What Happens to Your Body When You Cut Carbs and Load Up on Protein

High-protein, low-carb diets can have short-term benefits, but slashing carbs too drastically might leave you short on key nutrients like fiber. A smarter move? Focus on a balanced diet packed with nutrient-rich whole foods. Benefits 1. Supports Weight Loss or Body Composition Changes A high-protein, low-carb diet may help with weight loss, mainly because protein keeps … Read more

5 Foods With More Gut Health Benefits Than Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut, a fermented cabbage product, is well known for being beneficial to gut health. Other fermented foods could be equally if not more effective, however, due to greater levels of probiotics, more diverse bacteria, or more nutrients and compounds. 1. KefirKefir, the sour fermented milk beverage, may be even healthier for your digestive system than sauerkraut. It’s prepared by adding kefir grains (a combination of bacteria and yeast) to milk, which results in a beverage that is loaded with as many as 50 various strains of bacteria and yeast. What is particularly special about kefir is its high contents of distinctive bacteria such as Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens and Lactobacillus kefiri, and yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces marxianus. This makes kefir capable of enhancing good gut bacteria, enhancing microbial balance, and supporting digestion. In addition to probiotics, kefir … Read more

9 Health Benefits of Eating Oats and Oatmeal

What Are Oats and Oatmeal? Oats are a whole-grain food, scientifically known as Avena sativa. The least processed form is oat groats, which take a while to cook. That’s why most people go for rolled, crushed, or steel-cut oats instead. Instant (or quick) oats are the most processed type. They cook the fastest, but the texture … Read more

Are Watermelon Seeds Safe to Eat?

There are plenty of myths floating around about watermelon seeds. Are the white ones actually safer to eat than the black ones? Should you only go for seedless watermelons? And sure, you’ve probably heard that swallowing black seeds won’t make a watermelon grow in your stomach—but are there any real health reasons to steer clear … Read more

Eating Prunes Every Day May Be Good for Your Heart

Prunes—also known as dried plums—are packed with fiber and great for keeping your digestion on track. But recent research hints they might do more than just ease constipation. Two new studies presented at the American Society for Nutrition’s July conference suggest that eating prunes daily could help lower cholesterol and reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. … Read more

Should You Try This Chia Seed Drink If You’re Constipated?

TikTok influencers can’t stop raving about the viral “internal shower” drink—a simple blend of two tablespoons of chia seeds, lemon juice, and water—that’s said to help with constipation. The magic lies in chia’s fiber, called mucilage, which expands when mixed with water, creating a unique laxative effect, explains Bethany Doerfler, MS, RDN, a GI research … Read more