by guest blogger Michelle May, MD, author of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes

The response to Paula Deen's revelation that she has Type 2 diabetes highlights the false "either-or" dilemma that plagues our culture's approach to eating (and most other things): good or bad, right or wrong, all or nothing.

Paula Deen's popular brand was based on her audacious use of ingredients that are "evil" in this dichotomous view of healthy eating. Viewers watched in fascination and vicarious enjoyment as this sweet but naughty woman unabashedly broke "the rules." Now some of her critics are angry that she hasn't fallen to her knees, begged our forgiveness, and sworn off butter and sugar forever to pay penance and set an example for all the other sinners she led astray.

This all or nothing thinking has characterized yo-yo dieting for decades. At first, dieters are highly motivated to adhere to a strict diet of "good" food. Eventually, feelings of deprivation set in, leading to preoccupation and cravings for "bad" food, increasing sensitivity to temptations, giving in, guilt and consequently, overeating. I call this predictable pattern the eat repent repeat cycle.

by guest blogger Margaret Floyd, author of Eat Naked

One of the first questions I’m asked when someone finds out I’m in the nutrition field is “So, you’re a vegetarian?” It’s a loaded question, whether they realize it or not. Here's a little bit of information:

• The prevailing belief when it comes to our food and health is that the fewer animal products we eat, the better.
• I was a vegetarian of some shade or another for the better part of 12 years.
• During my years as a vegetarian, I had loads of digestive issues and was constantly hungry.
• What a horrible choice: feel good in your body but guilty about the impacts of your choices; or feel good ethically and miserable physically.
• There’s no one diet that works for everyone.
• With a little more investigation, I learned that there was indeed a way to eat meat and feel good about it on an environmental and ethical level.
• These farmers are using traditional farming techniques that not only preserve but enhance their environments
• The great news is that when I’m eating this way, I feel fabulous.
• Here are three ways your body could be telling you it needs animal protein:

by Ruth C. White Ph.D., MPH, MSW is the co-author of Bipolar 101

The idea that our cultural framework – beliefs, expectations, norms, taboos etc–influence who we are, what we think, and what we do is central to the study of human behavior and the meanings we assign to our thoughts and actions. It therefore should not be surprising that culture would influence our physical and mental health in a complex interplay of factors that vary not only individually but also in the collective. These factors include everything from our diet, social activities, symptomatic expression (and therefore diagnosis), perception of mental illness, resources to treat and diagnose, and work habits among others.

This blog will explore the relationship between culture and mental health. Grounded in contemporary research, current events and personal experiences, I will write about how our perceptions of self, our place in the world and our notions of health, well-being and illness, influence our experience of our minds.

Read Dr. White’s first Psychology Today blog piece here

by guest blogger Susan Albers, PsyD, author of But I Deserve This Chocolate, 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself without Food, Eat, Drink, & Be Mindful, and Eating Mindfully

There are many ways to eat mindlessly. It's likely that you've been reading a lot about mindless eating in the news.

In my book Eating Mindfully, I outlined several different kinds of mindless eaters. See if any of these characteristics sound familiar:

A) I tend to eat when I'm nervous, stressed or bored.

B) I tend to overeat when I am with my friends or at parties.

C) I tend to eat whenever I see food, particularly if it smells or tastes good.

D) I tend to eat at the same time of the day whether I am hungry or not.

E) I'm too busy to eat, I squeeze it in between tasks or while I'm working.

F) I tend to automatically follow diet "rules" instead of thinking through whether I want it or not.

G) I tend to eat well at meals but have difficulty during the holidays.

H) I tend to eat well during the day but snack as soon as the sun goes down.

I) All of the above

Here is nutritional therapy practitioner Margaret Floyd's wonderful video trailer for her book Eat Naked: Unprocessed, Unpolluted, and Undressed Eating for a Healthier, Sexier You .

Stephanie Silberman, PhD, DABSM is the author of The Insomnia Workbook

Instead of spending countless hours lying in bed counting sheep at night, take control of your sleep by learning about the common mistakes people make that sabotage their sleep cycles. There are many mistakes that people make when trying to get a good night's sleep. Instead of helping you to sleep better, these mistakes can actually decrease your chances of sleeping well and may even cause you to have more trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.

by guest blogger Susan Albers, Psy.D., author of 50 Ways to Soothe Yourself without Food

Whether you agree or totally disagree with a plant based diet isn’t the issue. The primary benefit of seeing Forks Over Knives is that it shows change is possible. Before your client can modify their eating habits, they need hope and to truly believe that change can happen. This film successfully meets that goal. The film follows a few individuals from all walks of life and at various ages who are on multiple medications and have critically elevated cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Within a short period of time, these individuals got off their medications and significant improved their lab results. The change is dramatic. The viewer is left with the impression that what you eat does matter to your health and that you can make changes that will significantly improve your well-being. It appears attainable and completely in reach no matter who you are or how old. In other words, Forks over Knives is likely to change the perception of the client who thinks it is a waste of time to be more mindful and attentive to what they eat.

review by Wendy Millstine, NC

The Whole-Food Guide to Overcoming Irritable Bowel Syndrome offers helpful and nutritious guidelines for what to eat and what to avoid to prevent IBS symptoms, as well as supplements for healthy digestion and tips on lifestyle changes, stress reduction, and exercise. The best part is the recipe section. Among my favorites, the book’s mouth-watering recipes include: chicken breakfast patties; gluten-free golden carrot pancakes; liver pâté; Japanese-style fish soup; and sweet potato pie. They’re all delicious and easy to prepare, and even better, they don’t require too many ingredients. Savor and enjoy good food and good health!