Dr. Thomas R. Frieden isn't afraid to step up to the front lines of the nutrition wars. In the past, he has helped to affect change with reducing trans fats and posting nutrition information in restaurants. Now, Dr. Frieden is fighting the war against salt.

Around 80 percent of sodium in the average American's diet comes from processed foods. Dr. Frieden met with some of the big-wigs in the world of food processing to suggest a plan of action. He wants the sodium in processed foods cut by 25 percent in five years, and another 25 percent in a decade.

To me, on the health and wellness side of things, that seems like a generous time frame. But can't you just imagine the reactions the food processing execs had? After all, salt is an important ingredient for the food processors. Not only does it add flavor, it reduces dryness in some products, covers up metallic/chemical tastes in drinks, and even helps make cookies and cakes sweeter.

Dr. Frieden estimates that a 50 percent reduction in the sodium content of processed foods could potentially save 150,000 lives in America each year. That's a pretty big incentive, don't you think?

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Caffeine has had its fair share of bad press in the past, but this one gets the prize ... the booby prize.

A new study reveals that drinking caffeine over an extended period of time can make a woman's breasts shrink. Regis filled Kelly in on the news during a recent episode and said that he thinks cutting back on the coffee "could help." Why? Because as little as three cups of coffee or other caffeinated beverages a day can impact estrogen levels, subsequently causing breasts to shrink. But don't worry too much -- according to the study author, "They will get smaller, but the breasts aren't just going to disappear." Whew! Good to know.

Coffee has some health perks so if you like a cuppa Joe there's no need to avoid it. But maybe you should opt for decaffeinated.

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Head on over to this American Heart Association site where the experts say if we walk more and eat better, we'll live longer. They're so sure of it, in fact, that they're kicking off National Start Walking Day on April 16.

Do you know that heart disease is the number one killer in the United States? Do you know that physical inactivity doubles the risk of heart disease? Sobering, isn't it? Fortunately, these facts can be changed. Here's how.

First, you can start walking and start reducing your risk. Second, you can support the American Heart Association. The folks there are challenging Americans to walk a million miles and raise a million dollars all in one day -- April 16. Ready to accept the challenge and help fight heart disease and obesity? Click here for more information.

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If you're interested in lowering blood pressure, you may want to consider trying to enjoy beetroot juice from now on. Researchers out of London have some compelling evidence which suggests a healthy dose of the reddish extract could help beat high blood pressure.

Half a liter was shown to reduce pressure within an hour! Test subjects were asked to drink water, or beetroot juice -- and all volunteers were healthy to begin with. The results point to nitrate being the cause of this drastic lowering of blood pressure, but spinach and lettuce also contain this compound.

Chemical reactions between nitrate and mouth bacteria caused the blood vessels to dilate. This had the effect of increasing blood flow, which in turn decreased pressure. Looks like it is time to pick up another healthy habit, but I wonder if nitrate supplements would have the same results?

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The great thing about good posture is that it not only has health benefits, but it makes you look and feel more confident. Slouching is a common occurrence for a lot of people, especially those of us who spend our day in front of a computer screen. But it's a habit worth breaking!

Poor posture leads to sitting and standing incorrectly which can cause pain. Ever feel compelled to pop your neck or twist your back into shape? If you're like me, it could be a stance issue. However, here's an interesting article that addresses the causes and provides a few tips for better posture.

There are a bunch! One tip that I'm definitely going to implement is the suggestion regarding the strengthening of back muscles. By building up muscle endurance, you are enabling the body to keep better posture for longer periods of time. The Superman exercise is a simple way to beef up the torso which powers the limbs for better carriage. Lie on the floor face down and lift your right arm and left leg up several inches. Hold for about two seconds and then alternate limbs. Try for 10 repetitions. There are a couple other exercises to do, and many other tips, so check them out!

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It's time -- time for that spread of holiday food and its accompanying butter, cream, sugar, and salt. Is it even possible to practice health-minded cooking during such a time? Of course it is, say chefs and dietitians, who agree that most recipes can be modified to increase their health value without sacrificing taste.

"Reduce and replace" -- that's the key, says Darlene Dougherty, former president of the American Dietetic Association. She's not talking major recipe overhauls here, just minor nips and tucks. Here are some of her easy, anytime tips.

• Replace butter with unsaturated oils such as olive, canola, and soy oil.

• Use non-fat or low-fat milk instead of whole milk and opt for reduced fat cheeses too.

• Substitute lean cuts of meat for fatty ones. Remove fatty skins.

• Bake, boil, and steam rather than fry. Sauté with a dash of oil, wine, or tomato puree.

• Cut back on egg yolks, which are high in fat and cholesterol.

• Start with less fat, sugar, and salt and then adjust for taste.

• Season with herbs, spices, lemon juice, or minced tangy vegetables, instead of salt and butter.

• Forgo cream-based soups, sauces, and gravies, or make them with skim milk. Choose vegetable-based soups and sauces.

• For baked goods, use applesauce or other fruit purees for butter and oil -- this maintains fluffiness. Cut back on sugar by one-half or more.

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My six-year-old had a friend over after school the other day, and I eagerly served up a variety of fruit for snack time. It went pretty well. My own two guys ate watermelon, apple slices, and strawberries. And although our visitor's first reaction was, "I don't like vegetables," we were able to coax him into consuming a little fresh fruit.

Our guest chose watermelon. And he had a special request: "Can I have some salt?" he asked. Joey jumped right up and grabbed the salt container we rarely use in our house. Our new friend was happy.

So, what's the deal with salt? Is it OK to indulge a little? Or is it becoming a no-no to sprinkle our foods with tiny, salty white granules? According to a recent study, we'd be wise to adopt a low-sodium diet. It could cut the risk of heart disease by as much as 25 percent.

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If you haven't heard about the benefits of flaxseed yet, where have you been hiding? The superfood is full of fiber, can lower cholesterol as well as reduce the risk of heart disease, may protect again breast cancer and contains tonnes of Omega-3 fatty acids. So if you haven't added it to your diet, now is as good a time as any.

Many people choose to grind the seed, which can be found at most local grocery and health food stores, in a coffee bean grinder and then sprinkle it into yogurt, cereal or even pasta sauce. If you'd like a few new ideas, take a look at the three tasty recipes listed here.

You can treat yourself to a Raspberry Smoothie, try a delectable Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin or whip up some Flaxseed and Blueberry Pancakes, which include another superfood (blueberries) as a main ingredient. Having taken a look at the recipes, I'm already craving one of the Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins.

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I try to stay away from dairy, especially milk. It's been linked to breast cancer and since I've already had the disease, I tend to stray from anything even remotely associated with it. That's not to say dairy is all bad, though. In fact, it seems eating more calcium-rich dairy food may help in the battle of the bulge.

Study findings are preliminary but here's what they suggest: Dairy appears to reduce fat absorption. After overweight study participants ate meals containing either a high or medium amount of low-fat yogurt and milk, their blood-fat levels were 15 to 19 percent lower than those who ate only a small amount of dairy. Interestingly, results remained consistent even when the low-dairy eaters added a calcium supplement.

If you dare to consume dairy, you've got research backing your decision. For true weight loss results, though, make sure it comes straight from the cow.

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Nobody is surprised anymore to hear that stress is unhealthy for the human body in many many ways, including contributing to weight gain and heart disease. But stress is one of those things that no matter how bad we know it is for us it's still difficult to get rid of because it's embedded into our everyday lives. But over at The Diet Blog they came up with a great list of 17 ways to reduce stress, because you can never get too much help or hear too many ideas in that department. My favorites from their list? Listening to music and playing with my cats and dog.

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The debate on whether coffee is good or bad for you has been lobbed back and forth on That's Fit with everything under the sun being discussed including Adams Briscoe's post on how coffee may raise cholesterol and Maggie Vink's discussion on coffee reducing your risk of getting a certain eye disorder.

At the risk of being torn apart by brew-lovers everywhere, I have to admit that I'm not a big fan. Tea has always been my hot, caffeinated beverage of choice. So with my unbiased view I bring all of you fans of a moderate (yep moderate) amount of coffee good news. According to this, a cup (or even a few) a day is pretty darn good for you. The piece states that various studies have found:

• Coffee reduces your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes
• Coffee lowers your risk of getting liver cancer
• Caffeinated drinks including coffee lower the chances of getting Parkinson's and Alzheimer's
• Drinking coffee may reduce the risk of colon cancer, asthma and cirrhosis of the liver
• Coffee aids with endurance in activities such as swimming, running and cycling

So go ahead and enjoy your morning cuppa!

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When sitting down to eat in your favorite restaurant which steak do you order. Beef or Tuna? Tuna is a nutritious source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Everyday we learn more about the health benefits of tuna. Mercury is not the public health risk that some claim. No studies have shown that fish consumption has led to dangerous levels of mercury within the human body. Studies show that eating fish high in omega-3 fatty acids may reduce people's overall risk for developing heart disease. Tuna is also a very good source of vitamin B6.

So weigh out the benefits of nutrients in 4 ounces of tuna versus lean organic beef.

4 ounces of tuna contains:
tryptophan 0.38g
selenium 53.07 mcg
protein 33.99g
vitamin B3 (niacin) 13.54mg
vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) 1.18mg
vitamin B1 (thiamin) 0.57mg
phosphorus 277.83mg
potassium 645.25mg
magnesium 72.58mg
omega 3 fatty acids 0.33g

4 ounces of lean organic beef contains:
tryptophan 0.36g
protein 32.04g
vitamin B12 (cobalamin) 2.92mcg
zinc 6.33mg
selenium 27.67mcg
phosphorus 269.89mg
vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) 0.49mg
iron 4.05mg
vitamin B3 (niacin) 4.44mg
vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 0.35mg

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Omega-3s have the medically proven ability to reduce the amount of fat in your blood and help lower triglycerides. Triglycerides are a huge risk factor in heart attacks. Not only are they good for the heart but they help with depression, type 2 diabetes, fatigue, dry and itchy skin, brittle hair and nails, joint pain and other inflammation in the body, and the inability to concentrate. Here are some top 10 food sources for Omega-3s. Start a healthy habit by adding some of these items to your daily diet and remember to buy organic when available.

Flax Seeds
Dried Ground Cloves
Walnuts
Salmon, Halibut, Cod
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Dried Ground Oregano
Mustard Seeds
Brussel Sprouts
Cooked Soybeans

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We always focus on making lists of things we need to do and inevitably end up feeling stressed out and overwhelmed by it all, when in reality a "not to do" list" may be much better for both our productivity and our health.

No, nobody is saying you should suddenly start shirking responsibilities. But by taking some time to realize what you waste time on every day you can make a list of things 'not to do' and you'll end up making room for all kinds of other things. By having more control over your time you'll naturally reduce stress and be productive. And that's good for all of us!

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Everywhere we look society is trying to tackle the problem of stress and hypertension. It's deadly, after all (and it can make your hair fall out!). Some people will try anything to take the edge off. Vacations are good, but even then some people are still pressured about work. When focusing on the big picture, it becomes obvious that lifestyle choices need to be made in order to reduce stress.

This simple website has 8 things that could help curb your anxiety. For starters, get out of consumer debt. If you're having to work more and work harder just to afford your credit card bill every month, consider some changes. One of the best pieces of advice on the list is immediately gratifying: finish your unfinished business! Procrastination can be one of the worst causes of stress, and it builds up over time. I'm especially guilty of this one. If something isn't breathing down my neck, I can put it off indefinitely. However, the more little things we keep putting off, the bigger they collectively become over time.

Another way to reduce stress is learn to say no. It's not unfriendly to know your limits of responsibility and have to tell someone you can't help with every little issue that comes along. If you said 'yes' to everything and everyone, eventually there would be no free time! Some people do this, hence the source of stress. These are just a few ways to help your body out, but read the full article for even more.

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