Memory Boosting Foods!

This morning we found this great infographic on twitter thanks to @dailyhealthtips. 

We love how food can effect so many areas of your health. 

What is the connection between food and disease?

It is becoming increasingly clear that food, diet and disease walk together hand and hand. Knowledge about how your food is functioning inside of your body gives you the power to make educated and preventative decisions that can effect your health and your future. 

At Serious Foods we are committed to spreading awareness and knowledge of nutrition via a mix of nutrient education and anatomy and physiology. It is our belief that good health requires an understanding of both topics. Stay tuned for more blog posts regarding FOOD as MEDICINE. 

For now, here is an exceprt from an article posted by the University of Minnesota to raise awareness of the connection between food and disease. 

As a society we are facing significant health problems.

·       The United States ranks ninth in life expectancy among nations in the developed world.

·       We have a workforce plagued with absenteeism and reduced productivity because of chronic health problems, including depression.

·       78 percent of healthcare expenditures are for the treatment of chronic disease.

Many researchers now believe that these problems are partly related to diet. While they used to believe that diseases-such as type II diabetes, obesity, heart disease, stroke, and certaincancers - were caused by a single gene mutation, they are now generally attributing these conditions to a network of biological dysfunction. And the food we eat is an important factor in that dysfunction, in part because our diets lack the necessary balance of nutrients (Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2004).

To prevent the onset of these diseases, we need to know how multiple nutrients in a diet interact and affect the human body's functions, 

according to the Nutrition Society, Europe's largest nutritional organization.

Not All Fats Are Created Equal - Good Fats

Not all fats are created equal.

Keeping up with our good fats theme here is a nice cheat sheet to help guide you through understanding where to find good fats and the benefits that good fats have for your body. 

What Makes Breakfast the Most Important Meal of the Day?

The benefits of eating a nutritional breakfast are numerous. 

In fact eating a healthy breakfast jump starts your metabolism

and helps you shed pounds. 

Use this guide as a helpful reminder, next time you think about skipping breakfast. 

The Deal with Dietary Fiber

Ever wonder what the "scoop" is with dietary fiber?

Here is a handy field guide for you to help answer some of your fiber questions. 

And explain the benefits of a high fiber diet. 

OATS - A Super Food

It is no secret that oats have been on our health food radar for a while. In 1997 oats made a name for themselves when the FDA declared a label could be placed on any oat based product claiming an association between consumption of a diet high in oatmeal, oat bran or oat flour and a reduced risk for coronary heart disease.

And now the words ‘super food’ are buzzing around oats, hailing them the power to reduce disease and extend your life span. So what is inside of an oat that could possibly add years to your lifespan?

Well, oats are low in calories, and high in fiber and protein. Which is a winning combination. Their high fiber and protein content will satiate your hunger much longer than other sugary breakfast items and at fewer calories too. They are also a rich source in potassium, zinc, manganese, magnesium, copper, selenium, thiamine and pantothenic acid (B5).  But what do these nutrients actually do in the body? Lets break this down into simpler terms.

• Pantothenic Acid also known as B5 is most known for its ability to release energy from the foods that we eat and decrease the negative effects of stress. 
• Potassium helps in maintaining the heart, brain, kidneys, muscle tissues and other organs of the body in a healthy condition.
• Zinc is important in helping the immune system fight off invading bacteria and viruses. 
• Thiamine also known as B1 helps the body’s cells convert carbohydrates into energy. It is also essential for the functioning heart, muscles and nervous system.
• Copper plays a key role in the production of hemoglobin, a component of red blood cells; collagen, a component of bones and connective tissue; myelin, a sheathing that surrounds nerve fibers; and melanin, the pigment that colors your hair and skin.
• Selenium helps regulate the thyroid hormones and support a healthy immune system. One of selenium’s most important roles is as an antioxidant helping to prevent cell damage due to free radicals.
• Magnesium helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones strong. Magnesium also helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure, and is known to be involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis.
• Manganese is important in the formation of bones, connective tissues, blood-clotting factors and sex hormones, and also is involved in fat and carbohydrate metabolism, calcium absorption and blood sugar regulation.

 Looks like oats contain a certified bouquet of nutrients. And the best part is, Oats are extremely inexpensive and very easy to obtain. So consider starting your day with a nice hot bowl of oatmeal every day and see what a difference it makes. 

Is breakfast really the most important meal?

Why is breakfast the most important meal of the day anyway? I am one of those folks that don’t get hungry until they have been awake for about 4 hours.  And by that time it is nearly lunch anyway. So the question I went in search of answering was - What are the real benefits of eating breakfast?

After doing some research it is pretty clear that the benefits of eating breakfast far out weigh any time or calories saved by skipping it. For example, studies have shown that kids do better in school if they have eaten a high-fiber low glycemic index food for breakfast.

Allow me to lay it out for you. There are two huge advantages to eating a nutritious breakfast.

• ·      Eating breakfast allows your mind to stay focused. The nutrients consumed at breakfast keep your mind functioning at its best and allow you to make quick and focused decisions. This is true for both kids and adults.
• ·      Eating breakfast can also help improve your weight loss program. Studies have shown that those who skip breakfast consume more calories later in the day and crave higher calorie foods when they make their meal choices.

But it is also important to note what kind of breakfast you are eating.  Breakfast high in fiber and protein with a low glycemic index will serve as an efficient fuel for your body vs. a donut or pastry, which serves as nothing but a filler.

In case you are interested. My three favorite breakfasts are:

• ·      A slice of Whole Grain, Double fiber, toast with slices of hard-boiled eggs on top with a pinch of salt.
• ·      A toothy whole grain toast with an olive oil drizzle and sliced avocado topped with cracked pepper and salt.
• ·      And of course – Serious Oats!