Tuesday, Sep 06th 2011

Important New Nutrition News

As of this writing, my neighborhood is still without power. I'm grateful that my house is still standing, that no trees crushed my roof, that the deluge of rainfall did not flood my basement. So what if we had to empty the entire contents of our refrigerator and freezer? While I can't deny that the waste troubles me, I'm trying to look at it as an opportunity to start fresh—load up on lots of healthy foods and maybe even foods I hadn't considered until now.

Some digging yielded some new nutrition news, perhaps something you might want to consider the next time you head out to buy some food—or restock your own fridge.

• Have a kid with asthma? Foods and beverages like bananas and apple juice might help reduce symptoms. On the other hand, just one hamburger a week, and a low-fiber diet can worsen asthma's symptoms, researchers found.
• Looking to trim belly fat and increase lean muscle? Try a diet higher in protein (especially from dairy products) and lower in carbohydrates, says new research. And since preserving or even gaining muscle plays an important role in keeping your metabolism revved up, it's helpful to stick with this type of eating if you are looking to prevent weight regain (and who isn't?).
• Looking to prevent fractures? See my post about dried plums, aka prunes.
• Wondering which fruits to include? As the growing season winds down, make sure to grab some blueberries. Many dietitians believe that as little as a cup a day of these blue beauties plays an important role in preventing cell damage linked to cancer, due to their valuable antioxidants, flavonoids and other vitamins. And their vitamin C can help the immune system, as well as aiding the absorption of iron.
• Blood pressure woes? Reach for a potato. Scientists report that just a couple of servings a day can reduce blood pressure almost as much as oatmeal can. And it won't cause weight gain, either (unless, of course, your version of potato is a French fry). The experiments were done with potatoes cooked in a microwave, sans oil.

You may also want to read:
10 Healthy Foods You Should Be Eating
Foods Rich in Antioxidants for Healthy Aging

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