Sugar

Learned something today.  Sugar also bad for you eyesight. Excess glucose floats around in your blood stream and goes to your eyes which have small delicate blood vessels.  It disrupts the flow of blood by compromising the lining.  Since nutrients are carried through your blood, this disruption causes your eye mechanisms to “shut down since they are not being fed.”  Just one more reason to not eat too much sugar – as little as possible.  As Dr. Healthy Manley continued, she reminded us to eat “whole colorful real food.”  Feed your eyes with phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals and protein – avocados, blueberries, cinnamon, carrots for starters! Listen for more eye health tips from Dr. Heather Manley. www.iTunes.com/Podcast/ Better Food Choices.  Your eyes will be so glad you did!

… for the health of families,
ellen

Have until Sunday night to enter to Win a Case of assorted Almond & Rice Cheese Chunks and Shreds.  Looks, cooks and tastes like mild cheese.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today!

When you find your kids or yourself reaching for something sweet, reach for nuts, seeds, slices of cheese or turkey instead.  You will find you are not as interested in satisfying your sugar craving.  This will help keep your family and you from eating the average of 35 teaspoons of added sugar a day!  So many grams of sugar are hidden in processed foods as high fructose corn syrup, glucose, dextrose, fructose, maltodextrin, and more. Reading labels is the smart way to avoid buying any of these foods.  And, always having some protein finger food around as an alternative will save the day!

… for the health of families,
ellen

Brain Boosters for your kids! Enter to Win a Case of Yummi Bears Organics Brain Booster by Hero Nutritionals.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes today!

Prepare your womb with good eating habits before you are pregnant.  When you test positive for pregnancy you are already at least 2 weeks along.  So stop with the smoking, drinking and drugs well before you conceive to give your baby his or her best odds. Also, Dr. Keri Batiskov  says no raw fish or meat (sushi), deli meats, fast foods, unpasteurized milk and soft cheeses, artificial additives, fake sugars, fish with mercury, sodas… AND YES to fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, good fats, eggs,dairy and WATER!  "Eat from the earth."  Definitely take supplements per your doctor's recommendations, especially folic acid, and hold off on herbal supplements during your pregnancy.  Take the time to listen to more from Dr. Batiskov, go to www.BetterFoodChoicesRadio.com or iTunes ("Better Food Choices".

… for the health of your family,|
ellen

Thanks to Nutrition Babes Registered Dieticians, Lauren Harris Pincus and Kathy Siegel, we have a great list of cake toppings to replace sugar-filled frosting and dyed decorations:

- Icing: gluten-free, no high fructose corn syrup, no hydrogenated or trans fats whip cream: TruWhip
- Fresh fruit, cut or sliced
- Frozen fruit, drained
- Dried fruit
- Nuts, only when there are no allergy concerns
- Non-eatable decorations: curled ribbon, plastic creatures, other plastic decor

I am adding mint leaves and flowers (for girls)! Get creative.  Have you kids help decorate their cakes. For more delicious tips about Healthier Birthday Celebrations for home and school parties listen on iTunes, Better Food Choices.  Then, please, let us know your ideas!

… for the health of your family,
ellen

Don’t forget about the YOU WIN, YOU CHOSE! sweepstakes this week.  When I call the winner, he or she will tell me whether to ship a case of Original, Pizza, Hot Veggie Stix or Chips to him or her.  Plus this is the last week you can win “The Princess and the Pop Star” DVD by Veggie Tales.  Go to www.KidKritics.com/sweepstakes and enter today!

That's 1/3 a pound of sugar daily. No wonder about 75% of Americans are overweight.*  Yes, sugar turns to fat when not used.  Bet your family and friends are not active enough to burn up this many sugar calories. Fat is not the only health issue presented by sugar.  Free radicals, viruses and bacteria feed on it causing all kinds of health problems. Don't be average. Please take heed. Give you kids great odds at school this year. Serve and consume less sugar.

… for the health of  your family,
ellen

Source: "This Substance Foods Your Metabolism – and Tricks Your Body into Gaining Pounds," Dr. Mercola, July 26, 2011.