Food for thought…

 

For some September marks the beginning of a new year. And with a new year, a new diet is usually in the works. With schools reopening, and new ventures being sought, it’s important to make sure that your brain is happy and functioning the way that you need it to. Diet plays a huge role in the way your brain Processes all of your thoughts, keeps them in order, and effectively accomplishes them.

“The brain is an extremely metabolically active organ, making it a very hungry one, and a picky eater at that. It’s becoming pretty clear in research labs around the country that the right food, or the natural neurochemicals that they contain, can enhance mental capabilities—help you concentrate, tune sensorimotor skills, keep you motivated, magnify memory, speed reaction times, defuse stress, perhaps even prevent brain aging.” (http://www.psychologytoday.com)

Here is a list of brain foods that will keep that “picky eater” happy and healthy…

 

Avocados

 

Blueberries

 

Broccoli

 

Dark Chocolate

 

Coffee

 

Egg Yolks

 

Flax Seeds

 

Mixed Nuts

 

Salmon

 

Whole Grains

Now that doesn’t sound so bad does it?

If you have any questions about the above listed brain healthy foods, please feel free to leave a comment or email me at simplyhershey@gmail.com.

Mmm take a bite out of that!

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Heartburn: A better diet relieves the burn

I was at a friend’s house the other day and the topic of acid reflux (heartburn) came up.  During the conversation I decided that I should do a little research on the topic because I hear so many people complain about it.  I was pretty sure that a change in diet could help alleviate some of the pain.  So this is what I was able to find.

There is a valve at the entrance of the stomach which is a ring of muscular tissue known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).  The LES’s job is to close as soon as food passes through it.  This happens so that the acid from the stomach does not pass through to the esophagus. If the LES is not doing its job, and does not close all the way or as often as it should, it can cause heartburn also known as acid reflux, or GERD.

I know that a change in diet can be stressful, but sometimes it has to be done to keep your body healthy. So take a deep breath and read the list of foods that should be avoided to prevent a heartburn flare up.

Meats: Ground beef, marbled sirloin, chicken nugget-style, and chicken/buffalo wings.

Fats, Oils & Sweets: Chocolate, regular corn and potato chips, high-fat butter cookies, brownies, doughnuts, creamy and oily salad dressings, fried or fatty food in general.

Fruits, Vegetables & Juice: Orange juice, lemon, lemonade, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice, tomato, mashed potatoes, French fries, raw onion, potato salad, mint.

Other Beverages: Liquor, wine, coffee, and tea, carbonated drinks.

Grains: Macaroni and cheese, spaghetti with marinara sauce.

Dairy: Sour cream, milk shake, ice cream, regular cottage cheese.

Other Foods: spicy foods, ketchup, mustard.

Be sure to steer clear of high fat content foods and also be mindful of portion size.  Keep portion sizes small.  This allows your stomach to not have to work overtime; it increases the pressure in the stomach, causing acidic stomach contents to splash back into the esophagus.

Take your time eating.  No need to be in a rush.  Chew more so the food can be broken down and easier to digest.  It also helps to give your body the time it needs to digest the food you have eaten before you call it quits for the day.  Try not to eat for at least 2-3 hours before going to bed.

Because there are so many heartburn triggers, and people have so many different experiences, it is important to keep a log of the occurrences of a flare up. Including what you were doing before you experienced the discomfort, and also what you may have eaten, and what time they happened.  This can help you to better curtail a regimen to avoid future occurrences.

Let’s focus on taking care of our bodies.  After all, we only have one per lifetime.