Eat Cherries...Every Day...

It's cherry season, and that means that i can indulge in one of my fav fruits, and also one of the healthiest...

Cherries!

Why do i love these sweet/tart babies?

Because they are loaded with antioxidants and are considered a super food...

And they taste awesome, without giving you that filled up feeling, like some foods (like the Mexican i ate Saturday...put me in a bad place for hours, man...)

Here is my latest video about cherries...

...followed by an oldie but a goodie blog post....

How to...Eat Cherries

 

I Cannot Tell a Lie, Cherries Are Good For You






It seems I can’t drive anywhere in town these days without passing a roadside stand selling cherries.Guess what? That’s a good thing. Besides all of these local entrepreneurs competing for my patronage, the grocery stores are overflowing with these sweet (and tart), delicious fruits. Living in California, and the fertile San Joaquin Valley, I take it for granted that most of the time something fresh and tasty and locally grown is going to be on sale. Right now…


IT’S CHERRIES!


My lovely wife is a major cherry aficionado, which simply means she digs those chewy pitted babies. We can’t drive past one of those aforementioned stands without her begging for us to stop and grab a box. Me? I wasn’t all that into them until I met her, but eventually her enthusiasm, and that fresh, juicy fruit, wore me down. Oh, and another thing:




CHERRIES ARE GOOD FOR YOU!


Actually, the more I researched the health and nutritional benefits of cherries the more impressed I became. In fact, cherries are now considered one of the SUPER FOODS. This revelation excited me so much, I made this video:


Cherries: Another Super Food!

Why are cherries super?
* loaded with anthocyanins, a powerful antioxidant linked to their red color, many scientists believe a diet rich in cherries can reduce inflammation, lower bad cholesterol, and decrease belly fat
* they may help ease arthritis pain and gout
* one ounce of cherry juice contains the daily recommended amounts of antioxidants required to help fight cancer and heart disease
* cherries contain more anthocyanins (one of the strongest of the antioxidants, by the way) than raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries
* one of the few food sources rich in melatonin, a natural body hormone that helps you sleep better and can reduce jet lag
* they help lower your body fat, thus help you lose weight
* can help control diabetes


Wow, after looking at that list only one word comes to mind: SUPER!


How do you like your cherries? My favorite way to eat them is the same way I enjoy almonds: by the handful. But unlike almonds, cherries are not nearly as fattening. One serving of cherries (one cup, with pits) has less than 100 calories (around 87), while offering up 3gs of fiber and zero fat or sodium. They are also a very good source of vitamin C and iron.


All this talk about super foods and health and nutritional benefits almost made me forget to mention:


CHERRIES ARE DELICIOUS!


Fresh-from-the-branch, pop-in-the-mouth delicious! Cherries can also be added to oatmeal, salads, desserts (cherry pie or cherries jubilee), as well as complimenting savory foods like pork and chicken. Serve them up anyway you like, but serve them up as often as possible.



Cherries come in dozens of varieties, both sweet (Bing, Lambert, and Tartarian) and sour (Morello, Montmorency, and Early Richmond), in various shades of colors.


Like George Washington said, all those years ago when he chopped down that cherry tree, “I cannot tell a lie.” Neither can I, so I can honestly say that I didn’t realize how super cherries were until I did the research for this post.


The next time my lovely wife and I are driving around town and we pass by a cherry stand and she yells, “Stop, cherries!” I’m going to stop and pick up not one, but two baskets. Why? Because super foods like these don’t grow on trees…uh, well, in this case they do, actually. I guess, what I’m trying to say is:


EAT CHERRIES, THEY’RE GOOD FOR YOU!




Until next time…


peace,


Mike




Still hungry for information about cherries? Check out this cool site, a very helpful resource for this post.

Watch a Video, Drop a Comment!

Ah, comments! How we bloggers and website proprietors adore comments. A comment is like a note, a howdy from a fan, friend, foe or fool (and those are just the “F”s!). Comments represent that oh, so, sought after “F” word: FEEDBACK! The only thing we blogging folks and website owners adore more than comments is feedback. Feedback is the stuff that equally crushes egos and inflates them, encourages one to continue down that sometimes lonely path of creative endeavor or gives you that valuable two-cents worth telling you to try some other hobby. Feedback, in the form of comments, is a good thing!

So why don’t I have a simple, fast and easy way to drop comments on my website, livelife365.com? The answers now is:

I DO!


There is no simple reason why it’s taken me this long to have a comment page added to my vid site except my stubbornness and frugality. Stubborn, because my video site already has several places where one, if so inclined, can leave comments or messages. My thought being: I don’t need one! (wrong, Mike!). As for my being a cheapskate, well, that is self-explanatory.

Enter: Webxpertz and Multi Media Information.





My two buddies, Keith and Eric, helped design and create my video site and are always there for me for all my website needs. I tell them I need something, they say it’s impossible to do, then do it, at a very reasonable cost. Just listen to this guy go on about them: “Thanks Webxpertz and MMI."

But why do I use these guys, when places like Blogger and WordPress offer their services for free? From the horse’s (Eric’s) mouth: “LL365 is a custom-built website. Some templates are quite attractive, easy to use for developers with limited skills and experience, and employ a structure that has been broadly tested and is familiar to wide audiences. But, they can have a "same old thing" appearance, and typically are limited in terms of a sense of individuality. Over a period of time, having complete control over the structure, format, content, and functionality of your site allows you to grow and change as your interests, abilities, and resources expand.

WebXpertz is a friendly team with a wide range of development skills in coding, scripting, programming, and all aspects of building a presence on the Internet. The support forums are a valuable resource for small businesses and hobbyists at all levels of ability. Their cost of services is certainly reasonable, especially when compared to many competitors in the market.”

Besides all that, Eric also is a top-notch copy editor. His work on the development and ongoing maintenance of both my sites is priceless. He is also an outstanding researcher whose valuable input on my blog posts is much appreciated (and needed). Do yourself a favor, and check them out the next time your website needs a facelift.

Besides the nifty comment page, these guys also created an equally nifty VOD format.

What, you may be asking, is VOD? Listen to this guy go on and on and on (like he usually does): “New: VOD and Comments!"

When you get right down to it, we all want to be loved, adored, have dozens of wonderful comments dropped on our sites. And in return, we all visit other sites and do the same. Why? Because it’s what we do, we bloggers, and it’s the right thing to do. Dropping comments is like visiting your next-door neighbor and saying “hello.” Like going to your favorite restaurant and chatting with the hostess. Like hanging out way too long in the produce section of your local grocery store and gabbing with your buddy, the produce guy (and do I ever get in trouble with the missus for doing it). It is electronic social networking at its finest. And speaking of social networking…

…stay tuned for my newest music video titled “Social Networking Blues.” If you enjoyed I Miss My Hair, you will love this. I promise. And when you visit my video site to watch it (or any of the hundreds of videos I’ve produced about health, personal development and entertainment), then drop me a comment letting me know what you think. It would make my day. And yours too.

Until next time…

peace,

Mike

A “how-to” video for your viewing pleasure:

How To…Eat a Banana:

Ask Mike

Got a question for me? An observation about something I’ve written or a topic you felt needed more of an explanation? Or maybe you just need to vent or rant or release some hot air?
Bring it on! Go ahead, ask me anything you want. I will take on all questions, relating to any topic, and respond to them in upcoming posts.

Here are a few that have been hanging around for way too long, like a clueless relative in your guest bedroom.

Q: Hi Mike! Has your blog received any awards lately?

A: Wow, funny you should ask that. In fact, I have gotten a few awards, but have not had the chance to publicly give my thanks or mention them. I think I will right now.

Recently I got a Brillante Weblog Premio-2008
award from Confessions of a Fitness Diva. Thanks, Diva! I really enjoy this blog, it offers great information and advice dealing with health and fitness, written by a fitness instructor, trainer, and boxing champ. You won’t wanna mess with this diva, but will want to read her blog.

Q: Any others?

A: Keep your shirt on, I’m getting to them.

Polly over at Random Ramblings gave me an Awesome Site Award.
Pretty cool, huh? I mean, awesome! Thanks, Polly, you made my day! If you have not visited Polly’s site, I highly recommend you do so. This is an eclectic mix of interesting observations ranging from (in Polly’s words) “…a mixture of posts from wild life observations, occasional items of general interest, country recipes and my cat.” Check it out, you’ll be glad you did.

I also received a BFF Gold Card from Rayne at Thoughts. Thanks, Rayne, much appreciated.
This is an inspirational and thoughtfully written blog that offers a nice, kind, refreshing word whenever I visit.

Q: I really like your blog, Mike, but recently discovered that you also have a video site. Can you give me an update on what‘s going on there?

A: First, thanks for your kind words. My video site, livelife365.com, has new videos added all the time. In fact, this link will take you to the most recent videos page.

Q: What came first, the video site or the blog?

A: Good question. livelife365.com was originally created as a video-driven website, or vlog, designed as a format for me to discuss my views and thoughts about health, personal development, and entertainment, using videos. But while promoting and networking my video site, I soon discovered the amazing world of blogs and bloggers. Since I have been a writer for years, I decided to join the club and write a blog, in addition to creating videos. I have found, since I love performing in front of the camera and still enjoy writing, that I have the best of both worlds. Please enjoy this video to hear more about my feelings on this topic.

Q: What blogs do you enjoy?

A: Now, that is one tough question, given that I read dozens of blogs each week. I have written and talked about several of my favorite blogs in past posts and previous videos, and here are a few more:

GLCzone is the place to visit if you are seeking a complete directory of Health related blogs. There are literally hundreds of blogs here that cover fitness, nutrition, self improvement, motivation, addiction, any topic you can imagine.

Here are two great health blogs that are kind of a package deal:
Paul‘s Health Blog and A Junk-foodaholic‘s Journey to a Healthy Lifestyle. This husband and wife team both offer outstanding health and fitness advice, written with a down to earth voice that you will enjoy. And, they are two of the nicest bloggers you will ever meet.

For thought-provoking and humorous writing, visit Thinking Out Loud Blog and The Junk Drawer. I read these blogs all the time.

And if you enjoy following the fun antics of interesting cats, check out Daisy the Curly Cat and Luxor A White Cat. I always leave these blogs with a smile on my face, and that’s a good thing.

Q: I really enjoyed this “Ask Mike” segment. Where did this idea come from?

A: Actually, my video site. There are several “Ask Mike” videos that address all kinds of questions that I have been receiving over the past several months. Drop by livelife365.com and watch a few. And if you have a question for me, leave a comment at the end of this blog post or, if you prefer a video response, you can go to “contact us” or “messages” on my vid site and ask me there.

Q: Hey, are you about done? I have other things to do, you know.

A: Me too. Until next time…

peace,

Mike