Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal: Quick and Tasty Nostalgia

Today on Serious Eats: Pork Roast en Cocotte with Apples and Shallots – an infallible America’s Test Kitchen recipe that tastes as good as it sounds.

I apologize for being horrifically negligent with posting lately. But, woof. Thangz iz crazy here at CHG central. Husband-Elect’s bachelor party was this weekend. Friends and family are already starting to trickle into Brooklyn. And oh, the wedding is Sunday.

Mommy?

Anyway, I’ve been keeping Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal in my back pocket (um, the recipe, not the food itself) for just such an occasion. It’s the world’s easiest breakfast, and will fill you up clear through the next morning. Not to mention: tasty.

There’s the nostalgia thing, too. Like everybody, I’m sure, peanut butter and jelly holds a special place in my heart (um, the idea of it, not the food itself). My mom packed my lunch with PB&J from first grade clear through to sixth. I didn’t touch it for years after that, being as tired of the sandwich as the general U.S. populace was of Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic” by November 1996.

But now? I will house that sandwich without ever coming up for air. And having a bowl of it for breakfast feels indulgent, like a treat. Like Mrs. Nall let me clap the erasers out back after school, because I scored a 99 on the spelling test. (Note: In the Morissettiest of ironies [meaning, not really an irony at all], I misspelled “sandwich,” adding an extraneous “t.”)

I urge you to commit the oatmeal to memory (um, the recipe, not the food itself). It’s a culinary trip back in time, not to mention a fast meal when the world becomes busier than you ever thought it could.

~~~

If you enjoy oatmeal and related recipes, you might also dig into:

• Banana Oatmeal Muffins
• Gingersnap Oatmeal
• Oatmeal with Soy Sauce and Scallions

~~~

Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal
Serves 2.
NOTE: This is not my picture, but a placeholder, and a pretty good approximation of the real thing. It comes from one of those ad-drenched blogs that obviously steals content, so I won't link to it here. Apologies to the actual photographer. My pic is coming a bit later.

1 cup dry 5-minute oats
1 cup water
1/2 cup skim milk
About 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 or 2 tablespoons natural creamy peanut butter
1 or 2 tablespoons your favorite jelly
Kosher salt to taste

1) Combine oats, water, and milk in a small pot. Heat over medium.

2) After a minute or two, add vanilla extract, peanut butter, jelly, and salt to taste. Stir to combine, though the peanut butter will gradually melt into the mixture as the oatmeal heats up. Cook a few minutes, stirring occasionally.

3) When the oatmeal reaches your desired consistency, taste it. If you’d like a little more of either PB or J, add it in.

4) Serve, and wonder why you’re not eating this for every meal.

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber, Protein, and Price Per Serving
304 calories, 7.4 g fat, 2.9 g fiber, 7.9 g protein, $0.38

Calculations
1 cup dry 5-minute oats: 147 calories, 2.3 g fat, 4 g fiber, 6.1 g protein, $0.30
1 cup water: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $0.00
1/2 cup skim milk: 45 calories, 0.4 g fat, 0 g fiber, 4.4 g protein, $0.11
About 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract: 6 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein, $0.03
1 1/2 tablespoons natural creamy peanut butter: 135 calories, 12 g fat, 1.5 g fiber, 5.3 g protein, $0.09
1 1/2 tablespoons your favorite jelly: 84 calories, 0 g fat, 0.3 g fiber, 0 g protein, $0.21
Kosher salt to taste: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $0.01
TOTAL: 609 calories, 14.7 g fat, 5.8 g fiber, 15.8 g protein, $0.75
PER SERVING (TOTAL/2): 304 calories, 7.4 g fat, 2.9 g fiber, 7.9 g protein, $0.38

Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal: Quick and Tasty Nostalgia

Today on Serious Eats: Pork Roast en Cocotte with Apples and Shallots – an infallible America’s Test Kitchen recipe that tastes as good as it sounds.

I apologize for being horrifically negligent with posting lately. But, woof. Thangz iz crazy here at CHG central. Husband-Elect’s bachelor party was this weekend. Friends and family are already starting to trickle into Brooklyn. And oh, the wedding is Sunday.

Mommy?

Anyway, I’ve been keeping Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal in my back pocket (um, the recipe, not the food itself) for just such an occasion. It’s the world’s easiest breakfast, and will fill you up clear through the next morning. Not to mention: tasty.

There’s the nostalgia thing, too. Like everybody, I’m sure, peanut butter and jelly holds a special place in my heart (um, the idea of it, not the food itself). My mom packed my lunch with PB&J from first grade clear through to sixth. I didn’t touch it for years after that, being as tired of the sandwich as the general U.S. populace was of Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic” by November 1996.

But now? I will house that sandwich without ever coming up for air. And having a bowl of it for breakfast feels indulgent, like a treat. Like Mrs. Nall let me clap the erasers out back after school, because I scored a 99 on the spelling test. (Note: In the Morissettiest of ironies [meaning, not really an irony at all], I misspelled “sandwich,” adding an extraneous “t.”)

I urge you to commit the oatmeal to memory (um, the recipe, not the food itself). It’s a culinary trip back in time, not to mention a fast meal when the world becomes busier than you ever thought it could.

~~~

If you enjoy oatmeal and related recipes, you might also dig into:

• Banana Oatmeal Muffins
• Gingersnap Oatmeal
• Oatmeal with Soy Sauce and Scallions

~~~

Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal
Serves 2.
NOTE: This is not my picture, but a placeholder, and a pretty good approximation of the real thing. It comes from one of those ad-drenched blogs that obviously steals content, so I won't link to it here. Apologies to the actual photographer. My pic is coming a bit later.

1 cup dry 5-minute oats
1 cup water
1/2 cup skim milk
About 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 or 2 tablespoons natural creamy peanut butter
1 or 2 tablespoons your favorite jelly
Kosher salt to taste

1) Combine oats, water, and milk in a small pot. Heat over medium.

2) After a minute or two, add vanilla extract, peanut butter, jelly, and salt to taste. Stir to combine, though the peanut butter will gradually melt into the mixture as the oatmeal heats up. Cook a few minutes, stirring occasionally.

3) When the oatmeal reaches your desired consistency, taste it. If you’d like a little more of either PB or J, add it in.

4) Serve, and wonder why you’re not eating this for every meal.

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber, Protein, and Price Per Serving
304 calories, 7.4 g fat, 2.9 g fiber, 7.9 g protein, $0.38

Calculations
1 cup dry 5-minute oats: 147 calories, 2.3 g fat, 4 g fiber, 6.1 g protein, $0.30
1 cup water: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $0.00
1/2 cup skim milk: 45 calories, 0.4 g fat, 0 g fiber, 4.4 g protein, $0.11
About 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract: 6 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein, $0.03
1 1/2 tablespoons natural creamy peanut butter: 135 calories, 12 g fat, 1.5 g fiber, 5.3 g protein, $0.09
1 1/2 tablespoons your favorite jelly: 84 calories, 0 g fat, 0.3 g fiber, 0 g protein, $0.21
Kosher salt to taste: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $0.01
TOTAL: 609 calories, 14.7 g fat, 5.8 g fiber, 15.8 g protein, $0.75
PER SERVING (TOTAL/2): 304 calories, 7.4 g fat, 2.9 g fiber, 7.9 g protein, $0.38

Cinnamon Can Prevent Diabetes

Ohio, Do not think because his name is 'sweet' and then cinnamon can improve blood sugar levels. Spice this one actually can prevent diabetes and heart disease.

Cinnamon is one of the oldest spices used by humans. According to the study, aromatic spices and sweet this can prevent and cure diabetes and heart disease.

Terjemahan Bahasa Indonesia ke InggrisTunjukkan huruf latin
Diabetes and heart disease are two illnesses that was greatly feared by many people. And most of the second cause of this disease is food.

A study found that cinnamon contains antioxidants solution that can reduce the chance of getting diabetes and heart disease up to 23 percent.

Researchers from the Centre for Applied Health Sciences at the Fairlawn, Ohio, United States, studied 22 obese people with prediabetes, which is a critical state before diabetes is still treatable.

Half of the participants were given 250 mg of cinnamon soluble in water to drink everyday and the rest were given a placebo (contains no cinnamon).

In that study, researchers looked at participants' blood before and after surveys. The result, found that participants who drank cinnamon solution can increase the antioxidants associated with blood sugar for 13 to 23 percent.

"This study can demonstrate the effectiveness of cinnamon juice in the prevention of diabetes and heart disease," says Richard Anderson, lead investigator from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as quoted from Dailymail, Saturday (28/08/2010).

Mosquitoes Like Blood Beer drinkers

Burkina Faso, dengue fever and malaria are examples of dangerous diseases caused by mosquitoes. These wingless insects love to suck human blood. And did you know that mosquitoes prefer the blood of most beer drinkers?

Anopheles gambiae is the main carrier of malaria in Africa, because this mosquito prefers to suck human blood. Mosquitoes are attracted to different body odors including breath odor.

Because of the high cases of malaria in Africa, researchers from Australia conducted a study in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

Researchers conducted a study with a complex system of tubes, which direct the body odor 43 participants in the boxes so that mosquitoes can choose a favorite scent.

All participants are male sex between the ages of 20 to 43 years. Half of the participants were asked to drink a liter of beer 3 percent while the rest asked for a liter of water.

The study was conducted four times, namely before and after drinking beer and also before and after drinking water.

Was most liked by mosquitoes blood group of beer drinkers. Proven, 47 percent of mosquitoes like the blood of participants after drinking beer, compared with 37 percent before drinking beer. While at drinking water there were no significant differences, that is the same before and after drinking water by 37 percent.

"The consumption of beer increased mosquito proved increasingly attractive," writes Thierry Lefevre, head of research, in the online journal PLoS One, as quoted from Torontosun, Saturday (28/08/2010).

But Lefevre did not know why mosquitoes prefer to suck the blood of a beer drinker.

Mosquitoes attracted to the smell of carbon dioxide, but beer drinkers are no longer dispose of the gases after drinking. In addition, the mosquito also likes to body temperature, but beer also lowered body temperature several degrees.

"Metabolism of beer that could attract mosquitoes is still a mystery. But what is certain is that drinking beer could increase the risk of contracting malaria," said Lefevre.(mer/ir) detik.com

4 Nutrition, which Enhance Male Hormones

Jakarta, Testosterone is one of the important hormones in the human body, especially the men. These hormones tended to decrease with age. Fortunately, this can be avoided, because hormone levels influenced largely by the food.


Testosterone or male hormone is often called one of the main hormone responsible for muscle growth, libido (sexual health and mood), and for the organ as a whole and bone health.

There are several types of foods that can increase testosterone levels, but some of these foods may be restrictions on people with certain conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

Quoted from Livestrong, Saturday (08/28/2010), the following four types of nutrients that can increase testosterone levels:

1. Coconut oil

Consisting of coconut oil or MCT Medium Chain triglycerides. This mechanism allows the body to absorb the coconut oil in order to prevent the storage as fat, even encouraging the removal of fat in the body.

This is because the ability of MCT to bypass the lymphatic system when ingested, unlike other fat and allows rapid absorption by the liver.

This allows for the direct oxidation and rapidly converted to energy, similar to the effects of simple carbohydrates. Increase in fuel and energy can extend endurance and improve overall testosterone.

2. Garlic

All the hormones in the body are directly regulated each other. Therefore, the decrease in testosterone is often a shift in the response of other hormones. One of the hormones responsible for the level of testosterone in the body is cortisol. Garlic has been shown to regulate cortisol levels and thereby also increases testosterone levels.

3. Broccoli

Another hormone which is more clearly associated with testosterone is estrogen. High levels of estrogen can decrease testosterone in the body.

Broccoli contains high levels of indole, the phytochemical that helps the body to convert into another form of estrogen, which increases testosterone.

In addition, broccoli contain chromium which can regulate blood glucose, calcium regulating hormones to prevent further fat storage.

4. Red meat

Red meat such as beef and lamb has been proven to increase testosterone levels. Zinc deficiency is a major reason for low testosterone, so the high concentration of zinc found in red meat is very useful.

According to research from Harvard Medical School, zinc supplements could increase free testosterone levels between 8 to 14 percent. This is because zinc can play an important role in modulating serum testosterone in normal men.

In addition, saturated fat and cholesterol found in red meat can be quickly converted into testosterone in the body. Eggs can have the same role, as well as by increasing the body's cholesterol levels.

Healthy Tips to Make Body Fat

Healthy Tips fatten the body. Emang skinny body has not often make us confident, all sorts just his nickname, from the board walk, the foot of mosquitoes, worms, cungkring, begeng de es be easy, all of which make us feel inferior just want to hang themselves. lho? meant to fatten the body ..

If the count, more indeed many people [especially women] who want to take care of the body rather than fattening the body. Because according to research more girls feel fat than thin. But i also loh little girl/boy who was thin and want to fatten the body.

So, for all of you who want to be fat, follow these healthy tips, fatten the body follows.

1. Add a portion of Eating

Add servings you eat slowly [not direct, because you need an adjustment stomach]. This proved to be the most potent recipe for added weight. But of course you must consider the ability aja your digestion, not to outside of the limit digestion ..

2. eat 6x/day

Try to eat at least 5x a day. Morning at 9, lunch at 11, continues to clock 2. In the afternoon eating again approximately 5 hours, and hold evening hours seven. If it is still capable and still awake, eating again approximately 10 hours. It sounds really scary, but as long as you healthy foods and portions are appropriate, this trick can make the scales go up drastically.

3. Enough Rest

Eat a lot of useless if you can not body enough rest. So, set a healthy sleep pattern, at least eight hours a day. even if less than eight hours a day, you could be busyness disela2 nyur2 time to rest briefly. important to make the body you always in comfortable circumstances.

4. Sport

Sport is very important for the process of forming and keeping your body metabolism. So if you want to be fat, do exercise regularly .. Sports focus for the formation of muscle mass, such as fitness or body language. This is what makes your body more contained and shaped

5. 4 Healthy, 5 Excellent

Besides ngatur food portions and intensity, type of meals should also be considered. Do not arbitrarily choose the food. Find the appropriate menu Healthy 4 5 Excellent. Moreover, in order gemukin body, is very important milk tablets, you should drink milk 4x daily, especially whole milk.

6. Additional Supplements

Nothing wrong with adding your consumption of food supplements, appetite enhancer, or other vitamins that you can maintain good health.

7. Snacking

Proven snack and cepet naikin weight. So, if you want to fatten the body quickly, let's get into the habit snacking culture. Bring snacks everywhere, especially chocolate.

8. Honey and Fish Oil

To add your appetite naturally, you can eat honey ato fish oil. Besides functioning fitalitas body guard, honey and fish oil are also adding appetite loh ..

9. Many of Drinking Water

Drinking water emang kedengerannya not connect. But do not underestimate the first. The white water is very important for maintaining the health of our bodies. With drinking water our bodies healthy and make smooth digestion. If digestion was smoothly automated programs our body fat can be rapidly successful.

Avoid the following things:

1. Stress

Stress is the most important thing that makes losing weight. In addition, stress is also believed to be the medical world as the cause of various diseases. So, if you want a fat and healthy, keep stress yah ..

2. Tired

Tired of weight loss can also make a difficult climb. Would not eat as much as any on our bodies diforsir berpengqaruh continue without adequate rest. So from now on, your own body language perhatiin. Do not force your body beyond limits.

3. Drinking Soda

Soda making the stomach feel full faster when the stomach already feels full, so automatically we are not hungry anymore? So you should not drink beverages that contain soda, especially before eating.

4. Jump Eating Out Drinking

After eating you should not drink water directly. Wait a few minutes [eg 25 minutes] new drinking water. This trick can make you eat a lot and stay slim stomach.

Now that's healthy tips to fatten the body and the things that you should avoid, now you do not need to feel inferior again with a skinny body you that. You can also free pake black dress without fear of looking thin. With a healthy body and contains, you're also going to look more fres. Oiya, no side effects "you'll wasteful" because the snacks often and often to buy pants, coz its size changed-2. heheheee ...

Healthy body, with Sleep Without Light Lamps

When the dark night, our body actually collaborate. It's just that the situation is really dark, a new body to produce melatonin, a hormone that can be generated in the immune system that is able to fight and prevent various diseases including breast cancer and prostate cancer. Conversely, sleep with the lights on at night Day - no matter how small its rays cause the production of the hormone melatonin to stop.

Biologist Joan Roberts, one of the scientists discover these secrets after conducting experiments on animals. When animals were given artificial light at night Day, melantoninnya declining and weakened his immune system. Apparently, light lamps - as well as TV - causes hormones to be very tired. Hence, in addition to saving energy by turning off lights when sleep is a natural way to improve the health of the body.

There are several things that can disturb your sleep:

1. Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol. Caffeine, nicotine can cause too much trouble for sleeping. This condition often experienced by coffee drinkers, smokers, and alcohol addicts.

2. Environment. Bang voice loud music, the sound of a noisy factory, sleeping with the lights burning brightly, it will cause someone to be a disturbed sleep.

3. Substitution of time. A change in the time between lunch and dinner, suddenly due to travel by plane. This can disrupt the circadian rhythm of human body.

There are 210 Thousand Cataract Patients Each Year

According to data of World Health Organization/WHO as much as 1.5 percent of the population in Indonesia is experiencing blindness, and one of the causes of blindness are cataract disease (disorders of the eye lens). Currently each year in Indonesia there are 210 000 people suffering from cataracts.

"Right now people in Indonesia are aged much longer, so cataract will increase in many patients," said Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari when opening declaration of the Social Program MATAHATI - Eye Health Care in Mangga Dua Square Jakarta, Sunday (3/8).

According to Health Minister Siti Fadilah, even as much as 10 percent of school-age children 5-15 years old suffer from refraction and wore glasses. "Though not all children are able to buy glasses," said Minister of Health who see the positive social programs of this kind.

Figures blindness rate of 1.5 percent of Indonesian people is a social problem that can not be solved by government alone. "So I am grateful to all those who helped reduce the cataract patient. Blindness due to cataract surgery and can be overcome with plantings lenses, so they'll be able to look back," said Menkes.

The show is co Kompas Gramedia, Indonesia Lions Foundation, Association of Indonesian Ophthalmologist, Day of Guo Ji Ri Bao and Mangga Dua Square Jakarta, and is supported by the Jakarta Eye Center, Eye Hospital, Indonesia, Pondok Indah Hospital in Jakarta, RS Mata Aini.

Origins 'Eye Surgery' and Contact Lenses

Eye surgery such as cataract surgery was first performed in 1748 by Jacques Daviel (1693-1762), an ophthalmologist in the kingdom of King Louis XV of France. Jacques hit by cataract lenses dissected from the cornea. No narcotic substances used in the operation.

Spanish ophthalmologist Ignacio Barraquer Barraquer (1884-1965) seeking cataract removal operation in 1917 with suction.

Other technologies are contact lenses made sketches of Leonardo da Vinci in 1508. He paints some kind of contact lenses. After that, various efforts made to make contact lenses. Even Rene Descartes (1596-1650) participating in the various experiments.

However, the first contact lenses that are sold to the public was introduced by William Feinbloom, a optometris from New York, United States in 1936.

Furthermore, the contact lens with double focus (bifokus-ed) is available to the public in 1982.

Source: The Book of Origins, by Trevor Homer, Penguin Books, London, 2007 and various sources.[kompas.com]

Keeping Cleaning Contact Lenses

Contact lens direct contact with our eyes. Hygiene problems will affect eye health. Let's be careful caring for contact lenses.

1. Wash with soap and dry hands before handling contact lenses. Use mild soapy water and towel dry.

2. Remove contact lenses before applying or removing cosmetics. Do not use hairspray while wearing contact lenses because it will leave scars and damage the lens.

3. Do not use tap water or homemade cleaners for cleaning or wetting contact lenses.

4. Use products in accordance with the recommendation of nurses lens doctor. Do not use liquid re nurse lens.

5. Some bacteria can penetrate certain contact lenses. After cleaning, rub each lens in the palm of the hand for a few seconds, then soak the lens in a solution of antibacterial and cleaning in accordance with the instructions before using it again. This action is most okay to kill most bacteria.

6. Clean the container box with a contact lens cleaning solution sterile and wind-wind to dry. Replace the box every three months. @ Diy

Wear Glasses or Contact Lenses?

"Many people misunderstand the presence of contact lenses. Assume that the contact lens is a tool to change the glasses, "says Danny Widodo, Indonesia Country Head of Ciba Vision contact lens manufacturer in the launching of American origin newest contact lenses, dailies Comfort, in restaurants Segarra, Ancol, Wednesday (10/06).

According to Danny Widodo, "Glasses and contact lenses were walking side by side. Each user must have sunglasses contact lenses. So it's not true that the contact lens replacement sunglasses tool. Instead, contact lenses are an alternative tool to replace the glasses in the moments that are not allowed to use the glasses."

Added Danny, that there are times when spectacles can not be imposed for certain reasons, such as when exercising, or being in front of the computer for hours (can leave marks near the nose), while want to appear stylish without glasses, or could not adjust lifestyle. Thus you can choose the appropriate contact lens needs. For example, for the style can wear colored contact lenses, or for working more than 10 hours at the computer. Moreover, to prevent pain and soreness in the nose area, where used glasses.

Unfortunately, still not many people want to use contact lenses. Explained by Lanny Surachman, one representative of Ciba Vision, from research conducted by Ciba Vision, on the user's eyeglasses are reluctant to use contact lenses because of the comfort factor. Of the respondents who numbered approximately 250 respondents in the United States, as many as 47 percent never wear contact lenses, but no longer use it because of the comfort complaints. As many as 76 percent of all respondents wanted a comfortable contact lenses and can be used from morning to night.

The results of research that makes Ciba Vision issued a new product daily contact lenses, dailies Aqua Comfort Plus (abbreviated with Comfort dailies). Danny explained, that daily contact lens product has a Triple-Action Moisture content, which provides three advantages when used. The first is for lubrication (bearing lubrication between the eyes and contact lenses), then moisturize, and refresh all day long. The new technology was first used in the world has a moisturizer that can be activated each time the eyes in the Blink. Available for the lens size to -0.5 D-10D in the counter-counter glasses, with the price of Rp 275,000, - per 30 pairs (for 15 times usage). This product also answered the desire of the respondents mentioned at the beginning, that this contact lens is effectively used for 24 hours.

Regarding the red eye because the use of contact lenses, Danny replied that most likely it was because the eye is irritated due to lack of oxygen flowing into the eye. So if you wear contact lenses that moisturizes like this product, red eye will be unavoidable.

Danny says, a common mistake often made by users of contact lenses is one treatment and abuse. First, it is used constantly but not treated. Every day, our eyes remove dirt, whether it be protein, lipid, or dust. Contact lenses have a certain staying power, can not hold much dirt, so regular cleaning maintenance is required (especially for weekly or monthly contact lenses). Secondly, abuse, in the sense if not used according to specified rules. For example, using contact lenses worn daily but more than a day (or time recommended), so it will not work properly anymore.

Comfortable with oxygenated Contact Lenses

Kompas.com - Some people feel less comfortable when I have to wear glasses to correct vision. Use the tool was perceived less practical and inhibits the daily Activity. But thanks to contact lenses (softlense), is now "the eye minus" can be free of glasses.

Various types of contact lenses can now be found and support the display, such as through the beautiful colors that allow us "colored" eyes or even based on the usage period. There are a disposable type, there is a period of 30 days, and some are permanent.

Whatever type of contact lens is chosen, we still need to maintain and clean the contact lenses according to the rules listed in the packaging. Also, keep in mind is the eye contact we can not keep up to 24 hours with contact lenses.

According Dr.Tri Rahayu, Sp.M, FIACLE, eye specialists from the Jakarta Eye Center, the use of contact lenses for more than 10 hours can cause symptoms of oxygen deficiency, namely dry eyes, redness, itching and irritation. "Complaint-related discomfort is usually caused by contact lens wear for too long," he said.

Unfortunately there are many contact lens users who do not know or did not realize it. "70 percent of contact lens users who had experienced eye irritation due to contact lenses do not ever say that to the eye doctor," said Danny Widodo, Indonesia country head CIBA Vision.

In addition to duration of use of contact lenses, complaints of discomfort usually arise because the lens reversed, the usage is up, or there are tears in the lens. However, according to Tri, the danger is that if lack of oxygen. "The eyes also need to rest and take oxygen again," he explained.

Impact of oxygen-deficient eyes in the beginning is not so perceived by users. But over time can cause cloudy vision disorders such as corneal oxygen deficiency.

In extreme conditions, lack of oxygen can cause blood vessel growth into the cornea (neovascularisasi) which will drain into the cornea in response to oxygen deprivation. "Normally the cornea is not allowed to take in blood because it can interfere with vision and cause bleeding when performed lasik surgery," he explained.

Oxygen carrier

Lack of oxygen to the eye must be stopped with a way to temporarily not use contact lenses or rest my eyes. In addition, we can also conduct prevention by selecting the appropriate contact lenses.

In order to give perfect comfort for the eyes are already in contact lenses that can deliver more oxygen intake for eye health. Made of silicone and hydrogel contact lenses Air Optix Aqua is highly recommended for those with active lifestyles because they can be used up to 10 hours every day.

Convenience is also due to lens TriComfort unique Technology that helps lubricate the lens, retaining moisture and minimize the number of lens dehydration.

In addition to materials used in contact lenses, there are other things that need to be considered in order to maintain eye health. In view of this device are directly related to the eye then the cleanliness must be maintained. Before touching contact lenses, always wash your hands first so as not to contaminate contact lenses.

Contact lens storage should also be rinsed to clean every time after use and should be replaced once a month. Lastly, always check the eye every six months to prevent the occurrence of side effects on the eyes, remembering that not all eye disorders have symptoms.

Contact Lenses 'Johnson & Johnson' Withdrawn

Giant in the healthcare industry, Johnson & Johnson, Acuvue contact lenses attractive product types use one day. This contact lens products sold in Japan, several European countries, and Asia. Withdrawal of Johnson & Johnson health products This is the ninth time the withdrawal in 2010.

Parties Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) explains, they received many complaints from users TruEye Acuvue brand contact lenses, who complained of pain and irritation of the eyes after using the contact lens.

However, JNJ says that until now there has been no reports of customers who suffer complications of visual impairment. "The risk of long-term health problems caused by contact lenses are very rare," said Gary Esterow, a spokesman for JNJ Vision Care.

He added that there were an estimated 100 000 boxes, each containing 30-90 contact lens problems. According to him, the problem occurs when contact lenses are manufactured in Ireland were rinsed. The majority of contact lenses which was drawn on sale in Japan and several Asian countries.

This year, JNJ has attracted some non-prescription drug products in the United States, including cold medicine for children and adults, as well as thousands of bottles of pain relievers. As a result, JNJ got a warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Congress.

The phenomenon of People Experiencing Hypnosis

Actually in everyday life, without realizing we have experienced hypnosis. Precisely we have unwittingly hypnotized by something event or situation that we face.

"The most dangerous fact is that hypnosis is not recognized as a hypnotic," said Ariesandi Setyono, founder of the Indonesian Academy of Hypnosis. Examples of the phenomenon of people who experience hypnosis without realizing it, according Ariesandi, are as follows:

* Watching the show on television until dissolved, then without knowing it had to cry, go mad, go hate, participate annoyance, or to laugh.

* Obtain an unconscious lacerations, and a new feel when you're relaxing.

* When looking for something that goods can not see or find it, even though the goods are clearly present in his eyes (negative visual halusination).

* Occur drool at the thought of or heard people talk about lemon acid.

* Always make a mistake when he met with a certain issue.

* Always arising of anger, resentment, and hate it when considering a person.

* Dreams are perceived as true.

* Occur feeling sad or very sentimental when listening to certain songs.

* And so on and so forth.

Then what is the danger with hypnosis hypnosis the unconscious as that? According hypnotherapy teacher who wrote many best-selling books on this success, for example, is that the people who love to watch soap operas will suffer the same fate with the play-the play that saw.

Why is that? Because they absorb the same values that appear in the soap opera. (GHS/wid)

Stress Makes You So Forgetfulness

It turned out that positive thinking can not only make our days so much more beautiful. But also stimulate our brains to process information better, so in the long term, our brain will always be in prime condition.

Research conducted in 2007, found respondents who always surround himself with positive energy helps reduce the risk of brain cognitive function decline up to 60 percent. While the respondents are often stressful and emotional, memory decline or dementia.

Thomas Crook, PhD., This memory disorder prevention experts told me, every one of us would have events that are emotionally draining. Starting from failure, disappointment, or even treason. These are the sources of emotional stress can affect our brains work. But that does not mean, Crook added, we must always smiling face all the sad stories that go in our lives. "We may be sad, but our reaction to re-optimism and enthusiasm is reward for the brain so that its function was not decreased."

Crook invites us to immediately release the emotional stress of the head. "Imagine that we are pressing the eject button on DVD player, when we do not like the movies we watch." Then see how many "DVD happiness" is left "on the shelves" of our lives.

The process according to Crook will make our brains to play a memory-memory that can restore our spirits. The body will be interpreted by releasing endorphins to give the sensation of feeling happy in myself. "This is where the body system will look not only to work alone. Our brains will hone the ability of memory plus normal body metabolism to return to work. "

That's why experts believe the nerve, our ability to control emotions and stress is a way to protect brain tissue. Because emotions are triggers for many areas in the brain, from memory, the ability to think logically, to the ability of expression.

So every time the stress block, try to think positive so that the brain controls our emotions can reprogram our positive moods. That way, we can restore the awareness of brain function due to the response body to work back to normal. Remember, if you still want the brain to work optimally, do not want to stay long storing negative emotions in ourselves. (PreventionIndonesiaonline /Siagian Priska)

Veggie Might: Oooh, Shiny--Sweet and Spicy Jicama Slaw

Written by the fabulous Leigh, Veggie Might is a weekly Thursday column about all things Vegetarian.

You may have guessed by now, longtime CHG-VM readers, that I am most inspired unfamiliar ingredients. I get distracted by anything the least bit unexpected at the market. I’m like the Homer Simpson of home ec. Oooh, shiny.

So on recent trips to the farmer’s market and neighborhood grocery, despite list/menu plan in hand, I’ve come home with game changers. That’s the joy of the farmer’s market - you never know exactly what you’ll find. Callaloo was a perfect example. Then it was papalo, a Mexican herb.

A few weeks ago, there was a new stand at the market, staffed by a Mexican woman selling the usual carrots, celery, and potatoes, but also poblano peppers, habaneros, and herbs. The papalo, a robust green herb, caught my eye. The woman told me it’s kind of like cilantro and is particularly good on sandwiches and in soups.

How to describe the taste? Well, papalo has a strong, fresh smell and flavor, reminiscent of lemon and tarragon. Does that make sense at all? Just know that it’s strong, you don’t need much, and hey, look over there.

Of course, it wasn’t soup weather at the time (though it has been the last couple of rainy East Coast days). So I decided to use it in a jicama-summer squash slaw recipe I found in Jay Solomon’s The Global Vegetarian, a newly resurrected staple in my kitchen. The recipe called for cilantro, so I went for the easy substitution.

Sweet and spicy, the papalo took the crunchy summer slaw to a place I’d call...Interesting. It was on my Lunch Buddy menu and I almost didn’t serve it to JBF, it was so odd tasting to me. But caveat in place, I sent it along, and she loved it. I took a little longer to get there.

Papalo is pungent and takes some getting used to. I had made a big batch, and by the third serving it had grown on me. What I didn’t know then that I know now: a cilantro:papalo substitution should come in at around 3:1.

That said, the jicama, chipotle peppers, and squash made for a satisfying side salad. Tossed over greens or just on the side of a sandwich, this zippy little number would be a refreshing change of pace at what summer picnics remain.

While it can be time-consuming to julienne a bunch of veggies for slaw, I find it relaxing and therapeutic. (I also enjoy untangling the matted yarn balls that collect in my knitting stash, so there’s that.) A food processor or coarse grater will cut down your prep time enormously.

If you can’t find papalo where you are, put back in the cilantro (or parsley, if you have that sad, sad soap thing) and you won’t be sorry. But if you do, allow yourself to be distracted by the deep green and pretty scalloped leaves. It’s a taste worth acquiring.

(Additional photography by flickr user h-bomb.)

~~~

If you dig this recipe, you may also dig:

• BBQ Slaw, Y’all
• I Can Maike That: Daikon or Jicama and Mango Salad
• A Relaxing Evening with Kale and Root Vegetable Salad

~~~

Sweet and Spicy Jicama Slaw
adapted from The Global Vegetarian by Jay Solomon

1/2 large jicama (about 2 cups), julienned
1 medium yellow squash, julienned
1 large carrot, grated
2 chipotle peppers (canned in adobo sauce), minced
1 lime, juiced
1 tbsp canola oil
3 tbsp cilantro or 1 tbsp papalo
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt

1) Combine all the julienned veggies in a large mixing bowl.

2) Add lime juice, oil, herbs, and spices, and toss.

3) Stick it in the fridge for 30 minutes to combine flavors.

4) Serve this sassy little slaw over salad greens or as a side dish at your end-of-summer barbecue.

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber, Protein, and Price per Serving
48.1 calories, 3.5g fat, 5.4g fiber, 2.3g protein, $.97

Calculations
1/2 large jicama: 98 calories, 0g fat, 12g fiber, 2g protein, $1.10
1 large carrot: 31.25 calories, 0g fat, 2.5g fiber, 1.25g protein, $0.20
1 medium yellow squash: 31 calories, 0g fat, 2g fiber, 2g protein, $0.75
2 chipotle peppers: 7 calories, 0g fat, 1g fiber, 0g protein, $0.36
1 lime: 9.5 calories, 0.03g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.10
1 tbsp canola oil: 120 calories, 14g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.08
2 tbsp p√°palo: 2.75 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.06
1/2 tsp cumin: negligible calories, fat, fiber, and protein, $0.02
1 tsp salt: negligible calories, fat, fiber, and protein, $0.02
escarole salad greens: 32 calories, 0g fat, 4g fiber, 4g protein, $1.22
Totals: 192.25 calories, 14g fat, 21.5g fiber, 9.25g protein, $3.91
Per serving (totals/4): 48.1 calories, 3.5g fat, 5.4g fiber, 2.3g protein, $.97

Veggie Might: Oooh, Shiny--Sweet and Spicy Jicama Slaw

Written by the fabulous Leigh, Veggie Might is a weekly Thursday column about all things Vegetarian.

You may have guessed by now, longtime CHG-VM readers, that I am most inspired unfamiliar ingredients. I get distracted by anything the least bit unexpected at the market. I’m like the Homer Simpson of home ec. Oooh, shiny.

So on recent trips to the farmer’s market and neighborhood grocery, despite list/menu plan in hand, I’ve come home with game changers. That’s the joy of the farmer’s market - you never know exactly what you’ll find. Callaloo was a perfect example. Then it was papalo, a Mexican herb.

A few weeks ago, there was a new stand at the market, staffed by a Mexican woman selling the usual carrots, celery, and potatoes, but also poblano peppers, habaneros, and herbs. The papalo, a robust green herb, caught my eye. The woman told me it’s kind of like cilantro and is particularly good on sandwiches and in soups.

How to describe the taste? Well, papalo has a strong, fresh smell and flavor, reminiscent of lemon and tarragon. Does that make sense at all? Just know that it’s strong, you don’t need much, and hey, look over there.

Of course, it wasn’t soup weather at the time (though it has been the last couple of rainy East Coast days). So I decided to use it in a jicama-summer squash slaw recipe I found in Jay Solomon’s The Global Vegetarian, a newly resurrected staple in my kitchen. The recipe called for cilantro, so I went for the easy substitution.

Sweet and spicy, the papalo took the crunchy summer slaw to a place I’d call...Interesting. It was on my Lunch Buddy menu and I almost didn’t serve it to JBF, it was so odd tasting to me. But caveat in place, I sent it along, and she loved it. I took a little longer to get there.

Papalo is pungent and takes some getting used to. I had made a big batch, and by the third serving it had grown on me. What I didn’t know then that I know now: a cilantro:papalo substitution should come in at around 3:1.

That said, the jicama, chipotle peppers, and squash made for a satisfying side salad. Tossed over greens or just on the side of a sandwich, this zippy little number would be a refreshing change of pace at what summer picnics remain.

While it can be time-consuming to julienne a bunch of veggies for slaw, I find it relaxing and therapeutic. (I also enjoy untangling the matted yarn balls that collect in my knitting stash, so there’s that.) A food processor or coarse grater will cut down your prep time enormously.

If you can’t find papalo where you are, put back in the cilantro (or parsley, if you have that sad, sad soap thing) and you won’t be sorry. But if you do, allow yourself to be distracted by the deep green and pretty scalloped leaves. It’s a taste worth acquiring.

(Additional photography by flickr user h-bomb.)

~~~

If you dig this recipe, you may also dig:

• BBQ Slaw, Y’all
• I Can Maike That: Daikon or Jicama and Mango Salad
• A Relaxing Evening with Kale and Root Vegetable Salad

~~~

Sweet and Spicy Jicama Slaw
adapted from The Global Vegetarian by Jay Solomon

1/2 large jicama (about 2 cups), julienned
1 medium yellow squash, julienned
1 large carrot, grated
2 chipotle peppers (canned in adobo sauce), minced
1 lime, juiced
1 tbsp canola oil
3 tbsp cilantro or 1 tbsp papalo
1/2 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt

1) Combine all the julienned veggies in a large mixing bowl.

2) Add lime juice, oil, herbs, and spices, and toss.

3) Stick it in the fridge for 30 minutes to combine flavors.

4) Serve this sassy little slaw over salad greens or as a side dish at your end-of-summer barbecue.

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber, Protein, and Price per Serving
48.1 calories, 3.5g fat, 5.4g fiber, 2.3g protein, $.97

Calculations
1/2 large jicama: 98 calories, 0g fat, 12g fiber, 2g protein, $1.10
1 large carrot: 31.25 calories, 0g fat, 2.5g fiber, 1.25g protein, $0.20
1 medium yellow squash: 31 calories, 0g fat, 2g fiber, 2g protein, $0.75
2 chipotle peppers: 7 calories, 0g fat, 1g fiber, 0g protein, $0.36
1 lime: 9.5 calories, 0.03g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.10
1 tbsp canola oil: 120 calories, 14g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.08
2 tbsp p√°palo: 2.75 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.06
1/2 tsp cumin: negligible calories, fat, fiber, and protein, $0.02
1 tsp salt: negligible calories, fat, fiber, and protein, $0.02
escarole salad greens: 32 calories, 0g fat, 4g fiber, 4g protein, $1.22
Totals: 192.25 calories, 14g fat, 21.5g fiber, 9.25g protein, $3.91
Per serving (totals/4): 48.1 calories, 3.5g fat, 5.4g fiber, 2.3g protein, $.97

Dates sweetness, for Health

Apart from diamond, festive Ramadan seemed a bit bland without the presence of date palms. Not only be just a tradition, it turns out sweet fruit from the Middle East and contain nutrients that many health properties. This proves it.

Researchers from the University of Scranton found the dates and other dried fruit is very rich in antioxidants called polyphenols, and fiber. The American Cancer Society recommends us to eat 20-35 grams of dietary fiber (dietary fiber) each day. And there is a soluble dietary fiber and insoluble.

Where fiber helps the digestive process by pushing the food into the digestive tract is an insoluble fiber. Meanwhile, soluble fiber can help prevent heart disease by lowering levels of LDL or bad cholesterol. Not only that, soluble fiber can also lower blood sugar, the edges will help keep diabetes under control.

Dates are a good energy intake, because every grain of dates contains 31 grams of carbohydrates. This portion also includes 3 grams of dietary fiber and 29 grams of fructose, glucose and sucrose (natural sugar that can be easily burned body to provide energy). Plus the value of the dates are, they will give you energy without the fat or cholesterol.

Potassium in dates are also offering benefits to our health. The body needs potassium intake to prevent muscle contraction. Potassium is a mineral essential for the body to protect the heart muscle, and maintain the health of the body's metabolism process and ensure the nervous system still works fine. Plus, potassium is also capable of making the body eliminate sodium, and automatically lowers blood pressure.

The body can not store the excess potassium, and usually will disappear along with the sweat. And as we know, liver function will be reduced in line with our age. Thus, increasing potassium intake to 400 mg will help us reduce the risk of stroke by 40%. And 100 grams of dates contain 667 milligrams of potassium.

Do not make dates only as a 'garnish' the month of Ramadan alone. Savor the sweetness of dates with quotes routinely consume them every day. (PreventionIndonesiaonline / Astrid Anastasia)

Fit Body with Herbs

Use of natural or herbal ingredients, quite popular in the community to remember easily obtained materials and minimal side effects when compared with the side effects of drugs from chemicals. Unfortunately, most people just taking herbal medicine when it is sick. In fact, most herbal actually useful as a preventive and improve fitness.

There are times when a reaction occurs after consuming herbal diarrhea accompanied by nausea. In a book published Trubus Herbal Indonesia nutritious Info Kit mentioned, accompanied by nausea, diarrhea is a sign of detoxification to remove body toxins. Throughout processed properly, herbs are very adaptive in the body.

In taking herbs, it is recommended to consume a particular type of health drink for a week, adjusted for health conditions. Frequency is twice a day in the morning and afternoon. The following week, herbal species can be replaced. For example if the rice kencur last week chose to overcome stiff, then this week could take wedang spices to warm the body and expel the flu.

One type of rhizome which has a property to strengthen a weak body is ginseng. According dr.Setiawan Dalimartha, efficacious ginseng to increase chi (vital energy). Korean plants are usually used as a mixture to drink.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is also a favorite in many prescription herbal beverage. In addition to warm, this plant has the effect of increasing stamina. Ginger can be processed into a drink sherbet, bajigur, bandrek, sekoteng, tea fit, and wedang ginger.

Despite the acknowledged benefits and many are already feeling the success of herbal treatment, one thing must be remembered from an herbal treatment is not as fast as this treatment of chemical treatment. Need patience and patience from the patient to treatment in this way. Therefore, never tempted by the herb or herb is claimed to have properties cespleng.

Side Effects Chemical Drug in Guava

Some time latter, Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM) RI many herbal confiscate illegal. The herbs do not generally have seized on the marketing authorization, containing hazardous chemicals, as well as breaking the rules of inclusion of a disease that is used in packaging.

Therefore, people are suggested to be careful in choosing a traditional herbal medicine products. Here are some of these chemicals are often found in herbal products and the risks of illegal and unwanted effects from the use of chemicals and drugs without the supervision of a physician:

- Sibutramin HydrochLoride can increase blood pressure (hypertension), heart rate, and difficulty sleeping. This medicine should not be used in patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia or stroke.

- Sildenafil Citrate can cause headaches, dizziness, dyspepsia, nausea, abdominal pain, vision disturbances, rhinitis (nasal inflammation), myocardial infarction, chest pain, palpitations (rapid heartbeat), and death.

- Siproheptadin can cause nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, diarrhea, hemolytic anemia, leucopenia, agranulocytosis, and thrombocytopenia.

- Phenylbutazone can cause nausea, vomiting, skin rash, fluid and electrolyte retention (edema), bleeding ulcers, stomach pain, with bleeding or perforation, hypersensitivity reactions, hepatitis, nephritis, kidney failure, leukopenia, aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, etc. another.

- Mefenamic acid may cause drowsiness, diarrhea, skin rash, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia and seizures, and contraindicated for patients with peptic ulcers / bowel, asthma, and kidney.

- Can cause moon face prednisone; gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea and gastric ulcer; musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoporosis, endocrine disorders such as menstrual disorders, neuropsychiatric disorders such as psychological dependence, depression, and insomnia, vision problems such as glaucoma, and disturbances of fluid and electrolyte balance.

- Methampyron can cause gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, stomach bleeding, burning, and nervous system disorders such as tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and neuropathy, blood disorders, inhibited the formation of blood cells (aplastic anemia), agranulocytosis, renal disorders, shock and death, and others.

- Theophylline can cause tachycardia, arrhythmia, palpitations, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances, headache, and insomnia.

- Paracetamol in long-term use can cause liver damage.[kompas.com]

Tomatoes with Balsamic Dressing: A Recipe of Timelessness

Wow, you guys. It’s crunch time. There are less than two weeks to go before our nuptials, and Husband-Elect and I are up to our eyeballs in place cards, strappy shoes (him not me) and various tulle-embellished paraphernalia. The cat must be wondering when he wandered off the streets and on to the set of My Big Fat Swedish Wedding.

If you're unfamiliar with the process, planning a large wedding is slightly less logistically complicated than the Rebel Alliance’s attack on the Death Star. But only slightly. We’re attempting to maintain so many piles of Stuff and spreadsheets and word documents (in Gill Sans, The Official Font of Soon-to-be-Married People), any thought of cooking has perished along with the idea of a comfortable, but supportive bra. I am suddenly very thankful for my years working as an Associate Producer, where the daily tracking of data/minutae rivaled that of the Pentagon.

What I’m trying (rather longwindedly) to say is this: we’re eating things that require as little effort and forethought as humanly possible.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? Awesome!

Spaghetti and jarred sauce! A little involved, but okay!

Candle wax? Is it flavored? Sure!

It’s times like these when simple, 10-second salads are vital to preserving any semblance of health. What’s more, they provide variety for a palate increasingly accustomed to tortillas spread with mustard.

Take Tomatoes with Balsamic Dressing. I threw it together for lunch yesterday, and man, it hit the spot. It sated my craving for fresh food and salt, and felt way more substantial than a reg-oo-lar green salad.

Just – you gotta know: The quality of TwBD is entirely dependent on the quality of your tomatoes. You could go at it with anemic supermarket Romas, which will surely be less expensive, or you could opt for greenmarket dealies, which may cost a little more, but will elevate the dish immeasurably. In this case, option #2 was our girl, and it made all the difference.

And now, back to wedding planning. Maybe later, there will be time for some frozen peas and chipotle sauce. *Fingers crossed*

~~~

If this looks good to you, these might look, uh, just as good:

• Baked Plum Tomatoes
• Cherry Tomato Crisp
• Pasta with Eggplant, Zucchini, and Tomatoes

~~~

Tomatoes with Balsamic Dressing
Serves 1

1 1/2 ripe plum tomatoes
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Stem tomatoes and cut them into eighths. Place them in a small bowl. Add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine. Serve.

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber, Protein, and Price Per Serving
58 calories, 4.7 g fat, 1.1 g fiber, 0.8 g protein, $0.98

Calculations
1 1/2 ripe plum tomatoes: 17 calories, 0.2 g fat, 1.1 g fiber, 0.8 g fiber, $0.92
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil: 39 calories, 4.5 g fat, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein, $0.04
1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar: 2 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein, $0.01
Kosher salt: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $0.01
Freshly ground black pepper: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $0.01
TOTALS/PER SERVING: 58 calories, 4.7 g fat, 1.1 g fiber, 0.8 g protein, $0.98

Tomatoes with Balsamic Dressing: A Recipe of Timelessness

Wow, you guys. It’s crunch time. There are less than two weeks to go before our nuptials, and Husband-Elect and I are up to our eyeballs in place cards, strappy shoes (him not me) and various tulle-embellished paraphernalia. The cat must be wondering when he wandered off the streets and on to the set of My Big Fat Swedish Wedding.

If you're unfamiliar with the process, planning a large wedding is slightly less logistically complicated than the Rebel Alliance’s attack on the Death Star. But only slightly. We’re attempting to maintain so many piles of Stuff and spreadsheets and word documents (in Gill Sans, The Official Font of Soon-to-be-Married People), any thought of cooking has perished along with the idea of a comfortable, but supportive bra. I am suddenly very thankful for my years working as an Associate Producer, where the daily tracking of data/minutae rivaled that of the Pentagon.

What I’m trying (rather longwindedly) to say is this: we’re eating things that require as little effort and forethought as humanly possible.

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? Awesome!

Spaghetti and jarred sauce! A little involved, but okay!

Candle wax? Is it flavored? Sure!

It’s times like these when simple, 10-second salads are vital to preserving any semblance of health. What’s more, they provide variety for a palate increasingly accustomed to tortillas spread with mustard.

Take Tomatoes with Balsamic Dressing. I threw it together for lunch yesterday, and man, it hit the spot. It sated my craving for fresh food and salt, and felt way more substantial than a reg-oo-lar green salad.

Just – you gotta know: The quality of TwBD is entirely dependent on the quality of your tomatoes. You could go at it with anemic supermarket Romas, which will surely be less expensive, or you could opt for greenmarket dealies, which may cost a little more, but will elevate the dish immeasurably. In this case, option #2 was our girl, and it made all the difference.

And now, back to wedding planning. Maybe later, there will be time for some frozen peas and chipotle sauce. *Fingers crossed*

~~~

If this looks good to you, these might look, uh, just as good:

• Baked Plum Tomatoes
• Cherry Tomato Crisp
• Pasta with Eggplant, Zucchini, and Tomatoes

~~~

Tomatoes with Balsamic Dressing
Serves 1

1 1/2 ripe plum tomatoes
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Stem tomatoes and cut them into eighths. Place them in a small bowl. Add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine. Serve.

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber, Protein, and Price Per Serving
58 calories, 4.7 g fat, 1.1 g fiber, 0.8 g protein, $0.98

Calculations
1 1/2 ripe plum tomatoes: 17 calories, 0.2 g fat, 1.1 g fiber, 0.8 g fiber, $0.92
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil: 39 calories, 4.5 g fat, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein, $0.04
1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar: 2 calories, 0 g fat, 0 g fiber, 0 g protein, $0.01
Kosher salt: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $0.01
Freshly ground black pepper: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $0.01
TOTALS/PER SERVING: 58 calories, 4.7 g fat, 1.1 g fiber, 0.8 g protein, $0.98

Saturday Throwback: The Problem With Diet Foods

Let’s get this out of the way up front: I eat diet products. I drink Diet Coke, dig low-fat granola bars, and am not ashamed to love No Pudge brownies as if they were my own mother. Moreover, I challenge anyone who insists that their yogurt tastes better than Weight Watchers’ Amaretto Cheesecake brand to an all-out dairy war. (Note: I will win.)

Like most people who’re even slightly concerned about the magnitude of their bum, diet products are a part of my everyday life. I buy them regularly because they let me think that I care about what I eat, without actually having to care about what I eat. And in a world of 770-calorie Strawberry Frappuccinos and Deep-fried Cheesecake, doesn’t that borderline awareness count for something?

As it turns out, maybe not.

A flood of recent studies and articles claim that many diet foods may not be as beneficial as they initially seemed. While they can keep calorie counts down, there’s apparently a link between consumption of certain products and the tendency to be overweight. Some foods have even been found to flat-out promote obesity in animals, as well as high cholesterol and other exciting conditions.

I don’t mean to condemn diet products altogether, but these findings definitely raise some questions: like what, exactly are the problems with them? How do we address those issues? And in the long run, does it even matter? Let’s explore.

THE PROBLEMS

Diet products may cause overeating. This occurs in two ways. The first happens when an individual gorges on a diet food, since she believes it won’t hurt her as much as the full-fat version. (There’s even a name for it: “the SnackWell Syndrome.”) The second cause of overeating, according to Time Magazine’s Alice Park, is that “people are preprogrammed to anticipate sugary, high-calorie fulfillment when drinking a soda or noshing on a sweet-tasting snack. So, the diet versions of these foods may leave them unsatisfied, driving them to eat more to make up the difference.” In other words, you’ve initially tricked your brain into less calories, but your body won’t stand for it later.

Diet products might help people develop tastes for full-fat versions of the same food. One study suggests that this might be especially true of children. Says Sarah Kliff of Newsweek: “when we eat diet foods at a young age we overeat similar-tasting foods later in life, suggesting that low-cal foods disrupt the body's ability to recognize how many calories an item contains.” Think about it: if you’ve gobbled fat-free hot dogs your whole childhood, doesn’t it make sense that you’d wolf down the full-fat varieties as an adult?

Diet products can cost more. If you’ve ever priced shredded cheese against lower-fat versions of the same brand, this may ring particularly true. It may only be a $0.10 or $0.20 difference, but they add up over time. The most egregious example of this trend, however, is the rise of the 100-Calorie packet. You know, those baseball-sized bags of wafers purchased for $3.99 when three cookies would cost a fraction of the price? According to Morgan Stanley food industry tracker David Adelman, “The irony is, if you take Wheat Thins or Goldfish, buy a large-size box, count out the items and put them in a Ziploc bag, you’d have essentially the same product.” [Peters, NY Times.]

Diet products contain more artificial flavors and preservatives. This is more my own observation than the research (so please take it with a grain of salt), but diet foods seem to have lots more chemicals than their regular counterparts. Compare the ingredients of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips (Potatoes, Corn and/or Cottonseed Oil And Salt) with those of Lay’s Light Original Fat Free Potato Chips (Potatoes, Olestra, Salt, Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Tocopherols, Vitamin K, And Vitamin D). Though I’m sure an abundance of cottonseed oil isn’t spectacular for the heart, isn’t olestra the stuff that “may cause anal leakage”? (Mmm … anal leakage.) Yikes.

THE SOLUTIONS

Shop smart. Nowadays, it’s pretty commonly accepted that the prices of nutritionally sound eats are too high. Yet, with a little planning and some strategic shopping, whole foods are as affordable as a pack of low-fat Twinkies (and they’ll satiate longer, too). Making a plan, drawing up a list, shopping the perimeter, clipping coupons, stockpiling, and ESPECIALLY paying attention to circulars are just some of the brainy strategies available to anyone with healthy ambitions.

Read nutrition labels. If you do buy a processed diet product (and who doesn’t?), take the time to scan the Nutrition Facts and ask some questions: what’s the saturated fat content? How many calories are in a serving? In what order are the ingredients listed? Are you comfortable with all the additives? Once there’s a better understanding of what goes into a product, your perspective on it might change. For help with decoding, here’s the FDA’s guide to food labels.

Eat real food. Straight up, it’s better for you, and there’s an easy guideline to separating the real from the processed: “Don’t eat anything your great-great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.” (Thanks, Michael Pollan [yet again]!)

Cook. Preparing meals at home instills healthy habits, encourages quality time with family, and allows eaters to know exactly what’s going into their dinner. It de-emphasizes diet products and promotes a reliance on whole foods, as well.

Limit portions. Admittedly, I haven’t read French Women Don’t Get Fat, but friends and reviewers sum it up thusly: Gallic chicks eat almost whatever they want, but know when to say when. Conversely, we Americans aren’t raised to savor taste; we gulp our food down, and then look for more. That means one thing: dude, we need to get on the ball. Reasonable quantities are essential to both a balanced lifestyle and weaning ourselves off diet products, and the American Diabetes Association and Mayo Clinic have more.

Drink water. In almost every article I read, diet soda was cited as a main villain in the product studies. Water is free, abundant, crazy-healthy, and can actually be very tasty.

THE CONCLUSION

While I hardly think diet victuals are the devil, this research has helped convince me of something: we gotta try to eat right. That means no (or fewer) shortcuts. That means fruits and vegetables, rice and grains, and lean meats and fish (environmentally sustainable fish, of course). It means cooking and keeping a careful eye on what’s piling up in the pantry. It means indulging intelligently and avoiding chemical-laden science projects that attempt to pass themselves off as actual edibles.

Alas, nobody’s perfect, and being on-point all the time is exhausting. But, if once - just once - I can sub an orange in for that 90-calorie pencil-sized granola bar, at least it's a step in the right direction.

FURTHER READING/SOURCES

Can Sugar Substitutes Make You Fat? by Alice Park (Time, 2/08)
Diet Soda No Better for You Than Regular by Marisa McClellan (Slashfood, 7/07)
Do Diet Foods Lead to Weight Gain? by Alice Park (Time, 8/07)
Four Ways Not to Lose Weight by Sarah Kliff (Newsweek, 10/07)
The Oreo, Obesity, and Us by Delroy Alexander (Chicago Sun-Times, 8/05)
Skip the Diet Soda by Lucy Danzinger (SELF, 3/08)
Snack food companies are placing bigger bets on smaller packages by Jeremy W. Peters (New York Times, 7/07)

(Photos courtesy of Things, ecandy, and DK Images.)

Saturday Throwback: The Problem With Diet Foods

Let’s get this out of the way up front: I eat diet products. I drink Diet Coke, dig low-fat granola bars, and am not ashamed to love No Pudge brownies as if they were my own mother. Moreover, I challenge anyone who insists that their yogurt tastes better than Weight Watchers’ Amaretto Cheesecake brand to an all-out dairy war. (Note: I will win.)

Like most people who’re even slightly concerned about the magnitude of their bum, diet products are a part of my everyday life. I buy them regularly because they let me think that I care about what I eat, without actually having to care about what I eat. And in a world of 770-calorie Strawberry Frappuccinos and Deep-fried Cheesecake, doesn’t that borderline awareness count for something?

As it turns out, maybe not.

A flood of recent studies and articles claim that many diet foods may not be as beneficial as they initially seemed. While they can keep calorie counts down, there’s apparently a link between consumption of certain products and the tendency to be overweight. Some foods have even been found to flat-out promote obesity in animals, as well as high cholesterol and other exciting conditions.

I don’t mean to condemn diet products altogether, but these findings definitely raise some questions: like what, exactly are the problems with them? How do we address those issues? And in the long run, does it even matter? Let’s explore.

THE PROBLEMS

Diet products may cause overeating. This occurs in two ways. The first happens when an individual gorges on a diet food, since she believes it won’t hurt her as much as the full-fat version. (There’s even a name for it: “the SnackWell Syndrome.”) The second cause of overeating, according to Time Magazine’s Alice Park, is that “people are preprogrammed to anticipate sugary, high-calorie fulfillment when drinking a soda or noshing on a sweet-tasting snack. So, the diet versions of these foods may leave them unsatisfied, driving them to eat more to make up the difference.” In other words, you’ve initially tricked your brain into less calories, but your body won’t stand for it later.

Diet products might help people develop tastes for full-fat versions of the same food. One study suggests that this might be especially true of children. Says Sarah Kliff of Newsweek: “when we eat diet foods at a young age we overeat similar-tasting foods later in life, suggesting that low-cal foods disrupt the body's ability to recognize how many calories an item contains.” Think about it: if you’ve gobbled fat-free hot dogs your whole childhood, doesn’t it make sense that you’d wolf down the full-fat varieties as an adult?

Diet products can cost more. If you’ve ever priced shredded cheese against lower-fat versions of the same brand, this may ring particularly true. It may only be a $0.10 or $0.20 difference, but they add up over time. The most egregious example of this trend, however, is the rise of the 100-Calorie packet. You know, those baseball-sized bags of wafers purchased for $3.99 when three cookies would cost a fraction of the price? According to Morgan Stanley food industry tracker David Adelman, “The irony is, if you take Wheat Thins or Goldfish, buy a large-size box, count out the items and put them in a Ziploc bag, you’d have essentially the same product.” [Peters, NY Times.]

Diet products contain more artificial flavors and preservatives. This is more my own observation than the research (so please take it with a grain of salt), but diet foods seem to have lots more chemicals than their regular counterparts. Compare the ingredients of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips (Potatoes, Corn and/or Cottonseed Oil And Salt) with those of Lay’s Light Original Fat Free Potato Chips (Potatoes, Olestra, Salt, Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Tocopherols, Vitamin K, And Vitamin D). Though I’m sure an abundance of cottonseed oil isn’t spectacular for the heart, isn’t olestra the stuff that “may cause anal leakage”? (Mmm … anal leakage.) Yikes.

THE SOLUTIONS

Shop smart. Nowadays, it’s pretty commonly accepted that the prices of nutritionally sound eats are too high. Yet, with a little planning and some strategic shopping, whole foods are as affordable as a pack of low-fat Twinkies (and they’ll satiate longer, too). Making a plan, drawing up a list, shopping the perimeter, clipping coupons, stockpiling, and ESPECIALLY paying attention to circulars are just some of the brainy strategies available to anyone with healthy ambitions.

Read nutrition labels. If you do buy a processed diet product (and who doesn’t?), take the time to scan the Nutrition Facts and ask some questions: what’s the saturated fat content? How many calories are in a serving? In what order are the ingredients listed? Are you comfortable with all the additives? Once there’s a better understanding of what goes into a product, your perspective on it might change. For help with decoding, here’s the FDA’s guide to food labels.

Eat real food. Straight up, it’s better for you, and there’s an easy guideline to separating the real from the processed: “Don’t eat anything your great-great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.” (Thanks, Michael Pollan [yet again]!)

Cook. Preparing meals at home instills healthy habits, encourages quality time with family, and allows eaters to know exactly what’s going into their dinner. It de-emphasizes diet products and promotes a reliance on whole foods, as well.

Limit portions. Admittedly, I haven’t read French Women Don’t Get Fat, but friends and reviewers sum it up thusly: Gallic chicks eat almost whatever they want, but know when to say when. Conversely, we Americans aren’t raised to savor taste; we gulp our food down, and then look for more. That means one thing: dude, we need to get on the ball. Reasonable quantities are essential to both a balanced lifestyle and weaning ourselves off diet products, and the American Diabetes Association and Mayo Clinic have more.

Drink water. In almost every article I read, diet soda was cited as a main villain in the product studies. Water is free, abundant, crazy-healthy, and can actually be very tasty.

THE CONCLUSION

While I hardly think diet victuals are the devil, this research has helped convince me of something: we gotta try to eat right. That means no (or fewer) shortcuts. That means fruits and vegetables, rice and grains, and lean meats and fish (environmentally sustainable fish, of course). It means cooking and keeping a careful eye on what’s piling up in the pantry. It means indulging intelligently and avoiding chemical-laden science projects that attempt to pass themselves off as actual edibles.

Alas, nobody’s perfect, and being on-point all the time is exhausting. But, if once - just once - I can sub an orange in for that 90-calorie pencil-sized granola bar, at least it's a step in the right direction.

FURTHER READING/SOURCES

Can Sugar Substitutes Make You Fat? by Alice Park (Time, 2/08)
Diet Soda No Better for You Than Regular by Marisa McClellan (Slashfood, 7/07)
Do Diet Foods Lead to Weight Gain? by Alice Park (Time, 8/07)
Four Ways Not to Lose Weight by Sarah Kliff (Newsweek, 10/07)
The Oreo, Obesity, and Us by Delroy Alexander (Chicago Sun-Times, 8/05)
Skip the Diet Soda by Lucy Danzinger (SELF, 3/08)
Snack food companies are placing bigger bets on smaller packages by Jeremy W. Peters (New York Times, 7/07)

(Photos courtesy of Things, ecandy, and DK Images.)