Seriously, You Call This Natural
people packing on pounds with so called healthy foods
Last week, the FDA ruled that high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)—the controversial sugar impersonator derived from corn—is about as natural as Pamela Anderson's hair color, and can no longer be labeled as such.
Because HFCS starts as corn starch, brands like 7 Up have tried to spin it as a natural ingredient in the past. But because the starch's enzymes are converted and fixed with synthetic agents, it's pretty far from natural. And when you put it in your body, it's not processed like normal sugar: HFCS wreaks havoc on your waistline by shutting off the switches that control appetite. It has also been linked to childhood obesity and diabetes.
The FDA ruling comes at a time when 2,617 of the new products launched in 2007 contain some "natural" claim, making it hard to discern between food label fact and fiction. While it's a no-brainer that sugary sodas aren't good for you, it's a little trickier to spot the hidden danger in foods like crackers and ketchup, which contain HFCS, too.
And HFCS isn't the only wolf in sheeps clothing. Some of your favorite health foods like yogurt and granola bars are actually packed with sugar—and, in excess, the natural stuff can be as lethal to your diet as its evil twin.
It is time to kick the sugar and HFCS habit. If you drink soft drinks (I used to be a Mt. Dew and Coke fan), replace them plenty of water! Or... what I suggest is adding the juice of half a lemon or 4 tablespoons of unsweetened cranberry juice to 32 ounces of water with a sprinkle of Steviva Brand Stevia Powder . Aside from being less than 2 carbs, you will get the health benefits that the stevia provides along with the vitamin C and electrolytes that lemon have. You can substitute limes for lemons if you get bored. Click here to order stevia powder .. This can make a very, very big difference.
Live well and have an excellent week.
Thom King
President
thom.king@steviva.com
Steviva Brands, Inc.
YOUR MIND
Overcome Fear With Action
Max Steingart
One of the greatest surprises you'll experience,
is when you discover that you can do
what you were afraid you couldn't do.
Your obstacles will melt away,
if instead of cowering before them,
you make up your mind to walk boldly through them.
Do the thing you fear and fear disappears.
Confront your fears, list them, get to know them
and only then will you be able to put them aside
and move ahead.
When you face the things that scare you,
you open the door to freedom.
The only thing you have to fear, is fear itself..
YOUR BODY
Make Time For Exercise
“Remember, when you exercise consistently, you'll have something that's truly beneficial for your heart and your soul.”
Life seems increasingly complex these days. There are children and pets to care for, partners who need attention and errands to run. On top of that, the cell phone is ringing, the email is chiming, faxes are flying and taxes are coming due. How is a person supposed to find time to exercise?
The key is to make exercise a priority. In a survey of both active and sedentary adults, both groups had 24 hours a week available for their leisure pursuits. So - there is time to exercise! Workouts of 30 minutes, three times a week, add up to a mere hour and a half out of the possible 168 hours in the week. Remember, when you exercise consistently, you'll have something that's truly beneficial for your heart and your soul. Some tips to help you fit in fitness:
1. Pencil in the time. Plan ahead. Make an appointment with yourself and pencil your workout in your schedule. When exercise time becomes a priority, just like a meeting with your boss, you'll give it the importance that it deserves.
2. Remember the benefits. Most regular exercisers will tell someone who doesn't exercise: "You're just not making it a priority." Actually, the non-regular exerciser may feel that the costs of doing the activity outweigh the benefits. Remind yourself that taking a 30-minute walk before work can increase your energy level throughout the day, increase productivity and boost your mood. Isn't that worth a half-hour less sleep?
3. Be prepared. Lay out your exercise clothes the night before and exercise first thing in the morning.
4. Blend it in. Try to incorporate exercise into your daily activities - do you normally walk the dog? Put on your exercise shoes and pick up the pace a notch. Extend the walk to 20-30 minutes - that's your workout (and your dog will love it.) Other ideas: Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park the car in the far end of the parking lot and walk. Use any way you can to increase your daily activity level. It all adds up!
5. Make family and friends time active time. Enroll in a parent-child swim or gymnastics class; take the kids to the park and make an obstacle course for yourself out of the playground; make a date with your spouse to take short after-dinner strolls; get together with a co-worker for a quick lunch plus some brisk window shopping.
6. Set limits. Don't eat lunch (or play your favorite after-work video game) until you've completed your workout for the day. Linking your workout to a well-established routine will help ensure that your exercise quickly becomes a healthy habit.
7. Hire a coach. A good way to ensure your success as a regular exerciser is to assign someone to be your personal fitness "coach." This person could be your spouse, co-worker, a close friend or a sibling—someone who will understand your weekly fitness goals and who can nix any excuse you come up with for not achieving them. Your coach's duties include checking in with you several times a week to see how you're doing. If you miss a workout, the coach can be understanding, but should insist on a scheduled make-up session.
8. Be ready with Plan B. Expect obstacles and overcome them. When your favorite exercise bike is occupied at the gym, jump onto a treadmill or a rower, or start your weight training and return to the bike later. Think about trying a new piece of equipment to spice up your normal routine. This new skill will make your workout more exciting.
9. Create your own bonuses and incentives . A month of workouts can equal a new outfit, an upgrade in equipment, a massage, a half-hour with a personal trainer, a yoga class, or a fancy pair of cross-trainers.
10. Be forgiving. There is a delicate balance between a firm commitment to exercise and a rigid compulsion about keeping to a pre-determined workout schedule. By developing a flexible, healthy attitude about your exercise program - making it part of your life, not your entire life - your enthusiasm for exercising will always remain high.
11. Drink a lot of water. What I suggest is adding the juice of half a lemon or 4 tablespoons of unsweetened cranberry juice to 32 ounces of water with a sprinkle of Steviva Brand Stevia Powder . Aside from being less than 2 carbs, you will get the health benefits that the stevia provides along with the vitamin C and electrolytes that lemon have. You can substitute limes for lemons if you get bored. Click here to order stevia powder .
YOUR SPIRIT
Compassion For All People
You may be someone who understands the true nature of reality, perceiving deeply that we all emanate from the same source, that we are all essentially one, and that we are here on Earth to love one another. To understand this is to be awakened to the true nature of the self, and this understanding is a blessing. Nevertheless, people who just do not get it are seemingly everywhere and, often, occupy positions of power. It can be frustrating and painful to watch them behave unconsciously.
We all encounter individuals such as this in our families, at work, and in all areas of public life. It is easy to find ourselves feeling intolerant of these people, wishing we could be free of them even though we know that separation from them is an illusion.
It helps sometimes to think of us all as different parts of one psyche. Within our own hearts and minds we have dark places that need healing, just as the heart and mind of the world have their dark places. The health of the whole organism depends upon the relative health of the individuals within it. We increase harmony when we hold on to the light, not allowing it to be clouded by judgment, anger, and fear about those who behave unconsciously. It is easier to accomplish this if we don’t focus on the negative qualities of individuals and instead on how increasing our own light will increase that of the overall picture.
When dealing with people who seem very unconscious, it helps to remember that everyone must find their own way to awakening, and that the experiences they are having are an essential part of their process. Holding them in the glow of our energy may be the best way to awaken theirs. At the same time, we are inspired by their example to look within and shed light on our own unconscious places, sacrificing the urge to judge and surrendering instead to humble self-inquiry.
YOUR RECIPE
Low Glycemic Sugar Free Super Easy Almond Butter Fudge
Serves: 12
Carbs Per Serving: 6.58 g
Prep Time:<25 minutes
Skill Level: Easy
Ingredients:
2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
10 tablespoons half and half
1/2 cup almond butter
1/2 - 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup Steviva Brand Stevia Blend or a tiny dash of Steviva Brand Stevia Powder
1/2 cup unsalted chopped almonds
Preparation:
In heavy saucepan, melt chocolate and half and half. Stir in almond butter. Remove from heat and add vanilla and Steviva Brand Stevia Blend or Steviva Brand Stevia Powder. Fold chopped into fudge. Spread on sprayed plate. Chill and cut into 16 pieces.
Nutritional Facts
Total Calories: 1877
Calories Per Serving: 156.4
Total Fat: 163.1g
Saturated Fat: 44.7g
Cholesterol: 34mg
Sodium: 160mg
Total Carbohydrates: 79g
Carbohydrates Per Serving: 6.58g
Dietary Fiber: 26.8g
Sugars: 27g
Protein: 66g
Try All Natural Steviva Brand Stevia Blend and Steviva Brand Stevia Powder!