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