KTK-Nutrition

Almost everyone thinks sodas are not good for your health.    Sweetened sodas are loaded with added sugar and low-calorie sodas use artificial sweeteners which many people try to avoid.    But there are new sodas on the market being advertised as good for your gut.    What are these sodas and why are people drinking them for a healthier gut? What are the new sodas promoting gut health? Two types of sodas are being marketed.   Prebiotic Sodas:    Prebiotics  are mainly fiber that feed our healthy gut bacteria.    Two brands of prebiotic sodas are Poppi and  Olipop .    On the Olipop can it states, “Supports Digestive Health”.    The prebiotic fibers in  Olipop  include cassava root, chicory root, Jerusalem artichoke, guar fiber, and Nopal cactus.    Olipop also contains Calendula Flower for its lutein, beta-carotene and flavonoids.       Probiotic Sodas:  ...

My husband showed me an article on coffee and how drinking coffee can adversely affect the medications you may be taking.    Many Americans are on medications and probably give little thought as to how their morning cup of coffee might affect their medications.    And there are ways to still enjoy your coffee and avoid those coffee-drug interactions?   In what ways might coffee interfere with prescription medications? Absorption:  Coffee can interfere with the  absorption  of a medication. Metabolism Changes:  Coffee needs some  liver enzymes  for metabolism and these liver enzymes may also be needed to metabolize a medication.  This can lead to the levels of medication potentially increasing or decreasing in the bloodstream.  Blood Sugar:   Coffee, especially if mixed with sugar and/or milk, can affect  blood sugar levels  which can make it harder to manage diabetes.  Drug interactions: ...

A friend was saying how tired she had been lately.    So tired she fell asleep at church and then fell asleep working at her desk in the middle of the afternoon.    This was very unusual, so she went to her doctor and was diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia.    What is iron deficiency anemia?    Why does it make you tired?    What is the treatment if you have this condition?   What is iron deficiency anemia?  Anemia  means your body is lacking in red blood cells.  Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to the cells in your body.  When your cells don’t receive enough oxygen, you can feel weak or fatigued.  There are different types of anemia, one is iron deficiency anemia.  You lack enough iron to make hemoglobin – the protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body.     What are the symptoms of iron deficiency anemia? As my friend ...

Want an easy habit to adopt for better health?    Just add a handful of nuts a day.    So easy to do and so many great health benefits.    Nuts are packed with good nutrition including protein, fiber, healthy fats, and many vitamins and minerals.    Health benefits of adding a handful of nuts a day include reducing your risk of heart disease, reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes and helping with weight management. What nutrients are in nuts? Protein:  Nuts are a good source of protein.  Not as good as animal foods like dairy, eggs, or meat but a good plant-based source of  protein  providing about 3-7 grams of protein per ounce.  Which nut provides the most protein?  Peanuts with about 7 grams of protein per ounce.  Next are almonds and pistachios providing about 6 grams of protein per ounce.  (See:  How can you add some high-quality protein foods to your day? ) Healthy fats: ...

Who doesn’t love a good cup of coffee or two to start their day?    I often get asked, “Is coffee good for one’s health?”    What does the research show?      My sister sent me an article describing the latest health benefit of drinking coffee. What are the health benefits of drinking coffee? Johns Hopkins notes  9 reasons  coffee is good for you.  What are some of the benefits? Coffee is loaded with healthful antioxidants .  These may lower inflammation and help protect against several diseases. Coffee lowers one’s risk of getting type 2 diabetes . Coffee lowers one’s risk of heart failure.   Enjoy those 2 cups of coffee a day as it makes your heart stronger. Coffee drinkers are less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease .  Coffee drinking is good for your liver .  How?  Coffee drinking promotes good liver enzymes. Coffee drinking reduces your risk of colon cancer  – a condition now...

Colon cancer was always a concern for people over the age of 50.    But now, it is becoming increasingly more common for people under the age of 50 to be diagnosed with colon cancer.    While colon cancer has been declining for older adults, since 1990 colorectal cancer has been increasing in younger adults (under 50) with rates increasing 2% a year.   What is the incidence of colon cancer in younger adults? Among those younger than 55 years of age, the proportion of cases increased from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019.  Although the  overall rate  dropped by 1% each year from 2012 to 2021, the drop was mostly in older adults, those 65 and older.    Why is the incidence of colon cancer increasing in younger adults? Research is investigating the  reasons  but factors being explored are diet, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and even changes in the gut microbiome, the bacteria in your gut.  (See:   Healthie...

According to  WebMD , “there are over 100 different emulsifiers that can be added to foods”.  In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates what emulsifiers can safely be added to foods and list these on the list of  G enerally  R ecognized  A s  S afe or the GRAS list.  Some common  emulsifiers  on this list include:           Lecithin may be used in mayonnaise, creams and some sauces           Mono- and diglycerides           Monosodium phosphate derivatives           Glycerol monostearate           Carrageenan           Xanthan gum           Guar gum           Gum Arabic           Polysorbates like polysorbate 80 What foods may have emulsifiers? Many processed foods have emulsifiers.  ...