By Mark van Tol

Smoothies and summer go hand in hand and are a refreshing relief from the long, hot days that mark the season. Making a smoothie is simple, and they are a great way to improve your diet by ensuring you get your daily intake of fruit.

To get started, the first thing you need is a blender. With so many models to choose from an important feature to look for is the amount of watts a blender has. The more watts, the stronger the motor and easier it is to blend thicker substances or crush ice, which is great for smoothies.

A common complaint among blender users is that thicker blends tend to stick to the sides of the jar. (more…)

In 2001, one in eight Canadians were 65 years-of-age or older. By 2026, one in five Canadians will have reached age 65. And by the year 2041, 9.2 million, or one in four of us will have hit that golden age. Healthy aging is the key to optimizing the years we have without disease or other chronic conditions that may keep us from enjoying life to the fullest.

Eating a variety of nutritious foods for a low fat, high fiber diet, rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, is one good strategy for lowering our risk of disease and disease-related disabilities. Also, it keeps our brains and bodies in tip-top shape as the years pass by. Remember that healthy aging also requires daily physical activity along with activities that exercise the brain.

In general, energy/calorie needs do get lower with aging because we have less muscle, more body fat and many of us tend to be less active. Keep in mind that we still need about the same amount of other important nutrients, including carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals, to stay healthy, and don’t forget the fluids. Here’s how mushrooms can be a tasty part of your anti-aging diet strategy. (more…)