(ARA) – With the abundance of fresh produce that accompanies the arrival of warm weather, you would think Americans’ diets would be healthier in summer than at nearly any other time of year. But what good are so-called “superfoods” like blueberries, fresh ginger and even eggs if you can’t get the kids (or your spouse) to eat them?

Plenty of experts agree that the solution is simple — sneak nutritious foods into dishes where they’ll be least expected. And a summer smoothie is a great way to do it. Kid-friendly and convenient for on-the-go adults, smoothies are the essence of summer refreshment. When you load them up with fresh superfoods — ingredients recognized for offering positive health benefits — smoothies also become a great way to take full advantage of summer’s nutritional bounty.

Blended with just the right balance of ingredients, practically any superfood will work in a smoothie. Here are a few ideas for what to toss in the blender:

* Blueberries – High in antioxidants like vitamins C and E, blueberries help boost the immune system naturally, combat free-radical damage and possibly even ease the effects of aging. Fresh or frozen, they’re a flavorful, health-filled addition to any smoothie recipe.

* Fresh ginger – For thousands of years, Asian cultures have relied on fresh ginger to aid in digestion. It’s also thought to have anti-inflammatory properties as well. You can use ground ginger, but most supermarkets now carry the fresh root, which will deliver the full flavor and health benefits.

* Egg whites – Egg whites are an unbeatable source of pure, fat-free, cholesterol-free, high-quality lean protein. A convenient option in a pourable carton, AllWhites brand 100 percent egg whites are pasteurized for safety, providing an easy way to add lean protein to a smoothie. Oprah Winfrey trainer Bob Greene incorporates AllWhites in his “Best Life Diet,” noting their ability to help keep your appetite in check.

* Honey – Not only is honey a great, natural alternative to processed sugar or chemical-based sugar substitutes to bring sweetness to your smoothie, its glucose is easily absorbed by the body and helps produce energy. It’s also thought to provide antioxidant and antibacterial benefits.

* Ground cinnamon – Studies show cinnamon may help regulate blood sugar, act as an anti-inflammatory and even an anti-bacterial. A popular flavor among kids, it’s also high in nutrients like iron and calcium.

* Sliced almonds (or other nuts) — Nuts are a good source of high-quality protein. Sprinkle a handful over the top of your smoothie to add protein and a fun crunch.

Here’s a health-filled summer smoothie recipe with ingredients designed to help boost productivity:

Blueberry Ginger Productivity Protein Smoothie

Preparation time: 5 minutes.

Ingredients:
1 cup frozen wild blueberries
1 container (6 ounces) fat-free vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup AllWhites 100 percent liquid egg whites
1/2 cup skim milk or soymilk
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons grated fresh gingerroot
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons sliced almonds

Directions:
Combine all ingredients except almonds in blender. Cover and blend on medium speed until smooth. Sprinkle each serving with 1 tablespoon almonds. Serve immediately.

Makes two eight-ounce servings. Nutrition per serving: 124 calories, 18 from fat; 2 grams total fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 2 mg cholesterol; 87 mg sodium; 22 grams total carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 7 grams protein.

For more great recipe ideas, visit www.betterneggs.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Feeling stressed over the economy? More and more Americans are turning to a millennia-old technique for relieving stress — music. Whether you just listen or actually play an instrument, music has very definite therapeutic value for a range of mental and physical health issues, a growing body of scientific evidence shows.

From relieving depression in adults to helping children with Attention Deficit Disorder learn to focus better, playing music provides myriad health benefits, studies show. In fact, studies reported on the Music Industry Association’s Recreational Music Making Web site show that playing music has:

* Improved immune system performance in corporate workers studied in Japan.
* Relieved loneliness and boosted self esteem in senior citizens.
* Relieved stress and improved mood for 75 nursing students studied at Allegany College of Maryland.

But how can you tap the stress-relieving, health-enhancing benefits of playing music without investing years learning to read music and play an instrument?

“What keeps many people from playing, especially popular instruments like piano, is that they never get proficient enough at reading notes to play easily,” says Scott Houston, the “Piano Guy” and host of an Emmy-winning Public Television how-to show. A better approach, he says, and one that works for both beginners and experienced music readers, is to focus on chords and interpretation, rather than reading note-for-note.

“This method is effective for both trained and untrained recreational players,” he says. “It’s not unusual for recreational players to feel frustrated and even stressed if traditional music training isn’t working for them, or they’re not progressing as quickly as they’d like. This approach allows you to tap the health-enhancing and stress-relieving benefits of recreational music making quickly and easily.”

The key to Houston’s method is to teach you how to read a “lead sheet,” a kind of “shorthand” professional musicians use to queue them to a song’s melody line and the chords that accompany it. Because it’s a very simple form of music notation, lead sheets allow you to learn a song faster and put more creativity and interpretation into how you play. Actually creating music, rather than just playing notes, imparts an “artist’s high,” Houston notes.

“Most people who want to learn to play piano simply want to do so for their own enjoyment,” he says. “Of all the things I do throughout my day, nothing is more enjoyable than to just sit down and play a tune.”

“Learning to play the piano is not only healthy for you, it’s just plain fun and can be attained quickly using the right techniques,” Houston adds.

To learn more about Houston’s technique for teaching recreational musicians to play piano quickly and creatively, visit www.ScottHouston.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Contrary to what most people think, osteoporosis does not just affect elderly women. Bone loss can begin earlier in life, long before symptoms actually appear. After your mid-30s, everyone begins to slowly lose bone mass. Women lose bone mass faster after menopause, but according to the 2004 Surgeon General’s Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis it happens to men too.

“The good news is that there are simple steps we can take throughout our lives to help keep bones strong and help prevent osteoporosis,” says Claude Arnaud, M.D., FACE, director of the medical and scientific board of the Foundation for Osteoporosis Research and Education (FORE) and professor emeritus of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco.

 The first step, at any age, is to make sure you are getting enough calcium and vitamin D. In fact, lack of calcium has been singled out as a major public health concern because it is critically important to bone health. Calcium alone is not enough. Vitamin D is important for adequate absorption of calcium. Unfortunately, many Americans do not get enough calcium and vitamin D in their diet alone.

Current recommendations for the daily intake of calcium for adults are 1000 to 1200 mg and 750 to 800 IU for vitamin D. For those whose diets do not contain enough calcium and vitamin D, a calcium supplement can be taken with meals once or twice a day. Clinical studies suggest that a calcium supplement can slow the progression of bone loss. A calcium supplement, like Caltrate, that provides a daily intake of 1200 mg of calcium and 800 IU of vitamin D can help promote calcium absorption and bone protection.

“Getting enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet is an important element for good bone health,” says Dr. Arnaud. “Vitamin D is available in multivitamin supplements and some calcium supplement products. Be sure to read the labels to make certain you are purchasing the supplement that is right for your needs.”

You should also follow these simple steps to help keep your bones strong and reduce your risk of falls and fractures.

*Keep active. Like muscle, bone gets stronger with exercise. Regular weight bearing exercise (like walking) strengthens the bones, and also improves mobility, and balance, which can help reduce the risk of falls and fractures. Make sure to talk to your doctor prior to beginning any exercise program.

*Reduce smoking and alcohol intake. These habits make it difficult for your body to make use of calcium that is important in maintaining good bone health.

*Be informed and talk with your doctor about promoting good bone health. Only your doctor can determine if you are at risk for osteoporosis and if you need additional measures to reduce your risk of fracture. Ask if you need a Bone Mineral Density (BMD) test.

For more information, visit www.fore.org.

Courtesy of ARA Content

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

The good news is that there are some simple steps that can help prevent hip fractures, including nutrition, exercise and common sense.

* Nutrition – Keeping your bones strong is the first line of defense against hip fractures, so it is important to get your daily recommended amounts of calcium and vitamin D. Depending on your age, calcium intake should range between 1,000 and 1,300 mg. a day. If you don’t get the necessary calcium from your diet, consider a calcium supplement. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. Experts recommend a daily intake between 400 and 800 IUs (International Units). There are also medications for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

 * Exercise – Regular physical activity also helps keep bones healthy and strong as well as improve your balance. The best exercise for your bones is weight-bearing exercise such as walking, dancing, jogging, stair-climbing, racquet sports and hiking. If you are already active, keep it up. If you are looking to start an exercise program, be sure to check with your doctor first.

* Common sense –Make sure your house is free of obstacles or other hazards that could lead to falling. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one-half to two-thirds of all falls occur in or around the home. Most fall injuries are caused by falls on the same level (not from falling down stairs) and from a standing height (for example, by tripping while walking).

To make your home safer, start by keeping floors clear of items that could cause you to trip, including throw rugs. Make sure your rooms are well-lit so you can see things that might be in your path. Keep electrical cords close to the outlets – don’t have cords snaking across your living room floor.

Other precautions include installing grab bars in the bathroom, and making sure you have sturdy banisters on both sides of your staircases. Of course, despite all your efforts and good intentions, a fall can still happen.

If you know you are prone to falls, consider using a protective device such as SafeHip Hip Protector. SafeHip has protective shields sewn into an undergarment that is worn under clothing and has been clinically proven to show it reduces the chance of hip fracture from a fall. The SafeHip shield, available in either a soft shell foam or hard shell polypropylene, absorbs and disperses the energy of a fall into the soft tissue surrounding the hip.

Don’t become a statistic – the simple steps outlined above can help decrease your risk of hip fractures due to falling. For more information on SafeHip, call (877) 728-3447 or visit www.safehip.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

You can find information about how to keep your kids eating healthy at http://wwwmedtronic.com/healthykids. Raising Healthy Kids also is available in a four-page translated version for parents whose first language is not English; translations are available in Hmong, Spanish and Somali.

Following are a few simple tips to get you started.

1. Make healthy eating fun!

Nutritious foods can be enjoyable when mixed with a little planning and creativity. Try serving frozen grapes, popcorn with seasoning salt instead of butter, carrot sticks with peanut butter or fresh fruit kabobs. Or involve your kids in the experimentation. Your kids will forget that they’re eating something healthy, and you’ll have fun, too!

 2. Invest in healthy, portable meals or snacks for days on-the-go.

Pack a bag lunch on days when you know you will be away from the house during meal or snack times. Convenient, nutritious foods such as grapes, raisins or mozzarella cheese sticks make perfect snacks and help ward off the temptation to snack on sweets or fatty foods.

3. The availability of good foods and the absence of bad foods is key.

Your children will eat what’s in front of them, especially when they’re hungry, so make sure the good stuff is accessible. That means cutting up fruits and vegetables ahead of time and leaving them in plain sight. No time? Buy the pre-cut veggies and fruit platters.

4. Encourage your child to drink water instead of juice or soda.

Both juice and soda are full of processed sugar and unnecessary calories – a whopping 250 calories in a 20 ounce bottle of soda. If your child has a sweet tooth, try quenching their thirst with sugar-free lemonade or fresh fruit instead.

5. If possible, go to the supermarket without your children.

These days, aggressive advertising and marketing techniques are directed at your kids that may cause them to pester you in to buying unhealthy foods. Although it may be difficult with kids at home, shopping alone makes it easier to resist the temptation to surrender to your child’s whining. On those occasions when you do need to bring your children with you, don’t be afraid to say “no.”

For more information on raising healthy kids, go to http://wwwmedtronic.com/healthykids.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Related posts:

1. Simple Ways to Nurture Your Child’s Positive Body Image

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

“The best way to break the cycle of crash diets and seasonal quick fixes is to consistently make smart food choices” said Wiatt. “Establishing an eating plan and adding variety to meals can make healthful eating more enjoyable and successful.” Wiatt recommends the following tips to make smart eating simple and easy to maintain throughout the year.

 * Choose a wide variety of powerful foods. A diverse diet is not only best for your health, but most satisfying to your taste buds. Emphasize foods that naturally boost energy while helping to protect against diet-related diseases.

Powerful food fix: Choose 100 percent orange juice as a flavorful pick-me-up that provides essential nutrients including vitamin C, folate and potassium that may help boost your immunity and protect against some forms of cancer and heart disease when part of a high-fiber, low-fat diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

* Establish interval eating. Timing is everything. Regularly spacing out meals and snacks can stimulate metabolism, boost energy and improve your mood. Start with a healthy breakfast then eat several smaller meals throughout the day so you can enjoy the benefits of a steady fuel supply and a satisfied palate.

Interval eating idea: Snack on healthy foods such as fresh fruit, snap peas and carrots with hummus and whole grain crackers between meals to keep your metabolism going, blood sugar stable and satisfy hunger.

* Maximize flavor, minimize saturated fat. Believe it or not, foods with lower fat and cholesterol can taste fantastic and feed a fit body. Lighter preparations unmask natural flavors and excite the taste buds.

Maximum flavor factor: Grill or steam white fish instead of frying or sautéing to bring out natural flavors and nutrients while minimizing fat intake.

* Enjoy yourself! Happiness is your birthright, and smart eating focuses on the positive. Every meal is an opportunity to enjoy delicious foods while doing something good for your body. Relax and savor the moment!
Enjoyment mantra: Make healthful meals tasty and easy. Look for nutritious recipes that strike your fancy and don’t intimidate you, or experiment with your own combinations of your favorite power foods.

According to Wiatt, developing good eating habits while preparing for summer can help you continue to look and feel great throughout the year. A balanced diet that incorporates variety, power foods and healthy snacking can make developing and maintaining good eating habits easier. For more on healthy eating visit www.FloridaJuice.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Related posts:

1. Simple Ways to Nurture Your Child’s Positive Body Image

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Maggie Gyllenhaal

More than 1 million people will be diagnosed with skin cancer this year. That’s more than all other cancers combined. According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), studies have shown that adopting a comprehensive sun protection program that includes monthly self-examinations and yearly screenings by a dermatologist can substantially lower skin cancer risk.

Throughought June, Olay and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS) are hosting “Bring a Buddy” free skin cancer screenings nationwide. More than 150 dermasurgeons across the country are providing free skin cancer checks so Americans can protect not only themselves, but their friends and family as well. Screenings are quick, easy and painless —they are noninvasive visual inspections of the entire body and only take two or three minutes. Complete lists of dermasurgeons volunteering for the program are available on olay.com and asds.net.

How can you stay safe?

 1. Apply a daily moisturizer with broad spectrum sun protection every day before going outside, like Olay Touch of Sun with SPF 15 or Olay Complete Defense SPF 30.

2. Examine skin at least once a month to search for any spots that seem to have changed size, color or shape. Focus on your neck, chest and torso, and use a bright light, full-length mirror, hand-mirror and blow-dryer to inspect hard-to-see areas such as the scalp and back of the neck. For more information on self-screening, visit olay.com.

3. Learn your “ABCDE’s of moles and melanoma” and alert your dermatologist immediately to any of the following key warning signs: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variability, Diameter larger than a pencil eraser and/or Evolving moles that change size, shape or color.

4. Schedule a screening appointment once a year in order to increase your chances of detecting and treating melanoma.

Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal joins Olay and the ASDS in encouraging Americans to take a lesson in skin cancer detection and prevention. In the last year alone Maggie has had three very close friends battling skin cancer, so spreading the word on skin safety is a cause very dear to her. “I’m working with Olay and the ASDS because I believe it’s very important for people to understand the risks of sun exposure and be diligent about monitoring changes in their own skin. My dermatologist checks my skin annually and I carefully examine my own skin monthly for any changing freckles or moles,” she explains.

“Everyone should undergo annual screenings, whether or not they have a worrisome skin lesion or a family history of skin cancer. Skin cancer screenings are an essential part of skin cancer detection. A dermasurgeon can identify skin cancer even if it’s in its earliest stages which can lead to early treatment and potentially can save a life,” says Gary Monheit, M.D., president of the ASDS and associate professor of Dermatology at the University of Birmingham, Birmingham Medical Center.
Melanoma is especially hard to stop once it has spread to other parts of the body. However, it can be readily treated if detected in its earliest stages.

With summer officially here, it’s finally possible to get a sun-kissed glow without the sins of tanning. Touch of Sun, Olay’s newest sun protection product, offers a touch of sunless tanner plus SPF 15 so you can be tan and protected.

For more information, visit olay.com and asds.net.

Courtesy of ARA Content

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.