Nutrition Articles

Spring Eating 101: Get the Freshest Produce

Before hitting the grocery store or produce stands this season, check out what fruits and veggies you should be getting:

• Apricots : slightly soft, not bruised
• Artichoke : compact head, bright green color
• Asparagus : closed and compact tips, bright green stalks
• Avocado : should be a little “give” when squeezed
• Carrots : crisp, healthy tops
• Collard Greens : dark green, vibrant color
• Mango : more orange/red than green
• New Potatoes : last only a few days
• Pineapple : sniff the bottom for sweet aroma, check for firmness
• Rhubarb : check for bright, crisp stalks
• Spinach : avoid dried out or yellow stems
• Strawberries : pick fragrant, slightly soft ones
• Sugar Snap/Snow Peas : bright green, should feel like they have a snap (not limp)

Foods that are Making you Sick

Every year, more than 9 million people come down with a food borne illness and according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) it is more than likely the foods that you are eating every day that are making you sick and not something out of the ordinary.

While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working hard to enforce higher safety standards on farms, they have linked many of these illnesses to three major areas.

Here are some examples of foods that may in fact be making you sick.

Green leafy vegetables : various strains of E.Coli have been found on green leafy vegetables and according to the CDC study resulted in the highest percentage of illness.

Poultry : diseases in poultry killed the highest number of people in the CDC study, with listeria being the cause.

Dairy : 14 percent of all food borne illnesses were the result of contaminated dairy products, including ice cream and cheese.

Benefits of Acai Berries

The acai berry represents a new trend in weight loss efforts, but its pound-dropping effectiveness may be questionable.

Although some claim that drinking the berry juice can stimulate weight loss, few studies can actually justify this theory according to www.webmd.com.

Although the acai berry may not actually help you lose weight, it is beneficial to you.  Like other berries in the same family, the acai berry has many antioxidants and is a good part of any diet.

Any fruit with high antioxidant content can help prevent heart disease and cancer.

Those with allergies to pollen, however, should be cautious.  Some allergy sufferers have been sensitive to this berry and should avoid it.

In conclusion, should you incorporate the acai berry into your diet?  Of course!  It has a place there, just like all fruits.

Should you base your weight loss regimen solely on this fruit?  Probably not.

Spotlight on: Dates

• The history of date eating can be traced back to almost 6000 B.C.
• There are various forms and kinds of dates, and the ways to eat dates are endless.
• The fruit is packed with vitamins and minerals essential for daily intake, and is linked to preventing abdominal cancer, constipation, heart problems and even sexual problems.
• The date also is ideal for daily intake because it helps digest food and prevent overeating.

Recipe: Date and Banana Cookies 

• 3 oz. dried dates
• 3 oz. walnuts, finely chopped
• 3 medium bananas, mashed
• 6 oz. oats
• ¼ pint liver or sunflower oil
• 1 tsp vanilla essence

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Mix everything together really well and put tablespoons of the mixture onto an oiled baking sheet.

Flatten them down a bit and bake for about 20 minutes, until golden.

Recipe:  Date and Egg Breakfast 

• 3 Tbsp corn oil
• 1 medium (1/2 cup) onion, chopped
• 1 cup pitted dates
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Heat oil in skillet and stir-fry onions until golden. Add dates, pepper and stir-fry over low heat for 3 minutes.

Make four depressions in date/onion mixture and add one whole egg to each depression. Sprinkle with salt and fry for 3 minutes to cook eggs.

Serve warm.

Reduce the Signs of Aging With What You Eat

Aging is a difficult thing, and it can be tough on your body.  Even when you make the appropriate food choices and exercise, it still may feel like you aren't doing enough to reverse the physical signs of aging.

Because there is no “Fountain of Youth” we offer you these foods that contain vitamins and nutrients that contain anti-aging properties. Add some of these foods to your daily diet and see what difference they make for you,

Flaxseed : full of DNA-boosting omega 3s, zinc and selenium

Spinach : contains antioxidants Vitamin A and C

Grapes : antioxidant polyphenols, resveratrol, aids in cell repair

Red snapper : high in omega 3 fats that reduce oxidative damage to cells

Yams : excellent source of antioxidants Vitamin A and C that can reduce oxidative stress on cells

Almonds : high in antioxidant Vitamin E and a great source of zinc and iron

Oysters : contains the antioxidant selenium as well as DNA-boosters Vitamin D and zinc

Canola Oil : contains Omega 3 fats as well as antioxidant Vitamin E

Collard Greens : great source of Vitamin A, folate and fiber, which are all linked to longer DNA strands

Dark Chocolate : contains the antioxidant resveratrol that is thought to fight aging cells

Chia seeds : whole grain high in Omega 3 fats, minerals and calcium

Bell peppers : antioxidant beta carotene and Vitamin C help in DNA repair