KTK-Nutrition

Google “blueberries and health” and you will see article after article about the health benefits of blueberries.   My sister sent me one titled, 7 Science-Backed Benefits of Blueberries .   Growing up I often went blueberry picking with my grandparents.      My grandmother then made blueberry muffins, blueberry pie and blueberry sauce.    Little did I know that wild blueberries were especially healthy.      What are some of the health benefits of blueberries?          Heart health:   Blueberries help lower your bad LDL cholesterol while increasing your good, HDL cholesterol.   Additionally, blueberries help lower your blood pressure.   The antioxidants in blueberries help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.   To read more about blueberries and heart health, go to Heart Health . Improve brain function :   Studies on older adults have found that eating blueberri...

This week my husband showed me an interesting article in TIME, Can Taurine Slow Aging?   Who isn’t interested in slowing down father time?   Then my husband asked me if I knew what taurine was.   I said, “sure, it is an amino acid in some proteins.”   So, what does taurine have to do with slowing aging?   What foods have taurine?   Are there ways to increase taurine levels in your body besides eating certain foods?   What is taurine? As noted in my blog, How can you add some high-quality protein foods to your day? , proteins are made up of building blocks called amino acids.   Your body can make some amino acids but some you have to get from the foods you eat.   For babies taurine is an essential amino acid but adults can make the amino acid, taurine.      Taurine levels decline as you age. Although adults make taurine, the amount we make decreases substantially with age.   For example, in 60-year-old individuals,...

Who knew that what you eat affects your sleep.   Yes, overeating can lead to upset stomachs and affect your sleep.   Once my husband and I went out to a French restaurant.   We ordered some food with heavy sauces.   Our mistake.   We felt so full afterwards that we both could not sleep.   Others avoid coffee in the evening as the caffeine keeps them awake.   But are there foods that help promote better sleep? Americans need their sleep as the CDC says about one-third of us are failing to get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep every night.   The Cleveland Clinic notes, A good night’s sleep is critical to our health, giving our bodies time to rest, repair and rebuild. There are no magic foods that will immediately help you sleep.   But there are foods and beverages that can help.   In general, eating foods higher in fiber and lower in saturated fat can lead “to deeper, more restorative sleep”.   What pre-bedtime be...

Smoothies have become so popular.   Especially among young people who want to grab and go.   My daughters like to make smoothies for a quick breakfast that they can take with them on their commute.   If you are buying a smoothie from a Fast-Food establishment, which ones are a healthier choice?   What ingredients make a smoothie a healthier option? Consumer reports notes that smoothies can be very healthy and nutritious as a snack or a meal.   Especially if you make them at home and know the ingredients going into the smoothie.   Some Fast-food smoothies can be healthy but others not so much.   Consumer Reports , Delish and others offer some good advice and guidelines to follow when ordering a better-for-you smoothie. What is the ideal smoothie?   The ideal smoothie is made with whole fruits and vegetables, unsweetened dairy or plant milk or yogurt, and maybe some healthy add-ins like nut butters or seeds , according to registered dietit...

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. ...