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Health Tidbits: Page Three

 

 

51
Meet the newest animal to join the Barnum's family of animal crackers!
It's the koala! The famous cookie snack, 100 years old this year, chose the Down Under creature after a vote by the cracker-loving public. The koala captured more than 48-percent of the 296,510 online and mail-in votes from across the country. The koala, the 19th animal to be added to the collection, will appear in boxes in September. The penguin came in second with 33-percent of the vote and the walrus followed with 10-percent. The cobra came in fourth with 9-percent of the votes.

52
Pre-Diabetes Testing
Most middle aged people are now encouraged to be tested during their next doctor visit for "Pre-Diabetes", a type of high blood sugar that puts them at a super high risk of developing full-blown diabetes. The American Diabetes Association and the National Institutes of Health estimated that 16-million Americans older than 40 have impaired glucose tolerance which is now officially named Pre-Diabetes. The organizations also say walking just 30 minutes a day and losing a few pounds can delay, if not thwart, the onset of illness. The guidelines state everyone over 45 should be tested as well as younger adults if they are significantly overweight and have another risk factor.

53
Toaster Pastries
Pop-Tarts and other toaster pastries are very popular due to their convenience and the supposed belief that added vitamins make them a healthy breakfast. Unfortunately for many of us, this is not true. Most toaster pastries have too much saturated fat or too much sugar. Nearly all are low in the "good stuff" such as fiber, protein and calcium. A good one: The Pillsbury Toaster Bagel Shoppe line is fairly low in both fat and sugar.
See BellyBytes.com: Belly Busters for more foods to avoid!

54
May 15th is National Chocolate Chip Day!
Whip up a batch of our Ultimate Chocolate Chippers. And for a bit of fun, share this bit of trivia: To make its Chips Ahoy! cookies, Nabisco uses 100 billion chocolate chips every year!

55
Obesity: Childhood Epidemic
American children are getting heavier by the year. Between 1986 and 1998, the number of overweight children jumped by more than 50-percent. About one out of every five children are grossly overweight. What can be done about this? Make sure kids participate in a sport or other physical activity they enjoy. Serve kids healthy foods, especially fruits and vegetables and limit the quantity of junk foods they eat.
Here is another idea - pull out the jump ropes and jump rope with your kids! Jumping rope is still a great cardiovascular activity that burns calories, tones the arms and legs and increases coorindation. You can even purchase a jump rope that counts the number of calories you are burning while jumping! The cost is about $20.00 and they are available from Tanita. (800-9-TANITA).
See also: Play to Get Fit!
10 Tips to Healthy Eating and Physical Activity For Youth
Healthy Cooking for Kids

56
Ensure and Slim-Fast
Meal substitutes are a convenient way to reduce calories. A typical meal substitute in powder form is Slim-Fast and in liquid and bars is Ensure. Meal substitutes should provide protein and be low in fat and calories. They should be labeled with the amount of calories per serving and the percentages of protein, carbohydrate, and fat. The total number of calories per serving is predetermined so it is easier to keep track of the daily consumption of calories.
See: Liquid Meals

57
Tame your appetite with Soup
In a study at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, the results state that you will eat fewer calories if you begin a meal with a cup of soup. Hot soup fills the stomach so dieters tend to eat less later in the meal. Soup sippers lost more (about 1.3 pounds) than the non-soupers after one year.

58
Kool-Aid turns 75 this year!
To celebrate, a permanent museum exhibit dedicated to Kool-Aid is now open to visitors. It is located in Hastings, Nebraska where Kool-Aid was "born". The 3,300-square foot exhibit will open June 21 at the Hastings Museum of Natural and Cultural History.
In 1927, a Nebraska native Edwin Perkins, invented Kool-Aid. The original flavors were cherry, grape, lemon-lime, orange, strawberry and raspberry. In the years to come, 52 flavors were introduced. Today, gallon for gallon, Kool-Aid is the most-consumed beverage for kids.

59
Wine and Cheese
Wine and cheese make a perfect pre-dinner or late-night summer combination - as long as you go easy on the wine!. A free brochure including serving tips and recipes, which range from "last-minute" to "company's coming", is available from Woodbridge, a winery owned by Robert Mondavi and located in Woodbridge, California.
To request a copy of "All You Need for a Great Wine and Cheese Party", go to Wood Bridge Wines
NOTE: Offer may no longer be available.

60
Favorite Low Fat Picks
The editorial team of "Health" Magazine listed the following foods as their "favorite Low Fat picks:

61
Mood Map - For fun!
In a bad mood today? Good mood? See if you're with the rest of your state -- or if they're with you -- on the Mood Map. You can even contribute your own mood to your state. The Web site address is MoodMap.com. All contributions go toward deciding the average mood for each state. One one morning recently, South Dakota, Alaska and Idaho were pleased with themselves while Washington, DC was in a foul mood. The rest of the nation was feeling rather average.
NOTE: Website no longer available.

62
Barnum's Animals Crackers Anniversary
This year marks the 100th anniversary of everyone's favorite childhood snack -- Barnum's Animals Crackers. Originally a Victorian-ear British import, the animal-shaped cookies were produced by a number of independent American bakers until 1902, when the first Barnum's Animals Crackers were sold by the National Biscuit Company in the trademark red circus-wagon boxes. To commemorate the centennial, a new animal, the koala bear, will join the menagerie of lions, giraffes and elephants.

63
How Men Get Hurt Around the House

Source: Consumer Product Safety Review, based on emergency room statistics.

64
Root Beer Floats
The following recipe is how Root Beer Floats were made in 1919 (but not with fat free and diet ingredients, obviously!) at the first A&W Root Beer stand in Lodi, California.
Classic Summer Treat:
Coat the inside of the glass with a smear of vanilla ice cream all around.
Drop in a whole, heaping scoop of fat free ice cream.
Top it off with A&W Diet Root Beer right to the rim of the glass.
If you love Root Beer, consider checking out the Root Beer e-Cookbook!

65
"Flavor-Flavor" Learning Theory
This theory involves attaching a good taste to a not-so-good food. A bit of sugar sprinkled on broccoli, for example, gives the palate the eat-more sign. The sugar can be gradually reduced until all that remains is the vegetable - and your ability to eat it!

66
Say "Happy Birthday" to Oreo!
The Oreo sandwich cookie, originally called the Oreo Biscuit, which was sold out of tins in bulk quantities, is officially 90 years old.
Last year, nearly 12-billion Oreo cookies were consumed, in varieties that now include plain, fudge-covered, double-stuff, various holiday colors and reduced fat. The newest variation is the Double-Delight Oreo, in peanut butter and chocolate creme.
Theories abound as to how Oreo got its name, but the most fun theory is that the "re" in the middle stands for "creme". It is sandwiched between the two "O's" from the word chocolate, just like the cookie.

67
Guilt-free Cheese for Vegetarians
Turning vegetarian often means giving up traditional cheeses, which are made with animal rennet. Wisconsin's BelGioioso Cheese, Inc. came up with a vegetarian version of Parmesan, which could make the tofu lasagna a little zestier without offending the vegetarian's dietary morals. The company says BelGGioioso Vegetarian Parmesan tastes like its Italian cousin, but is made without animal rennet. Vegetarian Parmesan is available in grocery stores in random cuts and 24-pound wheels.

68
Iced Tea vs. Lemonade
Nutritionally speaking, this "battle" is a toss-up - lemonade contains between 15 and 20 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin C. Fresh brewed tea contains no vitamin C, but has a slew of healthy antioxidants. Normal blends contains polyphenols, antioxidants that may reduce cancer risk as well as flavonoid-rich green and black teas raise the antioxidant power even more! If you are watching calories, just remember to watch the amount of sugar you add.

69
Linda McCartney Meals
It is difficult to criticize foods named after a vegetarian activist who diet of breast cancer, but the "powers that be" at Ethnic Gourmet should have known better. While it is true the products contain no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, there is still one-half-a day's saturated fat (ten grams) and sodium (1,220mg) in the 450-calorie Vegetable Burrito with Spanish Rice. In addition, the first two ingredients are white rice and white flour. Neither is healthful or natural as whole grains. The bean and vegetable burritos should be low in fat but all the cream, milk and cheese in this dish can raise the risk of heart disease, which kills more women than breast cancer. Only four of the 13 items in Linda's line are low in saturated fat.

70
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Click to help provide FREE Mammograms for Less Fortunate Women! This is so easy...just click the button and you can help provide 31 FREE Mammograms this month to women in need. (Link no longer valid)

71
Confused about "organic" food?
The USDA hopes to put a stop to that with the October 21st introduction of the new organic label. (Brochure no longer available). See: BellyBytes.com: What is Organic?

72
Make a Difference Day
Make a Difference Day is America's largest day of service. Millions of lives are changed forever. Please join the action on Make A Difference Day, Saturday, October 26th, 2002. If Saturday is your Sabbath, please volunteer Sunday, the 27th. Here is how you can take part:
Help your community - by yourself or with a group. Go online to get ideas or register your plans. While you are at Make a Difference Day Website (link below), register at Inkindex.com for free project supplies, including Avery office products. Take action Saturday, October 26 (or 27th), then submit an entry form telling what you did. All efforts are eligible for ten awards of $10,000.
Make a Difference Day

73
Last-Minute Halloween Treat - Pumpkin Cookies
Put sweetened shredded coconut in a Ziploc bag. Add drops of orange food color, seal bag and shake until coconut is tinted. Spread frosting on purchased gingersnap cookies; sprinkle with the coconut. Cut black licorice twists for stems.

74
Alpine Lace Cookbook Giveaway!
Featuring soups, salads, sandwiches & main dishes, this cookbook is the perfect balance of delicious taste and good things your body needs. To receive your FREE Cookbook, become a member of alpinelace.com.
This contest is over, but check Alpinelace.com to see if there is a new contest or sweepstakes!

75
Wash Your Hands!
When Navy recruits were ordered to wash their hands at least five times a day, there were 45-percent fewer bouts of respiratory illness among the ranks. Hand-washing has been recommended for more than 150 years as a simple but effective way of stopping the spread of illness, but most people admit they do not follow the advice. Take that extra minute and wash your hands! It is suggested you rub your hands together for 20 seconds with soap -- and the soap does not have to be anti-bacterial. That's under a minute -- and think of the grief you could save yourself and your family!