Its Entirely Natural - Blog

We have all heard that red wine is healthy and nutritional. There are studies that show red wine helps reduce heart disease. What is in red wine that makes it such a natural food cure?

A chemical in red wine, fruits and vegetables has been found to counter the unhealthy effects of high-fat foods. This chemical is a natural compound called polyphenols. In a recent study Polyphenols reduced health risks that are associated with high fat foods.

Subjects were fed three different controlled meals consisting of dark meat turkey cutlets. The first meal consisted of turkey meat and water. The second meal consisted of turkey meat with polyphenols that were added after cooking and a glass of red wine. The third meal consisted of turkey meat with polyphenols added before cooking and a glass of red wine.

During the study, researchers took blood and urine samples to measure the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). MDA is a natural byproduct of fat digestion and is known to increase the risk for heart disease and other chronic conditions. Their research showed that MDA levels nearly quadrupled after the first control meal. However MDA was nearly eliminated after the subjects consumed the other meals with polyphenols.

This report shows that the food industry could make similar approach in reducing health risks associated with fatty foods. Polyphenols could be an additive to foods, just like additives are added to gasoline to burn cleaner. Imagine, eating french fries without plugging your arteries.

sciencedaily.com

More and more people in America are becoming unhealthy and are developing Type 2 Diabetes. Nutrition has changed over the years. There are more fast food restaurants than ever before. Is convenience food the main cause of weight gain in America? Or is it something else?

A study at the University of Washington found that it is more expensive to eat healthy food. They compared 370 different foods at their local supermarkets. The comparison was based on calorie for calorie.

Results from the study indicate that junk food is not only less costly than fruits, vegetables, and other healthy food — but that junk food prices are less likely to rise as a result of inflation. Healthy food had a 19.5% increase, over the two year study, and higher calorie junk food had a drop in price of 1.8%.

Does this explain the higher rate of obesity among people in lower-income groups? Data shows it’s easier for lower-income people to sustain themselves on junk food rather than fruits and vegetables. Event though there are a lot of fast food restaurants and a lot of convenience foods you still need to strive for good nutrition.

well.blogs.nytimes.com

Everyday people across the country are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and many more people are being told they are on the verge of becoming diabetic. One of the first things they are told — You will have to change their lifestyle and include exercise and proper nutrition in your everyday life. Then they think — Great, now I’ll never be able to eat good tasting food again.

I have heard - If I eat like a rabbit I’m always hungry — True, fruits and vegetables can leave an empty feeling, but they are high in fiber and rich in vitamins and nutrients that the body desperately needs. To get rid of that hunger feeling, you need to eat plenty of protein-rich foods. Go ahead; eat fish, lean meat, chicken, beans, nuts, etc. They will help you feel full longer which in turn may help prevent overeating. Fiber and protein is your best weapon against hunger.

Your carb intake also needs to be watched. They account for the biggest impact on blood sugar levels. So does that mean diabetics should adopt a low-carb diet? Not necessarily, but the general recommendation is 45-50% of your calories should come from carbs. Like everything else eat in moderation. So with the limitation of how many carbs you should eat per day, your best bet is to eat foods such as vegetables and fruits.

According to The American Diabetes Association (diabetes.org) your diet should look like this:

¼ Grains - Choose whole-grain foods over products that use processed flour. Next time try brown rice or whole-wheat spaghetti.

¼ Protein - You should be eating lean meat, fish, poultry, beans or tofu. Fish should be eaten 2 or 3 times per week and choose lean cuts of meat such as pork loin and sirloin.

½ Vegetables - We all know we should eat lots of veggies. Be sure to pick a variety of colorful vegetables. Eat non-starchy vegetables such as spinach, carrots, broccoli or green beans.

Other - Well that was 100%, but you can also include in moderation — non-fat milk, some fruit, or maybe small whole-grain rolls.

As with anything, when you start something new take baby steps. As you change your nutritional habits you will begin to enjoy food in a whole different way and it will be good tasting food.

usatoday.com

I have always believed that a raw food diet is nutritionally better for you. The produce section of the grocery store has always appealed to me more than the frozen or canned isles. I thought fresh produce is more nutritious than its canned and frozen counterparts, until now. Some canned and frozen varieties of fruits and vegetables actually pack a bigger wallop of nutrients than their fresh counterparts.

Frozen fruits and vegetables are sometimes superior because of the flash-freezing technique that is used. When they are processed the nutrient content levels are at their peak. For example, frozen peas have 60 percent more carotene — and similar levels of vitamin C — to the fresh peas you buy in pods.

Fresh produce begins to lose their nutrients from the time they are picked. They go through the normal shipping process and then sit on the grocery store shelves. This time spent begins to deplete the nutritional content of the produce.

Canning is a little different. The canning process uses heat to kill bacteria and we all know nutrients are depleted when produce is cooked. You will lose some of the water soluble vitamins including A, D, E and K. However, if you planned on cooking the fresh produce you purchased, you would have lost those nutrients anyway. So, you’re really not losing anything from the canning process.

Surprisingly, tomatoes benefit from the canning process. Tomatoes are loaded with lycopene and the body absorbs lycopene more easily when they are cooked. Sun-dried tomatoes do even a better job of delivering lycopene. Studies showed 50% more of the phytochemical per serving than canned and 3 times more than fresh.

So, are processed fruit and vegetables nutritionally better for you? It depends on how you will use them. Processed food lasts longer on the shelf. However, processed produce also contain additives. Be sure to look for the sodium content on the label. If it is fiber you are looking for, fresh is better. So go out and enjoy the recommended “5 a day” of fruits and vegetables.

nbc4.com

Is organic food really more nutritious? Many people choose organic fruits and vegetables to avoid pesticides and other chemicals. Now there is another reason to buy organic. A new study found that organically grown tomatoes have a higher level of flavonoids. These flavonoids help protect against cardiovascular disease.

So what are the possible explanations of organic foods having more flavonoids? Organic farms have more fertile soil. They gradually improve the soil by letting organic matter accumulate with compost and manure. The study also said that flavonoids are produced by plants to ward off pests. So with the increased pressure on organic pants to ward off pests the result is more flavonoids.

Nutrition and your health must be the first priority in ones life. Organic food not only tastes better, but it is truly better for your health. This is another reason to go organic and love it.

New York Times