You can receive Featurettes by e-mail daily, weekly or monthly by request. We can e-mail by your choice of topic or all stories as you may prefer. To make it even more convenient for editors to use our stories, NAPS has added an RSS syndication feed to our Web site. Simply hit the RSS button on our site for automated updates on available content. Please contact us to arrange to receive Featurettes in the format that works best for you at (800) 222-5551 or e-mail your request to us at printmedia@napsnet.com. We can provide Featurettes on CD-ROM or you can download it online at www.napsnet.com. Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2607 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 415 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 How To Keep Smiling While Losing Weight by Sherry Torkos (NAPSA)—Good news: There is a way to keep your spirits up and your weight gain down. Most adults gain between one and two pounds a year. Driven by hectic schedules, increased stress, reduced physical activity and poor eating habits, weight gain affects overall health in many ways. Not only can it increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease, it can also affect sleep and mood and may even contribute to sexual dysfunction. Fortunately, you can avoid this trap. Here’s how: 1. Change your exercise routine with the seasons. Don’t let cold winter weather make you sedentary. There are plenty of ways to stay active during the winter. Try skiing or ice-skating, or take a class like Pilates or yoga. Any physical activity will benefit your weight, mood, hormonal balance and immunity. 2. Follow the glycemic index. Avoid foods with a high glycemic index (foods that break down quickly into sugar, such as refined starches and sweets). These foods cause dramatic fluctuations in blood sugar that can increase appetite. Reach for lowglycemic whole grains (whole wheat, brown rice, oats, flaxseed, legumes, vegetables). They’re broken down more slowly and evenly, helping control blood sugar levels and reducing hunger. 3. Try to steer clear of stress. Chronic stress can cause weight gain, particularly around the midsection. Stress increases the release of the hormone cortisol, which promotes body fat storage. Stress also triggers unhealthy eating. 4. Choose smart supplements. Supplements can help promote good health and support a weight management program. Washington Redskins Cheerleader Talks Injury Prevention (NAPSA)—Football may be bruising, but cheerleading is no walk in the park either. In fact, even at the local school level, it’s been rated the most dangerous sport for women by the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research—and you need only ask a Washington Redskins cheerleader why. Don’t let weight gain get you down. • Multivitamins and minerals help you get antioxidants, B vitamins and vitamin D when you may not be getting enough through diet. • Phase 2 Carb Controller can help support weight management and reduce after-meal blood sugar levels. This white kidney bean extract, found in Carb Intercept from Natrol, reduces the digestion and absorption of starchy foods. Starches are a major factor in weight gain and blood sugar fluctuations. • Fish oil, which provides omega-3 fatty acids, is good for heart health and emotional wellbeing. Research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may also help fight fat by increasing its oxidation. • Green tea contains antioxidant-rich catechins, as well as a small amount of caffeine. Research suggests that these compounds work together to increase calorie burning. Look for Teavigo, a natural green tea extract made through a patented process for maximum potency and purity, at healthyorigins.com. For more information, log on to www.phase2info.com. • Ms. Torkos, BSc, Phm, is a nationally recognized pharmacist and author of “The GI Made Simple” and “Saving Women’s Hearts.” Washington Redskins cheerleaders stretch to avoid injuries. “Cheerleading may look like fun, but it actually involves an incredible amount of stress on your body,” says the Redskins’ Chelsea Causey. “I’ve experienced multiple injuries during my career—everything from pulled hamstrings to sprains to lower back pain—setbacks that chiropractic care always helped me recover from.” As with all athletic activities, proper stretching and warm-ups are key. “Taking proper preventive measures, such as chiropractic care and appropriate sports-specific exercises, can help reduce risks of injury,” says Dr. Jay Greenstein, D.C., of the not-for-profit Foundation for Chiropractic Progress. If you do develop pain, a chiropractor can help identify and treat it. For more information, visit www.yes2chiropractic.com. Tips For Healthier Eating (NAPSA)—If this is the year you resolve to eat better, it’s important to remember that healthy is an every day process—and requires some changes in the way you approach meals and snacks. One smart way to improve your diet is to replace unhealthy fats with healthier fats, such as those in avocados. The oils and fats found in the fruit are “good” fats and can help lower your cholesterol. The avocado is a great source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. It actually helps to raise levels of HDL (“good” cholesterol), which protects arteries, while lowering levels of LDL (“bad” cholesterol). Avocados also contain more beta-carotene than any other fruit, offering important antioxidant properties that may help prevent cancer and other diseases. “I use avocado to incorporate five-star restaurant flavors into healthy meal options,” said Chef Jen. “Avocados add nutrition, and a product such as Wholly Guacamole is a convenient friend because you can use it in lots of recipes. And, best of all, it’s fresh, preservative free and ready to go.” More delicious and nutritious substitutions can be made by using natural, preservative-free salsa. Salsa is not just for dipping chips in. It’s a heart-smart food and considered a “free” item by many point-counting diets. Low in calories and high in nutritional value, salsa can be used to zest up sandwiches, potatoes and rice. Keeping ready-made, preservative-free guacamole and salsa on hand can make it easier to cut down on calories and fat and stick to healthier, new eating habits. Convenience is a major factor in sticking to any new plan. Here are Guacamole is a great source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. It makes a great substitute for mayonnaise or ranch dressing. some easy ideas from the makers of Wholly Guacamole and Wholly Salsa: • Get off the ranch. Veggies usually served with ranch dressing can instead be served with guacamole or salsa. For example, ranch dressing has 140 calories (130 from fat) while guacamole has 60 calories, only 45 of which come from fat. • A burger usually topped with ranch dressing or high-calorie mayonnaise is tasty when topped with guacamole or salsa. • Instead of topping a hot dog with ketchup, try salsa or guacamole. Healthy salsa has replaced ketchup as the No. 1 condiment in the country. • Whip up tuna salad with guacamole for less calories and more flavor. • Chicken salad is also delicious with guacamole, and for extra-tasty texture, add corn and beans. • Crab cakes that are usually served with mayonnaise are especially tasty when served with spicy guacamole or salsa. You can find fresh, premade time-savers such as guacamole in the refrigerated shelves of your produce aisle. For more information, visit www.EatWholly.com.
