Papayas

Now that the weather is all hot, tropical fruits have been appearing on supermarkets shelves at good prices.  One of thees fruits is the papaya.  For some reason, not many people like papayas.  If you've never tried them before, I strongly recommend you give them a try.

Papayas are packed with nutritional goodness.  Each cub of cubed papaya contains 2 1/2 grams fiber, 150%  daily value Vitamin C, 28% Vitamin A, 14% folate, and 6% potassium.  Best of all, it's only 60 calories!

To eat a papaya, slice it open, remove the seeds, and cut the fruit away from the skin.  If you want, you can squeeze some lemon or lime juice for an added kick.

Source: Nutrition Action June 2012 Magazine

5 Foods You Should buy Organic

Deciding whether or not to buy organic food can be a hard decision.  Many people, including me, wonder if the higher prices are worth it.  Due to their high levels of pesticides, the following is a list of 5 foods that you should buy organic (if you want, of course):

1. Apples

2. Celery

3. Strawberries

4. Peaches

5. Sweet Bell Peppers

P.S.-(Due to the London Olympics, I will be posting less frequently the next two weeks.  Expect around 3 posts per week instead of the usual).

5 Foods You Can Freeze

The weather here has been scorching hot recently, with temperatures regularly in the mid 90's.  To help you cool off, here are 5 foods that taste surprisingly good when frozen:

1. Grapes

2. Avocado Slices

3. Applesauce

4. Peppermint Patties

5. Root Beer

Source: Food Network Magazine July/August 2012

Triglyceride Facts (Q&A)

A few facts about triglycerides, in Q&A format.  Interesting read:

Q. What are triglycerides?

A. Triglycerides are the main fat in foods, and they are also found in the bloodstream.  Even though they are fats, diets high in carbohydrates and sugars that contain fructose can raise triglycerides in the blood.

Q. How many people have high triglycerides?

A. About 1 out of every 3 adults have triglyceride levels of 150 or higher.

Q. So that means if my triglyceride level is under 150, I'm good?

A. Not necessarily.  The American Heart Association states that the optimal triglyceride level is under 100.  This means that your body is efficiently processing fats.

Q. Then why is the cutoff 150?

A. Your risk for heat disease increases if your triglycerides is above 150.  If it's above 300, then things really get serious.

Q. Why are triglycerides linked to heart disease?

A. The answer is very complicated, but in very simple terms, the triglyceride remnants cause plaque build-up in the arteries.  The build-up causes the arteries to harden, and therefore, less blood can flow through.  This can cause many problems, including atherosclerosis.

Q. Are high triglycerides as bad for women as for men?

A. High triglycerides are a better predictor of heart disease in women than men.  


Source: Nutrition Action Magazine July/August 2012

$1.99 Jamba Juice Oatmeal!

This morning, for a morning snack, I drove to Jamba Juice at my local mall to get some of their oatmeal.  The description on their menu says "organic steel-cut oats slow-cooked with soymilk".  From Monday-Friday until 12 noon, you can purchase their steel-cut oatmeal for a cheap price of $1.99!  "Flavors" include fresh bananas, apple cinnamon, and blueberry & blackberry.

A picture of some oatmeal flavors:

I tried the apple cinnamon and blueberry-blackberry flavors.  In my opinion, the apple cinnamon one tastes better.  To me, plain oatmeal tastes...plain.  But the toppings add some much needed flavor and sweetness to the oatmeal.  And throw in the optional brown sugar, and you get even more sweetness.  Even though the cup may look small, the portion size is enough to fill you up for a few hours at the very least.

I used to hate oatmeal because of the blandness, but now I am starting to like it a bit (only with toppings and sugar).  Oatmeal is a good source of fiber, which may help reduce the risk of heart disease.  Oatmeal is also a good source of carbohydrates, which give you energy.  In addition, it is a cheap (money-wise) but good way to keep you full in the morning so you won't keep reaching for those cookies.  A cup of apple cinnamon oatmeal from Jamba Juice contains 290 calories, 1 gram saturated fat, and 60g carbs.

Even if you are not a fan of oatmeal, I suggest you give it a try.  I didn't think I would ever like oatmeal, but slowly, I am changing my mind.