Kent State Interns

     Around the holidays, peppermint flavor is one of the most popular flavors you'll see being used in all sorts of foods and drinks. A common use for it is additional flavoring in coffee around Christmas time.  I personally like to add it to my hot chocolate. But did you know peppermint can be a natural healing agent, along with adding a yummy flavor to foods and drinks?      Peppermint leaves and extracts are also commonly used in teas and essential oils. Peppermint can provide a very beneficial home remedy to a wide variety of health problems. Although, peppermint tea has not been deeply studied with each of these remedies, peppermint leaves and extract have been studied and have shown these benefits, so it is thought that peppermint tea can also provide the same effect.      Digestive Symptoms : Peppermint may be used to relieve gas, bloating, and indigestion. Studies have shown that it can relax your muscles and prevent them from ...

Many people have disordered eating tendencies and don’t even realize it. Disordered eating can affect individuals of any gender, race, age, and body type. In today’s society we are bombarded with influencers, TV, radio, magazines, and other media outlets telling us how, what, and when to eat. These normalized behaviors can be dangerous. They take away from our primal drive to eat and can lead to serious mental and physical health consequences such as eating disorders, obesity, bone loss, gastrointestinal disturbances, electrolyte and fluid imbalances, low heart rate and blood pressure, increased anxiety, and social isolation. Although it is great to want to provide the best nutrients to your body, it becomes a concern at a certain point.  So what exactly is disordered eating? Disordered eating is described as an irregular eating pattern that does not specifically fit an eating disorder diagnosis such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, orthorexia, and Eatin...

What are the reasons people choose to consume a plant-based beverage over cow’s milk? Many people have lactose intolerance or self-proclaimed lactose intolerance. Some have an actual milk allergy. Some believe that plant-based beverages are healthier. Many are following a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle and prefer not to consume cow’s milk. Then there are people with ethical concerns for the production of cow’s milk. No matter what the reason, more people than ever are reaching for the soy, almond, coconut, hemp, pea, cashew, and rice beverages.  Why am I calling them plant-based beverages vs milks? Well, technically, the FDA defines milk as “the lacteal secretion… from the complete milking of one or more healthy cows… and shall not contain less than 8 ¼ percent milk solids” Plant-based beverages are not nutritionally the same as cow’s milk. Even within themselves, all plant-based beverages are not nutritionally the same. Almond beverage from one company may contain more protein or c...

Vitamin D and Northeast Ohio As fall comes to a close and winter begins in Ohio, sunshine starts to become a commodity. Cloudy, gray skies and bone chilling cold leave us feeling like we haven’t seen the sun for weeks. And unfortunately, the majority of Vitamin D in our bodies comes from sun exposure. In addition, Northeast Ohio falls near 40 o  latitude meaning that no vitamin D synthesis occurs from the sun during the winter even if you do go out into the sun. Fortunately, there are some steps we can take to prevent Vitamin D deficiency during these winter months.    The recommended daily allowance for vitamin D is 15 mcg/d or 600 IU for ages 1-70. By meeting the recommended daily amount of Vitamin D we can reduce our risk for depression, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and more! You may be wondering if a Vitamin D supplement is right for you. First consider your diet, how many vitamin D sources do you consume?   Vitamin D dietary sources:  ...

                                                                                                                                                        

With consumers eating only one-third of the recommended amount of seafood, it’s obvious that American’s aren’t enjoying the hundreds of seafood varieties we have available! This could be the cause of American’s not meeting their omega-3 fatty acid recommendations.   Seafood Recommendations by Stage of Life Children:  Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for a developing brain, nervous system, and vision. ·        2 – 3 years of age: 1 – 2 oz per week ·        4 – 7 years of age: 2 – 4 oz per week ·        8 – 10 years of age: 3 – 6 oz per week ·        11+ years of age: 4 – 8 oz per week   Women of Child-Bearing Age: Omega-3’s are essential for fetal development; therefore, seafood recommendations are increased during this stage of life. ·        8 – 12 oz per week   Adults: Consuming adequate seafood each w...

  Buddy the Elf said it best: “We elves try to stick to the four main food groups – candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup". As the holiday season approaches and candy fills our cabinets, it’s hard to not feel like we’re following the diet of an elf at times. What would Thanksgiving and Christmas be, after all, without pies, cookies, and cakes? Fortunately, there are ways to stay healthy during the holidays that don’t involve skipping out on all the delicious treats. Sugar is the most simple (and loved) carbohydrate in our diets, and it shows. Within the United States, adults are consuming far more added sugar than what is recommended. When this sugar enters our bodies, it works fast to spike blood glucose levels. Worse yet, overconsuming this food long-term can increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2  diabetes. But it’s not all bad! Every  cell in the human body runs on sugar. Yes, sugar. While our bodies can use a combination of energy ...

  When was the last time you thought about water? I mean, honestly, when was the last time you gave the most important resource on the planet any consideration? My guess is that it’s been a long time since you have. Water is the most essential ‘nutrient’ for humans – one that we cannot go more than a few days without. We can last the better part of a month or more without food, and the macro and micronutrients it provides, but the same is not true for water. So, why is it that most people seemingly forget about this vital, all-important nutrient? Why do we hear everyone talking about “diets”, “protein”, “fats”, “carbohydrates”, “supplements”, and every other nutrition term under the sun, yet we do not hear people speak of water and its benefits? My guess is as good as yours. Be that as it may, water should be brought back to the forefront of the nutrition and health discussion. Water is the basis for life on this planet and the basis for health within humans. Our bodie...

  Charcuterie Boards: How to Make eating Healthy Fun Charcuterie boards can be a really fun and easy way to feed a crowd or yourself in any season! I personally love to make them when I am busy and do not want to cook. How I prepare my charcuterie boards is a mix of fresh and dried fruits, vegetables, nuts, dips, crackers, cheese, and sometimes deli meats! It can be fancy and elegant by using fruits like figs and dried apricots paired with aged cheeses or it could be simply made with cut produce or foods found in your fridge and pantry!    Staples on my boards are sliced cucumbers, black olives, apple slices, and whole grain crackers. When available, I add honey, jam, summer sausage, goat cheese, cheddar cheese, almonds, pecans and many more things! It is fun to cut the fruits and vegetables into bite sized pieces and arrange them in a pretty way. It is such an easy way to encourage fruit and vegetable consumption! Pairing salty cheeses and fruits are fantastic and ma...