Nutrition
Oatzempic. Another social media fueled diet craze is upon us, albeit not as outrageous as the cotton ball or dish pod diet. Oatzempic is a blended drink made of 1/2 cup rolled oats + 1 cup water + dash of cinnamon + squeeze of lime juice. The name is derived from a play on Ozempic, a diabetes medication that not only regulates blood sugar but also reduces appetite resulting weight loss. While props for the creative wordplay, there is nothing science, or evidenced based about this diet. It’s basically an oatmeal smoothie containing around 150 calories, a few grams of fiber, some B vitamins and a splash of vitamin C. While these are all healthy ingredients, there’s not enough there to curb hunger and the taste is meh, so why bother? https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/03/well/eat/oats-ozempic-tiktok.html
Two Cans = Too Much. Even exercise doesn’t cancel out the effects of a few cans of sugar sweetened beverages weekly. This study reviewed data from 100,000 adults over a 30 year period. Those who drank more than two sugar sweetened beverages per week had an increased risk for cardiovascular events despite their level of exercise. I’m not pro sugar sweetened beverages but don’t you wonder what other factors were at play? Did these adults frequent more drive throughs, eat more processed foods, fewer fruits, vegetables and whole grains? Did they have low sleep quality and manage their stress with destructive habits? No I don’t support drinking sugar sweetened beverages at all. May water always be your first beverage of choice all day long, but two soda’s a week, cmon there’s a lot of factors at play beyond the beverage choice. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/drinking-2-servings-sugary-drinks-soda-per-week-may-harm-heart-health
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002916524000017
Gut Health. Yes this after a soda post. You support trillions of healthy macrobiotic friends living in your gut every time you eat plants. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, bean and legumes help these healthful beasts chow down as Dr. Taylor Wallace puts it. These gut microbiomes impact hormones that regulate appetite, metabolism, and mood. We also know that there is a healthful gut: brain and brain:heart connection so wouldn’t you want to help this creatures feast more often than not? #eataplant https://fruitsandveggies.org/stories/all-smiles-for-a-happy-gut-microbiome/
Exercise
Exercises for Desk Jockies. If you sit all day, try this as a 10 minute break to improve posture, get blood flowing and refresh. https://www.instagram.com/yogawithanjaly/p/C32dlWdojr6/?img_index=9
Mental Health
The Power of Wonder. Does slowing down your thought process and wondering, absent technology, allow you to build resilience, strengthen relationships, experience newness, enhance creativity, lower blood pressure, stress hormones and inflammation and generally make you healthier emotionally, mentally and physically? I don’t have to wonder as to the validity of that at all. There is so much more knowledge and beauty we can tap into according to author Monica Parker if we just take ourselves of auto pilot and open ourselves to wonder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1Enx5e6BL8
Recipe of the Week
Grilled Asparagus. Asparagus season is just around the corner and this recipe is as simple as it gets. https://www.foodiecrush.com/grilled-asparagus/ Look at all that fiber, iron, Vitamin C, potassium and taste!
Thought for the Week
Create a better work environment through a biophilic design. Increase natural lighting, ventilation and greenery. Creating a relationship with nature in your work space has a positive mental, physical and behavioral benefit. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/12/20/why-biology-first-thinking-is-key-to-modern-workplace-design/?sh=3db626246ea5
Categories: Nutrition & Wellness
The Dietitian's Digest 
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