Heart HealthThe Yuka App: What It Gets Right (and Where to Use Your Own Judgment)
Last year I started scanning barcodes of foods when grocery shopping to try the Yuka app. When I scanned my favorite dried mangoes from Sam’s, I was very sad to see its score so low. Due to using Yuka and scanning more foods and looking closer at ingredients, I’ve changed some of my usual purchases. I actually rarely purchase dried mangoes now because it’s hard to find options in my area that don’t have all the added sugar, preservatives, and processing.
Continue readingHeart HealthAre Artificial Sweeteners Bad for Your Heart? Here’s What the Evidence Says
If you’ve made the switch from sugar to artificial sweeteners, you were probably trying to do the right thing. Less sugar, fewer calories, better numbers. It’s a reasonable trade-off, and for years the message was clear: these products are safe, tested, and a smarter choice than sugar. But are artificial sweeteners bad for your heart? The science is getting more complicated.
A wave of research published in 2025 and 2026 has raised real questions about whether artificial sweeteners are as heart-neutral as once believed, and some of the findings are worth paying attention to if you’re managing blood pressure or cholesterol. This article breaks down what the current evidence actually shows, where the research is still unsettled, and what it means for your daily choices.
Continue readingLose WeightDo Detox Diets Work? What Your Body Needs
Every spring, the idea of “detoxing” resurfaces. Juice cleanses, teas, supplements, and programs promising to reset your body and flush out toxins.
It sounds appealing: a fresh start, a clean slate.
But do detox diets actually work?
Continue readingHeart HealthHealth Benefits of Bananas: A Heart-Healthy Fruit for Energy and Blood Pressure
Bananas are one of the most widely consumed fruits in the world. The health benefits of bananas extend well beyond convenience. When eaten regularly as part of a balanced diet, bananas can support energy levels, digestion, blood pressure regulation, and overall heart health. Their combination of carbohydrates, fiber, potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins provide important nutrients that contribute to metabolic and cardiovascular wellness.
Continue readingHeart HealthNew US Food Pyramid 2026: What Changed in the Updated Dietary Guidelines?
Nutrition guidance in the United States has evolved over the decades, from the original food pyramid to MyPlate and now back to a redesigned pyramid. The new US food pyramid 2026, introduced alongside the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, reflects a noticeable shift in how we’re encouraged to think about food and long-term health.
So what changed, and what does it mean for your plate?
Continue readingHeart HealthHow to Use Jesse Itzler’s Misogi to Reach Your Health Goals
Over the past few years, I’ve become increasingly familiar with Jesse Itzler’s work and the way he thinks about challenge, growth, and living life with intention. Many of you know that in 2023 I completed the 29029 Everesting event, and in 2024 I took on the 29029 Trail endurance event. Both were created by a company Jesse co-founded. Learning about the Jesse Itzler Misogi method has been especially inspiring for how to approach big health goals with intention and structure.
What I’ve learned through those experiences is that big, meaningful change never happens by accident. It happens through structure, intention, and stretching yourself. And that’s exactly what Jesse teaches.
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