KTK-Nutrition

Is coconut oil healthy?   So many people think so.   So many students in my class have told me they use coconut oil as someone recommended it to them as being good for their health.   Not surprising since the NY Times reported that 72% of Americans think coconut oil is healthy.     Even more surprising is that 37% of nutritionists thought coconut oil was healthy.   A recent article in USA Today highlighted on MSN probably says it best as the title of their article is:   Coconut oil is about as healthy as beef fat or butter . What does the American Heart Association say about coconut oil? The go to place for information on heart health is the American Heart Association, at heart.org.   There are so many misconceptions about coconut oil, the American Heart Association has released a report advising against coconut oil.     Why is coconut oil bad for you? Coconut oil raises your bad, LDL cholesterol.   Why?   Probably because it is high in saturated fats like butter and t

Is there a difference between brown eggs and white eggs?   Are brown eggs healthier?   Many people think so.   Why do brown eggs often cost more than white eggs?   Recently we enjoyed a breakfast buffet at a Bed and Breakfast in Connecticut.   The buffet included a bowl of brown hard-boiled eggs.   Hotels often serve hard boiled eggs as part of their free breakfast buffet.   But usually white hard-boiled eggs.   This led to a discussion as to whether or not brown eggs are healthier and/or have a different taste.   What is the difference between brown eggs and white eggs? Answer:   COLOR Yes, the only difference is the color of the eggs.   Eat This, Not That has a recent article, discussing the difference between brown eggs and white eggs.   Why are brown eggs brown?   Because of the type of chicken the eggs come from.   Brown eggs are from red-feathered chickens with red ear lobes.   White eggs come from white-feathered chickens with white ear lobes.   Mystery solved. Wh

Milk at meals is a healthy choice for kids over one year of age.   Children need milk for calcium and vitamin D for healthy bones.   Milk is also an excellent source of protein and provides many other nutrients important to good health.   Most parents give their kids cow’s milk every day, but for many reasons, some parents are choosing to give their kids non-cow milk alternatives like Almond Milk or Soy Milk.   A new study looked at the growth of children receiving cow’s milk, almond milk, soy milk, or rice milk.    Study:   the researchers studied over 5,000 children ranging in age from 2 -6 years.   They looked at daily intake of cow’s milk and non-cow’s milk alternatives such as soy milk and almond milk. Findings:   Compared with children who consumed cow’s milk, those who drank non-cow’s milk were shorter than average for their age .... For each cup of cow’s milk a child drank, they were 0.2 centimeters taller.   Some kids drank both cow’s milk and alternative non-cow’s mi

So many Americans try different diets or think some myths like “gluten free” will lead to weight loss success.   Time magazine has an excellent article, The Weight Loss Trap:   Why Your Diet Isn’t Working .   They interviewed many experts and discuss the National Weight Control Registry .   What is this registry?   It is a study of over 10,000 people who have lost 30 or more pounds and have kept it off.   The study attempts to figure out why these people were success stories and others who go on diets gain back the weight they lost.   What are some of the take-a-ways from this article?       1.  Find a diet or eating plan that works for YOU .   What worked for your neighbor, your best friend may not be what it best for you.   People react differently to diets.    One person can lose a lot of weight on a diet and another person on the same diet loses only a few pounds or may even gain weight.   A student in my class said her parents tried Weight Watchers – a good diet program.   H