Fiber: Your Body’s Housekeeper and So Much More
By Patricia Thomson, PhD Most of us probably have at least a vague notion of what fiber is and that we should eat more of it. Maybe you grab a bran muffin or down a glass of water with a powdery fiber supplement mixed in to keep yourself “regular.” While it’s true that fiber can […]
Frostbite
WHAT IS IT? Freezing of the skin and body tissue is knownas frostbite. Parts of the body most susceptible to frostbite are fingers, toes, nose, cheeks, and chin, as they typically have wavering blood flow.1 But any part exposed to the above conditions can become frostbitten. When circulation to a body part slows, body temperature […]
Exercise and Insulin Sensitivity
Exercise has a tremendous effect on how sensitive your body is to insulin, the hormone blood sugar. A person with high insulin sensitivity needs only a small amount of insulin to regulate blood glucose levels, while someone with a lower sensitivity, or insulin resistance, requires more insulin to be secreted from the pancreas, or in […]
Super Food Spotlight: Beets
Beets may seem like ho-hum vegetables, but these ruby-red roots are nutritional powerhouses Beetroots and their leafy tops are packed with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and offer a myriad of health benefits. The distinctive deep-red color of beets is caused by a natural pigment called betalain, which scientists have found can reduce chronic inflammation associated […]
Diabetes: Definition, Diagnosis, and Management
Essential Terms Type 1 diabetes: A chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little to no insulin. Type 2 diabetes: People with type 2 diabetes are compromised in their ability to use insulin to allow glucose to enter cells. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c): A test to determine the average level of blood glucose over the past […]
Cardiovascular Disease and Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease tend to have a lot of overlap, especially in regard to their risk factors. Lifestyle choices that consist of unhealthy eating habits, inactivity, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and being overweight are major contributors to the development of both.1 But there’s a link between the two diseases that goes […]
American Diabetes Association® Answers the Question “What Can I Eat?”
In conjunction with a session at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE), the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is releasing a new resource to help people living with diabetes answer one of the most common and challenging questions: “What can I eat?”The new resource is free and available to […]
5 reasons to drink green tea
Green tea has been around for millennia but we are only starting to appreciate what a valuable beverage a cup of green tea can be. Contains disease-fighting antioxidants—Green tea is rich in antioxidants, known as polyphenols, which help fight off damage to your cells, reduce the affects of aging, and improve overall health.3 It has […]
5 Easy Ways to Add Fiber to Your Diet
Start your day with whole grains—Fix yourself some oatmeal or other whole grain cereal each day and top it with your favorite plant-based milk, fruit such as berries, raisins or bananas, and spices like cinnamon, cacao,and cardamom. You can try easy-to-prepare, no-cook, overnight oats or cook them the old fashioned way on the stovetop. Add […]
Yoga for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a group of gastrointestinal symptoms that occur together, including repeated abdominal pain that is often accompanied by diarrhea and/or constipation. While the exact causes of IBS are unclear, researchers have linked strong emotions like stress, anxiety, and depression with the release of chemicals in the brain that signal certain physical […]
The Gut Microbiota-Obesity Connection
Research suggests that obesity and the composition of the human gut microbiomeare closely related and influence how energy is both extracted and stored in our bodies. In our review of the microbiome(PAGE XX), we discussed how the gut bacteria is responsible for breaking down plant polysaccharides into a digestible form of energy for the body. […]
THE “NO FUN, NOT FAIR” DIET
Or…My Whole30 Experience By Brian Dutter WHY DID I DO IT? “Was that your stomach?” Kate asked from across the office. The gurgling was loud enough to be heard in the next ZIP code, and I was the only other person in the office so there was no denying it. “Maybe…” I said sheepishly. For […]
