Friday, June 26, 2009
The Milk Myth
A recent study claims that young adults are not drinking enough milk -- that is, if you read what the media reports. But if you really read the study according to the lead author Nicole Larson, it's calcium they're lacking. The words "milk" and "calcium" are often used interchangeably in the popular press. But while milk is a calcium source, no standard other than that of the National Dairy Council considers it the best calcium source.
The suggestion that you need to drink three glasses of the secretion of a cow's mammary glands in order to be healthy is a bit outrageous and doesn't fit the human evolutionary profile. In fact, most humans around the world cannot easily digest cow milk.
Yogurt has more calcium than milk and is easier to digest. Collards and other greens also have about as much or more calcium than milk by the cup. Greens, unlike milk, have the added benefit of vitamin K, also necessary for strong bones. Sesame is also very high in calcium.
When you measure calcium by cup of food product, milk is high on the list. When you view it by calorie, though, milk is at the bottom. A hundred calories of turnip greens have over three times as much calcium as 100 calories of whole milk.
Labels: calcium, Collard Greens, cows, eating healthy, green leafy vegetables, Green veggies, healthy food, milk, sesame seeds, turnip greens
Monday, June 02, 2008
Easy Resume for A Sesame Snack Bar....YUM!
Prep and Cook Time: 10 minutes Ingredients:
- 1 cup walnuts
- ½ cup sesame seeds
- 1½ cups pitted dates
- 1½ cups raisins
- 1/8 tsp salt
Directions:
- Pulse all ingredients in food processor until mixture holds together when pressed.
- Press mixture into 9inch square pan, and chill. Cut into squares to serve.
Labels: easy recipe, eating healthy, healthy snacks, sesame seeds
Thursday, February 14, 2008
This Little Seed Packs a Big Punch!
Not only are sesame seeds a very good source of manganese and copper, but they are also a good source of calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, vitamin B1, zinc and dietary fiber. In addition to these important nutrients, sesame seeds contain two unique substances: sesamin and sesamolin. Both of these substances belong to a group of special beneficial fibers called lignans, and have been shown to have a cholesterol-lowering effect in humans, and to prevent high blood pressure and increase vitamin E supplies in animals. Sesamin has also been found to protect the liver from oxidative damage.
Labels: copper, healthy diet, lignans, sesame seeds
