Fair or not, in the fight against carbs, pasta has gotten a bad rap lately. Yes, white pasta is relatively high in calories (200 per 2 oz. dry) and has modest nutritional value with about 2g of fiber and 7g of protein, but there are many alternative pastas that are better nutritional investments. And like the enriched macaroni products we’re most familiar with, they are all good canvases for a wide variety of toppings, flavors and textures. I won’t give up my noodles and with these alternatives, you won’t have to. Grain Pasta Switching to whole grain pasta provides a […]
WASHINGTON – Under pressure from EWG and other environmental and health groups, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is banning three grease-resistant chemical substances linked to cancer and birth defects from use in pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags, sandwich wrappers and other food packaging. The FDA’s belated action comes more than a decade after EWG and other advocates sounded alarms and five years after U.S. chemical companies stopped making the chemicals. It does nothing to prevent food processors and packagers from using almost 100 related chemicals that may also be hazardous. “Industrial chemicals that pollute people’s blood clearly have no […]
Here we go again, anticipating another holiday season. I can’t help but ask where did the time go? Is it just me or are you all feeling the same way? Seems I was just writing about how to set goals for the New Year and in a blink another year has slipped away. I always tell myself that next year will be different. I’ll slow down my pace for working, running, and doing so I can embrace all the precious moments the holiday season brings. Yet somehow, I’m right back in the same place wondering how in the world will […]
Drinking enough water certainly seems like a given. We all know that water is essential for health, but a lot of us (including me) just don’t make it a point to drink enough daily. For starters, water is critical for flushing out toxins, carrying nutrients to your cells, and providing a healthy environment for your ears, nose and throat. However, in this post, we’ll explore three lesser-known benefits of water that you may not be aware of (but totally should be). Water Keeps You Sharp Feeling a little dull? Check your hydration status. Research shows mild dehydration may impact short-term […]
The word “sage” brings to mind an elderly dispenser of wisdom, the fragrant brush of a desert landscape, or perhaps “smudging” — a Native American ritual involving burning dry, bundled herbs, which is said to benefit a location’s energy. However, sage is most commonly known as a seasoning used to flavor holiday stuffing or brewed on its own as tea. Sage (Salvia officinalis) takes its name from the Latin word salvere, which means “to save,” referring to the herb’s healing powers. Common sage has a number of documented beneficial properties, not limited to those of an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antibacterial. Sage […]
Women who eat fish regularly have a lower risk of developing hearing loss compared to women who rarely or never eat fish, according to a study. Researchers speculate that the Omega-3 fatty acids in fish may help maintain good blood flow to the inner ear, BBChealth reported. These are two questions commonly used to screen for hearing loss, which affects more than one-third of people over age 65. Women who ate two or more servings of fish per week had a 20 percent lower risk of hearing loss, according to researchers. Eating any type of fish – whether it’s tuna, […]
Put 20 of the world’s top nutrition scientists in a room together and what do you get? A 90-minute debate about what a vegetable is and, specifically, whether tubers such as potatoes fit in that category. While the scientists couldn’t come to a consensus on potatoes at the recent Oldways conference, they did — finally — provide clarity overall on what we’re supposed to eat as part of a healthful diet: more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low- or non-fat dairy, seafood, legumes and nuts. The group also recommended moderate alcohol consumption, with lower consumption of red and processed meats, sugar-sweetened […]
Ah, it’s the all-American question. Countless articles and books have been written to solve the problem of the unwanted “spare tire” of flab. Here in the USA, companies make billions of dollars from weight loss products and strategies! So how can this article help you, a woman with long days and high-stress environments, lose weight? Review these simple tips for tweaking the way you think about your daily food intake. 1. Think of it as a reconstruction project. Did you know that the face you have today is not the same face you had six months ago? That’s right. Your […]
Blueberries are among the few blue foods found in nature. They owe their appealing color, as well as many of their health benefits, to their anthocyanin content. Anthocyanins are plant pigments with antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, and antidiabetic properties. In addition to these benefits, blueberries have, in a number of studies, demonstrated a remarkable effect on the brain. Blueberries Support Brain Health An article published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine explains that flavonoid-rich foods such as green tea, cocoa, and blueberry increase the expression of neuroprotective proteins in the brain. In addition, they increase the connections between neurons, improve cerebral blood […]
Pears are a fiber super star with 5.5 grams in one medium specimen. Fiber plays an essential role in your digestive, heart, and skin health, and may improve blood sugar control, weight management, and more. People who ate a diet high in white-fleshed fruits like pears or apples also had a 52 percent lower risk of stroke, according to an American Heart Association study, likely due to their fiber and phytochemical content. Pears are also rich in potassium, vitamin C and copper. For a delicious and elegant dessert that contains a number of nutritious ingredients, I use pears in my Pear and […]