Let’s Talk Health and Nutrition with Dr. H

                                                                       Vitamin supplementation is a billion-dollar industry.  However, are vitamin supplements absolutely necessary??   You certainly should be able to make an informed choice:  to supplement or not to supplement...that is the question. Why are vitamins and minerals important?? Vitamins and minerals are micro-nutrients which function as co-enzymes and co-factors respectively in the metabolic reactions of the body.  While vitamins and minerals of themselves do not produce energy, they are essential as co-enzymes and co-factors in many of the energy production and release pathways. Under what Circumstances should we take vitamin & mineral  supplements? Persons with established deficiencies who may need therapeu...

  Despite the status of the United States as one of the wealthiest nations, the United States struggles with ensuring that all of its citizens have access to nutritious food that is sufficient to meet their needs.  This blog post addresses the issue of food insecurity in the USA, and associated causes and consequences as well as a call to action to address what is considered to be a "silent crisis." What is Food Insecurity?   Food insecurity describes the experience of inconsistent access to sufficient food to sustain an active and healthy lifestyle. Food insecurity has an adverse effect on both individuals and families and children, the elderly as well as working adults are susceptible. Food insecurity affects  seniors, children, rural communities, those living in food deserts, African Americans and Latinos disproportionately and college and university students.                             ...

                                                Understanding Intermittent Fasting:                                                                                                                                                         Intermittent Fasting involves the practice of switching between fasting and eating on a regular basis.  Hence the focus is "when you eat." How can I do this?... you may ask. Intermittent fasting can be done a number of ways.  Here are a few examples: Eati...

  What do we mean by Nutrient Dense Foods?? As opposed to the typical American diet which is very "energy rich" and supplies empty calories, nutrient dense foods are rich in vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients that promote good health. Nutrient dense foods are not high in saturated fats, added sugars nor sodium.  Examples of nutrient dense foods are: Fruits, Vegetables, Fish and seafood, Whole grains, Poultry (without skin), Nuts and legumes, Lean meat (unprocessed), Non-fat or low-fat dairy (substitutions such as almond milk) Is there a simple way to rate nutrient density??                                            Yes, the more nutrients you obtain from the food for the calories contained, the more nutrient dense the food is.   Food labels can be very handy for helping you to identify not only caloric and fat contents, but also beneficial...

  What are Phytonutrients ?   Also known as phytochemicals, these are compounds that are produced by plants, and they generally help plants to resist fungi, bacteria, viral infections as well as protect them from consumption by insects. Phytonutrient rich foods include: Red, orange and yellow and other brightly colored fruit and vegetables (for example, berries, peaches, nectarines, apricots and carrots, toma toes, bell peppers, sweet potatoes), Dark green leafy vegetables (for example, romaine lettuce, spinach, kale), Garlic, on ions, chives, Beans, Whole Grains, Tea, Nuts, Beans, Spices,                          Let's  Talk Health Benefits!! What's  in this for us? ...you may ask. Phytonutrients have been associated with beneficial health effects thought to be related to characteristics such as but not limited to antioxidant function, anti-inflammatory properties, neuroprotection, immune ...