Enlightened Eater

The appearance of rhubarb leaves peeking through the ground in my garden is one of the first signs of spring sets my heart aflutter:  it  brings anticipation about the bounty of local produce soon to come. Local rhubarb, along with asparagus and strawberries, is just one  of the treats that start off the parade of […]

Most people think they’re pretty savvy when it comes to making smart food choices.  Food companies and fast food chains, though,  may use bait and switch practices – getting patrons in the door with the lure of healthy eats only to offer sodium- and sugar-laden options. But even when we’re really determined to make enlightened […]

If you’re a BBQ aficionado,  likely this past weekend marked the start of your grilling season.  But as there can be some downsides to eating grilled  food, practicing BBQ  smarts is a wise idea. And one way is to spice it up. In a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, University of […]

While it may be smart for us to follow safe sun practices and use sunscreen, we can still reap the vitamin D benefits of sun exposure. Just eat vitamin D mushrooms. Mushrooms, like humans, produce vitamin D when they are exposed to ultraviolet light of a certain intensity. They are the only naturally occurring plant-based […]

At one time, nutritionally speaking, mushrooms and their exceptionally low caloric content was their only claim to fame. They were a dieter’s best friend as they could fill you up with minimal caloric damage – provided, though, that they weren’t sautéed in a sea of butter or paired with cream in a soup. But mushrooms […]

Have you watched little ones as they are slathered with sunscreen? Parents are indeed taking heed of safe sun practices when it comes to their youngsters. But simply shunning the sun may be taking its toll.  There is a second part to this health strategy that’s often overlooked:  getting vitamin D. The sunshine vitamin is […]

In my post Vitamin D- the new superstar , I pointed to the potential far reaching consequences of  low vitamin D levels in the blood. While many have been widely promoted,  the links between this nutrient and the development of type 2 diabetes have not been getting much attention. And considering we may be heading […]

Finally after a long winter, the sun’s rays feel oh so good. On some days, they actually feel warm on our skin.  In spite of how good it feels, at this time of year in northern climates, it still does not translate into vitamin D production. Here’s why: vitamin D is produced by the body […]