What did we learn in 2008?

Better Living News Bites launched in June 2008. Gradually, more and more people have signed on to improve their health and fitness beginning with our small weekly diet change.

Here is a sample of the hot topics we’ve covered this year:

June

Pay attention to your vitamins – vitamin A helps build healthy skin; riboflavin builds muscle and people who exercise need more of it.

July

Some fruit and vegetables actually absorb pesticides through their skins. Apples, bell peppers, peaches and celery contain the most pesticides. Choose organic versions of these kinds of produce whenever possible.

August

Scientists in Finland discovered eating berries daily lowered blood pressure, improved platelet function and raised good cholesterol (HDL). This was just one more study showing simple foods can dramatically reduce your chance of having a heart attack.

September

Morning or evening exercise can both be effective tools in shedding body fat. Simply follow the strategies of eating the right foods around your workout to jumpstart your efforts!

October

Healthy snacks are low in fat and balanced in protein and carbohydrates (e.g., baked tortilla chips and non-fat black bean dip). Also, new findings show low-sugar cocoa can improve endothelial function.

November

If you cannot feel the sun right now, you likely need to supplement vitamin D (800-1000IU/day). Vitamin D is the hot nutrient this year proving to improve bone density, reduce fall risk, decrease certain cancers and limit your chances of dying (seriously, it reduced all-cause mortality in one study).

December

The DASH diet (dietary approaches to stop hypertension) is a proven strategy not only for lowering blood pressure, but for losing weight and being healthy overall.

You can read any of these entries again by visiting the website. Each month appears as you roll your cursor over the bottom right side of the page.

www.betterlivingnewsbites.blogspot.com

Have a very Happy New Year!

-Mark Thiesmeyer, MS, MPH, RD