Don’t believe everything you read
By now you’re probably familiar with antibiotics in your meat, pesticides on your produce, and the pink slime from fast-food outlets. But even supposedly healthy foods can pack some surprises. We rounded up some food facts you won’t find on any nutrition label, and the results may forever change what, how, and where you eat. Don’t miss the 11 common ways people read nutrition labels wrong.
The post 20 Food Facts That Will Change How You Eat appeared first on Reader's Digest.
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The alkaline diet’s premise is this: Replace acidic foods with alkaline foods and your health will improve. Why would that work, you ask? The theory is that by controlling your body’s pH level (pH is a scientific scale on which acids and bases are measured), you can lose weight and avoid chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease. Also a consideration in some skin care routines, pH levels are measured on a scale from 1 to 14; under seven are the more acidic foods like vinegar, animal fats, and dairy. Over seven are alkaline foods—these mostly include healthful, plant-based foods. When you digest a food, the leftover residue is ash, which can be acidic or alkaline. This is why the alkaline diet is sometimes called the alkaline ash diet. According to proponents of the alkaline diet, acidic ash can be dangerous to your health. By the way, 
While fro yo itself is a good treat, it’s easy to eat it the wrong way. “People go to a frozen yogurt place and think ‘Hooray, I’m being so good by having yogurt instead of ice cream, I can pile peanut butter cups and chocolate syrup on top.’ What was initially a good choice is now 600 to 900 calories,” says Angel Planells, MS, RDN, Seattle-based founder of 
Even if you’re not completely clear on what Whole30 is, you’ve probably heard someone discuss it. This 30-day detox makes certain food groups off-limits, with the goal of resetting your energy and health and kick-starting your weight loss. The jury is still out on exactly how healthy and sustainable this diet is. Ravoof Khan, MBBS, a general practitioner who treats patients battling obesity, diabetes, and hypertension, 
Ever since Atkins, most people think that cutting carbs is healthy and a great way to lose weight. According to a recent 
Jenna Stuhlmiller, 28, from Atlanta, Georgia, struggled in secret with her weight and issues with food her whole life. She jokes now that it was her worst kept secret because, unlike so many other issues, when you struggle with weight, there’s no hiding it. She tried to diet in the past but had little-to-no success until she found The Whole 30. “When you actually stick to a ‘diet’ and results start showing, people become interested in what you’re doing and want to cheer you on—and when you put yourself out there and talk openly about your struggles and challenges without shame and reservation, you realize that you’re not alone,” she says. This book by Melissa and Dallas Hartwig created an eating plan for her to follow as well as inspirational and encouraging words about prioritizing oneself and one’s needs. “It really struck a chord with me and came into my life at a time when I was ready to both receive the message, and commit to making real change,” she adds. Check out these 
Katie Dunlop’s journey began after college, as she found herself 45 pounds overweight and tired of the ups and downs of fad diets and trendy workout plans. She started to look for small changes that might add up over time. Her first mission was to search and destroy mindless munching. Every night as a pre-dinner snack, Dunlop used to nibble cheese and crackers while cooking. “I didn’t necessarily need that,” she says. Instead of banning this pre-dinner ritual all at once, Dunlop decided to cut out the cheese for a few days, and then phase out the crackers. “Food habits are the hardest thing to change, so finding little ‘tweaks’ became hugely important,” she says. Here are 
If your workout style includes plenty of lifting but not a lot of sweating, certified personal trainer and fitness director 
Are you a toe-tapper? A pencil twirler? A leg shaker? Don’t stifle it—all these little movements can bolster your metabolism. Fidgeters can burn up to 500 calories a day without even thinking about it. That adds up to losing one pound a week. Just make sure your fidget isn’t humming or otherwise making noise, as that may make your coworkers kill you, which would not be good for your metabolism at all! Here are 
