KTK-Nutrition

Feeling down, anxious, under stress?   Many people turn to food to boost their mood but then choose junk food, foods high in sugar and fat.   Junk foods won’t really help improve your mood.   What are some foods that not only are mood boosters but also good for your health? Good fats and your mood: The Harvard Health Blog notes the healthy omega-3 fats actually travel to our brains and interact “with mood-related molecules in the brain.   These healthy fats are also anti-inflammatory which helps “relieve depression”.   And omega-3 fats may help stabilize any mood swings.   (See:   What are omega 3 fats and why are they good for you? )   Some ways to add omega-3 fats to your day: Fish:   A good source of omega-3 fats are fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring and sardines.   Oils:   flaxseed oil and canola oil. Seeds:   Flaxseeds, chia seeds Nuts:   walnuts are high in omega-3 fats Green, leafy vegetables lik...

Who doesn’t like bananas?   One of my favorite fruits.   Such a fave, that I eat a banana every morning.   What are some health benefits and convenience of eating bananas?   Easy and convenient Bananas are now available in grocery stores all year.   One doesn’t have to wait for them to be in season. Bananas are easy to store, don’t need refrigeration and easy to pack in a lunch. Kids find bananas easy to eat.   If you ever went to a school lunch room when apples are served, you would be shocked to see how many apples have a tiny bite in them and then the rest of the apple hits the garbage can.   But when bananas are served, the kids usually eat all of the banana.    What are the health benefits of bananas? Potassium:   Loaded with the mineral, potassium .   “A medium banana gives you 422 milligrams, which is 9% of what you need every day.”   Potassium helps you lower your blood pressure.   How?   Potassium h...

Anyone who has been to the grocery store lately, knows the price of food is getting higher and higher.   How can you save some money when grocery shopping while still eating healthy?   WebMD has a good article, Cheap, Healthy Foods .   What are some foods they recommend?  Beans/Lentils – These are cheap and they do provide some good nutrition including protein and fiber.   Beans are low in fat and add the minerals iron and potassium to your diet.   Serve them over some rice, add beans like black beans or pinto beans to a salad, enjoy a 3-bean salad, or enjoy them as a side dish.   My husband buys a canned bean medley by Delallo that we like as a side dish. Eggs – these have gone up in price but are still a bargain and an excellent source of nutrition.   Each egg not only provides 6 grams of protein, but the highest quality food protein.   So many Americans lack vitamin D in their diet and an easy way to add some D is eggs.   They also...