pouring olive oil onto a hot pan

Yes, Your Olive Oil Could Be Expired. Here’s How To Find Out.

By Kiersten Hickman / April 12, 2023 / Comments Off on Yes, Your Olive Oil Could Be Expired. Here’s How To Find Out.

Be honest — how long has that bottle of olive oil been sitting on your counter? If it’s been sitting out on your counter and constantly exposed to the sun, we hate to break it to you…but you’re probably cooking with expired olive oil. Not what you were expecting, was it? Well, it’s true. According to…

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woman holding a cup of tea in the evening

The Best Tea for Sleep So You Can Finally Get Some Rest

By Kiersten Hickman / April 11, 2023 / Comments Off on The Best Tea for Sleep So You Can Finally Get Some Rest

Having the hardest time falling asleep and just wish there was a magic potion that could finally give you some ZZZs? Well, we can’t promise a magic potion — but a cup of herbal tea might do! Turns out, many herbal tea blends can actually help you finally get the rest you deserve, and we couldn’t…

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minneola tangelos on a table

9 Folic Acid Rich Foods You Should Add to Your Diet

By Kiersten Hickman / April 3, 2023 / Comments Off on 9 Folic Acid Rich Foods You Should Add to Your Diet

At this point, I think it’s safe to say that eating whole, real foods is our best bet in order to get all of those daily vitamins and minerals we need. Fruits, vegetables, protein, healthy fats, whole grains — eating a variety of these foods will help you reach those daily and weekly nutrition goals.…

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person eating potato chips

New Research Shows How Certain Foods Can Increase Your Dementia Risk

By Kiersten Hickman / March 21, 2023 / Comments Off on New Research Shows How Certain Foods Can Increase Your Dementia Risk

At this point, we’ve heard quite a bit of research regarding poor diet and how it can increase your risk of dementia risk. Foods that are fried or highly processed can have a negative effect on brain health, and researchers have made the link between chronic inflammation in the body and increased disease risk. While…

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supplements to boost your immune system

5 Supplements To Boost Your Immune System

By Kiersten Hickman / March 9, 2023 / Comments Off on 5 Supplements To Boost Your Immune System

We all know how important it is to take care of your immune system. The immune system is vital for fending off illness and supporting your organs and cells, protecting your body from bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxins. While your diet and your exercise routine do play major roles in the health of your immune…

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athlete opening an energy drink

Is Caffeine Poisoning Real? An Expert Weighs In.

By Kiersten Hickman / March 3, 2023 / Comments Off on Is Caffeine Poisoning Real? An Expert Weighs In.

The term “caffeine poisoning” has gained some popularity over the past few days due to a report of a college athlete who allegedly experienced it. Matthew Mayer, a basketball player for the University of Illinois, recently reported that he was out sick due to alleged caffeine poisoning. Mayer said that he consumed an energy drink…

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bowl and spoonful of zero calorie sweetener

This Popular Sweetener Has Been Linked to Heart Attacks, Says New Study

By Kiersten Hickman / March 2, 2023 / Comments Off on This Popular Sweetener Has Been Linked to Heart Attacks, Says New Study

Zero-calorie sweeteners have certainly gained popularity over recent years. They taste sweet, they don’t have any calories, and they don’t come with the same risks as sugar — such as blood sugar spikes and crashes. Some of these sugar substitutes are also popularly used in diet-focused foods, particularly in foods that are keto (short for…

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woman holding healthy bowl with blueberries and strawberries

Follow These 4 Simple Habits for a Healthy Heart, Says Dietitian

By Kiersten Hickman / February 28, 2023 / Comments Off on Follow These 4 Simple Habits for a Healthy Heart, Says Dietitian

We know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease accounted for one in every five deaths in the United States in 2020, and over 805,000 people have a heart attack every year. Coronary artery disease — the buildup…

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woman eating a salad with lean steak after a workout

The 3 Best Workout Recovery Tips From a Sports Nutrition Consultant

By Kiersten Hickman / February 9, 2023 / Comments Off on The 3 Best Workout Recovery Tips From a Sports Nutrition Consultant

While New Year’s resolutions aren’t meant for everyone, some may find success in revamping their routine and creating a healthier lifestyle for themselves in the new year—including a regular workout regimen. If you find yourself now working out regularly, you may be thinking about the best workout recovery tips to fuel your body well. What…

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bowl with oats and almonds and blueberries and cashews

Eating This Nut Every Day Can Boost Exercise Recovery, Study Suggests

By Kiersten Hickman / February 1, 2023 / Comments Off on Eating This Nut Every Day Can Boost Exercise Recovery, Study Suggests

Sports drinks aren’t the only solution for replenishing muscles post-workout. According to a small randomized-control study published in Frontiers in Nutrition, eating a simple handful of almonds each day may actually boost muscles during exercise recovery, reduce fatigue, and improve inflammation in the body. “In the last decade or two, we’re realizing that sports nutrition…

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woman blending up a post workout smoothie

The Surprising Supplement That Boosts Your Workout Recovery

By Kiersten Hickman / January 24, 2023 / Comments Off on The Surprising Supplement That Boosts Your Workout Recovery

When it comes to workout recovery, we know there are a lot of solutions out there to build and repair your muscles after a strenuous sweat sesh. Tart cherry juice is known to benefit muscle recovery by reducing inflammation. Protein powder — whether blended up into a shake or baked into a muffin — helps…

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woman staring outside a window during the winter

Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work for Everyone, Says Expert

By Kiersten Hickman / December 27, 2022 / Comments Off on Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work for Everyone, Says Expert

If you simply search the word “habits” on Amazon, you’ll come across 60,000 different results — most of them coming from books. The practice of habit formation has become quite popular over the years, with a lot of research pointing to habit forming as a solution for actually seeing success in terms of one’s health,…

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canned sardine toast on a plate

The 7 Top Recipe Trends Our Readers Loved This Year

By Kiersten Hickman / December 16, 2022 / Comments Off on The 7 Top Recipe Trends Our Readers Loved This Year

We had some hungry readers in 2022. Obviously hungry for delicious meals, but here at Clean Plates our readers had a particular hunger for all things healthy, fresh, and convenient. Between easy weeknight meals to using the freshest seasonal produce—as well as a few go-to healthy pantry staples—the Clean Plates community wanted the very best…

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6 Cookbooks You’ll Actually Want To Cook Through This Year

By Kiersten Hickman / December 9, 2022 / Comments Off on 6 Cookbooks You’ll Actually Want To Cook Through This Year

Do you ever find yourself buying a cookbook, cooking through maybe one or two recipes, then never touching it again? I admit it’s one of my pet peeves as a home cook—and something I try to avoid. Why spend the money on a cookbook if I know I’m never actually going to use it? This,…

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person holding a head of lettuce from a farm

Lettuce Prices May Get Massively Expensive at the Store—Here’s Why

By Kiersten Hickman / October 31, 2022 / Comments Off on Lettuce Prices May Get Massively Expensive at the Store—Here’s Why

The price of your go-to lettuce has likely increased, and no, it’s not just due to inflation. Although inflation has cost a 61% rise in price for romaine lettuce due to farmers predicting demand, prices will also take a toll due to a devastating virus that is taking hold of lettuce crops and creating a massive…

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roasted bronze turkey in a serving dish on a Thanksgiving table

Why You Should Cook a Bronze Turkey This Thanksgiving, Says Farmer

By Kiersten Hickman / October 26, 2022 / Comments Off on Why You Should Cook a Bronze Turkey This Thanksgiving, Says Farmer

Yes, it’s true — you can buy different color turkeys. With the most popular turkey-eating holiday rolling around, it’s important to keep in mind the type of bird you buy for the big event. Turkeys sold at the grocery store are typically broad-breasted white turkeys, also known just as white turkeys. Sure, these turkeys are…

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slow cooker pear and sausage stuffing

9 No-Oven Thanksgiving Recipes To Cook While Turkey Is Roasting

By Kiersten Hickman / October 17, 2022 / Comments Off on 9 No-Oven Thanksgiving Recipes To Cook While Turkey Is Roasting

Working with a small oven this Thanksgiving? If you’re in charge of cooking this year and don’t find yourself with a ton of space to make all of those classic turkey-day classics, don’t fret, we have an easy guide for no-oven Thanksgiving recipes for you to use. By using your stovetop or other nifty appliances…

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bowl of roasted potatoes

This Surprising Vegetable Has More Potassium Than a Banana

By Kiersten Hickman / October 4, 2022 / Comments Off on This Surprising Vegetable Has More Potassium Than a Banana

The banana may get all of the credit when it comes to being a potassium-rich food, but truthfully, there is an underdog that is generally unrecognized for its potassium benefits — even though it takes up a majority of the produce aisle at your grocery store. The underdog? It’s the humble potato! That’s right — potatoes…

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stressed man looking at laptop at work

6 Expert-Approved Tricks for Handling Your Stress

By Kiersten Hickman / September 26, 2022 / Comments Off on 6 Expert-Approved Tricks for Handling Your Stress

Having stressors in our lives sometimes feels inevitable. Between managing busy schedules, juggling lots of tasks, and navigating difficult social situations, life certainly knows how to throw a few stressful curveballs. Nevertheless, when we’re not handling stress in our lives, it can cause a myriad of health issues that affect both our mental and physical…

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sheet pan dinner with chicken and roasted veggies

5 Expert Tips for Cooking Quick & Healthy Weeknight Meals

By Kiersten Hickman / September 22, 2022 / Comments Off on 5 Expert Tips for Cooking Quick & Healthy Weeknight Meals

Sometimes cooking healthier meals isn’t always the most convenient; especially when a frozen meal or a drive-thru run is a lot more accommodating for a busy schedule. While these can be easy weeknight solutions once in a while, they don’t always offer the most nutritious choices for our health. But is it even possible to…

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soda in cups with straws

Here’s How Soda Really Affects Your Body, Says Dietitian

By Kiersten Hickman / September 21, 2022 / Comments Off on Here’s How Soda Really Affects Your Body, Says Dietitian

Can drinking soda really be that bad for you? Unfortunately, the news still isn’t good. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that sugar-sweetened beverages are the leading source of added sugar intake for Americans. 63% of adults aged 18 and older report drinking sugar-sweetened beverages (meaning drinks sweetened with added sugars such as…

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woman sleeping on mattress

How to Buy the Best Mattress for a Better Night’s Sleep

By Kiersten Hickman / September 16, 2022 / Comments Off on How to Buy the Best Mattress for a Better Night’s Sleep

Waking up every day feeling groggy after a terrible night’s sleep? Your mattress may be to blame.

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