My Blueberry breakfast special is Blueberry Simply Fit Granola.
We like it because it is simply wholesome granola. There is no artificial flavoring, color or ingredients. It’s baked and every bite is filled with crisp, old-fashioned goodness. It has whole oats, fiber, protein, and ALA omega-3s from flax to create lasting satisfaction. We love it we even added a few fresh berries today to celebrate blueberry month!
I never give this tub of berry goodness enough credit. It’s basically my daily detox.
It’s fiber, you know, the body’s natural trash collector. Did you know that 85% of your immune system lives in your gut? Yep. That means both good bacteria and bad bacteria live within your digestive system. If that bacteria balance gets out of whack—like Goldilocks finding the “just right” porridge — an out of balance system can cause a whole slew of health issues. So much so, that researchers call the gut “our second brain.”
Irregularity, constipation, bloating, autoimmune disorders, food allergies/intolerance, leaky gut syndrome, acid reflux, joint pain, skin sensitivities, fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, inflammation, depression, anxiety, etc.—all of these— can be linked back to your gut health.
For me, Fiberwise helps with my weight loss journey and to keep my mental health in check too! When you physically feel better, your mental health follows!
WHAT’S YOUR FIBERWISE FLAVOR?!
Since 1979, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has required that pharmaceutical companies put expiration dates on prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
The date printed on a pill bottle is the date until which the medicine’s manufacturer will guarantee the drug’s safety and full potency. How long a drug actually remains safe and effective can vary.
Some medicines like insulin, nitroglycerin and liquid antibiotics, contain active ingredients that are known to become unstable after a prolonged time period. Yet other drugs and medications may have a longer shelf life than their packaging states. The effectiveness of these medicines may degrade over time, but may still offer some benefits.
That said, several years ago, Lee Cantrell, director of the San Diego Division of the California Poison Control System, had a rare opportunity to examine an old stash of drugs — including antihistamines, pain relievers and diet pills — found in the back of a pharmacy.
He found that those found medications, some of them at least 40 years past their manufacture date, still retained full potency. That study was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine in 2012. Cantrell published another study in 2017 showing that EpiPens — the expensive auto-injectors used to treat life-threatening allergic reactions — retained 84 percent of their potency more than four years past their expiration dates, suggesting that in an emergency, an expired EpiPen would be better than nothing.
Although the federal government, the FDA and the U.S. Department of Defense started the Shelf-Life Extension Program (SLEP) in 1986, a SLEP study in 2006 tested 122 different drugs stored under ideal conditions, and the results showed, the expiration date of a majority of the drugs in the SLEP storage were extended by an average of four years.
Even so, the FDA still strongly warns consumers against taking expired medicine.
Because certain expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth and sub-potent antibiotics can fail to treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance, the FDA strongly warns consumers against taking expired medicine.
The FDA also encourages people to bring their unused and expired meds to the National Prescription Drug Take-Back days, hosted by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Since they are now in season, July is a great month to discuss the health benefits of blueberries. Did you know that blueberries are native to North America and are grown in 35 states? What’s more, they’re an ingredient in more than 4,000 products, from muffins to pet food to cosmetics—and to think it all started in New Jersey.
The popularity of blueberries can be credited directly to Elizabeth Coleman White and Frederick V. Coville, who, succeeded in hybridizing wild blueberry plants to create a new domestic blueberry industry. They began their work at the White family farm, Whitesbog, in Browns Mills, Burlington County an area known for cranberry bogs and the infamous Pine Barrens.
Although Washington and Georgia lead the country in terms of blueberry production, New Jersey is currently the fifth highest blueberry producing state in the U.S. Despite our state’s small size, New Jersey growers often register yields topping 56.7 million pounds of blueberries each year. Amazingly, over 80% of New Jersey’s blueberries are grown in Atlantic County and most of the blueberry harvest comes from a mere 8,800 acres.
Many of New Jersey’s blueberries are packaged at the Atlantic Blueberry Company at Hammonton.
Living in New Jersey, we are lucky enough to have picking areas nearby—fun for the whole family! They make a great snack all on their own or enhance a meal, make stellar desserts or sauces. Plus, these vibrant berries pack a punch in vitamins and health benefits.
Here are a few things blueberries can do for you:
#1: Blueberries are the #1 fruit with the highest antioxidant capacity. It beats out any other berry! These powerful antioxidants have been known to improve the immune system and prevent infections in the body (especially urinary tract infections.)
#2: Blueberries can help with weight loss. Blueberries have fewer than 100 calories in a cup, making it a healthy pick for snacking. There have also been numerous studies, linking blueberries to the loss of stomach fat.
#3: The deeper the color of a blueberry, the richer they are in antioxidants, vitamins and medicinal perks. Go for the darkest berries!
#4: Blueberries can reduce the risk of cancer. Anthocyanins (which give the fruit its hue) have been studied and known to attack cancer-causing free radicals in the body.
#5: Blueberries for the brain! Numerous studies have shown that blueberries can help reduce the risk of memory loss. Brain food at its finest
JULY IS NATIONAL GRILLING MONTH
Summer is the time for the best outdoor cooking, so it is no surprise July is National Grilling Month.
Don’t let improperly prepared food ruin your summer. Use these grilling tips keep you grilling and enjoying the beautiful weather all season long.
I drink a lot of water—it’s my favorite drink. But every now and then, I need a boost—something that will enhance my water habit as well as keep me refreshed and replenished.
A few years ago, I found this great product. It’s packaged so conveniently that I can always take with me. I use it for workouts and I will even add it to my water in restaurants.
The reason why I like Sustain® Sport is because it packs four electrolytes into each serving to give me what I need the most: proprietary complex of calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. That’s twice as many as Gatorade® Thirst Quencher Original Orange!
I’ve found using this regularly on workouts, walks, or on hot summer days when I want a flavored drink. It helps to rehydrate and convert carbs into energy for school, work, activities, or sports. I’ve also noticed my walks and workouts last longer without fatigue and muscle cramps.
Even though it comes in five flavors, my favorite is the Ruby Red Grapefruit!
Meet MY new favorite snack! New Simply Fit Nut & Fruit Clusters pack spectacular flavor into deliciously munchable bite-sized squares.
They’re crunchy, chewy, sweet, and salty.
Just what you need right about now.
Today’s children, for the most part, do not eat well — they are overfed and undernourished. They commonly choose foods that are high in fats, sugars, and salt that have little, real nutritional value. The top choices among kids are hot dogs, chicken nuggets, French fries, pancakes, pizza, cookies and ice cream. It doesn’t sound like an optimal menu for growing children and it’s not conducive to good health.
This creates a domino effect that results in 97% of children suffering from some form of malnutrition. One out of every three children ages 2 to 19 is obese or overweight. That’s triple the rate of just a generation ago! Believe it or not many in this age group suffer from high blood pressure. Plus, diabetes in this group has increased by 21% in the last 10 years because of poor nutrition and 75% of these children do not get 60 minutes of exercise each day. The result? Childhood obesity health costs are $14 billion a year.
The article below will further explain some guidelines and strategies for ensuring that your child is well-fed and healthy. Supplementation can replace some of the vitamins and minerals missing in your children’s and grandchildren’s diets. Make sure to choose supplements that are safe and effective.
Today is National Eat Your Vegetables. June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month, and National Eat Your Vegetables Day reminds everyone that vegetables are an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.
As part of the main meal or as a snack, vegetables can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Each vegetable has its own nutritional content though generally, they contain a little protein or fat and varying proportions of vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin K and Vitamin B6, provitamins, dietary minerals and carbohydrates. They also contain a variety of other phytochemicals, some of which have antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anticarcinogenic properties. Many vegetables also contain fiber which is important for gastrointestinal function. Another benefit is the essential nutrients that vegetables contain that are necessary for healthy hair and skin.
When eating a diet consisting of the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables, it may help lower the risk of heart diseases and type 2 diabetes. These diets may also help to decrease bone loss and protect against some cancers. The potassium provided may help prevent the formation of kidney stones.
It is recommended by the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, to consume 3 to 5 servings of vegetables per day. This recommendation may vary, however, depending on age and gender. For most vegetables, one serving is equivalent of 1/2 to 1 cup and can be eaten either raw or cooked. Make sure you consume your recommended daily allowance of vegetables.
From the good morning greeting and the first “How may I help you?”, National Smile Power Day urges everyone to share the power of a smile.
No matter where you are employed, job seeking, retired or looking for new horizons starting the day with a smile is certainly more empowering than a pout or grump. Besides, starting with a smile, is so much easier; because, when you smile at someone, you are telling them that they are valued. Smiles are morale boosters and confidence builders.
Research has proven that smiling really does increase attractiveness and likability between humans. Smiling creates a greater trust and increased interpersonal cooperation. Smiling at someone can help them to relax and relieve their stress while at the same time, it will make you feel right. Smiling (even if you do not feel like it) will lift your mood and can make you a happier person. So challenge yourself to smile more often today. Use a smile to disarm a tense situation, or simply smile during your daily tasks.
Hayseeds Creative 