7 Nutrient-Dense Foods To Fuel Healthy Function

7 Nutrient-Dense Foods To Fuel Healthy Function

When seeking to improve your health, I always recommend starting with what you eat. It can be confusing with so many diets and nutrition plans. Good news –  you don’t always have to start with a “diet.” Simply assess the foods you are currently eating and swap out the processed carbs for nutrient-dense foods to fuel healthy function. Packed with nutrients like vitamins, minerals, fats, and antioxidants, these foods will help so you feel great. Here we talk about 7 nutrient-dense foods to fuel healthy function.

Stock your kitchen with some of these foods next time you’re at the grocery store:

Fatty Fish

Fatty fish like wild-caught salmon, halibut or cod have a rich concentration of omega-3 fatty acids, which help your body function optimally. It also has large amounts of potassium, selenium, B vitamins, and magnesium, making it a great source of nutrition for lunch or dinner. Farmed fish does not offer the same nutrients, so choose wild-caught.

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Is Depression A Challenge You Face?

Is Depression A Challenge You Face?

A mental health crisis is underway in the U.S. Depression is among the most common mental health issue with 21 million adults experiencing one or more major depressive episodes. A growing number of children and teens are also experiencing depression. Is depression a challenge you face?

Antidepressant medications remain a first-line treatment for depression, even though 2/3 of depressed patients don’t respond well to them. Many doctors are not recognizing the role that the gut plays in mood. Both the foods you eat and the balance of bacteria that reside in your gut affect your mood.

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How to Stay Healthy While You're Traveling

How to Stay Healthy While You’re Traveling

Traveling is once again becoming a part of life, whether traveling for work or visiting family, or traveling for pleasure to explore new places. Traveling can take a toll on our bodies when eating out more often, sleeping in a different location, and being off our schedule. With some strategy, it’s easier than you think to take care of your physical and mental health while traveling. Here are some tips on how to stay healthy while you’re traveling. 

Walk Around 

The best way to explore a new place is to walk around. The next time you’re on a trip, ditch the public transportation and taxis and get your steps in instead. Walking is an excellent form of exercise, which helps keep your heart healthy and your joints moving comfortably. You’ll be surprised how many amazing sights, delicious restaurants, and fun spots you’ll discover that you would have never found otherwise.

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How to Maximize Your Vitamin D Benefits

How to Maximize Your Vitamin D Benefits

Would you believe that a majority of American adults are considered deficient in vitamin D? Studies of pandemic cases have shown that those who experienced the strongest symptoms had low vitamin D levels. In light of the encouragement to boost our levels, I’d like to clarify how to maximize your vitamin D benefits.

How to Maximize Your Vitamin D Benefits

Vitamin D is considered by many to be both hormone and vitamin with a wide variety of benefits, including:

  • Aiding in Calcium absorption in bones
  • Supports the immune system
  • Promotes cardiovascular health
  • Supports health cell replication
  • Helps manage blood sugar levels

Have you had your Vitamin D levels measured recently? This serum lab test is key to knowing whether your body needs added support and can be requested from your doctor. Though reference ranges on most lab tests consider 30-100 ng/mL acceptable, the optimal level would be 40-60 ng/mL.

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5 Tips For Simplifying Your Eating Habits

5 Tips For Simplifying Your Eating Habits

Have you noticed that new diets and eating plans are introduced regularly, touting results that we all are seeking? Each new fad presents itself as “the one” yet what really works is a sustainable change to eating foods that fuel our bodies with needed nutrients. It’s actually far simpler than we are making it. Here are 5 Tips For Simplifying Your Eating Habits.

Eat More Raw, Whole Foods

Eating food in its most natural state is a great way to cut some time and stress from your mealtimes. For example, grab a boiled egg on your way out the door instead of breakfast at the coffee shop. Add some fresh veggies as a side at lunch instead of packing chips. Toss everything in a bowl to create a big salad for dinner instead of a complicated recipe or take-out. Read more

How To Get Back On Track

How To Get Back On Track

Nothing feels better than knowing that you’re progressing in your wellness journey. Yet the holidays can throw a wrench into your progress with delicious baked goods and traditional meals. There really is nothing wrong with those in moderation, but sometimes a few too many treats can cause you to stray from your path.

Just in case you feel you may have strayed and are having trouble finding your way back, here are five tips that can help you get back on track to continue your wellness journey.

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4 Tips For Staying Healthy Through The Holidays

4 Tips to Stay Healthy Through the Holidays

While the holidays can bring out joy and excitement, there is also more stress from added demands on schedule, finances, and travel plans. Though these stressors can take a toll on your mental and physical health, I have good news! It doesn’t have to drag you down. Approach this time of year with 4 tips to stay healthy through the holidays. Read more

A lot goes on inside your body. You may notice symptoms and think that you are just getting old. But is there a fire smoldering inside?

Is There A Fire Smoldering Inside?

A lot goes on inside your body of which you are not aware. You may notice symptoms and think that you are just getting old. But consider … is there a fire smoldering inside your body? Could that be the reason for your symptoms?

That smoldering fire refers to inflammation. Inflammation can be friend or foe. Read more

Do you find yourself drawn to sweets? It is possible to tame your sweet tooth by employing these strategies and you'll have better energy.

Tame Your Sweet Tooth For Consistent Energy

Do you find yourself drawn to sweets when you see them? If you have a sweet tooth, you know how difficult it is to resist. Sugar is a very addictive substance, and eliminating it is not easy. Yet I’m happy to say that it is possible to tame your sweet tooth by employing some strategies.

Remove the Temptation

Stop buying those sweet treats to stock your pantry – or your desk. If it’s not easily accessible, you are less likely to eat it.  Discover nature’s natural sweets with fruit that provide nutrients along with the sweet taste – eat the fruit rather than drinking juice to reduce the effect of sugar on your body. Berries are low in sugar and are full of beneficial antioxidants. Cinnamon is a fantastic spice that makes your food taste sweeter without added sugar. It even helps regulate blood sugar levels. Read more

It's not unusual to need a small snack between meals. Discover an equation you can use to make sure you choose snacks that sustain you.

Choose Snacks That Sustain You Between Meals

Do you snack in between meals? It’s not unusual to need a small snack between your three larger meals to keep you sustained throughout the day. This helps your blood sugar stay balanced, which also helps with mood and energy. But take a stroll down the snack aisle at your local grocery store, and you’ll find a lot of packaged foods that aren’t beneficial to your health. How do you choose snacks that sustain you between meals?

There’s an equation you can use to make sure you are snacking in a way benefits you the most. After all, you’re less likely to overeat or crash during the day when your body has a steady stream of nutrients to fuel it. Here are some essential snacking tips to help keep you sustained throughout the day. Read more