Guckenheimer Insights

Humans have a natural penchant for salt, fat, and sugar, as these types of foods have been shown to light up reward centers in our brain. No wonder why it’s so difficult to turn down free pizza in the breakroom or donuts at an A.M. meeting!

Five basic tastes influence the vast variety of flavors in our food: sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami, or savory. Despite our biological taste temptations, it is possible to enjoy all tastes by savoring the inherent flavor in nutrient-dense foods!

Do you have a pulse everyday? We don’t mean a heartbeat- we mean the dry-harvested legumes called Pulses! This month we’ll celebrate Pulse Day, a time to try new foods and old favorites. Here are some familiar, and not-so-familiar pulses to try this month:

When it comes to eating well, many of us worry about specific foods, amounts, or timing. The questions often center around:  “Is pasta going to make me gain weight?”  “Do I need to eat after I exercise?”  “I’m trying to lose 20 pounds, should I do keto or go Paleo?”  What if there was a way to eat that was portable, not dependent on your surroundings, or even what is on your plate? There is! It’s eating slowly, instead of scarfing food while typing emails or between meetings, and it can be one of the biggest keys to a healthy weight—and a right view of food.  How can it help?

Wait...what?? Did I read that right? The holiday season is typically seen as a threat to our healthy eating routines, with plenty of parties, tempting treats, and indulgent foods. While what we eat does matter, how we eat is just as important—and when it comes to the holidays, there are actually many behaviors we get right that should be embraced, celebrated, and carried into the new year.

Have you heard about Biohacking?

Biohacking, also known as DIY biology, typically means testing out various lifestyle choices to advance your health and wellbeing. Often consisting of incremental behavior changes, biohacking can involve everything from shifts in your diet to implanting devices in one’s body.

Are you looking to light a fire of energy every morning? To cruise into the office on full power, ready to start the day? If this dreamscape scenario has been on your wish list for too long, it could be that you aren't fueling your body properly in the morning. Our bodies’ preferred source of energy comes from glucose, which is supplied by carbs in the diet. But before you try to rationalize that sugar-bomb 20-ounce, frappa-something in your hand, remember the cardinal rule when it comes to fuel: Quality Matters.

It’s hot outside. And this means we all need to stay hydrated. Dehydration isn’t just uncomfortable, it can be dangerous, too. We’ve been hearing all summer that we need to drink more water when it’s hot out. That’s true, but it’s also a little bit boring. So, let’s think of other, tastier ways to stay hydrated!

Here are our top 5 fruits and vegetables that will help you beat the heat in August.

Did you know that some of your favorite summer fruits and vegetables can help keep you hydrated?  It’s true!  Faves like fresh juicy peaches, cucumbers, watermelon and tomatoes are made mostly of water.  In addition to tasty fresh flavors and a whole bunch of nutrients, these summertime picks help combat the dehydrating effects of hot weather.

Whether you’re running to lose weight, going to fitness classes to have a healthier heart or somewhere in between, pinning down a nutrition strategy can take some planning. Here are some pre-workout fueling mistakes to avoid.

10 Ways to Reduce Food Waste