MSI Press Blog

  A healthy pregnancy is built on balance — nourishing your body, moving safely, nurturing relationships, and keeping your mindset steady. The essentials below draw from current guidance by the CDC, Mayo Clinic, and NIDDK. 1. Healthy Eating Pregnancy isn’t about “eating for two”; it’s about eating smart for two . Focus on nutrient density: Lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. Iron and folate: Support blood volume and fetal development. Leafy greens, beans, fortified cereals, and prenatal vitamins help. Calcium and vitamin D: Build bones and teeth — dairy, fortified plant milks, and sunlight exposure matter. Hydration: Aim for steady water intake throughout the day; dehydration increases fatigue and constipation. Limit caffeine and avoid alcohol. Weight gain: Slow and steady. Depending on pre‑pregnancy BMI, most people gain 25–35 lb for a single pregnancy. 2. Healthy Exercise Movement keeps circulation strong, mood stable, and muscles ready for lab...

  Excerpt from Old and On Hold   Eating through a Pandemic The food supply chain has been turned upside down, creating unusual problems wherein some farmers are tossing milk or burying vegetables while people are lined up at food banks without adequate supplies of food. As of this writing ,we are being told that meat processing has been affected by plant workers being struck with COVID-19. A threat of meat shortage can create food insecurity and the desire to hoard which, of course, requires a way to store larger quantities of food. People without means, including elderly on fixed incomes living in small spaces, can’t hoard. We can expect that grocers will put some limits on the amount bought just as stores did with toilet paper and paper towels. I thank my grocer every time I go in for the effort to provide and, in some cases, “police” our good intentions for the good of all. Stress and boredom are triggers for overindulging. Sugary and salty foods offer temporary satisfactio...

  Nourishing Every Generation: A Nutritional Journey Through Life Nutrition is a dynamic landscape that evolves with each generation, reflecting changing lifestyles, food technologies, and health awareness. As we celebrate National Nutrition Month, let's explore how dietary needs and approaches shift from the Baby Boomers to Generation Z. Baby Boomers (Born 1946-1964): Embracing Wellness and Prevention For Baby Boomers, nutrition becomes increasingly about maintaining health and preventing age-related conditions. This generation is focusing on heart-healthy diets, foods that support bone density, and nutrients that combat inflammation. Mediterranean and plant-based diets are gaining popularity, with an emphasis on whole grains, lean proteins, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Supplements like calcium, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids become crucial for maintaining muscle mass, bone strength, and cognitive function. Generation X (Born 1965-1980): Balancing Nutrition and Busy Li...

Too much holiday food? Gained some weight? Need to move on from overeating in general? New Year's Resolution weighing you down?  Take some advice from Christina Fisanick, author of The Optimistic Food Addict? Ending the Tyranny of Day One:  Stop Starting Over and Start Living Your Life in Recovery by Christina Fisanick “I will start day one again on Monday.”  “I blew it! It’s back to day one tomorrow.”  “I am ready to get back to eating healthy. Day one starts today!” I hear those words often in recovery circles, especially at this time of year when overeating during the holidays and then dieting in the new year are the “norm.” Even people without disordered eating struggle with guilt for eating too many high calories foods and abandoning their exercise routines. However, for people who suffer from an eating disorder (and people for whom dieting is a way of life) continuously starting over and over and over again can actually hamper recov...

  Binge eating and overeating can be a problem for almost anyone over the holidays. Author Dr. Christina Fisanick Greer knows all about unhealthy relationships with food. Her book, The Optimistic Food Addict, brings insight and support for those suffering from binge eating disorder but also for anyone who at times eats too much  Chapter Eighteen: Dancing with the Dragon              The fever started the day after Christmas, and by December 28, I was out of commission entirely—struck down by the flu. I could barely sleep, but that’s all I wanted to do. My throat hurt, my head hurt, my back hurt. My entire body was alive with peculiar aches and painful spasms.              By the time I started feeling somewhat functional, I still had no appetite and, worse yet, no sense of smell or taste. This predicament gave me a good opportunity to put to rest a curiosity ...

  Tiger, the great and powerful orange tabby, has been untouchable for 14 years. When his owner, my disabled daughter, whom he fiercely and forcibly protects, moved from her apartment back home with me. Tiger would not go into his carrier. No way. No how. Not chasable. Not touchable--put claws all the way through my shoe and my son's glove, his teeth baring in a loud, prolonged threatening hiss. Not enticed by food even after eight hours of packing and alternately encouraging Tiger to be part of the process and let us put him in his carrier--one big enough for a large dog, anything else being unthinkable that he would enter. We contacted a friend with a feral cat trap and made plans to leave Tiger alone overnight in the empty apartment and try to catch him with the trap after being hungry for even longer. But, Tiger is a smart cat. As my son and I headed out of the apartment, followed by my daughter in her wheelchair, Tiger went into the carrier and looked at us. He was not to be s...