Weekly Wellness
Issue 288
Featured Article
The Ancient Pancake -- Pancakes truly are an ancient food - and can be very healthy, wholesome and delicious, too! Recipes included.
Fitness Tip
Dairy for High Blood Pressure?
Making low-fat dairy products a regular part of people's diets may reduce hypertension risk by about 50 percent, results of a small study suggest. Although more research is needed to confirm the link, low-fat dairy products such as nonfat milk, yogurt, and reduced-fat cheeses remain a good source of lean protein and bone-boosting calcium.
Nutrition Tip
Chewing Gum
If you visit the candy machine, sticking with gum may help you control calories calories. At 5 - 10 calories a sugar-free stick, it's a good alternative to hard candy, which is loaded with sugar and can contain up to 50 calories per little piece. And how many of us ever stop at one? One more bonus: Getting your jaw moving to chew burns about 12 extra calories per hour!
Quip or Quote of the Week
Quip:
White chocolate is not a true chocolate. It contains some cocoa butter but no cocoa or chocolate liquor.
Quick Recipe
Mac and Cheese with Greens
Prepare a package of macaroni and cheese as directed. Stir in one package (10 ounces) frozen, thawed and squeezed-dry chopped spinach. Another healthy alternative is a can of sweet corn! Or how about added one-half cup of grated carrots? Point is, a little added vegetables will go a LONG way nutritionally and make that mac 'n cheese more than just a comfort food!
Tidbit(s)
Cheese for Sweet Dreams?
An old wives tale says eating cheese before bed causes nightmares, but the tasty treat may help you get more sleep. The British Cheese Board gave 200 volunteers one of six types of cheese a half-hour before bedtime for a week. Seventy-two percent reported that they slept well and had pleasant dreams every night. Researchers at the University of Surrey and The Daily Council of Britain say cheese contains tryptophan, an amino acid that reduces stress and promotes sleep.
Food Facts
Buttermilk is lowfat or skim milk to which a bacterial culture has been added. It is low in fat, thick, and creamy with a mildly acidic taste. Sour milk, made from milk and lemon juice or vinegar, can be substituted for buttermilk.
Use a powder puff with flour for dusting cake and other baking pans before you pour in the batter.
When plastic wrap won't stick to your bowl, moisten the edges of the bowl and it will stick.
More Cooking Tips and Quick Cooking Tips on the Web site!