Here’s How You Get The Fruits & Veggies You Need For Longevity

What strikes me most about this special cookie is that it contains five servings of fruits and vegetables. Five is the “magic number.” What I mean by this is that many reputable organizations, such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), state that five servings of fruits and veggies are the minimum amount of these foods in general a person should eat on a daily basis. (Keep in mind this is a general recommendation and may change depending on age, sex and level of physical activity).

Do Antinutrients Get a Bad Rap?

The latest foods to find themselves portrayed as dietary “villains” are those that contain what are known as antinutrients. The word itself is almost enough to make any health-minded person run in the other direction avoid them at all costs. After all, by definition antinutrients are compounds found in plant and animal foods that inhibit our bodies’ ability to absorb these and other foods’ various nutrients.

Are You Vegan or Vegetarian? Be Mindful Of Your Bones

If you choose a plant-based diet, it’s important to be very proactive about making sure you get these two key nutrients: vitamin D and calcium.

Why Gardening In Schools May Be One Of The Best Lessons For Children

Our health is really our greatest wealth, but we have to be proactive to maintain our health. One way to be proactive about our health is to have our children learn very early on in their lives what they can do to be healthy. And a recent study provides some evidence which suggests that there is a connection between school gardens and children eating more vegetables. Getting kids outside and explaining to them why it’s so important to regularly eat natural, nutrient-dense foods that grow right out of the ground is an invaluable lesson that may serve them for a lifetime.

Jamaican Soccer Star Luton Shelton Dies of ALS. We Must Be Proactive.

It is true. We really don’t know what cards we will be dealt in life Take Luton Shelton, a professional soccer player from my home country Jamaica. Shelton recently died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was just 35-years-old. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Like Your Meat Rare? You May Want to Reconsider

Meat purists insist that the only way to really enjoy meat is to have it rare. Some go so far as to only eat it raw as carpaccio or tartare. They argue that anything else ruins the flavor and even reduces the nutritional value of the meat (which is not true – there is no nutritional difference between a steak that is cooked medium rare versus one that is well done). Some may also say it is just a matter of personal taste. The reality, however, is that eating raw or very undercooked meat carries significant health risks. And is being considered a beef “connoisseur” really worth getting sick or risk dying for?

Why You May Want To Start Gardening. Especially If You Have Kids.

If you have growing children, the following information may really motivate you to develop that green thumb. According to a recent study that involved children in rural households outside of the United States (in low-income and middle-income countries), children grew taller when their mothers grew their own food.

Be Proactive About Lyme Disease

You may already know that lyme disease comes from a tick bite. It can cause very uncomfortable symptoms, including fever, headache, fatigue and a skin rash. If left untreated, and it often does because the afflicted may not realize that they were bit by a tick or confuse their symptoms for other conditions, lyme disease can spread to the joints, heart and nervous system.

Test Your Heart Health In Less Than 2 Minutes & Be Proactive About Preventing Heart Disease

I will always advocate for the importance of getting routine medical check-ups and examinations from competent medical professionals. But I also believe we should do our part when we can to test ourselves at home. For example, while many of us may have our blood pressure checked at the doctor’s office, we can still practice at-home blood pressure monitoring.

Why We Have to Stop Saying “Eat Like That While You Can”

“Eat like that while you can,” is what older adults usually tell adolescents and teenagers when they stuff their faces with junk foods. While it may be true that a cheeseburger with a side of fries and soda may not cause a young person to gain weight as easily as an older person, processed and ultra-processed foods can still cause damage to the heart and overall health.

Energy And Nutrition Drinks Are Convenient, But Are They Good For You?

Sometimes, it seems that convenience has become the “order of the day” when it comes to food and meal preparation. Don’t have time to prepare dinner? Just put a frozen, pre-made meal in the microwave, and five minutes later your meal is ready.

Follow the “Anti-supplement” Crowd At Your Own Health Risk

I continue to be increasingly concerned about the “anti-supplement” movement. It appears that some individuals selectively use research that reinforces their general belief that nutritional supplements have very little, if any, health value and omit credible studies that support the contrary. The problem with this approach is that promoting this narrative that can put peoples’ health at risk.