Decoding
Food Labels
Whether
you're concerned about cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes
or simply losing weight, you want to eat a healthy diet and focus
on foods that are high in vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients
and balanced in fats, carbs, proteins.
Gluten-Free
Holidays
If
you’re the parent of a celiac child, who must keep your child
on a gluten-free diet, you have to be extra careful during the
holidays to ensure Aunt Sally doesn’t slip little Mikey a
chocolate chip cookie.
What
Should I Eat, Coach?
One
year ago, the Wellborn family from Plano needed help. Eleven-year-old
Brecken was growing broader faster than he was growing taller and
some of the kids at school were beginning to tease. Additionally,
the Wellborns suspected that 13-year-old Makenna, a competitive
gymnast, needed more protein in her diet to get her through her
intense schedule of practices. “We were going through a period
of poor eating habits,” recalls mom Pam Wellborn, “and
we wanted to nip it in the bud.”
Candida:
Restoring Balance with Ayurveda
Candida
albicans is a yeast-like fungus that lives in the mouth and throat,
the intestinal tract and the genital tract. Normally, the population
of candida is in healthy balance with other intestinal flora. However,
sometimes its population explodes because of various factors such
as an improper diet, bursts of intense stress or ongoing low-grade
stress that isn't managed effectively combined with poor sleep/exercise
routines or antibiotics or oral contraceptives.
10
Smart Reasons to Use Fish Oil
We
are in the grip of an omega-3 fish oil wave. Every day, more studies
are published showing just how important this nutrient is to us.
Last week, it was children with concentration problems; this week,
it is children with autism.
The
Dangers of Artificial Sweeteners
Back
to school time often means thinking about what to put in your child’s
lunchbox. If you’re like most parents, you’re probably
concerned about the increasing rate of childhood diabetes and obesity.
Hot
Java! What Is Sustainable Coffee?
Gourmet coffee
lovers have been seeing a few new terms in the local premium coffee
shop as they file past the seasonal retail displays of roasted,
whole bean bagged coffees. Phrases include ”eco-friendly,”
“organic,” “shade-grown,” “fair
trade” and “certified sustainable.” Most often
those beans seem to the casual buyer to be simply more expensive
than the corporate mega-brands. But these few phrases represent
far more benefits than at first glance, including economic and
social gains for the growing regions and farmers, harvesters and
processors of green coffee beans at the local level.
The
Rise of Eco-Parenting
An article about organic foods, organic
clothing, cloth diapering and chemical-free toiletries
as it matters to parents. Written by an author in the UK,
but affecting
parents worldwide.
7
Reasons To Eat Organic
Organically grown fruit and
vegetables are not covered in a cocktail of chemicals. Even after
washing, a conventionally grown apple may have 20 chemicals on
its skin. Conventionally grown fruit and vegetables contain more
water and fewer vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants than organically
grown produce. Even processed organic food is better for you,
as manufacturers are banned from using many of the most harmful
additives such as hydrogenated fat, MSG and artificial flavorings
and colorings.
Is
Farmed Salmon Safe to Eat?
The American
Heart Association recommends eating fish/salmon and their products
to prevent heart disease. On the other hand, recent media reports
indicate that some fish and farmed salmon contain toxic substances.
There is an obvious discrepancy in the limit set by various health
agencies. So don't give up fish and salmon completely. It is a
known fact that fish and salmon offer benefits in heart health.
The benefits to heart health may outweigh the risk of getting
cancer from eating farmed salmon. Choose a variety of fish and
include them in a healthy well-balanced diet.
Is
Fish Still Safe to Eat?
Fish and shellfish contain high-quality
protein and other essential nutrients, are low in saturated fat
and contain omega-3
fatty acids. A well-balanced diet that includes a variety
of fish and shellfish can contribute to heart health and children's
proper growth and development. However, nearly
all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury. For most people,
the risk from mercury by eating fish and shellfish is not a health
concern. Yet, some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of
mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child's developing
nervous system.
The
Family That Eats Together Stays Together
You often hear that families
should eat together. What evidence is there that this is a good
thing? A recent study suggests that family meals might increase
adolescents’ well-being. Middle school (n=1608) and high
school (n=3074) students, ages 11 to 18, completed surveys. The
frequency of family meals, level of family connectedness, academic
performance, substance use, self-esteem, depressions, suicidal
thoughts and suicidal attempts were assessed.
Is
Your Microwave Oven Safe?
Inside your microwave oven, an electron tube called
a magnetron produces the microwaves, which bounce around inside
the oven’s metal interior until they are absorbed by food.
The microwaves cause water molecules in the food to vibrate, producing
heat that cooks the food. Since the microwave energy is changed
to heat as soon as it is absorbed by food, it cannot make food
radioactive or “contaminated.”
The
best and the worst non-organic produce picks
All parents want the best
for their children, and nutrition is no exception. The organic
movement has introduced consumers to the delights of chemical-free
food as well as the dangers of the pesticides and herbicides used
on conventionally grown food. And while many of us have a sense
of these dangers, details are still relatively hard to find.
You
Genetically Altered My What?!?
What I found eventually amazed me.
Those special numbers are telling you if your fruit was
grown by chemical fertilizers, organically grown or genetically
modified.
Family
Dinner at the Table: Reconsidering an Endangered Ritual
With work schedules, lessons and sports practices
pulling family members in all directions just as the
day should be winding down, it’s no wonder fewer
families are finding the time to eat together. Yet at
the same time, it’s encouraging to know that many
others are making great efforts to keep this ritual alive.
Use
Your Veggies! Keep Greens From Going to Waste
In order
to help reduce our waste, try these storage tips, recipes and other
ideas for getting the most out of our organic veggie booty – and
specifically, from greens and broccoli.
Speed
up gardening with baby veggies
Planting a garden is a rite of spring.
Having your child participate will foster a bond with
all things natural. But plants grow slowly, and children
are impatient. A compromise can be made by raising baby
veggies.
Keep
Insects and Pests Out Without Using Chemicals
Keeping
insects and other pests out of your home can sometimes be a chore.
In the warm months of the year, pests are so persistent. They
just keep coming back.
