2007 Ezines...

Morning Exercise
It is 7:00 a.m., nothing major has cropped up in your day yet…this is a great time to get in that run or yoga DVD/tape. In fact, research suggests that those who work out in the morning stick with their program more successfully than those who do not. If you are not a morning person, do your best to become one! Yes, it can feel painful at first, but it will pay off! The longer a person waits in the day to workout, the more excuses you can come up with to put if off. Get your exercise out of the way early in the day so you do not even have to think about it later on. If you are having problems getting out of that bed, visualize how good you will feel after that workout is done and over with as you are staring at your ceiling, still under the covers. An additional benefit: A study done at the University of Glasgow in Scotland found that early-bird exercisers felt much happier than those who worked out later in the day. See also: The Best Time to Exercise

Nutrition Tip

Protein
Did you know that protein plays a role in helping you feel satisfied? A study at the University of Washington School of Medicine found that participants felt less hungry when their daily protein intake was increased from 15 to 30 percent of their total calories. Eating lean sources of protein as part of a healthy diet were key to the findings.
Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Quip or Quote of the Week

Quip:
Six of the hottest peppers are the habanero, Thai chiltepin, Tecpin cayenne, de arbol, serrano and jalapeno.

Quick Recipe

Brain Booster Smoothie
The berries here aren't just super food for your brain; they offer an important cancer-fighting bonus.
1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 cup fresh or frozen raspberries
1 cup pineapple OJ
1/2 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
1 cup ice
Blend in blender and enjoy.

Tidbit(s)

Buying the Best Salad Dressing
No matter what flavor you choose, check the label and choose dressings that have no more than 3g of total fat, 2g of saturated fat and 300mg of sodium. Try to keep your portion to about 2 tablespoons. Bonus tip: If you are watching calories, skip the salad dressing aisle altogether and top your salad with flavored vinegars (e.g., balsamic, raspberry), but hold the oil.

Food Fixes

Baking a potato with the skin will retain the highest level of nutrients. Boiling without the skin causes a 30 percent nutrient loss, and when mashed the loss can exceed 75 percent.

Before cooking pasta, rub the sides of the pot with a little vegetable oil. This will prevent the water from boiling over in the pot.

Green Onions: Choose green onions that are free of soggy leaves. When storing, remove rubber bands and place in plastic bags in the crisper.