MARGARINE OR BUTTER?...............

Do you eat margarine or Butter? ~ ~ ~ ~ This is interesting . . .



Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys.

When it killed the turkeys, the people who had put all the money into the research

wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back.

It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter.

How do you like it?

They have come out with some clever new flavorings.


DO YOU KNOW...the difference between margarine and butter?

Read on to the end...gets very interesting!

Both have the same amount of calories.

Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams compared to 5 grams.

Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.


Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods.

Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarine has a few only because they are added!

Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods.

Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for
less than 100 years.



And now, for Margarine...

Very high in trans fatty acids.

Triple risk of coronary heart disease.

Increases total cholesterol and LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)

Increases the risk of cancers up to five fold.

Lowers quality of breast milk.

Decreases immune response.

Decreases insulin response.




And here's the most disturbing fact....


HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING!

Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC...

This fact alone was enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance).



You can try this yourself:

Purchase a tub of margarine and leave it in your garage or
shaded area.

Within a couple of days you will note a couple of things:

* No flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something)

* It does not rot or smell differently because it has no nutritional value.

* Nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weenie microorganisms will not a find
a home to grow.

Why? Because it is nearly plastic.
Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?


Share This With Your Friends..... (If you want to "butter them up")!

Keeping our Priorities in Order!

There's nothing like entering a new phrase such as Fall, Winter, Spring or Summer. As we do, most of us will have to enter into new concerns as well. Some of us may be concerned about ridding ourselves of the habits performed in the previous Seasons. Some of us may have to prepare to lose weight so that we can feel and look great in our new Clothes. However I would like to share with you, that we can flow right through the New Seasons without having these concerns of losing weight, if only we'd say No to many of the extra food items and certain favorite activities such as just sitting in front of the TV, at the Computer, Playing video games or just laying around doing nothing.

Most times we think that it's the big things which cause us problems when it comes to either shedding or maintaining our Idea weight goals. However it can be a lot of little things that we do on a daily basis. Such as the kind of Dressings we pour over Salads. Or it could be those late night snacks we reach for while watching our Favorite TV programs or Movie and not paying attention to how much we're eating at each setting. I know myself, I always enjoyed a few cookies along with my morning or evening coffee, sometimes a snack cake would do. This was consumed more than the times I should have been eating sugary food items, and caused a few problems with my accomplishing an Idea health goal to maintain a well toned physique. Upon cutting back on the cookies and other junk foods like Doritos' I was able to get back on track faster.

Its very important for us to Keep our Priorities in Order by having a clear goal of what it is we want to accomplish and having that self Motivation, and self discipline to say "No" to many of the little things that can hinder us in our health quest. So What ever your little things may be which could be stopping you from reaching your Health goals, begin to cut back on them, and try substituting them with a alternative Healthy choice. You'll be glad you did, plus you'll be more than ready to enter your New Season!!!

Ready for the New Season!

I hope everyone had a great Summer experience although many Cities were hot which led many people to seek indoor activities, or either water locations to keep cool. Fall season can be a great time of the year to engage in outdoor activities even more than Summer. It's not as hot nor humid conditions which makes it great to engage in Physical Fitness outdoor events!

We are fast approaching the months that bring with them celebrations which cause for all kinds of extra Foods and goodies that we normally don't consume other times of the year. Take Halloween for instance, that is a time when Children and Adults both consume More Sweets and other sugary foods than any other time of the year. Then following this event comes Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. These are the Holidays and events that will cause us to gain more weight than any other time of the year, and also the time of the year when most people are the least active. With the end results being an increased weight gain. Then getting ready to start the New Year all over again with the number one New Years Resolution being at the top of our list "To Live a more Healthier lifestyle!" I say the best time to start that Resolution is Right NOW!

This way you're ahead of the game and more motivated to remain active during the winter Months and continuing to maintain your idea Health and Fitness goals. You CAN Do it!

A Great Summer time Chilly Drink!!

Double Grape Slushies

Serves 4
Older kids can learn to make these themselves, and younger ones can be helpers. Remember to be careful with knives and sharp blender blades. And if you do want it sweeter, add a touch of agave nectar or grape fruit spread.

Ingredients
1/2 cup concord grape juice
1 cup seedless red or green grapes
1 cup honeydew melon chunks
2 cups ice cubes

Method
Pour juice into a blender. Drop in fruit and ice. Keep your hands out! Put the lid on and blend until smooth.


Nutrition
Per serving (about 5oz/163g-wt.): 60 calories (0 from fat), 0g total fat, 0g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 10mg sodium, 15g total carbohydrate (1g dietary fiber, 14g sugar), 1g protein

Enjoy!!

I would like to ask you a few important questions, that if answered truthfully after looking within, can change your life and be used as a guide, a mission-like Statement to keep you focused on your main goals. Let's get right to it.....



Question 1. What results am I not getting in my life right now?

Answer:


Question 2. What can I do to get the results I desire in my life right now?

Answer:


Question 3. What's Preventing me from doing the things I should be doing to get the results I desire in my life?

Answer:


Question 4. What are my overall Goals for "Wellness" -Good Health and Physical Fitness?

Answer:


When we answer the first three questions and then answer question number four, it makes everything very "doable". Because having a goal actually helps us to take our eyes off of the obstacles that have been preventing us from taking the necessary steps to accomplish the very things we desire in life! Or let me phrase it this way........"Obstacles are those frightful things we see in our paths when we take our eyes off of our goals."


These questions can be used to bring empowering results to your life in any area, not just Health! What I would like for everyone to do is to spend a few days this week and really look within yourself, and then answer these four powerful questions. This is very important, so do not skip this process. Before we can analyze the actual situations we must first identify the obstacles , the problems, and then work on a effective solution! It is Results that we desire. Up until this moment no one has failed, failure no longer exists, we will replace that word with "Results", because it is the results that you desire to achieved, that's all.........And after answering the four empowering questions you WILL achieve the results desired!!

Tips on Getting started with Physical Fitness Activity....

I wanted to touch base with you to see how everyone is coming along, and wanted to share a little something with you to think about!

Exercising - How to Get Started


Here are some tips to help you get started:

Frequency and duration of activity are more important than intensity. Moderately intense exercise, such as brisk walking, is enough for health benefits if done most days of the week. Normal daily activities as well as formal exercise add up. You get health benefits from walking up stairs and carrying out the trash, gardening, cleaning, shopping, vacuuming, making the bed, and mowing the lawn.
If you can, engage in moderate to vigorous exercise using the large muscles for 30-60 minutes three or more times a week; you're likely to gain even more health benefits in addition to greater fitness.
Remember that for your fitness to improve, you need to exercise regularly. Try for a minimum of 30 minutes of low to moderately intense physical activity on most days of the week. Over time, you may be able to build up to 30-60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise.
Schedule time for recovery. Many people start with frenzied zeal, exercising too long or too intensely, and give up when muscles and joints become sore or injured. Start slowly and build up gradually, allowing time between sessions for your body to rest and recover.
For most older people, brisk walking becomes a mainstay exercise. Walking for 20-30 minutes or more at least three but preferably five times a week offers health benefits. If one of your goals is losing weight, you may want to walk about 40 minutes several times a week. That's because you burn more fat during longer-duration, lower-intensity exercise than you do during shorter exercise periods.
Fitness Long Ago


The longest-lived peoples in human history usually walked everywhere they went, trailed their animals and herds, hunted wild game on foot, built rugged shelters, or cultivated fields at an active pace each day with intermittent periods of rest. They knew nothing about aerobic exercise, treadmills, or running tracks, but they were masters at anaerobic exercise-activities that incur an "oxygen debt" through temporary or briefly sustained exertion.

For thousands of years, physical activity was an integral part of daily life in work as well as in religious, social and cultural expression. Survival was dependent on the procurement of food, which necessitated physical activity. By 1953, almost sixty percent of American children failed to meet even a minimum fitness standard for health (compared to less than ten percent in Europe). Today, we are even more sedentary.



Inactivity and Overexertion


The modern lifestyle brought about the unhealthy "luxury" of being sedentary. Our buildings, shopping centers, work areas, etc. have all been designed so that we do not have to move around much, but this is not the lifestyle we were designed to follow. What used to constitute continuous physical labor and moderate activity becomes sedentary travel to work and sedentary work-which translates into weight gain and possibly lowered health levels. This sedentary modern lifestyle leads to as much as 1,000 calories per day which are not burned and a 50% reduction in physical activity. Among the disorders associated with an increase of incidence in inactivity are:

Cardiovascular diseases: Heart disease, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, angina, and myocardial infarction; hypertension, stroke, intermittent claudication , and platelet adhesion and aggregation
Metabolic diseases: Type 2 diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, gall bladder disorders
Cancers: Breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, melanoma
Pulmonary diseases: Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Immune dysfunction disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders: Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and physical frailty
Neurological disorders: Cognitive dysfunction
When we exercise we are actually helping the body remove toxins through breathing more deeply (releases toxins from the lungs), perspiration, and muscle activity. If we do not take advantage of the toxic elimination properties of exercise these toxins will remain in our body, disrupt immune function and make us more susceptible to infection and illness.

While lack of exercise suppresses immune function it is important to note the same is true for intensive training. In fact, overtraining temporarily weaken immune function-sometimes for hours afterwards. Next week I'll be sending a email to members asking each of you "What are your personal fitness and health goals?" In order to accomplish any goal we must have a target to aim for.

Healthy Choices to make when grocery shopping

Use this blood-pressure-friendly grocery list to make shopping a breeze. The list is based on the principles of the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), a proven hypertension-controlling approach to food that emphasizes fruits, veggies, and whole grains but also incorporates nuts, seeds, healthy fats, low-fat dairy, and lean protein sources.

Healthy Choices to make when grocery shopping
Whole Grains

Opt for products that are 100% whole wheat or whole grain, contain at least 3 grams of fiber per serving, and are "low sodium."
whole-wheat, rye, or multigrain bread and crackers
unprocessed or lightly processed oatmeal, such as steel-cut oats
brown rice
whole-wheat pasta
air-popped popcorn
whole-grain breakfast cereal
Vegetables

Choose fresh or frozen when you can; opt for canned only if it's "low sodium."

asparagus
broccoli
carrots
green beans
kale
onions artichokes
brussels sprouts
cauliflower
peas
leeks
potatoes bell peppers
cabbage
collards
pumpkin
mushrooms
spinach sprouts
squash

Fruit

Choose fresh or frozen when you can; make dried or canned your second choice.
strawberries
apples
dates
mangoes
peaches
persimmons
blueberries
nectarines
kiwifruit pears
figs
grapes
melons
pineapples
raisins
cranberries
citrus
plums bananas
cherries
oranges
tangerines
prunes
raspberries
blackberries
tomatoes
apricots

Supplement meals with these items:
Good choices of Dairy

skim or low-fat (1%) milk
low-fat, low-sodium, natural cheeses, such as mozzarella or cheddar
nonfat or low-fat yogurt or frozen yogurt

** Organic Milk is great and free of harmful growth Hormones and pesticides laden grains fed to cows.
Lean Meats, Poultry, or Fish

low-mercury fish, such as salmon, herring, sardines, trout, and pollack
skinless cuts of white-meat chicken or turkey
lean, trimmed, unprocessed cuts of red meat (use sparingly)
Eggs **Organic eggs are more healthier and free of Growth Hormones and pesticide laden "feed" fed to chicken.
Nuts, Seeds, and Legumes

unsalted peanuts, walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts
nut butters (peanut butter, almond butter)
sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed
lentils
garbanzos
black beans
Fats and Oils

vegetable oils, such as olive, canola, or safflower oil
trans-fat-free margarine
fat-free cooking sprays
Use these flavors to add interest:
Seasonings

fresh herbs, such as rosemary, basil, mint, dill, and chives
salt-free spices, such as lemon pepper, dried onion, and garlic powder
malt, cider, or red wine vinegar
lemon, lime, or orange juice or zest