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Last week’s YOUR PRODUCE MAN’S PRODUCE PUZZZZLER still dealt with winter citrus: How did the “Orange” get its name? So you thought this would be an easy answer, huh? So you thought the word “orange” obviously has to do with its color. An orange is orange of course. But the citrus we call an “orange” has nothing to do with the color. Instead, the word “orange” comes from a translation of an ancient Sanskrit word “naranga,” which came from the Tamil word “naru.” It means “fragrance.” And indeed, the Orange is fragrant, from blossom to fruit. In fact, an entire line of perfume and cologne fragrances is based upon the “citrus” family. This week’s YOUR PRODUCE MAN’S PRODUCE PUZZZZLER still deals with winter citrus: How did the “Grapefruit” get its name? See next week’s Fresh Tips for the answer. |
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5-A-DAY THE COLOR WAY (Monday, Jan. 12): We all take a look at our bank statements, our 401K reports, investment or retirement accounts. It’s good and prudent to plan for the future. However, how many of us take a look at our 5-A-Day bank statements? Have you taken a good strong look at your health statements? Your health will determine how you get to use your 401K, investment and retirement accounts. The bottom line is simple: You can use your retirement to pay for your health care, or you can use your retirement to enjoy and pass on to your heirs. Your health determines your wealth in the sunset of your life. Nearly two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight, and nearly 1/3 are obese, according to data from the 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Being overweight or obesity leads to other diseases, mortality, and economic costs. Concerning your health, being overweight leads to known risk factors like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis (degeneration of cartilage and bone of joints), sleep apnea and other breathing problems and some forms of cancer (uterine, breast, colorectal, kidney, and gallbladder). Being obese also leads to known health risk factors such as high blood cholesterol, complications of pregnancy, menstrual irregularities, hirsutism (presence of excess body and facial hair), stress incontinence (urine leakage caused by weak pelvic-floor muscles), psychological disorders such as depression and increased surgical risk. We all know the obvious health concerns of smoking, drinking, overweight, exercising, but eating your fruits and vegetables today will really help you enjoy life tomorrow. It really is that simple. Approximately 300,000 adult deaths in the United States each year are attributable to unhealthy dietary habits and physical inactivity or sedentary behavior. Economically, it costs too. In fact, it cost Americans last year over $265 billion to be overweight or obese. That cost includes the cost of dealing with the secondary diseases related to being overweight or obese. Last year, Americans spent over $35 billion on weight loss products and services. The economic and health toll of being overweight or obese is too costly. The good news is that you can make a change today. Start by simply taking a report card of your fruit and vegetable intake. For a week or two, simply jot down, every day, the servings of fruits and vegetables that you consume. Once you know the average servings of fruits and vegetables you consume every day, then you can start adding to it. Let’s say you average eating 2 servings a day. Well, over the next month, simply add one more serving a day. The following month, add another. Then another. Within a few months, you will be eating 5 – 9 servings a day. And more important, you’ll be on your way to enjoying your retirement. By the way, I noticed that when my little girl Claire colors a picture, she generally uses more than one color of crayon. We should treat our fruits and vegetables the same way. We all know the value in our green vegetables, but as you walk down the produce isle, look at the yellows, oranges, browns, whites, reds, purples, and so many others. Enjoy a rainbow of fruits and vegetables. It provides the best balance in nutrients, vitamins, minerals, trace elements and anti-oxidants. My motto this year is simple: More in 2004. More fruits and vegetables that is.
COUCH POTATOES (Tuesday, Jan. 13): All this week, I am taking a look at different categories of adults, as it relates to their health. In this first segment, I want to focus on the Couch Potato. I’m sure you know a neighbor or two that is a couch potato? All of us have been couch potatoes at one time, but to live as a couch potato is one of the most selfish things a person can do. They are not engaged in the things of family, friends, community. Well, even a Couch Potato can start making changes. We can all imagine what a couch potato looks like, and more important, we can all imagine what this couch potato is eating. Fast food, chips, cookies, crackers, drinking soda or beer like there’s no tomorrow. I’ll make it easy on you couch potatoes. What fruits and vegetables would be best for you? I’ll start with grapes. Look, what’s easier to eat than a grape? No package to open, nothing to warm up in a microwave. Simply pull the grape off the stem and pop it in your mouth. Great hand coordination for you. Red grapes are loaded with powerful antioxidants that could start making a dent in the cancer you’re getting from your high fat diet. On the vegetable side, how about carrots? Whole-peeled mini carrots. They’re tiny, crunchy and are loaded with Vitamin A, beta-carotene. You’ll need all that beta-carotene to help your eyes see your television better.
ACTIVE EXERCISERS (Wednesday, Jan. 14): Opposite the Couch Potato, is the person who’s out walking, running, lifting weights, riding bikes, swimming, every day. Their bodies are mean and lean, and they may appear very healthy, but the body of an exerciser has different fruit or vegetable needs. First, with fruits. Bananas and Kiwifruit. They are easy to carry with you out on your work out, and they are both loaded with potassium, which helps prevent muscle cramps. The active exerciser has a higher need for energy, and you get that from Potatoes. The carbohydrates in Potatoes are quickly broken down for quick energy use by your body. Before we leave this group, I need to make a mention of Oranges. Often, you’ll find oranges at walk-athon events, sports events like soccer games and basketball. The Harlem Globetrotters will often eat a lot of Oranges, particulary before games in the high altitudes of Denver or Mexico City.
SENIOR CITIZENS (Thursday, Jan. 15): As our bodies, age, some fruits and vegetables become more difficult to digest. You just can’t eat the same food you use to. So, we need to take a look at the fruits and vegetables that are easily digestable with the fiber, vitamins and minerals. On the fruit side, let’s look at Apples, Peaches and Pears. These have great fiber, but it is the best fiber that can easily be digested. Also, witht the apples, choose Golden Delicious Apples. They have the thinnest skin of all apples, and is easily digested. On the vegetable side, I was looking for items with high Vitamin A and C that is the easiest to digest. That brings us to Squash, the soft summer squash like Zucchini, Yellow or Patty Pan. Also, carrots and greens. For lettuce, choose Butter Leaf. It is very easily digestable for people who normally can’t eat lettuce salads. That’s why George Burns, until he died, he had Butter Leaf lettuce salads every day.
PREGNANT WOMEN (Friday, Jan. 16): Here is a subject near and dear to my heart. My beautiful and lovely wife Julie is expecting our fourth child in early April. So her diet is an important issue. And it should be for all pregnant women. First of all, make sure you consult your doctor with any nutrition or diet questions. Eating well is particularly vital if you are planning or expecting a baby. This will help get your baby off to a flying start - and also ensure your own good health. A good balanced diet right from the beginning will help to ensure correct formation of organs such as the brain, nervous system and heart. What you eat also influences the size of the placenta and the composition of your blood supply, which will supply oxygen and nourishment to the baby. It’s never too soon for a woman to start preparing for pregnancy, but even if the pregnancy is unplanned a good diet and healthy lifestyle will be beneficial. Your body has some very specific needs, not just for you, but for baby. Fruit and vegetables are important sources of vitamin C and vitamin E and of beta-carotene. Extra vitamin C is needed during pregnancy to help the baby's tissue formation. It is essential to have a daily supply of both vitamin C and folic acid during pregnancy as neither of these vitamins are stored in the body. So we’re going to start with Apricots, Strawberries and Avocados. Apricots and Strawberries are loaded with iron, a very important mineral for women’s pregnant body. Iron is essential for making red blood cells and preventing anemia. Folic acid is the best-known vitamin in connection with pregnancy. One of the B group vitamins, it is important for the formation of the unborn baby's spinal cord and can therefore help reduce the risk of spina bifida. It is particularly important to have enough folic acid during early pregnancy so, if possible, the advice is to start taking a folic acid supplement before getting pregnant. Avocados have one of the highest levels of folic acid, important in helping to reduce the risk to birth defects. Also, Sweet Potatoes would be a useful vegetable because it is high not only in folic acid but also with Vitamin A, which helps with keeping your stretching skin healthy. Eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of fluid. Get some extra rest. And by all means, enjoy this time. It is an exciting one. |
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