Category Archives: Nutrition

The Real Health Advantages of “Superfruits”

The so-called “superfoods” – defined as foods that are packed with incredible levels of nutrition despite their historical lack of mainstream attention – are appearing in health and fitness headlines more and more as doctors and nutritionists work to better understand the benefits of regularly consuming super fruits. For fitness trendsetters, however, the new buzz-word in nutritional health is “superfruits.”

Superfruits are a subset of superfoods. They are packed with anti-inflammatory nutrients and antioxidants, and multiple studies have shown that they’re ideal for providing wholesome nutrition. But do the hyped-up marketing campaigns touting superfruits like pomegranate, goji berry and acai berry deliver a fair and balanced portrayal of their health and wellness benefits, or do they tend to exaggerate?

A brief examination of the current scientific evidence regarding each one of the various superfruits should paint a more complete picture in terms of their physical and mental health benefits as well as any possible detrimental side effects and/or risks.

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Low Sodium Diets May Bump Heart Disease Risk, Study Says

For decades, nutritionists and the medical profession have believed that maintaining a low sodium diet is one of the keys to optimal health and fitness. After all, regularly consuming a diet that is low in salt has been clinically proven to lower your blood pressure, which in and of itself reduces your risk of contracting heart disease.

However, a new study published today in the American Journal of Hypertension is suggesting that keeping your salt intake to a minimum could introduce a plethora of other health concerns, including increased levels of hormones, fat and cholesterol in your blood. This, in turn, could boost your overall probability of contracting some form of heart disease. Although additional studies are needed, the initial findings of this study are certainly surprising and interesting for health-conscious consumers.

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Monosodium Glutamate: Is it Bad for Your Health?

For literally decades, virtually the entire medical profession as well as many nutritionists debated over whether monosodium glutamate dangers (MSG) could impact your health. MSG, an artificial flavoring, is typically added to salty foods in order to impart a taste that could be described as “meaty” or “delicious”, depending on the palate of the individual you ask.

Most accurately, the flavor of MSG is best represented by the term “umami,” a word with which you may be unfamiliar. Umami can be described as a savory taste and is considered one of the five basic tastes, including sweet, sour, bitter and salty. However, despite its arguably scary-sounding name, monosodium glutamate, scientists, medical professionals, food experts, and researchers alike, now agree, at least for the most part, that MSG is not nearly as dangerous as was once thought to be.

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Hydration is Crucial, Even During the Winter

During the summer, many individuals have little trouble staying hydrated as it feels natural to reach for a fresh glass of water every hour or two because you’re thirsty.

During the cooler months of the year, however, many individuals assume that they need less water since they’re not sweating as much and they feel comfortable, not parched, and hence, tend to ignore winter hydration.

Hydration during the winter months is a concern as your body continues to lose water through the various internal bodily functions that it routinely performs, urination, perspiration and breathing. The fact that the late fall and winter months coincide with flu season doesn’t help either, since you lose water at an even faster rate when you’re sick.

Hydration is important year-round, and the absence of thirst does not always indicate that your body is properly hydrated. In order to keep your body fueled with water, it’s good to know how much to drink and how to drink it.

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8 Ways to Eat Right on a Low Budget

Most fitness enthusiasts understand that obtaining good overall physical and mental health requires a sound nutritional intake routine. However, as food prices in the United States continue to rise to higher levels, many Americans face an important yet unfortunate decision: buy more food of a lower quality, or buy less food that is actually healthier and more nutritious?

With several recent reports stating that boosting even a single nutrient could add 10% to your overall grocery bill, there’s little doubt that food costs represent one of the most impenetrable barriers to consistently healthy eating on a low budget for millions of Americans.

In fact, if you’ve ever strolled down your local grocery store’s health food aisle and thereafter, compared those prices to what you would find elsewhere in the same store, it’s quite clear that high quality nutritious foods come with an elevated price tag.

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Posted in Diet, Food, Health, Health Facts, News, Nutrition, Weight Loss | 28 Comments