| Brown rice: a smart side
Side dishes can make or break a diet. So when it comes to making smart choices, a veteran restaurant critic I know offers this rule of thumb: Never eat a starch unless it is "out of the ordinary."
That effectively eliminates most mashed potatoes, french fries, pastas and white rice - largely empty carbohydrates with low nutritional value and just average flavor.
What's left?
Brown rice, whose chewy texture can break up mealtime monotony and boost nutrition.
The government recently advised Americans to eat three servings daily of whole grains, which have been linked to a lower risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
The bran covering on brown rice gives it more protein, fiber and iron than white rice.
Brown rice can break up the monotony
Side dishes can make or break a diet. So when it comes to making smart choices, a veteran restaurant critic I know offers this rule of thumb: Never eat a starch unless it is "out of the ordinary." That effectively eliminates most mashed potatoes, french fries, pastas and white rice - largely empty carbohydrates with low nutritional value and just average flavor. What's left? Brown rice, whose chewy texture can break up mealtime monotony and boost nutrition. The government recently advised Americans to eat three servings daily of whole grains, which have been linked to a lower risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The bran covering on brown rice gives it more protein, fiber and iron than white rice. Brown rice is also higher in trace elements such as selenium, magnesium, potassium and zinc.
Make winter fun and safe
If your heat goes out during a winter storm, you can keep warm by closing off rooms you don't need. Dress in layers of lightweight clothing and wear a hat. If it gets colder, you can avoid hypothermia by wearing layers of dry clothes, a hat and blankets. Hypothermia, caused by exposure to cold, lowers the body's temperature and can seriously threaten your health. Infants and the elderly are especially at risk. Warning signs of hypothermia include slurred speech, drowsiness and disorientation.
Other Heating Sources
If you need to use an alternate heating source such as a fireplace, wood stove, or portable kerosene heater, be sure to have adequate ventilation to the outside. Without enough fresh air, carbon monoxide fumes can build up in your home and cause sickness or even death.
DAILY CHECKUP
Bad news when it comes to diabetics and exercise: Most people with Type 2 diabetes or at risk for it apparently ignore their doctors' advice to be active. Fewer than 40 percent get exercise, a new study found, and the more in danger the patients are, the less likely they are to be active. That's despite an earlier study that found nearly three-quarters of diabetics said their doctors had advised them to exercise. The patients who got the strongest warnings to get moving were the least likely to listen, said research being released yesterday. "People should exercise more, that story is out," said Dr. Elaine Morrato, who led both studies. "What we're saying is, 'Here's a high-risk population that can benefit from exercise, and they're even less likely to exercise.'" Without exercise, Type 2 diabetics face complications ranging from nerve damage to high blood pressure.
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