Low-fat peanut butter = CRAP

Ugh! Low-fat peanut butter not only tastes like crap.......its is crap. We have all been fooled by label claims like "Low-fat, "Fat-free," "Sugar-free," "More Omega-3's," "Low Carb," etc. etc. So, which one are we supposed to eat?!
In the grand scheme of life, you are not causing fatal harm by buying one or the other of a product that you eat once or twice a week. But, if you're like me, you eat peanut butter ALL THE TIME! Its economical, fills you up, and goes with everything! Its a great source of protein and heart-healthy unsaturated fats. Yes, you can add some jelly and enjoy a nice PB&J (Boring!) OR, you could add it to oatmeal, oriental pasta and rice dishes, baked goods, in dipping sauces, or just eat it straight off the spoon!
So, if you are a peanut fanatic like I am, here is the skinny on what to buy!
Any alternative peanut butter - low fat, low carb, etc. is not the way to go. The reason is that in order to compensate for whatever it is the manufacturer is taking out, they are adding something else (unnatural) to the product.

For Example:
In low-fat peanut butter, healthy, unsaturated fat is what is being removed. In order to compensate for the lost taste, added sugar is put in. Low-fat peanut butter is less-healthy than its original counterpart due to the fact that the unsaturated fat is removed and added sugar is put back in! (and, you are only saving like 10 calories a serving!! What the h*ll?
Regular peanut butter is a good choice because you are still getting the unsaturated fats with it. However, the best is going to be a Natural peanut butter. The ingredients should say: Peanuts and salt.
This is the healthiest way to go. Its a little hard to get used to the texture - a little runnier and it is kept in the refrigerator, but still the same great taste!

Peanut Sauce: - This stuff is awesome! It can be mixed with veggies, chicken, shrimp, or used as a dip - serve whatever it is you make over rice (brown rice;), and you're good to go!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup smooth natural peanut butter
2 teaspoons soy sauce
3/4 cup water
2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Directions:
1. Combine the peanut butter and soy sauce in a small sauce pan. Stir in the water.
2. Cook the peanut butter sauce over low heat, stirring often, until thickened and bubbly. About 2 min. Cover and set aside.
3. Toast the sesame seeds in a small skillet over low heat, stirring constantly, until the seeds begin to turn golden brown and become fragrant. About 2 min. Remove the seeds from the skillet to cool.
4. Toss 1 lb. of the food of your choice with the sauce. Just before serving, sprinkle the dish with your sesame seeds!
5. Enjoy!

If you have any great Peanut Butter recipes, add them in the comments below!!

Stay-cation: Get fit on a vacation at home

I LOVED this article today in the Courier! With more and more people staying home this year on their vacation, these tips are perfect! A lot of people...well, the lucky people, have left-over sick, personal, and vacation days to get rid of before December. This article gives some tips on how to use those days to get your healthy lifestyle back on track!
After a summer of fun-filled cook-outs, pool-side snack bars, fried seafood, and cocktails - we all could use a little jump start!!
Here is the full 7 day plan! 7-Day Stay-cation Plan

Real Women of Genius. Thank YOU, Paula Deen.

The American Public salutes you Mrs. Paula Deen for adding one more nutritious addition to your empire: The Paula Deen Buffet.

When your manager said there is NO WAY to make your food any more unhealthy, you dared to dream. You said "Yes there is. I'll make it all you can eat." The Horseshoe Casino goers cheered your enthusiasm. Even though your efforts have all but depleted the butter supply in America, we applaud you. The biscuits, the casseroles, the fried.....everything. Where else can you put gravy ON your pizza? The American Dream lives on, and we await the challenge of going back for fifths.

So crack open a celebratory Sweet Tea, Paula Deen. You deserve it!

This has been a shameless copyright of a certain beer's commercial marketing tactics. Thank you Bud Light. Real Men of Genius

Cutting the Grease!

An easy way to cut off a few extra calories from greasy foods is to blot the visible grease away. People usually tie this technique to pizza, but you can take it even further!

A LOT of foods produce excess grease - hamburgers, ground meat, and fried foods to name a few. The best tip is to do your dabbing as soon as possible. The longer the food sits there, the more fat it will absorb. So, blot your hamburgers right off the grill or blot your sausage right out of the pan.

With ground meat (beef, sausage, turkey, etc.), there is another defense against unwanted fat. Cook your meat and drain the grease as usual. Then, put the meat back in the pan with 1/2-1 cup of water. Bring to a boil and then drain off the water. You will see added fat being removed the second time around.

Lastly, place the meat into a bowl or strainer with plenty of paper towels on the bottom. Blot as much as you can before adding the meat to your dish!

Enjoy!

Lets talk about SEX!

What you eat effects all areas of your life, and that includes your SEX LIFE! Aphrodisiacs have been around since the beginning of time, and there is a lot of truth to their effects! If you are having trouble in the bedroom one of the first places you might want to look is your dinner table. There are many rumors out there, so I'm going to attempt to clear some of them up.

Oysters have been given the sexy reputation of helping couples all over the world improve their action between the sheets - but is it true? Yes, but maybe not for the reasons you think. The largest portion of their aphrodisiac effect comes from the fact that it looks like a......umm......vagina. Think about it......yep, sure does. Also, the slimy texture probably doesn't hurt:) The way a food looks, smells, tastes, and even the way it feels plays a crucial role in its aphrodisiac effect.

There is a large mental factor here too - many "aphrodisiacs" are simply playing off their placebo effect.
Girl thinks: "I want to be in the mood for some boogie woogie tonight. What can I do? Oh, I'll prepare oysters."
So, what do you think happens? She buys oysters and BAM! she gets busy with her man. The oysters get the credit here, but in actuality, she probably put herself in the mood.

Don't worry, on top of this placebo effect there is some actual science here. Oysters are rich in zinc which is essential to testosterone production, sperm maintenance, and in sustaining female lubrication. Seafood in general is high in zinc, but unfortunately not all seafood resembles the female vulva. Hilarious word, had to throw it in there.

Nuts (haha) are another food that are very high in zinc, but their aphrodisiac reputation comes from another nutrient. Nuts are very high in Omega-3's. You avid readers out there have read about Omega 3s' health benefits. Along with those, it is also a precursor for prostaglandin, a hormone-like substance that plays a key role in sexual health. The Italians swear by pine nuts, but pecans, almonds, and walnuts are also great options. So, what else?

Watermelons contain large amounts of citrulline. Like erectile dysfunction drugs, it relaxes blood vessels. However, its not organ specific (guys) and most of it is in the inedible rind - but its worth a shot!

Chili peppers contain cassaicin, a chemical irritant that increases heart rate, respiratory rate, sweating, and blood flow - mimicking the arousal response. Basically, you can use any hot spice to fake your way into feeling spicy:)

Chocolate is the most researched aphrodisiac by far. The 2006 Journal of Sexual Medicine found that women who habitually ate chocolate reported higher sexual function. Neurotransmitters serotonin and anandamide contribute to feelings of happiness and euphoria during sex - chocolate contains both. Thank you Hersey's!

For those of you who are more literal, just a good ole' fashioned reminder might help. AKA - foods that resemble the real thing. Bananas, peaches, melons, oysters.....can't think of any more, but you get the picture!

If you are planning a romantic night that includes dinner and you are wanting an after party, then stay away from high fat foods, especially red meat. Animal protein takes a loooooooonnnnnnngggggg time to digest and can leave you feeling sluggish and tired. Not a good combo when you are wanting some bow chicka wow wow.

Yes, food is highly related to sexual health, but honestly, the most effective way to increase drive is to increase overall health. Being overweight decreases circulation, and if you have decreased blood flow, that means you aren't getting the appropriate amount of blood flow needed for arousal. No stiff for your stiffy, if you catch my drift. Also, if you are over-stressed, on oral contraceptives, or habitually drinking alcohol you could be depleting your stores of B vitamins. This can lead to decreased sexual health. Increase your intake of whole grains, beans, and leafy vegetables to get your B vitamins back on track.

So, the perfect dinner? Start with a dark green salad topped with pine nuts and your favorite dressing. Pan sear chili pepper-seasoned salmon in olive oil, add a side of oysters, red wine to drink (but not too much), and dark chocolate for desert. After that, you and your partner will be down to get down.

Happy Friday!!!!!

Why Biggest Loser Programs are for Losers!

Alright, the Biggest Loser WAS awesome. I won't deny that - I cried right along with the rest of the nation. And, it did play a major role in the "weight loss" kick here in America. It sparked a host of facilities - companies, gyms, churches, friends, EVERYONE to host their own Biggest Loser competitions. That is awesome! However, there are certain flaws that go along with this phenomenon.

The fact that weight is the only measure of "health" in these competitions is not effective. The fact that its all about what the scale says is 1. easy to manipulate and 2. psychologically damaging. Just by changing my hydration status over the course of 24 hours, I could easily drop well over 2lbs - which would be a substantial weight loss over the course of an entire week. Wait...there's more.

Every study done on weight loss programs mirroring that of the Biggest Loser showed that during the program, weight was lost. However, after the competition, almost 100% of the "losers" re-gain their weight. Now, I'm not talking about the celebrities on the show "Biggest Loser." I'm talking about Average Joe who lost 20lbs. for an office Biggest Loser competition. Its ineffective, and actually counter-productive. Losing weight in rapid, large increments does not give the body time to adjust and the weight will come back much easier and bring some of its l.b. friends with it. Wait...there's more.

When someone starts a new exercise regimen, they are not only burning calories, but they are building lean muscle mass. This lean muscle mass is exactly that....mass. Meaning, it has weight. So, if you start using resistance training and are packing on some muscle, that is great! But, its not going to show on the scale. The shift of fat to muscle in your body will show more in your pants size and your energy level. Your body can change shape without ever seeing a pound of weight loss on the scale. Meaning, you can be becoming "healthier" without seeing weight loss at all! Wait...there's more.

Can you see cholesterol on a scale? Can you see triglyceride levels on a scale? Can you see blood pressure on a scale? Can you see more energy on a scale? Can you see more flexibility on a scale? Can you see higher self-esteem on a scale? Can you see a better SEX LIFE on a scale? NO! So, why are people putting so much pressure on themselves to see a certain number on that damn thing?!!!!!!!!!!

So, what do weight management programs need to do? First, change the name to Health Management Program. Second, THROW OUT THE SCALES. You don't need them. Instead, add in behavior surveys that show how people's behaviors are changing (including eating habits and exercise habits), get a blood pressure cuff to monitor changes in blood pressure, order clients to have blood work done before and after the program to see changes in cholesterol and triglyceride levels, keep a tally of how many medications participants come off of and how much money is being saved. Focus on the education!

P.S. I wouldn't suggest asking people how their love making is going - just leave that up to them:)

These are the real testaments to health, and what should really be monitored in a Health Management Program.

Quit being a loser, and toss the scale out! You know what to do when it comes to your health! Just do it!

Bottled Tea....Doesn't Measure Up!

Here is an article about how bottled tea isn't such a good alternative to soda. Brewed is where its at!

http://health.yahoo.net/experts/drmao/bottled-tea-antioxidants-barely-there