Healthy Eating

Because Tucson’s late spring outdoor temperatures can be compared to summer in many parts of the country, we have a prodigious combination of foresummer crops coming out of local gardens to grace our dinner tables.

We can thank greenhouses in part for the early bounty, but many Tucson and surrounding area gardeners were able to get started earlier in the year with seedlings than in most other areas of the country. Summer here is a force to be reckoned with, but the low incidence of frost are certainly in our favor.

Life is a high-demand undertaking for most people today, and much more so for those who are also physically active. Tired souls are always in search of extra energy to carry out long, busy days, and the many tonics, pills and supplements available in stores attest to that growing need.

Spring cleaning time is upon us, both for our homes and our bodies. Now is the time health and daily living magazines feature the latest cleansing tonic and exercise routine.

After months of winter’s culinary indulgences, your body needs lighter dining fare. Foods with warmer properties are no longer necessary, yet the summer time’s sumptuous, luscious melons are not yet in season. During this time, changing food habits is like rotating your wardrobe; you may begin phasing out rich foods that are like a warm coat to favoring foods that are more like a light, long-sleeved shirt.

Did you make a New Year’s resolution to eat healthier this year? If so, you may be surprised to learn which foods are really not as good for you as you once thought.

Light. Reduced Fat. Reduced Sodium. All natural. Essential vitamins and minerals. Give a nod to the companies that are actually trying, but consider the flaws in foods carrying some of those labels. It’s guaranteed that the more a food is processed the more it becomes junk, regardless of claims on the label. But don’t be fooled! The following list of health foods that are actually junk may shock you: