Eating For Health

My daughter is on a trip and stopped at a restaurant she ate at when in college.   She said she had the best salad topped with some cooked salmon.   Good choice as salmon is basically a nutritional powerhouse.   Why is salmon so good for your heart, your brain and your muscles? 🧠 Brain & Mood Boost Rich in Omega-3s (EPA & DHA): These essential fats improve cognitive function and memory, reduce inflammation, and may help prevent depression and anxiety.   Can help protect against age-related macular degeneration and reduce the risk of dry eyes . High in Vitamin B12 & B6: Vital for brain health , nerve function, and mood regulation. ❤️ Heart Health Hero Lowers Triglycerides & Blood Pressure: Omega-3s help reduce “bad” cholesterol, lower triglycerides, decrease blood pressure and improve overall cardiovascular function. Anti-inflammatory Effects: Omega 3’s are potent anti-inflammat...

How often do we hear, “eat healthy”, “eat nutritious foods”?   Are there small changes you can make to boost your nutrition without giving up every fun food?   I like to focus on what you can add to your diet to make it healthier rather than focus on taking things away.   An article in Environmental Nutrition has some simple, easy ways to boost your nutrition by focusing on foods that are full of nutrition.   How can you Make Your Diet More Nutrient-Dense ?   Some suggestions adapted from this article: Organic Milk – is organic milk healthier?   It is more expensive but is it worth it?   A study in the British Journal of Nutrition noted that organic milk has more of the heart healthy fat, omega-3, a lot more, 56% more.   Milk is not a great source of iron or vitamin E but these were higher in organic milk.   Not to mention the healthier aspect of no hormones and no pesticides in the milk.   Why a higher nutritional value?   ...

Everyone says to “eat healthy” but many people aren’t quite sure what this means.   To some it means Pop Tarts and Sunny D as these foods are “fortified” with vitamins.   But they are not really healthy foods as they are full of sugar, white flour and few nutrients.   Eating healthy means including nutrient dense foods in your daily diet.   Not exclusively, as we all like our treats.    But our meals and many of our snacks should be focused on nutrient dense foods.    The January 2015 edition of Environmental Health had an excellent article, Make your Diet More Nutrient-Dense.   The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics refers to these foods as nutrient-rich foods. What are nutrient-rich or nutrient-dense foods?   These foods contain the most nutrients per calorie.   Usually they are the least processed foods and foods not diluted with a lot of added sugar or added fat. What foods are considered nutrient-rich? Whole...