Author: Julie Hand

Julie Hand is a certified holistic health and nutrition counselor (Institute for Integrative Nutrition ), personal fitness trainer (National Personal Training Institute), and yoga teacher (Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health). For over 15 years, Julie has penned creative and captivating content for publications both international and local in scope; from the international editions of National Geographic Magazine to Vermont’s sustainable food magazine From Field to Table. Though she can’t resist trying every science-backed health tip, she also has a penchant for crystals and astrology (don’t judge). You can find her walking the beach (coffee in hand, of course) and practicing the ukulele on weekends.

Hands around stomach with a brain icon overlaid

You Have a Second Brain In Your Gut, Scientists Say. Here’s How It Keeps Your Colon Moving

You may be surprised to learn that you have a second brain… in your gut. The enteric nervous system (ENS) is made up of millions of neurons that keep the colon moving. How does it do this? Scientists didn’t know, until now. Researchers in Australia discovered that the neurons in...

How Bulletproof Is Your Sushi_header

Why Sushi Could Make You Fat — And What to Do About It

Sushi might seem like a nutritious option. After all, how can you go wrong with rice, seaweed, fish, and vegetables? For those reasons, sushi is a Bulletproof Diet staple. But a recent Time Magazine story argues that sushi can be bad for your waistline, depending on what’s in the sushi...

night owls premature death_header

Night Owl Behavior Leads to Higher Risk of Dying Sooner, Says Study

Do early birds really have an edge on night owls? A new study from Northwestern Medicine and the University of Surrey found that people who stay up late and sleep in are at an increased risk of premature death than people who go to bed early and rise with the...

DED and cancer_header

Study Says High-Calorie Foods Cause Cancer. Here’s What’s Wrong With That

While cancer may feel like a disease that strikes completely at random, research suggests that 30 to 40 percent of cancers are linked to diet and other modifiable lifestyle factors, like weight and exercise. In a recent special issue of the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, nutritionists explored the...

Mashed turnips_header_holding mash_hands

Mashed Turnips

Mashed turnips recipe provided by Courtney Swan Meet the least well-known veggie of the cruciferous family – the turnip. Akin to broccoli, brussels sprouts, arugula, and kale, turnips are nutrient-rich and low in calories. They are also high in soluble fiber, making them a great food to improve your gut...

Slow cooked pot roast and brussels sprouts

14 Keto Slow Cooker Recipes for Hands-off Cooking

Slow cooker recipes are the ultimate solution for hands-off cooking. If you need an easy weeknight dinner that fits a keto diet, nothing beats having a batch of shredded chicken breasts for easy lettuce wraps, a keto taco casserole for emergency comfort food or saucy meatballs to enjoy with zoodles....

Nighttime Light Exposure Causes Depression Says Study

Nighttime Light Exposure Causes Depression, Says Study

Sleeping in complete darkness doesn’t just improve your sleep quality. New research suggests it may fend off depression as well. A recent study found a strong connection between low-level nighttime light exposure and symptoms of depression in older adults. Nighttime light causes depressive symptoms in elderly Researchers monitored the nighttime light...

12 Best Vegetables and Fruit to Eat Right Now_Spaghetti Squash with Roast Beet Sauce

The Best Winter Vegetable Recipes to Make Right Now

Each change of season brings a unique bounty to the farmer’s market. Right now, you’ll find late winter/early spring fruits and veggies, like broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and kale. Not only are they in season right now, but by eating them fresh and local if you can, you ensure you reap...

US News and World Reports best diets is blatantly wrong argue LA Times authors_fruit_measuring tape

LA Times Op-Ed Slams US News & World “Best Diets” Report

A new op-ed in the Los Angeles Times lambastes US News & World Report for their January cover story that ranks the DASH and Mediterranean Diets as the best – and healthiest – diets for weight loss. The op-ed authors, Gary Taubes and Nina Teicholz, warn that there are red...

Woman sleeping in bed

Study: Inflammation Gets Triggered at Certain Times of Day

A fascinating animal study finds that the symptoms and seriousness of some inflammatory diseases are linked to time of day. Specifically, the study revealed that a biological clock protein with anti-inflammatory powers prevented the onset in mice of one type of inflammatory disease, fulminant hepatitis. Fulminant hepatitis is a serious...

Do the Whole30 and Be Bulletproof Steak Avocado Bowl

Here’s How to Do the Whole30 and Be Bulletproof

These days, diets are about weight loss, sure – but they also aim to help you find a healthier, happier approach to food, one that will make you look and feel your best. The Bulletproof Diet, born out of a decade of work with some of the world’s top health...

Woman in athletic apparel running up side of mountain against ocean backdrop

To Run Faster, Supplement With These Minerals, Says Study

Want to upgrade your workout performance? A study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition finds that women who took a mineral and nutrient supplement for a month improved their three-mile run time by nearly one minute. The supplement included iron, copper, zinc, carnitine (an amino acid derivative)...

sleep

Do This One Thing to Fall Asleep Faster, Says Study

A study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology demonstrates that people who took five minutes to write a to-do list for the next day before going to bed fell asleep faster. For the 40% of Americans who report trouble falling asleep at least a few times a month, this is...

body fat distribution is more important than scale weight

A Low-Carb Diet Helps Shed Body Fat, Even if the Scale Doesn’t Change

A study published in American Heart Association journal, Circulation, has found that a low-carb diet was better than a low-fat diet at reducing people’s body fat—even if the weight they lost was minimal. The study used MRI imaging technology to observe changes in organ fat distribution, and concluded that a Mediterranean,...

Plate of energy balls

5 No-Bake Energy Ball Recipes

When you want a great snack that’s made for on-the-go, look no further than these no-bake energy balls. Also called energy bites, these snacks have a similar texture to cookie dough, but they’re made with better-for-you ingredients (without all the carbohydrates). These energy bite recipes are perfect for keto, gluten-free and...

Glass jar of canola oil

Study Reveals Canola Oil Is Bad for the Brain

A study in the journal Scientific Reports links canola oil consumption to memory deterioration, degenerative learning ability, and weight gain in mice – symptoms modeling Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The study is the first of its kind to reveal that canola oil is indeed more harmful than beneficial for brain health. Earlier in...