Energy Drinks

Have you seen the beverage shelves at the supermarket? The convenience store? They are loaded with different types of 'ENERGY DRINKS'. So what is an 'energy drink', and how does it affect the body and YOUR metabolism?

Most energy drinks are stimulant-based. That is, they stimulate our central nervous system, to increase the body's rate of respiration. This impacts many things in our bodies.

Here are a few of the known impacts:

• Increased blood flow to peripheral muscle
• Increased heart rate
• Increased blood pressure
• Increase in fatty acid concentrations in the bloodstream
• Increase in serum adrenalin concentrations

The most common class of stimulant used in commercial energy drinks fall in the category of methyl-xanthines. The most popular, being caffeine. Because caffeine has a bad reputation, producers have resorted to other methyl-xanthines, such as ephedrine (or ephedra), which is working on a bad reputation of its own! Some producers have even gone as far to add guarana extract (a source of ephedra), and call their products ephedra-free...although the FDA has 'cracked-down' on this.

Here's my take on energy drinks...they work! They do provide your body with immediate energy-release. BUT...and this is a big BUT...(no pun!), they do so at a cost. For one, if you continue to rely on these drinks to liberate energy, then, when you are not drinking them, you may have difficulty liberating energy on your own. YES...this means that you can easily become addicted to them. Additionally, they stress the heart, lungs, and blood vessels as long as your system is under the influence of them. This stress, because it is unrelenting, can initiate, or progress, existing disease conditions, such as atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and even depression.

So, think twice before popping-the-top off of these energy drinks. Try a good old-fashioned bottle of water. With the money you save, after one year, you could have a one-week vacation!

STAY FIT!

Jason

THE TROUBLED TOMATO

If you haven't heard about the salmonella outbreak w/tomatoes, then where have you been? OK...Seriously, can our commercial food stock be any worse? My answer is YES!

Salmonella is one of the more innocuous bacterium that can sicken humans. It is, in most cases, self-limiting, in that it usually runs its course in the digestive tract. It does, however, cause diarrhea/diuresis, so the primary risk is in severe dehydration.

Remember the e-coli outbreak in the 90's? E-coli kills a high percentage of those infected w/the virulent microbe.

Then, there listeria, trichinosis, cryptosporidium (a water-borne bacterium), and the infamous botulinum critter, which is now less-maligned as a cosmetic product. These are all potentially-fatal microbes which have historically, affected commercial food products.

This brings me to the topic of 'GROWING YOUR OWN'....

Growing your own foods, such as vegetables, fruits, and meats, can allow you to gain some control over what is in the foods you eat. You may never gain 100% control over this, but the more control you gain, the less you are at the 'mercy' of commercial food producers.

Some caution must be exercised when producing at the home, as these infectious agents can infiltrate YOUR home food stocks also. BUT, YOU have the power to control this in the way that you handle and process your produce. The post-harvest handling and processing of our commercial foods is when most contamination occurs.

Keep reading my BLOG to get great tips on 'GROWING YOUR OWN'. In July, I will be writing on how to turn your herb garden into infused oils great for dipping breads, as salad dressings, or as a base for marinades.

STAY FIT!
Jason

Heart Disease 101

Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in the US. In most cases, lifestyle characteristics are the main contributor to this condition. Exercise, proper diet, and stress management are things that YOU can do to lessen your risk. At jasonsfitkitchen.com, we offer instructional DVDs that help teach YOU ways to succeed at these lifestyle changes. Goto www.jasonsfitkitchen.com to check us out.

To find out more about heart disease, click on this great article below:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/heart-attack.htm

STAY FIT!
Jason

DIET BUSTERS

You can't always believe what you read...This is especially-true with diet-foods! Unsubstantiated claims, marketing and style tricks, and portion distortion are just some of the deception in the supermarket aisles. A recent article in Eating Well Magazine elucidates this current problem. Here are some of the 'Diet Busters' that they've uncovered, and here is what I have to say about them:

Energy Bars: Unless you need extra energy (calories) in your diet, you should not be eating these!

Granola: Delicious, but packed with calories, this is a good way to 'fatten-up' for the Winter!

Salads: There are ways to make them healthy, and ways to make them fattening...it comes down to what you put into them.

Yogurt Smoothies: Jason's Fit Kitchen shows you how to make healtful yogurt smoothies...by making them yourself, and adding all-natural ingredients.

Sushi Rolls: Mulititudes of different types...ranging from low-calorie vegetarian, to high-calorie, deep fried tidbits! Do some thinking here.

Yogurt: The sugar added turns a great food into a high-calorie endeavor...do you really need the extra calories? If you do, then have at it!

If you are trying to lose weight, and are confused about all of the myths out there, think basic, and all-natural. There are no added calories that 'sneak up on you'!

STAY FIT!
Jason

Healthy Grillin' Tips

Summer is upon us, and that means GRILLIN' SEASON is HERE! Grilling can be a healthful way of preparing your foods. It can also be a not-so-healthful method of cooking. Here are just a few simple tips to help YOU be a HEALTHY HOME GRILLER:

• Choose the right cut...In fact, 29 cuts of beef meet government guidelines for lean, so the grilling possibilities are endless. Some of America’s favorite lean cuts include tenderloin, T-bone steak and 95 percent lean ground beef-perfect for those juicy burgers.

• Grill your vegetables...the natural sugars that they release under the heat of the grill, result in an entirely different flavor compared to steaming or boiling them. Some veggies amenable to grilling are: asparagus, onions, summer squash, peppers...and, oh yeah, fruits also work well on the grill...try pinapple, peaches, mango, and firm apples.

• Don't char your meat...or anything, for that matter! Charring can potentially convert innocuous food substances into oxidized, carcinogenic agents. If you char your meat to be sure that it is fully-cooked for your safety, use a meat thermometer to gauge this. It ensures that your meat reaches the correct, safe temperature, without damaging your expensive foods.

STAY FIT!
Jason

Global Food Prices on the Rise

It's probably no secret to anybody now...PRICES ARE HIGH. This is especially true with food prices. A United Nations food agency cites that the inordinately high price of rice in Asia is coming down, but most other food prices are on the rise, at an average of 6% this year. What this means to consumers is an increased need to shave expenses anywhere they can. The kitchen is a great place to start. Buying in bulk, using natural foods (not processes/packaged), and not eating out are three easy ways that virtually anybody can have an impact on both the bank account and the waistline.

Jason's Fit Kitchen offers great, simple recipes that allow you to achieve this effect. Visit us at:
www.jasonsfitkitchen.com

Stay Fit!
Jason

The Inflated Barbeque

A recent article on CNN.com discussed the dramatic price increases in food products. Citing increases in fuel costs and increased demand for corn used in biofuel manufacturing as the primary factors driving this increase, commercial food producers are scrambling to stay competitive in the supermarkets.

Here are a couple of suggestions that we, at Jason's Fit Kitchen can offer:

• Try growing your own garden...even small container gardens can PRODUCE a significant amount of PRODUCE! They are easy to manage too! For every 10 cents that you spend on your garden project, you can reap $1 worth of food.

• Make your own...spice blends, sauces, dressings, and anything you can. These items can be very costly. Producing your own can save you as much as 70% !

• Store your foods well. The less waste, the more efficient your kitchen is. Kitchen Efficiency is important.

STAY FIT!
Jason