Women’s Health USA – September 2019

WOMEN’S HEALTH SEPTEMBER 2019

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P 34

Step aside, blueberries, because

there’s a new superfruit in town:

the aronia, or chokeberry. Hailing

from the Midwest, this blueberry

look-alike is bursting with

immunity-boosting vitamins and

record-breaking amounts of anti-

oxidants, such as anthocyanins,

powerful anti-inflammatories and

the reason for that Prince-worthy,

deep-purple hue. But because it

has a dry texture (it’s high in

tannins, like red wine) and

is known to be super

tart, it’s best when

blended with other

ingredients, such as

a banana in an a.m.

smoothie, or kale,

almonds, and a bit

of Parm for a pesto.

Check out your local

market or Amazon

(yep!) to stock up.

If rich comfor t food is your go -to

fix for dealing with life’s over-

whelming moments, you may

want to switch gears. Eating

high-fat foods when you’re fraz-

zled may lead to more weight

gain and overeating than con-

suming the same foods when

you’re tension-free, per a

new study in Cell Metabolism.

The reason, according to

the researchers: When we’re

stressed, nerve cells in our brain

become desensitized to insulin,

which causes them to increa se

production of a molecule called

NPY. This molecule promotes

eating and also lowers the

body’s normal burning of ener-

gy (a.k.a. calories), leading to

extra pounds.

So what’s an exhausted girl

to do? Think of “comfort food”

a s food that provides your body

with the nutrients it needs, es-

pecially in chaotic times. Fresh

produce, whole grains, lean

proteins, and lots of water are

your best bet for a balanced

mind—and healthy bod.

Fresh

Pick

The Stress-

Cookie

Connection

HOT OFF THE PRESS

With food recalls continuing to rear their icky heads, more companies are turning to a new preserving technique to extend shelf life and nix

foodborne bacteria without affecting health benefits. Meet high-pressure processing (HPP): By applying force to the container equal to

“piling up 15 elephants,” HPP can squash yuck’s ability to grow, sans chemicals and heat, says Cristina Fernández-Fraguas, PhD, an assistant

professor in the department of food science and technology at Virginia Tech. That keeps your packaged food as clean as possible. To spot

the HPP method, look for goodies without common additives in the ingredient list, like sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate, or check for

“cold-pressed” or “no preservatives” on the label. Two faves? Mush’s Overnight Oats and Do Anything Foods sauces.

Sources: William O’Brien, co-owner of

Bellbrook Berry Farm; Kelly Hogan, RD,

dietitian in New York City

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Source: Chi Kin Ip, eating disorders

research officer at the Garvan Institute

of Medical Research

WARM UP FOOD