Weekly Wellness
Issue 270
Featured Article
Food, Fitness, and Fun -- Have reports of American's expanding girth and the obesity "epidemic" made food, fitness, and fun a thing of the past? Don't despair -- food and being fit CAN be fun.
Fitness Tip
Don't just stand -- stretch!
It's easy to fit stretching into your day; try these 3 tips. Practice some stretches while waiting in shopping lines. Simple neck and shoulder rolls are a great way to release stress and relax tight muscles. And make use of the stairs -- a great tool for stretching out your calves. How important is it to stretch? The American College of Sports Medicine has added stretching to its fitness recommendations. Stretching will keep your muscles supple and flexible, in addition to helping prevent injury. Besides that, it feels good! Try it! See also: Muscle Flexibility is Crucial to Strength and Fitness
Nutrition Tip
Fresh: Almost Always Best
We all know that fresh fruits and vegetables are some of the healthiest foods we can eat, but in some cases fresh may not always be best! Tomatoes, for example, have a nutrient called lycopene that is absorbed better when the tomatoes are canned. Canned peaches and apricots have more accessible beta carotene, and the water-soluble nutrients in canned spinach are more stable. Frozen peas have more B vitamins than canned or fresh. However, it is recommended that you avoid canned fruits that are packed in heavy syrup. In addition, you'll want to watch the sodium content on canned vegetables.
Quip or Quote of the Week
Quote:
"Thank you for calling the Weight Loss Hotline. If you'd like to lose a half pound right now, press 1 eighteen thousand times." --Randy Glasbergen
Quick Recipe
Frosted Grapes
Great Snack!
Wash and pat dry 1-1/2 pounds red or green grapes until dry. Freeze for 45 minutes and let stand two minutes before serving.
Tidbit(s)
Fast Foods
Do yourself a tremendous favor, and free yourself from fast foods. They are dripping with saturated fats, sugars and empty calories. The caffeine and carbonation in soft drinks can dehydrate you too, which also drains energy. Curious about other foods that are not-so-good for you?
Food Facts
Use fat-free (skim) or low-fat (1 percent) milk for all your milk needs -- but not 2 percent (too much fat). Both fat free (skim) and low fat milk are excellent sources of calcium, vitamins, and protein with little or no artery-clogging fat and cholesterol. See our Healthy Milk Beverages for some great beverage ideas.
Fromage blanc is a nice substitute for whipped cream or sour cream. This soft, slightly tart white cheese comes in a cream cheese-type container. Whipped, it becomes a light dessert topping.
Add some cherries to your slaw for extra sweetness.
More Quick Cooking Tips Online!