Weekly Health Ezine Issue 416

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Healthy Ezine of the Week: Issue 416

Featured Article

Which Organic Foods are Worth the Extra Price Tag? If you've been purchasing organic foods with wild abandon for their health benefits, you may be finding it's not so healthy for your pocketbook. You can typically spend 30 to 50 percent more on organic foods than you would on conventional foods. But there is a real difference.

Fitness Tip

Fructose and Weight Gain
Fructose may play a role in weight gain. So concluded researchers who conducted a small clinical trial in Minnesota with six healthy volunteers. At different times, participants were given breakfast drinks with varying amounts of fructose. The upshot? The volunteers converted sugar in the drink into body fat more rapidly when as little as half the glucose was replaced by fructose (about the percentage in high-fructose corn syrup). Fruit also contains fructose, but in smaller amounts - an apple has about 11 grams, while a 12-ounce soft drink has about 36. Source: Journal of Nutrition

Nutrition Tip

Beverages with a Bonus
Beverages have become much more than thirst quenchers. Spiked with vitamins, minerals, herbs and amino acids, drinks now tout the ability to help you "focus", "relax", "cleanse" or "slenderize" with every sip. As soft drink sales dip, "functional" beverages are enjoying double-digit growth", according to the Beverage Marketing Corporation. Drinks are now a primary vehicle for functional ingredients like probiotic bacteria to aid digestion, plant sterols to lower cholesterol and omega-3s to nourish your brain. One of the newest ingredients to show up in beverages is glucosamine, the popular arthritis supplement now featured in Minute Maid's Active orange juice, Joint Juice and Elations juice. But are these drinks a good idea? Most functional beverages seem to contain enough active ingredients to make a difference. But be careful you're not adding lots of liquid therapies only to rue the caloric consequences. For some delicious home made and healthy beverage ideas, visit our Healthy Beverage Recipes.

Quip or Quote of the Week

Quote
"Don't season your dinner with gossip". --Unknown

Quick Recipe

Hard-boiled Egg and Blue Cheese Dip
6 hard-boiled large eggs
3/4 cups blue cheese
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste
1/3 cup plain yogurt
Salt and freshly milled black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon chives, finely chopped for garnish

In a food processor puree eggs with blue cheese, lemon juice, yogurt, salt and pepper. Remove to serving bowl, and garnish with chives. Yield: Approximately 1-1/2 cups

Tidbit(s)

Beat Your Sweet Tooth with Scent
A whiff of vanilla may be the antidote for your craving for a double dip of Ben and Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk ice cream. Here's the theory: According to experts, the inherent sweetness of vanilla sends neuropeptides (gut to brain messengers) into a kind of sensory overload that fools you into feeling like you've satisfied your sweet tooth. Any vanilla scent -- extract, body lotion or a candle -- has a similar effect.

Food Fixes

To save energy, use the smallest pot and burner when heating up soup. Copper bottom cookware is the best choice for heating up soup quickly.

Mix 3/4 cup bleach with 1 gallon of water to disinfect your cutting board.

Tasty Tidbit...
Stow pretzels, crackers, breadsticks and ready-to-eat cereals in your briefcase, desk drawer or gym bag for an energy-packed snack that's ready when you are.

More Cooking Tips and Quick Cooking Tips on the Web site!

What's New?

New! LOW COST DIETING -- Learn how to keep your food budget in line but still eat healthy!

New! Weightloss Wisdom -- Articles geared to help you lose that weight.

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