ten pounds, the last ten pounds, the final ten pounds, another ten pounds.

The easiest and the hardest are ten pounds.

What is it about these ten pounds?

This question isn’t a judgment. It is an observation.

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

The Myth of the “Perfect Diet”

What is the “perfect” diet? It is the diet that would promote weight loss, eliminate heart disease, eliminate all risk of cancers, eliminate the risk of diabetes, and balance hormones. Does this exist?

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

Foods to Add in The New Year

Many people set goals for the new year to lose weight, eat healthier, or start the latest trending diet, including lists of foods to cut out or avoid. This year consider an approach different from a temporary diet or short-term program by doing something for more than a few weeks while also improving health and weight.

While there is nothing wrong with a diet for a couple of weeks or 30 days, dietary changes that will positively impact weight and overall health require eating better well past a month of restrictions.

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

The One-Pot Weight Loss Plan is a cookbook for everyone.

The One-Pot Weight Loss Plan, Healthy Meals for Your Slow Cooker, Skillet, Sheet Pan, and More was written in the summer of 20109 and released in December 2019.

It has 65 recipes that cover all types of diet preferences and restrictions, including gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan, including beef, pork, chicken, turkey, and seafood options. Many items are kid-friendly, meaning that kids will like it but may also help with preparation. It also includes breakfast items and dessert items along with main dish recipes.

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

What counts as water?

One of the more common nutrition questions I get is, “how much water should I drink?”

Along with that question is what “counts” as water and what doesn’t?

First thing: that adage of eight glasses of water a day? No one can find the origin of it. So ignore that.

Most adults need anywhere from 1450 ml – 2,800 ml of fluid per day for body function. That is roughly 48-96 ounces. BUT we do not need to get that from drinking water only. About half of that can come from food, and about 15% comes from body processes, including metabolism.

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

Diet, Weight Loss, and the Dietitian

As a dietitian, I talk to people all the time about their diet. But in my experience, the word “diet” is sometimes viewed as offensive, occasionally polarizing, and often misunderstood.

It is a four-letter word that starts with DIE. Yikes. But we can manipulate all kinds of words to have a particular meaning, right? I mean, the word LIVE is EVIL spelled backward, which means what? Nothing.

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

Counting Macros? What are they anyway?

In the science of human nutrition, calories are the measure or units of energy that we need, and they come from food (and beverages). There are four sources of calories in human nutrition. Three are nutrients, and the fourth is not.

We call these three nutrients that provide calories “macronutrients” because they are necessary or essential nutrients in large quantities relative to the “micronutrients,” which are vitamins and minerals.

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Shelley Rael Shelley Rael

Wanting to Lose Weight For Good? Five Myths Busted

With warmer weather coming and lifting many restrictions from the past year, some people may realize that they may want to drop some weight before venturing outside and socializing again.

But before embarking on this, consider that many of the drastic measures to lose weight or quick fixes are temporary and often result in weight regain when old habits return. What can help with weight loss? Here are the top five myths regarding weight loss.

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