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Health Tidbits: Page Five

 

101
Living high on the hog
Did you ever hear the expression "Living high on the hog"? According to the National Pork Producers Council, the phrase was coined when British foot soldiers were served meat that was closer to the feet of the hog. Officers got the more tender cuts from near the shoulder and ribs, "Higher on the hog".

102
Ideal Snack - Banana
Healthy filling and conveniently wrapped bananas are one of nature's ideal snacks. The banana is perhaps the cheapest and the most extensively eaten fruit.

103
Asparagus
April is one of the peak months for asparagus. When shopping for this lean green vegetable, look for small straight spears with tightly closed tips. The stalks should be smooth and round. A pound of asparagus (about 14 spears) serves four.

104
Recipe Buddy
Looking for a friend who can give you ideas about what to cook for dinner? Meet "Becky", a recipe expert who is available to chat night or day. In real life, she is an interactive program called "RecipeBuddie" that can be summoned through instant messaging on AOL or MSN Instant Messenger. Type in food items or even your mood and she will come up with menu suggestions. Although Keebler sponsors her, her ideas venture beyond those foods made by the elves. To converse with Becky, send an instant message to RecipeBuddie.
(Offer no longer available)

105
Lifeclinic Health Stations
The next time you make a run for a carton of milk, keep your eye out for medical specials. Grocery stores and drugstores across the country offer Lifeclinic Health Stations, where you can check your pulse and blood pressure for free.
Visit Life Clinic on the Web.

106
Red Alert
Another color has joined the black and green teas gaining popularity in America for their health benefits. Naturally caffeine-free South African rooibos (ROO-boss) tea shares green tea's high antioxidant concentration. And, like flavonoids-rich black tea, rooibos tea is fermented, which gives it a complex flavor, deep color and comfy compatibility with milk. You can find red teas from such manufacturers as Five Roses and Republic of Tea at specialty grocery stores or coffee emporiums.

107
Honoring All Mothers!
This Mother's Day (May 11), express yourself without words. Create a special bouquet in which each flower has a meaningful message of its own. Traditionally, red roses say "I love you," irises convey wisdom, daffodils stand for respect, sunflowers show adoration, camellias signify gratitude, and day lilies represent "mother."

108
Dried Plums Making a Comeback
Two years ago, the California Dried Plum Board made a splash by deciding to change their product's name from prunes to dried plum's and sales rose! Whatever the reason for the increase, it is certainly good news. The high fiber in dried plums can lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, decreasing the risk of heart disease, while the fruit's antioxidants may help prevent certain types of cancer and age-related diseases. In addition, preliminary research found that dried plums have anti-microbial properties, when added to meats, dried plums can suppress the growth of E. coli and salmonella.

109
Armed Forces Day!
Don't forget to honor our Armed Forces on May 17th - Armed Forces Day!

110
Edamame
In Japan, when you sidle up to your favorite bar for a Sapporo, you are likely to find a bowl of salty soybeans at your side. The popular Eastern snack, called edamame (pronounced eh-dah-MAH-meh), is quickly catching on stateside, showing up increasingly in grocery stores (fresh or frozen, in the pod or shellled). The little green beans have a sweet, nutty flavor and are high in proteins and minerals. Traditionally, edamame are cooked in salted boiling water for about five minutes, then drained and tossed in coarse sea salt, and served warm or cool. The fun comes from squeezing the beans out of the pods directly into your mouth, tossing the inedible pods aside. The shelled beans are also tasty additions to stir-fries and salads.

111
The New "Salads": The Latest in Fast Fraud
The latest marketing trend in the fast food industry is the salad entree, promoted as a "healthy" alternative to fatty burgers and fries. But how healthy are these salads? Check this out: "Most shocking of all, McDonald's Crispy Bacon Ranch Salad has more fat and calories and just as much cholesterol as a Big Mac." For more "bad" foods like this, visit BellyBytes.com Belly Busters

112
Sweet Pepitas
Sweet Pepitas roasted pumpkinseeds pack seven grams each of fiber (more than the amount in three slices of whole-wheat bread) and protein into every one-ounce serving. The best part is the scrumptious maple syrup and pumpkin pie-spice coating. At 150 calories and eight grams of fat, they make a great snack to munch on. Also available: Spicy, Extra Hot Spicy and Chocolate Pepitas. To order, go to: http://thefertilehand.com

113
Curious about the Vegan Diet?
Viva!, International Voice For Animals, has prepared a 48-page booklet, "Vegan Basics". The booklet explains the diet, outlining nutrititional considerations, recommending ingredient substitutions and name-brand food products for eating out. Copies are available from Viva!'s California office by calling (530) 759-8482; writing the organization at:
P.O. Box 4398
Davis, CA 95617

114
Eat Breakfast!
For a quick, easy way to stave off pounds, eat breakfast! A study presented at a conference of the American Heart Association reports that white women, white men and black men who ate breakfast regularly curbed their appetites and cut their risk of developing insulin resistance syndrome - a condition that can develop into diabetes and obesity. (Eating breakfast had no effect on black women's risk). The study followed 4,000 people for eight years. In a hurry in the morning? See Breakfast on the Fly

115
Summers and Citrus
Summers and citrus are made for each other. It's the natural way to add color, flavor, essential nutrients and fiber to every meal. And when summer fun has you running on empty, nothing tops easy-to-pack citrus for a healthy, energy-boosting snack. Visit BellyBytes.com Healthy Citrus Recipes!

116
Get Fit in Bits
Physical fitness is the cornerstone of energy. The more fit you are the less work it takes to do any task. Look for simple ways to add movement into your life. For example; do calisthenics, such as push-ups, sit-ups, etc., while watching the news.

117
Diet Soft Drinks
With the revolutionary introduction of Diet Rite over four decades ago, our nation had its first diet soft drink. Why was it an instant success? Because it gave health-conscious soft drink lovers a great-tasting cola. What it didn't give them was calories, sodium or caffeine. And the waist is history.

118
Recharge!
Take a one-week break from hard exercise every two to three months to let your body recover and recharge. You will not lose any gains in such a short time.

119
Monitor Your Food Intake
Studies show that keeping track of food is key for both achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. One example: A University of Minnesota study of 59 men and women found that weight loss increased in direct proportion to the consistency with which participants monitored their food intake. When people track what they eat, they are much more accountable to themselves. Research has shown that people who are tracking and monitoring their food are more likely to be successful at weight loss and at keeping off unwanted pounds. Visit the Health and Wellness Tools page for free logs you can print and use.

120
Tea as a Mouthwash
A new study from the Medical College of Georgia reports that antioxidant polyphenols in green tea not only prevent oral cancer cells from growing but also kill cancer cells that are already present and help healthy cells survive. If you don't like the taste of green tea, you could simply use it as a mouthwash - the benefits are the same.

121
Almond Power
When people with high blood cholesterol ate about one ounce of almonds a day, their "bad" LDL cholesterol dropped by four- percent. If they ate two ounces, it dropped by nine-percent. "Good" HDL cholesterol rose slightly. This is not the first time researchers have found this kind of benefit to eating nuts but almonds have 165 calories per ounce (and other nuts are equally caloric), it is important not to over indulge. Tip: Eat these heart-healthy treats in place of other less healthy snacks to help keep your total daily calories in check. See also: BellyBytes.com: The Nut Case

122
Age-Defying Jeans
How about a pair of jeans that literally keeps you younger? In Japan, Amino Jeans are treated with arginine, an amino acid in a bevy of new ski-care products touted for its skin-softening benefits, as well as for killing bacteria. Osaka-based manufacturer Teijin Wow Claims the jeans conditioners work through two years worth of spin cycles. Available only in Asia, the jeans cost about 75-dollars. New York nutritionist Barbara Levine says consumers should not put too much faith in arginine's reported benefits, from fighting fatigue to preventing heart disease. She says there is no good scientific proof it does any of these things. Regardless, American knock-offs of the jeans cannot be far behind.

123
BREATHE
FREE Bracelet of Life from Doctors Without Borders! Doctors Without Borders wants you to lend a hand (and your wrist)! Get your own Bracelet of Life and join thousands of young people and adults who are wearing the Bracelet of Life to raise awareness about the tragedy of world hunger. To get your free Bracelet of Life-a replica of one of the medical tools their volunteers use to assess malnutrition-just fill out a short form and they'll mail you one.
(No longer available)