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 Nature is in full bloom and for some that means allergies are raging.
Here are some whole foods that can help relieve some of your symptoms 1) Spinach/Kale As if you hadn’t heard it enough, spinach, kale, and leafy greens are great for you. In this case we’re talking about their magnesium content, which is beneficial as a bronchodilator and antihistamine. Other sources of magnesium include avocados, cashews, and black beans. 2) Broccoli Sprouts Similar in appearance to bean sprouts, broccoli sprouts contain a chemical called sulforaphane that is a powerful antioxidant and detoxifier. These little sprouts have been shown to reduce the impact of particulate pollution on people with allergies and asthma as well. 3) Pineapple This fruit contains bromelain, a mixture of enzymes that can reduce your immune systems’ reactions to allergens and help keep airways from getting inflamed. 4) Onions Onions contain a bioflavonoid called quercetin that has proven to be a mast-cell stabilizer and histamine reducer in addition to fighting inflammation and providing allergy relief. Other sources of quercetin are apples and broccoli. 5) Turmeric Eastern medicine has known of the histamine-blocking properties of this spice for centuries, but it’s just now catching on in the West. It’s also shown itself to be a powerful anti-inflammatory. Turmeric is easy to add to your scrambled eggs, soups, or beans. SOURCES Nuts, cashew nuts, raw Nutrition Facts & Calories https://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3095/2 Beans, black, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt Nutrition Facts & Calories http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/legumes-and-legume-products/4284/2 4 Foods That Fight Seasonal Allergies http://www.sonima.com/food/foods-that-fight-allergies/ PHOTO Photo by Lukasz Szmigiel on Unsplash
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 There are three different types of fatty acids you can get from food: omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9. These fatty acids are crucial to cardiovascular health, brain function, and supporting many of your body’s systems. Let’s take a quick look at the differences and what foods can provide you with each.
Omega-3 An essential fatty acid that the human body cannot produce. It must be acquired through food. The American Heart Association recommends eating fatty fish at least twice a week to get your omega-3s, but there are also plant sources. Foods: salmon, mackerel, herring, chia seeds, flax seeds, seaweed, broccoli, spinach, kale. Omega-6 Another essential fatty acid that the human body cannot produce. While it is essential, omega-6 has pro-inflammatory properties, so mind the amounts you take in. Ideally you want an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of 2:1, but because of fast/processed foods, most Americans are at a ratio of 15:1. Foods: vegetable oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, olive oil, red meat, poultry. Omega-9 Also known as monounsaturated fatty acid,the human body is capable of producing omega-9 when it has enough omega-3 or omega-6 present, but it’s still beneficial when consumed. Omega-9 can help good cholesterol levels. Foods: avocado, almonds, cashews, pecans. SOURCES Eat Up: The Best Food Choices for Omega-3, Omega-6 and Omega-9 Essential Fatty Acids https://foreveryoung.perriconemd.com/best-food-choices-for-omega-3-and-omega-6-and-omega-9-essential-fatty-acids.html The Health Benefits of Omega 3, 6, 9 Fatty Acids and EPA & DHA https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/benefits-of-omega-3-6-9-fatty-acids/ PHOTO: https://unsplash.com/photos/uOBApnN_K7w  Here are just a few quick tips and reminders to help keep you on track.
1) 10 In 1 Rule Check the nutrition label and strive for 10 grams of carbs for every 1 gram of fiber. This ratio is a clue that what you’re looking at is a whole and unprocessed grain. 2) Rotate Your Greens Variety in your diet is good for you and keeps things interesting. Instead of just romaine in your salads, try arugula, watercress, Swiss chard, kale, and beet greens. They’re all nutritious in different ways and all have distinctly different flavors. 3) Stock Up On Good Stuff Try and keep a range of healthy options ready to go at all times in your house. Use those ingredients in different combos to redefine salad. Add protein (salmon, chicken, hard boiled egg) to some greens and other vegetables, throw in some nuts, and dress with olive oil. Eating healthy doesn’t require a complicated recipe. This works great for leftovers too. 4) Make Your Goals Action-Oriented Don’t focus on “losing 20 pounds”. Instead, focus on goals like “walk for 30 minutes, 4 times a week” or “go to Zumba on Wednesdays”. The accomplishments of these smaller goals will help drive you to the ultimate end goal and also establish healthy habits. 5) Eat Your Fruit, Don’t Drink It Most fruit juices are filled with things you don’t need and can spike blood sugar levels and lead you down a road toward insulin-resistance. While juice is a better choice than a soft drink, you don’t get the benefits of the fiber you would have if you’d eaten it instead. The less processing of your food, the better. SOURCES The 25 Best-Ever Nutrition Tips https://www.eatthis.com/25-best-ever-nutrition-tips/ 10 Quick, but Powerful Nutrition Tips You Need to Follow http://stephencabral.com/10-quick-powerful-nutrition-tips/ Should You Avoid Drinking Fruit Juice? https://www.verywellfit.com/should-you-avoid-drinking-fruit-juice-2506678  Vitamin D is a critical nutrient that most people aren’t getting enough of. Recommendations range from 600-1,200 IU per day and as Summer rolls in, sunlight is an easy way to get more vitamin D. If you’ve had all the golden rays you can handle, you can also get Vitamin D from food.
Here are 5 foods that can supply you with Vitamin D: 1) Egg Yolks The egg white is where most of the protein is and the yolk is where the fat, vitamins, and minerals are hiding. An egg from a commercially-raised chicken has 18-39 IU of vitamin D. Pasture-raised chickens that are able to roam outside in the sun lay eggs that contain 3 times that amount! 2) Mushrooms While most varieties of mushrooms aren’t real high in vitamin D (a medium button mushroom gets you about 1 IU) they’re still the only thing in the produce section that will provide you with any vitamin D. There are now some brands that expose the mushrooms to UV light, giving them even more vitamin D potential and taking the number up to 130-145 IU. 3) Wild-Caught Fatty Fish Fish is the most efficient way to get more vitamin D in your diet. It’s worth noting that, just like our previous two foods, the living conditions of the plant/animal greatly affect the amount of vitamin D. Just 3.5 oz of wild-caught salmon gets you 988 IUs, while the same amount of farm-raised salmon only yields 245 IU. Branching out a little, Fresh Atlantic Herring comes in at 1,628 IU (!) for the same serving and pickled herring contains around 600 IU. Canned tuna (3 oz) yields 154 IU. 4) Milk Most dairy milk is fortified with vitamin D and an 8 ounce glass contains 100 IU of it. Milk alternatives like almond milk and soy milk are usually also fortified and contain between 150 IU and 180 IU. 5) Shrimp One medium-size shrimp contains about 9 IU of vitamin D and a typical serving of 4oz can net you 170 IUs. SOURCES Vitamin D Fact Sheet for Health Professionals https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/#h2 An Evaluation of the Vitamin D3 Content in Fish: Is the Vitamin D Content Adequate to Satisfy the Dietary Requirement for Vitamin D? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2698592/ 6 Foods That Will Help You Get More Vitamin D https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a19544732/best-vitamin-d-foods/ 9 Healthy Foods That Are High in Vitamin D https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/9-foods-high-in-vitamin-d#section1 Crustaceans, shrimp, mixed species, raw http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/finfish-and-shellfish-products/4172/2 PHOTO Photo by Joseph Gonzalez on Unsplash  If you’re here, you probably already know fat doesn’t make you fat - consuming excess calories does. Fats are calorically dense, so you don’t want to overdo it, but it’s important that you make them part of your regular diet as they have many different health benefits. Here are 6 high-fat foods that should be included in your diet:
1) Avocados Full of mostly monounsaturated fats and fiber, an avocado contains more protein than any other fruit. Try using avocado slices in place of butter on toast or instead of sour cream on a baked potato. Because they’re high in calories, it’s best to stick to ¼ or ½ of an avocado, so you may want to share the rest with someone else. 2) Olives/Olive Oil Also filled with monounsaturated fats, olives and olive oil are good for heart health and support brain functions. A recommended serving for olives would be about 10 small ones and for olive oil typically 1 tablespoon, as this will get you 14 grams of fat. 3) Seeds Stick with seeds such as flax, chia, and sunflower to get fats, Omega-3s and even fiber. Whichever you go with, a tablespoon serving is enough to get you all the benefits you need. 4) Nuts Different nuts provide different benefits but all provide fat, so feel free to rotate through them. Walnuts are highest in Omega-3s. Almonds are highest in vitamin E. The serving size for walnuts and almonds is ¼ cup per day. Cashews and macadamia nuts are higher in calories so you may want to step the servings of them down. 5) Whole Eggs Don’t toss the yolks out when you’re prepping eggs. The yolk is highly nutrient-dense and recent studies have found that eating it can help lower bad LDL cholesterol. Eggs are a cheap source of protein as well as fat. 6) Dark Chocolate One ounce of dark chocolate (about the size of three of your fingers put together) yields 9 grams of fat along with anti-oxidants. Try and choose varieties that are at least 70% cacao or higher. SOURCES 20 Healthy Fats to Make You Thin https://www.eatthis.com/healthy-fats/ 19 Healthy Fats And High-Fat Foods You Should Be Eating https://www.self.com/story/heres-how-to-tell-if-you-should-be-tracking-your-macros 11 Best Healthy Fats for Your Body https://draxe.com/healthy-fats/ 11 High-Fat Foods a Healthy Diet Should Always Include https://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/meal-ideas/11-high-fat-foods-healthy-diet-should-always-include  Keeping your portions in check will help you meet your weight-loss goals, help control blood sugar, and make you feel like you’re in control again.
Here are a few tips to help you avoid portion distortion: 1) Eat Regularly Try and avoid skipping meals or generally going more than 5 hours without eating. For most people this means 3 meals and a snack. Going any longer can cause you to grab whatever is on-hand, good or bad, when you’re famished. 2) Measure and Weigh Food Most people aren’t great at estimating portion sizes so it’s helpful to weigh and measure things you typically eat so you get an idea of what a proper portion looks like. Once you get a feel for how much of it you should be eating, you may not have to measure it every time. 3) Learn to Size Things Up You won’t always have a scale or measuring cups handy, so it’s helpful to be able to relate portion sizes to things you can relate to. For instance, one cup of cereal is about the size of your fist and 3 ounces of lean meat is the size of a deck of cards. 4) Serving Size vs. Portion Size A serving size is simply what’s listed on the nutrition facts panel. Portion size is how much of the food you actually end up eating. So if your portion consumed was actually two servings, you have to remember that all of the nutrition numbers are then doubled. 5) Reduce Plate Size Using smaller plates or bowls will help you avoid piling on food you don’t need. 6) Work On Your Dining Out Habits Remember to start your meal out with leafy greens or other vegetables and don’t get carried away with anything the restaurant offers that’s unlimited - except for water. Most restaurants offer everything in excess so here are some other tips we’ve gone over already: https://www.simplypreppedmeals.com/blog/7-tips-for-dining-out-healthy 7) Plan Your Meals Having a plan of what you’ll eat during the day will help your nutrition stay balanced and keep you from sabotaging your own progress. Knowing there are more balanced meals in your future will make you less likely to overdo it in one sitting. SOURCES Just Enough for You: About Food Portions https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/just-enough-food-portions 8 Tips for Controlling Portion Sizes http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20405321,00.html PHOTO: Photo by Lily Banse on Unsplash  Life gets busy and mornings are short. Cereal can be a quick way to make sure you start your day off right. The majority of cereals you’ll see on shelves are NOT good ways to start your day, so we’ve picked out five good ones that are pretty easy to find that’ll get you nourished quick.
Keep in mind that serving sizes are different for different types of cereal. To compare protein amounts for these cereals, remember than an egg has about 6g of protein. Also, it’s best to stay under 10g of sugar to keep breakfast from becoming a dessert. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to mix in some fruit or Greek yogurt with any of these to make them a little more exciting and increase the nutrition even more. Grape Nuts Crunchy little pebbles of whole grains you can eat hot or cold. A good amount of protein and one serving gets you 90% of your iron for the day! 1/2 cup Calories 210 Total Fat 1g Sodium 270mg Fiber 7g Sugar 5g Protein 6g Kashi Go Lean Original Lots of fiber and an awesome amount of protein in this one. Don’t let the mention of “fiber twigs” on the box scare you. It’s good! 1-¼ cup Calories 180 Total Fat 2g Sodium 115mg Fiber 13g Sugar 8g Protein 12g Post Wheat ‘N Bran Shredded Wheat One of the oldest cereals around and for good reason. No sugar, a good amount of protein, and no unnecessary ingredients make this a winning choice. 1-¼ cup Calories 210 Total Fat 1.5g Sodium 0mg Fiber 8g Sugar 0g Protein 7g Cascadian Farms Multi Grain Squares Whole grain wheat, rice, and corn come together to form a higher fiber and higher protein alternative to Life cereal. 1 cup Calories 210 Total Fat 1g Sodium 190mg Fiber 4g Sugar 7g Protein 5g Original Cheerios A classic choice with just a little added sugar but a decent amount of fiber and some protein. 1 cup Calories 100 Total Fat 2g Sodium 140mg Fiber 3g Sugar 1g Protein 3g SOURCES Post Grape-Nuts Original https://www.postconsumerbrands.com/grape-nuts/original/ Kashi® GOLEAN® Original Cereal https://www.kashi.com/our-foods/cold-cereal/kashi-golean-original-cereal SHREDDED WHEAT Spoon Size Wheat'n Bran https://www.postconsumerbrands.com/shredded-wheat/post-shredded-wheat-spoon-size-wheatn-bran/ Multi Grain Squares Cereal https://www.cascadianfarm.com/products/cereals/cereal/multi-grain-squares Original Cheerios http://www.cheerios.com/en/products/Cheerios.aspx PHOTO Photo by Hanny Naibaho on Unsplash  We’ve all heard that you’re supposed to drink 8 glasses of water a day at 8 ounces each - so 64 ounces. That’s fine if you weigh 128 pounds. To figure up how much water you should be drinking, simply take your body weight and divide it in half. That’s how many ounces of water you need in a day. That being said, here are six reasons why it’s so important to get all those ounces in.
• Fluid Balance Simply put, water helps keep all your cells hydrated to perform their functions. Roughly 60% of your body’s composition is water so not having enough of it causes everything in your day to suffer. Headaches, joint pain, and trouble thinking are all things that may be helped by proper hydration. • Digestion Water will help keep you regular by dissolving fats and soluble fiber. It also helps the kidneys and liver to perform their jobs of flushing waste. • Thirst Disguised as Hunger Thirst is often mistaken as hunger, and more food is then consumed when really all you needed was more water. If you feel the urge to grab a snack, try some water first. If the hunger persists then you can take care of it. • It Could Aid in Weight Loss Studies have shown that those who drank water before a meal lose weight faster than those that don’t. The water makes you feel full faster and also aids in speeding up your metabolism to keep things moving. • Clearer Skin Staying hydrated can help your skin look brighter and cleaner by allowing cell regeneration to take place. Sweating is another way the body flushes waste from the body and if you’re dehydrated you can’t sweat properly. This can lead to clogged pores and ducts with lead to breakouts. • Muscle Fatigue Just like all those other cells we mentioned, muscles need water to function properly too. Not keeping up on your water consumption will lead to poor performance and tiring out quickly. SOURCES 34 Proven Ways Water Makes You Awesome https://greatist.com/health/health-benefits-water 10 Life-Changing Reasons To Drink More Water https://breakingmuscle.com/fitness/10-life-changing-reasons-to-drink-more-water 12 Unexpected Reasons to Drink More Water https://greatist.com/health/reasons-to-drink-water PHOTOS Photo by Carly Jayne on Unsplash   Few things are as frustrating as not being able to fall asleep or stay asleep. Lack of sleep can wreak havoc on your ability to focus, your mood, and your body’s ability to fight off stress. None of those are a good thing.
We’ve put together a list of five sleep promoting foods, to help you catch those zzz’s. Tart Cherry Juice Cherries are a natural source of melatonin, which can help ease insomnia. Drinking a glass before bed or even eating fresh cherries can help you drift off to sleep more easily. Bananas Bananas are high in potassium which can help calm restless legs, bananas also contain magnesium which is known to promote digestion and help with relaxation. They also contain B6 which is needed to help your body to produce melatonin. Caffeine Free Tea with Honey Caffeine Free Tea with Honey Choosing a green tea or chamomile tea sans caffeine as a before bed drink can help your body relax. Green tea contains theanine which promotes sleep, and chamomile helps your nerves and muscles to relax. The natural sugar in honey slightly raises insulin and allows tryptophan to enter the brain. Oatmeal Oatmeal contains magnesium, calcium, and potassium - all three can help you fall asleep faster. Magnesium can also help you stay asleep longer. Dark Chocolate Dark chocolate contains serotonin, which relaxes your body and mind. Be sure to stick to a 1 to 1.5 oz. portion. SOURCES: http://www.eatingwell.com/article/32617/9-foods-to-help-you-sleep/ https://www.mensjournal.com/food-drink/11-foods-help-you-sleep-better/2-bananas/ https://www.livestrong.com/slideshow/1009551-nutritional-tricks-improve-sleep/#slide=13 PHOTO: Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash Photo by Monika Grabkowska on Unsplash  Whether you’re going vegan, are lactose intolerant, or just trying to reduce dairy in your diet, it’s now very easy to grab a dairy-free alternative to replace cow’s milk. There are several different options on store shelves, so let’s look at the pros and cons of each.
Cow Milk Nutrition: 8oz serving of 1% cow milk - 103 calories, 2.5 g fat, 13g sugar, 8g protein, calcium 30% DV Pros: High in calcium and protein, contains Vitamins A, D, and B2 (riboflavin) Cons: Can cause bloating, gas, acne, and inflammation, cows pass on antibiotics to the milk Almond Milk Nutrition: 8oz serving of Silk Original Almond Milk - 60 calories, 2.5 g fat, 7g sugar, 1g protein, calcium 45% DV Pros: High in calcium and can be high in Vitamins D and E if fortified, low calories Cons: Low in protein, some varieties have lots of added sugars (don’t go over 10g of sugar) Coconut Milk Nutrition: 8oz serving of So Delicious Original Coconut Milk - 70 calories, 4.5 g fat, 7g sugar, 0g protein, calcium 10% DV Pros: Free of dairy, soy, gluten, and lactose, good for adding richness to smoothies or hot cereals Cons: No protein, low calcium, high in saturated fat Cashew Milk Nutrition: 8oz serving of Silk Original Cashew Milk - 60 calories, 2.5 g fat, 7g sugar, 1g protein, calcium 45% DV Pros: 50% more calcium than cow milk, low calories Cons: Almost no protein Pea Protein Milk Nutrition: 8oz serving of Ripple Unsweetened Pea Protein Milk Original - 100 calories, 4.5g fat, 6g sugar, 8g protein, calcium 45% Pros: As much protein as cow milk, good source of Iron, Vitamin D, and Omega-3s Cons: Sweetened versions can contain up to 15g sugar so choose carefully Soy Milk Nutrition: 8oz serving of Silk Original Soymilk - 110 calories, 4.5g fat, 6g sugar, 8g protein, calcium 45% DV Pros: As much protein as cow milk, complete protein source Cons: Too much soy in your diet can be a problem for those with thyroid issues, contains phytoestrogens which act like estrogen in the body Rice Milk Nutrition: 8oz serving of Rice Dream Original - 120 calories, 2.5g fat, 10g sugar, 1g protein, calcium 2% DV Pros: Low fat, safe for those allergic to soy and nuts Cons: Low protein, low calcium, high sugar, high calories Sources: Silk Original Almond Milk https://silk.com/products/original-almondmilk?gclid=Cj0KCQjw_ZrXBRDXARIsAA8KauTgyQHqyR2xx-wrmnzAPvWJv9Xrdxb3054y9HSNVraaUuCDOQpsz6YaAit6EALw_wcB Original Coconutmilk Beverage http://sodeliciousdairyfree.com/products/coconut-milk-beverages/original Original Cashewmilk https://silk.com/products/original-cashewmilk Which Non-Dairy Milk Is Right for You? http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20987568,00.html#all-about-non-dairy-milks Rice Dream Original Rice Drink http://www.dreamplantbased.com/product/rice-dream-classic-original-organic-rice-drink/ Original Nutritious Pea Milk https://www.ripplefoods.com/original-plant-milk/ Photo: Photo by Jonas Dücker on Unsplash |
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