Stay Hydrated to Maintain Gut Health

by Shelby Burns, MS, RDN/LDN Water is a key component of digestion. Specifically, it is important for maintaining optimal levels of purine metabolites and total indoxyl sulfate. Gut bacteria help to regulate purine metabolism by secreting enzymes that initiate the breakdown of purine metabolites into uric acid. Insufficient water intake can also lead to elevated total …

Peanut Nutrition 101

Here's a great article by Jada Linton RDN, LD: Not only tasty and versatile, peanuts have a variety of vitamins and minerals in every bite, giving you more energy to live a vibrant life.  The Dietary Guidelines recommend a plant-forward way of eating, which definitely includes peanuts, a great plant-based protein option.  Some people worry about the fat in …

Struggling to Lose Weight? Blame Your Gut.

Here's a well-researched Article by Rachel Stuck, RDN. You might be familiar with “calories in, calories out” (or CICO) as an approach to losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight. The idea is that if you eat less food than your body needs you will lose weight, and if you eat more food then your …

Tryptophan Slump, Debunked!

Here's a great article written by Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Rachel Stuck who has a background in culinary arts and nutrition counseling. We’ve all experienced it—that sluggish, tired feeling after overdosing on turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and an extra buttered roll. The desire to nap after a big Thanksgiving meal has long been blamed on …

5 Ways to Stay Healthy Over the Holidays

Here's a great article written by Terry Kozmor who has been in the health and wellness industry for more than 15 years. I've reproduced the article below: The holiday season is a joyful time of year filled with family, friends, and parties. Along with these parties, however, come sugary cocktails, heavy hors d'oeuvres, and minimal …

What if It’s All Been a Big Fat Lie?

July 7, 2002What if It's All Been a Big Fat Lie?By Gary Taubes The following article is long but well worth the read. It is a reprint written in 2002 by Gary Taubes. He's is an American journalist, writer, and low-carbohydrate / high-fat (LCHF) diet advocate. His central claim is that carbohydrates, especially sugar and …

Happy Mother’s Day

Wishing you and yours a very happy Mother’s Day!

Nutrition for Mental Health

Since May is Mental Health Awareness month, I thought it appropriate to talk about nutrition in the context of mental health. What does getting healthy mean? That definition might apply differently to different people. For some it could mean eating less junk food and exercising more.  For others it might mean losing weight and eating …

Macular Degeneration: Nutritional Considerations

Age related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a degenerative disease of the macula, the central part of the retina. Central vision necessary for daily activities is affected. It is the most common cause of legal blindness in elderly Americans. Non-hispanic whites tend to have the highest prevalence of ARMD with Blacks having the lowest. It rarely …

High Fat Foods: Friend or Foe?

Today’s messages on fat consumption seem to be changing constantly. It is no wonder there is a lot of confusion. Fat is complex. This stems from the fact that there are “good” and “bad” fats. Researchers have spent decades understanding the role fat plays in the body. Translating these research findings into daily recommendations can …