Regular #PhysicalActivity can help reduce your risk for colorectal cancer. Take steps to #GetActive today: http://1.usa.gov/UNrlVO
Category: Business
Caffeine Awareness Month
March is Caffeine Awareness Month, which comes at a time when caffeine from coffee, tea, energy drinks, chocolate bars, and other foods and beverages is an especially buzz-worthy topic for consumers around the world.
I love coffee and chocolate and have a tendency to consume one or the other (sometimes both together) daily. A day without chocolate is a day without sunshine! Both are considered sources of caffeine.
The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) published recommendations mentioned caffeine 414 times, and provided an evidenced-based guideline indicating caffeine consumption of up to 400 mg/day, or approximately three to five 8-oz. cups of coffee per day, can be incorporated into healthful, daily eating patterns.
While the DGAs are primarily centered on coffee, there are several sources of caffeine that can contribute to this recommended 400 mg threshold.
Ever wonder which foods contain caffeine and how much is recommended for you? Let’s take a quick look at a few common food and beverage sources and how much caffeine they contain:
- An 8.4-oz. energy drink, a 20-oz. diet cola, and a shot of espresso, all sources of caffeine, contain about the same amount as a cup of coffee (80 mg). Other recognizable choices include:
- A cup of green tea or a 12-oz. can of soda, both of which contain about 40 mg of caffeine.
- A 1.5-oz. chocolate bar, which contains about 10 mg of caffeine, whereas a darker chocolate bar the same size contains about 30 mg of caffeine. (No wonder I prefer dark chocolate!)
So know your sources of caffeine and the amounts. It all adds up across the day.
What’s your favorite chocolate or coffee?
Healthy snacking
Eating healthy doesn’t mean you have to constantly deny yourself of all those delicious treats and snacks forever.
Making and eating healthy homemade snacks can be easy with GC Control Brownies and muffins. and… are they ever delicious!
To make basic muffins:
Preheat oven to 350°
1 egg beaten well
1/2 cup milk
1 cups GC Control any flavor
1 tsp. baking powder
Splash of Vanilla
Thoroughly blend all ingredients in a medium bowl.
Prepare muffin pan by spraying or brushing with a non-stick oil
Pour mixture into muffin pan.
Bake for 12-15 minutes.
Yields 4 – 6 muffins
Breakfast muffins.
I have these for breakfast or as a snack with coffee or tea.
Preheat oven to 350°
2 cups GC Control any flavor ( I used Apple Cinnamon)
1 tsp baking powder
3 whole eggs
1 cup water or milk
Bake for 20 minutes.
Yields 12 muffins
Brownies:
Preheat oven to 400°
2 cups GC Control Chocolate
1 tsp. baking powder
1 cup 2% milk (can also use fat free)
Mix all ingredients together and pour into baking pan.
Bake for 20 minutes.
GC Control Chocolate Mousse
1 scoop GC Control Chocolate
1 cup heavy whipping cream
Vigorousl shake ingredients until well-blended
Pour into glass.
GC Control Peanut Butter Cup
4 tbsp Coconut oil
8 tbsp GC Control Chocolate
Small amount of Peanut butter or Almond butter
Melt oil and mix with GC Control until smooth
Fill six muffin cups with half the mixture
Place dollop of nut butter in center of each half-filled muffin cup
Fill muffin cup with remaining chocolate mixture
Freeze for 30 minutes and enjoy
Store in refrigerator
Attain Pudding
1 scoop Attain Shake mix (any flavor)
3 tbsp water
Add ingredients to small ice cream size dish
Mix vigorously until thick and smooth.
Freeze for 20 minutes
Enjoy!
Healthy Gingerbread And French Vanilla Cookies
Preheat oven to 400°.
1/2 cup Unbleached Flour
2 scoops GC Control Gingerbread
1 scoops GC Control French Vanilla
1/3 cup Eggland Eggwhites
1 cup Organic So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut milk
1 TB Organic Coconut Palm Sugar
2 TB Organic Earth Balance Butter
1tsp Organic ground ginger
2 tsp pure baking soda
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 tsp ground cinnamon
In large bowl add all ingredients.
Use electric mixer on low for 3-4 minutes.
Put mixture in the fridge for 5-10 minutes to harden slightly.
Spray two flat rectangular trays with non stick Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Bake for 15 minutes.
Yield: 30 cookies.
Each cookie has 28 cal, 3g carbs, 1g fat, 2g protein, 1g fiber and 1g sugar.
Challenges to Millennials
Millennials are facing significant and unique challenges as they enter the workforce, the housing market and attempt to construct their futures. An article in the Detroit Free Press illustrates the realities and the obstacles they face.
Many millennials have accumulated thousands in education debt. These 25-34 year-olds now average over $33,000 in education debt. Nearly 50% of families with the head of household under 40 years of age owe money for student-related loans.
Although the recent economic recovery, has helped, there are still challenges to finding decent jobs in this demographic. Many drop out of college because of anxiety regarding growing their debt—and indicators are that even those who have not accumulated debt by choosing higher education are facing the same challenges to their financial futures.
Millennials are bringing home significantly smaller paychecks, making it less likely for them to be able to own a home or save anything for their retirement. In essence, millennials are accumulating assets at a much lower rate than those only 25 years ago.
Many are seeking alternative careers. Some becoming entrepreneurs and experimenting in businesses of their own—searching for answers. But new businesses contain risks of their own, including significant up-front investments, which can begin the debt cycle all over again.
The company with which I am associated offers millennials alternatives that can help turn their frustrations into opportunities. It eliminates risk and is virtually at no investment. It gives millennials the opportunity to begin wealth creation and much brighter futures. There is hope, young people.
National Day of Unplugging
The second Friday in March is the National Day of Unplugging and today just so happens to be the day.
So for 24 hours (ideally from sundown to sundown) we take a break from technology by unplugging, unwinding, relaxing and doing things other than using today’s technology, electronics, and social media. Take a break from technology and use #NationalDayOfUnplugging to post on social media the day before to spread the word.
How do you plan to unplug?
You do have options
When it comes to colorectal cancer screening, you have options.
Decide which screening test you prefer: https://healthfinder.gov/HealthTopics/shared-decision-making/colorectal-cancer-screening
True or false?
True or false?
You need to get tested regularly for colorectal cancer starting at age 50.
Answer: True. The best way to prevent colorectal cancer is to get tested regularly starting at age 50.
Learn more: http://1.usa.gov/11Y4avWTweet This!
Giving & receiving leadership
Good leadership is complex. At the same time, it’s simple. The “flow” of effective leadership is both up AND down. Mentoring your team is your responsibility as a leader. You are the leader because you have unique knowledge and skills, so you must share them.
In addition, there is another dimension to leadership, accepting feedback gratefully and willingly—the most difficult part for most leaders. A good leader recognizes all group members have valuable experiences and respects valid feedback from the group.
Saying you are open to feedback and really BEING open to that same feedback are two different things. Employees and team members can sense when you are genuinely listening and absorbing their input. The best leaders don’t just listen to feedback; they solicit it.
To get the feedback you want, you must build trust amongst your team. They must feel safe in giving it to you and that there will be no negative consequences. If you act defensively, constructive feedback will surely diminish. Remember, you and they are sharing wisdom and all will benefit from it. Balance your leadership with positive (when it is deserved; no fake stuff) and with constructive interaction.
This dialogue will enrich the culture of your business and it will gain momentum, so it will occur more and more often. After your interchange has concluded, be sure and thank the person for taking the time to provide this information. Sometimes it is an advantage to repeat what it was that you have counseled about so both parties are on the same page. Good leadership will pay considerable dividends to your business. The best news is that it becomes easier and easier as you practice it.
Fore some valuable perspective, check out this article inForbes magazine.
Children’s Nutrition and Health
It’s National Nutrition month and it may come as a surprise to find out that today’s children undernourished. They may be overfed, but they are still undernourished because, children, for the most part, do not eat well. They commonly choose foods high in fats, sugars, and salt—foods 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 isn’t the most optimal menu for growing children and it’s definitely not conducive to good health.
This creates a domino effect that results in 97% of children suffering from some form of malnutrition. One in three children ages 2 to 19 is obese or overweight. That’s triple the rate of just a generation ago. Many suffer from high blood pressure and diabetes in children has increased by 21% in the last 10 years! This is caused by poor nutrition and three out of every four children not getting 60 minutes of exercise each day. The result? Childhood obesity health costs over $14 billion a year.
This article from Precision Nutrition will further explain some guidelines and strategies for assuring 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. Learn more. . .
Watch what you eat
It’s National Nutrition Month® and each March the focus is on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.
Hayseeds Creative 