Kent State Interns

I love documentaries. You can learn so much from them and there all kinds of topics to  choose from. I remember watching documentaries about food in high school, but now  it seems like they are popping up left and right. There are a decent amount of documentaries  now that talk about a plant based diet, keto, GMOs, and so on. Not only do viewers find these  documentaries to be informative, but they may also see them as influential. Some of my  friends have asked me after seeing certain documentaries if they should completely change their  diet. This makes me a little worried when people are gung ho to do a complete 180 of their  diet overnight.   It’s important to look at the facts first.  Was there a Registered Dietitian in the documentary at any point? What did he or she  have to say about the topic? If a dietitian didn’t appear at all, that raises concern for the  credibility since RDs are the experts of nu...

Recently, I have noticed more and more companies popping up to save fruits and vegetables  that grocery stores would otherwise discard, due to small blemishes and scrapes. With many of  these companies, there is not only a social and environmental impact, but a financial impact.  Dollars are being spent saving fruits and vegetables that would otherwise be thrown away,  which is better for our wallets and our environment.  In the Cleveland area, Perfectly Imperfect Produce allows customers to purchase a box , which  includes produce that the company sourced from local farms and vendors. You can select which one  fits your family size and lifestyle. They deliver it to your house, apartment, or office. In addition,  for every box you purchase, they donate produce to local food pantries.  On the East Coast, Hungry Harvest will buy a farmer’s produce no matter the size, shape, or  “beauty” of it. Like Perfectly Imperf...

There’s nothing like fresh rosemary, thyme and sage on roasted potatoes, fresh cilantro or  basil on tomatoes, or fresh mint infused with fruit to flavor water. Many people feel that  growing these plants can be challenging, but with the right care and planning, these herbs  pack abundant flavor in small amounts.  All herbs need three major things: sunshine, adequate soil, and not too much water. In particular,  rosemary, lavender, and thyme thrive in hot, dry climates, so only using water occasionally will help  them grow. Parsley, basil, rosemary, thyme, cilantro, mint, and sage are probably the easiest herbs  to grow and produce the most when planted or placed strategically by one another.  Herbs are great for cooking, but also great for creating teas and salves. If you are feeling a sore  throat coming on or need a good home remedy for an itch, usually mint leaves or sage leaves can  do the trick.  https:...

I read an article recently that mentioned the grocery chain, Kroger testing out a new program in which  physicians can write food prescriptions for their patients. At that point, the patient would take that  prescription to have an appointment with one of the Kroger dietitians at a Kroger store, taking a  grocery store tour, looking at products, discussing cooking tips, and ultimately, tailoring the patient’s  prescription around their lifestyle, budget, and their skill level based on cooking.  Mainly, Kroger is focused on diabetes patients, but eventually hopes to expand to cancer and heart  disease. They may even look to explore how grocery delivery could utilize food prescriptions and  deliver the items to patients who may not be able to come and pickup their groceries, due to illness.  A big part of Kroger’s message in this  food prescription programming is prevention: rather than  treating an existing illness o...

Should you peel your fruits and vegetables? Are there health benefits of eating the peel, rind, skin, etc. of fruits? The biggest question is HOW?! All parts of most fruit and veggies are edible and full of nutrients. YES, you can eat the fuzzy skin of a kiwi, watermelon rind, orange and banana peels, mango peel, potato skin, and even more vegetable skins! Others including pineapple, melon, onions, avocado, are often hard to chew and digest, but if cooked properly it can be beneficial to consume. Some are best when not consumed raw including squash and pumpkin seeds so the peels can become soft. Some peels contain pesticides so be sure to wash well if you’re planning on eating the outer part. The additional part of fruit that people don’t usually eat are full of nutrients including extra fiber vitamin A, K, C, calcium, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, antioxidants and potassium.  Fiber will help to keep you fuller longer, decreasing appetite by slowing down the absorption ...

We’ve all been there.. It’s now around 3pm and lunch has long passed, yet it’s still too early for dinner. But here you are, sitting at work STARVING . What can you do? Well, here’s an easy way to fight those sugar cravings and consume a wholesome, nutrient-packed snack!  Before I share the recipe, let’s talk about the ingredients.  Peanut butter: Nearly 80% of the fat in peanut butter is monounsaturated fat, making it a decent healthy fat source. In addition, peanut butter can be a great choice for a plant-based protein, containing roughly 8 grams per 2 tablespoons. Although peanut butter is a high calorie food, research suggests that individuals who regularly include nuts or nut butters into their daily diet are less likely to develop heart disease or type 2 diabetes than those who rarely eat nuts. Oats: Oats are a naturally gluten-free whole grain and contain a powerful source of fiber, called beta-glucan. Beta-glucan may help to lower blood sugar l...

Feed the Skin Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and it is very difficult to hide from the world. It is the body’s first line of defense from bacteria and pathogens. The skin reflects what is going inside of the body and any imbalances and can be indicative of internal inflammation. Common skin conditions that may be caused by a poor diet include dry, flaky skin, acne, dull-appearing, and premature lines and wrinkles. Many times, when people feel at their best, their skin will glow and look youthful and clear. There are many factors that can affect skin health including sleep, alcohol, hygiene, sun care, smoking, and nutrition. Eating a balanced diet can help prevent skin concerns and can keep the skin healthy. The skin naturally shows what the body needs and the necessary nutrients. So, if you are lacking specific nutrients in your diet, it is very likely that your skin will start to show this by being discolored in certain spots and very dry. There are specific...

With the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, people are seeking for preventative methods. The CDC (Centers of Disease Control and Prevention) gave a lot of good recommendations to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus ( click here to access the prevention & treatment page from CDC). On top of following the recommended precautions, it is also important to strengthen your immune system which not only can protect you from seasonal illnesses such as the coronavirus, but also can protect you from allergies, arthritis, and other health problems. Here are some of the important nutrients that can help boosting your immune system.   Protein plays a role in healing and recovery. The protein requirement for people with no illness is 0.8-1.0 grams/kg body weight, which is about 48-60 grams of protein for a person weighing 132 pounds. Some protein sources include animal and plant sources. Make sure to cook animal products thoroughly to make sure that the unwanted bacteria are killed. S...

Unfortunately, it’s that time of the year where many individuals are getting sick and coming down with a cold and/or flu. Of course consistent handwashing, adequate sleep, and a balanced diet with regular exercise are great ways to stay healthy-- but what else can you do? Try boosting your immune system with elderberries! Elderberries are not native to the United States, so you won’t find them anywhere near you, but you can order them online or purchase a pre-made syrup. When purchasing online, ensure that the elderberries are from the species Sambucus nigra, as this is the type that’s most common and has been used for research. Elderberry syrup is made from a dark purple berry that comes from the European elder tree. Elderberries are one of the most commonly used medicinal plants in the world and have been used for centuries to make medicine. In the past, Native Americans used elderberries to treat infections and Egyptians used them to heal burns. Today, elderberry is most ...

Dietary fiber is a component in food that serves an important role in overall health. Fiber is classified as a carbohydrate, however, our bodies can’t digest fiber the same way carbs gets digested in the body. Instead, fiber passes though the intestine and absorbs water. The fiber helps to form the stool so the muscles in the small intestine can push waste out of the body to help prevent constipation from occurring. For this blog post, we are going to focus on soluble fiber and it role to prevent cardiovascular disease. Soluble fiber Soluble means “dissolves in water” to form a gel-like material. Fiber in this category includes whole grain cereals, whole grain crackers, and oatmeal etc.   This type of fiber is important for heart heath due to its interaction with cholesterol. Cholesterol is an important role in the body to… 1. Helps to regulate hormones, 2. Produce vitamin D and bile , 3. Helps to build the structure of cell membranes.   Our bodies natura...