- Author: Chris M. Webb
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics “encourages all Americans to take time during National Nutrition Month to look at their eating patterns…” Nutrition can greatly affect our health. Even small improvements in nutrition can lead to significant health benefits.
Consider taking sometime this month to learn more about the foods you put in your body.
- Empty calories can be okay in small amounts.
- Grains include wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, and barley.
- Dairy foods include all fluid milk products and many foods made from milk.
- Vegetables can be consumed, raw, cooked, fresh, frozen, canned, dried, whole, cut-up, or mashed.
- Fruit can be enjoyed fresh, canned, frozen, dried, whole, cut-up, or pureed.
- Protein foods include meats, poultry, eggs, beans and peas, processed soy products, seafood, and nuts and seeds
USDA’s ChooseMyPlate.gov website is well designed, easy to navigate, and full of information and tips to help you improve your nutrition.
ChooseMyPlate.gov is also available in Spanish.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
California agricultural producers and consumers rely on wild bee species to pollinate crops. Wild bees pollinate more than one third of California’s pollinator-dependent crops. These crops are currently estimated to be worth $11.7 billion annually. Many of these bees live in neighboring livestock rangelands, and provide diversification vital to sustaining our food supply.
Researchers have found that in addition to the economic benefits of pollination, animal pollinators provide up to 40 percent of some essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary lipids provided by fruits and vegetables.
Please see UC Berkeley’s Native Bee Habitats Key to Farming, Conservation, Nutrition for details.
Preserving and expanding pollinator habitats throughout our communities will is beneficial for all. The Pollinator Partnership is an incredible resource to help us accomplish this important goal.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease. Bone density and strength is decreased, which leads to an increased susceptibility to bone fractures. This disease has no cure, but it can be prevented and progression slowed.
An estimated 8 million women and 2 million men have osteoporosis in the United States. UC ANR’s Calcium and Osteoporosis Nutrition and Health Info Sheet shares general information on this disease and its prevention.
Topics include:
- What is osteoporosis?
- What are the risk factors?
- What is the relationship between calcium and osteoporosis?
- What other nutrients are important?
- What is the effect of exercise?
- How can one reduce the risk or delay the progression of osteoporosis?
- References for further information
- Author: Chris M. Webb
California agricultural producers and consumers rely on wild bee species to pollinate crops. Wild bees pollinate more than one third of California’s pollinator-dependent crops. These crops are currently estimated to be worth $11.7 billion annually. Many of these bees live in neighboring livestock rangelands, and provide diversification vital sustaining our food supply.
Researchers have found that in addition to the economic benefits of pollination, animal pollinators provide up to 40 percent of some essential vitamins, minerals, and dietary lipids provided by fruits and vegetables.
Please see UC Berkeley’s Native Bee Habitats Key to Farming, Conservation, Nutrition for details.
Preserving and expanding pollinator habitats throughout our communities will is beneficial for all. The Pollinator Partnership is an incredible resource to help us accomplish this important goal.
- Author: Chris M. Webb
Calcium is best known for building and maintaining healthy bones. However, this mineral is used by the body in many other ways including: building teeth, muscle contraction, blood clotting, maintenance of cell membranes, and nerve transmission.
UC ANR’s Nutrition and Health Info Sheet on calcium provides consumers with general information on this vital nutrient.
Topics include:
- What function does calcium have in the body?
- What are the effects of calcium deficiency?
- How much calcium should be consumed each day?
- Current recommendations for calcium intake for various age groups
- Is it risky to consume too much calcium?
- What are good sources of calcium?