Weekly Wellness
Issue 154
Featured Article
The Power Behind Bananas -- You'll never look at a banana the same!!
Fitness Tip
Killer Legs
People who are off their feet for awhile can develop killer blood clots. Anyone who
is off their feet for awhile due to illness, surgery or injury may be at risk to develop
a blood clot deep inside their legs. This condition is called Deep Vein Thrombosis,
or DVT. If the blood clot breaks loose and travels to the lung, it can be fatal.
Complications from DVT kill up to 200,000 people a year. That is more than AIDS
and breast cancer combined. The good news is, in most cases DVT can be prevented.
If you or someone you love is laid up for a while, talk to your doctor about how to prevent
DVT.
Nutrition Tip
Avocados High in Vitamin E
Do not let the high calorie content of avocados put you off: They are excellent sources
of vitamin E and lutein, as well as other nutrients. New research suggests that avocados
have nearly twice as much vitamin E, making them the highest fruit source of this nutrient.
For example, a 3-ounce serving of avocados contains 4.31 IU of Vitamin E, while grapes
and peaches have only 1.04 IU each. Avocados also contain phytochemicals, which, like
Vitamin E, are antioxidants that mop up free radicals, which can damage cells and have
been associated with aging, heart disease, and cancer. Avocados also are high in
monounsaturated fat, which lowers blood cholesterol.
Nutrient of the Week
Tryptophan (Essential Amino Acid)
Tryptophan is a natural relaxant that helps alleviate insomnia by inducing normal sleep;
reduces anxiety and depression; helps in the treatment of migraine headaches;
helps the immune system; helps reduce the risk of artery and heart spasms;
works with Lysine in reducing cholesterol levels.
Quick Recipe
Cheesy Grilled Focaccia
Top purchased flat bread with some reduced-fat or non-fat grated cheese of choice.
Grill over indirect heat for five to ten minutes, until heated through. You can also
grill them on a nonstick griddle indoor.
Tidbit(s)
Sugar Grams
Have you heard the fact that a 20-ounce bottle of regular Coke contains the equivalent
of 17 teaspoons of sugar? Can you imagine going to your sugar bowl or canister and
eating 17 teaspoons of sugar straight? Do you check the sugar content on food and
nutrition labels? If not, perhaps you should start. To convert the
grams listed on the label into teaspoons, simply divide the grams of sugar by 4.2 to get
the number of teaspoons. For example, an 8-ounce container of fat free fruit yogurt has
43.1g, or 10.3 teaspoons of sugar. (43.1 divided by 4.2 equals 10.3) The USDA
recommends that the average person eat no more than 10 teaspoons of sugar per day.
Food Fixes
Slightly bumped or bruised fruit shouldn't be wasted. Put the fruit in a blender with some vanilla yogurt or low fat ice cream, skim milk, crushed ice and a pinch of sugar.
Do not throw away left over vegetables freeze, and use the next time you make soups or stews.
If your vegetables are too salty add some raw potatoes to them. Potatoes absorb the salt.
Don't add salt to the water for making corn. You can salt it after it is cooked. Instead, add sugar.