Enlightened Eater

  Blueberries offer a potent array of weaponry against a long list of ills including heart disease and stroke, diabetes and cognitive decline. Scientists are now discovering the compounds and  mechanisms at work which defend against disease.  These berries not only protect endothelial function and boost insulin sensitivity but also act as a prebiotic and […]

Here’s a delicious way to fill your daily  bean quota – one that’s linked a decreased risk  of having a heart attack or stroke. The addition of the caramelized onions and cumin just before serving provides a fabulous flavour boost.  And freezing the leftover soup doesn’t diminish the onion hit. Split Pea Soup with Cumin […]

Just using your beans once a day offers a significant pay off  in terms of heart disease risk.  It’s something we certainly don’t do nearly enough. Research published in the in Canadian Medical Association Journal  reviewed 26 randomized controlled trials  (the gold standard of research) which were  conducted in  centres in Canada and the United […]

It may be spring on the calendar but you can certainly still feel the winter chill. It’s a perfect time for risotto but if you substitute barley for the traditional rice,   the nutritional ratings  soar.  Barley is chock full of much need fibre – especially blood cholesterol-lowering soluble fibre — along with a range of […]

Somehow the more unusual sounding or expensive  a nutritional supplement may be, the more certain  people may be intrigued and be willing to pay big bucks for it. The directions on the bottle are then followed almost with a religious zeal. But then there are your everyday supplements such as vitamin D that many may […]

Processed foods  have a bad reputation. Some, though,  may offer nutritional benefit and convenience at the same time. But occasionally  you have to wonder just what is going on. This is the case with shelled or dehulled flaxseeds. Flaxseeds are a powerhouse of nutritional goodies:  omega-3s, both soluble and insoluble fibre and  anti-cancer lignans.  But […]

Who says you can’t put together homemade baked goods in a flash?  It’s March and the annual Dietitians of Canada’s Nutrition Month.  “Simply Cook and Enjoy” is the theme this year. So why not get the family involved and whip up some healthy treats? Here’s an old family favourite from my book, The Enlightened Eater’s […]

In my last post, the spotlight was on flaxseed’s potent  fibre perks  but there’s much so more goodness to this little seed.  Flaxseeds appear to offer  an arsenal of weaponry in the battle  against some common cancers. Numerous studies  are showing protective effects of flaxseeds on both the prevention and spread of  cancers including  breast,  […]