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Kenya Inflation Quickens to Three-Month High as Food Prices Jump
Kenya Inflation Quickens to Three-Month High as Food Prices Jump

Bloomberg

time13 hours ago

  • Business
  • Bloomberg

Kenya Inflation Quickens to Three-Month High as Food Prices Jump

Kenya's annual inflation rate climbed to a three-month high in July on tight supplies of vegetables and corn, the nation's staple. Consumer prices rose 4.1% in July compared with 3.8% a month earlier, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics said Thursday in an emailed statement. That matched the median estimate of five economists in a Bloomberg survey and the monetary policy committee's projected level for July.

Book Review: ‘The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook'
Book Review: ‘The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook'

Arab News

timea day ago

  • Health
  • Arab News

Book Review: ‘The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook'

'I hate vegetables,' Heidi Herman writes in the opening to 'The Hidden Vegetables Cookbook: 90 Tasty Recipes for Veggie-Averse Adults.' For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @ That bold admission hooked me from the first page and set the tone for Herman's book which will be released in September. Arab News received an advance copy of the publication for review. The cookbook offers nearly 100 clever recipes crafted and curated specifically for adults who want the nutritional benefits of vegetables, but perhaps without the taste or texture. Herman is not writing this book for exhausted parents sneaking in healthier ingredients for their finicky toddlers. These recipes are meant for grown-ups who want to mindfully devour nutritious and delicious dishes with complex flavors and creative combinations. Think banana muffins with riced cauliflower and ginger, Salisbury steak with spinach-laced brown gravy, enchiladas with stealthy carrots and onions, and a delectable chocolate cake made with undetectable zucchini. The goal is not to push green smoothies onto reluctant palates. Instead, Herman leans into comfort food — soups, bakes, pastas, and even desserts — where vegetables are quietly worked in. Growing up, Herman rarely thought about food or nutrition. Her breakfasts were usually rushed — grabbing whatever was readily available, lunch was usually from the school cafeteria, and dinner often from a boxed meal like Hamburger Helper. Her Icelandic mother called vegetables 'rabbit food' and they rarely served them at home, relying instead on seafood and dairy. In addition, 'Greens' were such a foreign concept that when her mother's doctor once told her to add more to her diet, she jokingly bought a bag of M&M's chocolate bits and picked out all the green ones to fulfill that serving. That vegetable avoidance was passed down to Herman. Also contributing to the book is Rhonda Thornton, a US National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach. Thornton, who works with adults struggling to eat healthier, believes the secret lies in incorporating vegetables gradually and without pressure, like when stirred into sauces, baked into muffins or folded into familiar dishes. This book is for anyone who grew up coating broccoli in a blanket of cheese or avoiding the vegetable section altogether. It is also for anyone who wants to try to make smarter choices in the kitchen for the sake of their health, and to maybe devise some fun culinary experiments in the meantime.

All Vegetables Are Healthy—but These 5 Are Especially Good for Your Heart
All Vegetables Are Healthy—but These 5 Are Especially Good for Your Heart

Yahoo

time3 days ago

  • Health
  • Yahoo

All Vegetables Are Healthy—but These 5 Are Especially Good for Your Heart

These veggies go the extra mile for your cardiovascular health. Eating your veggies is high up on the list of living a happy, healthy life. But many folks specifically reach for vegetables as a way to protect their heart: 'Higher vegetable intakes are strongly and consistently linked to improved cardiovascular health and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease,' says registered dietitian Avery Zenker, RD, MAN. 'Vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and thousands of bioactive phytochemicals that have increasing evidence for their role in supporting cardiovascular health.' If you're looking to load up on heart-healthy vegetables—and promoting your overall health as a result—look no further than this guide to the five healthiest vegetables for your Zenker, RD, MAN, registered dietitian and writer at DiabetesTeamDark, Leafy Greens Salad lovers, this one's for you. Dark, leafy greens are an excellent source of heart-boosting nutrients. 'A large systematic review found that green leafy vegetables had among the strongest associations with reduced incidence and mortality from CVD [cardiovascular disease], CHD [congenital heart disease], and stroke,' Zenker says. 'Leafy green vegetables contain vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols that have been shown to support heart health. Some examples of dark leafy greens include spinach, kale, Swiss chard, collards, beet greens, arugula, romaine lettuce, and more.' The opportunities are endless with this versatile food group; add your choice of leafy greens to salads, smoothies, and sandwiches. Carrots By now, you likely know the health-promoting benefits of carrots—they're good for your eyes, brain, and even your heart. 'Some research has found that people who ate more carrots and other orange vegetables had a lower risk of developing and dying from CVD,' Zenker says. 'Carrots contain a polyphenol called beta-carotene, which is a type of carotenoid that gives carrots their orange colour. Carotenoids have been associated with cardiovascular benefits, and have antioxidant properties that can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, which are key contributors to cardiovascular complications.' Plus, you can enhance the flavor of carrots by roasting, glazing, air frying, or even simply dipping them in ranch. Tomatoes This red, juicy food might technically be considered a fruit, but it's still used as a culinary vegetable—and is incredibly good for your heart. 'Tomatoes contain lycopene, which is a polyphenol that can support heart health due to its antioxidant properties and potential to lower blood pressure, decrease cholesterol, and protect against atherosclerosis (the buildup of plaque in arteries),' Zenker says. Enjoy it in fun dishes like tomato toast, soup, or in pasta. Beets Beets are high in nitric oxide, a molecule that plays a vital role in blood flow and blood pressure regulations. 'Beets are a unique vegetable in that they contain a type of polyphenol called betalains, which give beets their bright color,' Zenker says.'Research suggests that betalains can help reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol and triglycerides, decrease blood pressure, reduce arterial stenosis, and help combat atherosclerosis.' These purple veggies can be prepared in a variety of ways, whether you enjoy them grilled or roasted. Edamame Boosting your heart health doesn't always need to be achieved through fully prepared meals—it can also be done via snacking! 'Edamame is essentially young soybeans, and although it's technically a legume, it's usually consumed like a vegetable,' Zenker says. 'Research consistently finds that legume and soy consumption has been positively correlated with improved cardiovascular health, including improved blood pressure and lower cholesterol.' Snack on these green beans throughout the day to help fuel energy, keep you satiated, and make your heart happy. Read the original article on Real Simple

Why five-a-day might not be enough – and the number of plants you should be eating
Why five-a-day might not be enough – and the number of plants you should be eating

The Independent

time3 days ago

  • Health
  • The Independent

Why five-a-day might not be enough – and the number of plants you should be eating

Eating five fruits and vegetables a day might not cut it, research suggests, with those who eat 11 different plants a day proving to be healthier. People in the UK eat a median of eight different plants a day – including spices and fat-based oils – with some eating just two daily, researchers from King's College London found. But eating a more diverse range of plant-based foods, such as fruit, vegetables, pulses and herbs, is associated with better heart and metabolic health. Researchers found that a diverse diet improved cholesterol levels, blood sugar markers, better overall diet quality and higher intakes of key nutrients, including fibre, vitamins, and minerals. Dr Eirini Dimidi, senior lecturer in nutritional sciences at King's College London and senior author of the study, said: 'Current dietary guidance in the UK often emphasises quantity, such as 'five-a-day' for fruit and vegetables. 'Our findings suggest that dietary variety, across all plant-based food groups, may be just as important for improving diet quality and lowering the risk of cardiometabolic diseases.' The research, published in the journal Clinical Nutrition, analysed data on more than 670 adults from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey between 2016 and 2017. Participants from the survey were split into three groups based on how many different plants they ate. Those in the low-diversity group ate around 5.5 different plant foods per day, the moderate-diversity group 8.1 types, and those in the high-diversity group included roughly 11 different plant foods in their daily diets. Blood tests revealed that people who ate less of a variety of plants in their diet had lower HDL cholesterol, known as 'good cholesterol'. Lower levels of this type of cholesterol could make you more likely to have a heart problem or a stroke. They also found that HBA1C concentration – blood glucose levels – is lower for every one-unit increase in plant diversity. However, the study also found that people who ate a variety of plants generally had a healthier lifestyle. For example, only 6 per cent of people in the high-diversity group smoked, compared with 30 per cent in the low-diversity group. They had also consumed more total sugar, likely due to greater intake of fruits and fruit juices. Although excess sugar can have negative health effects, fruits provide additional beneficial nutrients such as fibre and antioxidants, which may help offset these impacts on blood sugar and overall health. Researchers found vegetables were the largest contributors (21.0 per cent) to diversity, followed by plant-based fats and oils (18.8 per cent), and fruit (17.0 per cent). Dr Dimidi said: 'While higher diversity was associated with better nutrient adequacy overall, key shortfalls remained even among those with the most diverse plant-based diets, particularly for fibre and several micronutrients which are important for maintaining a strong immune system and health bones and tissues.' She added: 'In addition to fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices are great plant-based food sources that can help us to introduce more plant diversity into our diets.' The British Nutrition Foundation highlights that adults should eat 30g of fibre a day - roughly the same amount as you can get from eating five fruits and vegetables a day or by eating 30 plants a week including nuts, seeds, beans and spices in addition to fruit and vegetables. Nutritionist Kim Pearson, who specialises in weight loss, told The Independent: 'Rather than just focusing on quantity, like ticking off five-a-day, we should also be thinking about variety. We know that eating a broader range of plant foods provides a wider range of nutrients and supports gut health, this study highlights how it may also impact metabolic health markers like blood sugar balance and blood lipid levels. 'The fibre and polyphenols found in different fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts, seeds, and herbs all help to feed beneficial gut bacteria. A healthy microbiome is closely linked with metabolic health, immune function, and even mood. Aiming for eleven different plants a day is a great goal. 'This may sound like a lot, but simple strategies like adding a sprinkle of herbs, a mix of salad leaves, a handful of seeds, or trying a new vegetable each week can all help increase variety.' Dietitian Dr Duane Mellor told The Independent: 'This does not go against the idea of five-a-day, it just suggests we should vary the plants we eat. This goes beyond fruit and vegetables and includes herbs, seeds and pulses. Enjoying a variety of foods is key, perhaps more than focusing on eating a certain number.'

All Vegetables Are Healthy—but These 5 Are Especially Good for Your Heart
All Vegetables Are Healthy—but These 5 Are Especially Good for Your Heart

Yahoo

time4 days ago

  • Health
  • Yahoo

All Vegetables Are Healthy—but These 5 Are Especially Good for Your Heart

Eating your veggies is high up on the list of living a happy, healthy life. But many folks specifically reach for vegetables as a way to protect their heart: 'Higher vegetable intakes are strongly and consistently linked to improved cardiovascular health and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease,' says registered dietitian Avery Zenker, RD, MAN. 'Vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and thousands of bioactive phytochemicals that have increasing evidence for their role in supporting cardiovascular health.' If you're looking to load up on heart-healthy vegetables—and promoting your overall health as a result—look no further than this guide to the five healthiest vegetables for your heart. Dark, Leafy Greens Salad lovers, this one's for you. Dark, leafy greens are an excellent source of heart-boosting nutrients. 'A large systematic review found that green leafy vegetables had among the strongest associations with reduced incidence and mortality from CVD [cardiovascular disease], CHD [congenital heart disease], and stroke,' Zenker says. 'Leafy green vegetables contain vitamins, minerals, and polyphenols that have been shown to support heart health. Some examples of dark leafy greens include spinach, kale, Swiss chard, collards, beet greens, arugula, romaine lettuce, and more.' The opportunities are endless with this versatile food group; add your choice of leafy greens to salads, smoothies, and sandwiches. Carrots By now, you likely know the health-promoting benefits of carrots—they're good for your eyes, brain, and even your heart. 'Some research has found that people who ate more carrots and other orange vegetables had a lower risk of developing and dying from CVD,' Zenker says. 'Carrots contain a polyphenol called beta-carotene, which is a type of carotenoid that gives carrots their orange colour. Carotenoids have been associated with cardiovascular benefits, and have antioxidant properties that can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, which are key contributors to cardiovascular complications.' Plus, you can enhance the flavor of carrots by roasting, glazing, air frying, or even simply dipping them in ranch. Tomatoes This red, juicy food might technically be considered a fruit, but it's still used as a culinary vegetable—and is incredibly good for your heart. 'Tomatoes contain lycopene, which is a polyphenol that can support heart health due to its antioxidant properties and potential to lower blood pressure, decrease cholesterol, and protect against atherosclerosis (the buildup of plaque in arteries),' Zenker says. Enjoy it in fun dishes like tomato toast, soup, or in pasta. Beets Beets are high in nitric oxide, a molecule that plays a vital role in blood flow and blood pressure regulations. 'Beets are a unique vegetable in that they contain a type of polyphenol called betalains, which give beets their bright color,' Zenker says.'Research suggests that betalains can help reduce inflammation, lower cholesterol and triglycerides, decrease blood pressure, reduce arterial stenosis, and help combat atherosclerosis.' These purple veggies can be prepared in a variety of ways, whether you enjoy them grilled or roasted. Edamame Boosting your heart health doesn't always need to be achieved through fully prepared meals—it can also be done via snacking! 'Edamame is essentially young soybeans, and although it's technically a legume, it's usually consumed like a vegetable,' Zenker says. 'Research consistently finds that legume and soy consumption has been positively correlated with improved cardiovascular health, including improved blood pressure and lower cholesterol.' Snack on these green beans throughout the day to help fuel energy, keep you satiated, and make your heart happy. Read the original article on Real Simple

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