#Watermelon #Mint #Icepops! Watermelons’ naturally sweet taste and high water content make it a perfect fruit for blending and making ice-pops without any added sugars (or even water). It’s jam-packed with #vitaminC, #vitaminA, and #potassium (#hearthealthy). One cup is only about 45 calories. Choose deep red/pink since studies show that
fully ripened watermelons have higher #antioxidants.

Blend 4 cups of tightly packed, cubed, fresh/frozen watermelon and a handful of fresh mint or spearmint leaves. Blend and stir as needed. Makes 10 3-ounce #popsicles. About 20 calories each!
#lowcalorie #healthydessert #summer #bushwick #bushwicknutrition #lazynutrition #lazynutritionist

#Pineapple with #basil at the #beach. What more do you need?! #lovethebeach #FreshBasil #vitaminC #vitaminD #riispark #rockaways #bushwicknutrition #bushwick #lazynutritionist #lazynutrition

#FoodPairing awesomeness: #BlackBeans are a great source of #fiber, #protein, and plant-based #iron (as other #beans, lentils, and dark leafy greens). When combined with #vitaminC rich-foods (lemon, lime, citrus, peppers, etc) you can absorb the veggie iron much better. That’s proper food pairing :)
To Cook: Sauté beets in lemon juice, olive oil, and a little water until tender. Add a can of black beans and heat for a few minutes. Remember to drain and rinse the beans first.
I don’t necessarily love #beets (they stain everything and are a pain in the butt to cook!) but I make it a point to eat them since they have anti-inflammatory and blood building benefits. My #oncology patients would always eat more beets to improve their #hemoglobin. It works!
#bushwick #bushwicknutrition #lazynutrition #lazynutritionist

Olympic Nutrition: 5 Foods to Enhance Athletic Performance

During the bitter cold winter this year, there is at least one thing to look forward to – The Winter Olympics!  Watching the Olympians may just inspire you to get off the couch and hit the gym or, better yet, step off the treadmill and hit the slopes! If you consider yourself an athlete, here are a few natural tools that could take your performance to the next level. Keep in mind, the recommendations outlined below are for those who spend at least 1 hour or more per workout doing vigorous physical activity. The suggestions won’t do much good, and could even be counterproductive for gym goers looking to merely shed a few pounds or focus on wellness. After all, these are added calories!   

Five functional foods that can enhance your athletic performance.

Beet Juice

Beets, like all fruits and vegetables, have antioxidants, fiber, and are rich in vitamins and minerals.  Recent research suggests that beets may also help improve athletic performance.  How so?  Beets are an excellent source of nitrates, which stimulates the production of nitric oxide.  Nitric oxide, also known as nitrogen monoxide, is a gas that widens blood vessels, increasing blood flow and oxygen to the skeletal muscles.  This leads to increased endurance and heightened strength.  If you want to give beets a try, world renowned sports dietitian Nancy Clark recommends 200 to 500 mL (6 to 16 oz) of beet juice or 75 mL (2.5 oz) of concentrated beet juice approximately two to three hours before an event.  You can opt for a cup of baked beets or other nitrate-rich foods such as spinach, arugula, or rhubarb.

Watermelon Juice

As our Bushwick Nutrition explored back in July 2013, watermelon contains a compound, L-citrulline that is a critical component of our new friend nitric oxide.  Similar to beet juice, watermelon juice can boost performance and relieve post workout soreness.  Research suggests that athletes can benefit from half a liter of watermelon juice post event and event training.  Watermelon is also, as the name suggests, about 90% water and lower in sugar than most juices- so it’s great for rehydrating. You can also count on a healthy dose of Vitamin A and C and even some potassium in your serving of watermelon juice. 

Dried Fruit: Prunes, Figs, Plums, or Other

Dried fruit is an oldie but a goodie.  It has been known to be an athlete’s trusted key  to a quick energy boost. Did you know that early Olympic athletes were given figs as a training food? Dried fruit keeps fresh in basically any condition so you can take it with you on long runs or keep in your gym bag for a quick snack after a workout. It’s critical to provide the body with a serving of easily digestible carbs to replenish one’s energy stores. Dried fruit provides a burst of calories but unlike processed sugary sports gels, you benefit from fiber and naturally occurring antioxidants. If you like bars over bags of dried fruit, you can try the KIND fruit and nut bar. They have no artificial ingredients and the nuts provide protein  - it’s a win win. If fiber bothers you, make sure to eat prunes and dried fruit only after your workout, or try lower fiber alternatives such as dried mango, orange slices, or apples.  

Sodium Bicarbonate

Does anyone remember this from their high school chemistry class?  Sodium bicarbonate acts as a buffer of lactic acid, the compound that makes your muscles burn while exercising.  Sodium bicarbonate can slow down the build up of lactic acid in the blood leading to improved performance in high intensity interval training (HITT) lasting about one to three minutes. You can find sodium bicarbonate in a capsule form just read the ingredient list to make sure there are few ingredients and none that you cannot pronounce.  

Chia Seeds

Touted as one of the “it” foods of 2013, chia seeds are a super natural food. The seeds contain nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids (healthy fats), antioxidants, protein, iron, and can absorb up to 10 times their weight in water, which make them great for hydration! In Mexico, both the Aztecs (fiercest warriors) and the Tarahumara Indians (barefoot marathoners of their time), used chia seeds as a staple in their diet. NFL players have also been known to use them for their intense training! Chia seeds are great for energy and a healthy digestion. Just be forewarned that when combined in water, as the recipe below entails, they get a little gelatinous, not necessarily a bad thing but be ready for some texture.

Chia Lemonade

• ¼ cup of freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice (~ 2)
• ¼ cup maple syrup grade B or Agave nectar
• 4 cups water
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds

Directions: Combine lemon juice, sweetener, and water in a large pitcher. Once well combined, add chia seeds and let mixture sit for at least 30 minutes, so the chia seeds plump up. Serve and enjoy!

Serves 5 cups. Per cup: 80 calories, 3 grams of protein.

Intensive physical activity is very demanding on the body.  To make sure you are getting all the nutrients you need to maximize your performance and decrease recovery time while keeping your body healthy, contact me and set up your 10-minute complimentary phone session! 

Co-Written by Debi Zvi, RD, CDN Debi Zvi RD, CDN and Alanna Cabrero, MS, RD, CDN nutrition@nyhrc.com. Photographed by Alanna Cabrero

Edited by Tamara Cabrero

Originally posted on NYHRC Tumblr 

Food Nerd: Water Cooler Knowledge

I recently found this little booklet called Wellness Made Easy: 365 Tips for Better Health (one tip for each day of the year!). And even though I will not list all of them, I thought these 13 tips/facts were interesting and if anything a cool conversation starter! 

#14. For a juice high in iron, try prune juice. One cup provides about 17% of the recommended intake for women, and 30% for men. Just beware of the fruit juice lingo- check the label on anything called “beverage, drink, punch, juice blend, juice cocktail, or anything ending in -ade” since it’s likely to contain more sugar and little fruit. 

#38. When baking, use applesauce or prune/banana/pumpkin puree instead of butter, margarine, or oil to cut down on the fat. Use equal parts. 

#40. Even though we only need 70mg per day of vitamin C, there is a great belief that taking mega doses will help our immune system. To get the most out of your vitamin C pills, divide the dose in half and take it twice a day. The body eliminates vitamin C in about 12 hours, therefore this will keep the blood levels high throughout the day. FYI- mega doses of vitamin C are generally considered safe since we eliminate what we don’t need in our urine. 

#63. Make your own low-fat tortilla chips. Cut the 6" tortillas into triangles and put them in the oven at 400F for 10 minutes or until crisp. This is especially useful when the tortillas are already a little stale! 

#70. Eat sweet potatoes. Despite the word “sweet” in their name, they have the same calories as regular potatoes and have 3.5x more beta carotene. To get the most nutrients, eat the potato skin- it has more fiber, iron, potassium, and B vitamins than the flesh. 

#78. Make a lower fat dressing. Make a 1-to-1 oil and vinegar solution, instead of 3-to-1. Or use lime/lemon, balsamic/rice vinegar, or salsa as your dressing. 

#79. If possible, weigh your bagel! Every ounce has ~80calories, and now a days bagels are up to 5-6 ounces! Do the math and it’s kind of scary! 

#96. When ordering a burger, nix the bacon and cheese. It adds up to 250 calories or more, not to mention saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. 

#104. You don’t have to avoid all red meats, just choose leaner cuts like tenderloin, top loin, or sirloin. Remember: Lean= Loin. A well trimmed/lean meat is ~180calories/8 grams of fat for a 3-ounce serving (after cooking). 

#133. If you have a tough cut of meat, you can tenderize it will kiwi, papaya, or pineapple due to their natural enzymes. You can also puree the fruit and use it as a marinade. Let sit for ~30minutes before cooking. 

#139. Light beers are only slightly lighter in calories, not alcohol. Light beers average 100calories per 12oz compared to 140calories for regular. 

#157. Make your own topping by “melting” a half cup of berries with 1 tsp of sugar. Put them in a saucepan, mash lightly, and add a tiny amount of water if necessary until the sugar dissolves in the juice. Ta da!- you just made a replacement for butter or syrup. 

#160. Spread mashed avocado on your sandwich/wrap instead of butter/margarine/mayo. One TBS is 25 calories vs. 100 calories respectively. 

If you would like the full pdf.file, shoot me an email at bushwicknutrition@gmail.com, and I will send it your way!