Health Matters

I had a Remedy Magazine sitting on my table just waiting to be read.  I finally sat down and glanced at it.

Do you get Remedy?  It's free, but full of advertisements for prescription drugs.  I usually ignore all the advertising and read the articles.  There can be some good information.

For instance, in this issue:

"Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Athens studied more than 23,000 Greeks with no history of heart disease over a six-year period.  They found that those who napped during the day had a 34 percent lower risk of dying from heart disease than those who did not nap."

Now there's a reason for a mid-day nap!  I knew I was doing something right.  :)

This issue of Remedy is full of ideas about diets.

Heart-healthy diet

Eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day.  Eat at least one serving of beans or nuts (unroasted) every day.  Consume at least three servings of whole grains per day.  Eat fish twice a week.  Use olive and canola oil for the day's servings of fats.  Stop smoking.  Exercise moderately and consistently.

World's Simplest Diet - New American Plate Diet

Developed by the American Institute for Cancer Research.  Based upon the Swedish Plate Method, also used in Finland, France and Canada.

Use a plate that is 8 to 9 inches in diameter.  Fill 2/3 with plant foods (vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans).  Fill the other 1/3 with animal protein (seafood, poultry or red meat).

That IS simple, isn't it?  When my hubby and I recently sold our china cabinet, I took out my grandmother's china and as I was wrapping it, I realized that the plates were smaller than the ones we used every day.  There's one reason why Americans have gained weight.  We use bigger plates, pile them higher with food and are expected to eat more. 

Last week, my hubby and I ate at a chain restaurant for his birthday.  We both took home enough food to eat at least one, if not two, meals.  Actually, his 10-year-old daughter came to spend time with us the next day and the three of us ate that food the next night and stilll had some left over for lunch the next day. 

Those were supposed to be one serving and many people DO eat that much when they dine out.

The Idaho Plate Method

Also inspired by the Swedish system.  Used to counsel people with type 2 diabetes about wise food choices.  The plate is divided into quarters instead of thirds.

Fill half the plate with nonstarchy vegetables.  Fill one quarter with grains or starchy vegetables.  Fill one quarter with animal protein.

Don't stack the food.  It should be about a half inch high only.

So there you are.  A few simple ideas I picked up from Remedy Magazine today.  And I'm only halfway through reading it!