Nutrition Q&A: So what does “Natural” really signify?
Q. I see the word “Natural” on so many products. What does this mean? A. Natural somewhere! Many breast cancer survivors develop an interest in how nutrition can help their overall health and are curious about nutritional terms like organic and natural. Over the past several years the word “Natural” has become a common term on many food and beverage labels. “Natural” Peanut butter, “natural” fruit flavor, “naturally” lite, and “made with “natural” ingredients. Seeing the word “natural” on a food label leads consumers to believe that these foods are a better choice or even healthier for us than foods that lack the term. The simple truth is, the word “natural” is not a regulated term. There is no formal definition of the word natural by either the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or U.S. Department of Agriculture. With no regulations on the term, the food industry can label a food as being “natural” even if just one of its ingredients comes from a natural source. So for instance, a product can be labeled “natural” and still be made with partially hydrogenated soybean oil, Yellow 6, Red 40 and so on, and we all know there is “nothing” natural about those ingredients. The bottom line is ‘buyer beware’ when it comes to foods labeled as “Natural”. Take such claims with a grain of salt. Always read the ingredient list on the food label to help you determine how “natural” the product really is. Until the term “natural” is better defined and regulated, aim for whole fruits and vegetables, minimally processed grains and healthy fats.
Shop and Support TurningPoint with Kroger Community Rewards
There is a new and easy way to support TurningPoint with your grocery shopping through Kroger Community Rewards. TurningPoint is now part of the Kroger Community Rewards Program. You can support TurningPoint’s mission by shopping at Kroger and a percentage of your purchases will be donated to TurningPoint. Kroger Community Rewards makes it easy to contribute to TurningPoint’s mission…all you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Plus Card! Kroger shoppers must re-enroll each year in the community rewards program by registering their Kroger Plus Card with their preferred nonprofit organization–TurningPoint! Now is the time to enroll as September 1st begins a new year for Kroger. Please encourage your family, friends, and neighbors to register their Kroger cards with TurningPoint. It is one of the easiest ways to help TurningPoint thrive. Go to www.kroger.com/communityrewards Register your Kroger Plus Card and create an online account. In your Account Summary, located in Account Settings, scroll down to select the “Community Rewards” tab. Enter “TurningPoint” or NPO number 69715, select, and confirm.
Shop and Support TurningPoint with Amazon Smile
There is a new and easy way to support TurningPoint with your on-line shopping through Amazon Smile. Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice – TurningPoint! AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service. Support TurningPoint by shopping Amazon Smile here. If you don’t have this link, start off at Amazon Smile, search for ‘TurningPoint’ (one word, no space) and select us for your Amazon account. Then you are set to add contributions to our organization every time you shop. (Note: You must begin your shopping at Amazon Smile and not regular Amazon.) Spread the word and let your friends know how they too can support TurningPoint with Amazon Smile.
Nutrition Q&A: Nutrient rich Hemp seeds
Q. Can I really eat Hemp? How can something used for weaving baskets be healthy for me and is it safe for breast cancer patients/survivors? A. I’m with you. I’ll be honest, baskets are the first thing that comes to mind when I hear the word hemp. Never in a million years would I have imagined I’d recommend hemp as a means for additional protein. Hemp has gained popularity in the nutrition world because of its high protein content, and to answer your question, yes it’s safe for breast cancer patients and survivors. During treatment I recommend hemp to my breast cancer patients to help them meet their increased protein needs, and for my survivors I recommend it as a “non- meat” alternative to a healthy diet. The American Institute for Cancer Research recommends keeping red meat consumption to 18 ounces (or less) per week as part of a healthy cancer prevention diet. The guidelines hold true for decreased recurrence as well. With that being said, my patients at TurningPoint are often times at a quandary as to how they will meet protein needs if they eliminate red meat from their diet. Hemp is an ideal way to meet those needs and ideal for those following a vegan lifestyle. To answer your initial question, yes you can eat hemp. Hemp seeds, also known as hemp hearts, are the edible portion of the same hemp plant known for the durable fiber used to make baskets. Hemp seeds are high in protein and are an excellent source of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. They also provide fiber, zinc, magnesium, vitamin A and iron. Hemp seeds are easily digested and relatively low in calories. They are great additions to salads, soups, or even oatmeal. One tablespoon of hemp seeds contains 40 calories, 152 mg. of potassium, 2.3 grams of carbohydrates, 1.6 grams of fiber and 5.3 grams of protein along with 13% of your daily need for iron and about 8% of your daily dose of vitamin A, https://www.pharmacybc.com/valium-diazepam/. Hemp protein powders are gaining popularity especially for those vegans desiring to incorporate more protein in their diet. The protein found in Hemp is considered to be complete protein, meaning it contains all 9 essential amino acids. Hemp protein comes from grinding the tiny, nutrient-rich seeds. The unique thing about Hemp protein powders (compared to whey and soy) is that hemp protein powders contain fiber whereas the others don’t. One tablespoon (a serving size is generally 3 tablespoons) of hemp protein contains 2.6 grams of fiber, 5 grams of protein and only 30 calories. You can use hemp protein the same way you use any other protein powder. For the best texture, mix the powder with your choice of milk in the blender. There are also other great products available using hemp, such as hemp milk, ground hemp flour, hemp oil, and even hemp ice cream for the vegan in the house.
