It is National Nutrition Month and this week I want to share with you some insight on what you need to know about food labels. The confusing and bureaucratic-filled process by which the United States came to pass our food labeling system is overwhelming – and a topic for another blog post. However, just know the United States Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services are required to revisit the guidelines every five years. These two government agencies appoint a joint committee, review research, and determine the final design and text. The lobbyist for organizations such as the Grocery Manufacturers of America; the American Society for…
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How To Battle Food Waste At Home
Food waste is the #1 item thrown away in the United States! A family of four, on average, spends $1,800 each year on food that is thrown away, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Fruits and vegetables are the TOP TWO items thrown away. I could go on and on with statistics, but I would rather focus on Barilla’s efforts to reduce food waste and support sustainability. Barilla’s Center for Food and Nutrition Established in 1877, Barilla is an Italian food company distributing pasta, sauces, and other products to over 100 countries worldwide. Exemplifying diversity in food production, Barilla offers pasta for different types of dietary needs. High Protein…
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Does Milk Really Do a Body Good?
Humans have been consuming milk for thousands of years. Around the world, people drink milk from many different animals including cows, camels, goats, llamas, sheep and buffalo. During the depression, my mother said, they survived on fresh goat’s milk. Milk packs a nutritional punch, containing protein, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A and vitamin D. However, it also contains a very high amount of sodium. Most milk sold in the United States is PASTEURIZED, which means the microorganisms that cause salmonella and hepatitis, as well as spoilage, have been destroyed by heating, followed by a quick cooling. Pasteurization eliminates the possibility of diseases and gives the product a longer shelf life. Dairy…
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How Food Works With Hypertension
High Blood Pressure or hypertension has long been pinned as “the silent killer,” because so many people have it, but don’t know it. Like many chronic health issues, some suffer from high blood pressure just from genetics. My mother was diagnosis with HBP while pregnant with me, she was 30 years old. I was diagnosis after suffering debilitating headaches, several each month; most rooted behind my right ear, at the base of my skull. WORLDWIDE OVER 1 BILLION PEOPLE HAVE UNCONTROLLED HYPERTENSION While visiting a neurologist for my headaches, we discovered my blood pressure was 201/102 – it was a wonder I was functioning at all. After testing three different…
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Basics of Nutrition and Healthy Eating
Nutrition is considered to be the process of ingestion, digestion, absorption and metabolism of foods and how nutrients in food perform different functions to keep our body operating. In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, our bodies require carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and water. Water, which makes up about 65% of our bodies, acts as a transport medium for nutrients and waste products. Water is constantly being lost through digestion, breathing, sweating and urine. It is critical that you replenish your body at regular intervals. Although not a nutrient, FIBER plays a key role in keeping nutrients and wastes moving through the body. Some Nutrition Guidelines The relationship…
