Gothenburg Health's Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Mary Lou Block, provides helpful nutrition articles and tips! To contact Mary Lou directly, email mblock@gothenburghealth.org.
Have you planted any Vitamin C Lately? Actually, I am not talking about planting your supplements, I am talking about Vitamin C rich vegetables that you can plant in your garden this summer. In other words, citrus fruits are not the only food source of vitamin C, and the grocery store is not the...
Is boosting your immune system on your mind these days? Chances are, you say, “Yes!” Multiple things boost our immunity, but nutrition tops this list. The most popular of immune boosting nutrients is clearly Vitamin C, and as such, you would assume that we consume adequate amounts. However, research...
“The Nail That Sticks Out Gets Hammered Down” ( aka: Duck your head) By Mary Lou Block RDN LMNT “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down” is a Japanese proverb used to describe conformity in the Japanese culture. But in our present Covid Culture, it might be used as a poignant warning. That is...
Are You Cooking Scrappy Yet? When our isolation experience began, cooking was an adventure, a bit like camping meals. In the beginning, camping meals are planned and delicious, but eventually this changes. Quantities of popular food items dwindle, menus adjust and the chef’s reputation weakens...
There is great news to share when it comes to the Coronavirus! Your very best protection is not in a public policy, a quarantine or avoiding contact with the virus . Your best physical protection is actually something more intimate and personal. It’s your body’s own immune system. The advantage of a...
Last month I discussed the role of a robust gut microbiome in overall health. Evidence is accumulating that these friendly microorganisms help regulate blood pressure and affect other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Anything we do to improve the neighborhood for our friendly bug buddies...
The Mediterranean diet is an anti-inflammatory way of eating observed in Greece and Italy. It is a popular recommendation for heart health, because of lower occurrences of cardiovascular disease in that part of the world. It is rich in vegetables and fruits which provide us with an endless number of...
Last week we saw how the low-fat diet was popularized. Most importantly, how sugar and carbs increased to make the low-fat diet palatable. To make matters worse, the “criminalization” of fat meant that we ignored the important role it plays in health, and this is certainly true when it comes to...
Who isn’t confused by nutrition related advice these days? In spite of oodles of nutrition research, conflicting recommendations seem to abound. If anything is clear, it is that even medical professionals disagree. Heart health recommendations are not exempt from this confusion. But before you throw...
By Mary Lou Block, RD at Gothenburg Health Find yourself with the Winter Blues? Eat some sauerkraut! Yep, you heard me right. Sauerkraut. If this doesn’t do much to tantalize your lunch pallet, yet you are one who struggles with depression, hear me out. Sauerkraut can do more for depression and...
