KTK-Nutrition

So many options for buying organic food.   Everyone knows you pay more for organic food.   Why?   Is buying organic really better for your health?   Consumer Reports has some interesting information in their article, Organic Food on a Budget . With food prices increasing many people who bought organic food before are now cutting back.   How can you enjoy organic food on a budget?    What does organic mean?   The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal agency that regulates organic food.   To be labeled “organic” food must be grown and processed according to federal guidelines.   Or, animals must be raised according to federal guidelines.   These guidelines cover soil quality, pest and weed control, and how additives are used. Produce – organic produce is grown free of synthetic fertilizers, free of pesticide use. In grocery stores, the organic produce is kept separate from regular produce.   I had a student ...

As the weather turns hot, it is so important to stay hydrated.   This week my husband and I went on a long bicycle ride.   It was going to be 95 degrees that day, so we rode in the morning, found a shadier bike path to ride on and definitely brought some water with us.   Water and other liquids are great for hydration, but there are also foods that are hydrating.   My daughter said she loves watermelon in the summer.   Watermelon is a great food for hydration.   What foods can you add to your diet to help you stay hydrated?   Students in my class are often surprised to learn there are foods loaded with water that help with hydration. Our bodies need water and water is actually a required nutrient.   We lose some water every day from sweat, urine and even breathing.   In the summer, we sweat more and we lose more water.   It is important to restore “your body’s water supply regularly”.   Most of our daily water does come from th...

There are so many ideas for boosting brain power but what works?   Are there foods you can add that will give your brain a boost?   Consumer Reports has an interesting article , Boost Your Brain Power at Any Age .   The article covers many brain boosters like games but what about food?   Are there foods that give your brain cells a boost?   What really works? As people age, they are concerned with dementia and Alzheimer’s and just plain forgetfulness.   A study in The Lancet found that there are 12 factors we can control that will reduce dementia risk by 40%.   These factors include staying physically active, avoid smoking, and reducing obesity which also reduces one’s risk of type 2 diabetes.    What foods promote better brain health? Focus on leafy greens Choose those dark, leafy green vegetables like spinach, arugula, Romaine lettuce, kale, broccoli, collard greens, Bok choy, collard greens.   Unlike iceberg lettuce, dark, leaf...

What a great time of year to enjoy some fresh berries.   Last week my husband brought home some freshly picked strawberries.   Raspberries are soon to be plentiful but you can buy them all year.   Blueberries are considered a superfood.   My husband now says it is getting harder to even buy blueberries as they are sold out in many stores he goes to.   He now has to go to a store farther from our home in search of blueberries, but he did find a huge container of blueberries at Costco.   Searching out and stocking up on berries is worth it.   Why?   Because berries and other fruits and vegetables are so good for your health.   (See Superpower Fruits to Add to your Diet and Superpower Vegetables to Add to Your Diet .) Berries contain lots of different “phytochemicals” Berries are loaded with phytochemicals.   This sounds bad, but phytochemicals are good for your health.   Plants produce phytochemicals for protection .   “Phy...