Eating For Health

Feeling down, anxious, under stress?   Many people turn to food to boost their mood but then choose junk food, foods high in sugar and fat.   Junk foods won’t really help improve your mood.   What are some foods that not only are mood boosters but also good for your health? Good fats and your mood: The Harvard Health Blog notes the healthy omega-3 fats actually travel to our brains and interact “with mood-related molecules in the brain.   These healthy fats are also anti-inflammatory which helps “relieve depression”.   And omega-3 fats may help stabilize any mood swings.   (See:   What are omega 3 fats and why are they good for you? )   Some ways to add omega-3 fats to your day: Fish:   A good source of omega-3 fats are fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring and sardines.   Oils:   flaxseed oil and canola oil. Seeds:   Flaxseeds, chia seeds Nuts:   walnuts are high in omega-3 fats Green, leafy vegetables lik...

This Fall how can you eat to boost your immune system?   What foods should you be adding to your day or week?   Fall and winter may bring on colds, the flu, and other infections.   Are there foods you can eat to help boost your immune system?   Besides the traditional chicken soup and hot tea that many recommend, what other foods can give your immune system a boost?    Can some foods really give your immune system a boost? No one food will prevent you from getting sick.   But eating foods full of the vitamins and minerals your immune system needs, will help give your immune system a boost and may help prevent an illness and help you recover faster if you do get sick.   Doctor Cassandra Calabrese says , “There’s no doubt that a healthy diet improves your immunity to illness.   What you put in your body is important for your overall health, including your immune system.”   What are some foods to stock up on to give your immune system...

Are you eating some nuts every day?   When teaching nutrition, I often told my students little habits like eating a handful of nuts a day, can be good for your health.   Some people think healthy eating is giving up things like sweets, chips.   But I emphasize adding healthy foods to your day.   It is easy to add a handful of nuts to your day.   In one nutrition class I was teaching, I was talking about eating some nuts every day.   I looked over and a student had a can full of nuts and was munching away on them.   This student could afford the calories in more than a handful of nuts and he always brought to class some nutritious snack.   This week both my sister and my daughter sent me some good articles on nuts and I thought it would be good to discuss how healthy nuts are.    What are some health benefits of eating nuts? Nutrition :   nuts are loaded with vitamins, minerals, are low in carbs and the fat in nuts is a heart h...

You may have heard the saying, “You are what you eat”.   Are there foods that promote healthier hair?   What do nutritionists and researchers say? Are there foods, nutrients that promote hair growth? Like any part of your body, your hair needs nutrients.   What foods provide some of these nutrients?   Not surprisingly, eating for good health can also mean eating for healthier hair.   As the registered dietitian , Samantha Cassetty, states, “Eating for optimal health and healthy hair go hand-in-hand”.   Some nutrients important for hair are some vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds in food.   Cassetty and others note these nutrients are especially important for a healthy hair and for hair growth: Vitamins A and C Biotin Iron Omega 3 fatty acids The Cleveland Clinic has an excellent article on The Best Vitamins and Supplements for Hair Growth .   The article highlights iron, biotin, vitamin A and omega-3 ...