Clemson Extension Rural Health and Nutrition Blog

Building a Healthy Smoothie

Introduction Finding healthy food options at the store or at home can be challenging. Smoothies can be a great choice when you need something quick, easy, satisfying, and nourishing to fuel your body. When you think of smoothies, fruits and vegetables often come to mind. While fruits and vegetables are great foundations for a smoothie, […]

Healthy Choices, Successful Schools: Making Smart Snacks Work

Smart Snacks help schools support student health, improve focus, and promote lifelong healthy eating habits. Image Credit: RHN Team Picture Bank Why Smart Snacks Matter Students spend about seven hours a day at school and can get up to half of their daily calories during the school day. That means small changes in snack choices […]

Growing Healthier Families Through Home Gardening

Home gardening is more than a passion; it can be a powerful tool for building healthier families. Studies show that growing vegetables at home can lead to improved nutrition, encourage physical activity, and support emotional well-being. Beyond the overall health benefits, gardening together can strengthen family bonds and help ease the financial strain of food […]

The Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mom and Baby

Breastfeeding is more than just a way to feed a baby; it is a natural process that offers a wide range of benefits for both mom and baby. Not only does it provide ideal nutrition for infants, but it also offers physical and emotional benefits for mothers. Recognizing these shared advantages can help parents make […]

Summer Safety with Diabetes

Having water on hand is one of the easiest ways to stay hydrated in the summer. Image Credit: RHN Team Picture Bank, 2020, Clemson Extension With warmer weather and longer days, the summer months provide more opportunities for outdoor activities. But before planning that trip to the beach or afternoon hike, make sure you are […]

Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis, or delayed gastric emptying, occurs when the stomach takes too long to empty its contents. Gastric refers to the stomach, and paresis is a condition where muscle weakness or paralysis occurs due to nerve damage. The effects of gastroparesis are that muscles in the stomach do not move well or have impaired mobility, causing […]

Busy Body, Healthy Plate: Balancing Nutrition in a Fast-Paced World

Busy lives often result in less attention to balanced nutrition. However, there are many small changes that you can implement to make meeting your nutrition goals possible. The USDA gives some basic guidelines and encourages eating nutrient-dense foods across all food groups. A healthy diet includes vegetables, fruits, dairy, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy […]

Nutrition Recommendations for Diabetes

Introduction Diabetes is a complex chronic disease that, when left untreated, can impact every part of the body. Often, one may hear older generations refer to diabetes as a “touch of sugar” or “sugar diabetes.” While these names for the condition of diabetes are technically inaccurate terms, they do in some ways describe a small […]

Spring Into Health: Simple Habits for a Healthier You

Spring is the perfect time to start or resume a few healthy habits. Healthy living does not need to be complicated or restrictive. In fact, incorporating just three simple habits can lead to positive results. What steps do you need to take to “spring” into health? 1. Eat Real Food Nature is filled with amazing […]

Busy World, Quiet Mind: Prioritizing Mental Well-being in a Fast-Paced World

An important part of a healthy lifestyle that often gets overlooked is mental health. Mental health is our state of mental well-being that enables us to cope with the stressors of life. Mental health is important for making decisions, building relationships, and shaping our world. When life is busy, stress and feeling overwhelmed can lead […]

Kidney Health and Diabetes

The kidneys are vital organs essential for survival, playing massive roles in waste management within the human body to support functions of all organ systems. To carry out their roles, the kidneys remove waste by filtering the blood and using the waste and extra fluids to produce urine. During this process, the kidneys remove acids […]

The Role of the Gut Microbiota in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), one of the most notable risk factors for type 2 diabetes is obesity. Obesity raises the risk for type 2 diabetes by increasing the body’s resistance to insulin, the hormone responsible for removing glucose (sugar) from the blood and delivering it to the body’s cells for energy. Additionally, […]

Overcoming the “Winter Blues”

The trees have lost their leaves, the sun sets early, and the breeze outside is chilling-we are now in the heart of the winter season. While some love the colder months, others may find this time of year puts a damper on their mood. As the weather turns cold and dark, we tend to stay […]

Prickly Pear and Diabetes

Plant-based dietary additives are becoming more popular as they’re affordable and offer less side effects than some traditional medications. One such plant being used is the prickly pear cactus, which is native to Central America and the Southwestern United States. In these regions, prickly pears have been traditionally used as herbal remedies for their potential […]