Weekly Wellness
Issue 241
Featured Article
What makes people overweight? -- Just what is it about our bodies that makes us gain weight?
Fitness Tip
Find the right activity.
Answers to three questions will tell you if your exercise program is right for you. Try different activities, and ask yourself:
- Do I look forward to this?
- Do I enjoy doing it?
- Do I feel good afterward?
If you answer yes to all three, it's an activity you'll probably keep doing. Remember, no exercise program will work for long if you have to force yourself to do it.
Nutrition Tip
Oats: A Champion Food
Nutritionists keep adding to oats good reputation. In new research, Tufts University found that oats contain compounds called avenanthramides, which may suppress the ability of blood cells to cling to artery walls, where they incite inflammation, plaque buildup and, eventually, a possible heart attack. Previous research found that oats are rich in water-soluble fiber thought to reduce bad cholesterol and that oats help stabilize blood sugar. All of this makes oats a health-food champion, as a cereal, in breads and cookies, as a thickener in stews and as a crispy topping on fruit desserts.
Quip or Quote of the Week
Quote:
"A full belly makes a dull brain". --Benjamin Franklin
Quick Recipe
Home Made Tortilla Chips
For a quick, easy and low-fat snack, try making your own tortilla chips. Stack five tortillas and cut the stack into eight wedges, like a mini pizza, to make 40 wedges. Arrange in a single layer on two baking sheets and coat lightly with cooking spray. Sprinkle evenly with 1/2-teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (optional). Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven 7 to 10 minutes or until crisp. Serve warm or let cool and store in a plastic bag at room temperature up to five days.
Tidbit
Cooked Ground Beef
According to the American Dietetic Association, you can reduce the fat content of cooked ground beef by as much as 50 percent if you rinse the beef after cooking! You still retain the nutrients such as iron, zinc, and B vitamins, so enjoy this healthier version. So before you serve up that burger, take the time to rinse off the extra fat. A small step will go a long away.
Food Fixes
Use turkey in place of chicken, or ground turkey in place of ground beef, in your favorite recipes.
If your brown sugar has gone hard, place a soft piece of bread in the package and close tightly. In a couple of hours the sugar will be soft again. Discard bread.
Store mushrooms in refrigerator in a brown paper bag-never a plastic one. Otherwise they become slimy. Paper lets the mushrooms breathe while holding in the humidity that keeps them fresh.