Ringing in
the New Year always fills me with excitement for the opportunities and
adventures that are on the horizon. 2020 is a special year for all of us here
at Carlson because it marks our 55th anniversary. To celebrate 55
years of being a family-owned and operated business, we are going to be sharing
55 Simple Tips to Live Healthier on our social media pages, including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Please like and share – and add your own by tagging @carlsonlabs and using the hashtag #55healthtips.
Since Carlson
is a company recognized for the highest quality nutritional supplements, let’s
start this post with a nutrition tip to get the year off to a good and healthy
start. Think Mediterranean. Diet that is. The Mediterranean Diet remains at the
top of the list of healthy diets in almost every study that looks at eating
habits. It features fresh fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes, fish and
lean poultry, and healthy fats like from nuts and olive oil.
The
Mediterranean Diet can promote heart health, a healthy weight, brain health,
and more. A combination of two of the most well-researched diets, the
Mediterranean and Dash Diets – the MIND Diet – also offers many health
benefits. It encourages the intake of nutrient-rich plant foods and fish, while
limiting the intake of saturated fats, sugars, dairy, and alcohol. The Mediterranean
and Dash Diets also limit sodium intake. Too much sodium is one of the biggest
dietary mistakes worldwide, followed by not eating enough whole grains.
MIND Diet Basics
- Focus on eating foods that are as natural as possible.
- Limit unhealthy fats and red meat.
- Eat low-sodium foods.
- Eat at least 3 servings of whole grains daily.
- Have a salad every day.
- Eat beans every other day.
- Snack on nuts daily.
- Poultry and berries should be eaten at least twice a week.
- Have fish once or more a week.
- Less than one tablespoon of butter daily is allowed.
- Use olive oil as your main cooking oil.
If you’re looking for an easy way to add
one ingredient that turns your salad dressings or cooked meat or vegetables into
a Mediterranean-style recipe, try Carlson Olive Your Heart, a delicious blend
of olive oil and Norwegian fish oil. It’s great drizzled over cooked items or
into healthy dips, like hummus. (Note: to maintain the integrity of the oil,
Olive Your Heart should not be heated.) My favorite is the basil flavor, but
you may enjoy garlic, lemon, or natural flavor just as much.
A single tablespoon provides 1,480 mg of
omega-3s, featuring EPA and DHA; 6 grams of oleic acid; plus it’s rich in
cell-protecting polyphenol antioxidants.
Wishing you a happy and especially
healthy New Year!
