Kent State Interns

 WINTER TIME SUPPLEMENTS  (From FreePik) As the weather drops during the winter season, our bodies go through seasonal changes that can impact our energy levels, immune system, and overall well-being. If you're someone like me who gets sick all the time in winter, I'm going to provide a common list of supplements I take to try and increase my immune system during the winter season.  1. Vitamin C : this vitamin is used for the immune system. With cold and flu season, Vitamin C is great for supporting the immune system and helping the body fight off infections.  2. Zinc : zinc is great for immune function and helping to reduce the time/severity of colds. It also plays a role in wound healing and supports healthy skin, especially during the winter season when skin is dry and cracked.  3. Vitamin D : this vitamin is important especially during the winter time. Vitamin D mainly comes from the sun so during winter, we are more indoors and not in front of the sun. Beca...

  Designed by  FreePik                                                                                     Ugh, yes, it is still winter which means less time outside and less sun. It is not the time of year yet when we can get excited about fresh fruit and vegetables at our local farmers ma rket. But this does not mean we should hate on what winter veggies are available to us. They are underrated heroes. Typically, during these winter months, we see m any root vegetables since they thrive during this time. Root vegetables contain fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants which are perfect for warm nutrient dense winter meals. When roasted carrots, fennel, parsnips, and potatoes can show off their natural flavors and sweetness...

 With Valentine’s Day coming, we all love those sweet treats that come along with the holiday, whether chocolate, baked goods, or even fruit candies.  But have you ever wondered if chocolate could be healthy for you? Chocolate has three categories we may all know: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate. This is determined by the amount of cocoa solids made from cocoa beans mixed with cocoa butter and sugar. In America, a standard bar of dark chocolate has around 70% - 85% cocoa.  Dark chocolate contains a large amount of flavonoids which are antioxidants that protect our bodies from damage. So the higher the content of cocoa the higher the amount of flavonoids.  While dark chocolate has the benefit of flavonoids, there are more benefits including: A source of important minerals - such as iron, magnesium, zinc, copper, and phosphorus  Non-dairy - a good option for those with a milk allergy or sensitivity  High in fiber - around 4 grams per ounce...

  Designed by  Freepik February brings us two important topics to celebrate: National Heart Month and National Food Snacking Month! You may be asking yourself, are snacks even good for me? Yes, they are! A snack is typically eaten between main meals. Benefits of snacks include providing a boost of energy when several hours have passed between meals (which causes blood glucose levels to drop), helps reduce your appetite to decrease overeating at the next meal, can help maintain good nutrition if one has a poor appetite but cannot eat full meals due to an illness for example, and provide extra nutrients when choosing snacks like fresh fruit or nuts. The downfall of snacks is if the frequency of eating them is too much it can lead to reduced hunger at meals times causing some to skip a meal entirely. Many of us also prefer ultra-processed snacks such as chips, ice cream, candy, soft drinks, and cake which are not always the best option to fuel our day. A way to curb the downf...

Failed New Year’s Resolutions? It’s ok – you just have to get SMART! Many people view January 1 as the day to start a new, ambitious goal. They set lofty expectations and have an unrealistic endpoint as the motivation. However, by the beginning of February, most people have already thrown in the towel. The Ohio State University published an article with some staggering statistics. They cited that “only 9% of Americans that make resolutions complete them, 23% of people quit their resolution by the end of the first week, and 43% quit by the end of January.” If you are in this 43%, you are not alone! So it’s February 1, what to do now? ·          First – it’s not too late to start again! There is no law that says goals must run from 1/1-12/31. ·          Second – set a SMART goal to set yourself up for success. Example: *Failed New Year’s Resolution: ‘drink more water’ *New SMART goal: To incr...

 Is Ginger the Ultimate Health-spice?      Ginger is a spice that adds a fragrant zest to both sweet and savory foods. The spice of ginger comes from the root of Zingiber officinale, the ginger pant. This is what makes ginger ale, ginger tea, candies, and many asian dishes so appealing.      Ginger has a leafy stem and yellowish-green flowers. Ginger has been used for medicinal purposes in China for more than 2,500 years, and it has had a prominent role in Chinese, Indian, and Japanese medicine since the 1500s.       Studies have shown that ginger may be helpful for mild nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy. Gingerol, a natural component of ginger roots, benefits gastrointestinal motility - the rate at which foods exit the stomach and continues along the digestive process. Ginger contains antioxidants, which may help manage free radicals in the body. Ginger is possibly also an anti-inflammatory.      Ginger T...