Healthy News
The latest headlines about health and well-being.
When it comes to making healthy choices, there is a lot of information out there. As a registered dietitian and Price Chopper's corporate nutritionist, I can help you by sharing with you a few of the informative articles I've read lately. Have a question on anything you've read lately? Connect with me and I'll help you make food fit into your lifestyle.
Winter Whites: 9 Healthy Veggies
 When nutrition experts tell you to avoid "white food," they mean refined foods such as white flour, rice, and pasta. White vegetables, beans, and nuts may also lack the vibrant color connected with many disease-fighting antioxidants, but they contain surprise benefi ts that can lower risks of high blood pressure, heart attack, and more. Some examples: Turnips - One-half cup has only 18 calories but is rich in cancer-fighting compounds called glucosinolates. Blend turnips into your favorite mashed potato recipe for lower-calorie comfort food. Cauliflower - One cup of this cruciferous veggie (cooked) contains nearly 20 percent of your daily need for bone-building vitamin K. Toss florets with oil and red pepper flakes and roast.  Onions - A rich source of quercetin, a flavonoid linked with reduced risk of colon cancer, chop and sprinkle onto canned soups for a homemade touch. Jicama - A cup provides nearly one-quarter of the daily fiber requirement and one-third of your need for the antioxidant vitamin C. Slice thinly into strips and dip into salsa. Radishes - A peppery addition to salads, 1/2 cup has 9 calories and is a good source of vitamin C. Garlic - It may lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels and protect against cancer. Crush before using in recipes to unleash healthful compounds. Cannellini beans - Just 1 cup provides nearly half of your daily fiber need and 14 g of filling protein. Saute with olive oil and rosemary for a quick side. Parsnips - This carrot cousin is packed with vitamin C and fiber. Slice, drizzle with oil and maple syrup, and roast in oven. Pine nuts: They're rich in manganese, a mineral crucial for metabolism and bone health. Toast and toss onto soups and salads. Source: February 2009 issue of Prevention.
Posted 12/30/2008 | Permalink | Share This
The Meat You Won't Miss
 Here's an easy swap to drastically cut calories: Trade the beef in your recipes for mushrooms. Research from Johns Hopkins University showed that when adults ate a mushroom-based version of four beef dishes such as lasagna and chili,  not only were they just as full, but they also ate around 420 fewer calories and 30 fewer grams of fat. Subbing 1 cup of mushrooms for 3 ounces of 85 percent lean ground meat twice a week could add up to a 6-pound weight loss over 1 year. Source: January 2009 issue of Prevention.
Posted 12/02/2008 | Permalink | Share This
Exercise, Calcium Battle Metabolic Syndrome
 Exercise and a calcium-rich diet may help lower the risk of metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, according to a new study. Researchers examined more than 5,000 Illinois adults and found that metabolic syndrome was less common among those who exercised and consumed dietary calcium ... but people who failed to get adequate exercise were 85 percent more likely to have metabolic syndrome than their active counterparts. Similarly, those who said they didn't regularly eat calcium-rich foods had a 61 percent higher risk of the syndrome than those who frequently consumed calcium-packed foods. Metabolic syndrome refers to a host of conditions including abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, low levels of "good" HDL cholesterol and high triglycerides. It's typically diagnosed when a person has three or more of these conditions. The study is published in the November/December 2008 issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion.
Posted 12/02/2008 | Permalink | Share This
|
