CAT | General nutrition
Sleep is one of the most important aspects for a healthy body. Sleep deprivation can cause stress, depression, headaches, irritability and many other health problems, which is why it is imperative to get enough sleep. Bedtime snacks that are rich in complex protein as well as carbohydrates and calcium are the best for inducing sleep.
These foods can help you get a better night’s sleep:
Dried tart cherries
-Dried cherries produce serotonin (a sleep-inducing neurotransmitter) and melatonin that aids in creating a better night’s sleep. They are also filled with antioxidants!
Non-fat popcorn
-Popcorn has carbohydrates that carry tryptophan (an amino acid) into the brain that makes serotonin.
Chickpeas
-Filled with vitamin B6 that produce serotonin.
Honey
-Honey can cause an increase in blood sugar which then reduces orexin in the brain. Orexin is a neurotransmitter that has been recently linked to keeping people awake.
Halibut
-Halibut has vitamin B6 as well as tryptophan - both help with sleep.
Dairy Products
-Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and cottage cheese are also great for a better night’s sleep because the calcium in these foods helps create tryptophan, which then creates melatonin.
Chamomile tea
-Chamomile tea is deficient in caffeine that is typically found in other teas. Additionally, it has a soothing and calming impact on the body. Drinking warm liquids before going to bed can also cause sleepiness because it raises body heat.
As it turns out, the old saying of ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ is absolutely true. Last month was Nutrition Month, and it is something that we can apply every month, not just once a year. Eating right, as we know, has multiple benefits.
Via the Leamington Post and Shopper, we find this story. Take a look and let us know what you think!
Spring forward! March is National Nutrition Month. We’ve always got the delicious meal replacement bars, shakes and powders you know and love. In honour of such an important month, check out some of our recipes to help you on your journey. Dieticians.ca also has a great recipes section – try them out and let us know.
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Vegetables will make your skin glow – and it’s a good thing
0 Comments | Posted by admin in General nutrition
Hard to believe that that we live in a world where vegetables that make your skin glow are a good thing, but… oh, I see, different kind of glow. Well, no one explained that to me. In any case, it’s true. According to HealthZone, eating sweet potatoes, mangoes and carrots will increase your intake of carotenoids. This, obviously, is a lot more healthier than suntans at the electric beach.
That being said, eating too many carrots obviously give you that weird jaundice look medical professionals know as carotenemia. You can also watch a video and see for yourself.
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Healthy, wealthy and wise – it’s possible
0 Comments | Posted by admin in General nutrition
Well folks, we have been saying this for a while: good nutrition affects everything. Not just the stuff you would ordinarily think of, like weight and bone structure, but even things like your mental health. As we get older, paying attention to good nutrition becomes more and more important.
The Vancouver Sun has a great article about ways to keep healthy during your lifetime.
Do you remember all your teachers telling you that your imagination is one of the most powerful tools? Turns out, there actually is a lot to be said about the eating habits of our daydreaming friends. Researchers have found that by imagining you are eating food, you actually curb the craving to do it in real life. Apparently, there is a strong link between imagination and experience.
Above all else, it is – excuse the pun – food for thought 
Have you ever had someone tell you to ‘eat right!’ or ‘Exercise!’? Chances are that you probably have. It’s almost impossible to set foot in modern society without hearing those phrases, or something similar.
A recent article in the Vancouver Sun is saying that doing those basic things isn’t enough. Sure, it’s key to your overall health, but our needs are deeper.
The article goes on to say that what actually makes us happier is targeted – higher the income, higher the happiness.
Interesting stuff, if nothing else.
As we all know, skipping breakfast has consequences. We’ve had this concept drilled into our heads since children, yet many of us don’t want to spare the extra few minutes in the morning to get ourselves started right. Those of us who don’t might have new reason to worry. A article published recently point towards the risk of heart disease. Check out the article and let us know – do you skip breakfast?
Canada’s Food Guide has long been a great way to eat healthy. We get a lot of questions from people though wondering how many servings of a particular food group they should eat.
For a complete guide to food groups, check out Canada’s Food Guide.
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Would you like heart medication with that burger?
0 Comments | Posted by admin in General nutrition
Just when you’ve thought you’ve seen everything, along comes a big old surprise. Via MSNBC, scientists from the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London have calculated that the reduction in heart disease risk offered by a statin could offset the increase in risk from eating a cheeseburger and a milkshake.
A statin, as we all know, is a drug used to lower plasma cholesterol levels in humans. And obviously, it’s better to skip that trip to the burger joint. However, sometimes it’s the only option, and in those cases researchers find that just as a calorie-laden combo meal cranks up the risk to your heart, a statin will decrease that. Essentially, it cancels it.
However, for those of you rubbing your hands together with glee, there are a few words of caution:
“Statins are a vital medicine for people with — or at high risk of developing — heart disease,” [Peter Weissberg, medical director at the British Heart Foundation (BHF) health charity] said. “They are not a magic bullet.”
Food for thought, that’s for sure!
