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Archive for September, 2009
September 30, 2009 at 6:00 am · Filed under Health
Genetics, biology and family history are not under your control. But here’s what you can do.
•Quit cigarettes.
Female smokers, even the only-at-parties variety, increase their chance of heart attack by 124 percent compared to nonsmokers, according to a 24,000-person study. Male smokers have only a 43 percent increased risk. The difference may be due to an interaction between women’s hormones and the smoke.
• Prevent diabetes.
Vigilantly controlling blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes may not reduce the risk of heart disease, but what does: never getting diabetes, according to a recent NIH study. “Uncontrolled blood
sugar is toxic to blood vessels, impairing their structure and function,” explains Hannah I. Lipman, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.
• Lose belly fat.
If your tape measure stretches to 35 inches or more around your middle, trim down. Abdominal obesity is not only linked to several heart disease risk factors, such as hypertension and insulin resistance, but increases your chances for heart disease itself.
• Make time for exercise.
Aerobic activity reduces your risk for diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and depression. But you knew that, right?
•Take the Pill wisely.
Tell your ob-gyn about any family history of stroke, heart disease or blood clots before filling your Rx, since the Pill may up your risk. Some birth control pills can affect your cholesterol, so be sure to have your levels checked and discuss results with your doctor. Finally, “If you are on the Pill to help with polycystic ovarian syndrome, have your lipid and blood sugar levels tested,” Lipman says. “PCOS puts you at increased risk for heart disease.”
September 16, 2009 at 6:00 am · Filed under Health
The following may increase metabolism—but at a price, warns Walt Thompson, PhD, professor of kinesiology and health and nutrition at Georgia State University.
EPHEDRINE: Supplements containing ephedrine are still around, though they’ve been banned by the FDA. They dangerously speed up heart rate and raise blood pressure, increasing the risks of heart problems and stroke.
NICOTINE: It’s true that nicotine boosts metabolism. But those smokers may also be skinny because they have a form of emphysema, a disease that burns calories quickly—not in a good way.
CAFFEINE: Studies have shown that coffee may rev up metabolism, but the effect lasts less than 30 minutes. You’d have to drink gallons to have a measurable impact—not a good idea, since excessive caffeine consumption has risks, such as interfering with calcium absorption.
Metabolism booster #1
Trim the trans fat – You’ve heard they’re bad for you. But trans fats also slow down your body’s ability to burn fat. “They have an altered shape and make your biochemistry run funny,” Hyman says, explaining that trans fat binds to fat and liver cells and slows metabolism. Eating trans fat can also lead to insulin resistance and inflammation, both of which cripple metabolism and can cause weight gain.
Metabolism booster #2
Go organic – If you’re on the fence about whether to buy organic this news may sway you: Fruits, vegetables, and grains grown without pesticides keep your fat-burning system running at full-tilt because they don’t expose your thyroid to toxins, Hyman says. Nonorganic produce, on the other hand, “blocks your metabolism mainly by interfering with your thyroid, which is your body’s thermostat and determines how fast it runs, he explains.
Metabolism booster #3
Think protein – Your body digests protein more slowly than fat or carbs, so you feel full longer (this is especially true when you have it for breakfast). Plus, it may also giveyour metabolism a bump. In a process called thermogenesis, your body uses about 10 percent of its calorie intake for digestion. So, because it takes longer to burn protein than carbs or fat, your body expends more energy absorbing the nutrients in a high-protein diet. Another bonus: One recent study from Purdue University found that diets higher in protein may help preserve lean body mass, which is the best fat-burner of all.
September 1, 2009 at 5:00 am · Filed under MixStirs Smoothie Franchise
East Rockaway, NY, June 15, 2009 – MixStirs spent the day sharing the health benefits of drinking smoothies with students at Rhame Ave Elementary School. As part of the culmination of the school’s Healthy Living Campaign, students and faculty enjoyed the health benefits of two MixStirs favorites, the Smashin Supreme and the Mixd Dream. The event proved healthy eating can be fun.
This is the best smoothie I ever tasted says Melissa, a 5th grade student whose mom makes her smoothies at home, I am bringing this menu home to my mom. When asked if he ever had a smoothie before, Joe, a 2nd grader said, I never had one before but I like this a lot!
“We are honored to donate our time for such a fantastic event. Providing the children and faculty of this wonderful school the opportunity to taste Mixstirs Smoothies, reinforces the idea that healthy foods are also delicious foods.” said Mike Greenberg, President and Founder of MixStirs, “Many of these kids are being exposed to healthy smoothies for the first time and they are amazed at how good fruit tastes.”
MixStirs great tasting smoothies continue to grow in popularity as the trend continues toward healthy alternatives to fast food. MixStirs uses fresh fruit flown in from the west coast. To ensure that the fruit is at its optimal taste, it is flash frozen and shipped to the East Coast. Using this frozen fruit allows MixStirs to use a very small amount of ice, 10% – 20% of what its competitors use, creating smoothies that taste very sweet without having to add any sugar.
MixStirs has over 20 locations across the country making fresh fruit smoothies and protein shakes. To find the MixStirs closest to you please visit http://mixstirs.com.
Franchising information is also available on the website.