Chocolate and Calcium, Yes Please!

Sometimes there are great steals in the Shaws Discount Corner!  Last week my lucky find was...

Adora Calcium Supplements
500mg calcium supplement (calcium carbonate) in milk chocolate with added 1000 IU of Vitamin D and 40 mcg of Vitamin K.  30 calories a piece.  They also come in dark chocolate.
For more info http://www.adoracalcium.com/
Yummy!  I have been eating 2 a day.  It's great because I don't like milk, I don't buy cheese, sometimes yogurt is expensive, and I always forget to take my calcium pills.  Confession:  This stuff tastes too good to be labeled as a supplement! I haven't forgetten about calcium since I bought these.  *wink*
The RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) for calcium is 1,000 mg/day for men and women ages 19-50 years.  Of course the optimal way to get calcium is through food (milk, cheese, yogurt, broccoli, kale).  But sometimes we need an extra boost.  So if you supplement, here's some tips.

Tip 1:  One Pill at a Time
Research shows that the body can optimally absorb up to 500 mg of calcium at one time.  Don't pop your pills all at once, but spread them out throughout the day.
Tip 2: The Competition-Calcium and Iron
Calcium blocks the absorption of iron.  Keep your iron and calcium supplements separate for best results.
Tip 3: Inseparable Buddies-Calcium and Vitamin D
Calcium (whether through food or as a supplement) is absorbed with the help of active Vitamin D.  If you are low in Vitamin D, then the calcium will pass in and pass out and all this calcium talk is blabber.  So here's another reason to go play in the sun!

Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet, Calcium.
Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health.
http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/calcium.asp

Pour on the Pounds

NSBs.

Nutritively Sweetened Beverages.

This morning in my nutrition biochemistry class I heard about the new NSB advertisement campaign in New York City.  Apparently the NYC Department of Public Health spent $277,000 to develop this ad as part of a  campaign to decrease consumption of sweetened beverages.  The graphic ad will run in 1,500 subways for a period of 3 months.  I am eager to see what the results will be.

The New York Times Article
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/nyregion/01fat.html

Dietetic Internship, Day 1

Dietetic Internship Rotation #1: Tufts Weight and Wellness Center (WWC)

1 pound = 3,500 kcals.
My day centered around this simple fact.  One pound lost requires 3,500 calories worth of effort.  It's no small accomplishment.  

Today I started rotations at the Tufts Medical Center Weight and Wellness Center (WWC).   The WWC  is a clinic solely devoted to the treatment of obesity.  Patients with obesity are treated through several programs, including medically supervised weight loss groups, meal replacement programs, and surgery (gastric bypass or gastric-band).  Obesity is treated as a clinical diagnosis by a team of doctors, surgeons, dietitians, behavior therapists, exercise physiologists and nurses.  It truly is an amazing approach and has produced significantly successful results.

Now I am sitting on my couch organizing my notes and getting ready for tomorrow.  I stop and recognize the faint sensation that has been brewing in my mind all day.  Respect.  Today I have gained a new respect for individuals of size.  Gastric bypass surgery is no small decision.  Imagine having a stomach the size of an egg.  Imagine a life without sugar.  Exactly.  In pursuing this surgery, these patients have a motivation that I don't own.  The patients I met today had humility, to listen to clinician after clinician tell them what to do and how to change.  Many of these individuals are preparing to live a new lifestyle.  I respect the 7 patients that I met today, and I never want to forget the lessons I learned from them.

*note: In gastric bypass surgery sugar and fat are not completely eliminated from the diet.  However intake may produce uncomfortable side effects such as dumping syndrome.*

The conversations from today linger with me.  Although I will not see these patients again, I truly wish the best of luck for all of them.  I hope their surgeries are successful, their weight loss prolonged and consistent, and their lives improved in health and happiness.
Tonight my thoughts are for them.

I have the sweets for Shave Ice!

It's a hot summer day, the AC is broken, and the pool is closed.  Plus, it's day 2 on your "shape up for the new school year" diet.  Meaning, no ice cream.  What's a girl to do?  My answer: shave ice!

Well, this wasn't exactly my story.  But nonetheless I want to pay tribute to one of my favorite summer treats.  I'm not talking about the crunchy syrup-drenched chunks of ice found at the state fair.  Nope.  Quality shave ice guarantees a melt-in-you-mouth experience.  And we found some!

Osaka-ya

2215 10th Street

Sacramento, CA 95818

Strawberry flavor.
Sweet azuki bean topping, a classic Japanese addition.
yumm!

Toby's Farmers Market

Let's give a cheer for Farmers Markets across the USA!
A quick trip to Point Reyes, California brought not only fantastic views of the national seashore and scenic running along the coast, but another pleasant surprise: Toby's Farmers Market.  My childhood memories include fond Saturday mornings eating honey sticks at the local farmers market.  Yet to my regret I realize that my busy college years have been completely void of the market goodness.  What happened?!  Well I am back in Boston, and aspired anew!

If in the California-Point Reyes area, be sure to check out the market.
http://pointreyesweekend.com/point-reyes-farmers-market-2009

*note to self* Farmers Markets are a photofest!

Bruschetta

Cooking night with a friend tonight.  We made a fab pesto sauce over pasta, and these easy bruschetta.  The sweet tomato, sharp balsamic vinegar and savory basil carried enough flavor on its own; providing a healthy and crunchy start to our meal!

2 ripe tomato

3 cloves garlic

handful of fresh basil

balsamic vinegar

parmesan cheese

Mince garlic and sauté in olive oil.  Dice fresh tomatoes and add.  Chop fresh basil into desired size and add together with balsamic vinegar to taste.  Add dash of pepper or a little salt if desired.

Cut baguette into thin slices and toast for 5 minutes at 425.  Remove from oven, turn baguette slices, and top with tomato mixture.  Bake for another 2-3 minutes, until bread is crispy on top and the tomato juice is dry.  Remove from oven and top with parmesan cheese.

*Crunch*  Enjoy!

Me Loves the Mango!

Mango Tapioca Smoothie from Rainbow Cafe.  Treat yourself with layered goodness of creamy vanilla tapioca, tangy fresh mango, and sweet vanilla ice cream.  

This item is not on their regular menu, so just ask for the mango ice cream special.  Or point to the sign on the wall (see picture below).  Rainbow Cafe is located on Beach Street (cross sectioned with Oxford?) in Chinatown, Boston.  I'll see you there!