KTK-Nutrition

Fats often get a bad reputation, but here’s the truth: your body needs fat . It’s an essential nutrient that supports hormones, brain health, vitamin absorption, and even your heart. Yes, fats are calorie‑dense — providing about twice the calories of carbs or protein — but that doesn’t make them “bad.” It simply means choosing the right fats matters. Many people blame foods like bread for weight gain, but it’s often the added fats (butter, spreads, oils) that quickly increase calories. So, let’s clear up the confusion: there are healthy fats and not‑so‑healthy fats , and knowing the difference can transform your meals. My husband recently sent me a great article, The 5 Healthiest Fats You Can Eat , and it inspired this breakdown. Foods High in Fat Can Be Healthy — Really! 🥜 High‑fat foods can absolutely fit into a heart‑healthy diet. What matters most is: The type of fat The amount of fat How often you eat it “Bad” Fats: What to Limit 🚫 According to the American Heart Association...

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...

Fat – we need fat in our diets.   So many people focus on cutting carbs but rarely do people focus on cutting the fat in their diets or changing their diet to include healthier fats.   And there are healthy fats we should be sure we have in our diets.   So, what are the fats we should be cutting back on and what are the healthy fats we should be choosing?   And where do we go to get advice on what fats we should be putting in our diets?    What are the fats we should cut back on, the bad fats? Saturated fats are the fats the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends we cut back on.   Why?   Because it is the saturated fats that raise your cholesterol, especially raising the bad cholesterol, or LDL cholesterol.   As the AHA notes, “high levels of LDL cholesterol in your blood increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.”    Foods with saturated fat Not easy to meet their recommendation though on how much saturat...

What new food trends might we see in 2017?   Many food websites are making predictions for trends you will see in 2017.   Here are some of them. Eat This, Not That is predicting these 2017 Food Trends : Sour Dough bread – if you like it, great as you will be seeing more sour dough bread in 2017.   Eat This, Not That believes it is because sour dough bread is fine to eat for those who are sensitive to gluten.   (But still not fine for those who are gluten intolerant.)   And some experts say the bacteria in sour dough bread is great for your digestive system, so enjoy every bite. Spices – what’s so new about spices?   McCormick notes that in 2017 we will be enjoying even more spicy foods like more peppercorn will be spicing up restaurant menus.   Move over regular pasta and make way for alternative pasta – many of us have already enjoyed zucchini noodles, quinoa-based noodles but more varieties are forthcoming in 2017. Environmental Nutrit...