July 2, 2008 - With July 4th right around the corner, we can almost smell the bbq (maybe that’s because one of our neighbors is literally grilling a burger right now). This is the perfect month to get the summer party started so whether you’re going for a casual, fancy or diet-friendly vibe at your get-together, we’ve got some suggestions.

PT Alert! The average person attending a summer BBQ consumes at least one soda, a hot dog, a burger, chips, coleslaw, potato salad, and dessert. That can easily exceed 1,500 calories. So beware.

With some planning you can still enjoy all the festivities (and the food) without regretting it later. So, without further ado, here’s your need-to-know BBQ info:

Stock up on essentials:

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Filed under: Entertainment, General, Nutrition by jane
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June 9, 2008 - From Trend Central comes hot new beverages to keep you feeling cool and lean this summer. 

 Zrii: Harnessing the healing and medicinal properties of Amalaki fruit and other potent ayurvedic herbs, this new nutritional drink is said to aid digestion and detoxification, while rejuvenating the body, when consumed on a daily basis. The edible fruit from the Amalaki tree, also known as the Indian gooseberry, has been highly valued by Tibetan healers and Indian herbalists for centuries, due to its disease-fighting, vitality-enhancing and anti-aging properties. In its purest form, Amalaki has a sour/bitter and astringent taste, but Zrii (perhaps because it includes other ingredients such as Ginger, Jujube, Haritaki, and Turmeric) has a pleasantly tart, berry flavor. 

AquaSlim: Made with calcium-enriched spring water and appetite-curbing “plant extracts”, this new dietary supplement from Metabolife claims to aid in weight loss and fitness maintenance goals when consumed before meals, three times a day. According to the website, the active ingredient, Super CitriMax®, works to “suppress appetite without the use of stimulants,” while the calcium-infused spring water hydrates and strengthen bones.

redespresso: Boasting five times the antioxidants of green tea, no caffeine, and an intense flavor, South Africa’s redespresso is getting major buzz among tea drinkers in the States. Made from Rooibos (a red tea produced in South Africa), redespresso is specifically created for espresso machines, producing a deep red shot with a creamy yellow-ish top, and an intense nutty, yet fruity, flavor. Not limited to espresso, traditional coffee drinks such as lattes and cappuccinos can also be created, as the addition of milk lends itself quite well to the intense flavor. Supporting the growing fascination with tea culture, this coffee alternative is sure to find a niche audience, particularly among the health conscious in the States.

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LSD : Health nuts might be skeptical, but authorities agree that LSD does in fact do your body good. Short for Long Slow Distance, LSD is an hour-or-longer exercise session maintained at a conversational pace. Partakers can expect to build cardiovascular endurance and come away with a nice high. Keep your eye out for LSD at a gym near you.

Filed under: General, Health, Nutrition by jane
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April 24, 2008 - Do you snack on cookies? Drink juice pouches? Eat energy bars? Did you know that every year BILLIONS of drink pouches and food wrappers end up in dumpsters and landfills across America?

Well,  TerraCycle has teamed up with Clif Bar,  Oreos, Capri Sun and others to reduce the amount of  packaging going into our landfills. They will donate two cents to charity for every used wrapper collected by individuals and organizations. The collected waste will be fused and woven into a strong material, which will then be used to make backpacks, gym totes and other products.

Anyone can help (that means YOU)- visit www.terracycle.net/brigades to get started! Cool, huh?

Filed under: Charity/Cause, Nutrition by jane
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So you’ve resolved to eat right this year and get regular exercise. Slimming down and getting healthier are common New Year’s resolutions, but following through on the commitment is an uncommon accomplishment.

There are many pieces in the weight management puzzle. Emotions, appetite, will-power, self-image, and confidence all play a part. The road towards healthier eating usually starts with some simple lifestyle changes. Make healthy eating and regular exercise part of your everyday life.

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Back in the Middle Ages, Crusaders tucked a confection made of flour, honey, shortening, nuts, and dried fruit into their tunics to give a lift during long marches. Fast forward to today and there are over 30 different energy bars available.

Energy bars work because they contain a mix of simple and complex carbohydrate, as well as relatively small amounts of fat and protein. Some brands boost fat and/or protein content based on different opinions about what works best during exercise. Many brands also add vitamins and minerals. Some include herbs, antioxidants, or stimulants such as caffeine. And some are little more than glorified candy bars. (more…)

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Calories Burned in One Hour

If you are an exercise enthusiast or exercise to manage your weight, you probably wonder how many calories you burn. The following chart shows the estimated number of calories a 125-pound person burns while performing a variety of activities for one hour at a moderate intensity level. (more…)

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Eating well shouldn’t be a mystery. Yet with conflicting research and so much advice out there, it can be confusing. Knowing the basics helps:

• There are over 50 different nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids that are necessary for our bodies to function properly.
• No single food (other than breast milk) supplies every nutrient so you must eat a variety of foods to meet your essential needs.
• Plant foods such as fruits. vegetables and whole grains are good sources of vitamin C, fiber and antioxidents.
• Animal foods such as meat, dairy, eggs or fish provide vitamin B12.
• Processing strips away nutrients so try to eat relatively unprocessed foods.
• Stay away from junk food and don’t follow food fads that restrict one or another food category.

Filed under: 101-Basics, Health, Nutrition by jane
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I  love water in all its forms. I drink at least a gallon a day. Tap, spring, bottled, diluted, rain, toilet (jk on the last one but my cat really seems to like it). Water doesn’t contain unnecessary calories or artificial sweeteners and it’s really thirst-quenching and delicious.

The thing that I find most disconcerting, is that half of the earth’s population is striving to find  descent water sources while the other half goes out of it’s way to sell water. And when it comes to designer H2O, the options are limitless. Bottled water manufacturers have us convinced that paying a high price for “mineral” or “spring” water is the healthy choice, but is this really the case?

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The holidays are a time to reflect on the bounty of nature and, more importantly, pig out with family and friends. For many athletes, the holidays are also a time to compete in a special tournament or competition. Whether soccer, basketball, running or some other sport, you want to enjoy the great spread, especially the desserts, without giving up your game. What’s a player to do? (more…)

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