Category: Nutrition (Page 46 of 48)

Parents on the front line to fight bad eating habits on and off campus!

March 29, 2011 / Staff

In Philadelphia parents are taking matters in their own hands to protect kids from making poor food choices.

The parents standing guard outside the Oxford Food Shop are foot soldiers in a national battle over the diets of children that has taken on new fervor. With 20 percent of the nation’s children obese, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed new standards for federally subsidized school meals that call for more balanced meals and, for the first time, a limit on calories. The current standard specifies only a minimum calorie count, which some schools meet by adding sweet foods
The Agriculture Department wants to change the content of federally subsidized school meals — 33 million lunches and 9 million breakfasts a day — by the fall of 2012. Beyond the calorie cap, the new standards would emphasize whole grains, vegetables and fruits and set tighter limits on sodium and fats

Do you think schools should help parents in this battle. In the end they are our future

Nutrition, Wellness

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Go NUTS! Walnut, the best for your heart

March 29, 2011 / Staff

Pound for pound and dollar for dollar nuts are your best nutritional value at the market. Try to avoid cooking nuts because that will diminish their nutritional value but do be sure and add them at any opportunity; salads, cereal, oat meal, ice cream, and whatever else you enjoy.

The researchers from University of Scranton, in Pennsylvania, US say these antioxidants are also up to 15 times more potent than vitamin E. Antioxidants are known to help protect the body against disease. Study leader Dr Joe Vinson said, “A handful of walnuts contains almost twice the antioxidants as any other commonly consumed nut…But unfortunately, people don’t eat a lot of them.” Some people avoid nuts as they are thought to be high in fat but Dr Vinson said they had no link to weight gain.
Nuts are healthy and nutritious, containing high-quality protein, lots of vitamins and minerals as well as dietary fibre. They are also dairy and gluten-free. Earlier studies have shown that regular consumption of small amounts of nuts can reduce the risk of heart disease, some types of cancer, type two diabetes and other health problems.
Dr Vinson also said “The heat from roasting nuts generally reduces the quality of the antioxidants…People usually eat walnuts raw or unroasted, and get the full effectiveness of those antioxidants.”

Nutrition

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Walking your way to weight loss

March 23, 2011 / Staff

If you really want to lose weight and feel better, getting started should be easier than you think. Many people get intimidated by the thought of going to the gym and radically changing your diet. While those might be great ideas, they mean nothing if the notion of an intense workout and diet prevent you from doing anything at all.

Start with the basics. Get off the couch and start walking!

When it comes to weight control, almost nothing is easier and cheaper than brisk walking.
Going for a walk every day can improve mood, increase energy, lower blood pressure and protect against diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer.
But to reap these benefits, you need to get the lead out and put some spring in your step.
It’s not window shopping or taking a stroll in the park. Walk like you’re late for the bus.
You should be able to carry on a conversation, but you’ll be a little breathless when you talk, says Miriam Nelson, director of the John Hancock Research Center on Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention at Tufts University in Boston.

Some of you may feel that you’re so out of shape that even brisk walking makes you nervous. Well, don’t feel like you have to walk like this from the beginning. Just get out of the house and walk around the block. Then, do it again in the next day or two, but walk a little further. Just moving a little will make you feel better, and then you’ll feel more excited about walking regularly and walking more briskly.

Check out the entire article for more information on how 3 MPH is the threshold for brisk walking.

Nutrition, Research, Wellness

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The Bitter Truth About Sugar and the Politics of High Fructose Corn Syrup!

March 12, 2011 / Staff

You wouldn’t give your child a beer but you might give him a soda.

At the end of the day you’re doing the same damage minus the buzz!

The politics of sugar is far reaching.

The government allows business to poison us perhaps we should demand they heal us!

Health Care Policy, Nutrition, Quality Control

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PBS Special to Help You Take Control of Your Health!

March 8, 2011 / Staff

The press release offers more info.

KICKSTART YOUR HEALTH WITH DR. NEAL BARNARD
March 2011
– Can Certain Foods Help Control Your Appetite? –
For years Dr. Neal Barnard has been at the forefront of cutting-edge research on what it really takes to lose weight and restore the body to optimal health. Now, in this new PBS special, KICKSTART YOUR HEALTH, Dr. Barnard unveils the secrets to reprogramming your body quickly and getting your body on track to better health fast. KICKSTART YOUR HEALTH WITH DR. NEAL BARNARD is part of special programming premiering on PBS stations beginning March 5, 2011 and airing throughout March (check local listings).
Maybe you’d like to lose weight, lower your cholesterol or improve your energy. Or perhaps you’d like to go vegan for the animals and the environment. Now is your chance to do it in a way that is engaging and fun. Whether you’re drawn to chocolate, cookies, potato chips, cheese burgers and fries, Dr. Neal Barnard’s advice and plant-based diet will provide delicious and healthy alternatives that do not include meat, dairy, seafood and other animal based products. In this program, Dr. Barnard will teach viewers:
•Appetite Control: Many people find themselves drawn to foods, even when they are not hungry. The Kickstart plan shows why appetites get out of control and how to choose foods that calm the appetite naturally.
•Burn Enhancement: For people who feel they are not burning calories as fast as they should be —as if everything they even think about eating goes straight to ‘the hips’— it turns out that you can actually increase your calorie-burning speed through food. By adjusting your eating patterns, you can burn calories faster for about three hours after each meal, so more of what you eat simply burns off, rather than going to body fat.
•Health Protection: It is critical that the foods you choose are not just slimming, but also bring lifelong health. By favoring the very best choices, foods can trim your waistline, improve our health, boost your energy, and tackle cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes and maybe even Alzheimer’s disease.
Does it really work? Can foods really help control the appetite? Dr. Barnard reveals studies that will demonstrate how focusing on the food you eat and not the calorie count can help dramatically reduce weight. According to Dr. Barnard, “the trick to eating less is to focus not on how much you eat but on what you eat. Without even knowing it people tend to reduce their calories and the weight loss is essentially automatic.” Best of all, these appetite-taming, energy-boosting foods are good for overall health. Unlike diet pills or stimulants, the foods that boost metabolism and calm the appetite can also protect the heart, lower cholesterol, improve blood pressure, relieve joint pain, migraines and even reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
About Dr. Neal Barnard
Neal Barnard, MD, is a clinical researcher, author, and health advocate. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and president of the nonprofit Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine. He has been the principle investigator or co-investigator on several clinical trials investigating the effects of diet on health. He is the author of several books and a frequent lecturer. He has appeared on “The Today Show,” “Good Morning America,” “Ellen” and PBS with his successful program, “Tackling Diabetes.”
Dr. Barnard’s first PBS Special, “Tackling Diabetes,” was seen in over 92% of U.S. households. To date this program has received over 4,000 telecasts.
PBS special programming invites viewers to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; hear diverse viewpoints; and take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. Viewer contributions are an important source of funding, making PBS programs possible. PBS and public television stations offer all Americans from every walk of life the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. To donate to your local PBS station, visit http://www.pbs.org/support.