15 Minute Meal

Pasta & Peppers (20 minutes)

1 Cup radiatore pasta,  2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 cup chopped onions, 1 teaspoon red pepper, 1 large yellow pepper (diced), 1 garlic glove(chopped fine), 1 cup low fat chicken broth, 15-oz can chickpeas, 1 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, 1/4 cup fresh chopped basil, pepper to taste

Cook pasta as instructed on the package and drain. ~ Heat oil in a large skillet. ~ Add onion & red pepper and cook for 1 minute. ~ Stir in bell pepper & garlic and cook 2 minutes. ~ Add broth, chickpeas & tomatoes and simmer 5 minutes. Add pepper. Stir pasta into sauce. Garnish with basil.

Serve with your favorite green salad.

This pasta dish is cholesterol free, low sodium and low fat.

SOURCE: Essence Magazine August 2007

Yours in health,
Dr. Velonda

http://calmunderfire.posterous.com

http://drvelonda.blogspot.com
www.befitinc.com
www.hhcextracts.com/5618

www.hhcbusiness.com/5618

 

 

Dip it, marinade it and sauce it up!

A delicious healthy and versatile olive oil seasoning can be used for dipping, marimating, pasta sauce and salad dressing. KENZOIL is vegan and kosher. Better still it is free of gluten and preservatives. KENZOIL can replaced some of your high fat favorites such as butter and mayonnaise.

For tips and recipes using KENZOIL visit http://kenzoil.com or call 888-296-3111.  

Yours in health,
Dr. Velonda

http://calmunderfire.posterous.com

http://drvelonda.blogspot.com
www.befitinc.com
www.hhcextracts.com/5618

www.hhcbusiness.com/5618

Cool as a Cucumber

 

This is the best time of year to be “cool as a cucumber".  Did you know a few slices of cucumber can provide an afternoon pick-me-up that can last for hours and help ward off the munchies until mealtime?

 

A single cucumber also contains a healthy portion of most of the vitamins we need every day, including vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6; vitamin C, folic acid (vitamin B9), as  well as calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, potassium and zinc.

 Cucumbers belong to the same family as watermelon, zucchini, pumpkin, and other types of squash and are known for helping lower blood pressure and others uses listed below:

• The silica in cucumber is an essential component of healthy connective tissue, which includes muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bone.


• Cucumber juice is often recommended as a source of silica to improve the complexion and health of the skin, plus cucumber's high water content makes it naturally hydrating—a must for glowing skin.


• Cucumbers are also used topically for various types of skin problems, including swelling under the eyes and sunburn.


• Two compounds in cucumbers, ascorbic acid and caffeic acid, prevent water retention, which may explain why cucumbers applied topically are often helpful for swollen eyes, burns and dermatitis.

SOURCE: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=42

 

Velonda Thompson, PhD - Nutritionist, Professor, Speaker and Author of "Pass the Sweet Potatoes, Please!" and "Calm Under Fire".

www.befitinc.com  http://hhcextracts.com/5618

Michelle Obama Talks Prevention

This just in from the office of Michele Obama--

When you hear about the new health reform law these days, too much talk is focused on the political.

What I've found is that most Americans just want to know how this new law helps their families stay healthy -- and how it reduces their costs.

The first thing I tell people who ask about the Affordable Care Act is that, for moms like me, it makes our lives easier. It gives families control over their own care. And it gives us the comfort of knowing that our insurance will be there when we need it most -- especially if we get sick. Then I tell them that it gets better, but there's a lot to know. To help, this administration has set up HealthCare.gov, where folks can see customized information about how care will improve for their families.

So much of what makes this law great is its emphasis on preventive care -- right now, too many people aren't getting the check-ups or the screenings they need to stay healthy. Twelve percent of kids haven't seen a doctor in the past year. And 59 million adults -- and 11 million children -- depend on an insurance plan that does not cover basic immunizations.

Health reform is changing that. Under this new law, all new private plans will provide basic preventive services -- things like childhood immunizations and checkups, mammograms, colonoscopies, cervical screenings, and treatment for high blood pressure -- absolutely free of charge. No copay. No deductible. No co-insurance needed.

And, on HealthCare.gov, you can not only learn what preventive steps will help keep your family healthy, but also what insurance coverage options are available based on your needs.

A focus on prevention will help us to combat diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure -- chronic illnesses that right now lead to seven of ten deaths in the United States and 75 percent of our national health care costs.

And it will help us tackle an issue that is dear to my heart -- childhood obesity. As some of you know one of my top priorities as First Lady is the Let's Move! campaign, where we have made it our goal to put a stop to the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation, so children who are born today grow up at a healthy weight.

Each of us needs to take responsibility for our own health and the health of our families, and the new health reform law can help. That's why I'm writing today -- to make sure you and Americans across the country know how their health plans are getting better day by day under reform.

Please visit HealthCare.gov and find out more about your care:

www.healthcare.gov

Thank you,

Michelle Obama

Breakfast on the Run

Berry Banana Smoothie

1. Blend A handful of fresh kale, a handful of red stripe swiss chard, 1 tablespoon ground flax seed and 2 cups water together.                                                            2. Add 2 bananas and 1 cup fresh blueberries and blend.

Blueberries are full of antioxidants, bananas give you vitamin C, kale and swiss chard provides calcium & potassium.

You have got the power to be fit! Don't forget to drink water:~)

 

Velonda Thompson, PhD - Nutritionist, Speaker, Professor and Author of "Pass the Sweet Potatoes, Please!" and "Calm Under Fire"

http://hhcextracts.com/5618     www.befitinc.com

Water Please

While we can live for weeks without food, the same can not be said for water. Every person's survival depends on ingesting water. Without water your body will not digest and absorb your food; nor will the body be able to supply oxygen and nutrients to the cells and rid the body of waste.  (The Importance of Water - http://www.aomega.com/mpure/water.htm)

Just as we must be proactive about choosing good quality food, so goes our choices with water. Who said water is just water? Can you say "KANGEN WATER"?

Learn how changing your water can change your life http://www.kangenpurity.com/

 

Velonda Thompson, PhD Nutritionist, Professor and Speaker - Author or "Pass the Sweet Potatoes, Please!" and "Calm Under Fire"

313-874-BFIT (2348)  www.befitinc.com          www.hhcbusiness.com/5618

Greener Grillin'

Every summer we hear that grilling is the healthiest way to cook meat and vegetables.

Hormone-free and antibiotic-free meat is easier to find these days with more media promotion of healthy living. It is true, bar-b-que meat can yield high levels of carcinogens that we want to avoid. THERE’S a BUT! Don’t throw the grill out just yet. It seems this level of carcinogens is most likely when you refuse to grill meats at the recommended medium-high and instead opt for super-high flame grilling. Time magazine’s recent “Taste of America” article (July 5, 2010) shared some research backed tips for getting your grill on:

>Cook all your meat at medium-high heat.

>Marinating meats with rosemary (combined with a little lemon and garlic), which can add flavor and hinders the formation of carcinogenic toxins that are common with charred meats.

>Avoid charcoal briquettes and lighter fluid which produces lots of  carbon monoxide.

>Use natural lump chacoal

 

Make your grillin’ thrilling with ideas from grilling  gurus  at http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1999723_1999721,00.html?iid=redirect-grill

 

Yours in health,
Dr. Velonda

http://calmunderfire.posterous.com

http://drvelonda.blogspot.com
www.befitinc.com
www.hhcextracts.com/5618

www.hhcbusiness.com/5618

 

 

Summertime Power Foods

Summertime provides a rainbow of foods to choose from that will protect your skin, help you avoid dehydration and support your efforts to trim down and muscle up. Take melons for instance – Cantaloupes are sweet with nutrition goodness. Cantaloupe’s high beta-carotene content promotes healthy skin.

For tips on picking a good cantaloupe and more summertime food, check out  the article  “25 Food you must eat this summer..” http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1608/is_6_19/ai_102140908/

 

Yours in health,

Velonda Thompson, PhD - author of "Pass the Sweet Potatoes, Please!" and "Calm Under Fire"      www.befitinc.com 

5 systems - 5 Seasons

Eating with the seasons takes on a new meaning when we think about preventing dis-ease in our bodies.

According to Dr. Keefa Lorraine Witherspoon during the summer we should be eating in a way that balances 2 systems; lungs/colon and kidney/bladder.

By choosing more often from the following list of foods during the hot months we are preparing the lungs and colon for it's heavy load of work during autumn: GRAINS - Rice, Barley, Oats ~~ FRUITS - Peaches, Lemon, Tomatoes, Melons ~~ VEGETABLES - Onion, garlic,, Green Pea, Comfrey, Cider Vinegar, Ginger, Radish, Hot Pepper.

Hear Dr. Keefa Fridays 8 - 9pm on the "Spirit of Wellness" program www.tv33whpr.com or TV33 and FM 88.1 Visit her at www.spiritofwellness.net

Velonda Thompson, PhD - Nutritionist, Professor, Speaker and author of "Pass the Sweet Potatoes, Please!" and "Calm Under Fire". www.befitinc.com

Healthy Hearts Club

What's Your Healthy Heart Lifestyle?

While many of us are totally aware of the following list, the benefits of repetition far outweigh any repeated information. Take these items into consideration in your everyday life – because they work if we take them to heart.

Heart Fitness – If you want a healthy heart, the best way is through exercise.

Diet – When fatty meats are avoided, your heart is able to sing.

Smoking – It matters. We know it. Don't start and if you currently do – quit!

Weight – Extra pounds are a strain on the joints and your heart.

Blood Pressure – Be healthy and have it checked.

Cholesterol – One part good, one part not so good, it's a key ingredient to know your HDL and LDL levels!

Stress – If the eyes are the window to the soul, the heart is the caretaker of our emotions. Learning how to handle stressful situations can enable a steady heart rate and a stronger muscle.

Happiness – Laughter is good medicine and feeds a healthy heart.

Friendships – Studies show that those with strong friendship live longer, happier and healthier lives

A healthy heart is important for men and women, especially later in life since statistics show that 2 out of 3 of us will personally deal with this issue during our lifetime. The great news is we don't have to wait. In fact, a few strides toward a healthy lifestyle can turn the tables in your favor. 

Join Healthy Hearts Club Where Your Healthy Heart And Lifestyle Are Created One Realistic Step At A Time!  http://www.hhcbusiness.com/5618

 

Velonda Thompson, Phd Nutritionist, Professor and author of "Pass the Sweet Potatoes, Please!" and "Calm Under Fire"  www.befitinc.com or 313-874-BFIT (2348)

Smoothies to beat the Summer Sizzle

Light breakfast and cool drinks are what we most during the warmer months of the year. While fruits are plentiful, its easy to make delicious beverages for breakfast or an energizing afternoon snack.

Visit http://www.fitwoman.com/recipes/summer-smoothies.shtml for great ideas.

 

Velonda Thompson, PhD author of "Pass the Sweet Potatoes, Pleas!" and "Calm Under Fire"

www.hhcbusiness.com/5618           www.befitinc.com  

Got Water ?

Drinking water is the most important thing that you can do to help maintain your health. Unfortunately many of us underestimated it's importance. Water makes up approximately 70% of our body and is required for our cells to absorb nutrition and release waste. 

Simply put - Without water, we die! You would be lucky to last seven days without water.

For more on the importance of water in the human body, click here: http://www.arsa.in/documents/benefits_of_alkaline_water.html

Yours in health,

Velonda Thompson, PhD author of "Pass the Sweet Potatoes, Please!" and "Calm Under Fire"

www.befitinc.com    

www.hhcbusiness.com/5618

Benefits of Cod Liver Oil

If you have been around as long as I have, you will remember grandma's spoonful of cod liver oil.

The liver of codfish provides us with this wonderful nutritional supplement that is loaded with numerous health benefits. Found in liquid or pill form, cod liver oil is rich in nutrients including Vitamin A, Vitamin D and Omega 3.

Some health benefits include:

• Helps maintain a healthy immune system


• Helps maintain strong & healthy bones


• Anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce stress and improve brain function

For more information on the health benefits of cod liver oil visit: http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxification-diet/cod-liver-oil.htm

 

Velonda Thompson, PhD - author of "Pass the Sweet Potatoes, Please" and "Calm Under Fire"

www.befitinc.com       www.hhcbusiness.com/5618

Serenity

Serenity comes when we are calm and clear.

 

Page 17 - "Calm Under Fire"

Velonda Thompson, PhD

www.befitinc.com

www.hhcextracts.com/5618

http://drvelonda.blogspot.com

 

Eye on additives

Artificial coloring, BHA, BHT, Astaxanthin, Benzoic acid a.k.a sodium benzoate are a few of the 14,000 laboratory-made additives that food producers use to make our food last longer and appear fresher.

Did you know that the FDA allows 10 colors in foods? You can find a color additive section at www.fda.gov/forindustry/coloradditives/default.htm


Velonda Thompson, PhD
author of "Pass the Sweet Potatoes, Please!" and "Calm Under Fire"
www.befitinc.com
www.hcextracts.com/5618
http://drvelonda.blogspot.com