DIET COLUMN

With Halloween coming up this Friday, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about this holiday and provide a few tips. First off, candy (like most things) is OK in moderation, but it would probably be best for you and your waistline if you leave the eating candy in the bowl. However, since I am big on healthy nutrition being a lifestyle rather then a diet I think it would be beneficial for you and your children if you provided the neighborhood kids with some healthier Halloween treats. Below are a few fun healthy treats you may want to buy or make and hand out this Friday night. (more…)

The best way to achieve your fluid needs for the day is by drinking water. Water is without a doubt the best fluid for your body, however it is normal to want to drink other things. Juice is a common ingredient in people’s diets, but there are some rules to think about in order to enjoy juice without having it influence weight gain. You may be wondering what to look for when purchasing juices, so below I have listed a few of my recommendations.

1. 100% Juice. The first thing to remember is to only buy 100% juice products. Any other juice that’s not 100% is only good for providing you with a ton of sugar and empty calories that give you little to no nutritional value (i.e. sweetened juice and fruit-juice cocktail drinks). (more…)

A team of UK genetic scientists engineered tomatoes with a purple pigment taken from snapdragons. This pigment contains the antioxidant known as anthocyanin, which is the same antioxidant found in blueberries and blackberries. The scientists’ rationale was the thought that inserting this pigment into the plant would boost the tomato’s level of antioxidants, however they were not expecting the surprise of the tomatoes changing colors! (more…)

Not too surprising to me or for most people, but a study was done which supported a known fact, linking junk food or a “Western” diet and heart attacks. More specifically, junk food was found to be responsible for a third of heart attacks.

Researchers examined diets of 52 countries, questioning more than 16,000 patients, in which 5,700 of them had recently suffered their first heart attack. The participants were divided into one of three groups based on their diet/reported food intake. One group was labeled ‘Oriental’ because of its high intake of tofu, soy, and other sauces, the second group was ‘Western’ because of its high intake of fried food, salty snacks, and meat, and the third group was labeled ‘Prudent’ because of its high intake of fruits and vegetables. (more…)

It’s very important to have a well balanced diet, focusing on many fruits and vegetables, for optimal health. Did you know that garlic, which serves as an antioxidant, has been shown to help stomach and abdominal pains and cancer, as well as lowering your blood lipids and blood pressure?

Garlic contains many sulfides, one of which is alliin. When garlic bulbs are crushed, alliin is converted into another compound known as allicin. Allicin seems to be one of the main active compounds in garlic, giving the root its health benefits. (more…)

Recent research has proven that the past recommendation for vitamin D was insufficient, showing that consuming higher intakes is safe and that increased levels of Vitamin D has numerous health benefits. Therefore, the case for adequate amounts of Vitamin D continues to grow and the American Academy of Pediatrics is now doubling its recommendation that kids should get of this vitamin. (more…)

I was reading an article discussing whether or not it is safe for people to eat fish. There is much controversy and debate over pregnant women not eating fish because the mercury found in fish can have a detrimental effect on fetal brain development. However, a more recent study showed that children of women who ate fish on a frequent basis did better on tests displaying higher cognitive scores compared to the children of women who did not eat fish.

There is no doubt that fish is a healthy food- it’s a good source of high-quality protein, contains essential nutrients, are low in saturated fat, contain omega-3 fatty acids and DHA; all of which are vital to brain growth and development and help reduce your risk of heart disease. However, some caution is needed regarding eating too much fish that contain high amounts of mercury. (more…)

I’m sure you know that breast cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer in women, but did you know drinking as little as a half of glass of wine may increase your risk of developing breast cancer? You hear it all the time that a glass of wine is good for your heart, but are you sure you’d want that glass if you knew it could increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer? And it’s not just wine, switching to beer or spirits (liquor) increases your chances just the same. The more alcohol consumed on a regular basis, the greater your risk.

I’m not saying avoid alcohol all together, I’m just saying be aware and practice moderation. Women thinking about having a few glasses of wine a day for their heart-healthy effects need to figure in the new findings when weighing the risks and benefits. It’s important to realize the regular, repeated use increases the chance of breast cancer and having a glass of wine or beer on occasion is not a problem. Besides, by limiting your alcohol intake not only will you help reduce your risk of breast cancer, but you can also cut calories and slim down your waist line.

Learn how you can help DietsInReview.com donate $1 to breast cancer research on your behalf during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and win some great prizes!

A food allergy is an immune system response to a food that the body mistakenly believes is harmful. Although someone could be allergic to any food, such as fruits, veggies, and meats, there are eight foods that account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions, including egg, peanut, tree nut (walnut, etc.), fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat. Food allergies are very common, effecting more than 12 million Americans, and have a wide range in severity, from a simple rash breakout to death. When grocery shopping, people with food allergies do their best to carefully read food labels to avoid a possible adverse reaction. However, many people feel the labels reading ‘may contain’ instead of clearly stating specifically what is in the product leaves to much room for a potential reaction.

(more…)

You commonly hear how important folate is for women in their childbearing years.  This is because research has proven time and time again that folate is critical in reducing risks of neural tube defects. Studies also show that folate can help reduce your risk of breast cancer. Now knowing this information, you may be wondering how to incorporate more folate into your diet.

Some great sources of folate, include:

- Legumes (black beans, kidney beans, black-eyed peas)
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Leafy green veggies (spinach, broccoli)
- Fortified grains
- Liver

Take care when cooking and storing these items though, heat and oxidation can destroy as much as half of the folate in foods.

Learn how you can help DietsInReview.com support breast cancer research during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and win some great prizes!