Sugar Intake Impacts Alzheimer’s Risk

Posted on July 19, 2024 by Fill Your Plate

By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

 

For some people, there is nothing like having something sweet to finish off a meal. For others, they’d rather consume sugary snacks and beverages all day long. And then there’s a minority of people like me who don’t really care for sweet foods at all. Regardless of your sugar preferences, an interesting study recently published in JCI Insight found that our sugar intakes impact our Alzheimer’s risk.

The study found that increased blood sugar levels caused an increase in the amount of beta-amyloid in the brain. This subsequently increased the amount of amyloid plaque in the brain, which is a known contributing factor to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

Besides the higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s,  many other risks exist that come from regularly consuming a diet high in sugar. So, it’s important to monitor how much we are consuming in our daily diets, and to consider areas where we could cut back. Adding more fresh fruits to your diet is a great place to start!

Arizona agriculture grows lots of delicious fruits such as citrus, apples, peaches, apricots, plums, melons, and more! Check them out at your local farmer’s market or grocery store!

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Sweet Corn: A Nutritious Summer Staple!

Posted on July 15, 2024 by Fill Your Plate

By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

No summer is complete without having corn on the cob with at least a few meals. Luckily for us, getting fresh sweet corn is so easy here in Arizona, as we grow lots of it from as early as May to as late as September! Besides being incredibly delicious, corn offers some pretty great nutritional benefits as well!

One cup of sweet corn kernels, which is about the same as one large ear of corn has around 125 calories. It also offers a good amount of fiber, which is an important nutrient that many people don’t get enough of in their diets. Corn also is a good source of potassium which helps to regulate blood pressure. Additionally, it is also a good source of vitamins A and C, thiamine, and certain phytonutrients, and is high in antioxidants.

In addition to those nutritional facts about sweet corn, here are a few other fun facts about this amazing crop:

  • Sweet corn is the 3rd most important crop in the world
  • There is one strand of silk per kernel on an ear of corn
  • The average ear of corn has anywhere from 500 to 1000 kernels
  • There are many family farms here in Arizona that grow lots of sweet corn each year!

Since we grow so much sweet corn here in Arizona, its easy to get your hands on some of this delicious summer staple! For some great recipes that use sweet corn, or for more information on where to find locally grown sweet corn, check out all of the resources available on the Fill Your Plate website!

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Omega-3 Potential Benefit to Those with ALS

Posted on July 12, 2024 by Fill Your Plate

By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

 

A recent Drink One For Dane Event at Dutch Bros.

For the past two years, I’ve been working at a Dutch Bros coffee shop. One thing that is unique about Dutch Bros aside from its incredibly huge menu is that they frequently do “Give-Back Days” where a certain amount of money from each drink sold goes to a particular charity. The largest Give-Back Day that they do is called Drink One for Dane, in honor of one of the founders who died of the disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), formerly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. This neurological disorder affects motor neurons, the nerve cells in the brain, and the spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement and breathing.

On Dutch Bros Give Back Days, all of the money made at every stand within the company is donated to further the research for a cure for ALS.

As mentioned earlier, ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerves and spinal cord, reducing the ability to control muscle movements over time. Patients diagnosed with ALS typically don’t live very long following diagnosis. While a cure still has yet to be found, a recent study found that a greater blood concentration of omega-3 fatty acids was linked to a slower progression of ALS in patients afflicted with the disease. Specifically, of the patients observed, there were fewer deaths and less worsening of symptoms in those who consumed the most omega-3s compared to those who consumed the least.

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in foods such as walnuts, flaxseed, fish, pumpkin seeds, and canola oil to name a few. Fish oil supplements are also a good way to get more omega-3s in your body. In addition to the benefits that omega-3s have on ALS, they also benefit our health in many other ways. Check out the following articles from Fill Your Plate to read more!

 

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Mexican Cuisine is High in Phenolic Compounds

Posted on July 8, 2024 by Fill Your Plate

By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

Photo courtesy Chitokan via Pexels.

 Any time that we have family from out-of-state to visit us in Arizona, they typically always want to have Mexican food at least once while they are here. Usually, the reason is because Arizona is one of the few places where you can actually get amazing, authentic Mexican food!

Besides being incredibly delicious, did you know that Mexican foods and the common ingredients such as grains, spices, legumes, and vegetables used in this cuisine are high in phenolic compounds? These phenolic compounds are plant micronutrients that play a role in energy metabolism, have anti-inflammatory and antiallergic properties, and positively impact diseases such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases.

It’s important to note though that this doesn’t necessarily mean that all Mexican foods are healthy. For example, tortilla chips, deep-fried burritos, and quesadillas are still full of excess fats and simple carbs. But more traditional Mexican foods such as mole or rice, beans, and meats are definitely nutritious options.

So, enjoy your Mexican foods and all the phenolic compounds that they have to offer!

Check out the recipes page on the Fill Your Plate website for some healthy, delicious Mexican food ideas!

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The 6 to 1 Grocery Shopping Method

Posted on July 5, 2024 by Fill Your Plate

By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

Have you ever walked up to your fridge, opened the doors, and found only half a pickle, the little bit of leftovers from last night’s takeout, and about two ounces of milk left in the jug? While I’m no dietician or nutrition expert, I’d say that’s a pretty clear sign that it’s time for you to hit the grocery store for a re-stock! But sometimes grocery shopping isn’t always enjoyable, whether that be because of inflation and higher prices, the hassle of going out and actually doing the shopping, and then having to decide what and how much to get.

Photo Credit: Flickr.com

Luckily, there are different ways to approach grocery shopping to help save money and make the process smoother and easier. One method is called the 6 to 1 method, thought up by TV personality and chef Will Coleman.

The basics to the 6 to 1 method are listed below:

  • Only make 1 weekly trip to the store, or 2 if it’s for a big family.
  • Don’t go to the store with a predetermined list but do have meal ideas or inspiration in mind.
  • Buy the foods that sound good and that you actually want to eat.
  • Purchase 6 vegetables, 5 fruits, 4 proteins, 3 starches, 2 sauces, spreads, or seasonings, and 1 fun treat.

 

There are quite a few benefits to the 6 to 1 method.  The main benefit is that it takes into consideration 3 big factors when it comes to grocery shopping: Taste, price, and healthfulness. By having you buy only a certain amount of foods and having you only buy the foods that you’ll actually want to eat, you’ll be cutting down on overspending and food waste. Also, this approach to shopping and meal planning promotes eating all in moderation.

This is just one grocery shopping strategy that you can try out, many others exist as well too. The key is to find what works best for your budget, your family, your diet, and your schedule! Luckily, we have many more articles on Fill Your Plate about grocery shopping tips, and lots of healthy recipes!

 

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