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Showing posts from May, 2019

What’s the Deal with CoQ10?

If you are on cholesterol medication, chances are that you’ve heard of CoQ10 before. Chances are that you’ve even been advised to take a CoQ10 supplement because of the statin (cholesterol) medication you’re on. There’s been some buzz around CoQ10 as more studies reveal the vital role and function it has in our body’s energy production, vitality and health.   What Does CoQ10 Do?                 Coenzyme Q10, also knowns as CoQ10, is a fat-soluble compound that helps cells generate energy and protects against cell damage with its antioxidative properties. Within the mitochondria of cells, CoQ10 helps to produce ATP energy. Therefore, CoQ10 is present in all cells of the body, but can be found in greatest concentration in the liver, heart, kidneys, and lungs. This compound supports energy production but also protects these active tissues from oxidative stress; hence, its antioxidant function. What are sources for CoQ10?                 CoQ10 is a fat-soluble compou

Aging with Osteoarthritis

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                There are many theories as to why people age; whether aging is programmed into our DNA or that the body experiences “wear-and-tear” over the years. What is clear is as a person ages beyond their 60’s and 70’s there are physiological changes that occur like shifts in body composition and sensory changes (Brown, 2014). These changes include declining muscle mass, balance issues, decreased vision, cataracts, hearing difficulties and so on. As a result of these changes, older adults become vulnerable to nutritional risk factors, deficiencies, and their complications. Osteoarthritis (OA) is common among population of age 65 and older as it affects about 33% of the population (Brown, 2014). Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints that causes great pain and often leads to loss of mobility. As there is no cure for this inflammatory disease, its advanced stage could pose a great risk to a person’s nutritional health as it can affect their mental wellbeing

Reading a Nutrition Facts Label

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      Nowadays with most foods undergoing some kind of processing, it is important to understand what is in our foods. One tool that supports awareness is the Nutrition Facts label. The only problem is that you have to be savvy enough to understand what it’s actually trying to communicate. And let’s be honest- all these numbers and milligrams and percentages can be pretty confusing. So, when it comes to increasing mindfulness and awareness of what you’re eating in terms of calories and nutritional value, learning to properly inspect and understand a nutrition facts label is key.        Below you’ll find a break down of what these color-coded boxes are supposed to tell you. The FDA will be putting in place new requirements for how a Nutrition Facts label is to be printed, so below you will see the current and the new label formats. Once you start getting into the habit of label reading, you might notice that a lot of products have already implemented the new label format, though

Food and Travel

  If you’re like me, you’re constantly dreaming and scheming up ideas of places to travel to and explore. If I could live the nomad life and spend my time travelling different places on this planet, meeting new people, exploring new cultures and tasting new foods, I’d set sail tomorrow!      However, right now that’s not an option, so I will settle for one or two annual vacations that allow me to travel abroad. I see travel as a chance to see a new corner of the world and gain new perspective about different ways of life and the way I live my own. Travel is also an opportunity to explore new cultures through food!      Here’s a few tips to remember when travelling an exploring food. 1) Depending on where you’re travelling, raw fruits and veggies should be handled carefully. Because of new environments, bacteria and possible pathogens, foodborne illness is a likely risk and sure way to put a roadblock in your travels. Always make sure to wash and peel fruits and vegetables yoursel