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Are there benefits to drinking soy milk, and if so, what are they?
Soy products are an excellent replacement for other sources of protein in the diet. Usually protein comes from animal products like red meat, pork, chicken, and fish. Some of these foods are high in saturated fatty acids and dietary cholesterol, which raise the LDL cholesterol in the blood. Soy is a source of protein without the saturated fat and dietary cholesterol. Also, in large amounts soy can lower LDL cholesterol levels.
Are there any ³miracle² veggies and fruits that are loaded with nutrients we should be eating?
All fruits and vegetables are miracle foods. Recent re-search shows that women who eat more than three fruits and vegetables per day can reduce the risk of death regardless of many risk factors, including body weight. They are loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals, fiber, and water. Looking for fruits and vegetables with rich colors like orange, red, and deep green will give you a burst of all these nutrients.
Name some foods with ³hidden² calories or fats.
Many foods -- alcohol, fried snack goods, whole milk, nuts (although these can be very good for you as long as they fit within your calorie level), hard candy, some protein supplement bars, syrup flavorings and chocolate in coffee, and "fruit" smoothies, which often have two scoops of frozen yogurt in each item.
What should we know about trans-fat?
Trans-fats are dangerous because they are loaded with calories and bad for cholesterol values. They raise LDL [bad] cholesterol and lower HDL [good] cholesterol. It is best to avoid trans-fatty acids. However, because foods containing these fats are not labeled, it can be difficult. You can avoid trans-fatty acids by limiting intake of fried foods, stick margarine (opt for soft margarines), and snack foods. You can also look for foods that are labeled "trans-free."
Everyone recommends yogurt on diets --why?
Yogurt is good whether you are dieting or not. Yogurt provides a good source of calcium that's not readily available in foods, and it is an excellent source of protein.
What about alcohol? How many calories in a glass of wine? A beer? A cocktail?
Alcohol is a big source of calories. A 6-oz. glass of wine has approximately 120 calories. A 12-oz. bottled beer is 150 calories, but remember most bars serve 16-oz. pints, which can contain 200 calories or more. A cocktail -- normally 1 oz. of 80-proof alcohol and 4 oz. juice -- has approximately 120 calories, but may vary according to serving size and alcohol content. If you can't resist an alcoholic beverage but are trying to diet, try a light beer with less than 100 calories or a cocktail with diet soda.
Any good beverage options while trying to lose weight?
The best option is water. Other choices include any low- or no-calorie drinks such as Crystal Light, unsweetened ice tea, and diet soda. Beware that some of the "designer" waters have added calories that can sabotage your weight-loss efforts. Many people think that drinking juice is a great addition to a weight-loss diet. Unfortunately, juice is a very concentrated source of calories. If you are trying to lose weight, try to limit your intake to 4 oz. of juice daily, or, instead of drinking juice, try to eat the whole piece of fruit, which will provide more fiber. For more information contact Mikelle McCoin at mikellegood@hotmail.com.
ATTAINING YOUR LIFE GOALS
So you want to write a novel, start a business, change your life? Maybe you have a "to do" list that's three pages long, filled with goals, ambitions, ideas, intentions -- all good, of course, but you're having trouble achieving them. You need a little push, a dose of inspiration. You need a Life Coach. Part therapist, part career counselor, part cheerleader, yet none of the above, a coach can help you jump-start your ambition and set you on the road to self-actualization. A Life Coach holds his or her clients accountable for their goals and assists them in visualizing success and mapping out strategies to get there. They provide tools, support, and structure to help you accomplish more both personally and professionally. Like athletic coaches, they work to empower people, improve performance, break old patterns that don't work, and encourage steps toward reaching true potential.
Coaches vary in their specializations -- business development, entrepreneurship, creativity, spirituality, relationships, time management, career change, life purpose, even nutrition and health. San Francisco- based coach Jen Dalton says coaches are there to believe in you, collaborate with you, and offer new ideas you may not have thought of.
"I keep you on track and encourage you to take that leap and have the integrity to do what you say." Coaching is usually done over the phone in weekly half-hour sessions. Many coaches offer free 30-minute trials, enabling clients to try out a few until they find the right fit. For more information and to find coaches near you, go to www.sfcoaches.org or www.-coachfederation.org. Jen Dalton can be contacted for appointments and referrals at 412-8784 or jen@p4coaching.com.
GETTING HEALTHY
Lots of people are looking at their health through a different lens these days and exploring alternative (and sometimes ancient) approaches. It's clear that the concepts have hit mainstream America when Newsweek does a cover story on alternative and complementary medicine and Time devotes an entire issue to the subject. Here is some information about two such practices.
Ayurveda
If this year's commitment to yourself is to lead a healthier life, an ayurvedic consultation is a good way to start. What is it, you ask? Think Deepak Chopra and you're getting warm. Ayurveda (pronounced aye-yur-vay-da) is the world's oldest continually practiced holistic healthcare system, originating in the ancient traditions of India more than 5,000 years ago.
The word is derived from Sanskrit and means knowledge or wisdom of life. Ayurveda recognizes that all bodies are unique, and while one diet or herb might work for one person, it may not have any positive effects on another. Vedic science seeks to achieve harmony of the body, mind, spirit, and senses with nature.
