Weekly Wellness
Issue 389
Featured Article
About Unique Hoodia You've probably heard of hoodia gordonii (pronounced hoo-de-ah), the new miracle weight loss pill, as it was featured on 60 Minutes, The Today Show, and various other news outlets.
Fitness Tip
Go Ahead and Skip a Cardio Day
Missed a cardio workout? No worries; your body won't suffer. Researchers from Ithaca College in New York saw nearly equal improvements in speed, lung fitness, and strength in a group of cyclists who did either daily or every-other-day sprint sessions. It's too early to tell which traning pace is best, but experts say any high-intensity cardio -- whether or not you take a rest day -- will make you more fit and boost calorie-burn. Make sure, though, to take a rest day between weight workouts to give your muscles time to repair.
Nutrition Tip
Butternut Squash
This tasty fruit (yes, fruit!) is an exceptional source of beta-carotene, the antioxidant your body converts to vitamin A. But it's also a an overlooked source of bone-building calcium.
Quip or Quote of the Week
Quip
Because Parmigiano-Reggiano is all natural and so easily digested, it's one of the first solid foods fed to babies in Italy.
Quick Recipe
Strawberry Shakes
1/3 cup 2-percent milk
1-1/2 cup vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup frozen unsweetened strawberries
1 tablespoon strawberry preserves
In a blender, combine all ingredients; cover and process until smooth. Pour into chilled glasses; serve immediately. Yield: 2 servings.
Nutrition information per 1-cup: 257 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 100mg sodium, 35g carbohydrates, 1g fiber, 5g protein
Tidbit(s)
Sneak a Snack
Ten minutes before each meal, eat some healthy fat (around 70 calories or fewer) such as a handful of nuts, a few slices of avocado, or a spoonful of peanut butter, for example. That helps activate ghrelin, a hormone that lets you know you're full.
Food Facts
Use reduced sodium fat-free broth in your soups as a delicious base. This is a great way to add flavor while controlling the amount of sodium.
To save pot watching and burning of the bottom of the pots when making spaghetti sauce, place your sauce in an oven safe dish and place in the oven -- no higher than 300 degrees. It can be left to cook slowly for hours without burning -- just stir every now and then.
Tasty Tidbit...
Add pine nuts, a squeeze of lime, and crushed red pepper to carrots.
More Cooking Tips and Quick Cooking Tips on the Web site!