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Showing posts with the label phytonutrients

Watermelon – tasty and so good for your health

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Who doesn’t enjoy some fresh watermelon?   So juicy and naturally sweet.   We have some sliced watermelon in our fridge as my husband went to the farmer’s market this week. Many people enjoy watermelon and don’t realize how healthy it is.   Cleveland Clinic says, “watermelon should be part of your diet”.   Why?   Watermelon is “packed with vitamins and minerals and can be enjoyed all year ‘round”.   We hear a lot about superfoods like blueberries but we don’t hear much about other fruits like watermelon.    Watermelon packs a big nutritious punch. One reason why watermelon is so good for your health is that it is loaded with many vitamins and minerals as well as fiber.            Vitamins : watermelon is a good source of vitamins A, C and many B vitamins.   One cup of watermelon balls provides 12.5 mg of vitamin C, almost 25% of daily needs.   One cup also provides 876 IU of vitamin A, ...

Watermelon – so good for your health

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Who doesn’t enjoy some fresh watermelon?   So juicy and naturally sweet.   We have some sliced watermelon in our fridge as my husband went to the farmer’s market this week. Many people enjoy watermelon and don’t realize how healthy it is.   A dietitian, Julie Upton, provides some great news about watermelon in her article, One Major Side Effect of Eating Watermelon, Says Dietitian .   We do hear a lot about superfoods like blueberries but we don’t hear much about other fruits like watermelon.   Watermelon packs a big nutritious punch. One reason why watermelon is so good for your health is that it is loaded with many vitamins and minerals as well as fiber.   Vitamins : watermelon is a good source of vitamins A, C and many B vitamins.   One cup of watermelon balls provides 12.5 mg of vitamin C, almost 25% of daily needs.   One cup also provides 876 IU of vitamin A, almost 20% of daily needs.   Minerals :   think potassium.  ...

What does a nutritionist buy at Costco?

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Are you a Costco shopper?   So many choices and so much good food.   What foods does a nutritionist put in her cart at Costco?   Candace Nelson wrote an interesting article for Insider about the things she buys at Costco.   What are some healthy food choices a nutritionist puts in her cart? Eggs – not just any eggs but Free-Range eggs with Omega-3’s. Why Omega-3?   Because it is a fat we actually need and one good for our heart.   Eggs are actually low in calories and are an excellent source of protein.   Fish is a great source of omega-3 fats, but some people aren’t fish lovers.   So, eggs with omega-3 are another way to add this healthy fat to your diet. Mandarin Oranges – Who doesn’t like a fresh, juice orange?   What a great way to add some vitamin C to your day.   And kids often like mandarins because they are small, easy to peel and taste great.   Candace Nelson notes they also “last for several weeks in the fridge”. ...

How to feed your brain?

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Wouldn’t it be nice if there was “brain food”?    Just eat a few foods and be smarter, more alert, improve your memory?   Well, apparently there are foods you can eat to improve your memory and learning.   A recent article in Environmental Nutrition, 5 Steps for Feeding Your Brain , lists a number of foods and steps to feed your brain.           1.    Foods rich in Phytonutrients – these aren’t vitamins or minerals but plant nutrients that have health benefits to plants and to us.   There are many phytonutrients, the one called flavonoids, are good for brain health.   These promote memory and learning.   Whole plant foods are better than processed so choose:         a.        Citrus fruits – whole orange vs. orange juice, grapefruit, slices of lemon in ice water              ...