Eating For Health

Fats often get a bad reputation, but here’s the truth: your body needs fat . It’s an essential nutrient that supports hormones, brain health, vitamin absorption, and even your heart. Yes, fats are calorie‑dense — providing about twice the calories of carbs or protein — but that doesn’t make them “bad.” It simply means choosing the right fats matters. Many people blame foods like bread for weight gain, but it’s often the added fats (butter, spreads, oils) that quickly increase calories. So, let’s clear up the confusion: there are healthy fats and not‑so‑healthy fats , and knowing the difference can transform your meals. My husband recently sent me a great article, The 5 Healthiest Fats You Can Eat , and it inspired this breakdown. Foods High in Fat Can Be Healthy — Really! 🥜 High‑fat foods can absolutely fit into a heart‑healthy diet. What matters most is: The type of fat The amount of fat How often you eat it “Bad” Fats: What to Limit 🚫 Accordi...

Summer is here and hydration becomes even more important in hot weather.   Each summer I blog on hydration and this topic is one of my most popular posts.   From the list below, can you guess what beverage or food is best for hydration?     Water?   Juice?  Cow’s milk?  Eating some watermelon? Did you answer “water”?   Most people will answer “water” as being the best for hydration.   And most people would say drinking the 8 glasses of water a day is all one needs to do to stay hydrated.   But is water really the best beverage for hydration?   Are there other ways to stay hydrated like eating a slice of watermelon?   What about those electrolyte drinks?   Are these needed to stay hydrated?   What about kids?   Some kids are not the best about drinking water throughout the day.   What else can parents do to help keep their kids hydrated in hot weather? What is the first sign that you need more flu...

Caffeine – who doesn’t enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning?   Whether a K-cup, Starbucks or Mr. Coffee, most people enjoy starting their day with a cup of coffee.   According to the FDA , about 80% of adults in the US have some caffeine every day.     How does all this caffeine affect our health? What beverages and foods have caffeine? Coffee and tea have caffeine as does chocolate.   Energy drinks such as Red Bull contain caffeine.   How much caffeine is safe to drink? FDA notes that for most people, caffeine can be part of a healthy diet.   “But too much caffeine may post a danger to your health.”   FDA says healthy adults can consume up to 400 mg of caffeine a day which equates to about 4-5 cups of coffee a day, or 10 cans of soda , or 2 “energy shot” drinks.   But this varies as some people are more sensitive to caffeine and some people metabolize it faster or slower.   Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult with t...