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| Bernando LaPallo 110 years of age. Photo by StarlinerEvents.com |
We all know that being overweight is a strain on the heart. But did you know that most of the weight you are carrying around your middle section (affectionately known as a tire) is quite literally full of crap? Get rid of it and not only will you be pounds lighter, you will aid in the elimination of a lot of toxins from your body specifically the colon. Your heart will thank you.
Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States? In 2008, over 616,000 people died of heart disease — that’s almost 25% of total deaths that year. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There are simple changes we can make to live better… and longer.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number one factor that puts people at risk for heart disease is inactivity. Being a “desk job” person myself, I have to make a conscious effort to move around throughout the day. Instead of sending an inter-office envelope, I’ll hand-deliver a document to the third-floor of my building. It only takes a few minutes, but it keeps my body moving and my mind more alert.
A personal trainer once told me that even going on a daily walk around your neighborhood or taking a restorative yoga class can help — as long as you keep yourself moving. Consider the Harvard Alumni Study that found that men who averaged at least eight flights a day enjoyed a 33 percent lower mortality rate than their sedentary counterparts. All they did was walk up a few flights of stairs!
Also among the risk factors for heart disease are obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. As we know, eating healthier can make a big difference.
The American Heart Association recommends consuming eight or more fruit and vegetable servings every day, and smoothies are a great way to pack a lot of produce into a single meal.
Delicious Heart Smart Smoothie Recipes
Today’s USANA Test Kitchen recipes feature three heart smart smoothie recipes that are quick to whip up and easy to take with you wherever you go!
Cranberry Fruit Smoothie (adapted from AHA recipe)
Servings: 1
Ingredients
- 1 (6-oz) carton of your favorite low-fat yogurt
- 1 banana (or other fruit of your choice)
- 1/3 cup 100% cranberry juice (not cranberry cocktail)
- 1/2 cup crushed ice
- 1 Tbs vanilla Nutrimeal
- 1 tsp Fibergy Plus
- Add banana, juice and ice to blender; pulse for 5 seconds
- Add Nutrimeal and Fibergy Plus; puree for 5-10 seconds or until smooth
Green Smoothie Spectacular
Serving: 2
Ingredients
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| Fibergy Plus is a tasteless fiber that helps keep your colon clean |
- 1 ripe banana, cut in chunks
- 1 cup seedless grapes
- 1 (6-oz) tub low-fat vanilla yogurt
- 1/2 apple, peeled, cored and cut into chunks
- 1-1/2 cups fresh spinach leaves
- 1/2 cup crushed ice
- 2 teaspoons Fibergy Plus
- 1/2 ripe avocado or cucumber (optional)
- Add all ingredients to blender; pulse for 10-15 seconds or until smooth
Sunshine Smoothie
Servings: 2Ingredients
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| Vanilla Nutrimeal is a soy protein non GMO food based complete meal replacement |
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 apple, peeled, seeded and cut into chunks
- 1/4 cup fresh carrots, cut into chunks
- 1 cup orange juice (not from concentrate)
- 1/2 low-fat milk or non-dairy alternative, such as soy milk
- 1/2 cup crushed ice
- 2 Tbs Vanilla Nutrimeal (or Orange Crème, if you have it)
- Add banana, apple, carrots, juice, milk and ice to blender; pulse for 5 seconds
- Add Nutrimeal; puree for 5-10 seconds or until smooth
Tips: Eating well is an important part of being healthy. From the USANA Test Kitchen is a monthly column offering useful nutrition tips, as well as delicious, healthy recipes that use USANA nutritionals in creative ways. Learn more about Fibergy and Nutrimeal Meal replacement Shakes here: Look under Detox for Fibergy Plus
Check out Bernando's youtube recipe channel, book,blog and facebook page Age Less Live More Store
Photos by Raji Barbir
