Foods for thought

Go nuts this Christmas...

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Lewis) — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 01:20:00 +0000

Repeat after me - Nuts are good. These natural nutritional powerhouses provide numerous vitamins and minerals, many of which we get very little of. For example, nuts are one of the few foods that contain copper, a trace mineral that could be crucial in preventing heart disease. They also contain calcium, iron, potassium, and zinc as well as fiber.

Health benefits from eating nuts include reducing the risk of heart disease. They also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may help prevent some cancers.

Yes, they contain fats. But before you start jumping up and down about nuts making you fat, these are the beneficial fats - monosaturated, polysaturated, and omega-3 fats. The only bad fats you’ll find on nuts are when they are oil roasted.

So get your nuts straight out of the shells. Skip the ones that have been roasted and salted. And go nuts this holiday season…

Resources for learning more about the nutritional benefits of nuts:
Almond Board of California
The International Tree Nut Council Nutrition Research & Education Foundation
Nutnutrition.com

Super charge your breakfast...

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Lewis) — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 21:15:00 +0000

The best way to kick start your body in the mornings is by giving it enough fuel to run on. And if you’re planning on getting out of the house early to tackle the Christmas shopping, then it’s doubly important to fuel up the brain and the body. Otherwise, you might end up too tired, irritable, and sleepy to concentrate on getting a bargain.

The word breakfast literally means ‘break the fast’. After all, your brain and muscles haven’t been feed for at least 8-12 hours. They need something to give them energy.
So feed them…

Healthy breakfast options to power up the brain include fruit, cereals, and dairy products. During the summer months (which I’m lucky enough to be experiencing now) try a bowl of muesli or bran cereal with a handful of blueberries and low-fat milk. In the winter, stir up the oatmeal, add in some raisins and a teaspoon of honey.

If you’re eating breakfast on the run, consider blending up a yoghurt and fruit smoothie. I usually throw a cup of drinking yoghurt into the blender, add a banana and strawberries or blueberries, and blend until smooth. Transfer it to the travelling cup and you’re set to go.

Healthy Breakfast Smoothies from Healthymenumailer.com
Healthy Oatmeal Recipes from Mr. Breakfast.com

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Lewis) — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 05:02:00 +0000

A recent study published online by the British Medical Journal(Dec 15, 2006) suggests that ‘intelligent children are more likely to become Vegetarian’.

More holiday cheer. Chocolate is good for the brain...

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Lewis) — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 02:41:00 +0000

Mounting evidence suggests that chocolate can be good for your brain. Research at West Virginia’s Wheeling Jesuit University indicates that chocolate may increase attention span, boost the memory and aid problem-solving skills. According to lead researcher Byran Raudenbush, this is probably because chocolate contains compounds such as caffeine which boost alertness and memory.

But before you get carried away, remember that eating chocolate every day to increase brain power will probably end up with you packing on the pounds…

Resources:
Chocolate Consumption Enhances Cognitive Performance
Chocolate may boost brain power

Is Holiday food good for the brain ?

noreply@blogger.com (Liz Lewis) — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 03:20:00 +0000

When you’re planning the holiday feast, the last thing on your mind is whether or not it’s good for you. It’s all about taste and tradition. But the surprising fact is that it’s also good for you.

Why ? Because much of the food on the holiday table contains antioxidants that combat the free radicals thought to be responsible for creating cholesterol that damages the arteries and the heart. And while the body is able to manufacture some antioxidants, the brain needs to import those it needs from the outside.

It turns out the that the bread crusts you use for the stuffing are rich in antioxidants. As are cranberries, strawberries, grapes and cherries - all fruits that make their way onto the holiday table. So go ahead and eat the stuffing, plaster the turkey with cranberry sauce, and enjoy the dessert strawberries. Your brain will thank you…