EatingWell January - February 2017

Effortlessly slender. Was there ever a more delightful combination of words? If that were me, I’d chow down on Ruffles and French onion dip every night. I’d polish off big juicy cheeseburgers. Time for the gym... forget it. Sleep sounds better on a January morning. But I don’t believe there’s such a thing as effortlessly slender. An early draft of a story we considered for our “Hit Your Refresh Button” section, which starts on page 55, mentioned a study that examined a group of women described as “effortlessly slender.” That irked me. I took out my pink editing pen, slashed out the words and huffed over to talk to Brierley Wright, our nutrition editor. She explained that what the researcher meant was that these women maintained a healthy weight without dieting. But…

Give your heart some love this February for National Heart Health Month by eating more magnesium-rich foods. Too little of this necessary nutrient could raise your risk of dying from heart disease, says new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Unfortunately, most Americans fail to hit the target magnesium intakes (310-420 mg per day for adults, depending on age and gender). The study didn’t explain how magnesium may protect your heart, but other research suggests that this mineral may help lower blood pressure. Start your day with a magnesium-packed breakfast of 1 cup cooked oatmeal topped with ¼ cup sliced almonds and 1 medium banana for 150 mg of magnesium. Or get your fix with pumpkin seeds (156 mg per ounce), cooked spinach (157 mg per cup)…

About half of small businesses fail in the first five years. Savory sauerkraut flavored with Old Bay seasoning, kimchi with just the right amount of heat and beet-cabbage kraut that balances the fermented tang with earthy sweetness. These are just a few of the delights Rachel Armistead and her husband, Luke Flessner, dream up on their family farm in Maryland. In 2012, the hobby fermenters knew they had something special when friends offered to pay for their products, so they took the leap into entrepreneurship to make Sweet Farm Sauerkraut a serious venture. Five years later, it’s a full-fledged small business with six employees and shelf space at 35 nearby stores. About half of small businesses fail in the first five years, so how did they succeed? In 2014, they joined…

You’ve seen the headline: “Sitting is the new smoking.” Study after study had linked excessive chair time with earlier death— regardless of exercise. But new research from the University of Cambridge changes the story. Reviewing 16 studies spanning 13 years and compiling data from over 1 million people, the researchers found that one hour of moderate-intensity exercise a day (such as brisk walking or casual biking) can eliminate the negative effects of sitting for more than eight hours a day. This is the first systematic review of the topic. The researchers say that, individually, the studies may have been too narrow to capture the impact of exercise, but collectively the benefit comes through. Can’t commit to a solid hour at the gym? Split it up into segments as short as 10 minutes.…

Medical problems: Bring your cat in for a vet check if you notice sudden changes in appetite. For example, an increase in appetite may be a sign of hyperthyroidism in older cats. And eating litter may be a sign of anemia. Behavioral condition: Cats can have compulsive disorders, where they eat things other than their food or groom obsessively, which causes skin problems. In these cases, seek out a boardcertified veterinary behaviorist. Genetics: Siamese or Birman purebreds are more likely than mixed-breed cats to suck and chew on wool. This can be a serious problem— eating strings could tangle your cat’s intestines. Boredom: Indoor cats may eat odd things for entertainment, such as shoelaces, ribbons and tinsel. Offering puzzle toys, games and playtime can help. Are You Recycling All Wrong? We separate treasures from trash…

Repeat after us: not all carbs are bad. Resistant starch is one of the good guys. It’s a type of carbohydrate found in bananas (resistant starch is even higher in green bananas), potatoes and whole-wheat pasta. Unlike simple carbs, like white bread, that break down into sugars in the small intestine, resistant starch “resists” digestion, staying intact until arriving at the large intestine. There, bacteria use it as fuel, releasing beneficial compounds (specifically, short-chain fatty acids) that may improve your gut microbiome and help keep you slim. In a small study published in Nutrition & Metabolism, adults who ate 5 grams of resistant starch at breakfast boosted fat burning for the rest of the day. In larger doses, resistant starch may help us feel fuller longer and curb weight gain. Plus,…