Eating For Health

Ask people if they eat a healthy diet and most will say “yes.” But when you look closer, many diets fall short in key nutrients — not just calcium or vitamin   D, but something even more overlooked. Dietitians call it a “power nutrient” for longevity and disease prevention. And here’s the surprising part: about   93% of Americans don ’ t get enough of it. That nutrient? 👉 Fiber. 💪 Fiber — The Power Nutrient You’re Probably Missing According to the American Society for Nutrition (2021) , only 5% of men and   9% of women meet daily fiber recommendations. The average American consumes just 16 grams of fiber per day, men about 18 grams and women only 15 grams per day , far below the target. Fiber isn’t just about digestion — it’s a cornerstone of long‑term health. ❤️ Health Risks of Low Fiber Intake Getting too little fiber increases your risk of: Heart disease 💓 Type   2   diabetes 🍬 Stroke and hypertension 🧠 Digestive disorders and colon cancer 🌿 ...

What if you and your family decided to forgo ultra-processed foods for a period of time?   Would you notice any changes?   The Wall Street Journal has an article about a family that did give up ultra-processed foods for a month and wrote about their experience.   What ultra-processed foods did the family give up? There are many definitions of ultra-processed foods, but this family decided to keep it simple.   They decided to exclude foods that contained ingredients like preservatives and emulsifiers that one wouldn’t find in their home kitchen.   “We decided that if a food had an ingredient that we don’t use or could barely pronounce (e.g., maltodextrin, soy lecithin, guar gum), then we wouldn’t buy it.”   🌟 What Happens When You Give Up Ultra-Processed Foods? One Family Tried It for a Month — Here’s What Changed 🧠 Better Mental Health Less anxiety, fewer mood swings, more energy . An NIH study found greater consumption of ultra-processed foo...