By Ashley Rinehart, Student of North Carolina Central University’s Dietetics Program and Intern at Duke Diet & Fitness Center with the supervision of the Duke Diet & Fitness Center Nutrition Team. What’s an “Ancient” Grain? The Whole Grains Council loosely defines ancient grains as “grains that are largely unchanged over the last several hundred years.”   Ancient grains recently gained popularity in the ...

By Sadie Engelken, Duke Diet & Fitness Intern from Carroll University, and the Duke Lifestyle and Weight Management Center Nutrition Team. The immune system is the body's protection system. The body recognizes and defends against bacteria, viruses, and foreign and/or harmful substances to prevent or limit infection or disease. Regular exercise is an effective way to keep the immune system strong; ...

By Deborah A. Ballard, MD My father liked pranking people. During a family gathering a few years back, he switched my precocious 3-year old niece Maggie's dessert for broccoli, which she hated, as she turned away from her plate for a second. Upon turning back to see the offensive vegetable instead of the highly anticipated chocolate cake, she gave him ...

The Duke Diet & Fitness Center nutrition team has assembled some delicious and healthy side dishes you can incorporate into your Thanksgiving menu this year. Remember to follow CDC Guidelines for celebrating family gatherings, that way you can celebrate while staying safe. Roasted Cranberries and Grapes with Rosemary Servings: 16 Serving Size: 2 tablespoons Ingredients: 12-ounce bag of cranberries (fresh or frozen) 10 ounces ...

Studies in sports and exercise have shown that music can improve performance in several areas. For instance, during repetitive exercise such as running, music can narrow a person’s attention away from sensations of fatigue. In other instances, it can be a stimulant before a competition or have a calming effect on anxious athletes. Music can often be an untapped source ...