Author Archive

1. You are not aware of how much the food affects your health

There are two types of calories - Energy Dense and Nutrient Dense. They both provide you with the necessary calories to prevent starvation but only one provides nourishment for your body. 

• Energy Dense Calories usually found in the foods that are convenient, provide instant gratification, high in calories but have little (if any) nutritional value. Chances are within an hour or two after eating these foods you will be raiding your kitchen for something else to eat.  
• Nutrient Dense Calories are packed with valuable vitamins, minerals, and fiber. A diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains ensure that you get all your necessary nutrients to protect your health and prevent your waist line from expanding.

2. Not sure of the best foods to eat

We hear such conflicting information in the media; carbs are bad,carbs are good/ fat is bad,fat is good/butter is bad,margarine is good/butter is good, margarine is bad. This is all media hype turning the processed food industry into a billion dollar business.

Not all processed foods are bad for you like milk, high fiber cereals, whole grain breads or frozen fruits and vegetables. They are a convenient way to get valuable nutrients when you are short on time. Avoid any food that has been boxed, bagged, canned or frozen with a long list of ingredients only a chemist can pronounce.

3. Healthy food is expensive and takes hours to prepare

You do have to plan your meals for the week, make a shopping list and buy only the items on your list but the rewards for your efforts will far outweigh any inconvenience.

• You pay for the convenience of  having the meal already prepared for you. Pre-packaged foods are full of sodium, sugar and chemicals that lead to serious health problems later in your life
• Buy fruits and vegetables in season  
• Shop at your local farmer’s market
• Use legumes as your entree, add them to soup or create a main dish salad. You caneasily feed a family of 6 for 3 or 4 dollars
• Add brown rice and pasta to casseroles
• Check the local ads for weekly specials

4. Not having a system for shopping, storing, and preparing

• Think about your schedule for the week
• Plan your meals around events for that week, and most important, plan your meals before you go shopping
• Keep your pantry and freezer full of the foods you use most often
• Plan a few go to meals incase of an emergency or maybe you are just tired.
• Slow cookers and George Foreman grills are a busy persons’s best friends
• Prepare enough for two meals and put one in the freezer

5. A food either taste good or it is good for you

Eating healthy does not mean giving up your favorite foods. Learn new methods of preparation, replace salt with herbs and spices and try new foods.

6. Most Important “Do Not Deprive Yourself of Your Favorite Treats”

If you are eating healthy at least 80% of the time the occasional treat will not endanger your health.       

While it has been suggested that eating soy products may lead to low levels of thyroid hormones, this appears to be an issue only in people whose iodine intake is low.

First Oprah tells you to look at your poop and now I am suggesting you should listen to your pee. It may sound as though both Oprah and I need to find a new interest. Now your bodily functions may not be a subject you want to dwell on but they could actually hold the key to your health.

Gastroenterologist Dr. Anish Sheth explains how the color of your urine may indicate if you just need to drink more water or if there is a more serious problem.

   Extremely Pale Urine is one of the early signs of diabetes. If you are constantly going to the restroom, your urine has a pale color and a fruity smell, you need to discuss this with your doctor.

   Pale yellow Urine  or the color of diluted lemonade is a sign that you are getting enough water in your diet and that you are in good health.

   Concentrated Urine or Dark means nothing more than you are not drinking enough water.

   Florescent Urine only happens when you take vitamin B supplements. Any excess vitamin B in your system comes out in your urine.

   Red Urine can mean one of two things; eating too many beets will turn your urine red or you have blood in your urine. The red color from the beets is nothing to be concerned about but blood in your urine is a different matter. Blood may be a sign of kidney stones or certain cancers and should not be ignored.

Dr. Anish Sheth is author of  What Is My Pee Telling Me?  So if you are not listening to your pee, read Dr. Sheth’s book and learn more about why you should.

A  serving of pineapple provides 128% of the RDA of manganese, a mineral that helps build bones and maintain blood-sugar levels.

Avoid food products that a third-grader cannot pronounce.

Michael Pollan