Close

Tag Archive for: food for thought

by

Saying Good-bye to Gluten? Think Twice

May is Celiac Awareness Month and for those with celiac disease, an estimated 2% of Canadians, going gluten-free is a must.  Celiac disease is more than a gluten intolerance, it is a genetic autoimmune disease that is triggered by the consumption of gluten.  To learn more check out our post:  What is Celiac Disease?

So why are so many others saying good-bye to gluten?  What effect does going gluten-free have on the other 98% of the population?  The answer is:  nothing.  The following from CBC News discusses a recent study and its findings that:  “going gluten free is not a magic bullet for losing weight and improving your health for individuals who don’t have celiac disease.” Check out the article to learn more about the study and its findings.

CBC News:  Healthy hearts: Gluten-free diets don’t help people without celiac disease, study finds

by

Why You Should Reduce Your Salt Intake

Eating well for a healthy heart requires you to monitor your intake of salt.  Sodium can lead to high blood pressure and water retention, both of which can lead to heart disease.  Learn more about how reducing sodium intake can help lower blood pressure and more in the following care of the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal.

McMaster Optimal Aging Portal:  Does salt really affect blood pressure?

by

Are You Making These Common Nutrition Mistakes?

Eating well is something that is vital to your overall health and though many try to eat well, supplement, and add “superfoods” to their diets, there are still some small blunders you may be making.  Take a look at the following from The Toronto Star to learn more about these mistakes and how to overcome them.

The Toronto Star:  Top 10 nutrition mistakes even healthy people make

by

Can Your Diet Help Prevent Cancer?

The old adage “you are what you eat” is becoming more prevalent in today’s health conscious society.  There is an importance in selecting the proper foods to fight off disease and nourish our bodies to optimum health.  In honour of Cancer Month we’ve decided to share with you some of the top cancer fighting foods that you can easily incorporate into your daily meal plans.  Check out the following article from Reader’s Digest.  

Reader’s Digest:  30 Proven Foods to Help Prevent Cancer

by

Can Dietary Treatments for Autism Help?

The great debate about dietary treatment for autism continues.  Many parents with children who have autism are moving towards a strict gluten/casein free diet.  Although this diet has not been medically proven to help with the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD’s), many feel that it does.  Read the following from Autism Speaks to learn more about the debate over whether or not this special diet can help.

Autism Speaks:  How helpful is the casein-gluten-free diet?

We want to hear from you!  Has the Gluten-Free Casein-Free diet worked in your situation?

by

Tips for Coping with Picky Eaters

March is Nutrition Month and to celebrate our Food for Thought series will focus on some of the main factors that influence what and how we eat.

Picky eating is something quite common in children and youth and can cause great worry and disruption for many parents.  Take a look at the following from the Dietitians of Canada to learn how to manage mealtime meltdowns and overcome the picky eating problem.

The Dietitians of Canada:  Take the Fight out of Food

For more information on picky eating and solutions to help, check out the following video from our OT-V series:  Solutions for Picky Eaters.

by

Fact or Fad? Health Information You Can Trust

March is Nutrition Month and to celebrate our Food for Thought series will focus on some of the main factors that influence what we eat.

The world is becoming increasingly obsessed with weight and body image and as such the internet is full of websites, blogs and products that may or may not be providing you with reliable information.

While it’s extremely important to be informed so you can eat well for weight management and overall health, how do you know what information to trust?  The following fact sheet from The Dietitians of Canada discusses how to know identify health and nutrition information you can depend on.

The Dietitians of Canada:  Food Fads– Ugh! How do I know which information to trust?

 

by

Overcome Emotional Eating

March is Nutrition Month and to celebrate our Food for Thought series will focus on some of the main factors that influence what we eat. Stress is an often overlooked piece of our health, yet it can be very damaging as it effects our bodies both physically and mentally. Specifically related to food, many often “stress eat” as they turn to food as a coping mechanism.  The following from The Dietitians of Canada discusses how to overcome emotional eating and suggests some healthy alternatives.

The Dietitians of Canada Fact Sheet:  Eating and Stress– Help! I eat when I’m stressed!

If you’re struggling with stress take a look at our article, How Stress is Affecting Your Health, for additional assistance.