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Healthy Ezine of the Week: Issue 169

Featured Article

Analyze Your Excuse for Lack of Physical Activity

Fitness Tip

Calculate your BMI
If you want to know whether your health could possibly be at risk because of your weight, calculate your body mass index (BMI). (Weight in pounds, height in inches).

  • 1. Weight times 705 = "A"
  • 2. "A" divided by height = "B"
  • 3. "B" divided by height = BMI

The risk of premature death begins to rise sharply as the BMI rises above 25. A BMI of 23 or below seems to be ideal for reducing heart disease and diabetes risk. Try the Fitness and Freebies online BMI Calculator!

Nutrition Tip

Low Carb Diets May Be Dangerous to Your Health If you're concerned about the safety of low-carb diets, you're not alone. Misleading claims made by proponents of "low-carb" diets have led millions of people to mistakenly believe all carbohydrates are unhealthy.
As a result of this misperception, many people are pursuing weight loss by giving up carbohydrates entirely, some in favor of a diet high in artery-clogging saturated fats. The Atkins Diet in particular seeks to reduce weight by severely restricting carbohydrates, which forces the body to burn fat instead of glucose for energy. This leads to a state of ketosis which, among other things, can damage the kidneys.
The fact is, a majority of more than 500 cardiovascular professionals surveyed say low-carb diets are unhealthy. More than 80 percent of these professionals say that low-carb diets are unhealthy, or that long-term studies on the effects of these diets must be performed.

Nutrient of the Week

Taurine (Non-Essential Amino Acid)
Helps stabilize the excitability of membranes which is very important in the control of epileptic seizures. Taurine and sulfur are considered to be factors necessary for the control of many biochemical changes that take place in the aging process; aids in the clearing of free radical wastes.

Quick Recipe

Tuna Steak
Ingredients
8 ounces tuna steak
1/2 cup Caesar dressing (low-fat)
Ground pepper to taste
2 onion buns
4 leaves lettuce
4 slices tomato

Directions
Prepare grill.
Wash tuna.
Sprinkle ground pepper on tuna and place tuna on grill.
Brush tuna with Caesar dressing while cooking (approximately 1/4 cup of dressing per tuna steak).
Just before taking the tuna steak off the grill, place buns on grill to toast.
Top sandwich with lettuce and tomato slices as desired. If needed, drizzle more dressing or some Dijon mustard on the steak.
Health Fact: A 3-ounce tuna steak contains between 4-5 grams of fat and 1 gram of saturated fat. Nutrition information:
Calories: 360
Fat: 9g
Cholesterol: 60mg
Sodium: 990mg
Fiber: 2g

Tidbit(s)

Sun Allergy
Some people are sensitive to sunlight and develop hives or welts (solar urticaria) on exposure to the sun. This isn't a true allergy. Instead, the sunlight activates inflammatory cells or proteins in the skin, which trigger the hives. Also, certain medications and diseases can cause a skin reaction with sun exposure (photosensitivity). But such reactions are usually a red rash, not welts or hives. Using sunscreen may help. But because it doesn't completely block out the sun's rays, you may still have a reaction.

Food Fixes

It is better to steam your vegetables. Better tasting and more nutritious.

Ripen avocados in a brown bag or bowl of flour. You can test it for ripeness by sticking a toothpick through the end in the stem.

To cook all parts of the broccoli equally, cut an X in the stem.

Perk up soggy lettuce by soaking in cold water with some lemon juice. To store place in a zip lock bag with paper towel to absorb moisture.

This 'n That

Free recipes for many dietary needs!

Fitness and Freebies Sister Site, focuses strictly on nutrition! Lots of great food information! BellyBytes.com