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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.”
—Aristotle
If you put your mind to something, anything is possible. I learned this firsthand when I took on the challenge of running my first marathon. Once my application was sent in, I committed myself to running as much as possible to ensure I would be ready for the big run. No trainers, no running groups; just me hitting the pavement or treadmill (depending on weather) and adding to my distance each week. Were there mornings that I wanted to hit snooze on my alarm clock? Yes. Were there weekends I would have rather hung out with friends instead of going to bed early in preparation for a long run the next day? Yes. But I committed myself to training and wasn't going to let anything get in the way of reaching of my goal.
With the support of my husband along with family and friends, I officially completed my first Marathon this month - I feel both proud and relieved. It was a great experience and I know I did everything I could to prepare for such an endeavor.
I encourage each of you to set a new goal. If you put your mind to it, anything is possible!
Best in Health!
~Amy~
High Fructose Corn Syrup Changing Name to Corn Sugar
High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is a controversial food sweetener that's continuously in the news - the health industry asserts that HFCS is bad for our health, while individuals from the corn industry insist that it;s good for us. As you can imagine, at DietsInReview.com we are firmly in agreement with the health industry. Back in the March 2008 edition of the Natural Health Newsletter, I wrote about the dangers of HFCS and how to identify it. Now there is something new to watch out for - HFCS disguised with a new name!!
Recently, the Corn Refiners Association filed a case with the FDA to change the name of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to the more "safe" name, "Corn Sugar." This approval could take up to two years, but many products are already using this new terminology. This change is a strategic move on behalf of the Corn Refiners Association to try to shed HFCS' negative image by disguising the ingredient with a new name. I do agree that calling HFCS a sugar is more accurate and straightforward, but launching an ad campaign that touts the ingredient as a health food is very misleading, and unfair to consumers.
Large amounts of sugar consumption have been linked to diabetes and heart disease, both of which affect millions of Americans. High fructose corn syrup has been strongly associated with obesity and being overweight due to the types of foods that it is commonly found in. According to the US Department of Agriculture, Americans consume 60 pounds of corn sweeteners and 60 pounds of table sugar per year, a hefty number for a nation that is currently amidst a health crisis
Don't let this name change of HFCS to corn sugar catch you off guard. More than ever, reading food labels and understanding what ingredients are in the foods you are buying is so important. Reference the November 2009 Natural Health Newsletter if you need help on how to read food labels.
Recipe of the Month: No-Sugar Apple Pie
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 1 Pie
Ingredients:
- 2 (9 inch) pie shell
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 (12 fluid ounce) can unsweetened apple juice concentrate, thawed
- 6 cups sliced green apples
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- In a small bowl whisk together cornstarch, cinnamon, and 1/3 cup of the apple juice concentrate. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan simmer apples with remaining apple juice concentrate until apples are tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in cornstarch mixture and continue to simmer until thickened. Remove from heat.
- Spoon apple mixture into pastry-lined pie plate. Cover with top crust. Seal and flute edges. Cut steam vents in top.
- Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.
(Courtesy of AllRecipes.com)
In the News
Famous actor, Sir Anthony Hopkins has admitted to being addicted to cookies, bread and essentially all the "white foods" that also includes pasta. But with some inspiration from his wife, who is 18 years younger, he made drastic changes to his diet. In addition to cutting out unhealthy foods, he cut down second helpings and drastically cut his calorie count. Hopkins also started to hit the gym 6 days a week. Through his dedication and motivation to live a long, healthy life, he dropped 75 pounds and has never felt better. Click here to read more of his interview with Cindy Adams from the New York Post.
This is another great example of an individual taking their well-being into their own hands. If you want to start improving your health, try implementing small changes. Swap in healthier foods to your meals (for example, brown rice in place of white rice), or add some color to your plate with fruits and vegetables. Also, try adding some movement to your daily routine, one of my favorite ways to wind down the day is to go for a walk after dinner.
Giving Back
We cannot lead healthy lives without a healthy planet. It's imperative that we all work together to protect and preserve nature's resources and creatures. One of these very important resources is our waterways. I'm so passionate about not only keeping our water clean, but also monitoring how much water we consume. Earlier this month I wrote about the importance of trying not to use plastic water bottles, which pollute our planet and kill animals that mistake the bottles for food. If you haven't already, please buy a reusable water bottle.
The SurfRider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization that is dedicated to protecting the world's oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984, this group is committed to fighting the battles that face our oceans and beaches.
To give to this amazing organization you can visit SurfRider for more details. And please think twice the next time you are about to purchase disposable water bottles!
Action Items
- Keep reading those food labels and don't be fooled by new naming conventions such as "corn sugar".
- I hope my Marathon story inspired you to set a goal for yourself. I would love to support you, email me your goals at [email protected] and I will feature them in the October issue.
- Check out the DietsinReview.com blog for the latest in health and fitness.
Weekly Articles
Forward to a Friend
It’s such a pleasure to help those closest to us become happier and healthier. Please forward this newsletter to friends, family members or colleagues who might be interested and inspired by it.
Also, if there is something you are interested in learning more about or would like me to feature in an upcoming newsletter please contact me.
Eat, Live Laugh newsletters are intended for overall general wellness. If you have condition specific concerns please feel free to contact me.
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