Renee Slabic| Special to the Erie Times-News
Eating a hot dog takes 36 minutes off your 'healthy' life
A new study from the University of Michigan suggests that eating a hot dog can take 36 minutes off your healthy life. Researchers ranked more than 5,800 foods by how much they affect a persons healthiness.
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There are many strategies one can adopt when it comes to healthful eating. One of the best involves including something called "functional foods" in our daily meal plan.
Functional foods, also known as nutraceuticals, can help your body in numerous ways, including preventing cancer and reducing cholesterol.
All foods are functional in that they provide nutrition, but true functional foods are minimally processed foods that have a potentially positive effect on health beyond basic nutrition, such as foods fortified with vitamins, probiotics, fiber and minerals.
The concept of functional foods originated in Japan in the 1980s, when the Japanese government created a list of foods that offer health benefits greater than simply providing nutrition.
To truly benefit you, these foods must be consumed on a regular basis in conjunction with an overall healthful diet.
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Here are some examples of functional foods:
Unsalted Nuts: These provide a crunchy, delicious snack, fill up your bellyand are a great source of magnesium, which can help lower blood pressure.
Whole grains: Whole barley, farro and buckwheat offer a variety of health benefits, including dietary fiber. And oatmeal, with its beta glucan, has been shown to reduce inflammation, enhance immune function and improve heart health.
Beans: A good source of dietary fiber and potassium, folate and protein, beans are an excellent functional food. If you select canned beans, either buy the no salt added brands or make sure to rinse and drain your beans before eating them.
Fish: Fatty fish, such as salmon, herring, trout and sardines, are some of the best functional foods you can choose, offering higher amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which help lower the risk of heart disease and improve the health of infants when mothers consume them while pregnant and breastfeeding. About 8ounces of seafood weekly is recommended for adults.
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Berries: Delicious and refreshing, berries are an excellent source of functional foods. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and cranberries provide anthocyanin pigments that provide numerous health benefits and they are low in calories.Fresh berries are always best, but canned are better than none at all.
If you want to keep your family healthier, focus on planning your daily menus with a variety of functional foods and be sure to prepare them in a healthy manner, avoiding fats and excess carbohydrates.
Renee Slabicis a registered dietitian at Saint Vincent Hospital.
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Renee Slabic: Add 'functional foods' to your diet for positive effects beyond nutrition - GoErie.com
