Weekly Wellness
Issue 352
Featured Article
The Best of the Best Foods The best of the best foods you can purchase at your supermarket.
Fitness Tip
Dieting Without Exercise Can Slow Metabolism
While diets lead to short-term weight loss, studies show that, in most cases, people regain weight. The reason? A slower metabolism. In a new study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, people who cut 230 calories out of their daily diet for a year but didn't exercise lost muscle mass, strength, and aerobic capacity. And losing muscle is exactly what you don't want to happen when you're fighting fat. Exercise (especially strength training) helps you maintain or increase your muscle mass and metabolism, allowing you to burn more fat.
Nutrition Tip
Are Organic Fruits and Vegetables More Nutritious?
Firstly, there are few well-controlled studies that compare organic fruits and vegetables to non-organic. In the few that have, organic produce was no higher in beta-carotene, vitamin A, potassium, and other nutrients that are plentiful in fruits and vegetables. One possible exception: Some organic produce had slightly higher levels of vitamin C. But roughly a third of the samples tested had no more C -- and some had even less. "Scientific evidence cannot support or refute the perception that organic foods are more nutritious than conventional foods", concludes Health Canada. The bottom line is, any extra nutrients on organic food may not alter your health to any significant extent.
Quip or Quote of the Week
Quote:
The cardiologist's diet: If it tastes good, spit it out. --Author Unknown
Quick Recipe
Quick Christmas Candy
1 pound white melting coating
8 ounces red and green peppermint crunch candies
Melt white coating in microwave or top of double boiler and stir in the peppermint crunch. Spread on parchment or waxed paper and let stand until firm. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container. You can increase or decrease crunch according to taste.
Tidbit(s)
Shellfish...
Think you should avoid shrimp because it's high in cholesterol? All shellfish are low in fat , have almost no saturated fat, and fit squarely into a heart-healthy diet when boiled, steamed, grilled or pan-seared. The one no-no is ordering it fried, which boosts the fat totals way higher than they need to be.
Food Fixes
For superior flavor and texture in your baked goods, use butter if the recipe calls for it. Margarine can contain a lot of water, which will make cookies spread too thin. To soften butter, leave out at room temperature for one hour or to speed up the process, cut into small pieces.
Both baking soda and baking powder help your baking batter rise, but don't substitute one for the other, as they can give different results. Baking soda works when mixed with an acidic ingredient such as buttermilk, sour cream or vinegar, while baking powder works with a neutral liquid like water or milk to cause a loaf or quick bread to rise.
When baking, don't overmix or beat your dough vigorously after adding the flour, or your baked goods may be tough.
More Cooking Tips and Quick Cooking Tips on the Web site!