KTK-Nutrition

Feeling down, anxious, under stress?   Many people turn to food to boost their mood but then choose junk food, foods high in sugar and fat.   Junk foods won’t really help improve your mood.   What are some foods that not only are mood boosters but also good for your health? Good fats and your mood: The Harvard Health Blog notes the healthy omega-3 fats actually travel to our brains and interact “with mood-related molecules in the brain.   These healthy fats are also anti-inflammatory which helps “relieve depression”.   And omega-3 fats may help stabilize any mood swings.   (See:   What are omega 3 fats and why are they good for you? )   Some ways to add omega-3 fats to your day: Fish:   A good source of omega-3 fats are fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring and sardines.   Oils:   flaxseed oil and canola oil. Seeds:   Flaxseeds, chia seeds Nuts:   walnuts are high in omega-3 fats Green, leafy vegetables lik...

You may have heard the saying, “You are what you eat”.   Are there foods that promote healthier hair?   What do nutritionists and researchers say? Are there foods, nutrients that promote hair growth? Like any part of your body, your hair needs nutrients.   What foods provide some of these nutrients?   Not surprisingly, eating for good health can also mean eating for healthier hair.   As the registered dietitian , Samantha Cassetty, states, “Eating for optimal health and healthy hair go hand-in-hand”.   Some nutrients important for hair are some vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory compounds in food.   Cassetty and others note these nutrients are especially important for a healthy hair and for hair growth: Vitamins A and C Biotin Iron Omega 3 fatty acids The Cleveland Clinic has an excellent article on The Best Vitamins and Supplements for Hair Growth .   The article highlights iron, biotin, vitamin A and omega-3 fa...

Everyone is watching the Olympics.   What do Olympic athletes eat to stay in shape and have the energy to compete?   WebMD had a recent article, Eat Like an Olympian:   5 Nutrition Essentials .    How can you “eat like an Olympian”? Hydration – Olympic athletes stay hydrated.   A dehydrated body does not perform well.   One of the ways any athlete can improve performance is to stay hydrated.   A rule that WebMD recommends is to fill up with fluids equal to half your weight.   Thus, if you weigh 160 pounds, you want to take in 80 ounces of fluid.   Since there are 8 ounces in a cup, 80 ounces would be 10 cups of liquids a day.   But all liquids count – a glass of milk, a glass of ice tea and of course, water. Seafood – many health experts recommend eating seafood at least twice a week.   How does seafood help athletic performance?   Seafood has the omega-3 healthy fats including   EPA and DHA.      ...