KTK-Nutrition

Who doesn’t love some morning coffee?   Or, on cold days, a nice hot cup of tea.   Does drinking coffee or tea affect one’s blood glucose levels?    Should healthy adults be concerned about coffee or tea and blood glucose levels?   The Mayo Clinic says that for healthy adults, caffeine will probably have no noticeable effects on their blood sugar or blood glucose levels.   Studies have found that up to 400 milligrams of caffeine is safe for most of us.   A cup of coffee has about 120-180 milligrams of caffeine and most adults drink about 2 cups of coffee a day.   FDA says healthy adults can consume up to 400 mg of caffeine a day which equates to about 4-5 cups of coffee a day, or 10 cans of soda , or 2 “energy shot” drinks.   (See:   Caffeine – good or bad for your health? )     Can drinking coffee or tea reduce chances of getting type 2 diabetes? Some studies have found that coffee, tea, and other drinks with caffei...

Caffeine – who doesn’t enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning?   Whether a K-cup, Starbucks or Mr. Coffee, most people enjoy starting their day with a cup of coffee.   According to the FDA , about 80% of adults in the US have some caffeine every day.     How does all this caffeine affect our health? What beverages and foods have caffeine? Coffee and tea have caffeine as does chocolate.   Energy drinks such as Red Bull contain caffeine.   How much caffeine is safe to drink? FDA notes that for most people, caffeine can be part of a healthy diet.   “But too much caffeine may post a danger to your health.”   FDA says healthy adults can consume up to 400 mg of caffeine a day which equates to about 4-5 cups of coffee a day, or 10 cans of soda , or 2 “energy shot” drinks.   But this varies as some people are more sensitive to caffeine and some people metabolize it faster or slower.   Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult with t...

Who hasn’t felt the midday blues or the midday slump?   You are fine all morning, you get through lunch but then start to drag around 3-4 pm, yet you have an hour or more of work or just the rest of the day to get some things done.   Are there foods that might perk you up?   If so, what are they?   Any other ideas to overcome that midday slump? What foods and/or beverages can boost your energy? Some dietitians have a few ideas :      1. Focus on foods that have some fiber .   Why?   Fiber delays your stomach from emptying so you also fill full longer. a.      Bananas – I love bananas and usually start my day by eating a banana.   Bananas provide a quick energy boost as they have the natural sugar, fructose.   b.      Oranges – my husband likes to grab an orange as an afternoon snack.   Oranges are a good source of fiber, about 4 grams of fiber per orange.   And, you get y...

Does what you eat affect how you sleep?   My daughter sent me an interesting article discussing how the food you eat and the beverages you drink affect how well you sleep.   The author said she tried a new diet and found that she slept better.   She based her “diet” on information she learned from The Sleep Doctor who was on the TODAY show offering advice.   The Sleep Doctor not only has a website offering sleep advice, he also runs an online course, “ How to Sleep Better Course” .   Along with the Sleep Doctor a clinical psychologist also provided some diet advice that this article reviewed and the author tried.    If you want a better night’s sleep, what are some things you might want to try? 1.  Coffee  a.      Wait 60-90 minutes before your first cup of coffee:   The Sleep Doctor recommends you forgo coffee until 90 minutes after you wake up.   This would be a challenge for many people who grab their ...