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Gums are widely used in the food and personal-care industries as thickeners, stabilizers and emulsifiers, but questions regarding their safety have arisen due to reports of potential side effects. The purpose of this article is to provide you with information on gums so you can make informed, healthy decisions about what you and your family consume.

Check out these five foods gaining in popularity for their uniqueness and health benefits. All possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds that can help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes and weight, and can be found at your local market, health food store or online.

As with any healthy change, taking an incremental-steps approach is the way to be successful. We know this is true of adopting a new exercise regimen or healthy eating routine, and the same goes for meal planning. Starting small, by planning out just one type of meal for the week, can prevent you from feeling overwhelmed by this process. Use these three tips to develop a realistic meal planning strategy that can save you time, money and stress.

Approximately 100 billion neurons in your brain rely on a steady stream of energy to function. The right foods will take care of your brain and keep it functioning properly. Conversely, the wrong foods can speed up age-related brain diseases and disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, cognitive decline and impaired memory. Learn how to nourish both your brain and body by making the right food choices.

Are you new to the ketogenic diet or are unsure what this latest diet trend is all about? Are your clients curious about ketosis and whether it can help them achieve their health and weight goals? Here’s your ketosis 101.

Dietary fat is experiencing a comeback in popularity. From weight loss to improved mental clarity, many health professionals are touting the purported benefits of a high-fat diet. Which raises the question: Should you buy into the hype and hop on the high-fat bandwagon or is moderation the way to go? Read on to find out the right answer.

Summer is the season with the greatest variety of fruits and vegetables available, which are the perfect fuel for your active days. Learn how to choose the healthiest options and try out some delicious recipes that highlight the bounty of the season.

While many people will default to hamburgers and hot dogs (been there, done that), why not give our healthy 4th of July menu at try? It highlights the colors of the season and emphasizes bold flavors that are guaranteed to excite your taste buds and make your body feel energized.

Carbs get a bad reputation, but they aren't all bad. Learn everything you need to know about carb cycling and how it works in this post from ACE Fitness.

There’s no one-size-fits-all diet, because all bodies are different. Learn how to identify which body type you have to determine which nutrition and exercise program can help balance your hormones. Following a healthy diet suited to your body type, in addition to getting adequate quality sleep and managing stress levels, is proving to be an effective way to lose weight.

Knowing what and when to eat to help support your exercise efforts and reach your health and fitness goals can be a challenge. While there is no one-size-fits-all formula, here are several research-based nutritional guidelines for pre- and post-workout meals that can be adapted to each person’s individual needs.

Spring is in the air! And as the season changes, so, too, does the food we eat. Learn about the incredible bounty of healthy and delicious foods this season has to offer, and try out three easy-to-make recipes that will help you savor the flavors of spring.

While it is tempting to turn to supplements to increase exercise performance and improve recovery, some of the most potent ergogenic aids can be found in the kitchen. Here are six foods that have been shown to enhance performance by improving time to exhaustion, decreasing perceived exertion, increasing speed, decreasing lactic acid production or decreasing levels of fatigue.

Spring has sprung and it’s time to say good-bye to stews, chili and the slow cooker, and hello to lighter fare featuring the bounty of the new season. Here are five spring veggies that are easy to find and can be used a number of ways in recipes.

Eating to optimize workouts and to maximize results is essential for physical fitness, and requires eating whole, seasonal foods. Here are four tips for choosing the freshest in-season foods.

If the beer is green, it must be St. Patrick’s Day! For those who view this day as an excuse to go wild at a party and overindulge in drinking, the day after ultimately brings regrets. Although alcohol has long been associated with fun and crazy times, here are some great reasons why it’s better to enjoy a party without getting tipsy.

Learn the differences between food allergies, sensitivities and intolerances, and how the food you eat can dramatically affect how you feel.

Confused about how much fat you should be consuming in your diet? You’re not alone. Changing recommendations have made it challenging to know what’s healthy to eat and what’s not. We separate the fat facts from the fiction to figure out how much and, importantly, what types of fat we should be consuming.

You’re hungry, on the go, and need something fast, tasty and, hopefully, nutritious. Is this even possible to find at a restaurant? Yes, if you can avoid several common nutrition traps. Here are some great tips for decoding restaurant menus and making good choices when eating out.

If you know you want to make changes to your diet that will help you achieve lasting weight loss and improve your overall health, check out one of these four recommended diets and see which one sounds like it would fit best for you. Just remember: There’s no single, correct approach.

Today on the ACE Fitness blog, we lay out the different types of sugar substitutes and their ability to be used in baked goods. Check it out!

Thanksgiving is such a curious holiday. At a time when we are showing gratitude for our health and those around us, you would think the holiday would feature a slow meal filled with foods that nourish the body and spirit. Perhaps it used to be that way, but somehow the traditional Thanksgiving foods have gotten richer and heavier, with enormous portions to boot.

Healthy holiday foods are easy to find as long as you can push past the mashed potatoes, cheesy baked pasta and dinner rolls. Learn how to fill your plate with brightly colored vegetables, lean proteins and a small amount of healthy fats for a macro-balanced plate that will leave you full and satisfied.

As adults, we can still enjoy the fun nature of Halloween without falling victim to the never-ending cauldron of candy. Yes, you can have candy, but what is the best choice? And how many pieces is a reasonable amount? Learn why it’s important to give yourself permission to enjoy some Halloween candy, while also placing healthy limits on how much you eat.

Sugar has become the Big Bad Wolf of the nutrition and health world. Associated with increased systemic inflammation, high insulin levels, diabetes, obesity, tooth decay and cavities, and cancer, it’s no wonder store shelves are teeming with all sorts of sugar substitutes, each purported to allow you to have your cake and eat it, too. Learn the pros, cons and specific uses of each one.

While exercise and eating nutritious food is unquestionably important, nourishing your body, mind and spirit on a daily basis requires additional habits that contribute to an overall healthy lifestyle. Check out these 10 habits that, when done on a regular basis, become the foundation upon which true health is built.

An estimated 27 million Americans suffer from thyroid disease and 13 million people are currently undiagnosed. Learn about the risks of developing thyroid problems and how you can help keep your thyroid functioning optimally by adopting healthy lifestyle habits.

If you have tried lots of diets and have lost and regained the same 5, 10, or even 50 pounds, you know that diets don’t work! The key to successfully losing weight and keeping it off for good begins with making changes to your mental game.

From the “low-fat” craze of the ‘80s and ‘90s to the renewed love for fat sparked by the Paleo movement, many people are confused and unsure about fat; specifically, how to tell the good from the bad and how much to have. Here’s what you need to know about the different forms of dietary fats and how they can affect your risk of disease and overall health.

Learn the secrets to being able to enjoy sweets and not have them wreak havoc on the body, along with three macro-friendly dessert recipes that are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Whether your goal is to get lean, improve performance, or build muscle, proper nutrition is one of the key factors to success.

Wondering which foods should be a part of a healthy, clean diet? Numerous foods make the grade, but some foods, such as dairy, pulses, nuts and seeds, can be considered “triple threats,” as they contain a mix of protein, carbohydrates and fats, making them well balanced from a macronutrient standpoint. Learn why flax seeds are at the top of this list and why adding them to your diet offers numerous health benefits.

Eating enough protein is essential for both maintaining and losing weight, as well as for helping muscles repair after workouts. But exactly how much protein do you need? Learn why you may be underestimating your protein needs and how you can get more protein in your diet. Plus, check out these high-protein dinner recipes that are both delicious and easy to make.

If gaining weight is your goal, it’s important to do so in a mindful way, paying close attention to both what you eat and how much you eat.

Losing weight requires you to change your current eating pattern and habits. To make this process easier, here are 16 of our best diet tips to help you lose weight and maintain the weight loss!

If you want to achieve better health by making changes to your diet, one critical success factor is taking small steps. These small steps pointed in the right direction will lead you to success in your bigger health and fitness goals. Making many dietary changes all at once can be a resister for disaster; instead, learn to make small changes over a period of time, which is a recipe for success. Try introducing these easy food swaps into your snacks and meals.

Maintaining a healthy weight can be challenging and, for some people, even more difficult than losing weight. The good news is that achieving lasting weight maintenance is possible. Use these 13 tips to help you succeed at maintaining your weight-loss goals.

Is eating organic food healthier? How do you identify organic produce and which ones are a must when choosing organic? Do pesticides cause cancer and other diseases? These questions and more are answered in this quick guide to choosing and eating organic foods.

Wondering how you can turn sweet treats like cookies and brownies into something that offers a little more nutritional bang for your buck? Here are a few tricks you can use to transform your favorite desserts into healthier—yet still tasty—versions that are sure to satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth.

If you or someone you know has an allergy or intolerance to a particular food, knowing how and what to substitute in recipes will make food preparation easier. Here are substitutions that offer similar flavors, textures and nutrients to the eight most common food allergens, along with ingredient names of hidden sources of these foods.