|
Fiber is a common topic in nutrition discussions, but what is it? Fiber is a component of plants, found in fruit, vegetables, grains, and seeds, however it is not digested and absorbed like other nutrients (i.e. vitamins and minerals). So, if it is not absorbed, why do humans need it?
Health benefits of having adequate fiber intake include reduced risk of mortality from cardiac disease, colon cancer, stroke, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (1). Other benefits include regularity of bowel movements and promotion of variety of microflora in the large intestine (2). The recommended amount of fiber varies with age, sex, and national health guidelines, but a general guideline for fiber intake is between 21 – 38 grams per day depending on the individual, according to the USDA. What is the difference between soluble and insoluble fiber? Soluble fiber attracts and absorbs water, forming a gel in the digestive tract. It is soluble fiber that supports heart health by reducing cholesterol. Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water or form gel, but rather passes through the digestive tract intact, adding bulk to stools and promoting regular bowel movements. Most plant foods contain some of both types of fiber (3), but you’ll find more soluble fiber in oats, apples, carrots, barley, and psyllium. Higher amounts of insoluble fiber can be found in foods such as wheat bran, whole-wheat flour, beans, potatoes, and nuts. Although most Americans are not meeting the recommended daily amount of fiber, caution should be taken when changing fiber intake. Adding fiber too quickly can cause digestive upset such as gas, bloat, and constipation. Another important factor to consider is increasing hydration and water intake while increasing fiber intake. Adding fiber should be done gradually and should be discussed with a health care provider such as a Physician or Registered Dietitian. 1. McManus, Katherine D. Should I be eating more fiber? Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School, February 2019. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/should-i-be-eating-more-fiber-2019022115927#:~:text=Fiber%3A%20how%20much%20is%20enough,and%2030%20daily%20grams%2C%20respectively 2. Lattimer JM, Haub MD. Effects of dietary fiber and its components on metabolic health. Nutrients. 2010;2(12):1266-1289. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/2/12/1266 3. Julia M. W. Wong , David J. A. Jenkins, Carbohydrate Digestibility and Metabolic Effects, The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 137, Issue 11, November 2007, Pages 2539S–2546S, https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/137.11.2539S
0 Comments
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released new guidelines for the treatment of childhood and adolescent ob*sity. They are incredibly aggressive and are 180 degrees from where we should be headed on this topic.
The AAP does acknowledge that ob*sity is complicated and multifactorial, and that the studies they looked at to develop these guidelines don't actually meet the standards of quality they set. But they pressed on, regardless. Further, they made the jump that an increase in BMI is bad for health (not clear), and therefore, a decrease in BMI is good for health (even less clear). What we end up with is the AAP pathologizing larger bodies. Being fat is not actually a disease, but we are teaching kids that their bodies are wrong. None of this is helpful for the kid getting bullied or teased at school for being fat. Now they get to hear it from their doctor, too. The recommendations the AAP has put out are as follows:
None of this has been shown to be safe or effective. In fact, the authors admit that weight cycling can be expected. Basically for these kids' whole lives, they should be trying to lose weight and will gain and lose over and over. They are trying to normalize something we know to be harmful to physical and mental health. What can parents do? 1. Opt out - refuse to participate in any of these "treatments" 2. Ask lots of questions about safety, effectiveness, and risks involved in proposed treatments 3. Model normal, healthy eating at home 4. Foster Intuitive Eating in your kids 5. Offer balanced meals and snacks and let your kids decide if and how much to eat 6. Get professional help from a weight-inclusive provider, if needed What is it?
If you’ve never heard of selenium, you’re definitely not alone. This little known nutrient is a mineral that is found in various foods and serves many important functions in the body. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for adults over age 19 is 55 micrograms (mcg) per day. However, slightly more is needed for pregnant (60 mcg/day) or lactating people (70 mcg/day). Selenium deficiency is rare in North America but can be more common in places such as parts of Europe and Asia where there is less selenium in the soil where food is grown (1). Where can we find it? Common food sources of selenium include animal proteins such as beef, chicken, turkey, some types of fish, egg, and cottage cheese. Selenium is also found in plant foods like oatmeal, brown rice, beans, lentils, Brazil nuts, bread, and cereals (2). Why do we need it? Selenium supports many important functions for humans. It is a crucial part of selenoproteins and enzymes, which act to protect tissues and DNA from free radical damage. Research is being done to learn more about the protective effects of selenium in relation to cancer prevention (2). Selenoproteins have positive effects for cardiovascular health as well by keeping blood platelets from sticking and helping to reduce inflammation (2). Thyroid health is often associated with selenium due to its higher concentration in this gland and effect on thyroid hormone synthesis. Inadequate selenium is one factor that has been found to contribute to the development of autoimmune thyroid conditions (1). This information may lead one to think that more selenium is better, however it is possible to have too much especially when it comes to minerals. How much? The tolerable upper intake level (UL) of selenium for all adults is 400 mcg per day (1). Before considering supplementation, it is best to consult your medical provider and/or a Registered Dietitian, who can help to determine how much supplementation, if any, would be appropriate for an individual. Most people who have heard of selenium may know that Brazil nuts are widely touted as a good source of this mineral. But as with many foods, the amount of selenium varies widely depending on the mineral content and pH of the soil where the nuts are grown. In fact, one Brazil nut may contain as little as 11% or as much as 288% of the RDA for an adult (3). While it is rare for food sources of nutrients to cause adverse effects from toxicity, Brazil nuts could lead to toxicity if regularly consumed in high amounts. References: 1. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The Nutrition Source: Selenium. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/selenium/#:~:text=RDA%3A%20The%20Recommended%20Dietary%20Allowance,and%2070%20micrograms%20daily%2C%20respectively. Accessed 5/28/2022. 2. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Selenium Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Selenium-HealthProfessional/ Accessed 5/28/2022. 3. E.C. Silva Junior, et al. Natural variation of selenium in Brazil nuts and soils from the Amazon region. Chemosphere. 2017 Dec;188:650-659. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.08.158. The very unsexy topic of moderation is the reason you're having trouble living a healthy lifestyle.
Try these stretches throughout the day or at the end of your day:
1. Shrug the shoulders 2. Roll the shoulders forward and back 3. Drop ear to shoulder 4. Turn head to one side 5. Turn head to one side and drop the chin 6. Extend leg(s), flex foot, and lean forward with a flat back 7. Round and flatten the back 8. Open arms wide with palms up 9. Interlace fingers behind the back and pull down and away 10. Cross ankle over knee and lean forward with a flat back
Recipe provided by Ashley Combs, Dietetic Intern
Cook time: 45 minutes Yield: 6 servings Ingredients 3 medium acorn squash 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1 ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt, divided 1 cup quinoa, rinsed and drained 2 cups water ⅓ cup dried cranberries 1 pound ground turkey (or beef, chicken, or omit to make vegetarian) ⅓ cup raw pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds) ⅓ cup chopped green onion ⅓ cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus some for garnish 2 clove garlic, pressed or minced 1 tablespoon lemon juice ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional) ½ cup crumbled goat cheese or feta (optional) Instructions 1) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a large, rimmed baking sheet, or you can line it with parchment paper for easier clean-up. 2) Prepare the squash by taking a sharp knife and cutting each squash in half from the tip to the stem (slicing just next to the stem). Scoop out the seeds and strings inside to throw away or compost. 3) Place the squash halves cut side up on the prepared pan. Drizzle 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle ½ teaspoon of salt over the entire pan of squash. Rub the oil into the cut sides of the squash, then turn them over so the cut sides are down. Bake for about 30 to 45 minutes or until the flesh of the squash has become golden and is easily pierced with a knife. Leave the oven on. 4) Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed quinoa and water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook uncovered for about 12 to 18 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cranberries. Cover, and let the mixture steam until ready to use. 5) In a large skillet, drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Then add the ground turkey and break it into small pieces. Cook for about 6 minutes or until no longer pink. Season the cooked turkey with about ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper and then transfer to a large bowl. 6) In a skillet, toast the pepitas over medium heat, stirring frequently. The pepitas will turn golden and will make little popping noises, which takes about 4 to 5 minutes. Take the skillet off the heat and set aside to let cool. 7) Uncover the quinoa and fluff it with a fork. Pour the quinoa and cranberry mixture into the large bowl with the turkey. Add the toasted pepitas, chopped green onion, parsley, garlic, lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Stir until the ingredients are evenly distributed. Taste and add additional salt if necessary. 8) If adding the Parmesan cheese and goat/feta cheese, let the mixture cool first for a few minutes before adding the cheese mixture. Then gently stir to combine. 9) Turn the cooked squash halves over so the cut sides are facing up. Spoon and evenly distribute the quinoa mixture into each squash cavity. Return the squash to the oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until the cheesy quinoa is turning golden on top. 10) Garnish the stuffed squash with more chopped parsley and serve warm. 11) To store your stuffed squash, wait until cooled to room temperature and keep refrigerated in a sealed container for 4 days. To keep for longer, place cooled stuffed squash in a freezer bag or container and keep in the freezer for up to 10 months.  Tis the season of family gatherings, bountiful feasts, holiday traditions and memories, gift giving, etc. But with all of that tends to come a certain level of stress. That stress combined with other common seasonal occurrences (like increased sugar intake and decreased vitamin D levels) weaken the immune system and leave us susceptible to colds and flu. Stressful situations can also lead to things like emotional eating and/or disordered eating. One of many things we can do during this time of year is to prioritize our stress management and mental health. Here are some ways to help control and alleviate stress over the holidays:
Written by Ashley Combs, Dietetic Intern, Garden to Table Nutrition Meditation apps to try:
Habitica - rewards for sticking to new habits (like a video game) MyStrength app (free for Douglas County residents) Got It Life for Athletes Buddhify (has different scenarios) Calm Headspace InsightTimer - guided meditations Serenity (has different methods of meditation) Shine Here you will find 10 and 20 minute Qi Gong videos for morning and evening: https://www.youtube.com/c/TylerTrahan/videos |