The World's Healthiest Foods

George Mateljan has founded this excellent oranization that supplies a wealth of knowlege in regards to healthy foods and easy ways to get these foods into your daily diet.  I am a subscriber to George's daily food tip and recipe.  Today's Q & A topic is in relation to a disease that I have no direct tie to, but some 40+ million Americans have themselves as quoted from PubMed Health.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002194/


Taken directly from the world's healthiest foods newsletter:

Can I eat whole grains if I have diabetes? 

Yes, whole grains can make an excellent contribution to your Healthiest Way of Eating if you have been diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The nutrient richness of whole grains-together with their very good fiber content-are reasons that whole grains can help balance blood sugar levels. It's important that 100% whole grain products are selected because many products say "whole grain" even when less than 5% of the total product contents come from whole grains. Depending on the amount of difficulty that you are experiencing in controlling your blood sugar levels, the frequency and exact quantities of whole grains in your Healthiest Way of Eating may not be issues you can determine without the help of your healthcare provider. The general principles that apply to eating whole grains and blood sugar control, however, are as follows:

• Two-thirds of a cup of cooked 100% whole grains (like a one-cup serving of cooked oats or brown rice) is a generally safe amount at any one meal. A slice of 100% whole-grain bread can vary dramatically in terms of calories and amount of food (gram weight), and in this case, two small-to-medium single slices of bread (weighing about one ounce each) may be an equivalently safe amount. (Both of these amounts constitute 2 servings of grains in a diabetes food group approach to meal planning.)
• Combining your whole grains with a small amount of some protein-rich food (for example, a small serving of beans, nuts, or seeds) can often be helpful in blood sugar regulation.
• Be careful not to overconsume grains even if they are organic and 100% whole. Additionally, you may want to measure out your portions; it's easy to get two cups' worth of rice when you think you are only getting one cup.
• Don't rely on whole grains as the sole focus of your meals or snacks. A large plate of pasta is not safe for regulation of blood sugars, even if the pasta is 100% whole grain. Treat grains and breads more like side dishes that complement your meals.

George's website:  http://whfoods.org/

It's as easy as being friendly!

Friends can "Encourage you to change unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as excessive drinking or lack of exercise".  I am not so sure I agree with this one until you turn 30 years old.  I would have to argue that, in fact, it is the exact opposite when you are younger.  OK! OK!  All joking aside, it certainly makes sense that having friends is good for your health.  A little support and accompaniment never hurt anyone.  The Mayo Clinic has even supplyied us bullet points on how to make friends and how to keep those relationships healthy.  Read up.  Your health may benefit.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/friendships/MH00125

Where are those germs hidding?

I wasn't always a germaphobe, but I cannot sit here writting this and deny that germs aren't on my mind when I am in a public place.  You may say that I am crazy to care about this, but when you really start to think about it, if everyone was a bit more conscious of covering their sneezes and washing their hands just a few times a day, the world could be using their sick days for fun things and not to sit on the couch using up an entire box of tissues.  Take a browze through this article and you will start thinking about it too, however, I can only hope that you take it to heart and better your higene. 

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/8-germiest-public-places.html#

Now this is cool!

Of course only an establishment like MIT would be able to invent something like this, but just imagine a man made tree in your yard that could power all your electrical needs by using one of natures most basic tools.  Photosynthesis!



http://inhabitat.com/mit-scientists-create-artificial-solar-leaf-that-can-power-homes/

ADHD in Kids linked to Food?

Maybe it is no surprise to some that eating highly processed food is the cause of a lot of medical issues these days, but 64% of todays kids are being falsly medicated due to reactions to the food they are eating is a difficult reality to grasp.  This goes to show not only the problems that todays cheap and easy access food can cause in the human body, but also the value of educating the population so they can make the right decisions regarding their health. 

Take a look at this article.
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/for-64-percent-of-kids-with-adhd-food-is-the-cause.html#

We just don't want to listen

Take a look at this list of Top 10 Worst Foods written by Michelle Schoffro Cook on PlanetGreen.com and maybe you will change your mind the next time one of these food items is put in front of you.

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/top-10-worst-foods.html#