Hey, everyone. It's Monday, also known as "weigh-in day" here. It's an okay day...no gain, but no loss either. Stayed the same. Very glad for the no gain, but would have liked to have seen a drop. That's okay...honestly, I can't say I'm shocked. I slacked off a bit, so no surprise. Nothing more inspiring than a scale that doesn't move down:)
So, thought I'd share something I read today about VS. This vs. that...what food is better for you in a battle of the "super foods". My goal is to add these to my diet one at a time...like with my spinach, now I want to try Kale chips. Funny thing is, we JUST saw Kale in our produce section at WalMart yesterday...almost picked some up. Check these out and vow to add one of these to your diet this week:
STRAWBERRIES vs. BLUEBERRIES
The winner: Blueberries
Both are health all-stars, but a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reported that blueberries (particularly wild ones) showed the most antioxidant activity of all the fruits tested. "These antioxidants help keep your immune system strong," says Dulan, "and reduce muscle-tissue damage from exercise."
Healthy Choice: Mix blueberries into lean ground beef for burgers. The juicy fruit will help keep the meat moist.
CHICKEN BREAST vs. TURKEY BREAST
The winner: Turkey Breast
Both breast meats are free of saturated fat, but turkey has three additional grams of protein per three-ounce serving, plus more iron (which helps deliver oxygen to muscles) and selenium. "This mineral functions as part of an enzyme called glutathione peroxidase," says sports dietitian Suzanne Girard Eberle, R.D., author of Endurance Sports Nutrition. This enzyme works as an antioxidant to protect cells from free radicals that may contribute to cancer and heart disease.
HEALTHY CHOICE: Make your own lunch meat to avoid the excess sodium in much deli turkey. Bake turkey breasts, slice them thinly, and add to sandwiches.
PEANUT BUTTER vs. ALMOND BUTTER
The winner: Almond butter
Almond butter has more calcium and magnesium, a mineral that's often lacking in runners' diets and is important for muscle contraction. While the two nut butters contain about the same amount of fat, the almond variety has 60 percent more monounsaturated fat. "When consumed in place of saturated fat," says Dulan, "monounsaturated fat lowers harmful LDL levels to help decrease heart disease and stroke risk." Almond butter also has three times more vitamin E, an antioxidant that may reduce cancer risk.
HEALTHY CHOICE: Use almond butter instead of PB on your bagel. Blend it into a postrun smoothie, or stir it into oatmeal.
SPINACH vs. KALE
The winner: Kale
Kale's nutritional might would win over even Popeye. Gram for gram, kale contains four times more vitamin C, and one and a half times the amount of immune boosting vitamin A and vitamin K. "Vitamin K ensures that blood clots properly," says Eberle, "but it's also needed to make a bone protein essential for strong, healthy bones." Kale contains three times more lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants deposited in the retina that work together to protect eye health.
HEALTHY CHOICE: Make kale "chips": Spread bite-sized pieces on a baking sheet. Spray with olive oil, season with salt, and bake for 15 minutes (until crisp).
COW'S MILK vs. GOAT'S MILK
The winner: Goat's milk
When Spanish researchers compared cow's and goat's milk from animals raised under similar conditions, they found that both have the same amount of essential amino acids needed to repair and build muscle. But goat's milk contains a larger percentage of omega-3 fats, as well as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and conjugated linoleic acid (or CLA). Studies suggest CLA has a number of effects, including lowering cancer risk, improving bone health, and helping reduce body fat.
HEALTHY CHOICE: Use tangy, slightly sweet goat's milk (found at health-food stores) the same way as cow's milk-on cereal, in smoothies, and when baking.
WHEAT BREAD vs. RYE BREAD
The winner: Rye bread
According to a study in the Nutrition Journal, researchers in Sweden found that participants who ate rye bread for breakfast experienced less hunger later in the day compared with those who ate wheat bread. Hanna Isaksson, the lead study author, believes that rye's ability to quell hunger is due to its high fiber count. Rye can have up to eight grams of fiber per slice-even more than whole wheat.
HEALTHY CHOICE: Rye bread often contains some refined wheat flour, so to get the most fiber, buy "100 percent rye" loaves or make sure whole rye flour or meal is the first ingredient.
QUICK HITS Here are some some more superfood winners.
Quinoa beats brown rice. Quinoa has three extra grams of protein per cooked cup, plus more fiber, iron, and magnesium.
Greek yogurt beats regular yogurt. The Greek variety has about twice as much protein as traditional types.
Green tea beats coffee. It's bursting with antioxidants (such as EGCG) that help ward off diabetes and certain cancers.
Pork tenderloin beats beef tenderloin. The pork version has less saturated fat, more B vitamins, and is cheaper.
Goat cheese beats feta cheese. Goat cheese has nearly half the cholesterol and a third less sodium.
Orange beats apple. They have similar amounts of calories and fiber, but oranges have 12 times as much vitamin C.
Red pepper beats green pepper. It boasts eight times the vitamin A, which keeps your immune system strong.
Flaxseed beats flaxseed oil. The seeds have lots of magnesium, potassium, selenium, and fiber.
The winner: Blueberries
Both are health all-stars, but a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry reported that blueberries (particularly wild ones) showed the most antioxidant activity of all the fruits tested. "These antioxidants help keep your immune system strong," says Dulan, "and reduce muscle-tissue damage from exercise."
Healthy Choice: Mix blueberries into lean ground beef for burgers. The juicy fruit will help keep the meat moist.
CHICKEN BREAST vs. TURKEY BREAST
The winner: Turkey Breast
Both breast meats are free of saturated fat, but turkey has three additional grams of protein per three-ounce serving, plus more iron (which helps deliver oxygen to muscles) and selenium. "This mineral functions as part of an enzyme called glutathione peroxidase," says sports dietitian Suzanne Girard Eberle, R.D., author of Endurance Sports Nutrition. This enzyme works as an antioxidant to protect cells from free radicals that may contribute to cancer and heart disease.
HEALTHY CHOICE: Make your own lunch meat to avoid the excess sodium in much deli turkey. Bake turkey breasts, slice them thinly, and add to sandwiches.
PEANUT BUTTER vs. ALMOND BUTTER
The winner: Almond butter
Almond butter has more calcium and magnesium, a mineral that's often lacking in runners' diets and is important for muscle contraction. While the two nut butters contain about the same amount of fat, the almond variety has 60 percent more monounsaturated fat. "When consumed in place of saturated fat," says Dulan, "monounsaturated fat lowers harmful LDL levels to help decrease heart disease and stroke risk." Almond butter also has three times more vitamin E, an antioxidant that may reduce cancer risk.
HEALTHY CHOICE: Use almond butter instead of PB on your bagel. Blend it into a postrun smoothie, or stir it into oatmeal.
SPINACH vs. KALE
The winner: Kale
Kale's nutritional might would win over even Popeye. Gram for gram, kale contains four times more vitamin C, and one and a half times the amount of immune boosting vitamin A and vitamin K. "Vitamin K ensures that blood clots properly," says Eberle, "but it's also needed to make a bone protein essential for strong, healthy bones." Kale contains three times more lutein and zeaxanthin, antioxidants deposited in the retina that work together to protect eye health.
HEALTHY CHOICE: Make kale "chips": Spread bite-sized pieces on a baking sheet. Spray with olive oil, season with salt, and bake for 15 minutes (until crisp).
COW'S MILK vs. GOAT'S MILK
The winner: Goat's milk
When Spanish researchers compared cow's and goat's milk from animals raised under similar conditions, they found that both have the same amount of essential amino acids needed to repair and build muscle. But goat's milk contains a larger percentage of omega-3 fats, as well as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and conjugated linoleic acid (or CLA). Studies suggest CLA has a number of effects, including lowering cancer risk, improving bone health, and helping reduce body fat.
HEALTHY CHOICE: Use tangy, slightly sweet goat's milk (found at health-food stores) the same way as cow's milk-on cereal, in smoothies, and when baking.
WHEAT BREAD vs. RYE BREAD
The winner: Rye bread
According to a study in the Nutrition Journal, researchers in Sweden found that participants who ate rye bread for breakfast experienced less hunger later in the day compared with those who ate wheat bread. Hanna Isaksson, the lead study author, believes that rye's ability to quell hunger is due to its high fiber count. Rye can have up to eight grams of fiber per slice-even more than whole wheat.
HEALTHY CHOICE: Rye bread often contains some refined wheat flour, so to get the most fiber, buy "100 percent rye" loaves or make sure whole rye flour or meal is the first ingredient.
QUICK HITS Here are some some more superfood winners.
Quinoa beats brown rice. Quinoa has three extra grams of protein per cooked cup, plus more fiber, iron, and magnesium.
Greek yogurt beats regular yogurt. The Greek variety has about twice as much protein as traditional types.
Green tea beats coffee. It's bursting with antioxidants (such as EGCG) that help ward off diabetes and certain cancers.
Pork tenderloin beats beef tenderloin. The pork version has less saturated fat, more B vitamins, and is cheaper.
Goat cheese beats feta cheese. Goat cheese has nearly half the cholesterol and a third less sodium.
Orange beats apple. They have similar amounts of calories and fiber, but oranges have 12 times as much vitamin C.
Red pepper beats green pepper. It boasts eight times the vitamin A, which keeps your immune system strong.
Flaxseed beats flaxseed oil. The seeds have lots of magnesium, potassium, selenium, and fiber.
