Eating For Health

Who hasn’t heard the recommendation that we all should drink 8 glasses of water a day?   Yes, drinking water is good for our health.   Water is actually a nutrient we need every day.   How much water?   The Institute of Medicine recommends women consume about 91 ounces of a day (about 11.3 cups) from food and beverages and men consume 125 ounces a day (about 15.6 cups) from food and beverages.   Thus, not just water counts but all liquids like coffee, milk, tea, juice and the many foods that contribute water.    Many people don’t think of foods as hydrating, but foods like watermelon are up to 90% water so do contribute water to our daily needs.   In fact, the Institute of Medicine notes , “About 80 percent of people’s total water comes from drinking water and beverages – including caffeinated beverages- and the other 20 percent is derived from food.”   Thus, the Institute doesn’t recommend hydration in terms of the number of glasses of water per day as we can meet our body’s wate

Most people say they want to “eat healthier” but then are puzzled by all the advertisements and bogus health claims.   Some of us substitute one food for another and think we are making healthier choices.   What are some food swaps that can fool us into thinking we are eating healthier?       1. . Granola vs. a sugary cereal – Granola can be a healthy choice if you make it yourself or choose wisely by reading the calories per serving and ingredients.   However, many granola mixes are very high in added sugars.   And watch the serving sizes.   Many times, the serving sizes for granola is a mere ¼ to ½ a cup.   Much less than the 1 cup cereal serving size.   By eating more than the ¼ to ½ cup serving of granola, you can easily eat an extra 300 calories.   Fine for an athlete in training but not so fine for a person wanting to lose or maintain their weight.   If you enjoy granola – it can be a healthy choice as most brands do provide some whole grains.   The first ingredient is o