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Yogurt’s Great! Read Contents, DecideWe go through a fair amount of yogurt in my house. From breakfast with fruit to salad dressing at dinner and smoothies in between, it’s a versatile, complete food with no downside and plenty of benefit, including probiotics. But there’s a catch.  
Not all yogurts are created the same. In fact, very few are. I keep the refrigerator stocked with Cabot Greek Style. Before that, my preferred brand was Axlerod Plain, until Publix quite carrying their yogurt. Both are free of the useless thickeners, gels, sweeteners, and flavors others add to create texture and taste without any benefit. “Greek style” is just that, yogurt finished in the Greek style, which usually refers to a yogurt that’s been strained three times instead of two as in regular yogurt. That third straining results in a thicker product with more protein. You can easily make this yourself with regular yogurt drained through a kitchen sieve, cheesecloth, or other simple device. Regardless of whether or not your yogurt is “Greek style” or regular, you’re much better off if you make sure it’s dairy only and forget the useless calories that come from flavors mixed in by the manufacturer. Want it sweeter? Add honey! That's how it’s served as desert in Greek restaurants! Fruit? Mix in whatever’s in season: strawberries, blueberries, cherries, apple, or dried fruits. Granola and nuts go with either a sweet or savory yogurt recipe. Regardless of your preferences, yogurt is a perfect snack or a main meal component. Just make sure what you’re eating comes from the farm, and not the lab. If you’d like to learn more about the fascinating history of dairy in our diets, check out Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages. 5 Ways to Lose – You Be the JudgeHere’s a quick list of suggested ways to shed a few pounds, from Jim White at Fitness magazine. If they sound good to you, give them a try.
What’s Waiting In The Water?Warm Weather Can Promote Dangerous OrganismsIn Florida we’re surrounded by water. In Pinellas County that includes freshwater lakes, ponds, and streams, the Gulf of Mexico, and bayous and bays everywhere. Two recent articles highlight the very rare, but deadly, microscopic threats that can pose a danger during hot summer months, the time when we’re most likely to be spending time in the water. Popping up in headline-driven news these days are dramatic reports on the presence of Vibrio vulnificus, a warm weather bacteria that only exists in saltwater and if contracted is usually fatal. Another warm weather water hazard is found primarily in fresh water throughout the South. Naegleria fowleri is a single celled ameoba that’s most often found in the sediment of lakes and ponds. If it gains entrance to the body through the nasal passages and gains a foothold it’s nearly 100% fatal. Since so much of our time is spent at the beach or on a lake, a little knowledge about these organisms can help us understand the potential threat they pose. Click on the CDC links above to discover when and why we should be concerned. Top Models Share Fitness Tips A current article in Vogue talks about how women in the entertainment spotlight maintain their healthful looks in a high stress environment. The answer: it’s not easy, but here are three tips many have in common and which we can duplicate in our own (non-entertainment) lives. 1) Use wearable technology. Fitbit is one of many bracelet style trackers that record your daily activity, awake or asleep. Available in several models and many styles, keeping accurate count of your daily steps is a great way to get started. Weight maintenance? At least 10,000 steps a day. Weight loss? Step it up to 14,000 or more daily. You’ll know where you are at all times and that can really help achieve your goal. 2) As we women (and men!) ah-hem mature, our metabolism drops. By the time we’re in our 40s it’s down almost a quarter – and that’s nearly a meal a day! There’s only one thing to do: decrease intake. (Ouch!) 3) Finally, and overall easiest, is to eat more vegetables. Several studies now show at least five servings a day can make a big difference but sounds difficult. On the contrary, a Vitamix blender makes it quick and simple, and it doesn’t remove fiber like a juicer does.
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