Health Talk Today

Healthy Living

Hellmann’s Mayonnaise

Hellmann's MayonnaiseWe’ve always been a Hellmann’s Mayonnaise family.

Mom used Hellmann’s Mayonnaise, so when I started buying my own groceries, I bought Hellmann’s Mayonnaise, too. I can’t imagine a chicken or roast beef sandwich without it. My egg salad and potato salad can’t be duplicated without it. I don’t know any other mayonnaise or salad dressing that even comes close.

I was thrilled to read that Hellmann’s Mayonnaise is now made with cage-free eggs. Good, I thought. Hellmann’s is concerned with quality. Cage-free eggs are better eggs.

So, I would never even consider switching brands.

Until now …

For some unknown reason, Hellmann’s decided to switch from a glass bottle to a plastic bottle. I continued to buy the large, 64 ounce bottle at Sam’s Club, only because it was a number 1 recycled plastic. But, the mayonnaise started smelling and tasting like plastic. We use part of a bottle, then I throw out over half. I’m afraid the plastic bottle is leaching chemicals into the mayonnaise.

One of my rules is to never choose plastic if there’s another option. But, I don’t see another option with Hellmann’s Mayonnaise. I only find it in plastic bottles now, no matter which size bottle I check.

So, this time, when I bought a new bottle of Hellmann’s Mayonnaise, I transferred it to glass bottles. I’m still skeptical about the plastic that it’s been stored in, but there was no plastic smell in the newly opened bottle. I’ll pay close attention as we use the mayonnaise. If it starts to smell like plastic, even in the glass bottles, I’ll throw this out, too. And I’ll be shopping for a new brand of mayonnaise.



Do you love Hellmann’s Mayonnaise?

Leave a comment with your experience and opinion of plastic, recycled bottles.

Marilyn Kvasnok

Overfed and Undernourished

Overfed and UndernourishedHow is it that Americans today consume an average of 610 calories a day more than they did 20 years ago—yet are still falling short in getting enough of the most critical nutrients needed for a long and healthy life? Blame it on our superbusy, fast food-packed lifestyles that drive us to make compromises of convenience, which are taking a toll on our nutritional status.

  • More than 80% of Americans have inadequate vitamin D blood levels, and for those over 50, almost 100% do not get the recommended amount of vitamin D from their diet. Vitamin D is needed for calcium absorption, and a results in osteomalacia (a softening of bones in adults).
  • About half of adults don’t get enough vitamin C, which plays a role in immune function. One of the first signs of poor vitamin C status is low energy.
  • 86% of men and 93% of women don’t get enough vitamin E. This vitamin also is key to supporting a healthy immune system.
  • 90% of teenage girls, more than 67% of women ages 19–50, and more than 90% of women over 50 fall short in reaching the recommended dietary intake for calcium from diet alone. Calcium is a mineral essential for strong and healthy bones.
  • Iron deficiency is believed to affect up to 16% of premenopausal women in the U.S., primarily because suboptimal iron consumption and menstruation lead to negative iron balance.
  • Two-thirds of adults don’t get enough magnesium, an essential mineral needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. Magnesium helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps normal heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones strong.
  • American adults consume only about 15 grams of dietary fiber daily, while dietary guidelines recommend 25 to 35 grams per day. Fiber is important for healthy digestive function and for reducing the risk of heart disease.

There’s no question that NOW is the time to set a goal of eating more healthfully. Start by consuming healthier fast foods: fresh fruits and vegetables for some extra vitamin C, a handful of nuts for the vitamin E and magnesium you may be missing, an extra glass of low-fat or nonfat milk to get more calcium and vitamin D, and replace that white bread with a slice of whole grain toast to help boost your fiber intake. While you’re working toward that goal, take a comprehensive multivitamin/multimineral supplement every day to help fill your nutrient gaps!

Family © 1998-2012 Shaklee Corporation

The Important Role of Nutrition in Cancer Treatment

Guest post by Jillian McKee, Complementary Medicine Advocate at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance.

Fruit and Vegetables

Good nutrition is instrumental in a cancer patient’s life because it makes a big difference in how the body responds to treatment. Sometimes treatments are very hard on the body. Eating a good diet will help the body replace damaged cells and will help in healing after surgery. If cancer patients continue to eat a good, nutritious diet during their illnesses, they will keep their strength intact. All of these issues are a concern when people are just being diagnosed, currently undergoing treatment, or recovering from cancer.

Weight is a highly important topic to doctors. As people lose weight after being diagnosed, they lower survival chances more quickly than those who can keep their weight at a healthy level. Similarly, when losing weight during their illnesses, enthusiasm and quality of life declines. By keeping their weight at a healthy level, energy levels are maintained. They can better maintain their normal lives and do not feel as hopeless as those who are feeling weak.

As people eat a nutritious diet, they can reduce the symptoms that they experience from their cancer treatments. If cancer patients are becoming malnourished, they often notice side effects that are more severe. These can be decreased by maintaining a healthy body weight. Side effects include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Anemia
• Anorexia

Problems with getting enough nutrition present themselves when it’s hard to eat a sufficient amount of food. Those who are currently receiving mesothelioma cancer treatments, for example, may need to have a feeding tube. This way, they will receive a healthy mixture of water, proteins, fats, vitamins, and carbohydrates. It can lead to these patients feeling much better than they did previously.

The medical staff will begin to take nutrition into consideration right after a patient has been diagnosed with cancer. They will want to identify any potential problems that could present themselves throughout the patients’ treatment. Then they can develop a plan to make sure malnutrition does not become an issue.


Jillian McKeeJillian McKee has worked as the Complementary Medicine Advocate at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance since June of 2009. Jillian spends most her time on outreach efforts and spreading information about the integration of complementary and alternative medicine when used in conjunction with traditional cancer treatment.

Leave a comment for Jill with your best nutrition ideas.

Food That Is Good For You

I believe that continuing to take little steps in the right direction, will add up to a healthy lifestyle. And every time I take another step, I find there’s so much more I can do. There are many stages of eating healthy. Some people think processed lunch meat is healthy. Others think more chicken and less beef is better for them. And some won’t eat meat at all.

No matter what your eating habits are today, here are some little steps you can take …

Drink more water
Aim for 8 glasses of water a day. I’ve read that everything counts: Water, coffee, tea, even the water content of food like lettuce. I think only water is counted as water. That’s what I try to drink most of the time.

Eat less salt
Add a little salt if needed, as food is cooking. But, never add salt at the table.

Eat slowly and chew well
Put your fork down between bites. Chew at least 20 times per bite. Pay attention to feeling full. Stop when you get that feeling.

Eat food that is good for you
A plant based diet is one of the healthiest. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. And, to minimize pesticides, buy organic when possible. Use a non-toxic cleaner to wash fruits and vegetables to remove any dirt, germs from handling, surface pesticides and protective coatings. Even food you’re going to peel should be washed. When you peel or cut into it, you don’t want to drag dirt, germs and pesticides into the food.

Food That Is Good For You


Be sure to leave a comment. What’s your favorite food that is good for you?

Marilyn Kvasnok

What Do the Recycle Numbers Mean?

Recycle Numbers Chart

Recycle Numbers Chart

Recycle Tips

  • Don’t choose plastic if there’s another option.
  • Don’t re-use plastic bottles. They’re meant for a one-time use. Several uses can allow the chemicals to leach into food and drinks.
  • Use stainless steel or glass instead of plastic.
  • Limit the use of plastic wrap.
  • Never use plastic wrap in the microwave.
  • Never cover hot food with plastic wrap. Consider using a plate as a cover. Or use a glass bottle with a lid.
  • Recycle plastic bottles to keep them out of the landfills.
  • Buy concentrated, non-toxic cleaning products. You’ll pay less and recycle less plastic. Non-toxic products are safe for your family, your home and the planet.

Marilyn Kvasnok

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