2012-02-02

Super Bowl Foods and Snacks – a Healthy Version

One of the biggest events happens the first weekend of February, it’s the Super Bowl!!!  The big game is getting very close-we are days away.  Are you ready for it? No matter if you are going to watch the game with family or having a Super Bowl party with friends; be sure to eat some healthy filling foods and snacks while watching the exciting game.  Here are a few ideas:
1. Pizza with a twist - If you can’t resist having pizza when you watch the big game, then get a healthy version to splurge on.  You can choose whole wheat crust over regular white flour, low-fat cheese over regular cheese. Also you can have less cheese, more sauce and add all sorts of vegetables.  There are many good choices to give you a better pizza than pepperoni or sausages. Onions, mushrooms, green and red peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, spinach and many other vegetables. Load up your pizza with these great toppings without feeling guilty.
2. Wraps, cold or warm - If you like cold wraps, try whole wheat tortilla shells filled with grilled chicken/fish and fresh vegetables. If you like warm wraps, substitute raw vegetables with grilled/oven roasted ones. These tasty wraps should fill you up very well when you are concentrating on the game. Avoid processed meats and go easy on the cheese and dressing.
3. Tortilla chips and Salsa - Toss away your potato chips and pair up tortilla chips with tangy spicy salsa. This will give you a fantastic taste and nutrients you need.  Add tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, avocado, corn, beans, cilantro and even mango and pineapple. Don’t these ingredients make your mouth water?  Not to mention the variety of vegetables and fruits you have at one time makes this a great combination.
4. Nachos and Vegetarian Chili - Tortilla chips can also be paired up with vegetarian chili to make a healthy nacho dish. Sprinkle some shredded low-fat cheese to make it taste even better.
5. Veggies and Greek Yogurt Dip – Celery sticks, carrots, cucumbers, broccoli and cherry tomatoes are good to make a snack for the game. Substitute sour cream with Greek Yogurt (low-fat or regular). Greek yogurt has a thick and creamy texture, which will be able to provide a similar mouth feel to sour cream. It also has less saturated fat and calories. Combine Greek yogurt with chopped onions, garlic powder, dill weed, parsley flakes and a pinch of salt and pepper. Now you have a yummy creamy dip without killing your heart and adding unwanted weight.
6. Pita chips and Hummus - Hummus is made with chickpeas, which is a protein-rich legume. Also, you can add black beans, onions, red peppers or other ingredients. Another bonus point, the combination of pita bread and hummus provide complementary proteins, which is a great choice for vegetarians and vegans.
While you are getting mentally prepared for the exciting Super Bowl game, don’t forget your belly as well. Get your foods and snacks ready before the game, and enjoy them with passion and excitement.

2012-01-18

NYC Trip - Before Christmas

I took a trip to NYC with my family before Christmas...We had a great time there, but I didn't take too many photos..I'm looking forward to having another trip sometime in the future.


Brooklyn Bridge

Central Park





2012-01-15

Vitamin C - Myths and Facts (Part 3)

HOW MUCH VITAMIN C DO YOU NEED?
The amount of vitamin C you need depends on your age, gender and other factors, such as smoking pregnancy. Below is the Dietary Reference Intakes for vitamin C:

 

Infants
•0 - 6 months: 40* mg/day
•7 - 12 months: 50* mg/day
*Adequate Intake (AI)
Children
•1 - 3 years: 15 mg/day
•4 - 8 years: 25 mg/day
•9 - 13 years: 45 mg/day
Adolescents
•Girls 14 - 18 years: 65 mg/day
•Boys 14 - 18 years: 75 mg/day
Adults
•Women age 19 year and older: 75 mg/day
•Men age 19 and older: 90 mg/day
Pregnant Women
•14 - 18 years: 80 mg
• Over 18 years: 85 mg
Breastfeeding Women
•14 - 18 years: 115 mg
•Over 18 years: 120 mg


Smokers or those who are around secondhand smoke at any age need an additional 35 mg per day. For most people, a healthy and balanced diet should provide an adequate amount of vitamin C you need, so there is no need to take excessive vitamin C supplements.


References:
  1. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-QuickFacts/
  2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/1001.html  
  3. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002404.htm
  4. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FY/FY21500.pdf
  5. http://www.aoa.org/x11814.xml
  6. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminc
  7. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002145.htm
  8. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/vitamin-c-000339.htm
  9. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminC/index.html

2012-01-12

Vitamin C - Myths and Facts (Part 2)

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF VITAMIN C ON HEALTH?

Vitamin C has been claimed to have a lot of functions, some of them have been proved by scientific studies, but some of them are still questionable. Here are some commonly claimed effects of vitamin c on human’s health.

The Common Cold

Although vitamin C has long been believed to cure the common cold, research shows that for most people, vitamin C supplements do not reduce the risk of getting the common cold or cure the cold after getting it. However, people who take vitamin C supplements regularly might have slightly shorter colds (about 1 day shorter in duration) or slightly milder symptoms. Using vitamin C supplements after cold symptoms start does not appear to be helpful.

Antioxidant

In the body, vitamin C acts as an antioxidant. It helps to protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals, which are formed when your body breaks down food for energy. People are also exposed to free radicals in the environment from cigarette / tobacco smoke, air pollution, ultraviolet light from the sun and radiation. The buildup of free radicals can cause aging and may possibly cause cancer and heart disease.

Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Many population based studies suggest that people with regularly high intakes of vitamin C-rich foods might have a lower risk of getting cancer, such as skin cancer, cervical dysplasia, lung cancer, colon cancer or breast cancer. On the other hand, the foods rich in vitamin C also contain many other beneficial nutrients, so it is difficult to determine the role of vitamin C in preventing cancer. Moreover, vitamin C supplements do not seem to have any effect on preventing cancer.
In addition, it is not clear that taking large doses of vitamin C will cure cancer or help cancer treatment. Also, some doctors are concerned that large doses of dietary vitamin C supplements may interfere with the chemotherapy medications and radiation therapy for cancer.

Cardiovascular Disease

People who eat lots of fruits and vegetables seem to have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. However, it is still unknown that whether vitamin C is the one that helps prevent cardiovascular disease, such as heart attack or stroke. Vitamin C itself doesn’t lower cholesterol levels or reduce the overall risk of cardiovascular disease, but it may help protect arteries against oxidative damage. Some studies suggest that vitamin C may prevent the progression of hardening of the arteries and the build-up of plaque, which can cause heart attack. Even though the relationship between vitamin C and cardiovascular disease is not very clear, studies suggest that people with low levels of vitamin C may be more prone to have a heart attack, stroke or peripheral artery disease. Still, there is no evidence to prove that taking vitamin C supplements will help or cure these conditions.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Cataracts

AMD and cataracts are two of the leading causes of vision loss in older people. Some researchers do not believe that vitamin C affect the risk of getting AMD. However, research suggests that vitamin C combined with other nutrients might help keep early AMD from worsening into advanced AMD. Some other researchers believe that a combination of vitamin C, zinc, beta-carotene and vitamin E may benefit people who have advanced AMD.

Taking vitamin C higher than 300 mg/day for a number of years may have a protective effect on cataracts. However, a 7-year controlled intervention trial demonstrates that there is no relationship between vitamin C intake and cataracts prevention or progression. Like other claimed health benefits, more research is needed to clarify the relationship between vitamin C and AMD/cataracts.

Collagen Synthesis

Collagen is an important protein and structural component of blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and bone. Our body requires vitamin C to make collagen. It is also needed to help wounds heal and sometimes used in anti-aging products.

Other Benefits

Vitamin C helps our bodies absorb iron from plant-based foods and helps the immune system work properly to protect the body from disease. Some studies also suggest that taking vitamin C along with vitamin E may help prevent pre-eclampsia (a common cause of premature births) in women who are at high risk. Vitamin C may also reduce effects of sun exposure, such as sunburn or redness.

References:
  1. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-QuickFacts/
  2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/1001.html  
  3. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002404.htm
  4. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FY/FY21500.pdf
  5. http://www.aoa.org/x11814.xml
  6. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminc
  7. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002145.htm
  8. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/vitamin-c-000339.htm
  9. http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminC/index.html