Getting enough iron? If you’re female, maybe not! Yet, to feel energized, your body needs enough iron to carry oxygen to body cells where energy is made. To replace iron lost monthly in menstrual flow, women need more iron than men: 18 milligrams of iron daily for women (ages 19 to 50 years), compared to
Ever utter these words: “Where did I leave my keys?” or “I just forgot what I was going to say.” Maybe you’re tired or stressed—or maybe there’s an eating connection. For your brain to function, it needs fuel. Unlike muscles, your brain doesn’t store glucose for energy production. Instead, it constantly draws on glucose in
Do you use oregano, rosemary, mint, and other aromatic herbs in your cooking? A teaspoon or two may add scents—and sense—to any dish. Studies show that phytonutrients from just a teaspoon or two may boost the health benefits of your favorite foods. Like fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices are filled with “phytos” with their
Fresh or canned? You might think you could taste the difference in recipes but in taste tests, fruit smoothies, bean burritos, and other popular recipes got high marks for flavor, appearance, aroma, and texture whether they were made from fresh, frozen, or canned ingredients. Nutritionally speaking, studies show, they’re about the same, too. Both fresh
Is your breath fresh enough for tomorrow’s Valentine’s Day kiss? Odors from foods such as onions and garlic are absorbed into the bloodstream, transferred to the lungs, and exhaled. Until they’re digested and eliminated, they may cause bad breath. For dieters, infrequent eating may cause it, too. Other causes? Poor dental hygiene, tobacco residue, or
Chocolate’s romantic symbolism reaches far back to Mayan and Aztec traditions, and to the belief that chocolate contains mysterious properties that seduce the heart. No wonder sending and enjoying chocolate defines today’s Valentine’s Day celebration! Enjoying chocolate may seem decadent. Yet growing scientific evidence offers a more balanced view. Two fats in chocolate may be
Do you eat fish at least twice a week? That’s the heart-healthy advice of the American Heart Association. Fish is low-fat and protein-rich. Most of its fat is unsaturated, which is good. There’s more. Fattier fish—albacore tuna, anchovies, mackerel, salmon, lake trout, among others—are rich in omega-3s (a type of unsaturated fat). Eating these fish
Outgoing, reserved, independent, cautious—when it comes to physical activity, which describes you? □ Socially active: likes to work out with a friend or group, needs a push to more move □ Independently active: likes to set a personal workout routine and pace, plans ahead, can’t wait to get moving □ Creatively active: prefers spontaneous physical
Looking for new ways to enjoy vegetables and fruit? Enjoy dishes from the African American culinary tradition. Among the ingredients indigenous to northern and western Africa are okra, yams, watermelon, black-eyed peas (cow peas), and certain greens. African yams and greens of African origin aren’t generally available in the United States. But for four hundred
…gotta make your mealtime last! “Slow food”—a European movement to eat more slowly and savor the pleasures of the table—is gaining attention in the United States and may offer more benefits than you think. First the obvious. Slow eating gives you time to savor foods’ flavors and to enjoy the company of family or friends