October 2011

HEALTHY EATING HEALTHY YOU

• Breaking It Down: FATS
  It is recommended for Canadians 19 years and older to consume between 20% and 35% of their daily calories from fat.  This often catches many individuals off guard, thinking this is a large amount. The thing to recognize is that unlike protein and carbohydrate, which both provide 4 calories per gram consumed, fats provide 9 […]
• Breaking it Down: PROTEIN
  In the fitness and athletic field, protein consumption gets a big push.  But why?  What does protein do for our body, how does it break down and what different types of protein should we aim to include?  Whether you’re an athlete or not, young or older, protein is an important part of the diet.     The […]
• Breaking It Down: FIBRE
  Fibre is a component of carbohydrate, but it is non-digestible.  Why then is there such an importance to include it in our diet?  Although the components of fibre are not digested by our bodies (meaning our cells don’t take up any of its components to use, but rather it is excreted), fibre has proven many […]
• Breaking it Down: Carbohydrates
  What is a calorie? What is metabolism? How do the foods we eat break down into the calories that feed our metabolism? The Miriam Webster dictionary defines a calorie as, “a unit equivalent to the large calorie expressing the heat-producing or energy-producing value in food when oxidized in the body”, in which a ‘large calorie’ […]
• Anytime for Quinoa!
  The power food that’s had many people talking for years is still a popular nutrient rich choice to make any time of the day. One ½ cup serving of cooked quinoa packs approximately 3 grams of protein, which is a primary reason why many have substituted it in for rice or pasta. The protein content […]
• Holiday Yummies!
  The Holiday season is filled with social gatherings, family, and a little more food than usual! Sometimes it’s easy to get carried away in conversation, paying little attention to what we may be eating. We also tend to make certain desserts and recipes that bring back many memories of this time of year. Making sure […]
• It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year….
  We’ve all seen the holiday survival lists: getting through the holiday party, eating fewer sweets, fitting in a little extra activity, or trying to get a jump start on your new year resolutions. So, as we head into the season, eating a few more meals out and about, going to holiday parties, tempting sweets and […]
• Taking the ‘Simple’ out of the ‘Complex’
  Carbohydrates are our primary source of fuel. When we eat something that has carbohydrates, it digests through our bodies and is transformed into a simpler form, sugar, which our bodies can use for energy, to keep our brain focused and alert, or stored for future use. Confusion often lies in which types of carbohydrates to […]
• What’s in the Shaker?
  The Salt craze has hit and the question that always seems to come up is “how much do I need”. The Institute of Medicine has established a level of sodium that Canadians need on a daily basis, which equates to 1500 mg, and an upper level of 2300 mg. 1500 mg indicates the dose needed […]
• Ah Routine!!
  Most of us thrive on routine:  Waking up in the morning, preparing our first meal of the day, maybe a trip to the gym, and then starting our work day.  We finish our work day, complete all of our evening activities, and then the next day is in front of us just like that.  As […]