KTK-Nutrition

Years ago, a deficiency of  iodine  was common in many parts of the US.   Then Iodized salt became available and that solved the problem.  Now, however, pregnant women, and others may have low levels of iodine, and some doctors are reporting kids with iodine deficiency.  What is iodine and why do we need it? Iodine is a  mineral  our body needs for many functions and one our bodies can’t make but we can get it from foods we eat.    Our thyroids need iodine for our metabolism helping our bodies turn the food we eat into the energy we need every day.  Iodine also helps our thyroid  regulate  our:           Body temperature           Brain development and mental activity           Breathing           Heart Health           Digestion During  pregnancy  and after the bab...

Most kitchens are well stocked with Teflon pans or other nonstick pots and pans.    Most cooks love these pans as cooking with less oil and cleaning up is so much easier.    But now some states are banning Teflon and other nonstick pots and pans.    Why?   What is Teflon, a nonstick coating, used on pots and pans?  The kitchn  states, “Teflon is a brand name for the chemical coating PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) that is used to make cookware nonstick.”    Teflon has been around for a long  time .  Dr. Roy J. Plunkett, working for Dupont’s Jackson Laboratory, discovered Teflon by accident on April 6, 1938.   The first nonstick cooking pans were invented years later in 1954 in France.  The U.S. had the first nonstick cookware in 1961.  The “first commercially available Teflon coated frying pan” was the  Happy Pan  in 1957.  Why are some states banning Teflon a...

How frustrating to be on a diet and the scale doesn’t move.    On X a man was lamenting how he had been on a very restrictive diet for a week and the scale hadn't changed.    Many people give up at this point and go off the diet.    But are positive things happening to your body even though the scale hasn’t budged? Beyond the Scale  lists 6 ways you can know your diet is working even if the scale hasn’t moved.  Your diet and new exercise habits are working even if the scale doesn’t show it.  Better Health Markers Even though the scale hasn’t changed, your blood pressure may be lower, your lipid levels like cholesterol may be lower, and blood sugar levels may be lower.  More Energy Better eating and more exercise can lead to increased energy levels.  And exercising burns up calories and leads to higher energy levels. Improved Digestion Eating better, including eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains adds fiber to on...