KTK-Nutrition

Who doesn’t love foods cooked on the grill?   Steaks, hamburgers, vegetables, fruit, all taste better when grilled.   Years ago, I directed a research lab at a university.   Almost every day smells of grilled steak and hamburger came from the research lab next door.   I had to ask them what they were researching.   They said they were studying the effect of grilling on cancer risk.   What is this risk and how can you reduce this risk and still enjoy all those wonderful grilled foods? What is the risk of grilling and cancer? Apparently, grilling meat   at high temperatures can burn the fat in the meat and generate 2 cancer causing substances, called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).   Extended exposure to these substances can alter DNA and lead to an increase risk of cancer. How big of a problem is this? According to UCLA Health , isn’t a problem for occasional grilling but grilling every weekend for y...

How would you like to have dinner with a longevity expert?   What questions would you ask about how to live a longer life?    Well, a New York Times reporter did have dinner with the longevity expert, Dan Buettner.   So what advice does a longevity expert offer?          1.    Coffee – according to Buettner, coffee is “one of the biggest sources of antioxidants in the American diet”,   He notes Greeks living on the Greek island, Icaria, drink 2-3 cups of coffee a day.   These are people who often live to 100.            2.   Focus on veggies and herbs – to prepare an evening meal, Buettner purchase fennel, broccoli, celery, carrots, chickpeas          3.    Add Honey – local honey, and Tofu, coconut milk, frozen berries         4.   Walk – exercise is important to a long li...

What is summer or a backyard cookout without some watermelon?    How healthy is watermelon, what nutrition benefits does it offer?   As noted below, watermelon packs a lot of nutrition for few calories.     National Geographic’s   Reasons to Eat Watermelon   and Medical News Today:   Watermelon:   Healthy Benefits and Nutritional Information :           1.     Soothes sore muscles – what does eating watermelon have to do with your muscles?   A research study found that “drinking watermelon juice before a hard work out” helped reduce muscle soreness the next day.   Watermelon also shortens recovery time.   Watermelon has the amino acid, L-citrulline which our bodies change to L-arginine, an amino acid that improves blood circulation and relaxes your blood vessels.          2.   Heart Health – These same amino acids improv...