I recently came across this post at Lemondrop, and it made me laugh out loud -- I'm totally one of those people who watches Food Network while I knock out a cardio session. Then again, sometimes I watch HGTV or E!, but if there's a game on, I might follow that, while other times I catch up on Days of Our Lives -- somebody has to keep an eye on the evil Stefano DiMera, after all.

I can't say that I pay much attention to what other people watch, unless it's something super trashy on MTV or something. But it does amaze me to see people who seem to be able to follow a complicated plot. I can hardly follow along with my favorite song once I get a couple of miles under my belt.

And now, I'm curious -- what do you tune into when you hit treadmill or StairMaster? Let me know in the comments!

Denise Richards, star of her own reality show It's Complicated, says she's put on a few pounds. You might not be able to tell. I certainly can't. But the high-profile actress, mom, and ex of Charlie Sheen wants to drop a few before heading to Hawaii with her sister and a few friends. Problem is, she's nervous about fitting into a swim suit. And she's worried the paparazzi will snap photos and call her a fat a**. What' a girl to do?

Take drastic measures, that's what.

According to a celebrity gossip TV show (can't remember which one), Richards is embracing the latest diet cleanse sweeping Hollywood. It's all about lemons, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup. Called the Master Cleanse or Lemonade Diet, this technique for losing weight is essentially a 10-day fast. Doesn't sound so fun to me. To Richards either, who says she might rather be fat than drink this stuff. Will she do it? Tune in to That's Complicated on E! tomorrow at 10 PM, EST to find out. In the meantime, check out this video, all about the Master Cleanse from a dietitian's point of view.

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No matter what, you should always eat as many antioxidants as possible, even though a Danish study -- cited in the June 2007 issue of Men's Journal -- found a possible link between antioxidant supplements and a slightly higher risk of death.

Just remember these two points if ever you begin to question your own use of antioxidants, specifically vitamin A and E and beta carotene: (1) One study is no reason to ditch vitamins and (2) Researchers only looked at synthetic antioxidants and not food. Eating plenty of fruits and veggies, therefore, is still a good thing.

These two points remind me that one study is no reason to forgo anything. Just as we're likely to get a few medical opinions and a few car repair opinions, we should also compare and contrast several studies about topics relating to health. One study, not so convincing. Several studies, all pointing to the same conclusion, perhaps convincing. So don't be frightened by one scary news blurb. Do a little research and see if your fears are warranted. Chances are, they aren't.

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I like a little peanut butter now and then, especially smeared on a few multi-grain crackers. My kids like peanut butter too, and a banana with a light coating of peanut butter is a common snack in our household. Is this creamy treat good for us, though, considering a serving contains about 14 grams of fat? Here are a few thinking points, compliments of Prevention magazine and this article, to help us determine whether or not peanut butter is a keeper.

It seems peanut butter is a good source of protein. It has eight grams, in fact, in every serving. It's also a good source of the antioxidant vitamin E, with 3 mg per serving. Peanut butter does have some fat, but it's the mono-unsaturated type and that makes it A-OK. If you want to skimp on some fat, though, you can always opt for the low-fat peanut butters, but this will only save you two grams or so and the calorie-content is not much lower either. Two issues to consider about peanut butter are the added sugars and the sodium portions, which might be a problem for some people.

I'm making the call that peanut butter is a pretty nutritious food item, in small doses anyway. What's your call?

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I like the view in this piece that we shouldn't rely on a pill to get all of the vitamins and minerals we need to keep our bodies healthy. Many exist in abundance in food so why no make a commitment to include them as part of a regular diet rather than always turning to a multivitamin? I'm not saying they multivitamins are useless, but if it's possible to absorb vitamins in food, why not give that a try too?

For those who are interested in giving it a go, here is a list of 10 essentials, along with one of the many reasons each is so good for you and some of the foods that are packed full of them:

• Iron - Prevents anemia, found in tofu, lean red meat, nuts and seeds, dried fruit and fortified cereal.
• Vitamin C - Helps your body deal with stress, found in orange juice and citrus fruits, strawberries, broccoli, spinach and bell peppers.
• Vitamin D - Aids in cancer prevention, found in fortified milk and yogurt, salmon and can be absorbed from a small amount of sun exposure.
• Vitamin E - An antioxidant that helps lower the risk of a stroke, found in almonds and sunflower seeds.
• Vitamin K - Aids in blood clotting, found in avocados, kale, spinach and pine nuts.
• Calcium - Essential for bone health, found in milk and dairy products, broccoli, almonds and sesame seeds.
• Folate - Fights cancer, found in peanuts, lentils, corn and spinach
• Selenium - Keeps immune system strong, found in shellfish, Brazil nuts and sesame seeds.
• Magnesium - Helps keep bones strong, found in beans, seeds, nuts and green leafy vegetables.
• Potassium - Works to keep blood pressure level, found in sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, kiwi and bananas.

To find out more about why these are all so good for you, as well as other foods that contain the 10 vitamins and minerals, take a look here. The article even includes a recipe for each, and they all look pretty tasty.

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