DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN FEAST AT THANKSGIVING WITHOUT GAINING WEIGHT?

    We all love the holidays and the feasts that accompany the giving of thanks, but many people worry about gaining weight that will be on them for the rest of the winter. Here are a few suggestions that will help to keep you lean for the holidays without sacrificing the feast. In addition, there is a recipe attached to help you cook delicious side dishes while maintaining a low caloric count. Enjoy!

1. Portion Control: Take just a spoonful of each dish, and a 3 ounce serving of turkey or other meat. Most people eat 3,000 or more calories at the Thanksgiving dinner, but portion control can cut this number at least in half.

    

2. Freeze Leftovers: Instead of having the complete turkey dinner for five days in a row, freeze the leftovers. The leftovers will make great soup or casseroles later during the hectic times of the following holidays, and you will get back to normal eating quickly.

    

3. Practice Giveaway: The Native Americans saw the turkey as the symbol of the giveaway because the turkey gave all of the parts of its body to others for their use and survival. In the spirit of the original Thanksgiving, give your guests large plates of leftovers to take home. You will be making your family and friends grateful and happy, and the temptation to eat more will be alleviated.

    

4. Exercise: The sooner you get back to your regular exercise routine, the easier it will be to not gain weight. Exercising will maintain your regular weight, and you will feel better about your body.

Here is a no guilt, low calorie Thanksgiving recipe that is sure to please you and all of your guests. Look for more seasonal and healthy recipes on the HCCUA Web site under recipes.

HONEY BAKED PEARS

Ingredients:

5 Bosc pears, firm and ripe

2 Tablespoons butter, melted

1 Teaspoon vanilla extract

2/3 Cup honey

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

1 Teaspoon cinnamon

½ Teaspoon nutmeg

¼ Teaspoon ground cloves

¼ Teaspoon ground ginger

Directions:

1. Halve the pears lengthwise and core.
2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
3. Pour the melted butter into a 13 by 9 inch baking pan. Tilt the pan to cover the bottom with butter.
4. Arrange the pears in one layer, cut sides down.
5. Roast at 400 degrees for 20- 25 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a knife.
6. In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. Mix together well.
7. In a small bowl, combine the honey, lemon juice, and vanilla.
8. Remove the pears from the oven and spoon the honey mixture over the pears. Sprinkle the spice mixture over each of the pears.
9. Bake for another 5 minutes.
10. Arrange on a serving platter. Spoon the pan juices over the tops of the pears.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT DIABETES

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month in the United States, and the date of November 14 was chosen by the United Nations as World Diabetes Day. The United Nations passed a resolution in 2006 urging world governments to raise diabetes awareness, implement national policies for the care and treatment of diabetes, and to encourage education for those with diabetes. Presently, 24 million people in the United States have diabetes, and at least 57 million have pre-diabetes. It is estimated that there are at least 246 million people worldwide with diabetes, making diabetes as large a worldwide medical threat as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.

Diabetes mellitus, simplified to diabetes, is a medical condition which occurs when the body either does not produce enough insulin, or when the body does not respond properly to insulin found in the body. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that enables cells to turn glucose into energy. When the body does not make enough insulin, or responds poorly to the produced insulin in the body, glucose accumulates in the blood causing several physical complications including diabetes.

There are three types of diabetes. These types are Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes results from the body’s inability to produce insulin. Estimates show that 5-10 % of diabetics have Type 1 diabetes, and these people must take insulin injections to regulate insulin levels n the body. The majorities of diabetics have Type 2 diabetes resulting from insulin resistance and this is often combined with insulin deficiency in the body. Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women who have never been diagnosed with diabetes, but who have elevated levels of glucose or blood sugar levels during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes affects around 4% of pregnant women, usually resulting in high birth weights for their children, and may be a precursor to Type 2 diabetes following birthing.

All forms of diabetes are treatable with insulin and healthy lifestyle habits, but there is no cure. Gestational diabetes often resolves after pregnancy, but this form is sometimes a warning for the mother that she may need to be aware of having pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes occurs in individuals who have blood glucose levels that are elevated higher than normal, but not high enough levels for a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.

Some of the most common symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, increased thirst, significant weight loss with normal or even increased eating, mental fatigue, vision changes, ketoacidosis, and physical inertia. The conclusive diagnosis of diabetes is done through testing of the blood glucose concentration. There is research data showing a genetic predisposition to diabetes, and some genetic diseases have diabetes as a secondary characteristic, such as cystic fibrosis and myotonic dystrophy. In addition, diabetes is correlated with other medical syndromes, such as hyperglycemia, heart attack, stroke, neuropathy, poor wound healing, loss of vision, fungal infections, and renal failure. There is an increased risk of diabetes in some ethnic minorities, such as Native Americans, African Americans, and Hispanics.

The medical management of all types of diabetes includes patient education, dietetic control and support, exercise, self monitoring of blood glucose levels, weight loss, and pro-active health maintenance. In addition to all of these strategies, people with Type 1 diabetes need to have insulin injections and learn how to monitor and administer insulin for themselves. Diets low in carbohydrates and saturated fats, avoidance of alcohol intake, maintaining an average body weight for size and age, eating sufficient fiber from whole grains, and exercise have been shown to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetics from all walks of life can experience a healthy lifestyle with patient education, physician and nutritionist support, and proper medical maintenance. Some of the most well known diabetics who can serve as healthy role models are Olympian Bob Beamon, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, tennis champion Billie Jean King, Los Angeles Angels pitcher David Wells, singers Patti LaBelle, Bret Michaels, and Nick Jonas, and actors Mary Tyler Moore and Halle Berry, to name just a few.

For more information, go to the American Diabetes Association, www.diabetes.org, or to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, www.jdrf.org.

DID YOU KNOW YOUR OLD CELL PHONE CAN HELP OTHERS?

Since most people are on cell phone plans that include telephonic upgrades at the end of their contracts, hundreds of thousands of cell phones are disposed of on an annual basis. These cell phones are polluting to the environment and wasteful as they are still usable. What can you do with your no longer viable wireless phone that could make a difference in someone’s life?

There are several national non-profit causes that will accept your wireless phone, refurbish it, and give it to others who can’t afford to buy their own cell phone. The one donation channel for cell phones that I have been using for several years is right at the wireless phone company where I go for the upgrade which makes the transfer extremely easy and convenient.

Please look at the HopeLine recycling program that has been developed by the Verizon Wireless services to support domestic violence prevention and awareness programs across the United States. Some of the wireless phones are given directly to the domestic violence victims to provide a safety net when they can’t afford their own phones. Other wireless phones are collected and redistributed to fund grants that are given to domestic violence agencies and programs in every state.

You do not have to purchase a wireless phone or account from Verizon Wireless to be able to donate your old cell phone. There are donation boxes in the Verizon Wireless stores where you can put your cell phone without any obligations.

For more information on how to participate in the HopeLine donation program, please visit the online site at www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline, or visit your closest Verizon Wireless store for the details. You can also do an online search for other charities and organizations that will accept your used cell phones if you prefer to give yours to a different cause.

Just remember that you can use your discarded wireless phone for a number of worthy causes. You will enjoy knowing that your throw away cell phone can truly help others in need, and you will have the added benefit of having participated in making for a greener environment.