CLEAN Food Network

Better nutrition is a vehicle for better health, but too much information can get overwhelming... what Ashley Koff, RD, calls "nutrition whiplash."When Registered Dietitian Ashley Koff asks people if they want better nutrition, she often gets a tepid response.However, when she asks if they want better health, the crowd answers with a resounding "YES!"Better nutrition is a vehicle for better health, but too much information can get overwhelming... what Koff calls "nutrition whiplash."The important thing to keep in mind when it comes to improving your health via your nutritional choices is what exactly your body needs.Koff breaks this concept down into four pillars of better nutrition:1) Quality. Make sure you're eating foods, not chemistry products. An apple provides you with nutrition; an apple-flavored food does not.2) Quantity. Your "gas tank" is only so big. If you put too much in your gas tank, things start to get messy.3) Frequency. Think of your body like a race car. Your body needs energy about every three hours. 4) Nutrient balance. Make sure you're getting a balance of carbs, protein, healthy fats, and non-starchy veggies.Koff joins host Lisa Davis to explain more about these four pillars, as well as why nutrition is the base of good health.

If you take the wrong approach to eating clean, you can easily spend your paycheck in one trip to the market.Clean eating can seem expensive. Certainly, if you take the wrong approach, you can easily spend your paycheck in one trip to the market.Those "designer" health foods you find in places like Whole Foods do tend to be more expensive. But, instead of spending your hard-earned dollars on kale chips, why not make your own? Getting back into the kitchen can save you a ton of money.Michelle Dudash, Chef & Clean Eating Expert, says going with the seasons is key. Produce that is in season is way more economical because it's more abundant. The concept of supply and demand definitely applies. Another tip is to cook in bulk. Make a big batch of a meal and freeze. Michelle loves to do a large batch of beans in her slow-cooker and freeze for the weeks ahead. Not only is this super-simple, but beans are chock full of nutrients.Listen in as Michelle joins host Lisa Davis to share more tips for clean eating without breaking the bank, as well as how you can be a part of her Clean Eating Cooking School.For more information, you can also text COOKINGSCHOOL to 44222.

Juicing is all the rage, but how do you know if you're getting a good, quality juice?Juicing is all the rage, but how do you know if you're getting a good, quality juice?The best way is to make it yourself. In fact, Steve and Julie Prussack, authors of Juice Guru: Transform Your Life by Adding One Juice a Day, believe it's important to incorporate one juice every single day.Juicing can be very simple, especially when you begin with Steve and Julie's "template" recipe of cucumber, celery, leafy greens (such as kale or spinach), lemon and ginger.Why should you choose juicing over blending your greens into a smoothie? According to Steve, you get more concentration of nutrients when you juice.Steve and Julie advise drinking your juice on an empty stomach, first thing in the morning, to reap the most benefits.The juice gurus also point out that the one juice a day protocol is an addition to your daily regimen, not a replacement.What kind of juicer should you look for? Steve and Julie recommend a vertical slow juicer; not only is it a great juicer, but it also saves on counter space... which is important for creating this daily habit.Listen in as Steve and Julie join host Lisa Davis to share more about the book, as well as tips for getting started with a juicing regimen.

Why is daily juicing more effective than a juice fast?You may have heard about extreme juice fasts or cleanses. Perhaps you've even tried one yourself.While there is a place for juice fasting in your diet, a daily juice protocol allows you to maintain health improvements, such as weight loss, more energy, better sleep and anti-aging. This daily practice keeps you in alignment with nutritionally sound dietary choices.If you do a fast, Julie and Steve Prussack, the "juice gurus," recommend doing a 1-3 day fast four times a year, with the changing of the seasons. An easy way to start is to incorporate Steve and Julie's template recipe: cucumbers, leafy greens (i.e. kale, spinach), celery, lemon, and ginger. Then, for added flavor, you can add things like apples, berries, limes, concord grapes, or even cilantro.Listen in as Steve and Julie join host Lisa Davis to share more about the benefits of juicing, as well as tips for getting started.

Learn why some experts call nitric oxide the “Miracle Molecule.”Doctors Louis J. Ignarro, Ferid Murad, and Robert F. Furchgott won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1998 for their discovery of the function of nitric oxide in the body. What they found, basically, is that nitric oxide signals the cells in your body to do their job.Prior to this discovery, we didn’t even know that we had nitric oxide in our bodies.Let that sink in for a moment. Until about 20 years ago, there was a crucial function of the body that we didn’t even know existed.In his own words, Dr. Ignarro said, “Nitric oxide relaxes and enlarges the blood vessels, prevents blood clots that trigger strokes and heart attacks, and regulates blood pressure and the accumulation of plaque in the blood vessels.”Essentially what he's saying is that nitric oxide may save your life. That's why some experts even call nitric oxide the “Miracle Molecule.”What exactly can nitric oxide do?Relax and Dilate Your Blood Vessels: Nitric Oxide relaxes your blood vessels, dilating them and making them more flexible. This lowers your blood pressure naturally without thinning your blood so you feel better and can enjoy life.Optimized Blood Flow: Nitric Oxide helps support a healthy cardiovascular system, getting oxygen rich blood to your cells. Recent studies have found that this can also help with Neuropathy (loss of feeling in your fingers and toes) as well as dizziness.Better Dental Health: Dentists have long known there was a connection between your gums and your heart. People who have suffered from Periodontal Disease have seen amazing improvements in gum depth in just a matter of weeks by taking a Nitric Oxide supplement.Prevent or Reverse Heart Attack and Stroke: This is the big one, the Holy Grail of Nitric Oxide research. Dr. Louis J. Ignarro and his fellow scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1998 for their discovery of the role Nitric Oxide plays in our bodies. Dr. Ignarro then went on to write a book titled NO More Heart Disease: How Nitric Oxide Can Prevent -- Even Reverse -- Heart Disease and Strokes.Listen in as John Hewlett, Creator of Cardio Miracle, joins host Lisa Davis to share more about the health benefits of nitric oxide.

The Center for Food Safety (CFS) is a national non-profit public interest and environmental advocacy organization working to protect human health.Factory farming and conventional food production has become extremely industrial. It's not uncommon for these farms to confine animals indoors for days at a time.The Center for Food Safety (CFS) is a national non-profit public interest and environmental advocacy organization working to protect human health and the environment by curbing the use of harmful food production technologies and by promoting organic and other forms of sustainable agriculture. The CFS is also heavily involved in litigation against government organizations such as the FDA. The FDA currently allows for the details surrounding research, safety and efficacy of animal drugs to come from the manufacturer itself, rather than an independent research group. An example of the battle against this trend is the CFS's long-fought success in getting the FDA to withdraw the approval of arsenic-based feed additives, allowed in chickens, turkeys and pigs. 

Listen in as Cameron Harsh, Senior Manager for Organic and Animal Policy at CFS, joins host Lisa Davis to explain the crucial work of the organization, as well as the positive strives it is making in ensuring food safety.

Just as antibiotic overuse has become a problem in the human population, antibiotics and other drugs are also overused in animal agriculture in the U.S.Just as antibiotic overuse has become a problem in the human population, antibiotics and other drugs are also overused in animal agriculture in the U.S.There is a time and place for antibiotic use, such as if a animal becomes ill and needs to be treated. However, for decades now, antibiotics have been approved and used in animals for other purposes, such as "production purposes." These drugs promote growth, improve feed efficiency (animal gains more weight by eating less food), and prevent illness in animals confined in small, tight spaces. This has resulted in rising antibiotic resistance, which is a concern in both animals and humans, especially kids, the elderly, and those individuals who are immune-compromised.Fortunately, organizations like the Center for Food Safety (CFS) is raising awareness about the dangers of overuse.The CFS does not aim to eradicate antibiotic use completely; you'd still want farmers to be able to use antibiotics to treat illness in animals. Again, the problem arises when these drugs are overused and for the wrong purposes.Listen in as Cameron Harsh, Senior Manager for Organic and Animal Policy at CFS, joins host Lisa Davis to provide information on why antibiotic use is so detrimental to both human and animal health.

The old wives tale of eating carrots to improve your eye health is just that, a tale. What foods should you be eating?The old wives tale of eating carrots to improve your eye health is just that, a tale. Even a poor diet provides an ample amount of beta carotene to contribute to eye health.So, what should you be eating to preserve your eye health now and into the future?According to Dr. David Kading, there are two factors when it comes to nutrition and eye health. First, you want to eat foods that will benefit your retinal health through the preservation of the macula. You also want to eat foods that will maintain quality moisture and prevent dryness.Two types of foods that Dr. Kading recommends are good quality fish, which contains omega-3s (or pure omega-3 supplements) and red, orange and yellow vegetables, which provide provide zeaxanthin and lutein and protect your macula.Why is this important?Macular degeneration causes you to lose your central vision. The "garbage disposal" of the eyes isn't as effective at getting rid of old cells. Much like any other disease, macular degeneration isn't a result of you doing something wrong one time, but rather an accumulation of factors (including blue light exposure). In order to avoid macular degeneration, you need to support the protective layers of the eye, the macular pigment. Zeaxanthin and lutein are superb components for helping to boost the macular pigment.Listen in as Dr. Kading joins host Lisa Davis to explain more about which nutrients are best for preserving eye health.

You no longer have to feel guilty about eating healthy fats and sumptuous dishes.From the perspective of a chef, being able to use good quality fat is the key to savory, fulfilling dishes.But, you no longer have to feel guilty about eating healthy fats and sumptuous dishes.Science has proven that healthy fat satiates your body (and your brain) in a way that actually helps you beat cravings and lose weight.It's the concept behind Dr. David Ludwig and Chef Dawn Ludwig's new book, Always Hungry? Conquer Cravings, Retrain Your Fat Cells, and Lose Weight Permanently.The book contains recipes, created by Dawn, that bring in a wide variety of tastes and flavors, all of which can be tweaked and modified to fit your palate or accommodate allergies. Dawn's goal was to allow for restaurant quality foods to be introduced to the home kitchen, but also ensure that the recipes were easy enough for anyone to prepare. 

Listen in as Dawn joins host Lisa Davis to share some of her favorite dishes from the book, as well as why it's OK to eat fat.

According to recent reports, from farm to table, 40 percent of food goes to waste.According to recent reports, from farm to table, 40 percent of food goes to waste. Not only is this a waste of money, it's also incredibly taxing on the environment.Fortunately, there's a concerted movement to reverse that trend. Liz Weiss, RD, shares with host Lisa Davis five fresh ways to reduce food waste:1) Shop your pantry for your dinner: What ingredients do you have in your fridge, freezer, and pantry? Use up what's on hand before you go shopping for new ingredients. One recent example of a pantry meal that Liz created was a lentil soup made with leftover cooked lentils (from her freezer), organic vegetable broth, a diced onion and a few diced carrots, a few handfuls of spinach that would have gone bad had she not used it that day, organic tomato sauce, and shredded Parmesan cheese on top. 2) Cook mindfully by re-purposing leftovers in creative ways: Let's say you roast up a chicken for dinner and you have leftovers. Either freeze your leftover chicken right away (be sure to label and date) or create a delicious chicken salad the next day by dicing the chicken and mixing with plain Greek yogurt, chopped nuts, fresh herbs like tarragon, and chopped organic celery or apple. As for that leftover tarragon, if you don't use it up, freeze it for later use. 3) Resist impulse buying at the supermarket by going to the market prepared with a plan: The more organized you are the more money you'll save. Impulse buying can result in purchasing beautiful organic produce that you don't use up or buying ingredients you already have. Plan your meals out for the week and then write a detailed grocery list.4) Eat ugly fruits and veggies: Ugly produce gets tossed by farmers and food retailers, but if you buy it without complaint, they'll stock it. Organic apples, for example, don't look shiny because they are not waxed. The more consumers seek out less than "perfect" looking produce, the more retailers will end up buying from hard working farmers. 5) Play seek vs. hide with your food: Your fridge and freezer tend to hide food. Take stock of what's on hand each week and rotate older food to the front of your fridge so you use it up before it goes bad.