Tag Archives: Nutrition

Low Sodium Dietary Tips

Adjusting flavor, while reducing salt.  Mildy palate pleasing herbs in all your favortie dishes.

Basil, Marjoram, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Garlic, Onion   • Use each alone or mix them together.

• BASIL, OREGANO, PARSLEY taste great in tomato sauces, (use low sodium tomatoes or tomato sauce).   Serve the sauce with pasta or rice. 

  • Fresh minced garlic and diced onion sauté in a 2 Tbsp oil for 7 minutes on med low. Add tomato sauce simmer for 20 minutes, add oregano and parsley, OR basil at end.
  • With 2 tbsp olive oil combine equal parts of ROSEMARY, SAGE, THYME, to a GARLIC clove, half ONION saute` in pan on medium low for 7-10 minutes and then add to your favorite bean dish.
    • Try any of these herbs in your steamed vegetables or in soups.
  • Chives, Dill, Parsley ,Tarragon       • Steam any one of these with your vegetables or with fish.
  • • Tarragon is great in soup.
  • • Dill is great in rice with vegetables and kidney beans, or in dips with yogurt and low fat sour cream.
  • Chives and parsley are great on top of salad, soup or baked potato. They are also good in dips with yogurt and sour cream.

Allspice, Garlic, Marjoram ,Parsley ,Thyme       • Mix these herbs and spices together and rub into any meat, poultry, or pork  for a terrific dish.
Marjoram, Rosemary, Tarragon             • Combine spices and rub into the chicken or turkey (with the skin removed) and steam it.
Curry powder, Turmeric, minced Garlic and diced Onions   • Saute` in 2-3 Tbsp olive oil for 7 minutes on med low temp, then add tomatoes (tomato sauce), rice, black beans and corn for a delicious Spanish flavor.

Sleep and Lose Weight?

Yes… it is possible to lose or gain weight while you sleep!  This based on daily calorie intake, exercise and what are you eating at dinner and before you go to bed.

Eating a bowl of popcorn, potato chips and drinking a coke one hour before you go to bed will help you gain a few calories while you sleep, as opposed to eating an orange or a banana.

Sleep in of itself allows the growth hormone to adequately work on tissue and cellular repair, resulting in burned calories for the individual.  For example, a woman that is 5’5″ (163 cm), that sleeps 7 hours, will burn approximately 489 calories.  A man with the height of 5′ 10″ (1,75 cm), that sleeps for 7 hours, burns approximately 540 calories.

Additional weightloss can be promoted while we’re sleeping by slightly raising  our metabolism a few ours before bedtime.  Complete your exercise regiment 3-4 hours before bedtime, so that you are not so stimulated that you are unable to rest, yet you’ve promoted your metabolism to function at a higher rate.  Additionally, have dinner  4 hours before going to bed so that your dinner stays in your duodenum, the first part of the small intestine for 4 hours (before moving onto  the second part of the small intestine). If you digest food closer to your bedtime it will result in a restless sleep pattern for you.

To encourage weightloss, dinner should include 4oz  (114g) of protein: Fish, Poultry, Pork, or Lean Beef. Accompanied by 3 servings of vegetables and a fruit.  (1 serving of bread or pasta optional).  A serving of fruit or vegetables is the equivalent of a 1/2 cup, salads are 1 cup for a serving. 

Dinner (example)      

Begin with a glass of water 10-15 minutes before eating your meal. Promotes hydration and slows down eating, contributes to satiety (feeling full at end of meal).                                    

4 oz salmon

salad with 1/2 cup tomatoes (vinaigrette dressing 1-2 tbsp)

bowl of lentil soup (Optional: add 1 cup cooked pasta.)

1 medium orange

1 oz or 28 g of walnuts

Glass of wine

Nutrition facts: 1-Protein, 2-Omega 3 (alimentary fat, great for the HEART!!), 5-Fiber, 1-bread optional

(If opting for pasta (60 g), mix in 1/2 to 1 cup steamed or sauteed vegetable.  May pass with crushed nuts or Parmesan Cheese.)

Wine has also been linked to weightloss, because of it’s active polyphenols/antioxidants that work hard to get rid of toxins in the body.  Red wine is a great source of Vitamin C and E.  A few of their benefits contribute to the health of our skin and eyes.

By Kimberly Crocker

Animal Fat…To Eat or Not to Eat

The danger of a high Protein diet, which is commonly linked to a high animal fat diet seems to be up for discussion again during January, the month of the diet!

While a small amount of animal fat can be found in ones diet beef, chicken, fish and poultry should be consumed in the amount of 4 oz /day (114g a day).  Eating a deit high in animal fat is dangerous, a.ka. Saturated Fat and is the culprit of high cholesterol. (Unsaturated Fat comes from plant oils and nuts.) Our liver already produces a perfect amount of cholesterol (1g/day) to meet our hormone needs.
A high animal fat diet is dangerous, especially, if there is a lack of fiber and exercise in ones daily routine.  Pathologies such as artherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries due to fat lined within veins and arteries of heart, which block oxygen to the heart, causing a portion of the heart to die.), heart attack, stroke, arthritis, inflammation and kidney failure.

The heart healthy Omega 3,6, found primarily in fish (and walnuts 1 oz or 28g /day) should be consumed 4-6 oz/ day or 114-168g/day three -four times a week. This nutritional fat is a healer in that it is largely responsible for reducing inflammation of all types.

Give yourself permission to enjoy hamburgers, steak, sausage, porkloins and pies, but monitor them carefully in a daily and weekly diet as to curve nutritionally linked diseases.

By: Kimberly Crocker

Omega 3,6,9


OMEGA’S 3,6,9                                                                                                                    Finally, news about this fatty acid is getting out to the community at large. What’s all fuss about and how does it benefit our bodies? The working ingredient of fish oil is omega-3, a polyunsaturated fatty acid which is also found in certain plants such as flaxseed, pumpkin seed, walnutsand extra virgin olive oil. The Mediterranean diet prides itself on balancing omega3 and 6 in it’s diet. A brief introduction to this essential fatty acid is that, there are three major types of omega 3 fatty acids that are ingested in foods and used by the body:

1. alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
2. eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
3. docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

Once eaten, the body converts ALA to EPA and DHA. EPA and DHA are more readily used by the body. Extensive research indicates that omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and help prevent certain chronic diseases such as heart disease and arthritis. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/omega-3-000316.htm

When it comes to cancer prevention the jury is still out as there are some disagreements between the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The good news though is that the Omega 3 reduces:

  • 1. Inflammation (specifically important for after surgery)
    2. Increases HDL (Healthy) Cholesterol specifically noted with the Mediterreanean Diet
    3. Lowers Blood Pressure
    4. Prevents heart disease and stroke
    5. Decreases risk of diabetes
    6. Eases arthritis pain
    7. Weightloss “staple” fat (instead of butter a Saturated Fat)
    8. Increase Calcium levels in the body
    9. Help nerve cells communicate for good mental health 10. Promotes wound healing in “Burn Patients”.
    11. Studies on Colon, Breast and Prostrate Cancer are being researched.
    http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/omega-3-000316.htm
By Kimberly Crocker

Low Sodium Meal Plan DASH Diet

“Dash Diet” 

Avoid eating foods from cans that are high in sodium (salt)

The average American presently consumes 5-8 tsps of salt per day! This is extremely dangerous in the long run for your organs, but specifically for the heart and kidneys.

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), or a low sodium diet is  an easy lifestyle to adapt by limiting salt intake to 1-2 tsp’s per day & add potassium to provide balance and flushing out excess sodium with:

Eat a Meal High in Potassium: Fruit, Veggies, Legumes, Fish

  • Fresh Fruit
  • Fresh Vegetables
  • Legumes (dried, cooked at home, seasoned: garlic, onion, rosemary)
  • Fresh Fish.
  • 6-8 Glasses of water or tea.

Following the Mediterranean or DASH Diet gives a person the proper amounts of food consumed at each sitting therefore reducing risk of hypertension for an individual.  There are a variety of Salt Substitutes on the market.   Mrs. Dash is commonly used and a favorite of most, does come in a variety of flavors. However, vegetables tossed and sauteed in olive oil with fresh herbs and fish or meats prepared with spices and herbs, add flavor and reduce sodium. Obtain more ideas on how to use Herbs and Spices to Replace the Salt Shaker

Fluids are equally important to a successful diet.  Lemon Water made with 1/2-1 freshly squeezed lemon in a glass of water each day, an additional source of potassium to rid the body of excess sodium . Foods to restrict if instructed to follow a Low Sodium Meal are: Carrots, Celery, Spinach, Beets.  Additional tips:

  • Stop consuming tap water that is conditioned with a water softener
  • Drink bottled water and Green, Black or White Tea
  • Rinse all canned foods really well before preparing them.

Meal Plan Low Sodium (LS)

Breakfast
Bread or Cereal…. Oatmeal (Instant “Heart Healthy Advanced Nutrition” LS and high Potassium)
Fruit…………………..apple, orange, kiwi, banana, dried apricots, prunes, raisins
Orange Juice or skim 1% Milk.

Snack am
Fruit 

Lunch
Vegetable……………cole slaw
Vegetable……………LS Cream of potato soup, baked sweet potato
Meat…………………..meatloaf with LS Gravy (3 0z). grilled or baked salmon, fish
Vegetable…………..twice baked potato and steamed green beans
Bread…………………wheat Roll
Dessert……………..orange sherbet, pears, plums

Snack pm 
Fruit…………………..(Choose 1) banana, Kiwi, orange, seasonal fruit
Milk…………………. ..4-6 oz low or nonfat yogurt

Dinner
Meat……………….,,seasoned Chicken Breast (3 oz)  (turned in freshly chopped herbs and garlic)
Bread……………….sesame seed multi grain bun,
Vegetable………….Lettuce, tomato and onion (cooked or raw)
Vegetable……….. .soup Lima or white beans, salad with avocado, beets, spinach
Fruit…………………fruit, melon……………LS apple pie

References