Happy New Year!!!
This is the time of year when we often reflect on what we
have accomplished and our renewed hope with goals for the
coming year. If better health is one of your goals be sure
to read the article below about the many health problems
nutrition can help heal. And don’t forget to check out the
January Jumpstart special offer if you’re looking for a
weight loss plan!
In this Issue:
Is Better Health One of Your New
Year’s Resolutions?
Can the Sunshine Vitamin Prevent
Diabetes?
Winter Soups: Lose Weight plus Get
Healing Nutrients
Recipe: Basic Ham Bean Soup
January Jumpstart Special Offer
Is Better Health One of Your New Year’s Resolutions?
If yes, then consider how powerful nutrition is to our
health. In our busy schedule we usually don’t think about
what effect the food and drink we put into our bodies has on
our health. Nutrition plays a big part in healing or
managing many disease and health concerns. These include
diabetes, obesity, cancers, acid reflux, sleep apnea,
constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia,
migraines, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, food
allergies, fatty liver disease, gallbladder disease, kidney
diseases, celiac diseases, anemia, wound healing,
infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome, pregnancy,
osteoporosis, drug/alcohol abuse, and infectious diseases. I
am sure there are several I have left out but you get the
point – we underestimate the power of good nutrition
therapy. Furthermore, our traditional healthcare system is
too focused on treating the symptoms with pills and not
focused enough on treating the underlying cause and
including nutrition therapy as a necessary part of
treatment. You can take control of your health by seeking
out nutrition therapy when you know it will help you heal.
Just remember that nutrients in pill form are sometimes
necessary but can never completely replace the benefit of
nutrients in the natural food form.
Can the Sunshine Vitamin Prevent Diabetes?
Recently there has been research linking a lack of vitamin D
to type 2 diabetes, cancers, high blood pressure, heart
disease, and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid
arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and Type 1 diabetes.
Most of our vitamins come mainly from our foods but Vitamin
D is made by our body when we get enough sunlight. How much
is enough? Ten minutes of sun exposure to the face and hands
is adequate but if you put on sunscreen whenever you go out
in the sun it will block the UVB rays needed to make Vitamin
D. Of course, you don’t want sunburn either so use good
judgment and put on sunscreen when you need it! Good food
sources of vitamin D may help prevent deficiency also and
include canned sardines, salmon, tuna, shrimp, butter,
sunflower seeds, liver, eggs, fortified milk, mushrooms, and
natural cheese. More research is sure to come on the role of
Vitamin D in preventing disease so stay tuned!
Winter Soups: Lose Weight plus Get Healing Nutrients
How does soup help us lose weight? Soup is mostly water if
you choose a broth soup and because of this it fills you up
quicker without the high calorie content. Plain water does
not have that same effect because there are no nutrients or
calories. Soups also have a nice balance of protein, fat and
carbohydrate for sustained energy and satiety. I would
suggest trying to limit the additional bread or crackers to
1 serving. Try to avoid canned soups because of the high
sodium content. Making your own at home is usually much
tastier anyway and soup is one of the easiest meals to
prepare. The basic ingredients are meat, starch or beans,
vegetables, onion, herbs and chicken broth or soup stock. If
you know these basic 6 ingredients you can take almost any
soup recipe and make substitutions for the meats, vegetables
and herbs you like. Portions of each can be varied also
depending on your taste preferences. To save time you can
use low sodium canned chicken broth or bouillon. Leftover
meats that have been in the freezer also make soup
preparation quick & easy. I find it easier to make a soup
while preparing another evening meal and then put it in the
crock pot overnight to cook. In the morning let it cool and
put it in the fridge before leaving for work! Supper is only
a reheat away from done!
Basic Ham Bean Soup
1 lb ham cut into bite-size pieces
1 lb beans, navy or other mixture, canned or presoaked
1 onion chopped
3 carrots peeled and chopped
2 celery ribs chopped
4 cups or about 32 oz low sodium chicken broth
4-6 cups water
Choose any or all of the desired seasonings: 1 tsp dried
basil, 1 tsp dried oregano, and 1 tsp dried thyme, ½ tsp
pepper, 2-3 garlic cloves minced, 2 bay leaves (discard bay
leaves after done cooking)
Cook in crock pot on low 8-10 hours or simmer on stove for 1
½ hours. Serves 8-10
Onion and garlic can be sautéed in a little oil prior to
adding to soup mixture if desired.
To quick-soak dry beans: cover beans with 6 cups water.
Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 10
minutes. Drain and rinse beans.
January Jumpstart Special Offer!
Sign up for the Jumpstart Your MeltDown program and get 8
weeks for the 4-week price of $112. Offer will expire
January 31, 2008.
If you have any nutrition or program questions please
email me! |
