Curried Chicken Over Spinach - Healthy Food Tip and Recipe

healthy food tip and recipe

Today's Recipe If you don't know what to serve for dinner tonight ...
This is a great tasting dish that requires little work. The curry coconut complements the flavor of spinach and you can easily include more vegetables. Just increase the amount of sauce slightly and add along with the bell peppers.
Curried Chicken Over Spinach
Prep and Cook Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:

• 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces (6oz each)
• 1 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 3 cloves garlic, sliced
• 1 TBS fresh ginger chopped, or 1/2 tsp dried
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1 medium sized onion, cut in half and sliced
• 1 medium sized red bell pepper julienne about 1 inch long
• 1/2 cup coconut milk, make sure it is mixed well before using
• 4 bunches fresh spinach
• salt & white pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Bring water to a boil for spinach. While water is coming to a boil, cut chicken into bite sized pieces. Healthy Sauté onion in a medium sauté pan over medium low heat for about 5 minutes stirring frequently. Add garlic and fresh ginger and continue to sauté for another minute. Add turmeric, and curry and mix well. Add stock, chicken, and coconut milk. Simmer for 5 minutes and add bell peppers and other vegetables you desire. Cook until chicken is done, about another 5 minutes.
2. While chicken is cooking, cut ends off the bunch of spinach all at once. Don't bother trying to do it one stem at a time. It will take you too long and it is not necessary. Rinse spinach well and drop into boiling water for just 1 minute. Strain and press dry. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Place spinach on plates and top with chicken mixture.

Serves 4 For optimum flavor and nutrition serve with:
Minted Carrots Printer Friendly Version of Curried Chicken Over Spinach
In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Curried Chicken Over Spinach
Healthy Food Tip

How do organic foods compare to non-organic foods in terms of nourishment?

From a research standpoint, I believe that scientific comparisons of organic and non-organic foods show the clear benefits of organic. However, I also recognize that there are a relatively limited number of studies in this area and that the results have been controversial. Virginia Worthington, as part of her doctoral dissertation at John Hopkins University analyzed (and later published) 41 existing studies that compared organic to non-organic foods. On average, she determined the organic foods to contain:

• 27% more vitamin C
• 21.1% more iron
• 29.3% more magnesium
• 13.6% more phosphorus

In her review, she also noted that while five servings of organically grown vegetables (lettuce, spinach, carrots, potatoes, and cabbage) provided the daily recommended intake of vitamin C for men and women, their conventionally grown counterparts did not. Organically grown foods were also found to contain, on average, about 5% less nitrates than conventionally grown foods. While nitrates have not been conventionally spotlighted as toxic risk factors in food, they nevertheless appear (in the 216th spot) on the 2007 CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances as published by the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This review of organic foods also determined them to be lower in protein than their non-organic counterparts but to contain higher quality protein in terms of amino acid composition.
Other studies on organic versus non-organic foods have found fewer statistical differences between their nutrient content, and in some cases, greater amounts of some nutrients in non-organic versus organic foods. These studies also typically show large amounts of variability in the nutrient contents of different foods, both organic and non-organic.
From my perspective, it makes sense that certain crops, grown under certain very favorable environmental circumstances, would be likely to show greater concentrations of certain nutrients than other crops grown under less favorable environmental circumstances, even if non-organic farming methods were used in their cultivation. Basic patterns in sunlight, rainfall, temperature, and other factors would always remain critical in the final chemical composition of the foods. For this reason, when I consider the research as a whole, I believe it clearly shows the nutritional advantages of organically grown versus non-organically grown food.
A second and equally important consideration with all organic foods is the absence of unwanted contaminants. Organically grown foods are very important for the chemicals they are missing! The stringency of the federal organics legislation makes it illegal for most synthetic pesticides to be used in organic production. Sewage sludge is also prohibited. The absence of potentially toxic residues on organic food has also been studied, and organic foods have been compared to non-organic foods in this regard.
In a study reviewing data sets gathered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, researchers found that in a comparison of 8 fruits and 12 vegetables, 73% of the non-organic crops were found to contain pesticide residues, in comparison with 6-27% of organic crops (depending on the exact crops that were compared). For some non-organic fruits (apples, peaches, pears, and strawberries) and for one non-organic vegetable (celery), over 90% of the non-organic food samples showed pesticide residues.
Additionally, 12-62% of the non-organic crops were found to contain multiple pesticide residues, and in some cases as many as 14 different pesticide residues. In the case of organic crops, this range was only 1-7%. About two-thirds of the time, a lower quantity of the pesticide levels was found in organic versus non-organic foods.

Braised Cod with Celery - Healthy Food Tip and Recipe

healthy food tip and recipe

Today's Recipe If you don't know what to serve for dinner tonight ...
The combination of ingredients in this recipe offers a delicious flavor while providing you with an excellent source of health-promoting nutrients. And you can enjoy a complete meal in 30 minutes.
Braised Cod with Celery
Prep and Cook Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:

• 1 medium onion, cut in half and sliced thick
• 6 cloves garlic, sliced
• 2 cups celery, cut diagonally about 1 inch long
• 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes, drained
• 3/4 cup green olives cut in fourths
• 1 TBS + 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 TBS fresh lemon juice
• 1-1/2 lbs cod, cut into 2 inch pieces
• pinch red chili flakes
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 2 TBS chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:

1. Slice onion and garlic and let sit for 5 minutes to enhance its health-promoting benefits.
2. Heat 1 TBS broth in a 10-12 inch skillet. Healthy Sauté chopped onion in broth over medium heat for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until translucent.
3. Add garlic and celery and sauté for another minute. Add drained diced tomatoes, green olives and remaining broth. Stir, cover, and simmer on medium-low for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until celery is tender.
4. Place cod, lemon, salt, pepper, and chili flakes on top of celery and continue to simmer covered for another 5 minutes, or until fish is cooked. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

Serves 4 Serving Suggestions: Serve with

• Brown Rice

Printer Friendly Version of Braised Cod with Celery
In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Braised Cod with Celery
Healthy Food Tip

How safe is salmon with respect to mercury?

Based on an outstanding 2007 report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we've come up with four categories you can use to judge the mercury-safety of all types of seafood, including salmon. Here are your four safety categories that will show you how salmon fits into our overall evaluation of seafood and mercury risk:
Very low: This category includes our recommended best-choice seafood when it comes to avoidance of mercury. Wild-caught Alaskan and Pacific Coast salmon are found here, together with Pacific scallops, shrimp, oysters, clams, mussels, herring, and anchovies. We recommend this category for several meals per week. As you can see, two types of salmon (wild-caught Alaskan salmon and wild-caught Pacific salmon) are included in this very low risk category.
Low: This category still keeps your mercury intake at a relatively low level and seafood in this category could often be consumed one time per week. Included here are canned light tuna, Pacific cod, Pacific haddock, wild-caught Atlantic salmon, mahi mahi, canned light tuna, fresh/frozen Pacific tuna and Dungeness crab. As indicated in this list, wild-caught Atlantic salmon are included in this next-to-lowest risk category.
Medium: Most individuals could consume seafood in this category about once per month. A 6-10 ounce serving of any type of seafood in this "medium risk" category on a once-per-month basis would typically fit within a Healthiest Way of Eating. Some individuals in at-risk groups (like pregnant women) would need to keep consumption from this group at a lower level, in the range of only 4-8 ounces on a once-per-month basis. Fish included in this group are halibut, sea bass, grouper, albacore tuna, bluefish, canned albacore tuna, fresh/frozen Atlantic tuna, and Maine lobster.
High: We consider seafood in this group as those that should only be eaten on very rare occasions, and for individuals in higher-risk groups (like pregnant women or young children weighing less than 44 pounds), we treat them as seafood options that should be avoided altogether due to risk of mercury exposure. Fish in this group include swordfish, tilefish, marlin, shark, bluefin tuna, and king mackerel. (Please note that other types of mackerel-including Spanish mackerel, chub mackerel, blue mackerel, and many others-fall into lower-risk categories and can be eaten more frequently).
As you can see from our four level rating system, wild-caught salmon achieves our "very low" mercury rating provided that they are caught in waters outside of Alaska or along the Pacific coast of the United States (offshore from California, Oregon, and Washington). Wild-caught Atlantic salmon achieves the next best rating of "low." We only recommend farmed salmon if they have been organically farmed. Even though we have not yet seen data on the mercury content of organically farmed salmon, we are confident that this type of salmon will achieve our "very low" mercury rating.

Mediterranean Pinto Beans - Healthy Food Tip and Recipe

healthy food tip and recipe

Today's Recipe If you don't know what to serve for dinner tonight ...
If you sometimes find it difficult to think of new ways to prepare beans try this easy-to-prepare recipe that tastes great. Enjoy!
Mediterranean Pinto Beans
Prep and Cook Time: Prep and cooking time: 15 min; 30 min to marinate
Ingredients:

• 1 large ripe tomato, seeds and excess pulp removed, diced
• 2 TBS finely minced onion
• 4 medium cloves garlic, pressed
• 1 TBS balsamic vinegar
• 2 TBS extra virgin olive oil
• 4 TBS chopped fresh parsley
• pinch red chili flakes
• salt and cracked black pepper to taste
• 2 cups or 1 15 oz can (BPA free) pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• Optional: 1/2 of 2 oz can rinsed and chopped anchovies

Directions:

1. Mince onions and press garlic and let sit for at least 5 minutes to enhance their health-promoting properties.
2. Mix together all ingredients, except beans, in a bowl.
3. Drain and rinse bean well. Toss beans with rest of ingredients. Let marinate for about 30 minutes before serving.

Serves 2 Printer Friendly Version of Mediterranean Pinto Beans
In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Mediterranean Pinto Beans
Healthy Food Tip
I am a vegan and I love mushrooms. How do you know if a mushroom is cultivated in manure or wood chips?
As far as I know, there is no way to tell just by looking—or by some other common sense test—whether a mushroom has been cultivated with the use of manure or wood chips. Even certified organic mushrooms can be grown with either manure or wood chips.
Yet, buying organic mushrooms will provide you with a higher quality food in which you can have greater confidence. For example, for certified organic mushrooms that have been cultivated with a mixture of oak shavings and whole grains, the whole grains used in cultivation of the mushroom spawn would themselves have to be free of many potential toxins. (Wood chips are considered as non-synthetic parts of "mulch" in the National Organics Program statutes and allowed for this reason.)
The National Organics Program also places some very important restrictions on the use of compost in production of all certified organic foods. Raw animal manure cannot be used less than 120 days prior to harvest if a food (including mushrooms) has an edible portion that comes into contact with the soil or soil surface. (Even if the food's edible portion does not come into contact with the soil or soil surface, raw animal manure is not allowed within 90 days of harvest.)
The restrictions on the use of raw animal manure help prevent crops from being contaminated with bacteria like E. coli 0157:H7. Organic food production does allow for unlimited use of composted manure, but this type of manure is far safer than raw manure and follows some very strict standards fully implemented in 2002. (These standards involve carbon-to-nitrogen ratios between 25:1 and 40:1 and maintenance between 131°-170°F (55-77°C) for a fixed number of days that varies depending on aeration procedure.)
I understand that most non-organic, commercially grown mushrooms in the U.S. have been cultivated with the use of compost containing some animal manure, often from chickens, cows, or horses. I have not yet seen non-organic, commercially available mushrooms that are designated "manure-free" in terms of their cultivation.
If you want to stay away from mushrooms grown with manure, you may want to consider growing mushrooms yourself. If you look online, you will find a good number of companies offering complete mushroom growing kits.
For more information on this topic, please see:

• Mushrooms, crimini
• Mushrooms, shiitake

Insight for the Day From 3/24/2014 to 3/26/2014

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.

Chinese Proverb


"I am - just as you are - a unique, never-to-be-repeated event in this universe. Therefore, I have - just as you have - a unique, never-to-be-repeated role in this world."

George Sheehan
1918-1993, Cardiologist, Runner, and Writer

"To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven."

Johannes A. Gaertner
1912-1996, Poet, Theologian, and Author

Insights for the Day - From March 18, 2014 to March 20, 2014

"When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around."

Willie Nelson
Singer/Songwriter

"I live by this credo: Have a little laugh at life and look around you for happiness instead of sadness. Laughter has always brought me out of unhappy situations. Even in your darkest moment, you usually can find something to laugh about if you try hard enough."

Red Skelton
1913-1997, Comedian

"We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about."

Charles Kingsley
1819-1875, Writer

Kevin Bacon's Footloose Entrance

Insight of the Day 3/10/14 - Quote by Og Mandino

"I am here for a purpose and that purpose is to grow into a mountain, not to shrink to a grain of sand. Henceforth I will apply ALL my efforts to become the highest mountain of all and I will strain my potential until it cries for mercy."

Og Mandino
1923-1996, Author

No Matter How You Feel................

15 Everyday Ways to Burn 100 Calories

You don't have to go to the gym to get exercise with diabetes. Find out how you can burn calories easily throughout your day.

By Mary Elizabeth Dallas

Medically reviewed by Farrokh Sohrabi, MD

 

 

 

Physical activity plays a big role in keeping blood sugar in check and helping you lose weight with diabetes, but if going to a gym doesn’t appeal to you, there are still plenty of ways to get your daily exercise. You can burn calories conveniently during everyday activities, like walking, gardening, and just climbing stairs. Research also shows that increasing the intensity of your exercise for even a few minutes can make a big difference in your overall health.

Why Exercise With Diabetes?
By increasing physical activity, you can gain better control of your blood sugar, your weight, and your blood pressure. You can also reduce your “bad” LDL cholesterol and your risk of heart disease and nerve damage, which are health problems often associated with diabetes.

The benefits of exercise with diabetes go down to a cellular level, helping with insulin resistance. "Most people with type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance. When we weigh more than our ideal body weight, our body may be making insulin, but our cells might not be sensitive to it — so glucose stays in the bloodstream,” explains Donna Kernodle, CDE, RD, a diabetes educator at the Joslin Diabetes Center at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C. "Exercise, on the other hand, makes our cells more sensitive to insulin and less resistant."

A consensus statement from the American Diabetes Association, published in Diabetes Care, recommends people with type 2 diabetes get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week. To gain the benefit of increased insulin sensitivity from exercise, your physical activity should be spread out over the course of at least three days so you're not sedentary for more than two days in a row. A good rule of thumb is to plan for 30 minute of exercise, five days a week.

How to Burn Calories and Lose Weight With Diabetes
The number of calories you burn during exercise depends on your weight. This is true for all weight-bearing activities, such as running, climbing stairs, gardening, and dancing.

"It simply requires more energy to move a larger body size," explains Kernodle. "A calorie is just a unit of energy. With extra weight, you will burn more calories just doing basic movements, like walking around or jogging."

The downside is that as you lose weight, you plateau. "When you become lighter, you are not burning as many calories with the same activities," she says. "To maintain progress, you need to not only increase your activity level, but also pick up the intensity of your exercise."

Boosting Your Exercise Intensity
To distinguish between high-intensity and low-intensity activity, Kernodle says to imagine taking a walk. At first, it may be a leisurely stroll on a beautiful day, so you're not exerting yourself. Then, when you see storm clouds on the horizon, you pick up the pace and intensity of your walk so your heart rate increases, as does the number of calories you're burning.

Research shows this type of combined low- and high-intensity exercise, known as high-intensity interval training, is particularly beneficial for those with type 2 diabetes. A study published in Australian Family Medicine in 2012 found that the benefits of aerobic exercise, especially weight loss, are even greater with high-intensity interval training. The study suggested that repeatedly exercising at a high intensity for 30 seconds to several minutes, with 1 to 5 minutes of rest or low-intensity exercise in between, is associated with improved management of diabetes and reduced risk of heart disease.

High-intensity interval training can be easily incorporated into your daily routine by alternating your pace as you walk, jog, or climb stairs.

15 Activities That Burn 100 Calories
Although the number of calories you will burn during exercise depends on your weight and the intensity of your activity, there are a number of activities that will burn roughly 100 calories — and you can do many of them without your ever stepping foot in a gym.

Here are 15 examples of how a 150-pound adult can burn 100 calories:

10 minutes of:

• Running up and down stairs
• Jumping rope
• High-impact aerobics
• Running 1 mile
• Biking at a speed of 15 miles an hour

20 minutes of:

• Walking up and down stairs
• Walking the dog
• Yoga
• Dancing
• Mopping the floor
• Yard work, including mowing the lawn, gardening, or raking leaves
• Washing the car

40 minutes of:

• Cooking
• Washing dishes
• Shopping

To increase the likelihood that you will incorporate more physical activity into your daily routine, it’s important to find activities you enjoy so you’ll continue to exercise. Kernodle also emphasizes being prepared. "Always keep your walking shoes in your car," she suggests. Having well-fitting exercise gear also helps because it may be more tempting to give up on an activity if you’re uncomfortable in the clothing you need to wear for it.

Simply by ramping up your everyday activities, you can burn calories and lose weight with diabetes — which means you’ll feel better both inside and out.

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Great Quote by Joel Osteen

“If they don’t accept you, blow them a kiss good-bye, and move forward with your life!” 

 

 Joel Osteen

The 14 Most Common Health Concerns for Seniors

 

 

 

Getting older can bring senior health challenges. By being aware of these common chronic conditions, you can take steps to stave off disease as you age

Thursday, March 06, 201

People in America today can expect to live longer than ever before. Once you make it to 65, the data suggest that you can live another 19.2 years, on average. For many, then, senior living includes carefully managing chronic conditions to stay healthy. “You need to be physically active and eat a healthy diet" and also make healthy lifestyle choices, like quitting smoking and losing weight, to avoid senior health risks, explained Jeanne Wei, MD, director of the Institute on Aging at the University of Arkansas Medical School in Little Rock. Also, including a geriatrician, a doctor who specializes in the health concerns of aging, on your senior health care team can help older adults learn how to live better with any chronic diseases. Then you too can be among the 76 percent of people over 65 who say their health is good or excellent.

Arthritis
“Arthritis is probably the number one condition that people 65 or older contend with,” said geriatrician Marie Bernard, MD, deputy director of the National Institute on Aging in Bethesda, Md. It affects about 51 percent of all adults over 65 and can lead to pain and lower quality of life for some seniors. Although arthritis can discourage you from being active, it’s important to work with your doctor to develop a personalized activity plan that, along with other treatment, can help maintain senior health.

Heart Disease
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease remains the leading killer of adults over age 65, accounting for 1,156 deaths per 100,000 people in 2009, the most recent statistics. As a chronic condition, heart disease affects 37 percent of men and 26 percent of women 65 and older. As people age, they're increasingly living with risk factors, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, that increase the chances of having a stroke or developing heart disease. Dr. Bernard’s advice for addressing this senior health risk not only helps with heart disease but can improve senior health across the board: “Exercise, eat well, get a good night’s rest. Eating well means eating in a fashion that will allow you to keep a healthy weight with a well-balanced and healthy diet."

Cancer
Cancer is the second leading cause of death among people over age 65, with 982 deaths a year per 100,000 people. According to the CDC, 28 percent of men and 21 percent of women over age 65 are living with cancer. If caught early through screenings such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and skin checks, many types of cancer are treatable. And though you're not always able to prevent cancer, you can improve quality of life as a senior living with cancer, including during treatment, by working with your medical team and maintaining their healthy senior living recommendations.

Respiratory Diseases
Chronic lower respiratory diseases, such as COPD, are the third most common cause of death among people 65 and older, annually taking 291 lives per 100,000 people. About 10 percent of men and 13 percent of women are living with asthma, and another 10 percent of men and 11 percent of women are living with chronic bronchitis or emphysema. Although having a chronic respiratory disease increases senior health risks, making you more vulnerable to infections such as pneumonia, getting lung function tests and taking the correct medications or using oxygen as instructed will go a long way toward preserving senior health and your quality of life.

Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease accounts for about 184 deaths per 100,000 people over age 65 each year. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that as many as 5 million adults over 65 live with Alzheimer’s disease, but because diagnosis is challenging, it’s difficult to know exactly how many people are living with this chronic condition. However, experts acknowledge that cognitive impairment has a significant impact on senior health across the spectrum, from issues of safety and self-care to the cost burden of care in the home or a residential facility.

Osteoporosis
“Osteoporosis can contribute to becoming less mobile and potentially disabled should you fall and have a fracture or as the collapse of vertebral bodies,” Bernard said. The National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that 52 million Americans are affected by low bone mass or osteoporosis, putting them at risk for a fracture or break that could lead to poor senior health and reduced quality of life.

Diabetes
About 24 percent of men and 18 percent of women older than 65 are living with diabetes, a significant senior health risk. According to CDC data, diabetes causes 121 deaths annually among 100,000 adults over age 65. Diabetes can be identified and addressed early with simple blood tests for blood sugar levels. The sooner you know that you have or are at risk for diabetes, the sooner you can start making changes to control the disease and improve your long-term senior health outlook.

Influenza and Pneumonia
Although the flu and pneumonia are not chronic conditions, these infections are among the top seven causes of death in people over age 65, at 104 per 100,000 adults a year. Seniors are more vulnerable to these diseases and less able to fight them off. Senior health care recommendations include getting an annual flu shot and getting the pneumonia vaccine if recommended by your doctor to prevent these infections and their life-threatening complications.

Falls and Other Injuries
The number of physical injuries from falls, accidents, and violence is hard to track, but data from the CDC suggest that 29.1 percent of emergency room visits by seniors are related to injury and 13.5 percent are due to unintentional falls. It's also known that the risk for falls requiring emergency room care increases with age. Most falls occur in the home, where tripping hazards include area rugs and slippery bathroom floors, according to the January 2013 issue of the Journal of Injury and Violence Research.

Substance Abuse
An analysis of data from the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions suggests that one in five people over 65 have had a substance or alcohol abuse problem at some point in their lives. Alcohol and tobacco topped the list of nonmedical substances abused by survey participants. Substance and alcohol abuse are a concern for senior health because of possible interactions with prescription medications, their impact on overall health, and the increased senior health risks, such as falls, associated with intoxication.

Obesity
About 40 percent of adults 65 to 74 years old are obese, although that proportion drops somewhat after age 75, to 27.8 percent. Obesity is an important senior health risk factor for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer -- chronic conditions that impact quality of life. It can also be a signal that an older adult isn’t as active or mobile as he or she once was.

Depression
About 16 percent of women over age 65 and 11 percent of men of that age report symptoms that suggest clinical depression, a threat to senior health. Depression appears to become more common as people age. In addition to treatment with medication and therapy to improve mood, possible solutions to improve senior living might be to increase physical activity -- only 11 percent of seniors meet national recommendations for exercise -- or to interact more socially -- seniors report spending just 8 to 11 percent of their free time with family and friends.

Oral Health
Healthy teeth and gums are important not just for a pretty smile and easy eating, but also for overall senior health. According to the CDC, 25 percent of women and 24 percent of men over 65 have no natural teeth. As you age, your mouth tends to become dryer and cavities are more difficult to prevent, so proper oral health care, including regular dental checkups, should be a senior health care priority, Dr. Wei said.


Poverty
About 9 percent of adults over 65 are living in poverty. Older women are slightly more likely than men to be living in poverty, and single older adults are also significantly more likely to live alone with fewer resources. Poverty affects senior health if you're unable to afford doctor visits, medication for chronic conditions, and other essential senior health care needs.

Click here to view the video:

http://www.everydayhealth.com/news/most-common-health-concerns-seniors/

Really Like This Song!

Post by Robin Harris Jones.

Mom Tries to Teach Adorable Girl Life Lesson

Mother of Norden brothers wins grand prize in 'Unstoppable Mom' contest

Insight for the Day 3/13/14 - Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude."

Ralph Waldo Emerson
1803-1882, Essayist, Lecturer, and Poet

Insight for the Day 3/12/14 - Quote by Marcel Proust

"Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

Marcel Proust
1871-1922, Novelist

10 Workouts to Help You Lose Weight Fast – March 2014

MARCH 2014 Dear FitDay Readers, It's been a tough winter, but spring is right around the corner. And you know what that means? Bikini season isn't far behind. If you've been sticking with your New Year's resolutions, good for you! And if you haven't, there's no need to worry. This month we'll show you how to get back on track by breaking down the best workouts to help you lose weight fast. Plus, we've got a couple of articles for those that are in the middle of their weight-loss journey and may have stalled-out: we'll show you some common muscle-building mistakes and we'll teach you how to break through the plateau.

FEATURED ARTICLES 10 Best Workouts to Help You Lose Weight Quickly If you're looking to shed the pounds quickly (and safely), you need to turn your attention to these 10 workouts. Is your favorite exercise on the list? Read More 6 Mistakes You're Making When Trying to Build Muscle You've been working hard and lifting weights, but you just haven't been seeing the muscles you want. Sound like you? If so, you may be making one of these mistakes. Read More How to Break Through Your Fitness Plateau It happens to everyone...the plateau. You keep exercising and eating right, but you stop seeing the weight-loss results. Don't worry! It's normal. And we can show you how to overcome it. Read More What Have You Eaten Today? Have you logged food for the day? Log in now and track your daily calories. MORE ARTICLES 10 Awesome Post-Workout Snacks Is There Such a Thing as Good Sugar? The 10 Most Unhealthy Cities in America The 10 Most Obese Cities in the World Tell a Friend Do you think a friend would like this email? You can forward it to them instantly. Special Book your FREE consultation. Plus get a free month. (Plus the cost of food.) Get Started

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Insight of the Day 3/11/14 - Quote by Steve Maraboli

"When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love - then make that day count!"

Steve Maraboli
Author and Speaker

Mick L Murphy

When you call yourself "stupid" or anything that is a negative, you are lowering your self esteem and what you send out will always come back to you....so instead of being hard on yourself, change it, and be loving instead....if you could of done something better, say "I'll do better next time" Whatever you say verbally or even in your mind, you are affirming those thoughts, and thoughts turn into actions....be positive, think positive, be consistently positive and you WILL see changes in your life....I did it and I know and believe that you can too! ~ Mick L Murphy

Garlic Shrimp Salad - Healthy Food Tip and Recipe

healthy food tip and recipe

Today's Recipe If you don't know what to serve for dinner tonight ...
Enjoy this delicious shrimp salad as part of your Healthiest Way of Eating. It makes a great light meal on its own, or you can serve it as a side salad to a larger meal.
Garlic Shrimp Salad
Prep and Cook Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:

• 4 medium cloves garlic, pressed
• 1 lb medium-sized cooked shrimp, best bought still frozen
• 1 bunch asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces, discarding bottom fourth
• 3 TBS vegetable broth
• 1 fresh tomato, diced into 1/2-inch pieces
• 3 TBS chopped fresh parsley (or 3 tsp dried parsley if fresh not available)
• small head of romaine lettuce, chopped
• *optional 2 oz crumbled goat cheese
• salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste
• 
  
• Dressing
• 3 TBS fresh lemon juice
• 2 TBS extra virgin olive oil
• 1 TBS Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp honey
• salt and fresh cracked black pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Press garlic and let sit for at least 5 minutes to bring out its hidden health benefits.
2. Make sure shrimp is completely thawed and patted dry with a paper towel, or it will dilute the flavor of the salad.
3. Add broth to medium skillet and after it has heated up, Healthy Sauté asparagus for 5 minutes.
4. Whisk together lemon, oil, mustard, honey, garlic, salt and pepper. Toss shrimp, asparagus, parsley, and tomato with dressing and herbs. Allow shrimp salad to marinate for at least 15 minutes.
5. Discard outer leaves of lettuce head, rinse, dry, and chop. Serve shrimp mixture on bed of lettuce and top with crumbled goat cheese, if desired.

Serves 4 Printer Friendly Version of Garlic Shrimp Salad
In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Garlic Shrimp Salad
Healthy Food Tip

What should I eat at lunch in order to stay alert through the day?

To begin with, I would remind you that no food of any kind can keep you alert in a healthy way if you are exhausted, sleep-deprived, or preoccupied with other thoughts, or just highly disinterested in the activities in which you are involved. What you eat can definitely help you stay alert, but food cannot compensate for these other lifestyle factors if they are serious impediments to your concentration in and of themselves.
Your nutritional strategy for maintaining your mental edge during and after lunch is to eat foods that will give you a gradual, steady release of food energy throughout the afternoon while placing only a light burden on your digestive system. Foods that can interfere with your alertness and concentration are common lunch fare: high-fat hamburgers with high-fat fries; non-whole-grain, low-fiber pasta dishes with oily or creamy sauces; non-whole-grain, low-fiber pizzas topped with high-fat cheeses and fatty meats; and deep-fried fish and chips. Lunches are often downed with high-sugar soft drinks and followed by a heavy, high-fat, and high-sugar dessert, both of which will exert their toll on alertness, concentration, and a feeling of well-being.
The excess fat and excess sugar in these lunch choices will take far too great a toll on your digestive system and focus too much of your body's metabolic attention on digestion. That focus can easily rob you of your alertness. It might also place a burden on your blood sugar regulation and harm your alertness by focusing too much metabolic attention in that direction as well. Here are some suggestions of how to avoid that "ready-for-a siesta" effect as well as indigestion:

• Emphasize healthy protein choices, like cold-water fish, beans and legumes, or a non-cream-based main dish soup or stew.
• Choose lower-glycemic-index carbohydrates, like a green salad, root vegetables in their skins, mushrooms, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, asparagus, or artichoke.
• Eat small-to-moderate portions of food. Be especially careful with amounts of higher fat foods, even if those foods contain valuable fats. Foods in this category would include cold-water fish, flaxseed oil, olive oil, nuts, seeds, and avocado.
• Avoid highly processed foods of all kinds, including most pre-packaged foods, vending machine foods, and fast foods.
• Skip dessert or have a piece of fresh fruit for dessert.
• Have mineral water or herbal tea with a fresh twist of lemon.

It is worth remembering that high-fiber and high-protein foods are digested at a nice even pace in comparison to most processed and fast foods that have either a very high sugar content, which digest too rapidly or a very high fat content, which digest too slowly.
Part of alertness requires our metabolism to avoid some of these digestive extremes, and we can help alertness along by consuming whole, natural foods that can provide us with high-protein and high-fiber meals while still keeping our intake to a moderate level.

10 Quotes to Kickstart Your Week

10 "Dream Big" Quotes That Motivate You to Aim Higher

Insight of the Day - Funny Monday - March 10, 2014 - Quote by Lee J. Colan

"You are the conductor of your own attitude! Nobody else can compose your thoughts for you."

Lee J. Colan
Author and Business Coach

 To see the funny video that relates to the quote above click here.

Raw ONION on bottom of the feet to take away illness - what you guys think? Have you tried it?

Raw ONION on bottom of the feet to take away illness.

''During the night, I started feeling good. I mean really good! I felt tingly, like my blood was being cleansed (it was). It was so cool!
My bedroom smells like a casserole, but it was totally worth it!
***Here is the deal:::
So last night Evan (11) was keeping everyone awake with his cough. I got up, went to the kitchen and sliced a purple, make me cry onion, at 3am. I got some snug socks and put it on the bottom of his feet. To boost my own immunity, I decided to try this too. During the rest of the night, I started feeling good. I mean really good! I felt tingly, like my blood was being cleansed. It was so cool!

This works in 2 ways.
1.) Onions are known to absorb toxins. In fact, during the days of the Plague in England, folks would keep chopped onions around to absorb toxins and clean the air. This helped protect them, against getting the plague.

NEVER SAVE AN ONION. It will absorb all the toxins in the air of your refrigerator. Eat that and you eat the toxins. Instead: Chop your left over onion, put it on a plate and keep it in your kitchen as a natural air purifier. I do this all the time! If someone is ill, place a chopped onion on the night stand, next to the bed. They'll be better in the morning. I placed the remaining onion, next to Evan last night.

Onions are toxin absorbers. Thus why they are great internal mops for the body. Eat plenty of onions!

2.) The onion and garlic families are anti-microbial and anti-bacterial. Placing them on the bottom of the foot gives them access to your internal organs through meridians in your body. The onion can be directly delivered. Transdermal delivery (on the skin) is one of the best delivery mechanisms, as it will bypass the stomach acids and go directly into the blood. The bottom of the feet and the forearm are great places to put high powered foods and essential oils into the body. Sliced garlic on the bottom of the feet will work nicely too.''

A Great Quote by Dr. Demartini - www.DrDemartini.com

Take command of your thoughts because what you think about, you do bring about. If you are going about your day thinking about how much you dislike your life, your job, your relationships etc, the people you deal with will pick up on this and they may shut down to you and withhold opportunities as a result. Be present with people and remember whatever you're thinking about, becomes the reality you're projecting. 

www.DrDemartini.com
 

It is never too late to make a new fresh start!

Napa Cabbage Salad - Healthy Food Tip and Recipe

healthy food tip and recipe

Today's Recipe If you don't know what to serve for dinner tonight ...
This healthy cabbage side salad is add a wonderful Asian flavor to your Healthiest Way of Eating. It also provides a rich concentration of vitamin C, A, folate, manganese and fiber—just a few of its many health-promoting nutrients. Enjoy!
Napa Cabbage Salad
Prep and Cook Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:

• 4 cups finely chopped Napa cabbage
• 1/2 cup chopped scallion
• 1 medium tomato, seeds and excess pulp removed
• Optional: 1/4 cup soaked hijiki seaweed or organic arame; 1 cup chopped cooked chicken breast
• Dressing
• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
• 2 medium cloves garlic, pressed
• 1 TBS rice vinegar or lemon juice
• 1 tsp honey
• 2 TBS soy sauce
• 1/4 tsp dry mustard
• 1 TBS extra virgin olive oil
• salt and white pepper to taste

Directions:

1. If you opt to include the seaweed, rinse and soak hijiki or organic arame in 1 cup warm water until softened, about 10 minutes. Drain and squeeze out excess water when ready.
2. While hijiki or arame is soaking, chop cabbage, scallion and place in a bowl. Cut tomato in half and squeeze out seeds, cut out pulp, and slice in thin strips.
3. Whisk together dressing ingredients and toss with cabbage, tomato, and scallion (and hijiki or arame and/or chopped chicken if so desired). Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Serves 4 Printer Friendly Version of Napa Cabbage Salad
In-Depth Nutritional Profile for Napa Cabbage Salad
Healthy Food Tip

The Latest News about Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Olives, one of the oldest foods known, are thought to have originated in Crete between five and seven thousand years ago. Since ancient times, the olive tree has provided food, fuel, timber and medicine for many civilizations, and has been regarded as a symbol of peace and wisdom. The venerable oil of the olive has been consumed since as early as 3,000 B.C.

What's New and Beneficial About Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• The quality of olive oil production - especially the stage of pressing - really does make a difference when it comes to health benefits. Recent studies have compared the anti-inflammatory benefits of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) obtained from the first pressing of the oil to the anti-inflammatory benefits of virgin olive oils (non-EVOO) obtained from later pressings. What researchers found was an ability of EVOO to lower inflammatory markers in the blood when non-EVOOs were unable to do so. (Study measurements included blood levels of thromboxane A2, or TXA2, and leukotriene B2, or LBT2.) This ability of extra virgin olive oil to help protect against unwanted inflammation is not surprising, since EVOO is known to contain stronger concentrations of phytonutrients (especially polyphenols) that have well-known anti-inflammatory properties.
• Mediterranean Diet studies have long associated olive oil intake with decreased risk of heart disease. However, a recent group of studies has provided us with a fascinating explanation of olive oil's cardioprotective effect. One of the key polyphenols in olive oil - hydroxytyrosol (HT) - helps protect the cells that line our blood vessels from being damaged by overly reactive oxygen molecules. HT helps protect the blood vessel cells by triggering changes at a genetic level. The genetic changes triggered by HT help the blood vessel cells to enhance their antioxidant defense system. In other words, olive oil supports our blood vessels not only by providing antioxidants like like vitamin E and beta-carotene. Olive oil also provides our blood vessels with unique molecules like HT that actually work at a genetic level to help the cellular walls of the blood vessels remain strong.
• Olive oil has long been recognized for its unusual fat content. This plant oil is one of the few widely used culinary oils that contains about 75% of its fat in the form of oleic acid (a monounsaturated, omega-9 fatty acid). In terms of monounsaturated fat, the closest common culinary oil to olive is canola oil, with about 60% of its fat coming in monounsaturated form. By contrast, the fat in soybean oil in only 50-55% monounsaturated; in corn oil, it's about 60%; in sunflower oil, about 20%; and in safflower oil, only 15%. When diets low in monounsaturated fat are altered to increase the monounsaturated fat content (by replacing other oils with olive oil), research study participants tend to experience a significant decrease in their total blood cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and LDL:HDL ratio. Recent research studies have taken these heart-healthy effects of olive oil one step further. Olive oil's monounsaturated fat content (specifically, its high level of oleic acid) h as now been determined to be a mechanism linking olive oil intake to decreased blood pressure. Researchers believe that the plentiful amount of oleic acid in olive oil gets absorbed into the body, finds its way into cell membranes, changes signaling patterns at a cell membrane level (specifically, altering G-protein associated cascades) and thereby lowers blood pressure. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the monounsaturated fat content of olive oil has been linked not only to cholesterol reduction, but also to reduction of blood pressure.
• Cancer prevention has been one of the most active areas of olive oil research, and the jury is no longer out on the health benefits of olive oil with respect to cancer. Twenty-five studies on olive oil intake and cancer risk - including most of the large-scale human studies conducted up through the year 2010 - have recently been analyzed by a team of researchers at the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research Instit ute in Milan, Italy. Firmly established by this research team were the risk-reducing effects of olive oil intake with respect to cancers of the breast, respiratory tract, upper digestive tract and, to a lesser extent, lower digestive tract (colorectal cancers). These anti-cancer benefits of olive oil became most evident when the diets of routine olive oil users were compared with the diets of individuals who seldom used olive oil and instead consumed diets high in saturated added fat, especially butter.

WHFoods Recommendations

Different manufacturers list different smoke points for their olive oils, and some manufacturers list a temperature very close to smoke point as their maximum limit for safe heating of the oil. While these temperatures might be correct for avoiding large amounts of some harmful substances that can be created through heating of the oil, they are not correct limits for preserving the unique nutrients (especially polyphenols) found in high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Oxidation of nourishing substances found in extra virgin olive oil, as well as acrylamide formation, can occur at cooking temperatures very closer to the 300F/148C range. For these reasons, we don't recommend cooking with extra virgin olive oil. For more details, see Is it OK to cook with extra-virgin olive oil? and George's video "Why I Don't Cook with Extra Virgin Olive Oil."

Health Benefits

Extra virgin olive oil provide numerous health benefits including:

• Anti-inflammatory protection
• Cardiovascular health
• Digestive health
• Bone health support
• Cognitive health
• Anti-cancer benefits

For more details on extra virgin olive oil's health benefits, see this section of our extra virgin olive oil write-up.

Nutritional Profile

Extra virgin olive oil is a particularly valuable source of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients. Among these phytonutrients are many standout polyphenols. These polyphenols include tyrosols (oleuropein, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol), flavones (apigenin, luteolin), secoiridoids (oleocanthal), anthocyanidins (cyanidins, peonidins), hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic, cinnamic, ferulic, and coumaric acids), flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol), lignans (pinoresinol), and hydroxybenzoic acids (vanillic and syringic acids). Olive oil is a unique plant oil in terms of its fat composition, containing about three-fourths of its fat in the form of oleic acid (a monounsaturated, omega-9 fat). It also provides valuable amounts of the antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamin E, as well as squalene, a much less common antioxidant that also plays a special role in skin health.
The unique fat composition of olive oil is one of the many reasons we recommend it as a World's Healthiest Food. However, since virtually all of the calories in olive oil come from fat, its total calorie content is high in comparison with the amount consumed. (Just one tablespoon of olive oil contains 126 calories.) The high calorie content of extra virgin olive oil prevents ratings of "excellent," "very good," or "good" for the nutrients in extra virgin olive oil in our ranking system, because our ranking system compares nutrient amounts to calorie amounts in its calculations. However, even though our ranking approach prevents nutrients like beta-carotene and vitamin E from showing up as "excellent" or "very good" in olive oil, this culinary oil definitely provides valuable amounts of these two nutrients and many others.
For more on this nutrient-rich food, including references related to this Latest News, see our write-up on extra virgin olive oil.