Eating For Health

So many people talk about “eating healthier” and then go on a fad diet thinking it is good for their health.   What are some diets that are good for your health?     What does “eating healthy” mean?   There are diets to follow, not for weight loss but for a healthier you.   In the classes I taught, students always recommended we should “eat healthy”.   But when I asked them what this means they often struggle to come up with specifics.   Instead of making a resolution to go on a “diet” this year, why not go on a “diet” to eat healthier?   Are there healthy diets to follow?   A diet not for weight loss or weight gain, but just a healthy eating pattern? Not a “diet” you go on for a week or two but a lifelong way to eating healthier every day.   I was watching TV recently and saw the commercial for taking pills to get your fruit and veggies each day.   Rather than take pills, eat your fruit and veggies as a way to eat healthier in 2024...

Did you know that olive oil is not only delicious but is a powerhouse of health benefits?   Why did ancient Greeks describe olive oil as an “elixir of youth and health”?   What are some of the health benefits of this delicious golden oil?   Last week we discussed buying real vs. fake olive oil .   Here are some reasons you should include some olive oil in your daily diet. Heart Health:   The American Heart Association writes about the benefits of adding a drizzle of olive oil to your day.   A 2020 study found that just a half a tablespoon of olive oil a day can lower your risk of heart disease by 14%.     In the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found people who consumed more than a half a tablespoon of olive oil a day had a 19% lower risk of dying from heart disease.   Alzheimer’s Disease:   The 2020 study mentioned above also found that people who consumed more than half a tablespoon of olive oil a day, had a lower ...

As the cold weather approaches a hot chocolate with marshmallows sounds tasty.   Are there any health benefits from drinking hot chocolate?   Apparently so.   Numerous articles have been written and research done on the health benefits of cocoa and hot chocolate.   So this winter when you are drinking your hot chocolate by the fire, think of these great health benefits:   Cocoa Boost Brain Power - The November 2013 issue of the Tufts University Nutrition Letter,   notes that drinking hot chocolate can boost brain power among the elderly ( Drinking Cocoa Boosts Cognition and Blood Flow in the Brain ).    A new study has shown that as little as 2 cups of cocoa a day can improve brain function by improving cognitive function and blood flow to the brain.   It seems the flavonoids in cocoa and in dark chocolate help the brain by improving blood vessel function and thus blood flow.   Harvard researchers gave 2 cups of hot chocolate to...