My most ambitious project ever is an undertaking that has
been years in the making. It started as an idea, like many of mine, it seems,
that came to me while basking in the Maui sun. A few months before my Hawaiian
trip, a catchy tune found its way inside my head…this was followed by
some lyrics that seemed to fit just right. That sequence of events was the
early genesis of this song.
Back to Maui…
I thought the song was good, but the lyrics were
better—they meant something more than just what a song has to offer.
While on that tropical paradise, I put pen to paper and scratched out the basis
for the book that was inspired by the song:
In the book (and song and video), I discuss how the ability
to change as a person can effect change on a larger scale—like maybe even
changing the world for the better. That’s a major and ambitious task,
for sure, but one, if approached at a grassroots, singular perspective, could
have global impact.
Being a videographer, a songwriter, and enjoying sharing
both endeavors with as many people as possible through my myriad websites, I
wanted to create the most effective way to share this concept. A music video
was my natural choice. On all of my songs and music videos, I have
collaborated with my pal Dale Price, from Electric Canyon Studios. He is a master at making
my voice sound better than it is and turning my acoustic guitar into a rocking
band. He was also instrumental in taking hundreds of hours of video footage
and turning it into the amazing result below. Thanks, Dale!
I recently enjoyed eating a melon I purchased at my local farmer's market, called sharlyn melon. I loved its sweet and butterscotch taste so much I made this video:
Melons, like this one, are loaded vitamins and taste. While they are not superfoods, they do pack a lot of nutritious punch. My only negative I can say about them is their sugar and carb count. I constantly watch my carb intake, so I have to enjoy this delicious food in moderation.
But that's just me. What about you?
Some reasons we all, but especially you, should embrace this tasty fruit:
low in calories
no fat
high in vitamin C and A
great for smoothies, fruit salads, and breakfast
taste awesome!
How does one tell when a melon is ripe? Glad you asked...
And don't forget one of the most popular melons of all time...
I love the sweet taste of melons, but consume them in moderation with a nod to my low-carb diet. They are worth it, though, for all of the above reasons.
I try to visit my local farmer's market every week. It is there where I have discovered many of the fruits and veggies that I have shared with millions of people across the world. One of my favorite things to do, something that makes me what I am and gives me wonderful fulfillment.
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....
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:
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.
As a strict vegetarian and wannabe vegan, I don’t normally
consume a lot of eggs. Likewise, in a
perfect vegan world, I would not opt for a portion of healthy fish, as I now
do, for the excellent protein and other nutritional benefits.
But as with adding fish as a source of good protein, while
continually trying to reduce my carbohydrates, I have also started to add a few
eggs to my diet.
Eggs, you say?
But aren’t eggs unhealthy for you? Loaded with fats and cholesterol? One of the worst things one can ingest?
Ummm, actually, think again.
Eggs for years have been getting a bad rap. They are not only an excellent source of
healthy proteins and fats, but even the amounts of bad cholesterol are grossly
over exaggerated.
If loving eggs is wrong, then I don’t wanna be right…
Besides tasting awesome, as the above video can attest, eggs
also have these healthy benefits:
Besides enjoying fried in a sandwich, eggs can be eaten in
myriad ways: omelets, scrambled, boiled
and poached. Eggs also enhance many
types of baked goods and a variety of meals.
For years eggs have been getting bad press due to their high
fat and cholesterol content. But as more
research and results have been revealed, eggs just may be healthier than you
ever imagined.
Q:
What is the most lethal silent killer facing the world today?
The first reply from most of us would probably be
hypertension—as it is seldom symptomatic. Or high cholesterol, for the
same reason. How about obesity or heart disease? All valid guesses, but how
can obesity be considered a silent killer?
What about diabetes?
I recently finished an excellent book called Sugar Nation,
written by Jeff O’Connell. In it, Jeff, a thin and seemingly healthy man
who is fighting diabetes, goes into lengthy and fascinating detail about how
this disease is growing at record numbers. And is not only afflicting the
obese and sugar-scrafers. It attacks the slender and fit folks, and potentially
people like me, who ingest little sugar, but have some carbohydrate food
challenges.
Jeff’s father died from diabetes; I’m sure this
motivated him to write Sugar Nation. I can relate to that, as my father died
in his mid-fifties from years of tobacco abuse, along with overindulging in
alcohol and unhealthy food choices. It was through his death that I became the health advocate
that I am today. And helped motivate me to create this blog and my website,
livelife365.com.
I was recently asked by Jeff’s marketing team to write
a review of Sugar Nation. I offer it here for you to read and learn, and strongly
urge you to buy the book. It just may save your life.
Oh, and, of course, I also produced this video about Jeff's book for your viewing pleasure:
One thought that continued to meander around my brain as I
dove into Jeff O’Connell’s must-read book, Sugar Nation, was
that I did not consider myself a sugar-eater. All my life I have been lucky to
eschew the temptations of a sweet tooth for the desire to indulge in more salty
snacks. I could literally walk past a mound of brownies and dishes filled with
chocolates without batting an eye. Yet find it quite difficult to put down a
bag of potato chips without consuming most of them. But did you know that the
carbohydrates from that bag of chips turns into as much sugar, once processed
and stored inside the body, as consuming spoonfuls of the sweet stuff?
Sugar Nation reads as much like a personal memoir as
a convincing diatribe against the medical community for seemingly turning a
blind eye toward one of the worst killers decimating the world
today—diabetes.
Jeff O’Connell, a diabetic battling the same disease
that killed his father, knows of what he speaks. A former executive writer at Men’s
Health and editor at Muscle & Fitness, Jeff decided to take
matters into his own hands in his fight against this growing disease. Through
a tireless energy and investigative zeal (challenging, given his constant
battle with low blood sugar, spiking insulin, crashing insulin, and the
countless maladies that accompany diabetes), Jeff shatters conventional (and at
times very incorrect) wisdom, deciding to battle his illness with diet and
exercise, rather than the all-too-often remedy: prescription drugs.
I am familiar with this type of attitude when it comes to
not accepting the first (or second or third) opinion of someone in the medical
profession. A few years ago I was overweight, had high blood pressure and
unhealthy cholesterol and glucose levels. The immediate reaction from my
doctors was to reach for a prescription pad. My immediate reaction
was—do I want to spend the rest of my life gobbling pills? Or could I do
something myself to change those life-threatening results?
Like Jeff, I combated my nemesis through diet, exercise, and
supplements. The results were so amazing (I dropped forty pounds in six months
and lowered my blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol down to healthy levels)
that I created my self-help video website, livelife365.com. I wanted to
reach as many people as possible so I could share my successes. Just like what
Jeff is doing with Sugar Nation.
While I consider myself a guy who knows what to eat, and
what not to, I learned a lot from Jeff about healthy diet—especially when
it comes to carbs. I lost most of my weight through a high-fiber, low-fat
diet. But that diet may not work best for diabetics. More animal proteins and
only carbs high in fiber are the keys to not only healthy weight loss, but
assisting in the fight against diabetes. I learned that some carbs I have been
consuming daily for years (potatoes and bananas) may not be as good for me as I
thought.
Sugar Nation is a wakeup call. Not just for the billions of
overweight and obese people out there who are walking time bombs for stroke,
heart disease, and diabetes. But to all those seemingly fit folks (like Jeff,
a tall and thin man often misdiagnosed because of how he looked) who need to
change the way they live. It is also a very well written critique of our
healthcare system, the medical profession, and the powerful pharmacological
lobby that seems to affect how the former go about their business.
I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
Who knows, reading it may just save your life…or a
loved ones.
As 2011 winds its way down to
the last few hours, I take this time to reflect back on what, for me, was a
very fulfilling year in many ways. A perfect year? Not by a long shot, but
one loaded with enough action and accomplishments to fill a…well, a blog
post.
This is a necessary, and
important, exercise to do, by the way. Most of us, if you are like me,
don’t take the time to look back and bask in our accomplishments. As a
constantly driven person, someone who is always looking for the next big
opportunity (I get bored easily) and challenge, I tend to push myself to the
point, at times, of exhaustion. Taking a few moments (hopefully a few days) to
go back and put a few asterisks next to your completed “to-do” list
is an excellent way to end the year.
Before I twist my arm out of
socket from so much back-patting, I must add that this post on reflection will
be followed by a post on looking ahead: embracing another arduous list of
things I’d like to accomplish in 2012.
2011 was a year of
travel—personal and business. I was fortunate enough to have visited several new
cities this year (Dublin), as well as returning to some of my favorites (Maui).
All in all, I logged over 30,000 air miles—wow, that’s a lot of
recycled air, stale pretzels, and cramped leg space!
I traversed across this great
country six times! Over two Oceans! With stops along the way at:
I began the year not knowing
my future with my current “day job,” and am ending this year with
the hope of soon getting my second promotion. It has been a very rewarding
year career-wise—a good thing!
I am blessed to work at a job
where I get to interact with and lead and mentor dozens of people each day. I
have creative freedom to use my triad of balance-mind, body, and spirit.
I was able to get my website
back up and running (and looking better than ever) after over a year of idleness! Besides
this blog, I also started another called “Mike’sDaily…”
The hits from my YouTube Page, Facebook, Twitter, my blogs and website have resulted in millions of
visitors this year. Thanks to all for the continued and tremendous support!
I published my second book
(my first is a young adult novel) this year and while the sales have not gone
through the roof, they have been steady.
I produced another round of
interesting and entertaining videos, along with another music video:
Along the way I’ve
continued to cultivate a wonderful and solid relationship with my wife of
almost twenty years, a son that just turned thirty (man, I’m/he’s OLD!), and my family and friends near by and Back East.
But mostly, I was able to
help countless people change their lives for the better, lose weight and eat
healthier, become motivated and inspired, and, hopefully, gave a few a good
laughs along the way.
Reflecting back on 2011, it
has been a pretty good year. And while it has not all been roses and sunshine,
it has been worth looking back on and taking a few moments to enjoy…and give
myself a few pats on the back.
I have just
returned from a long trip across the country, which actually began with a
wonderful trek over the Pacific to Maui.
From there, after a brief stop in Northern California to repack and refamiliarize
myself with my home, I was off to New England.
I stopped in, again, very briefly, to visit my family, and then was off
to Ireland for two weeks, on business.
After a very
successful stay in Northern Ireland, I returned to New England, where I stayed
at my mom’s house. We hung out, had a
good time, but I complained about how I could not find any decent vegetarian food
while on the Emerald Island (lots of good beer and deep-fried potatoes, but a
dearth of healthy green, leafy types of foods; and very poor Italian recipes).
I informed
my dear old ma that I was dying for some pasta, made with a very healthy
tomato-based sauce. She said that she
had a bunch of jars of spaghetti sauce in her cupboard that I could drizzle
over some pasta. I asked if she felt
like making one of her famous tomato sauces.
She replied, “I have all the ingredients, but don’t have the time nor
desire to make that time-consuming sauce much anymore.”
“Hmmmm,” I replied. “How about I whip up my own marinara sauce,
one that tastes amazing and only takes a mere thirty minutes to create?”
She said, “Only
if I can hold your camera and film it.” (Totally fabricated).
I am now at work on editing an outtakes video from all the film footage I tossed out after creating this wonderful vid. My mom is not only a good sport, but an excellent cook who taught me everything I know about healthy eating and cooking. I hope that this is only the start of many more "cooking with mom" videos.
I have been a green tea advocate for years, ever since I gave up my once addicting and overwhelming Diet coke habit. Searching for a healthier alternative, I discovered green tea and have enjoyed its wonderful taste and amazing health benefits ever since.
Why should you drink green tea every day?
It is loaded with antioxidants, can help reduce the threat of cancer, lowers cholesterol, assists in weight loss, and even fights tooth decay. Cool, huh?
But do you know what's really cool? Turning a successful green tea video (search YouTube for "green tea" and my vid comes up tops out of 45,000) into a cool music video. Please watch and enjoy my newest music video:
Livelife365 is all about eating healthy, losing weight, and motivating yourself to do all that it takes to change your life for the better. All done in a fun and entertaining way. I hope the above videos continue that message and help you become the person you strive to be.
Lastly, I have a new self-help book for sale. Please check it out and tell anyone you know that is looking to change their lives for the better. I'll even toss in 30 of my top videos and 5 original songs. All for only $24.99. Oops, guess again. Special Sale Price now only $19.00. Or you can get just the book for only $14.99! Sweet deal, huh? Check it out and let me know your thoughts...
If you Google "green tea," or just search for "green tea" on YouTube, I am proud to say that my Green Tea video is on the first page out of millions. It's pretty cool, though one of those things that just happens, versus those that we plan to happen. I am far from the green tea expert, but I do love green tea and drink copious amounts of it daily, happily ingesting those healthy antioxidants and polyphenals that help combat cancer, cholesterol, and heart disease, as well as assisting in battling countless other maladies.
I am in the final stages of editing my "Drink Green Tea Every Day" music video that is funny and fun to watch, as well as informative. It will be out very soon. In the meantime, please enjoy these green tea vids...
One of the things I miss the most about being a vegetarian is deli sandwiches. And as I continue to work toward becoming a vegan, thus removing dairy from my diet, my ability to quench my desire for a hoagie, grinder, hero, Dagwood, good old-fashioned, meat- and cheese-stacked mountain of a sandwich will become increasingly more challenging. Now don’t get me wrong, I do not regret my decision to remove animal products from my diet several years ago—I love being a veg head…it’s just that sometimes the salivary glands take over where logic attempts to rule.
To all of the above I say: TGFT!
Huh?
THANK GOD FOR TEMPEH!
What is tempeh?
So, what are the keys to a good sandwich, a Reuben in particular?
· excellent bread
· tasty dressing
· fresh produce
· good cheese
· and, the key ingredient: deli meat!
In the case of the Reuben, that meat consists of either corned beef or pastrami. Leading one to ask:
HOW CAN ANYTHING VEGAN TASTE ANYTHING AS GOOD AS A REAL REUBEN!
Good question. Here’s how:
The best part, besides the taste, of my Veg Out with Mike Vegan Reuben is the nutritional value versus a real, meat/cheese/mayo/butter laden one. The saturated fats in my vegan version are only 2 grams. That’s all! For a real Reuben? Anywhere from 12-20 grams, depending on how much meat/cheese/mayo/butter you use. My sandwich is also lower in sodium, calories, and cholesterol. In fact, there is virtually no cholesterol in the vegan Reuben versus over 100 mgs in a traditional one.
The desire to lower my cholesterol, lose weight, and live a happier, healthier, more fit, and, hopefully, longer life was my main reason for becoming a vegetarian. I hope my Veg Out with Mike Vegan Reuben propels you on your own path to better nutrition and fitness. Oh, and taste!
How do you make my vegan Reuben? Here are the ingredients:
6 oz. tempeh (marinated)
2 slices vegan Swiss cheese
4 oz. organic sauerkraut
2 slices whole grain rye
Two tbs. thousand island/Russian dressing
1 tsp. olive oil
Tempeh Marinade:
2 tbs lemon juice
2 tbs soy sauce
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (vegan)
1 tbs olive oil
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 tsp celery seed
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp coriander
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp cloves
salt and pepper to taste
Remember: Just because you choose a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle doesn't mean you have to skimp on taste...or give up all those great comfort foods you love.
Living in California, Cinco de Mayo is considered a pretty big deal. Before I moved here, to be honest, I'd never heard of it. But as our population becomes more and more integrated with our amigos from across the border, we embrace more of those customs and cultures...a good thing, in my opinion. Especially when some of those cultures we embrace is Mexican food. What better way to celebrate this popular day than to dive into some fresh guacamole. To that I say:
(the following is a reprint of my 9/19/08 post, "Viva Avocado!")
As much as I love eating avocados today, it's hard to imagine that I didn't taste my first one until I was well into my twenties. I grew up in a small town in a small New England state. Our foods of choice leaned more toward clam cakes and chowder than tacos and enchiladas. Avocado? I hadn't a clue what one was. And don't even get me going about guacomole. Guaca...huh?
I understand that the avocado existed when I was growing up Back East, and they may even have been available at the local grocery store where my mother shopped. But mom never purchased one, never brought one of those green-skinned babies home. Believe it or not, I did not know WHAT an avocado WAS until I relocated to sunny California in the mid-80's. And even then, I wasn't sure what to do with one or how to eat it.
Today, avocados seem more popular and prevalent in everyday cuisine. In most restaurants you can find them chopped atop salads, sliced in between sandwiches, and, in its most popular form, as guacamole, that amazing green nacho-chip-dipping-taste-sensation.
While your mouth is watering, consider these interesting facts about the avocado:
* a member of the berry family, avocado is a fruit, not vegetable * the Aztecs named it after the word, ahuacatl, which meant "testicle," because of its shape * they have been around since 900 A.D. * they have been grown in North America since 1856 * also known as the alligator pear, Jamaicans call them pears
(for more fascinating information about the avocado, visit this site)
Most of you by now have tasted avocados, but if you still are like I was, back in the day, you should give them a try. You don't know what you are missing. But do you know the best way to cut one open? Here's a video that will help:
Hey, next time you have that chip loaded with guac, happily remind yourself that besides enjoying a delicious snack, you are also getting:
* 10 grams of dietary fiber * more potassium than one banana * vitamins E and B * 10 grams of the good fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated)
RED FLAG!
While very healthy for you, avocados are also high in calories and fats. The good news: these are the good fats--monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. These are heart-healthy fats and help lower LDL (bad cholesterol).
The bad news, for those counting calories or watching their weight, is that an average size avocado has around 300 calories--so tread carefully. I know that I can eat one all by myself, diced, with a sprinkle of sea salt. Try it! In moderation.
It's hard to imagine that I spent half my life deprived of the succulent taste of avocado. Maybe that's why I've spent the last twenty-five years eating more than my share, trying to make up for lost time.
You should too!
Always remember that you can watch hundreds of self-help videos about health and nutrition, and any number of other topics, at livelife365.com.
What is it about how-to videos that I enjoy so much? Well, they are fun to create, but more than that they are helpful. And when you get right down to it, I get more joy and satisfaction from helping others than just about anything else. Except maybe making them laugh. Like with this video:
As many of you probably know, besides writing this blog, I also have a video site by the same name. I have produced over 200 videos, with topics ranging from fitness and health, diet and nutrition, self-help and how-to, motivation and inspiration, as well as dozens of funny vids and original songs, like I Miss My Hair.
Quite a few of these videos have been well received, and I have gotten hundreds of wonderful comments from numerous blog posts like Do You Believe? and Is It Just Me? and Just Do It? Ten Tips to Get You Started. But one video stands out from the rest. Why does it stand out? You got me?
DRINK GREEN TEA EVERY DAY is not one of my best videos, if I say so myself. It’s kind of long and uneven in spots, if you ask me. In fact, given that it was one of my earlier efforts, I’d even go as far as to say that besides being nowhere near my Top Ten List, it‘s probably not even in my Top Fifty.
So, again, why does it stand out? And, more to the point, why am I making this big (okay, maybe semi-big) deal about it?
10,000 and counting!
Well, besides always wanting to call attention to healthier ways to improve your life (like the amazing health benefits of drinking green tea daily), my green tea video also happens to be, by far, my most watched. In fact, this very informative and worth-watching vid (even though it’s not in my Top Ten) recently registered its 10,000th view on YouTube. This is a modest milestone on this popular site when compared to some viral vids that get that many views an hour, but when you consider that 10,000 represents the total views my next three videos combined have received, then you can see why I have taken this moment to call attention to this (semi-) remarkable achievement.
So, without further ado, for those of you who have not had the pleasure of viewing my most watched video, please enjoy:
DRINK GREEN TEA EVERY DAY
And for those of you who would rather read the book than watch the movie, here are some of the amazing health benefits you may get from of a daily diet that includes ingesting green tea:
* Helps you lose weight * Aids in digestion * Encourages regularity * Lowers risk of cancer * Reduces LDL cholesterol * Fights diabetes * Loaded with antioxidants * Strengthens tooth enamel * Helps to lower blood pressure
Besides green tea, two other excellent sources of antioxidants are yerba mate and rooibos teas.
Yerba mate is found in the rain forests of Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina. Considered a sacred beverage, it is a high-energy stimulant that is also loaded with nutrients. The leaves of the mate tree naturally contain 24 vitamins and minerals, 15 amino acids, and loads of antioxidants. Naturally sweet, this tea is delicious, a great afternoon pick-me-up, and one of the healthiest beverages you can consume. Rooibos is a red bush tea grown in South Africa. Caffeine-free and high in antioxidants, this tasty tea is also filled with vitamins and minerals and has been known to relieve allergies, colic, and skin conditions, as well as sooth digestion and fight cancer.
DRINK GREEN TEA EVERY DAY is not only my most popular video, but one that has received the most feedback. Here is a sampling of a few of the questions I have gotten from this vid and my responses:
Q: Is it better to bring the water to a full boil or just before?
A: This, by far, has been the most controversial subject of debate in my tea vid. I use a teapot and bring it to a full boil, which purists say one should not do. They prefer the water temperature right before it boils. But when steeping the tea in a cup, like I do, versus keeping the leaves in the pot, the water temperature is just about right, since it loses heat from pot to cup. Check out this site for more about this subject.
Q: What are better, teabags or loose leaf?
A: Another controversial topic, but one I feel is all about personal preference, and for me, convenience. I drink at least five cups of tea each day so using teabags are fast and easy. When my life slows down and I can take a few more minutes each day to relax and enjoy the ceremony of using loose tea leaves, I will probably do so, but until then, its bags, baby! For more about this topic, visit this site.
Q: Are teas like Lipton green tea good?
A: I always answer these questions with one word: ORGANIC. Whenever possible, I choose organic. Why? Because if your goal is to improve your health by drinking green tea, then drinking non-organically grown teas is not helping. In fact, I suggest going organic with any and all foods you ingest: no pesticides, naturally grown, and a lot more healthier for you.
Q: Are bottled, sweetened iced teas good for you?
A: Read the label. If the ingredients say green tea and nothing else, and if it is organically grown, then you will get the same healthy benefits as brewing your own. But lots of these bottled iced teas are loaded with things you should not ingest. A safer bet is to make your own ice tea.
Green tea, yerba mate, rooibos, and even black and white teas are head-over-heels better beverage choices than soda, and a nice change from your daily cup of joe. Loaded with antioxidants, natural vitamins and minerals, they not only taste delicious but may just help you change your life for the better.
I am a vegetarian. I openly admit this. I’ve got nothing to hide, no turkey drumsticks stuffed in some far corner of my closet or cheeseburger stashed in the glove compartment of my car. And I’m a real vegetarian, someone who has opted not to ingest meat of any kind. That means all meats and meat byproducts. I often hear some people profess their vegetarianism proudly, only to later hear them amend this profession by adding that they only eat chicken…or just fish…or all meats except beef. To these confused folks I say: kudos on your quest toward healthier eating habits, but you are not vegetarians. And that’s okay with me. In fact, I support your healthy choices of eliminating some meats from your daily diet, just don’t go around calling yourself a veg-head. Like me.
But here’s the thing, the real deal, the dark little secret of being a vegetarian that you carnivorous, meat masticating guys and gals may not know:
WE MISS MEAT!
Got your attention? Actually, we, or maybe it’s just me, miss some of the comfort foods, made with meat, that I loved devouring while growing up. Foods like meatloaf with gravy and mashed potatoes. Spaghetti and meatballs. Lasagna stuffed with sausage and crushed meatballs. Enchiladas, tacos, burritos, fajitas crammed with chicken and carnitas. And cheeseburgers. Of all the foods that I’ve eschewed since I made the heart- and heath-conscious decision to eliminate (ALL!) animal proteins from my diet, I miss cheeseburgers the most.
But there was, and still is, a reason why all of these comfort foods taste so good, and why I still avoid them: they are loaded with calories, saturated fats, cholesterol, and sodium.
One day, while watching my lovely wife enjoy a cheeseburger, as I nibbled on a salad, my mind turned down a dark path, slipped stealthily toward temptation and taste, and wondered if I could somehow create comfort foods, like juicy cheeseburgers or spicy tacos, and make them meat-free and healthy, without losing their taste. And, through trial and error and lots of dirty pots and pans, I came up with:
My aim with this new series is to create healthy, vegetarian-based comfort foods that taste great too. I think I have achieved that with my first recipe (and video) for a simple marinara sauce. Serve this up over a high-fiber, whole wheat pasta and you have a delicious, healthy feast that will satisfy even the meatiest of meat eaters.
VEG OUT WITH MIKE (Simple Marinara Sauce)
In future veg out videos I hope to tackle tres frijoles (three bean) tacos, meatless meatloaf, veggie lasagna (my mom‘s recipe), and, yes, those greasy and decadent, but oh so tasty, cheeseburgers. All meat-less and low in saturated fats, cholesterol, sodium, and calories.
Is it possible?
Can I pull it off?
Can one mere man, armed with a bowl of veggies and a chopping knife, take those fattening comfort foods that we all love to eat and turn them into HEALTHY and TASTY delights?
As much as I love eating avocados today, it's hard to imagine that I didn't taste my first one until I was well into my twenties. I grew up in a small town in a small New England state. Our foods of choice leaned more toward clam cakes and chowder than tacos and enchiladas. Avocado? I hadn't a clue what one was. And don't even get me going about guacomole. Guaca...huh?
I understand that the avocado existed when I was growing up Back East, and they may even have been available at the local grocery store where my mother shopped. But mom never purchased one, never brought one of those green-skinned babies home. Believe it or not, I did not know WHAT an avocado WAS until I relocated to sunny California in the mid-80's. And even then, I wasn't sure what to do with one or how to eat it.
Today, avocados seem more popular and prevalent in everyday cuisine. In most restaurants you can find them chopped atop salads, sliced in between sandwiches, and, in its most popular form, as guacamole, that amazing green nacho-chip-dipping-taste-sensation.
While your mouth is watering, consider these interesting facts about the avocado:
* a member of the berry family, avocado is a fruit, not vegetable * the Aztecs named it after the word, ahuacatl, which meant "testicle," because of its shape * they have been around since 900 A.D. * they have been grown in North America since 1856 * also known as the alligator pear, Jamaicans call them pears
(for more fascinating information about the avocado, visit this site)
Most of you by now have tasted avocados, but if you still are like I was, back in the day, you should give them a try. You don't know what you are missing. But do you know the best way to cut one open? Here's a video that will help:
Hey, next time you have that chip loaded with guac, happily remind yourself that besides enjoying a delicious snack, you are also getting:
* 10 grams of dietary fiber * more potassium than one banana * vitamins E and B * 10 grams of the good fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated)
RED FLAG!
While very healthy for you, avocados are also high in calories and fats. The good news: these are the good fats--monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. These are heart-healthy fats and help lower LDL (bad cholesterol).
The bad news, for those counting calories or watching their weight, is that an average size avocado has around 300 calories--so tread carefully. I know that I can eat one all by myself, diced, with a sprinkle of sea salt. Try it! In moderation.
It's hard to imagine that I spent half my life deprived of the succulent taste of avocado. Maybe that's why I've spent the last twenty-five years eating more than my share, trying to make up for lost time.
You should too!
Always remember that you can watch hundreds of self-help videos about health and nutrition, and any number of other topics, at livelife365.com.
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