KTK-Nutrition

So easy to grab a protein bar and think you are “eating healthy”.   But are protein bars really good for your health?   Are some protein bars better than others?   What should you look for when choosing a protein bar?   Many of my relatives eat protein bars and my sister sent me a great article, Are protein bars good for you?   Dietitians reveal the healthiest options .   This article notes proteins bars “can be a filling snack, or a “glorified candy bar.”   Which one are you eating? Do you need a protein bar? Most Americans are already getting more protein than they need.   When I had students track their diet and calculate their protein intake all were eating many more grams of protein a day than they needed.   There are great ways to add protein to your diet without eating protein bars.   Do you know which 2 foods have higher quality protein than a steak?   Eggs are the gold standard for protein quality and next is cow’s milk...

When the scale isn’t moving, it can be frustrating.   Many people shut down on their weight loss journey when they don’t see immediate progress.   But important changes are happening.   A relative called me.   They were dieting, adding exercise and did lose a few pounds.   But then they reached a plateau and were very frustrated.   How do you know your diet and new exercise habits are working when the scale doesn’t move?   Environmental Nutrition outlines six ways to know you are still making progress in the April 2024 article, “Look Beyond the Scale”.    Weight loss is a great indicator you are improving your health when you are dieting and trying to get in shape. But you don’t need to rely just on the scale in your weight loss journey.   There are also other wins for your health. 1.   Better health :   When one loses weight and adds more exercise to their routine, their body benefits in many ways even if they hit a plate...

At long last, summer is around the corner.   With summer heat comes hydration issues.   How can you stay hydrated this summer?   What beverages are best for hydration?   How do you know when you are getting dehydrated?   What are the health benefits of water? Many people don’t know water is a nutrient and has many important functions in our bodies.    The Mayo Clinic notes that every cell in our body needs water in order to work properly.   According to CDC , water helps your body in many ways: Water helps keep your temperature normal – so important on hot, humid days. Water helps lubricate and cushion your joints – important in summer when we are biking, walking, hiking, golfing, playing tennis – exercise that uses our joints day in and day out. And perspiration is water – sweating on a hot day means you are losing water and need to replenish it. Why do we need more water in summer? Hot days – when we are outside in hot weather, we s...