From the category archives:

Nutrition

The Healthy Effects of Red Wine

by Donna on November 15, 2008

Over the past ten years there have been numerous studies on the healthy effects of red wine, which we’ve heard snipets about on the news or read about in the paper. My clients sometimes ask me about it, so I’ve looked into it. My own research has determined that there are three particular types of wine that produce those positive benefits. They are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir, in that order. The benefits include: reducing ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol, increasing ‘good’ HDL cholesterol and reducing harmful blood clots. All are obviously good for your cardiovascular system.

The studies identified specific amounts too. For women it’s one 4 ounce glass per day, and for men it’s one or two 4 ounce glasses per day. The studies also point out that this applies to ‘otherwise healthy individuals’. Which means that if you already have cardiovascular disease, or any other disease including alcoholism, you should not assume that you will reap the same benefits and should speak with your treating physician about it.

Researchers have also found that the antioxidant in red wine inhibits tumor development in some cancers and aided in nerve cell formation, which can be helpful in treating diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Most recent studies, identified one more area: liver disease.

Researchers determined that one glass of red wine a day may reduce the the odds of a liver disease known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by 50%. This is a relatively new development, so we may be hearing much more about it in the future.

Bookmark

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Email This to a Friend

Copy HTML:

If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

{ 0 comments }

Organic, or not?

by Donna on May 6, 2008

I had a test done last year through my Naturopathic doctor. she found that my toxic load was rather high. I’ve inhaled, absorbed and ingested too many toxins, which include the pesticides on my produce. My goal is to eat 100% organic, but it’s been impossible. First of all, I live in the Northeast. Our winters are long and our summers are hot and humid, the first making for a short growing season, the second making for a healthy bug environment, the organic growers nightmare. So the majority of my organic food has to be shipped to me, now I have to think about our planet. How much emissions went into the atmosphere to get me that apple? The simple answer is “a lot”.

I have to make some difficult choices when shopping as it is, now I found out about something else I should be considering. I took the RealAge Test a few months ago (www.realage.com). I was happy to find out that they put me 7 years younger than my chronological age, but I find them too main stream for most of their recommendations. I remain on their emal list to see if there is anything interesting, and found yesterdays to be “interesting”. See the post at http://www.realage.com//ct/eat-smart/food-and-nutrition/tip/5776 entitled 12 Foods Where Organic Makes Sense. It turns out that some fruits and produce require more than average pesticide use. By avoiding these 12, the article claims it cuts our intake of pesticides by 90%. Pretty high number to toss on the table, but even if it’s exaggerated by 50%, the number is still good. To recap, here are the 12: peaches, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, apples, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce, potatoes, celery and green bell peppers.

So for these 12 items, I’ll be choosing my own health over that of the environment, I apologize in advance to those who would choose the opposite.

Bookmark

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Email This to a Friend

Copy HTML:

If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

{ 0 comments }

What should I buy at the grocery store?

by Donna on December 29, 2007

This is a question I get a lot, so here is the grocery list I put together. You can copy and paste it to your hard drive and print it to take with you when you shop. There are some basic rules, which I bulleted at the end of the second page. For the most part, you need to avoid certain isles in the store. It’s best to just shop the perimeter isles, except for the health food isles. Also, when you need canned, dry or bottled items, check the ingredients for sugar and partially hydrogenated oils and do not buy them if it’s listed.

GROCERY LIST

APPLES
ORANGES
PEACHES
CHERRIES
CRANBERRIES
PLUMS/NECTARINES
MANGOS
PINEAPPLE
BANANAS
FIGS
LEMONS/LIMES
BLUEBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES (FROZEN OKAY TOO)
FRUIT SORBET (NO SUGAR ADDED)
NON FAT/LOW FAT FROZEN YOGURT

PLAIN COLE SLAW (PRE-MADE IN BAG)
ROMAINE LETTUCE
CELERY
CARROTS
SWEET POTATOES
SQUASH
MUSHROOMS
GREEN PEPPERS/RED PEPPERS/YELLOW PEPPERS
EGGPLANT
TOMATOES
FRESH OR FROZEN GREEN VEGETABLES: BROCCOLI, BRUSSEL SPROUTS, GREEN BEANS, SPINACH, ETC
GARLIC
ONIONS

OLIVES
ARTICHOKE HEARTS
BLACK BEANS
SUN DRIED TOMATOES (NO OIL)
TOMATO SAUCE (NO SUGAR IN INGREDIENTS)
LENTILS
WHITE BEANS

GREEN TEA BAGS
BOTTLED WATER

TUNA FISH PACKED IN SPRING WATER

EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
NEWMAN’S OWN OIL & VINEGAR DRESSING
BALSAMIC VINEGAR
HONEY
MUSTARD
COCKTAIL SAUCE
PICKLES

NEWMAN’S OWN LOW FAT FIG NEWMANS
RAW ALMONDS
WALNUTS
HAZELNUTS
RAISINS

EGGS OR JUST EGG WHITES IF YOU’RE WORRIED ABOUT CHOLESTEROL
LOWFAT COTTAGE CHEESE
LOWFAT/NON FAT YOGURT
PART SKIM RICOTTA CHEESE
FETA CHEESE (LOW FAT)
HARD WHITE CHEESE
SKIM MILK
ORANGE OR GRAPEFRUIT JUICE (100% JUICE MUST BE ON THE LABEL)
LOW FAT SOUR CREAM

TOMATO & VEGGIE ONLY SALSA (CHECK LABEL FOR SUGAR AND OTHER JUNK)
TORTILLA CHIPS (PLAIN FROM THE HEALTH FOOD ISLE)
RELISH OF ANY SORT IF NO SUGAR LISTED ON LABEL

WHOLE GRAIN PITA BREAD
WHOLE WHEAT BREAD

CHICKEN BREASTS
BUFFALO FOR RED MEAT
SHRIMP (FRESH OR FROZEN)
SCALLOPS
ANY FISH FRESH OR FROZEN

BROWN RICE
STEEL CUT OATMEAL
WHOLE GRAIN CEREALS (KASHI IS A GOOD BRAND)

ANY SEASONING/CONDIMENT/SPICE THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE SUGAR OR PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED OIL ON THE LABEL

OTHER NOTES:
• CHECK LABELS CAREFULLY FOR HIDDEN SATURATED FAT, ESPECIALLY PARTIALLY HYDROGENATED OIL OR ANY KIND AND SUGAR.
• THE FEWER THE INGREDIENTS LISTED ON THE LABEL, THE BETTER
• SHOP AT THE HEALTH FOOD STORES WHEN YOU CAN
• SHOP IN THE HEALTH FOOD ISLES OF YOUR GROCER FOR AS MANY ITEMS AS AVAILABLE
• STAY AWAY FROM THE JUNK FOOD, SODA AND COOKIE ISLES COMPLETELY
• SHOP THE PERIMETER OF THE STORE EXCEPT FOR THE NATURAL FOOD ISLES AND CANNED AND BOTTLED ITEMS

Bookmark

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks