Every year, my oldest brother and I go to all the grocery stores around town (him in Topeka and me in Olathe and Kansas City) in search of the best soda product known to man: Kosher Coca Cola. It's made with real sugar, not that high fructose corn syrup crap, and it is only served during Passover. It is like a drink sent straight down from heaven. Kosher Coke is really hard to find.. normally they don't even have it out on the shelves. They keep it in the back room.. which that must be where businesses keep all sorts of magical things that they don't want to share with us consumers. Usually I have to go to a few stores before I can find it but when I spot that special yellow lid, it's as if the clouds part and the angels sing. Hen House was the only place I could find it last year in Olathe.... my brother couldn't find it anywhere in Topeka. And if you're wondering, no, I absolutely did NOT share that delicious nectar with him. His loss! ;)
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The Kosher Coke Quest
Every year, my oldest brother and I go to all the grocery stores around town (him in Topeka and me in Olathe and Kansas City) in search of the best soda product known to man: Kosher Coca Cola. It's made with real sugar, not that high fructose corn syrup crap, and it is only served during Passover. It is like a drink sent straight down from heaven. Kosher Coke is really hard to find.. normally they don't even have it out on the shelves. They keep it in the back room.. which that must be where businesses keep all sorts of magical things that they don't want to share with us consumers. Usually I have to go to a few stores before I can find it but when I spot that special yellow lid, it's as if the clouds part and the angels sing. Hen House was the only place I could find it last year in Olathe.... my brother couldn't find it anywhere in Topeka. And if you're wondering, no, I absolutely did NOT share that delicious nectar with him. His loss! ;)
Sunday, March 27, 2011
HealthyPeople.gov
This website's mission is to:
- Identify nationwide health improvement priorities.
- Increase public awareness and understanding of the determinants of health, disease, and disability and the opportunities for progress.
- Provide measurable objectives and goals that are applicable at the national, State, and local levels.
- Engage multiple sectors to take actions to strengthen policies and improve practices that are driven by the best available evidence and knowledge.
- Identify critical research, evaluation, and data collection needs
The page on this website does an excellent job at getting the facts straight (pun!) and pointing out the areas in society that need improvement but it doesn't offer ideas on how it could change those areas. My guess is that they don't want to get too in detail because it is a hot button issue for both sides, gays and straights.
The information on this area of the site doesn't contain any new information that I didn't already know but I'm sure there are a lot of people out there that would be educated by reading the information it has to offer. This site could be used as awareness. People should know what's going on.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Pop or Soda?
I... HATE.. artificial sweeteners. They taste completely disgusting and almost seem to taste the opposite of sweet to me. I don't drink or eat anything labelled 'diet'. Which brings me to diet sodas. Studies suggest that people who drink diet soda are more likely to be overweight than those people that drink regular soda. In my opinion, this makes sense. Just because something (especially pop, which we all know is bad for us no matter what kind it is) has the word 'diet' on the label, doesn't mean all of the sudden it's good for you. I feel like a lot of people don't understand this. So, I think some people that drink diet sodas drink more of it because its "okay". Also, I don't think they pay attention to that other things in their diets. You can't eat like a wild animal then wash it down with a diet Coke and think you're gonna fit into that size 4 dress. I think some people use the fact that they drink a diet drink as an excuse to eat whatever they want. A diet drink is NOT a diet. The overweight problem, in my opinion, does not have to do entirely with just what's in a diet soda but it deals with a person's entire diet. We all need to educate ourselves about diet soda. Maybe, just maybe, we can start grabbing a glass of water *gasp* at lunch instead of that diet Coke.
"We stock up on popcorn and candy like we’re crossing the Sierras, don’t we?: “I’ll have a couple of soft pretzals, a hot dogs, Milk Duds, Snocaps. Is that the largest popcorn you’ve got there – that bucket? You don’t have a barrel or anything like that? Do you have a donkey or a pack mule or anything? – Oh, and a Diet Coke." -Ellen Degeneres
"We stock up on popcorn and candy like we’re crossing the Sierras, don’t we?: “I’ll have a couple of soft pretzals, a hot dogs, Milk Duds, Snocaps. Is that the largest popcorn you’ve got there – that bucket? You don’t have a barrel or anything like that? Do you have a donkey or a pack mule or anything? – Oh, and a Diet Coke." -Ellen Degeneres
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Older and.. wiser?
I've worked as a CNA for 6 years now and the most common complaint is about food. Every time I talk to my mom on the phone, we talk about work and she always has a new story about someone making a dietary complaint (we work at the same assisted living, btw). One day they'll be complaining about not being served enough vegetables then, a week later, they're saying they're being fed too many. But oh no, they don't stop there. They have recently began "grading" the pea, peach, and green bean quality. The peas are at a grade B, the peaches don't even measure on the grading scale because they're so terrible, and the beans are a grade C. What makes the beans and peaches so bad, you ask? Because they AREN'T THE SAME SIZE. Yes, you read that right. The beans need to be cut evenly and the peaches need to be sliced equally in order for them to score an A rating. I wish I were making this up. Things are too hot, too cold, too yellow, or too red. But I suppose the constant criticism is understandable... there isn't much to do in a retirement home. There's only so much bingo a person can play in a day. Oh how I miss those old folks back home...
"I refuse to spend my life worrying about what I eat. There is no pleasure worth forgoing just for an extra 3 years in the geriatric ward." -John Mortimer
"I refuse to spend my life worrying about what I eat. There is no pleasure worth forgoing just for an extra 3 years in the geriatric ward." -John Mortimer
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
This Is The Blog That Never Ends...
Nutrition goes beyond the surface of food. Nutrition is about what elements are part of the food; what's beneath the surface. Also, foods are lumped into groups beyond just what's "good for you" and what's "bad for you". There are functional foods, dietary supplements, food additives, vitamins and minerals, and the role of nutrition in regards to complementary and alternative medicine.
The definition of functional foods is this: a food or food component that provides a health benefit beyond basic nutrition. This means that rather than looking at food as being just another type of food, we need to look at the all the areas of our bodies that benefit from a specific type of food based on what nutrients that food contains. An example given in this chapter is garlic. The book states that garlic contains sulfur compounds that can reduce the risk of heart disease. Functional foods contain phytochemicals. These differ from nutrients in that they are not essential to sustain life but they do promote health. These come from plants and can include pigments and antioxidants. Phytochemicals are associated with decreased risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. So, although you don't need them to stay alive, it wouldn't hurt to add phytochemicals to your diet. Before reading this chapter, I was clueless when it came to phytochemicals.
Then there are food additives. Food additives are broken up into two subcategories: direct and indirect. Direct additives are added to food for a specific purpose. For example, aspartame would be added to sweeten up a food substance in the place of sugar. Direct additives are added for many reasons. Some of those reasons are: to maintain consistency in the food, to control acidity, to improve nutritional value, or frankly, to keep the food appetizing. Indirect additives are things or substances that unintentionally come in contact with food and mix with that specific food. You can find additives in just about anything that is made or processed and most of us don't even think about it. Of course, the FDA regulates additives and they cannot be added if they cause cancer in humans or animals (duh).
Ah, vitamins. We all seem to be convinced that we need to be popping a vitamin supplement every day just to stay healthy and that because we do this, we don't need to worry about the rest of our diet. Wrong! We still need to pay attention to what we're eating and do our best to eat healthy foods because while those Flinstone vitamins are delicious and nutritious, nothin' beats the real thing. Taking vitamins is fine if you're, say, pregnant or under the age of 10 but us adults need to be incorporating health into our meals. However if there is something physically wrong with you a doctor could prescribe something called a megadose which is a high dose of a particular vitamin or mineral. As with anything a doctor prescribes, this can be harmful if not given/taken properly. I think though, as a whole, we rely too much on vitamins and dietary supplements in the form of a pill instead of just buying something healthy at the store.
It seems like I see the word "herbal" an awful lot today. Everything seems to have some type of herb added to it. There isn't a lot of scientific data about herbal products, as the book states. It also seems like if you choose an herbalist over a doctor, you should really do your research because it takes someone trained, and trained well, to really know their herbs and know what they are doing.
This chapter also talks about complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). This can include massages, breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, or prayer. I agree with all of these because I feel like if we begin the feel better in our minds, we start to (sometimes) feel better throughout the rest of our bodies. I'm a believer in the power of prayer
The wording on food labels is tricky sometimes. Companies find ways around FDA standards by tweaking the words they put on their packaging. It's pretty ridiculous how many faulty claims are out there on the shelves of your local supermarket. Pay attention, don't fall prey to advertising slogans or gimics. We really need to pay attention to those labels, people!
"The longer I live, the less confidence I have in drugs and the greater is my confidence in the regulation and administration of diet and regimen." ~John Redman Coxe
The definition of functional foods is this: a food or food component that provides a health benefit beyond basic nutrition. This means that rather than looking at food as being just another type of food, we need to look at the all the areas of our bodies that benefit from a specific type of food based on what nutrients that food contains. An example given in this chapter is garlic. The book states that garlic contains sulfur compounds that can reduce the risk of heart disease. Functional foods contain phytochemicals. These differ from nutrients in that they are not essential to sustain life but they do promote health. These come from plants and can include pigments and antioxidants. Phytochemicals are associated with decreased risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. So, although you don't need them to stay alive, it wouldn't hurt to add phytochemicals to your diet. Before reading this chapter, I was clueless when it came to phytochemicals.
Then there are food additives. Food additives are broken up into two subcategories: direct and indirect. Direct additives are added to food for a specific purpose. For example, aspartame would be added to sweeten up a food substance in the place of sugar. Direct additives are added for many reasons. Some of those reasons are: to maintain consistency in the food, to control acidity, to improve nutritional value, or frankly, to keep the food appetizing. Indirect additives are things or substances that unintentionally come in contact with food and mix with that specific food. You can find additives in just about anything that is made or processed and most of us don't even think about it. Of course, the FDA regulates additives and they cannot be added if they cause cancer in humans or animals (duh).
Ah, vitamins. We all seem to be convinced that we need to be popping a vitamin supplement every day just to stay healthy and that because we do this, we don't need to worry about the rest of our diet. Wrong! We still need to pay attention to what we're eating and do our best to eat healthy foods because while those Flinstone vitamins are delicious and nutritious, nothin' beats the real thing. Taking vitamins is fine if you're, say, pregnant or under the age of 10 but us adults need to be incorporating health into our meals. However if there is something physically wrong with you a doctor could prescribe something called a megadose which is a high dose of a particular vitamin or mineral. As with anything a doctor prescribes, this can be harmful if not given/taken properly. I think though, as a whole, we rely too much on vitamins and dietary supplements in the form of a pill instead of just buying something healthy at the store.
It seems like I see the word "herbal" an awful lot today. Everything seems to have some type of herb added to it. There isn't a lot of scientific data about herbal products, as the book states. It also seems like if you choose an herbalist over a doctor, you should really do your research because it takes someone trained, and trained well, to really know their herbs and know what they are doing.
This chapter also talks about complementary and alternative medicines (CAM). This can include massages, breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, or prayer. I agree with all of these because I feel like if we begin the feel better in our minds, we start to (sometimes) feel better throughout the rest of our bodies. I'm a believer in the power of prayer
The wording on food labels is tricky sometimes. Companies find ways around FDA standards by tweaking the words they put on their packaging. It's pretty ridiculous how many faulty claims are out there on the shelves of your local supermarket. Pay attention, don't fall prey to advertising slogans or gimics. We really need to pay attention to those labels, people!
"The longer I live, the less confidence I have in drugs and the greater is my confidence in the regulation and administration of diet and regimen." ~John Redman Coxe
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Drum Roll Please...
One of my favorites things to eat is cheesecake. According to the Nutrition Data website, one serving size (which is equal to one slice) contains 257 calories.... 257 calories of PURE DELICIOUSNESS! Cheesecake is high in saturated fat containing 40% of the recommended daily value. There are 44mg of cholesterol (15% DV), 166mg sodium (7% DV), and 20g of carbs (7% DV). It contains small amounts of protein, calcium, and iron, each less than 5% of the recommended daily value and has a slightly larger amount of vitamin A. Also, 158 of the total calories are calories from fat. With that said, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that cheesecake isn't the best food to throw into your shopping cart at WalMart but do I feel guilty about eating it? Absolutely not. So if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go turn on an episode of the Golden Girls and grab myself a slice of cheesecake.
"I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol." -Author Unknown
"I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol." -Author Unknown
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Air Forced Diet
I recently joined the Air Force and with comes the task of getting into shape. I've never been one to eat many fruits and very rarely would I even touch a vegetable but in order to survive boot camp, I have to make some major changes with my diet. When I get to boot camp, there won't be sweets (well, there will be plenty of sweets there but it would be pretty hard to get away with eating them without being saddled with an extra 20 pushups). So, in order to prepare my sugar-filled body to go 2 months without cookies or ice cream, I'm slowly replacing those delicious foods with the dreaded green stuff. I need to be able to pack a huge amount of nutrients into as little foods as possible because meals happen fast at boot camp.
Now, I wouldn't call what I'm doing a "diet". I hate that word. It just sounds terrible. No. What I'm doing is just what I should have done a long time ago.. what everyone should do. Instead of reaching for a BigMac, I'm opting for a spinach salad and grilled chicken. And now, being on campus and having a huge salad bar to available, I don't have an excuse not to eat it. It's right there, every meal. In the past, I wouldn't eat healthy because that means spending more money. When I was in my own apartment spending my own money on food, I wasn't about to shell out extra cash to eat healthy. But here in campus center the food is already paid for so I might as well take advantage of it. No excuses!
"Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon." -Doug Larson
Now, I wouldn't call what I'm doing a "diet". I hate that word. It just sounds terrible. No. What I'm doing is just what I should have done a long time ago.. what everyone should do. Instead of reaching for a BigMac, I'm opting for a spinach salad and grilled chicken. And now, being on campus and having a huge salad bar to available, I don't have an excuse not to eat it. It's right there, every meal. In the past, I wouldn't eat healthy because that means spending more money. When I was in my own apartment spending my own money on food, I wasn't about to shell out extra cash to eat healthy. But here in campus center the food is already paid for so I might as well take advantage of it. No excuses!
"Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon." -Doug Larson
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