Salt is everywhere, and high blood pressure (the result of too much salt in our diets) is an American epidemic. New CDC guidelines (and decades-old Pritikin guidelines) advise that most of us should eat no more than 1,500 mg of sodium a day. We average 3,500 to 5,000 mg daily. Why are we so blasé about the massive doses of salt we’re consuming? How can we change?

(And Hardly Notice You've Done It)

Most of us should eat no more than 1,500 mg of sodium a day. We average, however, 3,500 to 5,000 mg daily. Check out how easily you can shave 1,000+ mg of sodium off your daily diet in no time.

In this week's featured question from the Pritikin Forum, a member asked, "Should I be taking fish oil capsules? If so, how much?" Pritikin registered dietitian Tracy Wilczek gives you all the basic facts on this promising nutrient for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Stevia, an extract from a shrub that grows in Brazil and Paraguay, is “natural.” But just because something is “natural” does not mean it is safe. Arsenic is natural. Poison ivy is natural.

Eating red meat, we know, is unhealthy, and the process in which red meat is produced is unhealthy for the planet. Nevertheless, we as a society just keep on eating it. After all, with half a dozen fast food burger joints between the office and home, the temptation is constant and easily fulfilled.

One of the things people like about red meat is its filling, stick-to-the-ribs quality. Meat, however, is not the only food that gives us long-lasting satiety. Plenty of meat-free options score very high on satiety scales, including beans, potatoes, whole-grain pasta, hot cereals, and fiber-rich fruits like apples and oranges.

Are you hosting this year’s Thanksgiving? Stayed tuned!  The week of November 16, we'll be sending out recipes for a delicious Pritikin-style Thanksgiving dinner, compliments of Executive Chef Anthony Stewart and his remarkable culinary team.

It is well established that a diet low in cholesterol and fat, particularly saturated fat, reduces blood levels of cholesterol, which reduces the risk of a heart attack. Now research has found that picking the right carbs to go with that low-fat diet – carbs like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans – will reduce cholesterol levels even more.

Many of the longest-living populations in the world are lovers of legumes (more commonly known as beans). The people of Okinawa, Japan, who have the highest percentage of centenarians on earth, eat a diet rich in soybean-based products like tofu. Here are some simple tips for getting more beans - and their many benefits - into your life.

When you first begin to cook without butter, oils, salt, and sugar, you're apt to feel lost without these familiar culinary aids. Learning how to season with herbs, spices, and other condiments is the key to preparing tasty dishes! And it's a lot easier than you might think!

Make the most of summer's sweets - all those luscious berries, melons, peaches, and other fruits now at farmers' markets and stores. Just rinse and enjoy! It's all about savoring summer the old-fashioned - and finest - way. Got a few more minutes? Try these 12 tasty, quick-prep tips:

There’s been a barrage of TV commercials of late for the new "natural" zero-calorie sweetener Truvia (from Coca-Cola). Another new one is PureVia (from Pepsi-Cola).What are these new sweeteners made of? Are they safe?

Many of us love all things Italian, from Edie Falco to Ferraris to olive oil – especially olive oil. And the olive oil industry and media spur us on with articles asserting that olive oil is a "good" fat. But many journalists do not fully dissect the scientific studies they’re reporting on. Press releases aren’t questioned. Facts get distorted. Qualifiers disappear. Headlines turn sensational. And so does the truth.