Page 22 - 4-24-15 Friday's Edition

Health
Allergy Season Help
Blue Bell Creameries Issues All-Product Recall
citrus is a no-brainer when you feel a cold coming on, but vita- min C can also help temper your sniffling, runny nose, and itchy eyes from seasonal aller- gies. The vitamin C in citrus helps lower the release of his- tamine and breaks it down quicker.
4. Bioflavonoids. Stock up on Brussels sprouts, mangoes, garlic, and green tea. The healthy plant-based antioxi- dants found in these foods help reduce the amount of hista- mine your body produces.
5. Quercetin. This [antiox- idant] nutrient helps suppress the part of the immune system that causes allergies, and it re- duces histamines. It’s found in apples (especially Granny Smith), which the doctor rec- ommends daily, plus onions, parsley, and sage.
Listeriosis is a dangerous kind of food-borne illness, and is caused by the Listeria monocyto- genes bacteria.
Texas-based Blue Bell Cream- eries issued a voluntary recall for all of its products on the market after two samples of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream
tested positive for listeria, a poten- tially deadly bacteria.
This week’s recall extends to re- tail outlets in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma,
South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wyoming and interna- tional locations.
Listeria primarily affects preg- nant women and their newborns, older adults and people with im- mune systems weakened by can- cer, cancer treatments, or other serious conditions.
Here are 5 nutrients you want to makes sure you’re get- ting when the sneezing, itchy eyes, and sore throats strike.
1. Magnesium. The min- eral helps open up your air- waves. Take 200 mg. by supplement or eat magnesium- rich foods like spinach, kale, and sunflower seeds.
2. Probiotics. Your gut has close ties to your immune sys- tem, which means a lot of the same foods benefit both your belly and your sinuses.
3. Vitamin C. Reaching for
The 10 Healthiest Foods For Your Gut
From probiotics, to fiber, this list of foods will have you feeling healthier and balanced.
Asparagus -
The spear-like
green contains
high levels of
inulin, about 15
g. per serving.
Inulin is an in-
digestible fiber
that acts as a prebiotic, a type of nutrient that nourishes the friendly bacteria living in your GI tract.
Like a lot of stalky, crunchy veggies, asparagus has the po- tential to make you gassy. If you’re prone to digestive dis- tress, start with a few spears.
Yogurt - A mix
of fermented milk
and live bacteria,
yogurt is a potent
probiotic, which
means it contains
the healthy living bacteria that can fight the bad bugs.
Store shelves are crowded with a dizzying array of yogurt these days, so here’s a cheat sheet to cut through the confu- sion: Make sure the package says “live active cultures” (so you know it hasn’t been pasteur- ized, a process that kills off the good microbes), and stick with a no-added-sugar type, since ex- cess sugar can feed unhealthy bacteria. Also, go Greek. Greek yogurt has the same probiotic power but twice the protein count (the milk is more concen- trated).
Bananas -
The fruit that
comes in its own
wrapper packs a
nutrient called re-
sistant starch. Your
system isn’t able to digest it, but the good bacteria that have col-
onized your gut can, and feast- ing on resistant starch helps the bacteria thrive and keep your microbiome in check.
Kefir - Kefir
as yogurt’s
tangy cousin, a
fermented milk
product that boosts gut health a few different ways. First, it’s a probiotic, thanks to its live, ac- tive bacteria cultures. But it also does double duty as a prebiotic. Kefir is made with oligosaccha- rides, a complex carbohydrate that feeds beneficial bacteria in the gut. As a yogurt, make sure the label states it has live cul- tures.
Beans -
They’re
filled with
the resist-
ant starch
that feeds
good bacte-
ria. All varieties have strong pre- biotic powers, not to mention lots of quality protein.
If eating them leaves you bloated or breaking wind, con- sume small amounts at first, so your body has time to get used to them.
Tempeh -
and a similar
product
called miso -
are fer-
mented soy-
bean foods
with a chewy
consistency and have more pro- tein and fiber than regular tofu. Smoky and nutty, both are low- fat probiotics that contain ben- eficial bacteria. Tempeh is sold in blocks or patties that you can add to salads and stir-fries. Miso comes in a thick paste and is used to make the pre-sushi starter dish miso soup.
Garlic - Is great
for your GI tract,
acting as a prebi-
otic that fuels
healthy bacteria
thanks to high levels
of the indigestible fiber inulin. Garlic powder appeared to pro- mote the growth of healthy in- testinal bacteria such as lactobacilli.
Sauerkraut - Is
a probiotic power-
house (but avoid
canned sauerkraut
as it’s pasteurized, meaning most of
the healthy bacteria is killed).
A cup of the stuff only racks up about 30 calories. And cab- bage’s naturally high fiber level helps keep your digestive sys- tem running smoothly and pre- vents constipation.
Oats - Another
reason oatmeal
makes an all-star breakfast: Oats con-
tain beta- glucans, indigestible carbohydrates that feed the friendly bacteria in your GI tract. The British Journal of Nutrition states that whole grain oat breakfast cereals have prebiotic powers.
Kimchi - This
spicy, fermented
cabbage is a Ko-
rean condiment. It
delivers lots of
good bacteria right
to your gut. Kimchi
is usually made with onions, which act as a prebiotic feeding the healthy bugs in your intes- tine. And garlic is also a popular add-in, further cranking its pre- biotic muscle. Make sure you get unpasteurized, since good bac- teria are killed off during the pasteurization process.
PAGE 10-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2015