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February 26, 2009
Make Your Own Peanut Butter!
You don't need a special peanut butter machine to enjoy fresh, homemade peanut butter. Try this:
Here are steps to make your own peanut butter:
Put 2 cups of dry-roasted peanuts in a juicer or food processor.
Pulse for one to three minutes, scraping the sides down.
If it's not turning into a puree, add a teaspoon of canola oil, olive oil or flax oil. Puree an additional two minutes.
Add a dash of sea salt or sugar to lift the flavor.
Posted by Lisa at 06:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 19, 2009
You Are More Than What You Weigh
Get ready for National Eating Disorders Awareness week - Next week from Feb 22-28. Visit NEDAs website for more information.
Here's a place to start:
Follow this link for a powerful video on Fat Talk.
Dove Click on Features and Videos and filter by Dove films. Check out the Evolution and Onslaught videos.
Posted by Lisa at 06:03 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 15, 2009
New Exercise Guidelines
Greater amounts of physical activity than currently recommended may be necessary to prevent people from gaining weight, and to help them lose weight and keep it off, according to updated guidelines issued by the American College of Sports Medicine.
In a 2001 position paper, the ACSM recommended a minimum of 150 minutes per week (roughly 30 minutes per day 5 times per week) of moderate-intensity physical activity for overweight and obese adults to improve health; however, 200 to 300 minutes per week was recommended for long-term weight loss.
Evidence published after 1999 indicates that between 150 and 250 minutes per week of moderate intensity physical activity is effective in preventing weight gain greater than 3% in most adults but will provide "only modest" weight loss.
Greater amounts of weekly physical activity — in the order of 250 minutes or more per week — have been associated with "significant" weight loss, the ACSM notes. Overweight and obese adults will most likely lose more weight and keep it off with at least 250 minutes per week of exercise.
Posted by Lisa at 10:58 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 10, 2009
A Healthy Gift for Your Valentine
A massage: Give your valentine a gift certificate for a soothing massage. Some types of massage are more relaxing than others.
One of the best is Trager work, a system that uses rocking and bouncing movements to lull you into a dreamy altered state.
A box of good quality dark chocolate. Chocolate is the traditional Valentine's Day gift, and if it's a good dark variety, with at least 70 percent cocoa, it really is a healthy treat. Chocolate is a source of polyphenols, the same kinds of antioxidants found in red wine and green tea. The fat it contains is mostly stearic acid, which doesn't raise cholesterol levels. Recent studies indicate that compounds called flavonoids in dark chocolate are good for the heart. They reduce the stickiness of platelets, inhibiting blood clotting and reducing the danger of coronary artery blockages. Splurge on a box of the best, imported from Belgium, France or Venezuela.
Florida Oranges for Valentine's Day. Send a gift of sunshine in a box. You can buy oranges, grapefruit, honeybells, and other healthy citrus fruits fresh from the grove. Gift baskets with an assortment of fruit also make a thoughtful and healthy gift this Valentine's Day.
Posted by Lisa at 06:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 07, 2009
Eating More: Fruit
Del Monte is making it easier to get more fruit in with its new product called Super Fruits. These are 8-oz fruit cups found in the refrigerated produce section of your local supermarket. Each cup is actually 2 servings so be sure to read the label correctly.
One serving provides 100% DV of viatmin C. The antioxidant-rich SuperFruit cups come in 3 flavors – Mixed Fruit Chunks in Mango Passion Fruit Juice, Peach Chunks in Pomegranate Orange Juice, and Pear Chunks in Acai Blackberry Juice.
Posted by Lisa at 08:43 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 04, 2009
Go Red For Women
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women, affecting one in every three women. Help raise awareness by wearing red on National Wear Red Day, Friday, February 6, 2009. Join millions of Americans on this day and wear red to show your support for the fight against heart disease in women.
Posted by Lisa at 06:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 02, 2009
Selecting Beef
Fat content: The USDA defines "lean beef" as having less than 10 grams (g) of total fat, 4.5g or less of saturated fat, and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol per 3½-ounce serving (100g) of cooked beef. There are 29 naturally lean cuts of beef, such as tenderloin, flank steak, and sirloin, as well as five lesser-known cuts.
Others, such as ribeye or chuck roast, naturally contain more fat, although it is similarly divided between saturated and monounsaturated.
If using fattier cuts, slice away the outer rim of fat and cut or pull out any pockets of fat before cooking. For larger cuts, allow the fat to baste the meat while cooking, then trim away before eating, or skim it from the surface of braised dishes or stews.
Other nutrients: A 3½-ounce serving provides 27g to 30g of protein -- more than half of the 50g recommended daily in a 2,000-calorie-per-day diet. All beef is an excellent source of iron, zinc, and phosphorus. In general, the redder the meat, the more iron it contains (beef liver has the most). Beef also contains thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin and is a rich source of B12, found naturally only in animal foods.
Inspection and grading: USDA inspectors examine all live animals and beef shipped out of state, which encompasses most of today's supermarket beef. Grading is voluntary and done by the same inspectors. The more marbling -- the small white flecks of fat within the muscles -- the higher the grade. Three grades of beef are sold to consumers. Only three percent is highly marbled Prime, sought after by top steak houses and butcher shops. About 57 percent is moderately marbled Choice, the most common supermarket grade. The remaining 40 percent is lean Select.
Posted by Lisa at 07:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack