Iron deficiency can cause anemia, a shortage of hemoglobin in the blood. This can lead to weakness, fatigue, a pale face and earlobes, and brittle, spoon-shaped nails. There are other causes of anemia besides nutritional deficiencies, including massive or chronic blood loss. The best way to tell if you have enough iron in your body […]
Did you ever wonder why grains received top-billing (or would it be bottom-billing?) in the USDA’s food pyramid? Pure and simply, grains are great foods. Grains are also the world’s most plentiful food and enjoy first place in the diet of nearly every culture, except perhaps fish-loving Eskimos. What makes grains so good? Around two-thirds […]
The Immune System Army An army of millions of microscopic soldiers operates within you, each one ready to spring into battle against invading germs and to do sentry duty to prevent disease from occurring in the first place. How you feed these soldiers has a great influence on how well they protect you from germs […]
Meals that are high in carbohydrates and low-to-medium in protein will help you relax in the evening and set you up for a good night’s sleep. Try the following “dinners for sleep”: pasta with parmesan cheese scrambled eggs and cheese tofu stirfry hummus with whole wheat pita bread seafood, pasta, and cottage cheese meats and […]
Once upon a time there was a popular nutritional principle called “the wisdom of the body,” which meant that our bodies would tell us which foods we need – as long as we learn to listen. According to the wisdom of the body principle, if your body is deficient in a particular nutrient, your desire […]
Smart Fats Your Brain Needs Fats make up 60 percent of the brain and the nerves that run every system in the body. So, it stands to reason that the better the fat in the diet, the better the brain. So, with all the fat eaten by the average American, why don’t we have more […]
How Sugar and Sweets Make You Fat We all know that if we eat too much fat, most of us will get fat. What many people do not realize is that even eating excess sugar can make you fat. Here’s how sweets make you fat. Sugar is a prime energy source for the body Sugar […]
Why We Need Omega-3 and DHA as Brain Food Fats make up 60 percent of the brain and the nerves that run every system in the body. So it stands to reason that the better the fat in the diet, the better the brain. So, with all the fat eaten by the average American, why […]
The Top Cholesterol Facts Since you will see the word “cholesterol” on just about every food package you buy, it’s important to know what it is, what it does, and how much is safe. Below are the important cholesterol facts you need to know. What cholesterol is Cholesterol is not a fat. Biochemically it’s called […]
Understanding Cholesterol Numbers Here are some cholesterol numbers you should know in case your doctor presents them to you and you wonder what they mean: Total cholesterol • Desirable: less than 200 milligrams (preferably 180) • Borderline: 200-239 milligrams • High: 240 milligrams and above LDL cholesterol • Desirable: less than 130 milligrams • Borderline-high: […]
Information on Why You Need Calcium We all know you need calcium for strong bones and teeth. What you may not know is that calcium is required for every cell of the body to function in a healthy way. Besides acting as a cellular cement for bones, calcium is used by nerves and muscles, and […]
Correlations Between Food and Moods Both research and experience are proving without a doubt that there is a connection between how we eat and how we think and act. The biochemical basis of this food-mood relationship lies in the neurotransmitters, those chemical messengers which relay thoughts and actions along the trillions of neural pathways in […]
