Click here to read more about Tina Ruggiero, AARP’s new recipe judge.

MANAGING THE HOLIDAYS WITH DIABETES The holidays are quickly approaching, and those with Diabetes are beginning to think about ways they can manage their health while still taking part in the season’s festivities. Click here for my article in Diabetes Forecast where I share a few simple ways diabetics can indulge while still keeping their blood sugar in check.

“There are a lot of benefits to cutting out meat and dairy as we age,” says Barnard, who has conducted numerous studies on Latino diets. “We’ve found that people feel better, their energy increased, and there was significant weight loss.”

Focus on fresh foods, experts suggest,
to ease into more healthful dietary habits.

But cutting out meat has its drawbacks, says Tina Ruggiero, a nutrition expert in Tierra Verde, Florida. Vegetarians can lack important sources of protein. In addition, Ruggiero says, vegetarian, vegan, and dairy-free diets can lead to a decrease in calcium—essential for healthy bones—and vitamin B12—necessary for healthy nerve function as we age. Dietary supplements, specifically calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and a multivitamin, can supply these nutrients. Click here to read more.