My all time favorite awards show of the season is on this weekend: The 84^th Academy Awards. What’s not to love about the Oscars? From the dresses on the red carpet, right down to the Best Picture award, I’m hooked.

If you’re anything like me you’ve been thinking, not only about how much you want War Horse to win Best Picture (is there a best movie of all time award?!), but also about what glitzy, star-worthy appetizers you will be serving your friends during your annual Oscar watching party.

Grains, breads, flour products and pasta can actually damage your digestive system and feed pathogenic bacteria and yeast.

Flour products are mucus-forming and are basically "glue-like" in your intestines. Since most of the beneficial fiber has been removed from flour products like cookies, donuts, pasta and today's modern bread, they move slowly through your digestive system. With their sticky, glue-like consistency, they literally "gum up" your intestines.

These foods are also very dehydrating. Besides causing constipation, they help you create a toxic environment that is attractive to pathogenic microorganisms like yeast. Please note, I said, "help you create," because it is you doing the choosing and the eating.

Here’s a powerful exercise to try: wherever you are, wherever you go, simply look at the people around you. According to recent findings from the American Heart Association, one third of everyone you see has high blood pressure.

When you can't digest certain sugars, they will feed harmful bacteria in the small intestine over time. Sugars that are commonly difficult to digest and that feed fungal overgrowth in the gut are called FODMAPs. FODMAPs cause rapid fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in gas, heartburn, diarrhea, fatigue, and other related symptoms.

Everyone is different in how they respond to FODMAPs. You may be able to digest some sugars easily and have a difficulty digesting others. Any food you eat should digest easily, which all begins with healing the gut and balancing your inner ecology with beneficial bacteria.

Recipes for green juices and smoothies are popping up all over the place and these beverages are slowly becoming a more mainstream approach to healthy eating and detoxing. One thing is for sure – green juices and smoothies are good for you. But is one better than the other? Here is a short comparison to help you learn the ins-and-outs of green beverages. Hopefully this will help you pick which is right for you!

Green Juice

What you need: Juicer, 1 to 2 pounds of your favorite green vegetables

Advantages: Juicing is great because it extracts all of the water and nutrients from vegetables, leaving behind only the plant fibers. This means your body is better able to absorb the nutrients without having to digest the dense bulk of the plant. Plus, you can fit an incredible quantity of vegetables into a single glass of green juice, leaving you with simple, smooth and delicious drink that packs an incredible nutritional punch!

Addictions and prescriptions top the headlines this week as Deepak Chopra discusses digital dependency and Celebrity Chef Paula Deen makes an announcement that has everyone taking sides. The CEO of Stoneyfield Yogurt steps down to fight GMOs, and IIN teacher Dr. David Katz offers real-world nutrition guidance for a society surrounded by potato chips.

Find all that and more right here in the IINsiders Digest.  

Sometimes sugar cravings can be hard to ignore. I know I crave chocolate when I’m really stressed or have a lot going on. Whatever your reason, we can all agree that there are certain times when our taste buds need a little something sweet.

From obesity to hypertension and even heart attacks, trans-fats have developed quite the reputation for causing body-deteriorating conditions.  And now, a new disease is being added to the list: Alzheimer’s.

If your resolution for the New Year is to lose weight, you might want to think twice before you announce your plans to your family and friends. Doctors are taking a closer look at effective diet plans, and some are recommending that their patients keep their weight loss intentions to themselves.

Now that the holidays have come and gone, I find myself craving warm, filling meals for dinner that are also on the lighter side. I’m still in detox mode from the holidays, but I need more than JUST vegetables. That’s why I’m so excited about this salmon recipe from Elana’s Kitchen.  It has just enough flavor and substance to satisfy my appetite without making me too full. Not to mention, it’s a quick and easy dish loaded with healthy omega-3 fatty acids that will definitely impress your dinner guests!