Organic Archives - Sensory Nutrition

Farmers Markets Can Provide a Rainbow of Color (Food, Nutrition and Prostate Cancer)

Warmer weather usually means more rain storms and thus the potential for more rainbows as well. Virtually all of us should be aiming to consume a “Rainbow of Color” from nature’s color wheel when it comes to fruits & veggies. There are many health benefits associated with the colors of the rainbow nature so graciously provides, and particularly for those discussing prostate cancer prevention, incidence & progression, treatment, and survivorship as noted in the 4 part series we started late last month and will be continuing with this month. Beyond their beneficial vitamin content, consider the rich antioxidant & anti-inflammatory content of

The Skinny on Tomatoes, Including the Tomato Genome

Tomatoes qualify as a very popular non-starchy “vegetable” (even if they are botanically a “fruit” per se) based on per capita consumption in the USA, second only to potatoes. Year 2005 data from USDA noted tomato consumption from various sources, including primarily canned & frozen, as well as some fresh, to be close to 100# of farm weight/per person/per year. The next closest non-starchy vegetable category item, carrots, was noted to have consumption levels at just above 10# of farm weight/per person/per yr. (Different Tomatoes 2 graphic courtesy of salsachica at rgbstock.com) What contributes to the wild popularity of tomato

Anti-Inflammatory Food Item Sources

We’ve discussed the importance of eating food choices from the “rainbow of color” options out there, but some readers wrote in asking for even more specifics than we have previously listed in various blog posts. Although within the US we have moved from using a model of a food guide pyramid to using a model of a plate to encourage healthful choices in dining, there are still some useful pyramid options out there. (Fresh Produce on Display in Taormina, Sicily, Italy, graphic courtesy of Betty H) The “Mediterranean Diet” (general Mediterranean style dietary intake as part of a total lifestyle)

Seasonal Fruit and Vegetable Guides (USA)

It’s summertime around the USA. That means a plethora of fresh herbs, vegetables and also some fresh fruits for consumers to enjoy can be found in various Farmer Markets, State & local Fairs, road side stands, community & backyard & sideyard vegetable gardens, grocery stores, convenience stores including bodegas, as well as push carts, food trucks, etc. In certain instances even area food banks and food pantries are lucky enough to receive some of nature’s abundance to be shared with others. How can you find out what produce options will be available in your locale during any given month? (Image

Celebrity Chefs Echoing Food Portion of RD Food & Nutrition Messages

Fame. It influences people, whether members of the public are willing to admit that or not. Fame allows others to get their message out and have the opportunity for it to possibly be heard. RDs have been trying to convince people for decades that taking “small steps” when it comes to eating real food and changing food buying, storage, preparation and eating patterns do matter–that they can really make a HUGE collective difference in people’s lives when all those small steps are added together. Yet many people have simply either ignored/tuned out the RDs in far too many instances, or

Farmers Markets, USDA, and You

Ah, spring time is in the air in some parts of the country. Spring time makes us think of existing or upcoming Farmers Markets and their wonderful, fresh, local bounty that is available to any & all consumers willing to make the extra effort to shop there. (Photo of flowering peach tree courtesy of Berenika at rgbstock.com) The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) though its Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has a website for its USDA AMS Farmers Market awareness program. USDA would like to make it easier for those living in the USA to shop in Farmers Markets.