With four weeks to go in our challenge, Vanessa's got her eye on the prize

We've reached the half-way point of our eight-week Heart Health Champion event!  Over the last four weeks Vanessa Bush has been diligently tracking her diet and transforming her nutritional profile, one habit at a time!

A busy working mom, Vanessa is up against the sort of challenges and habits that keep many people from attaining their health goals: no time to exercise, lots of meals on the run, and a weakness for comfort foods. Nonetheless, having confronted the nutritional realities, and bolstered by the tips and support from the NutritionData community, Vanessa is "more determined than ever" to improve her diet and reduce her heart disease risk factors.

Despite the speed-bumps thrown into her path by a bad cold, a family vacation, and holiday festivities, she's made steady progress toward her nutritional goals. She's trimmed fat, sodium, and calories by cutting down on soft drinks and fried foods. She (and her kids!) are eating more fruit and vegetables, and making more meals at home. 

Over the next four weeks, we'll be fine-tuning the process...bringing a few last nutritional details into line and starting to strategize about how to translate the efforts of the last month into life-long habits.  And, as we wrap up the challenge in mid-May, we'll evaluate how Vanessa's efforts have impacted her heart disease risk factors.

Please join us! You can follow Vanessa's progress on the Heart Health Champions page and Vanessa's blog.

Meet Patrick Pete: Rewriting a family history of heart disease and diabetes

I have a friend who sets two or three alarm clocks to be sure she doesn’t oversleep. Sometimes it takes more than one wake -up call. 

At the young age of 39, Patrick Pete had already been diagnosed with diabetes, had surgery to place a stent in one of his arteries, and was being treated for high cholesterol. Then he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

As he was recovering from cancer surgery, Patrick had an “A-ha” moment.

“I realized that the way things were going, I probably didn’t have a very long lifespan in front of me.  I figured I could either get depressed, or take action. I decided to take action. I started exercising and, for the first time in my life, I started really paying attention to my diet. 

"Nutrition Data helped me take control. I started by tracking my calories and fat and using the Better Choices to find more nutritious foods. I used the recipe analysis to come up with a bunch of different breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that had the right balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates.  I really like that I can tailor it to fit my goals.

"I also want to make sure I get all the right vitamins and minerals. I try to get as much nutrition from whole foods as possible instead of just taking pills. ND helps me see what I'm missing and find foods that fill the gaps.

"When I use ND to track my intake, I can see a direct correlation between my diet and my body. When I increase my protein, I can see a difference in my work-outs. When I cut back on fat, I get leaner. I’m in the best shape of my life now. You know, when you’re 20 and in good shape, it’s just because you're 20. When you’re 40 and in good shape, it’s because you earned it! I’m proud of my body now, and my wife and daughter are, too. 

"My doctors are happy, too. My cholesterol numbers are great and my diabetes is well-controlled. And the only reason for that is that I finally made the decision to change my life. Heart disease and diabetes run in my family and I have watched a lot of people in my family die when they didn’t need to. At age ten, my own daughter already had a serious weight problem and I could see that she was headed down the same path.

You can not lead where you will not go

"Fortunately, I love to cook and cooking for my family is a way for me to teach my daughter about food. Believe me, we didn’t start out eating healthy in my family. We have to overcome that history, but I’m working at it. I’ve completely changed the way our family eats and cooks.  And we’re all healthier.

"I really believe that the only way we’re going to get our kids to be healthier is to convince parents that they need to have healthy lifestyles. We have taught our kids terrible eating habits. They’re not going to change until we change. You can’t lead where you won’t go.

"Now, I’m trying to reach out to other guys in their 30s and 40s and get them to take this stuff seriously. It’s a struggle. People usually don’t make a change until the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of making the change.  But I want to tell people: Don’t wait! You may not get the chance to save your life.  I’m lucky. I got that chance.

"I want to tell people to be smart about their health.  Don’t trust what other people tell you. You need to do your own research. Ask for nutritional guides at restaurant.  Use the tools at Nutrition Data to learn what foods can do for you and what you’re putting into your body. And never give up!”

To read more about Patrick’s successful battle against cancer and diabetes and his ongoing quest for better health, check out his blog: U Can Be Healthy

Meet Troy: A Body-builder goes vegan

  Troy Loferski first got interested in body-building during his college years. Back then, he says, he had a typical body-builder’s approach to nutrition. “I was focused entirely on macronutrients: how much protein, carbohydrate, and fat I was getting. I ate a lot of tuna, eggs, whey protein, and whole grains, but hardly any fruits and vegetables.  I’d read that they were so filling that they made it difficult to consume enough calories to support muscle gains.”

Troy became absorbed by his career and drifted away from training. With his 30th birthday looming, though, he decided in the Fall of 2007 that he wanted to get back in shape. This time around, however, some things had changed.

“I’d been thinking about adopting a vegan lifestyle. Initially, it was for ethical reasons but the more I looked into it, the more I was convinced that the vegan diet was also the ultimate healthy diet and great for longevity. And, of course, there’s a huge emphasis on fruits and vegetables and all the micronutrients and phytochemicals they provide.

“So, I wanted to pursue this healthy diet but I also wanted to start body-building again. At first, I wasn’t sure if it would be possible to do both. But I found a vegan body-building site [veganbodybuilding.com], and then I found Nutritiondata.com.

Troy last year (before becoming a vegan) and now:

“I just kept plugging different foods into the tracking tools to find the combinations that would provide the optimal balance of macronutrients and micronutrients.  I used the Nutrient Search Tool to find foods that had a certain nutritional profile. For instance, that’s how I discovered chia seeds, which I now eat almost every day. I didn’t even know you could eat them…I thought they were just for chia pets! They are a great source of omega-3 fats.

“I still log in everything I eat on most days. The tools on ND are fantastic, especially the pantry and the custom entry tool. The caloric ratio pyramid shows me my macronutrient ratios and the total consumption report helps me track all the micronutrients.

“I eat about 3,800-4000 calories per day with a ratio of about 55% carbs, 20% protein, and 25% fat. That’s way less protein than most body-builders eat—most of them don’t believe it’s possible to do what I’m doing. But my strength and energy levels are fantastic and I feel terrific. Plus, I know that this diet is also really healthy for me over the long-term. My friends and family were a little skeptical about me becoming a vegan, but now that they see how healthy I am, they are very supportive.

“Eating that many calories on a vegan diet can be a challenge. Fruits and vegetables are micronutrient rich but not macronutrient rich. It ends up being a lot of food. I drink 2-3 green smoothies a day, made with pea protein powder, flax or chia, nuts, fruit, and greens. They are 600 or 700 calories each (and no chewing!) so they help me meet my caloric needs. Usually I get about 200% or more of the DV for all the vitamins and minerals, except for sodium, which is usually less than 100%.

“I’m constantly telling other body-builders (and vegans) about Nutritiondata.com. It’s been a big part of making this work for me!”

If you'd like to be profiled as one of our ND Champions, we'd like to hear your story!  Anyone who has used Nutrition Data to make positive changes in their health and lifestyle can be an ND Champion. Click here for details.

Meet Amy: "Now I know I can do anything!"

After smoking for more than 35 years, Amy Soricelli quit smoking cold turkey on February 8th.   Every day that she doesn’t smoke, she adds another 2 hours and 45 minutes to her life expectancy and $12.75 to her bank account. And for the first time in her life, Amy is interested in nutrition.

“I never paid attention to stuff that had to do with diet or nutrition. I figured that because I was a smoker, there was no point in doing anything for my health. Now, for the first time, I feel like I deserve to eat a healthy diet.

“Of course, I knew that smoking was bad for me. Both my parents smoked and my mother died of pancreatic cancer.  I’d see those anti-smoking commercials on TV but they didn’t motivate me. When they’d come on, I’d start talking louder to cover them up, but my husband and daughter knew perfectly well what I was doing.

“Then a couple of months ago I had a strange pain in my chest. I went online to look it up (never a good idea) and decided I had pleurisy. But I didn’t want to go to a doctor because I knew he’d ask me if I smoked and I’d have to say, “yes.”  Somehow it felt like I couldn’t go see a doctor about the pain in my chest unless I could go in there and tell him I had quit smoking.

“I finally realized how ridiculous it was. And so, after 35 years, I quit smoking—cold-turkey. My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.

“I was really worried about gaining weight when I quit smoking and my friend Rebecca suggested that I go onto NutritionData and ask for suggestions about foods I could snack on that would be healthy.”

“I was totally surprised at the reinforcement I got on ND. The suggestions and support from Monica and other ND users really helped. I’ve gained a little bit of weight but to be honest, I’ve always been a little too thin. I think I look better now. But I still want to pay attention so that I don’t get heavy.

“I really didn’t know anything about nutrition. Like I said, all that seemed to be for other people.  I’ve learned a lot in a short period of time.  Just today, my friend and I decided to find out how many calories we should be eating, using the Daily Needs Calculator.”

“Since I quit smoking, I feel so much better. I guess I didn’t realize how bad I felt before. For me, it was just “normal.” But now I can run a block to catch the bus without being winded for fifteen minutes. I have more energy. My skin and hair look healthier. All of a sudden, I want to do more for my health. It just didn’t seem worth it before.

“I’ve started exercising, for one thing. I’m not afraid to got to the doctor or dentist The pain in my chest turned out to be nothing serious, but it was important because it finally forced me to take the dangers of my smoking habit seriously! Now I find myself thinking about what I can put in my body that will make me even healthier. I’m eating healthy foods that I never used to care about, like fish and nuts. I feel like I deserve to eat better now.

“Reading the blogs and using the tools on Nutrition Data, I’m starting to learn what foods and nutrients do for you and what kinds of things to choose. For example, I have a very small frame and after smoking for my whole life, I know I’m at risk for osteoporosis, so I’m trying to get more calcium.

“My goal now is to put together a regimen of foods that I’m comfortable with and that are healthy for me—and the right number of calories so that I can stay a healthy weight. And now my friend has gotten into it, too. We’re both using NutritionData’s tracking tools to keep track of what we’re eating.”

“Now I feel that anything is possible. I tell myself, there’s nothing you can’t do. You quit smoking!”

If you'd like to be profiled as one of our ND Champions, we'd like to hear your story!  Anyone who has used Nutrition Data to make positive changes in their health and lifestyle can be an ND Champion. Click here for details.

Beating heart disease with nutrition (and the "Dirty Harry" diet)

When he was in his 30s, musician Bob Walpole decided he wanted to be healthier.  He went on a low-fat diet, and lost 35 pounds.  “I’ve been interested in nutrition ever since,” he says.   So, when doctors told him last October that he had a 90% blockage in one of his coronary arteries and scheduled him for angioplasty, it came as a bit of a shock.

“I still thought of myself as being pretty healthy, but I guess I really wasn’t.  Over the years, my lifestyle had gotten less active and I'd gradually gotten out of shape and gained weight.  When I ended up in the hospital for heart surgery, it was a wake up call.

“After the procedure, I decided to radically change my diet.  I started shopping for more natural foods and found myself in sections of the store I’d never seen before.  I tried keeping a spreadsheet to track my nutritional intake, but that was so much work, I stopped after four days. It was taking me half the evening to do the spreadsheet.

“Then I found NutritionData and I’ve been logging my meals [using ND's pantry tool] almost every day for the last six months.  The reports make it so easy to see how I am doing. I love the Caloric Ratio Pyramid; I try to keep it right in the center, to balance carbs, fats, and proteins. I also keep close track of my sodium and calorie intake, and pay attention to what kinds of fats I’m eating.

“The nutrition facts label is terrific for getting the quick picture. If I see something off, then I investigate to see what’s throwing things out of balance.  Lately, I’ve started to focus more on the glycemic load and inflammation factor of my diet. I’m becoming convinced that these are really important.

“ND helped me go from 218 pounds to 178. I also got my cholesterol levels down so low that they had to cut my medication dosage in half. My cholesterol had actually gotten too low! (I don’t think they count on people really watching their diet when they set the dosages for these medications.)

“The doctors originally told me that the reason my artery was clogged was mostly hereditary because my diet was pretty good. But I’m convinced now that it really was more about diet. I thought I was eating healthy, but when I really delved into the details, it wasn’t quite what I thought.

“Even though I’m at my goal weight, I still continue to use ND almost every day for reference. Maintenance can be tricky.  How do you relax a little bit without completely letting it all go? Tracking my diet on ND makes me accountable. Sometimes for fun, I plug in what I used to eat —just to see the difference.”

“I’m grateful that I had this scare, because it forced me to be more aware. Sometimes I call it my “Dirty Harry” Diet. I picture Dirty Harry standing behind me with a .45 to my head. Every time I feel like having a doughnut, he asks me, “Are you feeling lucky?”  I turned 60 in January and I feel that I’ve bought myself another 30  years. I’m living proof that you can take control of your health by taking control of your diet!”

If you'd like to be profiled as one of our ND Champions, we'd like to hear your story!  Anyone who has used Nutrition Data to make positive changes in their health and lifestyle can be an ND Champion. Click here for details.

Are you an ND Champion? We want to hear your story

People come to NutritionData for all kinds of reasons. Click here to read about ND Champions who have used our site to help them quit smoking, lose weight, beat back heart disease, train for triathalons, and more.

Perhaps you've used the tools and information we provide to manage or overcome a health challenge. Maybe you've used our featured recipes to get your family eating healthier. Perhaps you read something on the ND Blog that made a difference in your life. Or, maybe you found the support you needed to finally lose weight, quit smoking, or get exercising. Whatever it is, we want to hear about it!

Share your story by posting a comment below. If you'd like to be profiled in our series on ND Champions, be sure to enter a valid email address when you post your comment so that we can contact you. (Your email address will NOT appear on the site. )

Meet Judit: Cancer researcher, triathlete, and ND Champion

Dr. Judit Zubovits admits that she learned almost nothing about nutrition in medical school. "Nutrition is poorly taught (if at all) in medical schools," she says. "I have had to teach myself virtually everything I know about nutrition and Nutrition Data has been an invaluable resource, both in managing my own nutrition as well as staying on top of the latest developments."

Judit first got interested in nutrition when she began running marathons and triathlons. "I did extensive research into optimum nutrition for athletic performance and recovery," she says.  "When I started having serious injuries, including stress fractures in my pelvis, it was discovered that I have a condition called idiopathic calciuria, which means that for no good reason, I lose a lot of calcium in my urine." 

"One way to control the calcium loss is to restrict sodium...which becomes tricky when you're training for endurance sports! Since this diagnosis, I've switched to short-distance training, while I sort this out and develop a routine that works."

"I've learned a lot about low-sodium diets (sigh). Gone is the convenience of opening a can of cooked beans or buying frozen pizza.  Nutrition Data's Nutrient Search tool and the Total Consumption report have been great tools for me in controlling my sodium intake."

"I also found analyzing my diet to be an important part of my weight loss efforts. Even though I trained for a 2.4 mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.6 mile run, I still carried around 15-20 extra pounds! But then, as a friend of mine says, you can out-eat any exercise!"

"I tried Weight Watchers and I found the point system overly simplified. It wasn't until I started tracking my intake on NutritionData.com that I began to get a handle on the details. For example, I was STUNNED to discover how low my protein and fat intake was. There are so many low-fat products on the market that it is actually pretty easy to take in much lower than the recommended amount of fat per day. [Those low-fat products can be extremely high in sodium, too! --Monica] And when you take out the fat, it seems that some of the protein goes with it. So, I found that my diet was something like 75% carbohydrate, 20% protein, and 5% fat. Not good!"

"I've completely overhauled my diet, paying attention to the amount and quality of proteins and cutting back on carbohydrates, and I've succesfully lost more than 15 pounds."

"In my 'regular' life, I'm an oncologic pathologist. I very much believe that the answer to health and well-being, including avoiding cancer and cardiovascular diesease, lies in lifestyle, with nutrition being a huge part of that. It's not that I don't trust the research work that I myself do, but I don't think we will ever replace with drugs and treatments what we lose through sub-optimal eating and lifstyle. So, while I left medical school with pretty much zero education in nutrition, these days it is one of the most important sciences I follow."

"This is where Nutrition Data.com comes in! I use it amost every day. It provides great information, opened my eyes to many topics that I had not explored, and brings the latest research on topics of interest to me. I love the tools, especially the Nutrient Search Tool and the Caloric Ratio Pyramid), the recipes, and, most of all, the blogs."

"There are lot of websites that will track your calories, but in terms of detailed analysis, useful tools, and accurate, reliable, and interesting information, I am constantly recommending Nutrition Data to my patients and colleagues. I'm honored to be an ND Champion!"

Our thanks to Dr. Judit Zubovits for sharing her story with us! We are honored by her enthusiasm about our site and delighted to have played a supportive role in her successes. 

If you'd like to be profiled as one of our ND Champions, we'd like to hear your story! You don't need to be an elite athlete. Anyone who has used Nutrition Data to make positive changes in their health and lifestyle can be an ND Champion. Click here for details.