Weekly Wellness
Issue 277
Featured Article
Eat Peanuts! -- Add nuts to your diet!
Fitness Tip
Family Health History
Your family's history of diseases can be a strong indicator of your own risk. U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, MD, MPH, recently launched a free online tool that can help you track down your family history of common diseases, or even rare diseases. The tool, called "My Family Health Portrait," is now Web-based so it runs on any computer that is connected to the Internet. Simply visit FamilyHistory.hhs.gov and enter as much health information as you know to get a personalized history of disease. You can edit or update your health information anytime, save your information to a disk and take it with you, and share it with your doctor or whomever else you choose.
Nutrition Tip
Corn Kernels
The secret to tastier corn: Know exactly how long to cook it. Sweet and tender corn should be cooked in boiling water for no more than 1 or 2 minutes. For best flavor, cook corn the same day it's picked. It's naturally tasty - try it without butter to avoid added fat . There's nothing better than eating corn-on-the-cob on a summer's night. It's good for the soul and the body too. One ear's worth of kernels contains 85 calories and 3 grams fiber. Yellow corn contains lutein, a plant pigment that helps protect your eyes from macular degeneration. Hominy is corn that has been treated with an alkali to remove the hulls. The process boosts the availability of the niacin in corn as a nutrient.
Quip or Quote of the Week
Quote:
He that takes medicine and neglects diet, wastes the skill of the physician.
-- Chinese Proverb
Quick Recipe
Spice-Roasted Nuts
Whisk 1 tablespoon egg white until foamy. Stir in 2-cups unsalted mixed or plain nuts, one-quarter cup sugar, a mix of sweet spices (such as cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice), and salt. Roast on a nonstick baking sheet at 325-degrees for 18 to 20 minutes.
Tidbit(s)
Precursor to Type 2 Diabetes
Receiving increased attention among medical experts is a condition known as metabolic syndrome, or Syndrome X. It is a cluster of specific risk factors, including excessive abdominal fat, high blood sugar and high blood pressure. There is recent evidence that some people may be genetically predisposed to the metabolic syndrome, which can be unmasked by factors such as excess weight or physical inactivity. But fortunately, the metabolic syndrome does not automatically have to turn into type 2 diabetes. The sooner you identify metabolic syndrome the better because it can be treated.
Food Facts
Vents on a charcoal grill help regulate temperature. Open vents circulate air, heating the coals. Closed vents eliminate air circulation, eventually extinguishing coals.
Potato serving suggestions:
Top four baked potatoes with 1 tablespoon each chopped fresh chives and sour cream (light).For a more substantial option, top with 1/2 cup cooked vegetables and garnish with 1 tablespoon bacon bits, shredded cheese and/or Italian dressing.
To keep zucchini and other summer squash fresh, set it, unwashed, in a plastic bag and store it in your refrigerator's crisper drawer for up to four days.
More Cooking Tips and Quick Cooking Tips on the Web site!