Your Health Sense Blog

Looking for some gardening fun?

Kim Raubenheimer - Monday, June 28, 2010
Check out the Trustees Reservations for family fun this summer.

These Trustees offer children's gardens and family programs:

Weir River Farm, Hingham, MA
75 acre working farm.  You can visit a barnyard, volunteer in the market garden or check out the beautiful flowers that border the farm.

Appleton Farms, Ipswich and Hamilton, MA
1,000 acre working farm includes a 500 members community supported agricultural program.  You can take part in the Farm Field School and perform real farm work such as planting and harvesting the fields or meet the cows.

Long Hill, Beverly, MA
114 acre hillside farm, known for its gardens.  There is an apple orchard, children's garden and agricultural fields as well as a two acre organic vegetable farm run by the Food Project.   Check out the children's gardening workshops.

Boston Natural Areas Network Community Gardens (BNAN)
BNAN owns 40 gardens and helps coordinate activities related to all of the Boston area community and school gardens.  Community gardens are communally cultivated and cared for.

Powisset Farm, Dover, MA
110 acre farm includes 250 member community supported agriculture program.  Pick your own gardens or enjoy a picnic on the farm.

So get into the soil with some hands on experiences at any of the local farms listed. Dig in. Plant a seed.  Get dirty.

Berry picking time

Kim Raubenheimer - Thursday, June 24, 2010
Berries!  My favorite.  Nutritious and Delicious!
Berries are soon to be ready for picking at your local farms.

Here are a few sites that are helpful in finding pick your own farm and locally grown farms:

www.pickyourown.org
www.massfarmstands.com
www.farmfresh.org
www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/pick-your-own.htm

A favorite of mine is Tougas Family Farm in Northboro.
Call before you pick 508 393 6406.

Chocolate Milk Diet for Kids?

Kim Raubenheimer - Friday, June 18, 2010
I have been hearing a lot about the Chocolate Milk Diet lately.  I just read the suggestion for kids to be on the diet by nutrition expert David Zinczenk.  The diet for kids suggests individuals drink three 8-ounce glasses of chocolate milk each day.  Each bottle delivers a package of micro- and macronutrients that can help you shake off body flab and replace it with firm muscle.

What about non-flavored milk?  There is half the amount of sugar in it compared to chocolate milk.  An 8 ounce glass of chocolate milk has approximately 26 grams of sugar per serving compared to approximately 12 grams.  Kids could replace that extra sugar by eating something like a piece of fruit to get the benefits of fiber needed in their diet.

What do you think about the chocolate milk diet for kids?? 

P.S. And I don't like to use the word diet for kids.

Hold the salt

Kim Raubenheimer - Saturday, June 12, 2010
Sodium, sodium everywhere...sodium is in many products, especially processed and prepared foods. 
Just one teaspoon is approx 2,325 milligrams (mg) of sodium.  You are probably getting far more sodium than you need, the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for sodium intake are not to exceed 2,300 mg per day.  A lower recommendation, especially those with high blood pressure, kidney issues or sensitive to sodium should not exceed 1,500 mg.

Your body does need sodium to function efficiently.  It helsps maintain the balance of fluids in your body and influences muscle contraction and relaxation.  Your kidneys work hard to maintain the right balance of sodium for your body.

Too much sodium makes your heart work much harder.  Some people are more sensitive to sodium than others.

There are natural sources of sodium; which are not as high as processed and/or prepared; but they do add to your daily intake.  Celery, milk, meat, and shellfish.

Watch your condiments.

Read labels to know your sodium levels in products especially with processed and prepared foods.
Watch for words such as:
monosodium glutamate (msg)
baking soda
baking powder
disodium phosphate
sodium alginate
sodium nitrate or nitrite

Your taste buds will adjust as you start to cut down on any added salt.  Eat more fresh foods, use more fresh herbs to enhance flavors of foods.  Your body will thank you.

What do you use instead of salt to flavor your favorite meal?

red wine and green tea benefits

Kim Raubenheimer - Friday, June 11, 2010
A recent article in Science Daily states that scientists know why the polyphenols in red wine and green tea inhibit cancer growth.  Published in the FASEB journal online explains that the antioxidants in red wine and green tea produce a combined effect to disrupt and important cell signaling pathway necessary for prostate cancer growth. 

Of course as long as they are taken in moderation and not together.  As with anything, every thing in moderation.

Buy local, Farmer's Market Belmont, MA today

Kim Raubenheimer - Thursday, June 10, 2010
Come to Belmont, MA and check out the Farmer's Market which opens today Until October 28th.
Every Thursday, 1.30pm - 7pm.

LocationThe municipal parking lot in Belmont Center, at the intersection of Cross St. & Channing Rd., behind the stores on Leonard St.

Getting thereThe Market is near the MBTA commuter train & bus stops in Belmont Center. If you drive, observe parking regulations on the street and in the lot.

DatesThe Market is open on Thursdays, starting June 10, 2010.

HoursSpring and summer hours: 1:30 PM to 7:00 PM.

 

WeatherWe're open rain or shine (but not in violent storms).



http://www.belmontfarmersmarket.org/location-hours.html

Your health can bloom like your spring garden

Kim Raubenheimer - Sunday, June 06, 2010
Spring time, time to shed layers of clothes and perhaps some inches and body fat?  I recently wrote an article for the Belmont Citizen's Herald about some tips on how to work on your nutrition and fitness in a healthy way.

A bit of confusion on the High energy snacks/meals section...the choices below should be one or the other not all the foods listed for one snack...unless you plan to do a full day fitness activity and have plenty of time to digest before begin!

High-energy snacks/meals

Pre-workout snack  15 to 30 minutes, low fat yogurt, OR half a banana, OR diluted fruit juice, or graham crackers

Meal Two to three hours pre-workout, oatmeal with skim milk, OR slice of whole grain toast with 1 Tablespoon of natural peanut butter, OR whole grain pancakes with no sugar applesauce, or sweet potato with low fat cottage cheese

Post workout snack Low fat milk or soymilk (whole soy), OR half natural peanut butter and jelly (no HFCS) on whole grain bread, OR 1 ounce trail mix (unsalted nuts with dried fruit), or hard-boiled egg and piece of fruit.

These quickies will work until you have time for a full meal of complex carbs, lean protein and healthy fat.
See the link below to read the full article.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/belmont/news/lifestyle/health/x775079948/Your-health-can-bloom-like-your-spring-garden

Run for Cause - Brendan's Run 5K June 20,

Kim Raubenheimer - Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Come run or walk the 9th annual 3.1 mile race to benefit The Brendan Grant Foundation and Memorial Scholarships June 20th, Saturday.

 

9:30 am — 5K Charity Walk

9:30 am — 5K Charity Walk

10:00 am — 5K Road Race

10:05 am — 400/800m Races

 

 

 

Location: Belmont High School Track, Concord Avenue, Belmont, MA

Amenities: Commemorative T-shirts to first 500 entrants, age-group awards, refreshments, raffle prizes

 

 

Pre-registration - $15 before June 18 (All pre-registered entrants will be eligible for a special raffle drawing)

 

Post-entry - $20

Reply: The Brendan Grant Foundation PO Box 184 Belmont, MA 02478-0184 Attn: Race Director617/489-1514 homerun5k@excite.com www.brendangrant.org

 

 

 

 

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