Latest news with #GutHealth
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The 3 Best Frozen Vegetables for Gut Health, According to a Gastroenterologist
Key Points Frozen veggies give fresh-level nutrition, cost less, easy to store and are available year-round. Broccoli, okra and root veggies boost gut health with fiber and nutrients. Root veggies in diets support longevity, like in the Blue Zones that are known for healthy frozen vegetables is one of the best ways to always have budget-friendly nutritious options on hand. Plus, they're just as healthy as fresh veggies and more readily available, meaning you can enjoy your favorite flavors out of season. 'Frozen vegetables are amazing because they offer all of the nutritional value but at a fraction of the cost,' gastroenterologist Will Bulsiewicz, M.D., emphasized in an Instagram post. In the video, Bulsiewicz focused on three types of frozen vegetables that provide great benefits. Here are his recommendations—plus recipes to incorporate them into your meals. 1. Broccoli You may already have this in your freezer, but in case you weren't aware, frozen broccoli is one of the healthiest frozen veggies to have on hand. 'Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable, it's high in fiber, it's got tons of cancer-fighting phytochemicals, it's amazing,' Bulsiewicz said. Try one of these recipes that start with a bag of frozen broccoli, from our One-Pot Lemon-Broccoli Pasta with Parmesan to our Stovetop Veggie Frittata. 2. Okra If you're an okra lover, you can enjoy it all year long when stored frozen—and it's also great for your gut health, according to Bulsiewicz. 'It has mucilage, which is the stuff that's gelatinous and actually that's incredibly good for your microbiome,' he explained. We love hearing this news because it's just the season for comforting recipes like our Shrimp & Okra Gumbo. 3. Root Vegetables You really can't go wrong with a veggie blend, and for Bulsiewicz, frozen root vegetables are a must-add for your cart. 'Root veggies [are] so in for fall season,' the cookbook author said. 'If you look at the blue zones, people coming from the blue zones, 65% of the calories are coming from root veggies, legumes and whole grains. You need more of these.' The blue zones that Bulsiewicz is referring to are the five areas of the world that have populations which tend to live longer than the average life span, primarily due to their healthy eating patterns and lifestyles. Sheet-Pan Roasted Root Vegetables are an easy veggie side dish, or try them on top of this Goat Cheese Polenta for a cozy bite. Our Expert Take Frozen vegetables aren't just convenient—they're a smart and affordable way to support your gut health and overall wellness year-round. Recommended by gastroenterologist Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, these veggies—broccoli, okra, and root vegetables—offer unique benefits backed by science. Making them a regular part of your meals helps nourish your microbiome and aligns with dietary patterns linked to longevity and better digestion. Read the original article on EATINGWELL
Vogue
30-07-2025
- Health
- Vogue
I Take a Teaspoon of Coconut Oil Every Morning—Here Are the Benefits
Coconut oil is an essential ingredient in many cuisines and a beloved beauty treatment for skin and hair, but it also has a ton of impressive health benefits. Thanks to its abundance of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), some people swear that taking a teaspoon of coconut oil in the morning on an empty stomach can have profound effects on energy and more. Curious to see if I'd notice any of the supposed benefits, I recently started following the regimen. Read on to find out what I discovered. The properties of coconut oil Coconut oil is a good source of saturated fatty acids, specifically capric and caprylic acid, of which it contains 65%. These medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) have a ton of interesting properties. Not only are they metabolized by the liver and converted into energy instead of being stored as body fat, they are also absorbed intact from the small intestine into the blood and therefore immediately available as energy—kind of like carbs. Furthermore, MCTs have been shown to increase feelings of fullness; a 2023 study found that when used during a low-calorie ketogenic diet, MCT supplementation significantly decreased body weight, BMI, and waist circumference. Coconut oil has antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antiviral properties, which is why it is used in oral hygiene practices such as oil pulling. Thanks to these properties, it may also support gut health. The benefits of taking coconut oil Some studies have shown that drinking coconut oil supports mental faculties because the production of ketone bodies provides an alternative source of energy for the brain. Coconut oil also has a satiating effect, slowing digestion and preventing hunger pangs. And, with all those MCTs, coconut oil offers an immediate source of energy and stimulates the production of ketones, which help burn fat—especially when consumed in conjunction with low-carb and keto diets. What happened when I took coconut oil daily Speaking of certain diets, I started taking coconut oil as part of the ketogenic diet I've been following for a while now. I take my coconut oil in three different ways, depending on the day and how much time I have: I either drink a teaspoon on an empty stomach first thing in the morning; mix a teaspoon to my coffee; or drizzle it over Greek yogurt. I find the flavor relatively mild and I like the texture—in fact, I barely notice it when I take it with my coffee or yogurt.
