Dishing Up Nutrition

If you have hypertension, or high blood pressure, have you ever considered how your food choices effect your blood pressure numbers? Did you know high blood pressure is the most accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease? Hypertension is a very complicated topic with many different causes, but as nutritionists we want to share information about what foods increase blood pressure, what nutrients help to prevent high blood pressure and what supplements we recommend to help manage blood pressure issues. Listen in with hosts Darlene Kvist and Britni Thomas.

According to the World Health Organization, osteoporosis affects more than 75 million people in the United States, Japan and Europe. People living in developed countries have a 30-40 percent lifetime risk of experiencing a hip, vertebral, or wrist fracture. People often believe that to build strong bones, we just need to drink milk or supplement with calcium. However, bones are made from a lot more than just calcium. Recent research is pointing more to the importance of healthy fats in the diet as being supportive to bone health.  What can you do to build strong bones? Listen in with hosts Brenna Thompson, JoAnn Ridout and Lea Wetzell to find out.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that around 1 in 68 American children are on the autism spectrum. This is a ten-fold increase in prevalence in the last 40 years. Autism spectrum disorders are estimated to affect more than two million individuals in the U.S. and tens of millions worldwide.  Not only is the prevalence increasing in our country, but in many countries around the world. April 2 is World Autism Day and in the U.S., April is National Autism Awareness Month. In honor of World Autism Day and Autism Awareness Month, hosts Kara Carper and Kristen Gunderson talk about how nutrition can make a difference in improving the lives of those with an autism diagnosis.

One in five women develop depression at some point in their life and women are twice as likely as men to have depression. Depression can hit women at any age, but the high-risk years are from 40-59 (those menopausal years). What are some of the nutrition connections to depression? There are more than you might think. On this episode, hosts Darlene Kvist, Lea Wetzell, and Kate Crosby explore some natural antidepressant eating habits and brain nutrients you can start using to lift your mood and energy.

Celiac disease is a genetic autoimmune disease in which eating gluten sets off an immune response that causes damage to the small intestine. Do you have celiac disease or know someone who does? If so, you know how important it is to stay away from gluten. Maybe you are sensitive to gluten, but don’t have celiac. On this episode we take a close look at the difference between celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Hosts Cassie Weness and Britni Thomas have personal experience with both and are eager to help you understand and take steps to feel your best if you’re afflicted by either.

The American Psychological Association says the major aspect of weight control involves understanding and managing thoughts and behaviors that can interfere with weight loss. Where do those thoughts and behaviors come from? Until you get the correct food and nutrition, your brain won’t be very successful at managing them. On this episode, we explore how brain chemistry and nutrition effect your thoughts and behaviors with hosts Darlene Kvist, JoAnn Ridout and Katie Vigesaa.

Are you taking birth control pills? Do you get little sleep at night? Are you approaching or currently going through menopause? All of these things affect your hormones which can impact your weight. On this episode, we take a deep dive into certain hormonal factors that impact your weight. For example, did you know your metabolic rate is lowest early in the morning so you will actually lose more weight if you sleep in rather than getting up early to hit the gym. Listen in with hosts Darlene Kvist, Britni Thomas and Katie Vigesaa as they explain more and what you can do to balance your hormones to start losing weight.

We know depression in teenagers is on the rise and at Nutritional Weight & Wellness, we know there is a food connection. Let’s picture the brain. What does your son or daughter’s brain need to work? For many young people, their brains and bodies are powered on processed foods, sodas, energy drinks, fast food and candy causing brain stress that sets them up for anxiety and depression. Listen in with hosts Katie Vigesaa and Lea Wetzell to learn how you can help your kids heal their brains so they experience more balanced moods.

It’s Valentine’s day and February is American Heart Month. There’s no better time to think about what you can do to keep your heart healthy. But there is a lot of contradicting health information out there and you may be surprised to learn the true facts about heart disease. Surprise #1: The biggest killer of American women is not breast cancer, as many believe, it is actually heart disease. On this episode, hosts Darlene Kvist and Kate Crosby address several other surprises about heart health. They also go over Nutritional Weight & Wellness’ plan to maintain a healthy cardiovascular system. Are you ready to get your heart as healthy as it can be? If you’re thinking “YES!,” then tune into this podcast!

Both the cold and the flu viruses are transmitted very easily.  As people travel and congregate for work or get-togethers, it’s easy to pick up the virus from the person next to you on the airplane, in line at the checkout counter, or when you kiss grandma on the cheek. So what can you do to support your immune system and ward off these nasty infections, even if you come into contact with it? Listen to hosts Brenna Thompson and JoAnn Ridout to find out how you can keep your immune system strong all year long.