KTK-Nutrition

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 ...

Who hasn’t experienced the afternoon energy slump?   You did fine all morning, ate lunch and then about 2 or 3 pm, you have no energy, you are in an afternoon slump.   Some people then head to the snack machine for a candy bar in hopes that it will boost your energy.   It will, but then after the sugar rush your blood sugar may plummet and you are back to being tired.     Well rather than hit the snack machine for some high sugar, high salt food or grab a left-over donut in the break room, what are some ways and foods that can give you an afternoon pick me up?    What are some quick ways to deal with an afternoon slump?         Move around – so many people sit at their desk all day and even send an email to the co-worker next door.   Get up and ask the co-worker what you wanted instead of sending the email.   Get up and go the stairwell and go up and down a couple of flights of stairs. Drink some water . ...

Summer is nearly here and hydration becomes even more important in hot weather.   Last summer I blogged on hydration and it is one of my most popular posts.   What beverage or food is best for hydration?   Water? Juice? Cow’s milk? Eating some watermelon? 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 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 fluids/water?   Believe it or not the first sign that your body needs more water or fluids is thirst .   Thirst is your body telling you that you are becoming dehydrated. ...

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...