Skinny Dip: Cantaloupe Chutney

Food for Thought: Serve this tasty chutney as a dip or as a topping for whole grains, steamed veggies, chicken, fish or tofu.

• 4 cups diced cantaloupe (about 1 melon)
• 1⁄3 cup golden raisins
• 1⁄3 cup minced red onion
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1⁄4 cup water
• 3 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Place pan over medium-high heat and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 25–30 minutes, until cantaloupe breaks down. Cool to room temperature, then drain (but reserve the liquid to use as a marinade for another dish). (Makes 10 servings).

Per serving: Each 1⁄4-cup serving contains: 62 calories; 0 g total fat; 0 g saturated fat; 16 g carbohydrates; < 1 g protein; 0 g dietary

How small amounts of certain foods can reduce cholesterol

Plant sterols occur naturally in a host of foods—primarily soybean oil, nuts, seeds, legumes and some fruits and vegetables. Because plant sterols are chemically similar to cholesterol, the human body tends to absorb them and pass cholesterol out of the body as waste. The net result is that consuming foods rich in plant sterols can reduce the body’s blood cholesterol levels. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows food companies to declare the heart benefits of plant sterols on product packaging.

What are plant sterols? - Plant sterols are compounds found naturally in everyday foods like vegetables oils, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables. They have a chemical structure similar to cholesterol. U.S. diets containing these foods provide 140–400 milligrams of plant sterols per day.

How effective are plant sterols at lowering LDL cholesterol? - Numerous studies have concluded that consuming at least 2 g of plant sterols a day is associated with an average 10% reduction in LDL cholesterol.

How do plant sterols lower cholesterol? - Because plant sterols have a similar chemical structure to cholesterol, they block the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine.

Fitness Tip: Liquid Beverage - Adding Green Decaf Tea to your diet

Fitness Tip: Liquid Beverage - Adding Green Decaf Tea to your diet has been shown to provide several health benefits that include metabolizing fat, supporting digestion, and also adding a good source of antioxidants. Green Tea can be sweetened with Splenda or Stevia as an alternative in keeping with a NO Calorie beverage choice for your meal plan.

Is Soy Actually bad for your health?

There are health benefits to soy, but many of them have since been proven to not be as beneficial as previously thought according to a large body of  emerging research.  Soy is soy safe?  Do the benefits of eating soy outweigh the risks?

The Popularity of Soy

The upswing in soy consumption in the US as a healthy food was in direct response to the October 26, 1999, statement released by the FDA that authorized the use of health claims about the role of soy protein in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) on labeling of foods containing soy protein.

Fitness Tip: Whole Grain Goodness

Fitness Tip: Whole Grain Goodness - 100% Stone Ground Whole Wheat products are the way to go when it comes to eating high quality wheat derived carbs. They are loaded with more fiber, reducing you risk for heart disease, cancer, and other health related diseases. Focus on Oats, Barley, Bulgur, Quinoa, Brown Rice, Millet, Buckwheat, and Ground Flaxseed.