STRAWBERRIES - DID YOU KNOW?

A girl from my old school posted this on her facebook page.

Not sure if baking changes the nutritional value but a medium strawberry has less than 1 carb.

PAD AND SMOKING

A report in the Annals of Internal Medicine, June 7, 2011 found that when researchers tracked more than 39,000 women for over 12 years they found that smoking led to a 10-fold increase in the risk for PAD - Peripheral arterial disease.  PAD is a serious disorder that occurs when narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the lower extremities, namely feet and legs.  Stopping smoking lowered the risk but the risk is still greater than those who have never smoked.  Whether you are a man or a woman, if you are a smoker you need to do yourself a big favor and quit!  As the wife/caregiver of a man who smoked for many years and now struggles daily to breathe because of COPD, I highly recommend you stop smoking now if you enjoy life.  I can promise you, your life will be diminished from cigarette smoking.  Of course eating a healthy diet is always good for you, but it cannot cure the ills smoking does to the body!

GROCERY STORE PHARMACY!

This is a quote from Dr. Mehmet Oz, Professor of surgery at Columbia University Medical Center, NYC and Medical Director of the Integrative Medicine Program at NY-Presbyterian Hospital but better known as TV's Doctor Oz:  "When you walk into a grocery store, you are walking into a pharmacy, and the power of those foods is as powerful as medications."

Based on my own experiences with multiple health situations, I believe that statement is 100% true!  The old saying, "You are what you eat," is so true!  Think about the doctors statement every time you go grocery shopping.

HOW MUCH SUGAR ARE YOU EATING DAILY?

Eating the typical American diet, means consuming approximately 35 teaspoons of added sugar per day!  How much is that?  Find out for yourself, you will no doubt be surprised.  Get a bowl and a measuring teaspoon (a teaspoon from your measuring spoons, not one from the silverware tray!) and count out 35 teaspoons of sugar into said bowl.  Then remember that is added sugar, not the natural sugar you are also consuming from the fruits, vegetables, milk, etc in your diet.  How to avoid this extra 132 pounds of sugar for every man, woman, and child?  Read labels!  And remember added sugars can be disguised with words like corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, glucose, honey, fructose, malt syrup, molasses, etc.  Cut back on the amount of processed foods you eat and read the labels before you buy any food products.

POTASSIUM AND STROKES

Are you eating enough potassium-rich foods ie bananas, sweet potatoes, pork, spinach, and more? Foods rich in potassium may cut ones risk of stroke by up to 21%. They may also lower the risk of heart attack. These are tasty foods so be sure to include them in your diet. Below are many of the potassium rich choices.

HAPPY EASTER

KEEPING YOUR BRAIN FRESH

As the wife of a dementia patient I am always reading information about the brain and/or cognitive decline. A study at the University of Illinois, last year I believe, suggested that the nutrient lutein may help slow down cognitive decline. What a tasty way to help slow this problem! Lutein is found in green leafy vegetables, avocados and eggs. Why not add a few more of these tasty foods to your diet? It just might keep your mind sharp!

Note: File Photo

HEALTHY SUBSTITUTE FOR MAYONNAISE OR SOUR CREAM

You can make your own healthy substitute for mayonnaise or sour cream by pureeing low-fat cottage cheese in a blender or food processor. Use in recipes for all or part of the mayo or sour cream called for when making dips, dressings, or spreads.

Note: Not a brand recommendation. Use your favorite brand.

A LITTLE BIT OF EGGNOG FACTS

It's that time of the year when the eggnog comes out. If you are dieting or you are a diabetic, you might want to watch your eggnog consumption or be sure to read the labels. Some traditional eggnog from the grocery stores contain as much as 30 g of fat and 40 g of carbs per 1/2 cup.

I have a recipe on my diabetic enjoying food blog that has only 3 g fat (1 1/2g saturated) and only 11 g carbs.

If you add alcohol, that increases the number so keep that in mind.

This is a file photo.

BROCCOLI AND CANCER

We all know broccoli is good for us and we should eat more of it.  That said, here is some information about broccoli and cancer.  Broccoli has both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and both are important to the person dealing with cancer.  Both are also important in helping to prevent cancer.

Sulforaphane, a well-studied phytochemical in broccoli, appears to slow the growth of leukemia and melanoma cells.  Another metabolite, glucosinolate, can inhibit the growth of breast cancer.  If you are battling any of those three mentioned cancers, be sure to make broccoli an important part of your diet.