Category: Nutrition (Page 22 of 48)

Avoid The Mid-Afternoon Munchies

February 8, 2012 / Staff

The Mid-afternoon slump that leaves you drowsy and craving junk food can be avoided by replacing some of your old habits with new healthier habits.

Eating low calorie snacks full of preservatives don’t really do the trick. Opt, instead, for healthy high fiber foods that help you to break the destructive cycle caused by eating the empty calories in nutritionally void foods.

Maybe some quiet time or a brisk walk will do the trick.

Experiment to see what works best for you.

Feeling bad about yourself, facing a “sugar crash” later and too much caffeine may get you over the hump but only for a very short time and will ultimately leave you feeling more diminished later.

“Most people have a lull around 3 p.m. If you’re stressed out and all you can find is junk food from the vending machine down the hall, you may start this cycle that can lead to even more stress,” she says. “Having some fruits and vegetables readily available lets you indulge in something sweet that tastes good and has nutritional value, without the snowball effect.”

Nutrition, Quality Control, Resources, Wellness

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Make Procrastination Work For You To Kick the Junk Food Habit!

February 6, 2012 / Staff

Resisting junk food might be as easy as just putting it off.

Instead of denying yourself try telling yourself that you can have it later.

Most likely, postponing a treat until an unspecified later time helps get people over the hump of strong temptation, said Florida State University psychologist Roy Baumeister, who studies willpower but was not involved in Mead’s research.
“You need the resistance at the moment of peak desire, then the peak desire moment passes,” Baumeister said.

Nutrition, Wellness

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Study Suggests Green Tea Drinkers Age Better Than Non-Drinkers

February 5, 2012 / Staff

Green tea drinkers seem to stave off the effects of old age better than non-drinkers.

Following nearly 14,000 adults age 65 and older, they found that people who drank the most green tea were the least likely to develop “functional disability” over the next three years.
Functional disability refers to problems with daily activities like going to the store or doing housework, or difficulty with more-basic needs like dressing and bathing.

Not only their mental and physical health was better but also their emotional well being and social lives were better, as well.

Nutrition, Quality Control, Research, Resources, Wellness

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Shocking Billboard Goes Too Far

February 5, 2012 / Staff

Inspiration or instigation?

Some people feel that this advertising campaign goes too far in making the point.

How often should we be eating cheese?

Never? Wow. This is a long way from the “everything-in-moderation” message. And it’s also out of synch with mainstream nutrition advice. Federal dietary guidelines say it’s OK to eat small amounts of saturated fat — not more than 10 percent of daily calories. And heck, cheese does have two things our bodies need: protein and calcium.

Nutrition, Quality Control

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Non-Dairy Sources of Calcium

February 4, 2012 / Staff

If you’re watching your weight, cholesterol levels or simply want to improve your overall health you may want to consider alternative sources of calcium.

Dairy allergies which may prevent you from getting all the calcium your body needs so consider some of these alternatives which you can easily incorporate into your diet deliciously.

Bok choy: This Chinese leafy green vegetable would appear to be most similar to lettuce: it’s tender, light, watery, crisp and would seem to be low in nutrition density. But just 1 cup of cooked boy choy equals the same amount of calcium as an 8-ounce glass of milk.
Kale: The beloved “superfood” green vegetable boasts calcium as just one of many minerals found inside its chewy, dense leaves. In 1 ½ cups of cooked kale, you’ll get the same amount of calcium as an 8-ounce glass of milk.
Turnip greens: Turnips can be used with squash, potatoes and root veggies in winter dishes; don’t throw out their greens! Turnip greens are rich in bioavailable calcium; just 1 cup of cooked greens gives you the calcium of an 8-ounce glass of milk.
Sea vegetables: Sea vegetables seem to do only good for the body. They flush out toxins and heavy metals from our system and supply ample amounts of trace minerals. Pile your lunch bowl with a large heaping of alaria (or wakame) and kelp for a calcium boost; 4 cups of the seaweed equals the calcium of an 8-ounce glass of milk.
Tofu: Tofu isn’t as hot as it used to be with health nuts in the ‘90s, but it does still deserve credit when due. With most tofu varieties, just a ½-cup serving has the same amount of calcium as an 8-ounce glass of milk.
Dried figs: Believe it or not, these dried fruits are an excellent source of dietary calcium. Ten fruits supplies the same amount as an 8-ounce glass of milk.
Sustainable bony fish: You don’t have to be strictly vegan to do dairy-free. If you ever eat fish, check out Alaskan salmon, sardines and mackerel (all sustainable choices) for a serious calcium boost. A 3-ounce serving contains the same amount of calcium as an 8-ounce glass of milk.