All Kinds of Glass

Sugar Creamer

Get The Skinny On Fats

Omega 3, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, saturated, transfats… wow! How is an ordinary everyday person supposed to keep track of all these fats and know which ones are good for us?

Today I'd like to give you the ‘skinny' on these different types of fats that are found in the food we eat, so you'll be better equipped to become a smart Nutrition Detective when you're out grocery shopping or eating out at a restaurant.

The Best: Omega 3 fats.

Recent research has shown that having a balanced intake of Omega 3 fats can actually reduce the risk of heart disease and perhaps lower the chance of contracting certain types of cancer. There have also been studies which have shown that Omega 3's may help treat Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), depression and immune system dysfunction as well. Either way you look at it, getting the proper amount of Omega 3's into your diet is a good habit to start if you're not already eating these foods.

Examples of good Omega 3 sources of fat are: ground flaxseed, tuna, cod, mackerel, salmon, halibut, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, canola oil, alfalfa spouts, soybeans, free range chicken and free range eggs. 

For example, a 100 gram serving of salmon packs a whopping 2.3 grams of Omega 3. The American Heart Association recommends eating fish at least 2 times per week, in particular fatty fish such as the ones mentioned above. So, eat a handful of unsalted fresh walnuts when you're hungry and do you heart a favor.

The Good – Unsaturated Fats. (2 types – Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated). Monounsaturated fats can have a beneficial effect on your well-being… IF eaten in moderation and used to replace saturated or transfats. This type of fat can also help reduce bad cholesterol levels and possibly lower your risk of heart disease and strokes. They are typically high in vitamin E which benefits overall health. 

Polyunsaturated fats are typically found in liquid form at both room temperature or when chilled. A few examples of this type of fat are soybean oil, corn and safflower oil, and can be found in fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, and trout. Sunflower seed and walnuts also contain this type of fat as well. 

Keep in mind that moderate use of these types of fats is key to promoting good health and weight loss. 

The Bad – Saturated Fats. Normal healthy adults should consume less than 7% of their daily fat intake from this not-so-good-for-you fat group. Prime culprits which are loaded with this type of fat are beef, pork, veal, lamb, poultry, bacon, butter, whole and 2% milk, cheese and dairy products, deli meats (actually most processed meats contain fairly high levels of saturated fats), as well as coconut and palm oils. 

These products when eaten more than twice per week and then in no more than 4 ounce servings, are known to be ‘artery cloggers' and cause your cholesterol levels to sky-rocket which leads to coronary disease. 

The Ugly – Transfats. This is the worst type of all fats and should be avoided at all cost. Any food with partially hydrogenated oil or shortening listed in the ingredient label usually has this culprit involved. Here's a partial list of items containing transfats: cookies, crackers, chips, pastries, bagels, donuts, peanut butter, fried foods, coffee creamers, soups, fast food, candy, margarine, salad dressing, cereal bars, etc. A diet high in bad fats will also cause your blood sugar to remain high for a longer period of time, and when your blood sugar is elevated, you cannot burn fat. And if you can't burn off those extra fat molecules, guess where they show up? Yup. Right around your mid-section! 

Transfats are a ‘fake' fat and according to the U.S. Government it is killing us. Early in 2009 the U.S. Government started requiring that manufactures state on their products if it contains transfats or not. If their product contains 0.5 grams or less, the manufacture can claim their product has zero transfats, but be careful as that amount usually means only per "1" serving. What if you eat 2 or 3 servings? Then you are eating a lot more transfats than the 0.5 grams that product label states.

 The best way to tell if the product has transfats in it or not is to check the ingredients label. If you see the word "hydrogenated " anywhere in the ingredients label regardless of what word follows it, that product contains transfats. Walk away from them! I've yet to meet the person who could only eat 8 potato chips once that bag was opened. 

So, what's the bottom line when it comes to fat content? READ THE LABELS! By becoming a smart "Nutrition Detective" you'll soon learn what products you've been consuming aren't really all that good for your waistline and your overall health. If you drop the levels of fat you consume in your daily eating regime, you'll start to see the fat drop off your body. 

Now that's what I call a win-win situation!

About the Author

Linda Allred,author of the Weight Off NOW Self-Hypnosis Home Study System™, is an expert in the art of self-hypnosis and whole food nutrition. She is passionate about empowering women to live their dreams and reach their full potential by learning how to use self-hypnosis and understand "The Laws of The Mind." To receive her Free CD, How Do I Get Slim NOW?" visit her website at http://www.LindaAllred.com

 

How To Plan A Successful Tea Party

A few times a year, I like to plan and host a tea party for a few of my closest girlfriends.

What exactly is a tea party? A tea party is a social gathering at which tea and light refreshments are served. This social gathering is usually held during the mid-morning or mid-afternoon hours.

When it comes to hosting a party, you will need to make your plans 3-4 weeks in advance. Here are the things that you need to plan for.

Date and Time - You will need to choose a day and time. This social gathering typically lasts for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Location - You can hold the gathering at your own home (indoors or outdoors) or find a relaxing location such as your local country club or garden park.

Theme - What kind of theme would you like for your party? You could do a mother and daughter, school friends, neighbors, co-workers or a moms/grandmothers theme.

Invitations - Your invitations should fit the theme of your party. They need to include all of the necessary information such as: Who, What, When and Where. Your invitations should be mailed out to your guests 2 weeks before the party date.

Supplies - What kind of supplies will you need? You will need: a variety of teas, food, teapots, tea kettle, teacups, tea bag holders, sugar, creamers, demitasse spoons, dessert plates, silverware, serving plates, napkins and a lace tablecloth.

Food - The food that you serve during a tea party should be on the light side. Scones, muffins, pastries, fancy cookies, tarts, biscotti and small sandwiches work best. You could also offer a full-size dessert cake, chocolate covered fruits and chocolate truffles.

Teas - You should serve your guests a variety of teas. Black teas are the most popular here in North America followed by green teas. In addition to your teas, offer some accompaniments such as creamer, milk, sugar, sugar substitutes, lemon and honey.

These are the main steps that you will need to take to have a successful tea party. The most important part is to make it enjoyable, fun and stress-free, for you and your guests.

About the Author

Shelly Hill has been working from home since 1989 in Direct Sales and is a Manager with Tupperware. You can visit Shelly online at: http://www.workathomebusinessoptions.com or her recipe blog at: http://wahmshelly.blogspot.com