What is the glycemic index? The glycemic index (GI) is a scale used to quantify the glycemic responses of different carbohydrate-containing foods. The GI can be used to support individuals in making informed food choices, especially individuals with diabetes. The GI lists foods according to how rapidly it increases blood glucose 2 hours after consuming … Continue reading Back to Basics: Glycemic Index
Back to Basics: Whole Grains
What are whole grains? Grains are the seeds (aka kernels) of certain plants and is made up of the bran, endosperm, and germ. All 3 parts of a grain contain nutrients that play important roles in your diet. Grains can be either whole or refined. Whole grains contain all 3 parts of the kernel. What … Continue reading Back to Basics: Whole Grains
Back to Basics: Vitamin K
What is vitamin K? Vitamin K is the generic name for a family of compounds which contain a common chemical structure. It is a fat-soluble vitamin naturally present in some foods and available as a dietary supplement. The main form of dietary vitamin K is known as phylloquinone (vitamin K1) and is present primarily in … Continue reading Back to Basics: Vitamin K
Back to Basics: Magnesium
What is magnesium? Magnesium is a mineral found in abundance in the body, naturally in many foods, and added to other food products. Magnesium is a cofactor for many enzyme systems that regulate protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation. It is also required for energy production, oxidative phosphorylation … Continue reading Back to Basics: Magnesium
Back to Basics: Potassium
What is potassium? Potassium is an essential mineral found naturally in many foods. It is present in all body tissues and is needed to maintain normal cell, kidney, and heart function. Potassium helps to regulate blood pressure and makes nerves and muscles function. It has a strong relationship with sodium, and both are responsible for … Continue reading Back to Basics: Potassium
Back to Basics: Fat
What is fat? Fats are part of the lipid family, which are compounds that are insoluble in water. Fat is a macronutrient made up of three fatty acids bonded to a glycerol back bone. They provide your body with energy, helps your body absorb and utilize fat-soluble vitamins, makes hormones such as estrogen, protects your … Continue reading Back to Basics: Fat
Back to Basics: Carbohydrates
What are carbohydrates? Carbohydrates are important macronutrients for your health. They provide the main source of energy (calories) for the body, especially your brain and muscles during exercise. Your muscles and liver store carbohydrates in the form of glycogen. During exercise, glycogen is broken down to sugar (glucose) and used for energy by your muscles. … Continue reading Back to Basics: Carbohydrates
Back to Basics: Protein
What is protein? Protein is an essential macronutrient found in many foods. Protein is made from amino acids. Your body can make some amino acids but not all of them, making it necessary to obtain amino acids from food. Protein is used by your body to provide building blocks for growth for repairing cells such … Continue reading Back to Basics: Protein
Back to Basics: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
What are omega-3 fatty acids? Omega-3 fatty acids are a major class of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). PUFAs are different from saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids because they contain 2 or more double bonds in their carbon skeleton. The three main omega-3 fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). … Continue reading Back to Basics: Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Back to Basics: Calcium
What is calcium? Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. It is required for vascular contraction and vasodilation, muscle function, nerve transmission, intracellular signalling and hormonal secretion. However, less than 1% of total body calcium is used to support these functions. The calcium in our blood is very tightly regulation and doesn’t fluctuate … Continue reading Back to Basics: Calcium
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