Eating For Health

Who hasn’t felt the midday blues or the midday slump?   You are fine all morning, you get through lunch but then start to drag around 3-4 pm, yet you have an hour or more of work or just the rest of the day to get some things done.   Are there foods that might perk you up?   If so, what are they?   Any other ideas to overcome that midday slump? What foods and/or beverages can boost your energy? Some dietitians have a few ideas :      1. Focus on foods that have some fiber .   Why?   Fiber delays your stomach from emptying so you also fill full longer. a.      Bananas – I love bananas and usually start my day by eating a banana.   Bananas provide a quick energy boost as they have the natural sugar, fructose.   b.      Oranges – my husband likes to grab an orange as an afternoon snack.   Oranges are a good source of fiber, about 4 grams of fiber per orange.   And, you get your daily dose of vitamin C with just one orange.   Oranges are also rich in those healthy antioxidants that

Nutrition is a changing science.   What you may have believed a few years ago, may change as science comes up with new research and new findings.   Sometimes science reinforces what we already know, but sometimes science says just the opposite of what we long believed was true.   One of the changing beliefs is about eggs – good or bad for your heart?   There are other topics of interest in the news recently and here are some of them. Do eggs increase your risk of heart disease?   So many people have learned “eggs are bad” because eggs contain cholesterol and are therefore bad for your heart.   Yes, it is true eggs do contain cholesterol and not a small amount.   The Mayo Clinic notes one large egg has about 186 mg of cholesterol.   For years the American Heart Association recommended we limit eggs because of this cholesterol.   So, what has changed?    Eggs can be good for your heart.   What??? How can this be true when everyone has been told that eggs are bad for your heart.   Then

Are you using coconut oil and thinking it is a healthy choice?   Many people I talk to and a number of students in my classes think coconut oil is healthy.   Not true.   If you are using coconut oil, there are many healthier choices.   A recent article on getpocket.com says , Stop cooking with Coconut Oil .   Why do some people think coconut oil is good for your health? The article notes that two studies in 2003 claimed coconut oil would reduce your belly fat.   Not only that but coconut oil would rev up your metabolism.   Based on these claims, some health advocates pushed coconut oil and a surprising number of people listened to them.   People started cooking with coconut oil, adding coconut oil to smoothies, and even adding some to their morning coffee.   More claims were provided as to how eating coconut oil would improve your memory , lower cholesterol, boost your immune system and even promote good digestion.      And those pushing coconut oil were very successful in conv

Does what you eat affect how you sleep?   My daughter sent me an interesting article discussing how the food you eat and the beverages you drink affect how well you sleep.   The author said she tried a new diet and found that she slept better.   She based her “diet” on information she learned from The Sleep Doctor who was on the TODAY show offering advice.   The Sleep Doctor not only has a website offering sleep advice, he also runs an online course, “ How to Sleep Better Course” .   Along with the Sleep Doctor a clinical psychologist also provided some diet advice that this article reviewed and the author tried.  If you want a better night’s sleep, what are some things you might want to try? 1.  Coffee  a.      Wait 60-90 minutes before your first cup of coffee:   The Sleep Doctor recommends you forgo coffee until 90 minutes after you wake up.   This would be a challenge for many people who grab their cup of coffee almost as soon as their feet hit the floor.   I know it would