Category: Health and Nutrition
Go moderately nuts for nuts
Several studies demonstrate that frequent eating of nuts (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts) appears to dramatically improve health: people who eat nuts regularly have lower risks of cardiovascular disease, of developing type 2 diabetes and some cancer types. Nuts are a good source of fiber and help controlling appetite.
Tips for eating healthy during the holidays
It’s hard to stick eating healthy during the holidays — fattening and rich holiday food is part of almost every celebration. Even so, you can still avoid holiday weight gain by making some smart choices, without depriving yourself:
Sweets for special diets
This year, let us spare a thought for our friends and relatives who have dietary restrictions, and come up with some sweets for special diets. There are desserts in Italian Christmas tradition that are perfect for those who are gluten-intolerant (celiac disease): These are homemade egg white and almond or hazelnut-based confections that will please […]
Have your heart checked
Originally published in the Journal de Montréal on February 2nd, 2013. February is not only the month in which Valentine’s Day falls, but also the month of the heart and awareness about cardiovascular diseases. The “recipe” for becoming heart-healthy is simple: 1) Do regular physical exercise; 2) Don’t smoke; 3) Lose excess weight; 4) Adopt […]
Taste a Rainbow of Foods
You already know the importance of eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Eastern wisdom believes that well-being and longevity depend on a balance of the five elemental energies represented by five colours: Orange/Yellow, Green, Red, Blue/Purple, and White. Interestingly, recent nutritional studies advise us to eat foods of all these colours. This ensures […]
Why is fiber so important?
Dietary fiber helps reach satiety quicker and delays hunger pangs, thereby limiting the risk of overeating, which in turn helps preventing obesity. Conversely, a lack of dietary fiber can lead to gastric and intestinal disorders, such as constipation or diarrhea.
Post-Vacation Stress: Three tips for a smooth return
Are you suffering from the post-vacation blues? Here’s how to ease your re-entry into regular life. 1. Plan a smooth transition When you get back home, there is unpacking, laundry, an empty refrigerator, and … all the rest. Leave yourself at least one free day after vacation before returning to work in order to get […]
Why you should go easy on red meat
Already criticised for its saturated fats and its impacts on cardiovascular health, red meat is also responsible for several types of cancers, especially colorectal. Processed meats, such as cured meats for example, also increase the risk of cancer. Red meat includes beef, veal, pork, lamb, duck, goose, rabbit, horsemeat as well as giblets. Processed meats […]
Want to live 15 years longer? Follow the Mediterranean diet!
The benefits of the mediterranean diet have been known for quite a while already. A recent study from Maastricht University in the Netherlands, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has demonstrated that combining this diet with a healthy lifestyle, i.e. regular exercise, not smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight, can add up to […]
And Noah planted a vineyard
Recent archaeological evidence shows that the earliest known production of wine took place in Armenia around 6000 years ago. An undeniably fascinating discovery, if we believe that Noah, the biblical Patriarch planted a vineyard on Mount Ararat after the flood, in a place that is not too far off from these archaeological digs.
Omega-3/Omega-6: It’s All About Balance!
Omega-3 and Omega-6 are ‘essential’ fatty acids required by the human body for making substances that are vital to its proper functioning, but the body cannot produce them itself. Therefore it must get them from our diet.
What to Eat to Beat the Heat?
When the weather is hot, special care must be given to what we eat, avoiding heavy foods which are hard to digest and preferring lighter ones that keep us well nourished and hydrated.