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In 2005, she weighed 285 pounds with an A1C of 10%. Now, she weighs 195 pounds and has an A1C of 5%. How did she do it? We have the details on the success April Lawrence had after facing major adversity in the wake of Huricane Katrina. April Lawrence smiling with a handweight Credit: Nick Burchell The Situation After Hurricane Katrina, everything changed for April Lawrence. It was 2005, and she and her family had just moved to Atlanta from New Orleans....

No matter what type of sponge you use, I don’t have to tell you: they can get gross. A still buzzed-about 2017 Scientific Reports study revealed that an average of 362 different species of bacteria live on a single sponge, with 82 billion pathogens found in just 1 cubic inch! While most were generally harmless, other research has shown the presence of E. coli and Salmonella, which can cause illness. Here are the best practices we use in the Test Kitchen:...

prediabetes diet plan at 1200 calories Prediabetes is a condition where your blood sugars are higher than normal, and it can progress to type 2 diabetes if no lifestyle changes are made. Getting diagnosed with prediabetes can be overwhelming and may leave you with many questions, like “What changes should I make?” and “Where do I start?” In this easy plan, we take care of the nutrition by mapping out 7 days of delicious meals and snacks that will help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels....

A while back, milk used to just mean… milk. Nowadays, you can find numerous options at the grocery store. From cow’s milk to vegan non-dairy milks, it seems like there are new products popping up every day. Some people may need to avoid certain types of milk due to allergies or intolerances, which is a positive of having so many options. However, for others, making a choice can feel a little overwhelming....

wayfair window bird feeder Credit: Wayfair While it’s imperative to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, social distancing can get pretty boring. I mean, there are only so many walks you can take and banana bread loaves you can bake, right? I’m fortunate to be able to work from home, so I often set up my “office” at my kitchen table with a nice view of my backyard (rather than the blank white wall my desk faces)....

Miami Fruit, the rare fruit grower in Florida that introduced us to jaboticaba, is making it possible for you to try all the exotic fruits of your dreams. Their latest crop to grace our Insta feeds? A purple star apple! The fruit got its name because it’s about the size and shape of an apple you’d find at the grocery store (even though it’s a tropical fruit and technically not an apple at all)....

Three months ago, as COVID-19 just began to sweep across the states, we reassured you that yes, it’s still safe to eat fresh produce. And no, you don’t need to go bananas washing them with any special potions to prevent any potential transmission of the coronavirus. (That spreads via respiratory droplets person-to-person, not through food, based on all current knowledge from the CDC, WHO and existing scientific research.) But apparently not everyone is convinced....

pantry ingredients in a box Credit: Getty Images/fcafotodigital Welcome to Thrifty. A weekly column where assistant nutrition editor and registered dietitian, Jessica Ball, keeps it real on how to grocery shop on a budget, make healthy meals for one or two, and make earth-friendly choices without overhauling your entire life. In the wake of the holidays and another year coming to a close, it is natural to feel motivated for a fresh start....

a ten dollar bill with a trader joe's storefront in the center Credit: Getty Images / Westend61, Adobe Stock / Renee a ten dollar bill with a trader joe's storefront in the center Credit: Getty Images / Westend61, Adobe Stock / Renee a ten dollar bill with a trader joe’s storefront in the center Credit: Getty Images / Westend61, Adobe Stock / Renee a ten dollar bill with a trader joe’s storefront in the center...

By Jane Burnett, RD, LD and Jessie Shafer, RD Best Sweet Snacks for Diabetes Best Sweet Snacks for Diabetes To snack or not to snack? That is the big question for many people with diabetes. With current oral diabetes medications, snacking is not necessary to avoid blood sugar lows. But in some cases, snacks can be helpful for weight control. The key is to avoid high-calorie choices like potato chips or candy....

Cameron Diaz Cameron Diaz Cameron Diaz Cameron Diaz Bored by your basic leafy green salads? We found a solution from an unexpected source: Cameron Diaz. Yesterday on her Instagram account, the mom/actress/author invited us into her kitchen for a 10-minute tutorial of how to make one of her go-to summer salad recipes. It’s short on ingredients but big on flavor, especially once you follow Diaz’s instructions to salt with big, flaky pieces....

Every single Christmas, for as long as I can remember, I’ve gotten an orange in my stocking. Or sometimes a clementine, depending on what’s in the fridge. I always have a little chuckle at the tradition and, after drinking about five cups of tea and eating half the chocolate from my stocking, I eventually get around to eating it. Now I’m the one who adds an orange to my husband’s stocking, and vice versa....

burnt frying pan Getty / LauriPatterson | Credit: Getty / LauriPatterson burnt frying pan Getty / LauriPatterson | Credit: Getty / LauriPatterson burnt frying pan Getty / LauriPatterson | Credit: Getty / LauriPatterson burnt frying pan Getty / LauriPatterson | Credit: Getty / LauriPatterson | Credit: Getty / LauriPatterson Right now, you might be spending more time cooking and baking at home. And though many of us find joy in the kitchen, few of us enjoy tackling the excess of dishes that come along with it....

How To Start a Vegetable Garden How To Start a Vegetable Garden How To Start a Vegetable Garden How To Start a Vegetable Garden There are some really good reasons to grow your own food: you can grow organic vegetables, save money and know exactly where your food comes from. There are also many ways you can go about creating your own vegetable garden. If you just have a tiny window area or a small deck, start small....

Ina Garten / Barefoot Contessa in a kitchen counter with prepared food and holding a spoon Credit: NBC / Getting Images Ina Garten / Barefoot Contessa in a kitchen counter with prepared food and holding a spoon Credit: NBC / Getting Images Ina Garten / Barefoot Contessa in a kitchen counter with prepared food and holding a spoon Credit: NBC / Getting Images Ina Garten / Barefoot Contessa in a kitchen counter with prepared food and holding a spoon...

When we say “muscle-building foods,” chances are, your brain probably imagines animal protein-rich items like steak, chicken, eggs, fish…basically the menu that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson might eat while bulking up for a movie. But new research in The Journal of Nutrition’s March 2021 edition suggests that eating 1 cup of nitrate-rich leafy greens each day—including kale, spinach, arugula and lettuce—is linked to 11 percent stronger leg strength. The body converts these nitrates into nitric oxide, which can help widen blood vessels....

We’re convinced that Reese Witherspoon glows from the inside out, so we were curious about her diet and exercise routine. Witherspoon is dedicated to staying hydrated at all times, sneaking a workout into her busy day six times a week and eating a balanced diet—while still leaving room for an occasional fried chicken dinner with allllll the fixings. Here’s what she eats each day to look and feel her best....

Now that keeping your home clean is more important than ever, you’re probably looking for ways to keep your home safe without having to spend every waking moment in disinfecting mode. Turns out, your dishwasher is the perfect partner in crime for such a mission. “While dishwashers have become a standard staple across many modern kitchens, it’s safe to say they’re still widely considered one of the most underrated appliances,” says Paul Berry, owner of Mr....

It’s no wonder so many of us hopped onto the Instant Pot bandwagon and are never jumping off. Among other talents, this multi-tasking kitchen appliance pressure cooks, slow cooks, steams and sautés like a boss. “It cooks tough cuts of meat to tender perfection in a fraction of the time that braising and slow-cooking take,” says Oregon-based registered dietitian Elle Penner, RD. “It also makes the most perfectly cooked (and easy-to-peel) boiled eggs, every single time....

williams sonoma thanksgiving meal Williams Sonoma | Credit: Williams Sonoma Hasn’t 2020 been stressful enough? Consider this your official permission to outsource the hardest work of Thanksgiving to someone else. With so many companies jumping on board to offer Thanksgiving meal kits, there are options for everyone, especially if you’re looking for a few extra sides or veggies to lighten up the meal. Here are 10 places to order your Thanksgiving meal....