Health Routines of Top Doctors

Weight Management

David Katz, M.D., m.p.h., director of the prevention research center at Yale University, author of Flavor Full Diet, and principal inventor of the nuval system.

Dr. Katz's motto: Love food that loves you back. "When you develop an optimal diet and sustain it, your tastebuds quickly acclimate to less salt, less sugar, and healthful foods." Dr. Katz says his wife Catherine's love of food and cooking helped him confirm that when it comes to diet, "healthy" and "enjoyable" need not be mutually exclusive. 

Imagine your food as part of your body

"I never eat a food that I don't want my cells, hormones, and enzymes being built out of. That means no soda, no junk food, no deli meats, and no fast food."

Rethink cravings

"Cravings are not reliable indicators of what your body needs if your diet is poor; but if your diet is very close to nature, you don't tend to yearn for foods that are 'bad.'"

Eat chocolate

"Dark chocolate is antioxidant-rich. I eat it when I want it--in moderation, of course. One of my favorite chocolate treats is my wife's Almond-Oat - Dark Chocolate Cookies. Combine 2 cups each of rolled oats and almond meal, 1/2 cup each of canola oil and agave syrup, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1/2 cups of bittersweet chocolate chips. Drop by rounded tablespoon on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 9 minutes."

Follow a smart fat diet

"After reviewing the evidence some years ago, I went from a very low-fat diet to a diet with more emphasis on healthy oils--nuts, seeds, olive oil, and avocados." 

Trade up your groceries

"I developed the NuVal nutritional profiling system (nuval.com) to help people make healthier choices at the supermarket. Food scores are shown on shelf tags so you can compare nutrition along with prices. For instance, an apple scores a healthy 96, while applesauce is only 4." For your ultimate grocery guide, check out the 125 Best Packaged Foods for Men.

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