Eating For Health

Who isn’t interested in upping their immune system and boosting their health during this COVID-19 pandemic?   One way to do so is to boost your intake of foods rich in antioxidants.   Everyone has heard of our need for vitamins and minerals, but for good health we also need the oh so important antioxidants.   MSN has a good article this month, Why antioxidants are so important to your overall health .   What are antioxidants?      NIH notes “Antioxidants are man-made or natural substances that may prevent or delay some types of cell damage.”   Some vitamins and minerals have antioxidant properties like Vitamins C and E and the mineral, selenium.   But there are other antioxidants naturally present in foods like carotenoids (think orange like carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe) that include beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin.   No need to remember the chemical names, but what is important to know is which foods are rich ...

What fun to go hiking in the fall.    We just got back from hiking in the Shenandoah National Park.   Cooler weather, wonderful views, trees starting to turn colors and a great and fun way to exercise.    If you are hiking or going on a picnic this fall, bring some homemade trail mix.   If you make it yourself, or “make” it from bins in your local grocery store you can pick the options and the quality of the mix.   Sports Nutritionists and other recommend trail mix as a healthy way to refuel.   The fruit in trail mix offers many health benefits such as being good for your heart.   A 2016 study in the New England Journal of Medicine found those who ate one-half cup of fruit a day lowered their risk of heart disease.   And for those who forgo nuts because nuts are high in fat, a lot of research shows a handful of nuts a day can help you maintain, not gain weight.   Other studies show that eating nuts can help you lose weight.  ...

Who doesn’t love to snack?   Summer time is the time to head off on a road trip, to the beach or mountains.   Some people say to avoid snacks, but why?   Snacks are important for kids as they have small stomachs and they need snacks between meals.   Adults love to snack.   So when you are on the go, how to make healthier choices on the run?   One way is to plan ahead and bring snacks with you.     I was at a car wash waiting for my car to get done and saw a mom and her 4-5 year old daughter sitting on a bench.   The daughter said, “I’m hungry”.   I thought for sure the mom would head for the vending machine.   But no, from her purse she pulled out a juice box and a baggie of orange slices, a baggie of whole grain crackers and asked her daughter which one she wanted.   I was pleasantly surprised and very impressed and told the mother how unusual she was to bring healthy snacks with you.   She planned ahead.   CVS actua...

Who among us doesn’t like to snack?   On a recent trip to France, my daughter and I brought snack foods with us.   Europeans enjoy their meals but snacks can be hard to come by.   We brought granola bars, nuts, and dried fruit to ensure we had snacks on the bus or wherever we were on the tour.   So what are some healthy snacks you can munch on between meals? Fruit – fresh fruit is always a healthy choice.   My daughter’s boyfriend is into apples as Weight Watchers gives apples only a few points.   All fruit is good, full of vitamins and antioxidants for good health. Nuts , especially almonds – go for a handful of nuts, not the whole container or buy a small bag at the convenience store.   Easy to take to work, pack in a lunch for a mid-morning or mid-afternoon pick up.   I carried a few baggies of nuts in my suitcase and then would grab a bag as we headed out of our hotel for a day of sightseeing. String cheese – great at any time but a ...