Eating For Health

Potassium – why do you need it and what foods can you eat to be sure you are getting enough of this important mineral?   Most of the students in the classes I teach know we should all be cutting back on the amount of sodium in our diets.   But most students don’t know we should also focus on increasing the amount of potassium in our diets.   Why do we need potassium and why is it so important to good health? Why is potassium important to our health?         1.  Blood Pressure, heart disease -   Maxine Yeung, a Registered Dietitian who founded The Wellness Whisk states, “Potassium is an electrolyte that helps with nerve and muscle function in the body.   And, “Potassium also helps regulate heart and blood pressure by counterbalancing sodium.”   Low intake of potassium is related to high blood pressure , while an increase in potassium helps counteract the effects of sodium and helps keep our blood pressure normal.  ...

  Are there foods you can eat or not eat that can help you live longer and age well?    Environmental Nutrition has an interesting article in their November issue, 5 Tips for Eating to Age Well .    Their 5 key strategies?                1.          Eat foods rich in EPA and DHA omega-3’s .    Many commercials on TV advertise supplements to get your EPA and DHA but eating foods rich in these is preferred. EPA and DHA foods - .   Fish oils are rich in EPA and DHA so focus on fish – wild-caught salmon, sardines, and herring.     How Do EPA and DHA help you age well?   They support heart health, your brain function and memory.   Even muscle strength has been shown to improve.             2.       Healthy gut – yes, exercise is a way to improve your midsection but ea...