Eating whole grains may help you lose belly fat, according to a new study from Pennsylvania State University.

People who ate five servings daily as part of a low-calorie diet lost more belly fat and had lower levels of C-reactive protein, which predicts heart disease, stroke and diabetes, than those who only cut calories.

Researchers believe a diet high in whole grains may help shrink fat cells and reduce inflammation. Experts recommend consuming at least 48 grams a day. Below, three delicious ways to get your fill. (more…)

What is Kelly Ripa’s diet like? One cupcake, apparently. (more…)

Remember Chia Pets? Turns out, an edible version of the seeds they are sprouted from, called Salba, is the world’s richest whole-food source of fiber, report researchers in Canada.

What is more, Salba seeds contain more omega-3 fatty acids than any other plant food. In fact, just 1 ounce of Salba seeds provides at least 6 grams (g) of the heart-healthy fats, along with 6 g protein and 10 g soluble fiber – more than three times the amount in a serving of oatmeal. (more…)

Hello,

My name is Nikki and I lost 10 pounds already, but can’t lose the other 10-20 pounds. It won’t come off! I want to know the easiest fastest way to lose weight. How to eat, exercise, and be healthy. I heard that organic food works? Also, how can I speed up my metabolism so that I can eat more, but never gain weight? I want to lose this weight before the end of June.

Thank you for your help. [via Ask Questions]

Since you have not provided any details about your current diet, I cannot really make any specific recommendations, but I have a number of posts on this subject that you may find useful: How to Lose Weight Quickly, Easy Diet Tips, and Why Calorie Shifting Works.

Organic foods are great, but they are not going to help you lose weight. The easiest way to lose weight has to do not so much with what to eat, but with what not to eat. (more…)

Remember Mario Lopez’s Knockout Fitness? Now another celebrity, Melanie Brown (a.k.a. Mel B), is planning to release an exercise DVD.

Okay, it is not the same as a fitness book and it probably is not going to be as useful, but I guess it is not a fair comparison. It is just a DVD after all.

I have a feeling that as far as exercise DVDs go, it is going to be a good one. She is a tough girl and not that long ago I remember she made a few smart comments about training and staying in shape, which is unusual for a celebrity. (more…)

Do I look fat in this? Do I, do I? That loaded question was the focus of Lynette Evans and Arthur A. Stukas, psychologists at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. They surveyed 39 couples to determine what women hope to hear when they ask their mate partners to evaluate their appearance.

Their research revealed that women who viewed their looks unfavorably actually preferred their partners to confirm their poor self-image – and often got the kind of negative feedback they sought (for example, the comment:

“You should go to the gym”). Yet the women who received such confirmation rated their relationships as less happy than did those whose partners refuted their critical self-assessments. (more…)

Gisele Bundchen drinks O.N.E. Coconut Water (60 calories) to quench thirst.

Coconut Water is high in potassium. One serving of coconut water – which is about 330ml – contains 650mg of potassium. (more…)

Talk about bootylicious! On the May 14 finale of CW’s America’s Next Top Model, Whitney Thompson became the reality show’s first full-figured champ after she outstrutted the competition in a Versace fashion show in Rome. In a recent interview, the 5-foot-10, size-10 Whitney Thompson gives the scoop on her big victory. (more…)