KTK-Nutrition

Who doesn’t enjoy a cup of tea?    As  NIH  noted, “drinking tea has been considered a health-promoting habit since ancient times”. Researchers have found this to be true.    Why is tea so healthy? What are the substances in  tea  that promote health? Polyphenols  include catechins which are antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties.   Flavonoids  act as antioxidants in our bodies and may inhibit cancer cell growth.     Theanine  is an amino acid that helps with relaxation. Caffeine  is a  stimulant  that can improve alertness and focus. A cup of tea provides much less  caffeine  than a cup of coffee: black tea about 47 mg of caffeine, green tea only 28 mg.  Herbal teas like ginger tea and peppermint tea have no caffeine.  Minerals : Tea can provide  minerals  like potassium, magnesium, copper, and zinc.      What are so...

Who doesn't enjoy some fresh watermelon?  So juice and naturally sweet.  At a buffet over the weekend, I saw person after person loading their plates with freshly sliced watermelon.  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, almost 20% of daily needs.  Mineral...

So many of my relatives have switched from drinking sugared sodas to drinking sparkling water.   What are the pros and cons of switching to sparkling water?   My sister sent me several articles about sparkling water that answers these questions. What is sparkling water? Sparkling water is also called “seltzer water” or “carbonated water” as it has carbon dioxide bubbles in it.   There are many kinds of sparkling water including: “club soda, soda water, seltzer water, mineral water, and tonic water”.   Mineral water:   water from a mineral spring or a well that may contain some minerals, sulfur compounds and natural bubbles.   Tonic water:   has quinine and added sugar or added high-fructose corn syrup.   The quinine gives it a bitter taste.   Sparkling water :   Water with carbon dioxide added to make it fizzy and bubbly.   May also have flavorings, some real fruit juice, or artificial sweeteners added.    What are...

Summer is here and hydration becomes even more important in hot weather.   Each summer I blog on hydration and this topic is one of my most popular posts.   From the list below, can you guess what beverage or food is best for hydration?     Water?   Juice?  Cow’s milk?  Eating some watermelon? Did you answer “water”?   Most people will answer “water” as being the best for hydration.   And most people would say drinking the 8 glasses of water a day is all one needs to do to stay hydrated.   But is water really the best beverage for hydration?   Are there other ways to stay hydrated like eating a slice of watermelon?   What about those electrolyte drinks?   Are these needed to stay hydrated?   What about kids?   Some kids are not the best about drinking water throughout the day.   What else can parents do to help keep their kids hydrated in hot weather? What is the first sign that you need more flu...

So many people grab bottled water and have no idea if they will be drinking purified tap water or spring water.   As the LA Times noted , “You do know that, in most cases, bottled water is just tap water?”   And Americans drink A LOT of bottled water as it is now the #1 beverage, even surpassing sodas.   In 2018 , an American consumed about 42 gallons of bottled water and sales were huge reaching $31 billion.   People drink bottled water thinking it is healthier and it is healthier than sugared sodas.   But is bottled water healthier than plain tap water?   Is bottled water tap water? In many cases yes.   Rather than open up the tap or fill up a glass of water from your refrigerator, Americans are choosing bottled water .   Both Coke and Pepsi filter tap water, bottle it and then sell it at a nice mark up.   In fact, a study found that “nearly 64% of bottled water in America is just tap water...” What major brands of bottled water are ...

So many of us will be hitting the road as the weather warms up.   A relative is relocating from one state to another and is on a 29-hour road trip.   Other relatives are headed to the beach on a seven-hour road trip.   Too often those on a road trip push their health to the side and stop at Fast Food places for a quick bite to eat.   Even if one had good intentions to eat healthier a road trip can sabotage your efforts.   My husband showed me a good article on “How to Eat Healthy on the Road” in the AAA World magazine.   Many others have written on this topic.   On your next long road trip, how can you eat healthier?   As Wander Wisdom notes, Once I started bringing my own foods and snacks on trips, I felt noticeably better.   My energy levels were high, I was less hungry and I didn’t have to resort to eating the kind of unhealthy meals I’d never eat at home. Men’s Journal recommends avoiding the “feel bad” foods.   Skip the juice dr...