October 19, 2015 Beat the Breakfast Blues What happens when you're sick of the usual breakfast options, are too busy in the morning to prepare one or simply don't like breakfast foods? With a little imagination, your first meal of the day can be one of the best. Don't be afraid to include some unorthodox breakfast foods. Just remember breakfast is an imperative part of losing weight. Breakfast jump starts your metabolism for the day.
October 19, 2015 Can Fruits and Other Foods Trigger an Allergy Attack? Oh yes - at least one third of seasonal allergy sufferers may have "oral allergy syndrome" -characterized by itchiness of the mouth, lips and throat, as well as the familiar sniffles and sneezing, after ingestion of various fresh fruits, vegetables and even nuts that cross react with tree, grass and weed pollens.
October 19, 2015 Healthy Weight Gain Just as it's not healthy to be overweight, being underweight can be a problem, too - putting you at risk for malnutrition and problems like osteoporosis later in life. But there's definitely a right and a wrong way to do it. You don't want to add foods high in sugar and fat that can increase your risk for heart disease, high cholesterol, and diabetes, not to mention affect your energy level and mood.
October 19, 2015 Hot Summer, Cool Salads! Is the hot weather bringing you down? Perk up with cool salads, or even a refreshing soup. They're a great way to cool off and pack in lots of nutrients without the weighted down feeling of overeating.
October 19, 2015 Protect Brain Development With Nutrients Recently, I attended a fundraiser for Sophie's Voice Foundation, a charitable organization founded by actors Boris Kodjoe and Nicole Ari Parker in honor of their daughter, Sophie, who was diagnosed with spina bifida at birth. Spina Bifida is a neural tube defect that affects the development of the spinal cord in unborn infants. Each year, about 3,000 pregnancies are affected by these birth defects, and these children suffer from medical problems, psychosocial issues, learning disabilities, and multiple personal concerns including mobility, bowel and bladder control.
October 19, 2015 Foodborne Illness Summer is a great time to barbeque and picnic with friends and family. That said, it's important to remember food safety - over 75 million cases of foodborne illness occur each year in the United States. Luckily, most of these cases are mild, with symptoms lasting for only 1-2 days. Some cases are more serious (the CDC estimates that there are 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths related to foodborne illnesses annually), and even 1-2 days of foodborne illness is no fun, so know the facts.
October 19, 2015 Spice Up Your Life A dash of spice might be all you need to jump start your health. Numerous studies have confirmed that spices can help prevent certain cancers, lower blood pressure, control blood sugar and improve cardiovascular health. In addition, spices have been shown to minimize the damage of aging and actually help you lose weight by saving hundreds of calories and adding flavor - enabling you to avoid adding heavy sauces, butter or other fats.
October 19, 2015 Snacks for Kids With the wide selection of sugar filled items in the stores today children want nothing to do with eating healthy. Unfortunately, childhood obesity is common these days. In fact, a recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that 16.3 percent of children and adolescents 2-to-19 years old were at or above the 95th percentile for Body Mass Index (BMI), in other words, obese.
October 19, 2015 Nutrient-Saturated Foods The Dietary Guidelines for Americans are due for an update as the 2005 guidelines near their expiration date. Updated every five years, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans "are the cornerstone of federal nutrition policy and nutrition education activities." Recently, we discussed some nutrition labeling in grocery stores, how confusing it is, and how the FDA plans to crack down. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines may help guide the FDA towards a more meaningful labeling system. Many nutrition experts believe an addition to the guidelines regarding the nutrient density of foods would be a step in the right direction.
