Cranberries are a staple on any holiday table, but why not make it a little more festive this year? Walnuts, apples and red wine all add crunch and flavor as well as vitamins and nutrients. It's a packed with antioxidents, omega-3, and flavinoids - all which protect the heart. How's that for? Hey, this is one side dish that just might upstage the main course!
Did You Know?
"Cranberries contain bacteria-blocking compounds that are believed to be helpful in preventing urinary tract infections, and scientists now think this same function may be useful in blocking the bacteria responsible for ulcers and certain oral bacteria that can lead to gum disease." ()
Makes 3 servings
1 Bag of Fresh or Frozen Cranberries (12 oz.) 3/4 C. Sugar 1/2 Cup Red Wine 2 Apples Cored, Unpeeled and Chopped 1/4 C. Finely Shredded Orange Peel 1/2 C. Walnuts, Chopped and Toasted
Combine cranberries, sugar and wine in a saucepan. Cover Saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. The skins will pop on the cranberries and the sugar will dissolve. Reduce heat and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat and stir in the chopped apples and orange peel. Set aside to cool. Stir in toasted walnuts. Relish will thicken as it cools. Serve at room temperature or chilled. Cut oranges in half and remove pulp, leaving the orange shell intact. Spoon cranberry relish into orange shells.
(Today's healthy recipe is from Ann Marshall, Hudson, MA and the )
For more , check out the other delicious recipes listed on this blog or visit .
The title of my post today is that of a website I thought I'd share with everyone. It's called , and is written by a food writer and registered dietitian and her two foodie sons. Each week they send an e-letter focused on a new food or food-related product or idea they think is, well, the best. In the several months I've subscribed to it, I've read notes about everything from Uncle Ben's whole grain brown ready rice, ready to eat in 90 seconds, to Saco dried buttermilk for those recipes that we make infrequently and hence have a slightly-used carton of buttermilk left that we don't know what to do with, to this week's fun idea of hosting a Black & White New Year's Eve party, with a black and white menu, etc. (The picture for today's post is from that e-letter.)
I like the website, too, because as well as being practical, it's a good example of how for and healthy weights can be quite tasty, fun and indulgent, too. That's important to making healthy eating a lifelong practice. I stlll observe folks who say they're going to 'start eating healthy,' and immediately cut out all the 'good stuff,' e.g., it's carrot and celery sticks galore with nary a piece of chocolate to be found. At least for the day they're able to stick with the 'healthy eating.'
As 2007 rolls to a close, and 2008 welcomes us, many of us will partake in that annual rite of making. This year, consider the themes of balance, variety and moderation when it comes to healthy eating. That means no extremes, which generally translates to all or nothing for people who struggle with weight.
AP - A man who gained national media attention by claiming he was not allowed to adopt a baby because of his weight was awarded temporary custody of the child, but the judge chided him and his wife, saying they knew the primary reason the boy had been removed from their home had nothing to do with obesity.
The word of this amazing plant is spreading like wildfire across the country and taking the consumer market by storm. Many are calling the discovery of Hoodia Gordonii the breakthrough of the decade.
This small plant looks like a dill pickle with spines on it. It grows slowly in its harsh environment, and takes four or five years, or more, before it is ready to harvest.
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa, joined forces with the South African San Council. They agreed to work together on the usage of indigenous plants for the benefit of both parties. They also committed themselves to the conservation of natural resources.Because of tremendous worldwide demand for the Hoodia plant, it has become endangered by over-harvesting. Now, certification is required to prove that the product is authentic Hoodia Gordonii.
Real Hoodia Gordonii only grows in the semi-arid desert of South Africa – not in China, or Mexico, or the United States. With Hoodia Gordonii Plus you can be assured of getting the real, organic Hoodia ingredient. That's because our Hoodia is approved by the Western Cape Conservation Authority of South Africa, and is certified to be 100% authentic.
Ayurveda remedies are now available online, and the National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA) hopes this will help those who want to follow the age-old herbal system of Indian medicine for any ailment.
The NIA will begin its online consultancy services within a month and later also offer telemedicine, according to institute director Mahesh Chandra Sharma. "With our online consultancy service, people will be able to report their illness on NIA's website. Operators will forward all queries to the expert concerned and submit back his or her advice. Ayurveda consultants anywhere in the world can also seek advice on treatment of a particular illness," Sharma told IANS.
NIA, run by the union ministry of health and family welfare and under the department of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), is known for its many pioneering researches in ayurveda.
'The world has accepted ayurveda as an authentic form of medicine and one of the oldest medical sciences. Nowadays, ayurveda has even got a status symbol. So there is a growing demand across the world for accurate information and consultancy on ayurvedic therapies,' he said.
"A panel of ayurveda experts is being constituted to provide advice on diseases like obesity, diabetes, depression and knee and abdominal pain. NIA will also provide information on different therapies like 'panchkarma', and blood purifying through ayurvedic treatment," he said.
NIA has a hospital facility in this Rajasthan capital, research centres as well as an educational institute that offers courses in all branches of ayurveda.
We’re officially in the middle of December and that means houses and office buildings across our land are filling up with yummy holiday treats. Fudge, frosted cookies, peanut brittle, baklava, brownies and candy canes, just to name a few. You name it, it’s out there.
If you’re at all like me, you're bound to be experiencing a little stress around holiday eating. Having all those tempting treats right under your nose can put even the strongest resolve to the test. Here are a few things you may want to think about: (note to self!)
• Traditional holiday ! They’re part of what makes the season special, don't be afraid to indulge. • Eat treats when you really want them. Not just because they're there. • Give yourself permission. No sneaking! • Sit down. . Savor the experience. • Taste what you’re eating. If you’re not crazy about fruitcake, leave it be, eat something that really rocks your boat. • Put closure on your eating. Treats are just that - – not a substitute for lunch! • Make it count. Indulge in special holiday treats only in conjunction with a healthy diet. Don't skip or skimp on meals because you had a piece of fudge! • Rejoice in the season.
I love being with family during the holidays - well, MOST of the time! There are chaotic moments, however, and learning how to manage stress can be the difference between maintaining a lifestyle or subcoming to emotional eating.
In my family, different schedules, tastes, and levels of hunger often create conflicts over when, where and what meals will look like. Since I'm often the guest, I usually end up going with the flow. That means more restaurants, late dinners, and fast food choices than I'd normally prefer.
There are three key strategies that I've adopted in order to stay true to my desire to maintain a without creating conflict:
Exercise - I'm an early riser and starting my day with a jog or walk on the treadmill helps to relieve stress. It also gives me some time to myself to plan the day ahead. I'm not focusing on weight loss, simply maintaining a .
Planning ahead - Breakfast I can usually have on my own, but the other meals are mostly decided on the fly. I'm managed to work around these 'unknowns' by taking along a granola bar and juice so that I'm not overly hungry at family mealtimes. Sometimes I'll even have a regular lunch on my own and opt for salad if everyone is going to a restaurant or fast food joint. That way, I'm still joining in socially, but not tempted by foods that are less healthy choices for me.
- At parties, I try to really savor what I'm eating. I tend to eat a little more if I drink alcohol, so usually I opt to have some wine or cocktails after dinner. I don't deny myself anything because I only end up feeling deprived. So, if that chocolate truffle calls to me, I definately answer!
In general, I'm able to carve out a lifestyle with family at the holidays. There are times when I'm not making the healthiest of food choices, but allowing myself the option of enjoying holiday foods IS a choice in and of itself.
For more articles about coping with family during the holidays, please read: , , and .
Traditional Chinese herbal medicine will not be allowed to treat athletes during the Olympics in order to avoid doping problems, an official with the Beijing Organizing Committee of Olympic Games (BOCOG) said.
"It doesn't necessarily mean herbal medicine contains provocative substances. As other Olympic host countries haven't used it before, we choose not to use it too," said Dai Jianping, deputy director of the BOCOG's service department, at an international medical forum.
As a big international event, the Beijing Olympics will follow international medical service standards, Dai said. However, non-drug traditional Chinese treatments, such as acupuncture, cupping and massage, will be used in the Games, he added.
He also said at the forum that a poly-clinic will be constructed inside the athlete's village, providing medical services for some 16,000 athletes from all over the world in 2008. The clinic will be able to provide magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), dental service and physical therapy to athletes who come across health problems during the Olympics, he said.
"It has a 24-hour working schedule, and all the services are for free as Beijing promised to the International Olympic Committee," he said. The 3,000-square-meter poly-clinic, which will finish construction by the end of April 2008, will ease the medical service pressure of hospitals which will still provide normal service to local people during the big event.
A total of 28 dedicated hospitals, 219 venue medical stations and ambulance stations will be used into the health care services in 2008, and 3,000 medical volunteers, mostly students from medical colleges and institutions will be trained to provide medical care along with professional doctors and nurses.
You may already be aware of the weight loss advantages that hoodia gordinii pills provide. What you still have to know are the other therapeutic effects of the plant. hoodia has been used for several ages by indigenous tribes in its original South Africa habitat. Learn more about these to maximize its potential uses.
For many years, even indigenous tribes have been relying on hoodia for its appetite-suppressing effects. The spines are initially removed then the plant can be eaten raw. Other methods include crushing, boiling, sun-drying and turning it into powder form. Tribes mainly use itto help them suppress thirst and hunger during long hunts and travels. Modern uses primarily involve treatment of obesity.
Traditional Uses
Tribes from Botswana, Namibia and Angola used hoodia variedly. For thousands of years, hunter-gatherers consumed the plant to tolerate hunger, thirst and pain during long desert trips where food and water were scarce. Reportedly, P57 is the main molecule in the cactus plant that directly acts on the hypothalamus of the human brain.
It also inhibits prostaglandin synthesis which is responsible for pain sensations. Thus, ancient tribesmen were able to go on for several hours without feeling tired or weak. The big advantage of hoodia compared to drugs is that it is not a stimulant. It naturally helps people increase energy and power without harmful agents like ephedra.
Because of its analgesic effects, hoodia gordinii has been used concurrently in the treatment of wounds, headache, migraine, muscle spasms, arthritis, fever and generalized body weakness. The succulent plant is taken orally in most cases although there have been suggested therapeutic effects in topical application as well. Applying hoodia on the skin can treat sore muscles, sunburns and other inflammatory conditions.
Modern Uses
Aside from having the ability to curb appetite by at least 40%, it can be used effectively for people suffering from diabetes. It actually has similar effects as glucose but much more powerful. The plant is able to normalize blood sugar and preventing insulin fluctuations by ensuring that the cells regularly absorbs energy in the form of glucose to be broken down by the body. People then avoid common symptoms like mood swings and difficulty sleeping.
hoodia gordinii is also useful as a mild antihypertensive due to its blood sugar regulating function. Blood pressure is then maintained at normal levels if the pills are taken regularly. With constant energy consumption of cells, energy and endurance is enhanced without any side effects.
All these effects are guaranteed without any risk of overdose and adverse reactions that diuretics, amphetamines and ephedra have. Pregnant women, heart patients, hypersensitive people and those who have eating, kidney and liver problems should consult a doctor first before consumption.
The miraculous benefits of Hoodia Gordonii have already been established by independent laboratory studies.
The plant's wonder molecule, P57, is touted to possess unrivaled appetite-suppressing qualities. Its original manufacturer, Phytopharm, completed a placebo-controlled clinical study in overweight, but otherwise healthy volunteers using the P57 extract from the plant.
The participants were split into two groups, with one group received the extract and the other received a placebo. Both groups were also told to continue their normal diet and exercise regimen. In comparing the P57 group to the Placebo group, the P57 group had a significant reduction in body fat, caloric intake and showed no adverse side effects.
Health Implications
According to independent laboratory studies, the implications of hoodia with regard to the treating obesity are quite significant. In animal studies using rats, it was shown that a significant decrease in calorie consumption was noted in rats that were given hoodia samples.
In addition, one major study conducted on obese humans saw an average daily calorie drop of about 1,000 calories by the 15th day of taking the supplement. Further research is still being conducted, as more studies are needed to study the immediate and long-term effects and safety of the supplement. Current research however, has not verified any immediate or long-term side effects when using hoodia.
General Indications To Follow
In ensuring the supplement is effective, users should know that dosages may vary. It’s important to use the product as directed by the manufacturer. It would be best to also consult your physician before using this or any other weight-loss product.
The supplement was initially released into the US market in early 2004, and there more research needs to be done before the mechanisms of the medication could be fully understood. Consumers should use extra caution in choosing a good-quality supplement, and ensure that they are made by reputable product manufacturers.
Take in Less Calories, And You Lose Weight Faster
What makes Hoodia supplements quite unique is that they effectively work in preventing weight gain. As much as everyone argues about which is more effective, low carbohydrate or low fat, in the end losing weight is a simple equation.
Individuals are advised to take in less calories than they usually burn, and the faster they will lose weight. As you can not gain weight if you consume lesser calories than you burn, Hoodia gives you a powerful mechanism to fight hunger and therefore take in less calories. Most diet pills and supplements work by trying to increase the rate at which our body burns fat.
Individuals who take weight-loss supplements like these are advised that Hoodia may not work right away as you wish it could. Users generally feel the effects several weeks after taking the supplements.
The major effects of using the product includes a reduced interest in food, delay in the time after eating before hunger sets in again, getting a feeling of fullness more quickly, as well as garnering a general feeling of well-being. Hoodia is not a stimulant, has no known side effects, and appears to be safe for most people.
Cranberries are a staple on any holiday table, but why not make it a little more festive this year? Walnuts, apples and red wine all add crunch and flavor as well as vitamins and nutrients. It's a packed with antioxidents, omega-3, and flavinoids - all which protect the heart. How's that for? Hey, this is one side dish that just might upstage the main course! 