Artichokes – Busting the Sugar Craving

by Cascade Ice on June 15, 2011

The Flavorful Life is featuring several “healthy living journey” stories from Cascade Ice fans around the country, where guest bloggers tell us their thoughts on how they face challenges and come up with new ideas to pursue better health and fitness lifestyles. The following is the latest update from Dawn Sievers of Knoxville, TN, and blogger for “The Healing Morning”

Craving sweets?  Try eating artichokes. Yes, I’m serious!  For those of you who have been following me here at The Flavorful Life, you know that I’ve been revamping a lot of bad habits in the past year.  One thing that I will admit I don’t have a problem with is sweets; they’ve just never been a trigger food for me.  I do, however, have many friends who fight that battle, so I started doing some research and stumbled across the suggestion that eating artichokes can curb the craving for sugary foods.  It turns out that artichokes are rich in insulin, a substance that increases immune defense mechanisms, helps stabilize blood sugar levels and helps to support the liver and pancreas.

What do the liver and pancreas have to do with sugar cravings?  When both organs are overloaded with sugar, they become “sluggish” and are not as efficient with their proper function, which is to process and flush toxins from the body.  Thus begins that vicious cycle we’re all familiar with – junk food-itis!

Artichokes are also chock full of health benefits, containing fiber, potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus and other trace elements important for a balanced system.  It can also slightly lower the blood sugar, improve the appetite and digestion, is diuretic (meaning it helps to flush excess fluid retention) and may help some migraine conditions (most especially those caused by toxins in the blood).  All that in a humble little vegetable!  Give this one a try next time the old Sugar Devil strikes and see how it works for you.

Easy Ways to Reduce Your Calorie Intake

by Cascade Ice on June 10, 2011

Summer is in full swing. Store aisles are lined with swimsuits, flip flops and sunscreen, which has given most of us the motivation to watch what we eat. Diet is definitely one of those four-letter words, but there are ways to still enjoy the things you love and be healthy. We found some great tips from The Nest to help you easily trim calories this summer:

• Use smaller plates. This will make it appear like you have a fuller plate even though you have smaller portions.
• Stop when you are full. Don’t feel the need to eat everything on your plate if you aren’t hungry, throw the rest of it in the fridge and save it for later.
• Substitute healthier options. Switch from two-percent to skim milk, skip the regular cheese and replace it with low-fat cheese and ditch whole eggs for egg whites.

All of these tips are just small steps that can seriously cut back your calorie intake. Do you have any tips for eating healthier? Share them below!

Staying Cool in the Summer Sun

by Cascade Ice on June 8, 2011

Most of us are excited to come out of our winter hibernation, buy new summer clothes and enjoy our favorite outdoor activities. One very important thing to remember is to stay hydrated and pay close attention to your body as the temperatures rise. Here are some tips from the American Heart Association that can help:

• Drink plenty of water and fluids! If it’s hot out and you’re not working up a sweat, you may be dehydrated so drink up!
• Sunburns stink! Always wear sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and remember to reapply every two hours.
• Keep in mind that the sun is at its strongest between noon and 3 p.m., so head inside if it’s getting too hot.
• Dress for the weather. Wear lightweight clothes like cotton, and use sunglasses to protect your eyes.

Here’s wishing you a wonderful, fun-filled Summer! Do you have any special summer tips? Share them below!

Is Gluten-Free Right for You?

by Cascade Ice on June 4, 2011

“Gluten-free” is a really popular phrase lately. Celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Gwyneth Paltrow claim to have cut gluten from their diets. So what’s the deal with gluten-free?

According to a recent article on CNN Health, nearly everyone falls somewhere on a spectrum of gluten intolerance. On one end of the spectrum is celiac disease, which is complete intolerance to gluten. The other end are those who have very small gluten sensitivities, but most people fall somewhere in between.

Has anyone cut gluten from their diet? Please share below!