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"Diana, just a quick heads up to let you know we are still using your cookbook and the guys will often be heard saying what would Diana say about this or that....really good feed back... I made your potato salad and the oriental coleslaw on Sat. for a family luncheon and had rave reviews so thanks again."
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This Nutrition Month – Unlock the Potential of Food to Prevent Disease
March is Nutrition Month and across the country, dietitians are helping Canadians Unlock the Potential
of Food by explaining how food not only nourishes, but also fuels active lives, inspires children, helps to heal, prevents chronic diseases and brings people together.
This week I’m going to talk about the Potential of food to Prevent Diseases like Type II diabetes and heart disease.
Almost 80% of premature stroke and heart disease can be prevented through healthy lifestyle behaviours. These include healthy eating, being active and living smoke free.
Build a Balanced Diet:
There are many eating plans out there, some are healthier than others. The eating plans that have been most extensively studied are the Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet and the MIND diet. The foods recommended in these eating patterns are very similar and are known to help prevent type 2 Diabetes, heart disease, stroke, dementia and some types of cancer.
Foods Emphasized:
Vegetables and fruit, whole grains, legumes like beans and lentils, nuts and seeds, low fat dairy products, fish and poultry and healthy oils like olive and avocado. These foods are real, whole and natural. They are the foundation of the diet for disease prevention.
These eating patterns don’t contain a lot of ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt and trans fats such as cakes, cookies, chips and sugary drinks.
Check out Cookspriation.ca for delicious recipes that include all these foods such as:
Mint basil guacamole, veggie burgers and Mexican squash and bean salad.
For more information about nutrition month go to www.nutritionmonth2018.ca