April 15, 2007
NATIONAL NUTRITION MONTH
Every month should be nutrition month!
March was National Nutrition Month, sponsored by the Registered Dietitians of the American Dietetic Association. This year's theme was "100% Fad Free." Diet fads come and go, and some may help you lose weight in the short term, but for National Nutrition Month® 2007, the American Dietetic Association says the most effective long-term way to achieve a healthful lifestyle is to be 100% Fad Free.
You can lose weight on virtually any diet. If you eat less, you will lose weight. The question is, can you maintain a healthy lifestyle over the long term--your life? The real key to reaching long-term goals is to focus on your overall health.
Learn how to spot a food fad. Unreasonable or exaggerated claims that eating (or not eating) specific foods, nutrient supplements or combinations of foods may cure disease or offer quick weight loss are key features of fad diets.
No 'super food' or diet approach can reverse weight gain resulting from overeating and inactivity. And because most fad diets don't teach new eating habits and many require you to give up your favorite foods, people usually don't stick with them.
The following tips can help evaluate a new product, diet or recommendation:
1. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is--especially if the diet or product offers a "quick fix."
2. Avoid products offering a guaranteed cure or which promote "limited-time offers."
3. Watch out for products that describe certain foods as "good" or "bad."
4. Is the source of the information, such as a book author, also trying to sell a product, like supplements?
Fad diets have been around a long time:
1820 Vinegar and Water DietThey all work for weight loss, as long as the number of calories (in cabbage or maple syrup or whatever) you take in is LESS than the calories you expend. However, you will end up with some serious nutrient gaps.
1825 Low Carbohydrate Diet
1830 Graham's Diet
1863 Banting's Low Carbohydrate Diet
1925 Cigarette Diet
1928 Inuit Meat-and-Fat Diet
1930 Hay Diet
1934 Bananas and Skim Milk Diet
1950 Cabbage Soup Diet
1950 Grapefruit Diet
1960 Zen Macrobiotic Diet
1961 Calories Don't Count Diet
1964 Drinking Man's Diet
1981 Beverly Hills Diet
1982 Caveman Diet
1986 Rotation Diet
1987 Scarsdale Low-carbohydrate diet
1990 Cabbage Soup Diet
1994 Atkin's High Protein Low Carb Diet
1995 Sugar Busters
1996 Eat Right for Your Blood Type
1999 Juice
2000 Raw Foods Diet
2001 High Protein Low Carb Diet
2004 Coconut Diet
2005 Cheater's Diet
2006 Maple Syrup Diet
Remember, the Best Path to Fitness and Health Is to Be 100% Fad Free.
RECIPE
Split Pea Soup
1 bag (14 oz.) dried split peas, rinsed and cleaned according to package directions.
7 cups water
2 beef bouillon cubes
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 cup grated carrots (2 to 3 carrots)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Combine all ingredients in a soup pot and mix well.
Bring to boil over medium-high heat.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 1 hour, or until the peas are soft and thoroughly cooked.
Tips For Better Diabetes Control
- Learn as much as you can about diabetes
- See a Registered Dietitian (RD)
- Eat 3 meals a day at regular times
- Eat less fat, sugar and salt
- Increase your physical activity
- Check your blood sugar 2-4 times a day, or more as instructed