Weekly Wellness
Issue 415
Featured Article
REMOVED
Fitness Tip
Getting Older? Opt for Endurance Exercise
Older people who engage in endurance exercise may have hearts that act years younger. That's what researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found after studying sedentary men and women, aged 60 to 75, who participated in endurance exercise training for 11 months. The training involved walking, running or cycling for an hour, three to five days a week. After training, their hearts performed as if younger, with increased capacity to accomodate the energy demands of exercise. See also: Exercise Guidelines for Seniors
Source: American Journal of Physiology
Nutrition Tip
Eggs for Blood Pressure?
Researchers in Canada are reporting evidence that eggs - often frowned upon for their cholesterol content - may reduce another heart disease risk factor - high blood pressure.
They describe identification of egg proteins that act like a popular group of prescription medications in lowering blood pressure. The report appeared in the Feb. 11 issue of ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a bi-weekly publication. Recent studies do suggest that healthy people can eat eggs without increasing their heart disease risk. Other research hinted that certain egg proteins might have effects similar to ACE inhibitors, prescription drugs used to treat high blood pressure.
Quip or Quote of the Week
Quip
Eggs are traditionally connected with rebirth, rejuvenation and immortality. This is why they are often associated with Easter. On a more practical level? In the early Christian calendar eggs were forbidden during Lent. This made them bountiful and exciting forty days later. Easter eggs are sometimes decorated with bright colors to honor this celebration. Russian pysanki is one of the most elaborate forms. Conversely, the abstinence of eggs is associated with Lent.
Quick Recipe
Hard-boiled Eggs
First of all, you'll want to use eggs that are several days old. To cook hard boiled eggs that will offer the sunniest of centers, put the eggs in a pan of cold water in a single layer, covered by at least an inch or two of cold water. (Adding a scant tablespoon of vinegar to the water will help keep the egg whites from running out.) Bring bring water to a rolling bowl, then lower to a gentle simmer (if you are using an electric stove with a coil element, you can just turn off the heat) and cook the eggs for 2 minutes. Turn the heat off. Cover the pan and let stand for 12 minutes. Transfer the eggs to cold water and let them soak until cooled. Peel off the shells and enjoy. Note: They should be eaten within 5 days.
Tidbit(s)
MSG
MSG (monosodium glutamate) has a new bad rap: It has been linked to weight gain. A study of 752 adults found that those who consumed the most MSG were more likely to be overweight than those who didn't eat any. MSG, which can lurk in canned soups, may blunt the effect of leptin, an appetite-suppressing hormone - prompting you to snack more.
Food Fixes
Remember that a chilled egg is easier to slice. A warmer yolk will crumble more easily.
Easy Deviled Eggs: Put cooked egg yolks in a zip lock bag. Seal, mash till they are all broken up. Add remainder of ingredients, reseal, keep mashing it up mixing thoroughly, cut the tip of the baggy, squeeze mixture into egg. Just throw bag away when done easy clean up.
Tasty Tidbit...
Romano cheese makes a great topping for vegetables. You can substitute Romano cheese for Parmesan when you want a bolder taste.
More Cooking Tips and Quick Cooking Tips on the Web site!