Fuel for the Soul

Nourish the Body, Nourish the Soul

Tampa Registered Dietitian

How Long Does it Take for your Food to Spoil?

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It can be difficult to keep track of all the food in your fridge, freezer, or pantry – especially if you have a new baby to take care of, buy bigger quantities to food prep, or you have a big family to shop for. Whether you have an (adorable) infant demanding your undivided attention or not, we all simply forget about food that's been pushed to the back of the freezer from time to time! Have no fear, my friends over at Kitchen Cabinet Kings have put together a simple guide and visual that breaks down how long it takes common foods to spoil in the fridge, freezer, or pantry!

How my First Pregnancy Taught me the True Meaning of Health

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I WAS a health freak and perfectionist. As a former athlete, a personal trainer, and a Dietitian, I used to pride myself in being the epitome of health and sought out to make a career out of helping others achieve “optimal health.” The problem was, however, that I didn’t even know what the true meaning of “health” was for me, and I was actually very unhealthy for a very long time … That was until I became pregnant with my first child and my “perfect” world was thrown upside down (for the better) and I was smacked in the face with the undeniable truth behind the word “healthy.” If I haven’t lost your attention yet and you find yourself in a similar boat, read on to learn how my first pregnancy taught me the true meaning of health.

The Importance of Eating Fruit and How to Pick out the Perfect Fruit

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Please don't fall for the myth that "fruit is bad for you!" I can't tell you how many times a client, family member, or friend asks me "is fruit really bad for you because it's loaded with sugar?" but I can tell you my response is ALWAYS "no way!" … so please EAT THE FRUIT! Now that I made my point, let's move on to a more challenging topic - picking out the perfect fruit! To help you figure out how to pick out the perfect fruit any time of the year, I enlisted the help of Julissa Garcia from Shari's Berries !!

The Importance of Vitamins and Minerals

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Keeping your body healthy can be a complicated process, and with
different sources throwing a huge range of information at you, it can be hard
to decipher fact from fiction. Juggling work, a social life, and getting enough
sleep along with exercising and eating healthy can be a big task, and that is
before you even consider making sure that you get enough vitamins and other important
nutrients! Read on to learn more about these important vitamins and how to meet your daily needs with natural food sources!

Nutrients by the Alphabet: Zinc Health Benefits and Recipe

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When you hear about Zinc regarding your health, you probably only think of it as one of the many effective natural cold remedies and only necessary once in a great while to help you fight the common cold. Zinc, however, is required for the functions of over 300 enzymes and is needed in small amounts every day in order to maintain health. Zinc is involved in many important processes in your body and has significant therapeutic benefits for several common, chronic diseases (like fighting cancer or reversing heart disease). Read on to learn more about the health benefits and natural food sources of this powerful nutrient!

Nutrients by the Alphabet: Yerba Mate Health Benefits and Recipes

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We have all heard of green tea and know that is has tons of health benefits, but have you heard of Yerba Mate tea? Well, Yerba Mate has even more health benefits than green tea, thanks to its active compounds (including vitamins, minerals and antioxidants) and has higher polyphenol and antioxidant counts than green tea as well. While Yerba Mate may not be a nutrient, per se, it is worth being recognized in this series, so read on to learn about the numerous health benefits and natural food sources of Yerba Mate.

Nutrients by the Alphabet: Xanthophylls Health Benefits and Recipe

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I bet you didn’t know there is a powerful nutrient that starts with the letter “X”! There is actually a group of phytonutrients named Xanthophylls, which keep your body’s cells safe from dangerous free radicals and boost your overall health. Xanthophylls are non-essential, plant-based nutrients that have numerous health benefits. There are 5 main Xanthophylls (Astaxanthin, Canthaxanthin, Cryptoxanthin, Lutein, and Zeaxanthin) and they all provide a host of health benefits. Read on to learn about the numerous health benefits and natural food sources of Xanthophylls.

Nutrients by the Alphabet: Water Health Benefits and Recipe

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We all know that drinking plenty of water a day is beneficial, but do you know why? Water is actually an essential nutrient with tons of benefits and makes up about 60% of the body! In addition to hydration, water fills the spaces in and between cells and helps form structures of large molecules such as protein and glycogen. Read on to learn about the numerous health benefits and natural food sources of Water!

Nutrients by the Alphabet: Thiamine Health Benefits and Recipe

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Have you ever wondered how the food we eat turns into energy? Well, a coenzyme called Thiamine (or vitamin B1) is used by the body to metabolize food for energy and to maintain proper heart and nerve function. Without Thiamine, carbohydrates and protein cannot be properly used by the body to carry out various important functions. Read on to learn more about the wonderful health benefits and natural sources of Thiamine.

Nutrients by the Alphabet: Oleic Acid Health Benefits and Recipe

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We have all heard of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, but have you heard of Omega-9 fatty acids? Well, Omega-9, also known as Oleic Acid, is a monounsaturated fat that can be produced in the body (unlike omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids) and can be found in your favorite bakery goods and your everyday soap or skin cream. Read on to learn about the health benefits of Oleic Acid and a perfect tasty recipe for Valentine’s Day!

Nutrition Tip Tuesday: Preventing Iron Deficiency with Iron-Rich Foods

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It is well known that Iron is an important nutrient for optimal health, but many individuals may not know how much Iron they need each day and which foods contain the largest amount of Iron. A dear friend of mine who is pregnant with her second child asked me how she can increase her Iron intake without taking more pills or eating too much red meat during her pregnancy. If she has this question, then I know others may have the same question! So this week's Nutrition Tip is all about Iron and the best food sources for this essential mineral.

Nutrition Tip Tuesday: Healthy Travel Tips

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This year has been full of traveling! A long vacation in Italy, a couple quick weekend trips here and there, a long vacation out West, and a another handful of quick weekend trips to visit family and friends! While all this traveling has been a blast, being on the go can tire you out... especially when your normal eating, sleeping, and exercising routines get thrown off. Here are my top tips for staying healthy while traveling so you will be prepared for your next trip!