A new 5 year study of 370,000 Europeans has shown that meat eaters are more likely to gain weight than non-meat eaters, even when they consume the same number of calories per day. After controlling for other factors that could affect weight gain, such as smoking habits and physical activity, the study found that eating an extra 250 grams of meater per day would result in gaining an extra 4.4 pounds over 5 years on average. Read more.

Urban farming is starting to catch on in neighborhoods across the Greater New Orleans area. These farms, located in the middle of city neighborhoods, are a valubale source of fresh and healthy produce, an important role because many vegetables and other healthy foods can be difficult to find in some neighborhoods. Click here to read more about some of New Orleans’ urban farmers. Click here for tips and resources on starting your own urban farm. For more information on urban farms in New Orleans, visit the New Orleans Food and Farm Network at www.noffn.org

Elsewhere in New Orleans, Liberty’s Kitchen was selected to be the provider of school lunch for New Orleans College Prep in Central City. Liberty’s Kitchen is an organization that trains at-risk teenagers for careers in the food-service industry and provides them with educational and job placement services. Liberty’s Kitchen will focus on providing New Orleans College Prep students with nutritious meals with a local flavor that will be freshly cooked daily in the school’s cafeteria, focusing on using whole grains, low fat dairy products and fresh fruits and vegetables. Read more.

In this video, “Food Addictions, Toxic Hunger, and Weight Loss,” Dr. Joel Fuhrman explains a simple truth: fad and portion control diets don’t work in the long run. The best way to achieve optimal health (and weight loss) is to minimize intake of foods like animal protein, sugar, processed foods, and caffeine - all of which feed toxic food addictions. Instead, aim for a largely plant-based diet that provides important micronutrients and fewer calories (even when you eat a lot of them!) while helping you feel full and satisfied. Click here to watch the lecture.

It’s the start of a new  year and a new decade and it’s the perfect time to resolve to get healthy. Walking just 30 minutes a day, quitting smoking, eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grain and reducing the amount of red meat in your diet are just a few simple things you can do to get started. Here are a few tips for keeping your resolutions.
Photo by: Georgy

A new study released by the University College London reveals that a diet high in fatty and processed foods may increase the risk of depression. The good news? A diet consisting mostly of fresh fruit, vegetables and fish may help fight off depression. Read why.