Everyone loves a good banana whether it’s in a cereal bowl or dipped in peanut butter. They certainly have a reputation of being high in potassium and fiber–but do they have any other hidden talents? Here are 3 benefits of bananas you may want to think about…

1. Bananas will improve your mood–well, sort of. Bananas do have tryptophan, an essential amino acid needed to make serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in mood and sleep patterns–however, some might argue its a bit of a stretch

2. Bananas are high in Vitamin B6. B6 is needed to make red blood cells; it also helps the nervous and immune systems function efficiently; interestingly, it is also needed to convert tryptophan to niacin. A medium banana has .68 mg of Vitamin B6 or 34% of its Daily Value

3. Bananas protect against ulcers-they can have an antacid effect so anyone who suffers from gastrointestinal distress may want to try to sooth himself with a banana…I offer no guarantees it will work but it is certainly worth a try!

We all think about them. We all have them. Some of us even know how to give into them. But what exactly is a craving and what should we do about it?

According to Webster’s Dictionary, a craving is an intense, urgent, or abnormal desire or longing. Cravings are certainly intense and need to be addressed urgently, but i am not sure they are abnormal-if that was the case why would we all have them?

So what do we do about them? We give into them asap! Think about what happens when we ignore our cravings…instead of them going away like we want them to they intensify–and eventually we have to give into them–so why not just enjoy them in the moment?

So the next time you crave a scoop of coffee ice cream (my favorite!) on a hot summer day stop by your favorite shop and order a small cup–you will not only be able to enjoy and savor every bite but you will also stop thinking about it…that is until your next craving!

As the July 4th weekend comes and goes I am reminded that summer is here and I can again find my favorite fruits to savor. Just this weekend I was able to get my first taste of peaches and plums for the season…a great opportunity to remind my readers that they have so much more to offer then just wonderful flavors! Enjoy a few fun facts about these summer favorites.

Peaches are a great source of potassium, niacin, and Vitamins A and C. Peaches are often confused with nectarines–if you remember peaches have a ”fuzzy” skin you will be less likely to be confused. The best way to preserve them is to ripen them at home at room temperature in a brown paper bag for 2 to 3 days. I highly recommend trying one of my personal favorites-a grilled peach–it makes a wonderful addition to any barbeque! 

Plums are a drupe—a pitted fruit—related to nectarines, peaches, and apricots; however, they are far more diverse than their relatives, coming in a wider range of shapes, sizes and especially skin colors. Its flavors also vary from extremely sweet to quite tart. Some plum varieties are specifically bred so that they can be dried and still retain their sweetness; these are used for prunes. Plums can be eaten whole, poached or baked. 

The USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion released its new food icon earlier today-a plate. The plate is replacing (the confusing) MyPyramid, which previously replaced the popular and iconic food guide pyramid back in 2005.

The simplified icon is a plate: Fruits and vegetables cover half of it, with the remaining part of the plate made up of protein and grains. The depiction also includes “a cup” for milk

At first glance the plate seems simple and easy to understand. It will allow people to eyeball portion sizes instead of relying on the cumbersome task of measuring.

Remember, the plate is only meant to be a guideline for the public at large–each person has their own individual needs that always need to be considered.

Most would not disagree that the taste of dark chocolate is pleasurable and satisfying; however, few people know that it’s sensational taste can also improve one’s health. Dark chocolate’s rich, almost bitter, taste comes from cocoa; the higher the percentage of cocoa the purer the chocolate. Dark chocolate contains flavonoids that comes from extracts of the cocoa bean. The cocoa is where the antioxidants and thereby the health benefits live.

Enjoy dark chocolate that is comprised of 60-70% cocoa to reap all of its health benefits. Try dipping it in strawberries, atop all natural peanut butter, or in its plain unadulterated form. Just remember to share the sweet stuff!