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December, 2009

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Pomegranates – superhero in the world of food

Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

Pomegranates are in season and with a potent antioxidant concentration, they have bumped up the food chain to superfood status.  Many people hesitate to buy pomegranates because they aren’t sure how to pick and eat them.

First, cut off the crown and then cut the fruit into sections.  Place the sections in a bowl of water and then roll out the red juice sacs with your fingers.  Remove any of the white-colored pulp membrane that may be stuck to the juice sacs.  Strain out the water and eat the juice sacs whole, seeds and all.  Keep in mind that the juice can stain clothes skin, and some countertops.   

Pomegranates can be eaten as is or used as a garnish on sweet and savory dishes like yogurt, pancakes, grilled fish, or couscous.   Add a handful of seeds for a colorful new flavor to garden salads.   Pomegranate juice is also becoming more widely available in grocery stores. 

Enjoy these fruits before the season ends!

Posted in Dietary Guidelines, Newsletter Articles | No Responses »

Does vitamin C work at preventing colds??

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

The arrival of clementines in the grocery store easily marks the start of the winter season.  Clementines, those juicy miniature oranges, make a terrific snack as they are easy to pack, easy to peel, and full of vitamin C. 

Vitamin C is needed for normal growth and development.  It helps in the repair and maintenance of teeth, bones, cartilage, muscle and blood vessels, aids in the absorption of iron, and is needed for wound healing.  Thus, signs of a vitamin C deficiency, which is also known as scurvy (listen up all you pirates out there), are dry and splitting hair, inflamed or bleeding gums, rough, dry, or scaly skin, poor wound healing, nosebleeds, and tooth decay.  Being a water soluble, vitamin C can not be stored by body and unused amounts of the vitamin leave the body through urine.  Therefore, a daily supply of vitamin C is needed in the diet.  All fruits and vegetables, particularly citrus fruits, are major sources of vitamin C. 

Now, for the question on the minds of everyone in the midst of a roaring cold and flu season – does a large dose of vitamin C prevent or treat the common cold?  At least 30 major clinical trials have been conducted to examine the effectiveness of vitamin C supplementation at preventing and/or treating colds but to date, none have proven a significant effect.  So, while clementines sure are tasty to eat, they and other vitamin C sources have nothing on good old hand-washing for keeping colds and flu at bay.

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