Baycrest

BrainMatters SPRING/SUMMER 2019 25 THE NUTRITIONAL LOWDOWN What's in it for you? Baycrest registered dietitians, Rebecca Bergel and Iris Weinberg, were asked to weigh in on the health benefits of the ingredients in the Super Strawberry Smoothie Bowl and their importance in your diet. Here's what they had to say: GREEK YOGURT = PROTEIN Greek yogurt has more protein and less sugar than regular yogurt. The protein and calcium in Greek yogurt help our bodies maintain bone, muscle, cartilage, skin and blood. The nutrients found in Greek yogurt are vital to our health and act as the building blocks for our enzymes, hormones and vitamins. Protein also helps us feel full longer. Try to choose plain Greek yogurt which has less sugar and more protein than flavoured ones. ALMONDS = HEALTHY FATS Almonds offer healthy fats that provide our bodies with the energy we need to tackle our day-to-day routines. These fats help our bodies absorb essential nutrients from the foods we eat. As well, these types of fats are less saturated, and less saturated fats lead to reduced risk of heart disease and help maintain brain function. MILK & MILK ALTERNATIVES = VITAMINS Vitamin D, which can be found in milk or fortified milk alternatives such as soy or almond milk, is crucial to maintaining our bones and teeth by increasing our ability to absorb calcium from our food. Vitamin K is another important nutrient that should be a regular part of our diets since it supports our body's bone and cell growth and helps us maintain healthy blood circulation. Vitamin K can be found in dark berries and green vegetables. Our bodies can't produce these vitamins and healthy fats allow our bodies to not only tap into these benefits, but also create hormones that play a critical role in our daily health and well-being. BERRIES = ANTIOXIDANTS & FIBRE Strawberries and blueberries are low in sugar, balancing out our glucose levels and helping us to better concentrate and perform. These berries are packed with fibre, which keeps our hunger at bay, while adding many vitamins and minerals to our diet. For example, blueberries contain Vitamin A, which contributes to our eye health, including night vision, and helps to maintain our skin health, and Vitamin E, which allows our body to ward off sickness with a healthy immune system. The antioxidants found in berries protect our cells from damage, keep our bodies healthy, support brain health and may slow memory decline. For more articles like this visit baycrestfoundation.org/brainmatters. Rebecca Bergel Iris Weinberg

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