KTK-Nutrition

Watching your carbs?   Who hasn’t heard people who say, “I am watching my carbs.”?   Well, you should “watch your carbs” to make sure you are getting whole grains in your diet every day.   Most Americans are getting enough grains in their diet, but not enough whole grains. The Whole Grains Council lists many benefits of eating whole grains. Reduce your risk for many diseases.   Eating whole grains can reduce your risk of: o    Stroke by 30-36% o    Type 2 diabetes by 21-30% o    Heart disease by 25-28%                 And, contrary to public opinion, whole grains can make maintaining your weight easier. The American Heart Association in articles in Circulation , noted replacing refined grains like white bread with whole grains like whole wheat bread and whole grain cereals lowered one’s risk of heart disease ( Replace refined grains with whole gr...

One more manufacturer is getting on the bandwagon of taking out artificial flavors and colors from its products.   General Mills has announced it will be removing artificial colors and flavors from its cereals.   General Mills is already way ahead of its competitors when it comes to nutrition.   General Mills has taken out all high fructose corn syrup.   All General Mills cereals are whole grain.   In contrast, the first ingredient in Froot Loops made by Kellogg’s is sugar.   This means Froot Loops are mostly sugar.   Trix – a popular cereal among kids and even adults.   Trix will still have those vibrant colors but not from artificial ingredients.   General Mills will be using fruits and vegetable juice and spices to provide the colors so many kids like.   But probably good bye to blue and green as they haven’t yet figured out how to make those colors with natural ingredients. Reese’s Puffs will also be undergoing a color changes. ...

Who doesn’t love to snack?   Summer time is the time to head off on a road trip, to the beach or mountains.   Some people say to avoid snacks, but why?   Snacks are important for kids as they have small stomachs and they need snacks between meals.   Adults love to snack.   So when you are on the go, how to make healthier choices on the run?   One way is to plan ahead and bring snacks with you.     I was at a car wash waiting for my car to get done and saw a mom and her 4-5 year old daughter sitting on a bench.   The daughter said, “I’m hungry”.   I thought for sure the mom would head for the vending machine.   But no, from her purse she pulled out a juice box and a baggie of orange slices, a baggie of whole grain crackers and asked her daughter which one she wanted.   I was pleasantly surprised and very impressed and told the mother how unusual she was to bring healthy snacks with you.   She planned ahead.   CVS actua...

Wouldn’t it be nice if there was “brain food”?    Just eat a few foods and be smarter, more alert, improve your memory?   Well, apparently there are foods you can eat to improve your memory and learning.   A recent article in Environmental Nutrition, 5 Steps for Feeding Your Brain , lists a number of foods and steps to feed your brain.           1.    Foods rich in Phytonutrients – these aren’t vitamins or minerals but plant nutrients that have health benefits to plants and to us.   There are many phytonutrients, the one called flavonoids, are good for brain health.   These promote memory and learning.   Whole plant foods are better than processed so choose:         a.        Citrus fruits – whole orange vs. orange juice, grapefruit, slices of lemon in ice water              ...