Nutritionally speaking, there is no such thing as a bad sugar, since all digestible sugars provide energy to the body. It doesn’t matter to an individual cell whether the glucose it is using for fuel entered the body as a starch or as a sugar. Yet, simple and complex carbohydrates behave differently in the body […]
While there are many types of sugars, some are sweet somethings, others are sweet nothings. Here are the more common sugars you will see in the ingredients list on a product label. Knowing what they are and their nutritional value will help you make wiser choices. Glucose is the simplest sugar and the most rapidly […]
Certain sugars belong in the same category as the fake fats. They not only provide no essential nutrients to the body (your body could live better without them), they actually may do harm. Soft drinks. Many soft drinks are a double-whammy of sugar and caffeine, a combination which sends most bodies (and minds) on an […]
An important characteristic of sugars and starches is the glycemic index (GI), which is a measure of how quickly a carbohydrate is digested, enters the bloodstream, and raises the blood-sugar level. Foods with a low glycemic index enter the bloodstream slowly and trigger the insulin response less quickly, contributing to a steadier blood-sugar level and, […]
Want to satisfy your sweet tooth, yet get more nutritional bang for your calorie buck? Instead of heaping tablespoons of the white stuff, try these suggestions: Fruit concentrates . Fructose sugar is sweeter than table sugar, and because of its more steady absorption and metabolism in the bloodstream, it doesn’t produce the roller coaster effect […]
The complex carbohydrates found in vegetables, grains, and fruits are good for you; the simple sugars found in sodas, candies, icings, and packaged treats can do harm, at least when eaten in excess. It’s as simple as that. Here’s why: Excess sugar depresses immunity. Studies have shown that downing 75 to 100 grams of a […]
The good news about the link between body chemistry and cravings is that there are other ways to stimulate the release of your well-being hormones and to keep them at steady levels. Here are some suggestions: 1. Exercise regularly. One of the healthiest ways to experience better living through better brain chemistry is to exercise […]
Feed your child artificial sweeteners and you may increase the risk of seeing artificial reactions. There is reason to believe that artificial sweeteners have no place in the diets of growing children, especially ones who already have problems behaving and learning. The many studies that have tried to show a connection between artificial sweeteners and […]
Should you be lugging a bottle of commercial sports drink to your child’s soccer game? What drinks provide the best nutrition for optimal performance? The answers to these questions depend upon how long and how strenuous the exercise is. If you or your child exercise moderately for less than an hour, plain water is the […]
Make carbohydrates 70 percent of your calories three days before the game. A teen athlete consuming around 3,000 calories daily would need to consume around 500 grams of carbohydrates spaced in several meals throughout the day. Remember the sports axiom: “Saturday’s game is played on Thursday’s food.” Eating a high energy, nutritious diet for several […]
The seven secrets of soy are just a few of the reasons more Americans are trading their sirloin for soy foods. A nutrient-dense food. Few foods contain as much nutritional bang for the buck as this bountiful bean. Ounce for ounce, calorie for calorie, the soybean gets top-billing as a rich source of protein, unsaturated […]
Ingredients: chicken or veggie broth, 3 cups tomatoes, stewed (or whole peeled), 14 oz. carrots, chopped, 1 cup potatoes, chopped, 1 cup celery, chopped, 1/2 cup green onion, chopped, 1 cloves of garlic, crusted and diced, 2 Cook all these ingredients in chicken broth for about 20 minutes on medium heat. Then add: red and […]
