Home > Weekly Ezine > Healthy Ezine Archives > Issue 176

Healthy Ezine of the Week: Issue 176

Featured Article

Thyroid Disease

Fitness Tip

Heart Smart Exercise Strategy
If you are trying to keep your cholesterol under control, exercising for long periods of time may be more beneficial than shorter high-intensity workouts. Here is why: Saturated fats are broken down into acetone units, which the liver uses to make cholesterol. When you burn calories through exercise, acetone units are used for energy rather than cholesterol production. Lengthy exercise sessions allow you to burn more calories than intense exercise, since the latter causes muscle soreness and limits your ability to exercise on subsequent days.

Nutrition Tip

Cinnamon Remedy
A dash of cinnamon could significantly lower your cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar. When 30 women and men with type 2 diabetes added a sprinkle to their meals, blood sugar and heart-damaging blood fats (total cholesterol and triglycerides) fell 12 to 30 percent in just 40 days, say researchers at the USDA's Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center in Maryland. Cinnamon makes muscle and liver cells more sensitive to signals from insulin, an important blood-sugar-controlling hormone. Have a little (about 1/6 teaspoon) at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, for a daily total of about 1/2 teaspoon, he recommends. Since cinnamon may reduce your need for diabetes or cholesterol medication, ask your doctor if you need to adjust your dose.

Nutrient of the Week

Euphrasia (euphrasia officinalis)
Euphrasia (euphrasia officinalis) or eyebright is an herb the name of which comes from the Greek word euphrosyne which means "gladness". Euphrasia has been used for centuries for various eye problems. It is also used topically, mixed with other herbs to treat conjunctivitis and other inflammations or as an eyewash.

Quick Recipe

Bruschetta
Cut one 18-inch loaf of French bread into 36 (one-half thick) slices; place in single layer on baking sheet. Broil one to two minutes on each side or until golden brown on both sides.
Mix one pound chopped plum tomatoes, one-quarter cup chopped fresh basil and 2 sliced green onions in medium bowl. Add 1/3 cup Italian dressing; mix lightly.
Spoon tomato mixture evenly over toast slices. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
Makes 36 servings, 1 topped toast slice each.

Tidbit(s)

17,000 Trainers Must be Right!
In a nationwide survey of 17,000 certified trainers (including yours-truly) conducted by the American Council on Exercise, the squat was voted the overwhelming favorite exercise because it strengthens all of the major muscles of the lower body. Other top trainer choices for a well-rounded fitness program include abdominal exercises, yoga, running, lunges, walking and push-ups.

Food Fixes

Mini-kabobs: Use toothpicks as your skewers. Thread pineapple pieces, small chunks of cheese, green pepper, strawberries, grape tomatoes, fresh broccoli... the list is endless. Make these up ahead of time and have handy in the refrigerator.

Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.

To prevent a clogged pepper shaker place a dried pea in the pepper container.

To keep salt from clumping put rice or pinto beans in bottom of salt shaker.

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