 Sharing this with you from Fooducate.com: The American Medical Association, representing over 200,000 physicians, is considering support of a ban of sales and advertising of energy drink to kids and teens under the age of 18. This is not alcohol and certainly not cigarettes, so why are these doctors getting all worked up? The answer is simple. Energy drinks have led to many incidents of emergency room admittances for kids with caffeine poisoning: “Studies have shown that high ‘stimulant’ drinks contain excessive amounts of caffeine with one can having the equivalent of up to 50 cups of coffee. Excessive caffeine can cause adverse effects such as dizziness, insomnia, agitation, restlessness, anxiety, GI disturbances, myocardial infarction and death.” The AMA has no lawmaking or regulatory power, but the organization does hold sway in Washington DC. Don’t expect the beverage industry to allow any changes. A most lucrative segment for them is the teen 14-18. Once again, it’s up to parents to protect their kids from predatory marketing tactics.
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 Celery is a good source of potassium, magnesium, calcium and vitamins A, B, C and K and is abundant in phytonutrients. Here are some of the ways celery will benefit you and a super simple, delicious celery soup recipe (thanks to my Mum and one that my daughter loves!): * Celery contains a compound called L-3-N-Butylphthalide. This compound may prevent the accumulation of the brain plaques and tangles that cause memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. * Because of its diuretic properties — also thanks to the L-3-N-Butylphthalide compound — celery has long been used in places like Trinidad and Tobago to treat urinary tract and bladder infections. Celery helps you expel water from your body without also losing a lot of potassium. Due to this diuretic effect, watch your consumption of celery if you are currently on blood-pressure medication. * Most experts believe that the most common cause of bad breath is poor dental hygiene. In the absence of proper brushing and flossing, food particles on the teeth and the back of the tongue breed pungent bacteria. Munching on a stalk of celery is helpful in two ways: its roughness helps scrub bacteria from the back of the tongue and its natural fibres assist in cleaning the teeth. In fact, if you ever find yourself without a toothbrush, chomping on a celery stick after a meal or first thing in the morning will do the trick. . * Two of the best natural sources of COX-2 inhibitors (instead of using NSAIDs) are celery and celery seeds, which contain high amounts of a natural painkilling substance called: apigenin. So bursitis and many other inflammatory conditions will benefit from including celery in your diet. * One active compound in celery has been proven effective in cancer prevention and capable of enhancing the activity of certain white blood cells that help fight cancer. They also help prevent free radicals from damaging cells. Celery also contains compounds which block the action of hormone-like substances called prostaglandins. some prostaglandins are thought to encourage the growth of tumor cells. * Celery is naturally resistant to pathogens during storage because it contains a melting pot of fungicides, with more than two dozen already identified. If you're prone to fungal infections or currently battling one, eat a celery stalk a day to keep those microbes in check. * The COX-2 inhibitors present in celery and celery seeds are also good at reducing uric acid levels, which are the cause of gout attacks. Either eating four celery stalks or taking two to four tablets of celery seed extract daily can even eliminate gout attacks. * Celery comes on top of the list for foods that alleviate allergy symptoms. Also on that list are carrots, ginger, peppermint, parsley, turmeric, chamomile and cabbage. * A phytochemical compound present in celery is able to tone the vascular system, lowering blood pressure and may even be useful in cases of migraines.Celery contains compounds called phthalides, which have a two-fold effect on lowering blood pressure.These phthalides relax the smooth muscle surrounding the arterial walls, cutting the work your heart does to pump blood throughout your body. Phthalides also decrease the production of stress hormones, reducing symptoms of hypertension. * Hungarians have long used celery to calm indigestion and Germany's Commission E, a government agency that evaluates the safety and efficacy of medicinal herbs, has approved its use for dyspepsia. * Celery, along with dill, fennel, anise and all tasty herbs of the celery family, are amongst the list of mildly estrogenic herbs, they all have 40 to 50 phytochemicals and are a mix of anethole, apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin and quercitin. All these compounds are very good at alleviating all menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, and contribute to preventing heart disease and osteoporosis but without the side-effects of HRT treatment. * Celery is a well known vegetable for stimulating the immune system to help fight disease. Celery is packed with antioxidants and compounds that fight bacteria, viruses and inflammation. CLEAN AND SIMPLE CELERY SOUP 350 grams (12 oz) celery stalks, roughly chopped ( I used the PC organic celery - used all but 4 stalks that I munched on while cooking!) 1 Tablespoon butter 1 Tablespoon Grapeseed oil 110 grams (4 oz) potato, peeled and cut into chunks (2small) 2 medium leeks, white part cleaned and sliced 2 cups organic (or homemade)vegetable or chicken stock 1/4 teaspoon celery seeds salt and pepper to taste. In a large saucepan, melt the butter with the oil. Add the veggies and stir to coat. Turn heat to low, cover and cook for about 15 minutes. Add stock, seeds, salt and pepper. Bring it to a simmer and then cover again. Cook for 25 minutes, or until veggies are tender. Blend the soup in batches or with a hand emulsifier. Check seasoning and add more salt and/or pepper. TA-DA!  Here they are: * Because it's a cheap way to entertain yourself (and, in my case, others - if it is a Zumba class). * Because you'll be able to reward yourself. * Because you need a reason to wear those new workout clothes. * Because you're tired of being tired. * Because not working out is not going to get you very far. * Because it's a great way to spend some time outside. * Because you made a commitment to yourself. * Because you're tired of starting over. * Because there will always be another wedding, vacation or reunion. * Because you are not a quitter. TA-DA! Go do your thing :) Just received this article from "fooducate.com" and wanted to share:
What’s in That Big Mac? MUCH More Than You Think Time magazine has just run an article entitled What’s in That Big Mac? More Than You Think. The title was a lead in to a discussion of calories of fast food meals. Most people, when asked, underestimate the calorie count of a big mac combo meal by up to 20%. A consistent undershoot of caloric values can obviously lead to weight gain. That’s why the simple public health policy of calorie labeling on items at fast food establishments, to be implemented early next year, seems to make sense. However, as readers of this blog know, not all calories are created equally. Eating junk food that is high in calories poses risks greater than simple weight gain. the nutrient devoid food, often laced with dangerous preservatives could lead to other health implications. Did you know that with every bite of a Big Mac, you are chewing on a highly processed formulation of: 100% pure USDA inspected beef, no fillers, no extenders, Prepared with grill seasoning (salt, black pepper),Enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, malted barley flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, high fructose corn syrup and/or sugar, soybean oil and/or canola oil, contains 2% or less of the following: salt, calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate, wheat gluten, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride, dough conditioners (may contain one or more of the following: sodium stearoyl lactylate, datem, ascorbic acid, azodicarbonamide, mono- and diglycerides, ethoxylated monoglycerides, monocalcium phosphate, enzymes, guar gum, calcium peroxide), calcium propionate and/or sodium propionate (preservatives), soy lecithin, sesame seed,Milk, water, milkfat, cheese culture, sodium citrate, salt, citric acid, sorbic acid (preservative), sodium phosphate, color added, lactic acid, acetic acid, enzymes, soy lecithin (added for slice separation),Soybean oil, pickle relish [diced pickles, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, vinegar, corn syrup, salt, calcium chloride, xanthan gum, potassium sorbate (preservative), spice extractives, polysorbate 80], distilled vinegar, water, egg yolks, high fructose corn syrup, onion powder, mustard seed, salt, spices, propylene glycol alginate, sodium benzoate (preservative), mustard bran, sugar, garlic powder, vegetable protein (hydrolyzed corn, soy and wheat), caramel color, extractives of paprika, soy lecithin, turmeric (color), calcium disodium EDTA (protect flavor),lettuce,cucumbers, water, distilled vinegar, salt, calcium chloride, alum, potassium sorbate (preservative), natural flavors (plant source), polysorbate 80, extractives of turmeric (color),chopped onions,… That’s over 80 ingredients, some of which we’d like to highlight:
A few more “fun facts”, beyond the 540 calories (before fries and soft drink):
 SQUATS HURT. And, they never seem to stop hurting!! Why is that? Well, it has to do with the size of the muscle. The burn you feel while exercising is lactic acid. Lactic acid is a muscle fuel produced from glucose. This is stuff used by the mitochondria in our muscles to create power and energy. Bigger muscle = more mitochondria = the more lactic acid = more burn! Our quadriceps are pretty big :) For many years, it was commonly believed muscle soreness was from lactic acid buildup, but this has now been thoroughly debunked by science. The burn you feel while exercising is indeed lactic acid, however, your body flushes it out very quickly — within an hour of exercising. The muscle soreness you experienced one to two days after exercise, is actually caused by inflammation stemming from microscopic tears in between your muscles and their surrounding tissues. Eccentric contractions seem to cause the most soreness, meaning movements that cause your muscle to forcefully contract while lengthening, such as the downward motion of squats. The good news is that our quadriceps are a great source of Human Growth Hormone. This hormone tells the body to burn fat for energy (you become a fat burning machine, even when sleeping) and is responsible for anti-aging things like healthier looking skin, more energy and a higher sex drive. So, bigger muscles mean more pain but they have their benefits, too! |
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Photos used under Creative Commons from we-make-money-not-art, Sarah Camp
