Healthy Eating Tips And Trends

Here are a few food myth busters and tips on the trends in healthy foods.

Say Cheese, Please: If you have been avoiding cheese for fear of clogging up your arteries, you can begin nibbling again. (note: the operative word here is 'nibble' – not gorge!).

According to some studies, there is no linkage between cheese and heart disease and, in fact, cheese may be much better for you than other dairy foods such as butter and cream, because a reaction occurs in the cheese fermenting process which makes it more difficult for the body to absorb the fat. The study has shown that only a small amount of fat from cheese is actually absorbed by the body.

However, until further studies confirm this theory, it is better to nibble like a mouse, rather than gorge like a hog, where cheese is concerned.

Pick Up The Power Of Peanuts: Are you thinking of fueling up for a strenuous workout? If you are a female athlete, forget the carbs. Instead, take another look at those fat-filled snacks you have banished from your low-fat diet. Peanuts, for example. It turns out that active people may actually perform better when not skimping on fat.

When the performance of female soccer players who were on various diets was tested in a study, it was found that those volunteers who consumed the highest fat played longest and hardest.

According to researchers, female athletes require a different diet compared to their male counterparts. That's because, female bodies apparently are better at converting fat into energy. Men may need to overload on the carbs for a 10K run. But women will derive more power from peanuts.

Bone Up On The Minerals: In a study that lasted for four years, it was found that men with the lowest magnesium and potassium intakes lost roughly four times more bone density than men who had the highest. Why? Well, apparently magnesium and potassium reduce the acidity levels in the blood. When blood has high acidity, the minerals in the bone may be leached out, resulting in osteoporosis. Amaranth, oats, and spinach are some of the foods high in both minerals.

The Raw Truth About Cooked Carrots: Let every cacophonic crunch you have been making cease. According to the health grapevine, cooked carrots and spinach pack a far more effective nutrient punch than their raw counterparts. Volunteers in a research were fed raw or steamed carrots and spinach, both of which are rich sources of carotenoids (beta-carotene, lycopene, lutien), which are thought to lower the risk of certain types of cancer and rev up the immune system. After a meal, the caroenoid levels in the bloodstream of the volunteers were tested, and it was found that those who had eaten the cooked vegetables had absorbed 4-5 times more nutrients than those who consumed the raw veggies.

Cooking, it seems, releases more nutrients because it breaks down the cell walls of the vegetables. However, don't overdo it. A minute or two of steaming is all that is required to soften cells up, and yet preserve the vitamins that are sensitive to heat. But, if you like your veggies raw, don't fret – they still will give you a good dose of nutrients. Or, you could just use a juicer – mashing vegetable cells works similarly to cooking.

Become A Java Junkie: More and more studies are proving that coffee is not the culprit for bringing on heart disease as it was thought to be. Research has found that people can drink up to four cups of coffee per day without any risk. As long as the sugar and milk are cut out. Yes, drink it black. And don't boil the coffee while brewing it.

Disclaimer: Always check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet.