While the FDA has approved five artificial sweeteners for human consumption, the jury is still out on the long-term effects of consuming aspartame, sucralose, saccharine, neotame and acesulfame-k. Consumers seeking tasty, low or zero calorie beverages are urged to drink water, nature’s ultimate thirst quencher, but many find themselves bored with a water-only regimen. Read more
Let’s face it, Christmas is (for many) of us a time to eat lots of food that aren’t particularly good for us. Combined with a higher than usual alcohol intake and the temptation to stay indoors and avoid any form of exercise, it’s a time when we should at least be trying to squeeze in some foods that are guaranteed to be good for us. There’s been a lot of talk about so-called super foods in recent years, with producers of a range of foods claiming near-miraculous health benefits from their products. Read more
Your kids spend a lot of time in school and during that time, they get a little bit hungry. Therefore, you need to figure out the best and the healthiest way to supply them with some healthy and good snacks that they will love and that will be good for them at the same time. This is not an easy task but it is a very important one as it is the start of making healthy eating habits for your child. Read more
Losing weight is seldom easy. It can be next to impossible for some people, especially those suffering from certain disorders. For the rest, it’s still a challenge, but one that can often be overcome if you simply do the math. When calories out exceed calories in, you tend to lose weight. That may seem like an oversimplification, but there’s really no other way. Read more
Are you getting enough nutrients to support healthy cognitive function and memory? Our brain requires nutrients just like our heart and lungs. But which foods are particularly important and right to keep us mentally healthy. Food can directly affect everything in our bodies from our mood and energy levels to our memory. Read more
When I moved to rural Canada more than ten years ago, I had little experience with finding food outside the grocery store: I liked to pick blackberries. In Oregon, where I went to high school, blackberries grew along the bike trails of the Willamette River: in September, you could gather a fair amount of them, sometimes sour, sometimes luscious, sweet, tasting of summer sun and a hint of wine. Read more
Research indicates that our stomach and brain are interconnected through the tenth cranial nerve called the vagus nerve. Both these organs are made up of the same cells and tissues that grew during fetal development. The bacteria that helps with digestion in our stomachs communicates with the brain through the help of the vagus nerve. This study proves quite accurately that the food we eat affects our stomach. This has an indirect effect on our brain, and over time, these symptoms become more apparent. Read more
