KTK-Nutrition

This week at the gym, a few people were saying how they or a relative were recovering from some illness, colds, flu or other illnesses that got them run-down and not feeling good.    Are there immunity boosting foods that will help you fight off infections?    As we get   older , our immune system is weaker and we are more likely to get sick.    For those over 65, respiratory infections and in particular pneumonia, are leading causes of death.  What foods can you add to your diet to boost your immune system? Citrus Fruits Citrus fruits are a great way to add some important nutrients like vitamin C and folic acid to one’s day.  (See:  How does vitamin C keep you healthy? )   Citrus fruits  include oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, clementines, and mandarins.  Vitamin C is known for helping to strengthen one’s immune system.  Besides vitamin C, citrus fruits add important antioxidants that have ant...

Years ago, a deficiency of  iodine  was common in many parts of the US.   Then Iodized salt became available and that solved the problem.  Now, however, pregnant women, and others may have low levels of iodine, and some doctors are reporting kids with iodine deficiency.  What is iodine and why do we need it? Iodine is a  mineral  our body needs for many functions and one our bodies can’t make but we can get it from foods we eat.    Our thyroids need iodine for our metabolism helping our bodies turn the food we eat into the energy we need every day.  Iodine also helps our thyroid  regulate  our:           Body temperature           Brain development and mental activity           Breathing           Heart Health           Digestion During  pregnancy  and after the bab...

Who doesn’t enjoy some sour dough bread?   In California we had some great sour dough bread.   This past June, we were on a Viking cruise and many countries had some delicious sour dough bread.   Healthy bread is usually whole grain.   There are some whole grain sour dough breads but mostly sour dough is made from white flour.   Whether made from white flour or whole wheat flour, are there any health benefits to enjoying some delicious sour dough bread? Why is it called sour dough bread? Instead of relying on baker’s yeast to raise the dough, sour dough bread uses a “ starter ” of a living microbes plus flour and water.     This is called “wild” yeast which contains some lactic acid that gives sourdough its tangy taste.     Sour dough doesn’t use the commercial baker’s yeast used to make regular bread. This is certainly not a new technique for bread making as it dates back to 1500 BC in ancient Egypt .   What nutrients are...