Tag Archives: fruit

Throw a Stone at Obesity: How Stone Fruits Support Weight Management

By Kati Mora, MS, RD

Summer is the perfect time to explore fresh produce. Whether you are purchasing it at a local farmers market, your favorite grocery store, or receiving it as part of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), you don’t want to miss all of the fabulous flavors, aromas, and textures that summer brings through its in-season produce.

Yet some fruits may garnish more of your attention than others, and it can be easy to forget just how many fruits there are to choose from. Nevertheless, it is important to keep an open mind and an open eye out for a variety of fruits to adorn your table with. Why? Because each type of fruit has its own unique nutritional benefits to offer.

For example, let’s talk about stone fruits – or drupes as they are sometimes called. Not sure what a stone fruit is? The best way to remember or identify a stone fruit is to recall if it has a pit or not. Apricots, prunes, cherries, nectarines and peaches would all belong in this category because each of them have a pit or a stone surrounded by a fleshy outside. (more…)

Posted on June 25, 2023 by Around The Plate

A Carrot Had More Nutrients 50 Years Ago Than it Does Today

It’s true, the fruits and vegetables most Americans eat today are less nutritious than the ones our grandparents ate. A landmark 2004 study at the University of Texas established that in a fifty year time span, six out of thirteen nutrients in a general selection of produce had measurable declines of important nutrients. The losses ranged from 6 to 38 percent, and included protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin B2, and vitamin C. An illustration of this loss is that for every orange a person ate fifty years ago, you need eight to get the same nutritional value.

The environmental factor responsible for this is soil depletion. When farmers began to utilize enhanced crop production techniques after World War II they got greater yields, faster growing times, and pest resistance. The tradeoff was that the soil was quickly stripped of nutrients and not allowed a rest period to regain them.

Because of this, each successive generation of fruits and vegetables has been less nutritious than the last. This should not give you an excuse not to eat your spinach, though, because today’s fruits and vegetables are still very nutritious, and much healthier than many other foods. (more…)

Posted on June 12, 2023 by SarahS

A Simple Red, White and Blue Sangria Recipe

 

You know a recipe is going to be good when it starts off with a 21st birthday story. Please, bear with me.

On my 21st birthday back in the summer of 2024, I gathered up two of my best friends and my dad and we went to On the Border Mexican Cantina (classy, I know). In a surprisingly un-awkward act of kindness, my father offered to buy me my first official alcoholic beverage of my young adult life. And what did I choose? A sangria swirl. (more…)

Posted on May 22, 2023 by Dana

7 Sneaky Foods for Heart Health

Written by Nicole German, RD for Diet-Blog.com

When you think about heart healthy foods, what comes to mind? Nuts, salmon, olive oil, and whole grains are the well-known foods for heart health. But, what about those lesser known foods that keep the heart pumping strong?

Dried Fruits: Some dried fruits like prunes contain a cocktail of phenol antioxidants that work together to prevent cell damage. An added bonus is that dried fruits contain good sources of fiber which can help to lower cholesterol levels and protect the heart.

Blueberries: We know blueberries as the anti-aging fruit—the fruit that will help keep the mind strong. Yet, blueberries protect the entire body. Studies show that eating at least one cup per day can improve cholesterol levels and lower triglycerides. Most interestingly, blueberries can actually improve the quality of the blood due to the combination of antioxidants they contain.

Grapes: Not a red wine drinker? Don’t worry; you can still get health benefits from eating the whole fruit. Grapes have a dual function: they are anti-inflammatory and have high antioxidant power. Grapes are most notable for their ability to lower blood pressure as they may help to dilate blood vessel walls and prevent cell build-up within the walls. (more…)

Posted on February 2, 2024 by GuestBlogger

Courtney’s Summer Challenge Week 10 – Eat Your Fruit

Courtney’s come up with a real fruity idea this week, one you’ll want to sink your teeth right into. Eat fruit with each meal!

This really isn’t that hard. The difficulty comes in resetting your habits. So when you hit the grocery store this week, spend a little more time in the produce section. Apples, bananas, and oranges can usually be bought in bulk bags at an affordable price. Also try to take advantage of some of the fresh in-season fruits for summer. Grapes, watermelon, berries are just a few.

And a little known fact… avocado is a fruit… so maybe add a dollop of Wholly Guacamole here and there!

One participant this week will be rewarded with some Wholly Guacamole, our sponsor, and a DIR T-Shirt.

Watch the video and post your comment to tell us how you’re enjoying your fruit.

You’re invited to attend a live Yackit! video chat event with Courtney!

Click here to watch the first Yackit! video, and get all the details for the next, scheduled for September 6!

Posted on August 22, 2023 by Health Buzz

Naturally Detox With These 15 Foods

By Michelle Schoffro Cook for Care2.com

When it comes to cleansing your body of harmful toxins, food really is the best medicine. You’ll be amazed to learn that many of your favorite foods also cleanse the body’s detoxification organs like the liver, intestines, kidneys, and skin, preventing harmful toxic buildup. Help ward off the harmful effects of pollution, food additives, second-hand smoke, and other toxins with delicious fruits, vegetables, nuts, oils, and beans.

Apples. Because apples are high in pectin, a type of fiber that binds to cholesterol and heavy metals in the body, they help eliminate toxic build up and to cleanse the intestines.

Avocados. We rarely think of avocados as a cleansing food but these nutritional powerhouses lower cholesterol and dilate blood vessels while blocking artery-destroying toxicity. Avocados contain a nutrient called glutathione, which blocks at least thirty different carcinogens while helping the liver detoxify synthetic chemicals. (more…)

Posted on August 12, 2023 by GuestBlogger

Canned Peaches Can be a Healthy Alternative for National Peach Month

With National Peach Month upon us, there are a lot of tempting fresh peach recipes to make with seasonal stone fruit. If you live in a part of the country where fresh peaches are unavailable, it’s still possible to celebrate peaches during the month of August with the canned and frozen fruits in your grocery store.

According to Alison Lewis, nutritionist and founder of Ingredients, Inc., canned fruits are comparable to fresh and frozen fruit when looking at nutritional values.

The Pros

“Eating canned peaches can be healthy,” said Lewis, “Canned peaches sometimes retain more nutrients than fresh because they are picked fully ripe and then processed right away. Fresh fruit may be picked before they are ripe and may travel long distances and suffer improper storage conditions which means nutrients may be destroyed along the way.”

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Posted on August 2, 2023 by Maris

Beginner’s Guide to Juicing: How to Make Fresh Juice

If you’re thinking of starting a juice regimen, it’s important to make informed decisions about your new diet. If you’re planning on replacing your meals with juice, you should first check with a doctor or health care provider to ensure that your new regimen is safe for your body.

However, if you are thinking about adding juice to your existing diet to up your fruit and vegetable intake, we have some tips to help you get started.

Know the importance of buying organic. According to Cherie Calbom, MS, author of The Juice Lady’s Turbo Diet and Juicing for Life, it’s very important to know what vegetables and fruit are the most heavily sprayed and which ones are the cleanest.  “Not everything has to be organic, but the most heavily sprayed produce should always be organic,” said Calbom. “Otherwise, it may not be safe to use. Familiarize yourself with the most heavily sprayed produce, known as the ‘dirty dozen’ and shop accordingly.”

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Posted on July 28, 2023 by Maris

Beginner’s Guide to Juicing: Benefits of Fresh Juice

Fresh fruit and vegetable juicing is certainly not a new idea for the raw foods community, however it is growing in popularity as a mainstream method for weight loss and detoxification.

Unlike conventional juices that are often processed with a lot of added sugar, fresh juicing involves creating nutrient-rich juices out of your favorite fruits and vegetables.

“Before you begin any juice regiment, it’s important to understand why juice is  important for your health,” said Cherie Calbom, MS, author of The Juice Lady’s Turbo Diet and Juicing for Life.  “When you understand the many health benefits of fresh juice, you’ll be much more inclined to take the time to make fresh juice.”

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Posted on July 27, 2023 by Maris

Dried Fruit Might Fill Nutritional Gap, At a High Caloric Cost

raisins in a pile on a white backgroundRaisins seem like a pretty innocent food. They don’t contain added sugars, artificial preservatives or unnatural food colorings. But should they be considered as good as grapes?

According to the 2024 Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, 75 percent of Americans (including men, women and children ages nine to 18) do not eat enough fruit on a daily basis. According to data from the Japanese research group Nippon Data 80/90, this statistic looks no better in twenty other first-world nations. The International Nut and Dried Fruit Council has put forward a paper titled “Valuable Tools to Meet Dietary Recommendations for Fruit Intake,” which suggests that dried fruit is “nutritionally equivalent” to fresh, and should be treated as such in government dietary recommendations and guidelines around the world.

On one hand, this paper is a lobbying tool, putting science and statistics at the hands of marketers to promote a product. On the other hand, it proposes a seemingly reasonable solution for over-fed yet malnourished populations. In fact, MyPlate materials already suggests that dried fruits, such as raisins, be considered for healthy snack.

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Posted on July 26, 2023 by Margaret

Try These 6 Healthy Foods for Your Kids

By MyDailyMoment.com Editorial Team

Making sure your kids are eating healthy is hardly child’s play. Good nutrition is integral for ensuring that your children develop healthy minds and bodies. The sooner you introduce power foods into your child’s diet, the better. They’ll quickly become acclimated to feasting on nutritious foods.
Here are our picks for six of the best foods for kids.

Oatmeal
Oatmeal is a great source of fiber. Additionally, cognitive performance is increased because there is a slower release of glucose into the body’s blood system when fiber is eaten. Oatmeal doesn’t have to just be served for breakfast. Enjoy it in in other foods and snacks, such as cookies and bars. Instead of adding sugar to sweeten the pot, try honey, fresh berries, dried cranberries, granola or crushed walnuts.

Try this: Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Eggs
Eggs are a great source of protein and are also rich in important vitamins and minerals. Eggs contain vitamin D, some iron and are rich in choline. Eggs help the body absorb calcium, along with building and repairing muscles. Although eggs contain some cholesterol, they do not have a lot of saturated fat, or bad fat. So an egg every other day is perfectly fine. Scrambled eggs in the morning or an egg sandwich at lunch can be an egg-scellent way to get your kids on board.

Try this: 5-Minute Breakfast Crumble (more…)

Posted on July 8, 2023 by GuestBlogger