What would the Fourth of July be without a picnic, possibly with a big family-and-friends cookout, topped off at dusk with celebratory fireworks? Your concierge family practice doctors at MD 2.0 in Jupiter, Florida, want you to have a happy holiday. We also want you to be safe, which is why we decided this would be a good time to review firework safety basics.
Since the 1960s, health proponents around the world — and especially in the U.S. — have touted the benefits of the natural elements in the Mediterranean diet: fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, and light on red meat and dairy. In the 1990s, researchers studied its benefits and found that people who regularly ate this way were far less likely to be overweight or suffer from cardiovascular disease and cancer.
If the new breast-cancer treatment recommendations confuse you, your concierge family practice doctors at MD 2.0 in Jupiter, Florida, would like to help you sort through what they mean. Across the globe, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. With about 250,000 new cases per year reported and roughly 40,000 deaths, breast cancer affects both women and men.
Avocado Toast
Perhaps one of the easiest summer snacks is some avocado on a piece of toast, with salt and pepper. It’s best to use a very ripe avocado, mash it with a fork and then spread on your favorite toast. A drizzle of olive oil gives it a nice flavor and an extra boost of healthy fat!
Mini Caprese Skewers
Assemble toothpick skewers of cherry tomatoes, small pieces or rolled balls of fresh mozzarella cheese, and basil leaves. Drizzle with a balsamic glaze or just a dash of balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Add some sea salt for a little crunch!
Frozen Fruit and Yogurt Bites
You can do this with just about any fruit. Some that we have found to taste great are blueberries, raspberries and strawberries – all summer favorites. Simply mix the fruit with greek yogurt, spread out onto a baking sheet lined with wax paper, and freeze. When you take it out of the freezer it will break apart like bark. These are great on an especially warm day and pack a little protein from the yogurt.
Oven-Dried Strawberries
Bake fresh strawberries in the oven for 3 hours at 210 degrees. They will dehydrate and taste like candy, but are completely healthy and all-natural. The nice thing about this snack is that they can be taken on-the-go for a quick snack when you need it. These are much better than hitting the vending machine when you just need a snack!
Frozen Grapes
Wash your fresh grapes and put them right in the freezer. Although this is such a simple maneuver, the results are delicious and super refreshing during the hottest season of the year! Frozen grapes are like nature’s candy and so easy to make!
Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas
Love potato chips but looking for a healthier option without losing the crunch? Place chickpeas on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 450 degrees for 30 minutes. After they are done baking, mix them with olive oil and seasoning of your choice. Yum!
Summer is one of the best times for snacking. Whether you are going to soccer games, on family vacations, or keeping busy at home, snacks come in handy for everyone! Snacks don’t have to be full of fat, fried, or packed full of preservatives. Take advantage of the vast array of fruits and veggies available in the summertime, and make them into healthy snacks that are delicious for the whole family!
One thing that most of us have in common is the desire to live a long & healthy life. Part of reaching that goal includes getting adequate amounts of rest, exercise, fresh air and eating a healthy diet. Our diet is a large part of who we are and really contributes to our current state of health. So what should a healthy diet include? Food from the seven food groups of course, but especially fruits and veggies.
Have you heard the term “Dirty Dozen” buzzing around lately online and in the news? Many people will argue the point that organic produce is costly and when compared to non organic produce, it is all the same. But this is far from the truth. There is actually a list of fruits and veggies known as the Dirty Dozen that we must all look out for. Why? When it comes to non organic produce, there are many pesticides used in the farming process, to kill insects and protect the produce. Although these pesticides are successful at doing that, these from the dirty dozen are the fruits and veggies that are the most contaminated. Some of the pesticide residue still remains even after washing and peeling in some cases.
The fruits and veggies on the dirty dozen list include: Peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, nectarines, celery, strawberries, cherries, spinach, imported grapes, lettuce, potatoes and pears.
What does this mean in terms of health? While eating fruits and veggies do help us remain healthy, eating those from the dirty dozen may actually contribute to a few medical problems. Pesticide residue is ingested when we eat this produce and has been shown to cause certain types of cancer, disrupt reproductive function and affect the endocrine system. In addition to these medical issues, heavy toxicity from these pesticides have also been shown to cause birth defects and neurological problems in unborn children.
If you simply cannot afford organic, you may avoid the dirty dozen altogether and buy certain fruits and veggies that are non-organic, but safe from pesticides. These fruits and veggies have very little to none in terms of pesticide residue, or their outer skins are so tough, this prevents any pesticides from touching their edible parts. These include: eggplant, avocado, asparagus, mango, pineapples, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, sweet potatoes, watermelon, cauliflower and cantaloupe. In the end, making even moderate changes to our diet can make a world of difference in overall health and longevity. We are truly what we eat!
