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A Call To Action Against Junk Food

December 29, 2011 By

When you journey to the safety net hospitals and clinics that serve some of the neediest Americans, you will invariably find yourself in the heart of the urban core.

Nearby you will see establishments such as liquor stores, convenience stores and fast food restaurants.

But often you will not see grocery stores that offer healthy foods at affordable prices.

This is certainly the case at the urban core campus of Truman Medical Centers in Kansas City, where I am the president and CEO. [Read more...]

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Sugary Snacks Ease Pain Of Overeating On Festivals

December 27, 2011 By

A sugary snack can actually ease the pain of a gut-busting holiday feast, researchers have claimed.

According to Arnold Berstad and his colleagues from the Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital in Oslo, sugar appears to stimulate the vagus nerve, which controls digestion, speech, breathing and other functions.

“A sweet taste can allow the stomach to hold more, and we can eat a little more without experiencing discomfort,” the New York Post quoted Berstad as saying.

The tickled nerve signals the stomach muscle to loosen up and allow a bit more food to fit in. [Read more...]

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Winter Foods To Keep You Warm

December 25, 2011 By

Some people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which lends a moodiness, causing one to stray from their health goals. Studies have suggested that there is an increase in aches and pains during the winter, along with an increase in functional impairment associated with seasonal depression. An increase in appetite is also reported, with the festive season leading to temptation to indulge.

Nature has its own way of keeping the body warm. The heat can be generated from within the body as well as from food that raises the body’s temperature to help it cope. The body needs to burn more calories to keep warm and hence there is a need to eat more.

However, certain foods have a more warming effect than others. Known as “diet induced thermognesis”, this effect is due to energy released during digestion and assimilation. [Read more...]

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Can You Stomach The Festivities?

December 24, 2011 By

Christmas and the New Year is the time of over-indulgence – and long may it continue. But is the season of festive feasting and making merry taking its toll on your body?

Researchers at the Department of Food and Nutritional Science at the University of Reading  study the effects of food on the body both with human trials and in the laboratory, using the Department’s world-class research facilities.

The Department’s facilities include the UK’s largest pilot food processing plant – a mini food factory – a clinical nutrition unit, and labs, including a complete recreation of a human gut. [Read more...]

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Breakfast Is Your Most Important Meal

December 23, 2011 By

Breakfast is simply breaking your fast in the morning after 10 to 12 hours of not eating, when you are asleep. During this daily fast, your body is at rest and metabolism slows down. By morning, your body digests most of the food you had for dinner and your stomach is empty. So, breakfast becomes an important meal to carry on digestive and metabolic processes.

Very often, people miss or skip breakfast or have little for various reasons: hurrying to work, sending off children to school, or not feeling sufficiently hungry early in the morning. Youngsters go on a diet to lose weight, so they skip breakfast. [Read more...]

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Healthy Eating Means Spending More

December 21, 2011 By

A new study has found that people who try to go on a healthy diet often end up having to spend more money on groceries.

The study of more than 1,000 people, found that those who bumped up their potassium intake – a nutrient needed to keep blood pressure in check – tacked on 380 dollars to their annual food bill.

It also showed that those who ate foods high in added sugar and saturated fat had lower grocery tabs than the ones who relied more heavily on whole grains and other good-for-you items.

“The bottom line is if you can’t afford it, you can’t eat it,” the New York Daily News quoted Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, as saying. [Read more...]

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Eating Healthy Doesn’t Have To Take A Toll On Your Budget

December 20, 2011 By

Often you hear people say they can’t eat healthy on a budget, but I am here to prove these naysayers wrong. If you shop smart, you can eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and stay within your budget.

Here are a few tips to help you eat healthier while saving time and money.

• Make a plan. Before you even step foot into the grocery store, plan out your meals for the week. Decide what fruits and vegetables you need to buy and stick to your list.

• Look for deals. Scan your weekly store inserts and cut coupons that are good for frozen, canned and fresh vegetables. [Read more...]

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