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Nutrition

Benefits of Lowering Blood Pressure Naturally

by - Reading Time: 7 minutes

By causing a sharp increase in the risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure, high blood pressure seriously damages the heart and arteries. A blood pressure of 120/80 to 139/89 mm Hg is in the normal-to-slightly high range and should be monitored once a year to make sure that it is consistent. […]

Flaxseed – An Ancient Plant Rediscovered

by - Reading Time: 7 minutes

Flax (Unum uisita-tissimum) may be one of the world’s oldest cultivated plants. In ancient times, flax was grown for its oil-bearing seed and its fiber. The ancient Egyptians used cloth woven from flax, and Hebrew high priests, as recorded in the Judeo-Christian Scriptures, wore garments made exclusively of flax. Records from early civilizations reveal that […]

In Praise of Almonds and Nuts

by , and - Reading Time: 8 minutes

They’re known as ‘oily fruits’. Because of their numerous health benefits, notwithstanding their high fat content, almonds, hazelnuts and other nuts are among foods recommended for consumption in Canada, the US, and across the EU – to the tune of a small handful each day. From a nutritional standpoint, these hard-shelled fruits are distinguished by […]

5 Pulses that are Packed with Goodness

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Each year on February 10, the United Nations commemorates what probably sounds to many like a strange occasion: World Pulses Day. But, as a researcher focused on forgotten and underutilized legumes, I think the initiative is an important step towards food security. Getting people to eat more pulses can ultimately help achieve UN Sustainable Development […]

The Problem of Celebrity Nutrition

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Celebrities of nutrition evoke feelings of awe, envy and adulation in many of us. While the Gwyneth Paltrows of the group first achieve celebrity status in other fields, others first make a name for themselves in food and nutrition, despite not having formal nutrition qualifications. Think Pete Evans, Sarah Wilson and Belle Gibson, whose nutrition […]

Fiber for Weight Control

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Fiber might just be the key to healthy weight management – and nature packages the carbs in perfectly balanced ratios when you eat them as whole foods. Think unprocessed fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds. Research suggests that carbohydrates are meant to come packaged in nature-balanced ratios of total carbohydrates to fiber. In […]

Benefits from an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

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There is a lot of health buzz around the term “inflammation” right now. From new scientific discoveries to celebrities and social media influencers, it seems like everyone is talking about this important bodily process and its potential impact on our health. “Inflammaging” is a specific term you may also have seen. It’s an age-related increase […]

From An Apple a Day to Functional Foods

by - Reading Time: 10 minutes

We’ve all heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but how true is that? Apples are not high in vitamin A, nor are they beneficial for vision like carrots. They are not a great source of vitamin C and therefore don’t fight off colds as oranges do. However, apples contain various bioactive […]

Save that Avocado Seed for Your Next Cup of Tea

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Growing up on the island of Jamaica, Avocados (called “pear” by most Jamaicans), while in season, were a staple at almost every meal. We were chasing through the brush to bring back the prized Pear to our families or simply sit and eat as friends. Everyone in the district knew where a Pear tree was […]

Microgreens – The Health-giving Shoots Explained

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Many of us germinated cress seeds on a bit of wet tissue at primary school, giving us a first introduction to edible microgreens. Recent interest in more diverse ways of getting flavor and nutrition into the vegetable components of our diets has increased the focus on the potential these crops have to offer. There are […]

How to Swap Meat for Nutritious Alternatives

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Are you toying with the idea of eating less meat, but unsure whether it’s the right choice nutritionally and how best to do it? If so, you’re not alone. Many people are now looking to eat fewer animal products because of the desire to eat sustainably, and moving towards a plant-based diet is indeed an […]

Stop Hating on Pasta

by - Reading Time: 6 minutes

New year, new you, new diet. It’s a familiar refrain. One popular dieting technique is to create a food blacklist. Quitting “carbs” or packaged foods is common, which can mean avoiding supermarket staples like pasta. But do we really need to ban pasta to improve our diets? This is what we call a reductionist approach […]