Coconut water is increasingly showing up at U.S. stores and is marketed as a health drink. Coconut water comes from the inside of young, green coconuts, the fruit of the coconut palm tree and is a common drink in the tropics — straight from the fruits themselves. The liquid contains potassium and magnesium – essential nutrients. But how healthy is it, really?
Candy made into a “functional” food
April 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
There’s more talk about functional foods as foodmakers try to bring the most disease-fighting nutrients they can to traditional foods. Today, we’ll look at one of those foods under development. Ohio State Food Scientist Ya-el Vo do votz says they are making progress with turning black raspberries into a nutritional candy and nectar.
More kids eating more fruits and veggies
April 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The US Department of Agriculture says it’s programs to encourage more eating of fruits and vegetables at low income elementary schools is working.What the agency’s Food and Nutrution Service found was fruit and vegetable consumption increased by one-third of a cup among students in the program, compared to students not in the program. That’s about 15 percent more fruits and vegetables. That’s not a big increase but health experts say the more fruits and vegetables in our diets the better.
HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAM – Fruit & veg consumption among kids in USDA program (1:30 mp3)
Fiber’s place in a heart healthy diet
March 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Fiber is among the properties in foods recommended for a heart healthy diet. Food and Family program director Suzanne Stulka with South Dakota State University Extension reminds us about those fiber rich foods – fruits, vegetables and whole grains. High fiber diets are associated with lower levels of bad cholesterol (LDL), a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and a number of other conditions. But how does it work in the body?
Sleepy foods and drinks
March 11, 2013 By Leave a Comment
What are the best foods and drinks for inducing sleep and what are the worst? Fitness Magazine has a list of the top five best and worst – some of them are obvious and some of them are not.
HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAM – Foods for sleep (1:30 mp3)
MyPlate healthy recipes in more places
February 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Following healthy diet guidelines may be easier if there are easy to follow recipes that guide you. Not everyone likes to cook but the USDA and the Partnership for a Healthier America have named nearly 20 websites where you can find recipes identified as nutritious and meeting the USDA MyPlate guidelines. They’ve also got a collection of MyPlate based recipes on a new Pinterest page – and at ChooseMyPlate.
HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAM – MyPlate recipes (1:30 mp3)
Mediterranean diet study shows heart benefits
February 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment
More than 7,000 adults in Spain at high risk for heart disease were followed for nearly five years – and researchers found a 30% reduction of heart attacks, strokes and deaths from heart disease. The participants either followed a Mediterranean diet or a regular low-fat diet. The Mediterranean diet consists of beans, nuts, fish, fruits, vegetables and olive oil.
HEALTHY LIVING PROGRAM – Mediterranean Diet Study (1:30 mp3)
New England Journal of Medicine – Mediterranean Diet Study
Nothing miraculous or evil — Just Food
February 14, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Here’s a diet approach, all foods are okay, some more so than others. The American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has issued a position paper on The Total Diet. Andrea Giancoli explains it’s about overall diet patterns. Eating more foods that are “nutrient dense” than foods that aren’t means you’re on the right path.
Study on environmental friendliness of produce-diet
February 11, 2013 By Leave a Comment
A study in France questions the purported environmental-friendliness of plant-based diets. Reuters says the lead researcher in the study, from France’s National Research Institute of Agronomy, found higher greenhouse gas emissions from meat production over fruits and vegetables in the documented diets of 19-hundred people but the opposite was true when carbon dioxin emissions were considered from the measure of energy in food.
The study found more greenhouse gas emissions correlated per person per day from eating a plant-based diet because people have to eat much more produce to get the same amount of energy they would get from a serving of meat.
Typically, meat, especially red meat production is blamed for the highest greenhouse gas emissions. The study is in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Illinois FSA loan chief on micro-loan webinar
January 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment
You may have heard about the USDA’s micro loan program and want more information. The Illinois Farm to School initiative is hosting a free webinar on the USDA microloans on Thursday January 31st, 2013.
Join Jeffrey E. Koch, Farm Loan Chief from the Illinois Farm Service Agency, will “explains the new USDA microloans and other funding options currently available for growers interested in selling to schools and other wholesale markets.”
The webinar session – on Jan. 31st at 3:00 p.m. – can be accessed with a home computer.
For more information, contact Julia Govis. Email her at: jgovis@illinois.edu
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