Tag: health

Posted on by — Leave a comment

7 Thing You Didn’t Know About Pistachios

National Pistachio Day Bowl of Spiced Pistachios
A delicious bowl of our New Mexico “Chimayo” Red Chile Lime Pistachios.

 

Pistachios: Are They Good for You?

Originally from Western Asia, but known for thousands of years throughout the Mediterranean, pistachios have been cultivated commercially in the English speaking world in Australia, New Mexico and in California where it was introduced in 1854 as a garden tree.  The pistachio is simply a delicious, nutritious nut to snack on and benefit from, and they even have their own Nationally declared day in North America: February 26th. Here are just a few things you should know about pistachios.

Heart Health

Pistachios have been shown to reduce LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and increase the good HDL cholesterol after only a short period of regular consumption. High in antioxidants such as vitamins A and E, they fight inflammation, protecting blood vessels and reducing the risk of heart disease.  Moderate intake of pistachios has been shown to increase levels of lutein, an antioxidant well known for protecting against oxidized LDL, reducing heart disease.

 

Diabetes Help

Eating pistachios may help to prevent Type 2 diabetes as 60 percent of the recommended daily value of the mineral phosphorous is contained in just one cup of pistachios. As well as breaking down proteins into amino acids, phosphorous aids glucose tolerance.

 

Healthy Blood

Pistachios are an incredibly rich source of vitamin B6 which is essential to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein responsible for carrying oxygen through the bloodstream to cells and is also shown to increase the amount of oxygen carried.

 

Nervous System

Pistachios will calm you down.  The vitamin B6 so abundant in pistachios has wide-ranging effects on the nervous system. Messaging molecules called amines require amino acids to develop, which in turn rely on vitamin B6 for their creation. Furthermore, B6 plays a crucial role in the formation of myelin, the insulating sheath around nerve fibers that allows optimal messaging between nerves. Vitamin B6 also contributes to the synthesis of serotonin and melatonin.

 

Eye Health

Pistachios contain two carotenoids not found in most nuts. These carotenoids, called lutein and zeaxanthin, function as protective antioxidants, defending tissues from damage from free radicals. They have been linked with a decrease in the risk for developing age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of visual impairments and acquired blindness in the United States.

 

Immune System

A healthy immune system requires adequate intake of vitamin B6, which pistachios abound in. Vitamin B6 found in pistachios also helps the body make healthy red blood cells, and helps maintain the health of lymphoid glands, such as the thymus, spleen and lymph nodes.  All of these things help the production of white blood cells that defend the body from infections.

 

Skin Health

Pistachios are a great source of vitamin E, a powerful fat-soluble antioxidant, essential for maintaining the integrity of cell membranes and often recommended for healthy and beautiful skin. Vitamin E does an excellent job protecting the skin from UV damage, providing daily defense against premature aging and skin cancer.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Tips for Keeping your New Year’s Resolution to Get Healthy

A girl sits overlooking the ocean snacking on organic trail mix
Eat healthy to get healthy this new year.

 

There is that little spark for something better that always shows itself at the beginning of

the new year. A drive to improve your diet and get healthy often is a goal that, frankly, 

makes complete sense. So, where do you start?

 

1. Switch to organic. 

This decision is good for you AND good for the environment.  In 2-3 weeks after you switch to organic foods you’ll find the following:

  • The residual pesticide level inside your body will be reduced substantially
  • Your digestion improves as fewer highly processed ingredients pass through your body.
  • Your immune system will get stronger.

2. Choose smaller portions and eat more frequently throughout the day. 

Try an experiment – eat a handful of organic almonds mid-morning instead of a pastry, doughnut, or even a granola bar.  Chew the almonds thoroughly and take your time eating the whole handful.  Notice how ‘full’ you become and the natural energy that is released will keep you focused and on task.  When a meal time comes around, think about how much food would make you full and then eat a third less.  Take your time to eat and notice how your body responds.

3. Shop smart

You’d be surprised how true the old adage “out of sight, out of mind” can ring. If you can change your habits at the supermarket, you will be able to keep only healthy snacks around your house, which will make getting healthy, and staying healthy, that much easier. That way, when that midnight snack craving hits you, you can satisfy your sweet tooth with some dried fruit instead of ice cream.

These simple changes will allow you to keep your resolution, improve your health, and give you more energy to augment these dietary changes with other healthful changes like exercise.

Let’s grow healthy together.  #FuelYourLife

 

 

 

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Trying to understand what’s important about Prop 37

I’m voting YES on Prop 37.  Am I biased working for a natural foods company?  Probably yes, but not in the manner you might think.  As anyone who knows me, I don’t just do something for the sake of doing something.   Discerning fact from fiction in the genetically modified foods arena is difficult since research is truly limited, especially as it relates to human impacts.  No, I’m biased because of my personal experiences with these foods and what has happened since I found ways to limit their intake in to my body.  What is particularly relevant to me is that the improvements in my health appear to be directly related to the food choices I was making.  The choice to change came at the recommendation of a friend, not because I had educated myself on these foods.   Now, having spent quite a bit of time researching  GM foods and finding evidence of that suggests that we should be concerned, it’s easier for me to ensure I eat right.  Even more poignant, the chronic disease/condition I had been diagnosed with was not in evidence at my last checkup.  No disease found!!  This is a condition that I had for almost 20 years and does not have a cure, per the doctor.  These positive results have not been for just me.  My doctor has encouraged his other patients to take this approach and though he cannot divulge too much per patient/doctor privacy laws he has told me that he has seen benefits to others.  It mirrors the same experience I’ve had with my own family.  Simply put, there is too much personal evidence for me to buy into the industry’s stipulation that GM foods are completely safe.  Your personal experience may or may not be the same.  Just because you aren’t showing signs now of issues associated with GM foods doesn’t mean the damage isn’t being done.  It also may be that these foods won’t harm a certain percentage of people too.  That being said –

What is important about Prop 37?  In a nutshell it’s information.  It took me quite a while to understand how to find foods that have not been modified or don’t contain modified ingredients.  It should be simple and the labeling provision of Prop 37 is the best solution at this time.  Is it perfect?  No, but it does the job of providing a means for the consumer to better understand their food choices.  I’m grateful that California had a process in place to get a piece of legislation on to the ballot that represents what a majority of people want.

On November 6, we get a chance to make our voice heard.   I hope you’ll join me in a resounding YES VOTE on 37.  Regardless, I also hope you’ll make the choice to eat better foods and help your body take care of itself.  That much I can stand behind, politics aside.