test

 

National Caramel Popcorn Day

National Caramel Popcorn Day

Caramel corn or caramel popcorn is a confection made of popcorn coated with a sugar or molasses based caramel candy shell. Typically a sugar solution or syrup is made and heated until it browns and becomes thick, producing a caramelized candy syrup.

How to make Caramel Popcorn

In The Kitchen With Kate

 

National Puppy Day Health Benefits

Studies have found that:
• Pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets.
• People with pets have lower blood pressure in stressful situations than those without pets.
• Playing with a pet can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax.
• Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than those without pets.
• Heart attack patients with pets survive longer than those without.
• Pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to their doctors than those without pets.

Caring for a pet can help with those healthy lifestyle changes by:

• Increasing exercise. Exercise doesn’t have to involve boring repetition at a gym. Taking a dog for a walk, riding a horse, or simply chasing a kitten around are fun ways to fit healthy daily exercise into your schedule.

• Providing companionship. Isolation and loneliness can make disorders such as depression even worse. Caring for a living animal can help make you feel needed and wanted, and take the focus away from your problems. Most pet owners talk to their pets, some even use them to work through their troubles.

• Helping meet new people. Pets can be a great social lubricant for their owners. Dog owners frequently stop and talk to each other on walks or in a dog park. Pet owners also meet new people in pet stores, clubs, and training classes.
• Reducing anxiety. The companionship of a dog can offer comfort, help ease anxiety, and build self-confidence for people anxious about going out into the world.
• Adding structure and routine to your day. Many pets, especially dogs, require a regular feeding and exercise schedule. No matter your mood—depressed, anxious, or stressed—you’ll always have to get out of bed to feed, exercise, and care for your pet.
• Providing sensory stress relief. Touch and movement are two healthy ways to quickly manage stress. This could involve petting a cat or taking a dog for a walk.

Pets and older adults
The key to aging well is to effectively handle life’s major changes, such as retirement, the loss of loved ones, and the physical changes of aging. Pets can play an important role in healthy aging by:
• Helping you find meaning and joy in life. As you age, you’ll lose things that previously occupied your time and gave your life purpose. You may retire from your career or your children may move far away. Caring for a pet can bring pleasure and help boost your morale and optimism. Taking care of an animal can also provide a sense of self-worth.
• Staying connected. Maintaining a social network isn’t always easy as you grow older. Retirement, illness, death, and moves can take away close friends and family members. And making new friends can get harder. Dogs especially are a great way for seniors to spark up conversations and meet new people.
• Boosting vitality. You can overcome many of the physical challenges associated with aging by taking good care of yourself. Pets encourage playfulness, laughter, and exercise, which can help boost your immune system and increase your energy.

Resources and References

American Humane Association

5 Ways Pets Can Improve Your Health

Chip and Dip Day - Looking for healthy alternatives for chips?

Resources
1. Cooking Light, Healthy Dips  
2. Lauren Swann, Pinterest: Healthy Chip Board on Pinterest
3. Lauren Swann, Pinterest: Healthy Dips board

Exploring the World of Flour: A Comprehensive Guide

Navigating the diverse landscape of flour can transform your baking adventures, offering a spectrum of textures, flavors, and nutritional profiles. This guide will illuminate the essentials, enabling you to master the baking aisle with confidence.

Flour, a staple in baking, is the fine powder obtained by grinding dry grains. While wheat flour dominates the market, flour can also be made from grains like rice, oats, corn, and barley, each with unique qualities.

 

Understanding Flour Components

 The characteristics of flour largely depend on the grain used and the specific parts of the grain retained during milling, which can include the endosperm, bran, and germ:

Endosperm: This is the starchy heart of the grain, providing carbohydrates, proteins, and a hint of oil. Refined flours mainly comprise this component, offering a simple, versatile base for various recipes.

Bran: The grain's outer layer, bran enriches flour with texture, color, and dietary fiber, contributing to the wholesome quality of whole grain flour.

Germ: The nutrient-packed core of the grain, the germ infuses flour with vitamins, minerals, and fiber, enhancing its nutritional value.

Gluten: Found in wheat's endosperm, gluten is a protein that adds elasticity and strength to dough. It is essential for the texture of bread, pasta, and other foods.

Flour Varieties at a Glance 

All-Purpose Flour: A jack-of-all-trades in the kitchen, made from wheat endosperm and often enriched to replace lost nutrients. It balances protein and starch, and it is suitable for various baked goods.

Unbleached Flour: Mirrors are all-purpose in their uses but retain their natural color, appealing to those who prefer minimal processing.

Bread Flour: Boasts a higher protein content, ideal for robust doughs that rise beautifully, resulting in chewy, structured bread.

Cake Flour: With lower protein and a finer texture, cake flour is the secret to tender, airy cakes.

Pastry Flour: Nestled between all-purpose and cake flour, pastry flour is your go-to for flaky crusts and light, crumbly pastries.

Self-Rising Flour: This convenient blend of all-purpose flour, salt, and leavening agents is perfect for quick breads and biscuits.

Whole Wheat Flour: This flour incorporates the wheat grain, richer in nutrients and fiber and offers a heartier texture and flavor.

Stone Ground Flour: A variant of whole wheat with a coarser grind, adding a rustic touch to your bakes.

Semolina: Made from durum wheat, this high-protein flour is the backbone of many pasta varieties and is known for its dense, chewy texture.

Rice Flour: A gluten-free option derived from rice grains, available in white and whole grain versions, favored for its light texture.

Masa Harina: A traditional flour made from lime-treated corn, essential for authentic tortillas, tamales, and other Latin American dishes.

Armed with this knowledge, you're set to explore the rich world of flours, each with its unique qualities to enhance your baking repertoire.

MyPlate - Make at least Half of your Grains Whole Grains

MyPlate - Grain Food Group

Grains of Goodness: Exploring the World of Whole Grains

What foods are in the Grains Group?

Important Nutrients from the Grain Group

Recipe: Quinoa Breakfast Bowl. This savory one-dish whole-grain meal is crowned with a soft-boiled egg. #CookingLight

10 Tips to Help You Eat More Whole Grains

Any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, or another cereal grain is a grain product. Bread, pasta, oatmeal, breakfast cereals, tortillas, and grits are examples. Grains are divided into two subgroups, whole grains, and refined grains. Whole grains contain the entire grain kernel — the bran, germ, and endosperm. People who eat whole grains as part of a healthy diet have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases.

Make simple switches
To make half your grains whole grains, substitute a whole-grain product for a refined-grain product. For example, eat 100% whole-wheat bread or bagels instead of white bread or bagels, or brown rice instead of white rice.

Whole grains can be healthy snacks
Popcorn, a whole grain, can be a healthy snack. Make it with little or no added salt or butter. Also, try 100% whole-wheat or rye crackers.

Save some time
Cook extra brown rice or whole-wheat pasta when you have time. Refrigerate half to heat and serve later in the week as a quick side dish.

Mix it up with whole grains
Use whole grains in mixed dishes, such as barley in vegetable soups or stews and bulgur wheat in casseroles or stir-fries. Try a quinoa salad or pilaf.

Try whole-wheat versions
For a change, try brown rice or whole-wheat pasta. Try brown rice stuffing in baked green peppers or tomatoes, and whole-wheat macaroni in macaroni and cheese.

Bake up some whole-grain goodness
Experiment by substituting buckwheat, millet, or oat flour for up to half of the flour in your favorite pancake or waffle recipes. To limit saturated fat and added sugars, top with fruit instead of butter and syrup.

Be a good role model for children
Set a good example for children by serving and eating whole grains every day with meals or as snacks.

Check the label for fiber
Use the Nutrition Facts label to check the fiber content of whole-grain foods. Good sources of fiber contain 10% to 19% of the Daily Value; excellent sources contain 20% or more.

Know what to look for on the ingredients list
Read the ingredients list and choose products that name a whole-grain ingredient first on the list. Look for “whole wheat,” “brown rice,” “bulgur,” “buckwheat,” “oatmeal,” “whole-grain cornmeal,” “whole oats,” or “whole rye.”

Be a smart shopper
The color of food is not an indication that it is a whole-grain food. Foods labeled as “multi-grain,” “stone-ground,” “100% wheat,” “cracked wheat,” “seven-grain,” or “bran” are usually not 100% whole-grain products, and may not contain any whole grain.

Striking the Balance: Protein Intake in Kidney Disease

What is a kidney-friendly diet & how can you start today?

The Cooking Doc, Blake Shusterman, MD

I'm truly inspired by Dr. Blake Shusterman, and I think you will be too. His compassionate approach as a physician extends beyond patient care to emphasize the importance of healthy eating. Dr. Shusterman's website, The Cooking Doc, is a valuable resource for kidney-friendly cooking. Discover a range of kidney-healthy recipes and tips at The Cooking Doc - Kidney-Healthy Cooking.

Navigating the complexities of kidney disease demands a nuanced understanding of nutrition, particularly when it comes to protein. This vital nutrient is critical in building muscle, repairing tissue, and bolstering the immune system. However, for individuals grappling with kidney disease, the stakes are different, and the approach to protein intake needs careful consideration.

The Protein Paradigm in Kidney Health

For those with kidney disease, the balance of protein consumption is a delicate dance. The impaired kidneys face challenges in eliminating waste products from protein metabolism. Excess protein can exacerbate this issue, accumulating waste in the blood, a condition detrimental to health. Yet, the narrative doesn't endorse a minimal protein diet. An insufficient protein intake harbors its own complications, potentially undermining muscle maintenance, tissue repair, and immune defense.

The key lies in customization. The optimal protein intake for an individual with kidney disease hinges on several factors:

• Body Size: Larger body sizes may necessitate a higher protein intake to support bodily functions.
• Nature of Kidney Disease: The type and severity of kidney impairment can influence protein requirements.
• Proteinuria: The presence and quantity of protein in urine, a common occurrence in kidney disease, also guide dietary adjustments.

Crafting Your Protein Plan

Collaborating with a dietitian or healthcare provider is essential. They can offer a tailored protein recommendation that aligns with your unique health profile and dietary needs. This personalized approach ensures you receive adequate protein to support your body's needs without overburdening your kidneys.

Conclusion: Navigating Nutrition with Kidney Disease

Living with kidney disease requires a thoughtful approach to dietary protein. The goal is maintaining the body's necessary functions without exacerbating kidney damage. By understanding the critical balance of protein intake and collaborating with healthcare professionals, individuals with kidney disease can manage their condition more effectively. The journey might be complex, but with the right knowledge and support, achieving nutritional balance and safeguarding kidney health is within reach.