Eating For Health

Ever try to go “organic” and buy some organic fruit, vegetables or milk?   Then you look at the price and say, “Oh, my” and wonder why organic costs so much more?   So what gives, why do you have to pay more for the healthier organic option? Chemicals, pesticides – one reason people buy organic foods is that they aren’t sprayed with all the pesticides and chemicals.   And organic farmers do raise their produce and products without the use of pesticides that are harmful to your health and harmful to the environment.   But this means farmers can lose more of their crop to insects, fungus and other plant diseases.   Also, without the chemical preservatives some foods won’t last as long on the shelf.       Hormones – many farmers use growth hormones or enhancers to make the animals grow faster and can go to market sooner.    Organic farmers don’t use these hormones but then spend the extra money as the animals like chickens take long...

     Who doesn’t love to snack?   Many people think snacks are bad for your health but they don’t have to be.   And for kids snacks are needed as they have small stomachs and really need to fortify themselves between meals.   A website called Zesterdaily has some good ideas for kids’ snack that are not only healthy but ones they can help make.            1.    GORP – doesn’t sound appetizing but what kid wouldn’t want to make some GORP?   It seems to stand for “Good Old Raisins and Peanuts”.    Or you can say it is kids’ trail mix.    Easy to make and easy to take along on a car trip or hiking. a.        Basic recipe: ·    ½ cups roasted, lightly salted peanuts or whole almonds (or nuts you like best) ·    ½ cup raisins ·    ¼ cup dried cranberries or chopped dried apricots (or dried fruit your kid likes b...

We all have been told for years to watch our egg consumption and limit our cholesterol to 300 mg a day.   That equates to 1.7 eggs a day.   For those of us who love eggs, this restriction was not met with enthusiasm.    Eggs have a lot to offer, the highest quality protein there is, and many vitamins and minerals.   And very low in calories, one large egg having only 60 calories.   But this week, nutrition experts have lifted their egg restriction.    The committee is called the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee , which now says Americans no longer have to avoid high cholesterol foods like eggs and shrimp.   Why?   After a lot of research, they have found dietary cholesterol has little impact on our blood cholesterol.   At least for most people.   (Some, those whose cholesterol levels rise after eating eggs and foods high in cholesterol, will still need to restrict their dietary cholesterol.)   The committee...

Very few of us think about magnesium.   A headline in a recent health newsletter was titled, “ Extra Magnesium May Boost Your Physical Performance ”.    Yet, even those interested in being physically fit often don't think much about meeting their Magnesium nutritional needs. Magnesium – a mineral we all need.   Men (31 and over) need 420 mg a day and women (31 and over) need 320 mg a day. Do you get enough magnesium?   Probably not as 70-80% of Americans fail to take in enough magnesium each day. What does Magnesium do? Energy – to make energy our bodies need magnesium Protein – magnesium is involved in protein making reactions in our cells. It is also important for muscle contraction. Bone health – magnesium helps our body use calcium Immune system – magnesium helps support a health immune system How can you be sure you are getting enough of this important mineral?             ...