Posts Tagged ‘Fruits’

Mango and Blood Sugar

September 25, 2014 Written by JP

An ideal diet allows for a combination of health benefits and sensory pleasure. The problem with many dietary plans is that they tend to be rather restrictive. It doesn’t matter if it’s gluten free, low carbohydrate, Mediterranean or Paleo. So, while they likely fulfill the “health benefits” part of the bargain, they frequently fall short of the “sensory pleasure” component. To some extent, this is a fact of life that needs to be accepted as a necessary compromise. Having said that, on occasion research reveals that select foods typically forbidden in specific meal plans do not have to be avoided altogether. In fact, some commonly shunned foods often add both enjoyment and a healthful boost to restrictive diets.

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Posted in Diabetes, Food and Drink, Nutrition | 9 Comments & Updates

Blood Red Oranges

August 22, 2013 Written by JP

Lately, I’ve received a few questions asking about the differences between conventional oranges and blood or red oranges. One of the inquiries came on the heels a recent news items proclaiming that orange juice is even worse than soda, in terms of promoting weight gain, on a calorie for calorie basis. Could it be that red orange juice is a better option? Another reader was curious after noticing a red orange extract in a product intended to protect against sun related skin damage. And, as it turns out, there’s also been an upswing in current scientific research involving this vibrantly colored fruit that’s native to California, Sicily and Spain.

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Posted in Food and Drink, Heart Health, Nutrition | 4 Comments & Updates

Dietitians Use Supplements Too

April 9, 2012 Written by JP

Have you ever wondered which supplements dietitians and nutritionists use themselves? The March 2012 issue of Nutrition Journal shares some insight into that very topic. In the survey, a total of 300 registered dietitians were queried about precisely which herbs, minerals, nutraceuticals and vitamins they use regularly and why. The macro breakdown of the findings reveals that 74% of those interviewed classified themselves as “regular users of dietary supplements”. An additional 22% “used dietary supplements occasionally or seasonally”. Also of note is that an impressive 97% of the dietitians recommended supplements to their clients.

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Posted in Alternative Therapies, Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements | 6 Comments & Updates

Fruit and Vegetable Supplements

August 22, 2011 Written by JP

There is much debate within alternative and conventional medical circles about the appropriate role of dietary supplements in patient care. Opinions range from absolute avoidance to daily dependence. However, there is one thing that just about everyone agrees on. A healthy diet should be the primary source of essential nutrients. But, what constitutes a wholesome diet? According to many nutritional authorities, an emphasis on low-glycemic fruits and non-starchy vegetables is an excellent starting point. If you have a hard time achieving this goal, I think it’s worth considering supplements that consist of concentrated fruit and vegetable extracts. The latest support for my position comes courtesy of a study published in the August 2011 issue of the journal Skin Pharmacology and Physiology. It found that a 12 week course of supplementation with “an encapsulated fruit and vegetable juice concentrate” resulted in statistically relevant improvements in skin quality (dermal density, hydration and thickness) in a group of 26 middle aged women. Two other publications from earlier this year go on to report that the same supplement decreased LDL cholesterol and oxidative stress in “heavy smokers” and reduced the incidence of common cold symptoms by 20% in a relatively large sampling of healthcare professionals. These are real world results that mimic what you might expect to find by eating a fruit and vegetable rich diet. This is also precisely the sort of data needed for patients and physicians to consider the validity of dietary supplements in their personal lives and public practices.

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Posted in Heart Health, Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements | 4 Comments & Updates

Catching Up With Dr. Barry Sears

July 6, 2011 Written by JP

One of the reasons I chose the Internet as my primary mode of communication is that it allows me to continually and publicly update my points of views without much lag time. If a new study is published that contradicts or modifies my opinion about a health topic, I can spread the word about the breaking data almost immediately. The same is not true of books, magazine articles or print newsletters. This reality often leaves me wondering what some of the finest minds in integrative medicine think about current headlines that don’t make it into their finished work. Fortunately, on occasion, I’m able to follow up with some of the health experts I respect the most and ask some of the questions that have been left unaddressed.
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Posted in Diabetes, Heart Health, Interviews | 5 Comments & Updates

Travel Nutrition

June 22, 2011 Written by JP

New York City is rightly considered one of the culinary capitals of the world. Top chefs from every conceivable background set up shop in NYC to show off their most creative and revolutionary gastronomic concepts. This is great news for visiting epicureans, but a potential disaster for anyone trying to adhere to a healthy diet. I fall squarely into both camps. I’m an admitted foodie that insists upon nutrient density. What to do?
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Posted in Diet and Weight Loss, Food and Drink, Nutrition | No Comments;

USDA Dinner Plate

June 1, 2011 Written by JP

Tomorrow will mark the release of a new educational tool created by the U.S.D.A. that is intended to shape the way Americans eat. A “dinner plate” will be used to illustrate the recommended intake of various food groups instead of using the previous graphic – a “food pyramid”. The exact details of what will be served on the plate have yet to be made public. But clues provided by administration insiders highlight the expected guidelines that are to come. Read more »


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Posted in Diet and Weight Loss, Food and Drink, Nutrition | 3 Comments & Updates

Juice Supplements

September 1, 2010 Written by JP

There are few topics in modern medicine that stir as much debate as nutritional supplementation. At first glance, it seems like such an innocuous subject matter. What could possibly be so controversial about the concept of supplementing in order to protect against a potential nutrient deficiency? On one side of the fence, you have some allopathic physicians who believe that supplements give license to patients to eat an unhealthy diet. Surprisingly, some on the naturopathic front share a similar perspective. They believe that the goodness found in natural, whole foods can’t possibly be matched by most supplements. In an ideal world, mankind could be expected to derive all that’s needed from the environment and food supply. But that’s a different world than the one we live in.
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Posted in Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, Product Reviews | 7 Comments & Updates

Food Economics

August 19, 2010 Written by JP

There are certain trends that are very difficult to predict. Long term economic forecasts, technological prognostication and weather outlooks are notorious for making many analysts look the fool. However, select aspects of health care are considerably easier to estimate. An example is preventable disease. Far too many people are literally speeding up their own demise by the way they live their lives. Some of the hardest hit segments of this population are children and adults experiencing financial hardship. What is desperately needed is some meaningful form of intervention. Several recent messages on Twitter offer practical suggestions about how to reduce the economic burden and widespread damage associated with preventable health conditions.
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Posted in Children's Health, Diet and Weight Loss, Food and Drink | 4 Comments & Updates

Summer Ceviche Recipe

July 27, 2010 Written by JP

The long hot days of summer have finally arrived. You want something delicious and nutritious to eat, but you don’t want to fire up the stove or the oven. What to do? Why not “cook” without cooking at all? Before you jump to the conclusion that I’m suffering from heat stroke, let me explain. There’s a form of food preparation that utilizes fruit acids to cook/denature proteins found in select foods such as fish. The pickling process involved yields a dish known worldwide as ceviche. This is a valuable addition to any cooking repertoire because it’s easy to prepare and allows for a fresh way to enjoy more health promoting seafood. Read more »


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Posted in Food and Drink, Nutrition, Recipes | 4 Comments & Updates

Pesticide Shopping Guide

May 6, 2010 Written by JP

We’re all told to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables in order to support good health. But has your doctor or nutritionist ever explained which produce items are most likely to contain higher levels of pesticides? Probably not. This is a shame because if you’re eating large amounts of conventionally grown fruits and veggies, you’re almost certainly taking in a fair amount of pesticide residue right along with the valuable antioxidants, fiber and nutrients inherently present in these foods. This may seem like a discouraging state of affairs. However, being aware of this reality is a good starting point to improve upon the quality of what you eat and feed your family. Read more »


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Posted in Nutrition | 1 Comment

Citrus Fruits, Dietary Fiber and Multivitamin News

November 3, 2009 Written by JP

Keeping up with medical news is a lot like keeping track of the stock market. New information is continuously being released and must be considered in order to have a well rounded picture of what’s really going on. I try to present an accurate assessment of each subject that I write about. However, the accuracy of the information is only current at the posting date. A week or two after I publish an article, there’s frequently something new that I could add. That’s why I regularly post updates on topics that I’ve already covered. Read more »


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Posted in Nutrition, Nutritional Supplements, Women's Health | 18 Comments & Updates

The Phytochemical Diet

September 15, 2009 Written by JP

Many doctors and nutritionists have long held the view that eating more fruits and vegetables is key to maintaining a healthy weight. Sometimes there’s some disagreement about what kinds of plant foods best serve this purpose. But ultimately, there is a general consensus that this is a positive step we can take towards combating obesity. It’s been widely assumed that fruits and veggies largely replace less nutritious foods in the average diet. This is frequently the case. However, recent scientific developments help explain exactly why plant-based foods have a fat fighting effect. This additional knowledge may provide a renewed incentive for eating more natural, whole foods. Read more »


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Posted in Diet and Weight Loss, Food and Drink, Nutrition | 5 Comments & Updates