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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 #2428 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 350 Fifth Avenue, 65th Floor, New York, N.Y. 10118-0110 A Better Brown Bag Breakfast Tips To Squeeze In Breakfast On The Go Tips On Losing Weight Safely by Paul Reyes, RPh (NAPSA)—You might dramatically decrease your risk of a number of health ailments by simply losing weight. Yet about two-thirds of the population fall into the overweight or obese categories. Regular checkups with your doctor are important to monitor and control conditions associated with excessive weight gain. In addition, nurses and pharmacists are good resources for information about healthy weight management, as well as diseases and conditions associated with weight gain. For instance, Medco now has pharmacists who are trained specifically in Paul Reyes diabetes. Here are some helpful weight-loss tips: • See Your Doctor: Before starting any weight-loss plan, talk to your doctor about your medical history, including medications you are currently taking. Weight gain can be a side effect of many prescription medications. • Know The Facts: Weightloss medications are only meant for people with a significant amount of weight to lose and who are at risk for serious health problems. • Ask Questions: Check with your pharmacist or doctor about possible dangers before starting a new treatment. Here is some information about different types of weight-loss aids: • Prescription: Two common prescription weight-loss medications are Sibutramine and Orlistat. Sibutramine is not for people who have uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart disease or Oceans Get Help From A Sea Lion (NAPSA)—Here’s some news that’s making a splash. America’s national marine sanctuary system, the underwater version of our national parks, has a new spokesperson—or rather a new “spokes-sea lion” named Sanctuary Sam. It’s important to check with a doctor or pharmacist before starting a weight-loss regimen. a history of stroke. Orlistat decreases the absorption of fatsoluble vitamins. A daily multivitamin may need to be taken with the drug. • Over-The-Counter: Most over-the-counter diet pills consist of appetite suppressants. However, Alli, the first FDA-approved nonprescription weight-loss drug, is a fat-blocker. It prevents your digestive system from breaking down up to a quarter of the fat you eat. • Herbal Remedies: Certain herbal supplements can have adverse affects ranging from vomiting to life-threatening conditions such as liver or kidney dysfunction. In more than two-thirds of cases, these remedies have never been clinically proven to be effective. For more information, visit www.medco.com. Paul Reyes, RPh, is a pharmacist manager for Medco Health Solutions, Inc. Sanctuary Sam urges all Americans to help keep our national marine sanctuaries safe for future generations to enjoy. In a new public awareness campaign developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Sanctuary Sam hopes to help protect the ocean like Smokey Bear did for forests. Sam will help NOAA inform the public about ways they can better care for America’s underwater treasures, such as disposing of our trash properly and not disturbing marine life. There are 13 national marine sanctuaries and one marine national monument that were created to help preserve our nation’s natural and cultural treasures for future generations. To learn more about your national marine sanctuaries and how you can help protect them, visit sanctuaries.noaa.gov. (NAPSA)—You can find a nutritious solution to squeezing in breakfast: Instead of skipping the morning meal or grabbing a quick hit at the fast food joint, copy a lunchtime move and “brown bag” breakfast. “Spending a few minutes packing a healthy breakfast will set the tone for the day and help avoid poor food choices later,” said nutrition consultant Elizabeth Ward, M.S., RD and author of “The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to the New Food Pyramids.” “Skipping breakfast usually means you’re hungry by late morning and are more likely to visit the vending machine or buy a pastry that’s much too large.” Plus, the health benefits associated with daily breakfast consumption are plentiful. Eating a healthy breakfast every day may increase daily dietary fiber intake significantly, aid in weight management and contribute to increased attention and performance at work and school. Breakfast also serves up an opportunity for good nutrition, which is beneficial considering less than 11 percent of Americans are meeting the current USDA daily guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption. “A healthy breakfast is a great way to get a jumpstart on nutrient intake for the day,” said Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., RD, president and CEO of Produce for Better Health Foundation. “For example, simply drinking one 8-ounce glass of 100 percent orange juice provides almost 25 percent of the daily USDA-recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. Grab a carton or fill up your favorite insulated to-go cup when on the run to easily increase your fruit servings for the day.” Ward offers these suggestions for a nutritious brown bag breakfast: • Stock the fridge. Keep healthful single-serving items on hand, Packing a healthy breakfast will set the tone for the day and help avoid poor food choices later. such as low-fat string cheese, yogurt, instant oatmeal and cartons of 100 percent juice. • Cover the food pyramid. For balance, fill your brown bag with choices from three of the five food groups (grains, vegetables, fruits, milk and meat/beans). • Choose carefully. Read labels on breakfast and energy bars. Many are very high in sugar and not as healthful as they appear. For your morning OJ, make sure it is 100 percent fruit juice instead of fruit “drinks,” which may contain very little fruit juice and lots of added sugar. • Stay on your own schedule. Not hungry early in the morning? Remember you don’t have to eat your brown bag breakfast right when you get to work. A healthy meal fuels the mind and body so just squeeze it in before lunchtime. • Be creative. If the typical morning fare doesn’t tempt you, opt for healthy nontraditional breakfast foods. Take some leftovers or grab a whole wheat dinner roll and add peanut butter. • Prepare with packaging. Keep brown bags, plastic bags and containers on hand in your kitchen. For more breakfast tips from Elizabeth Ward, visit www.Florida juice.com/BreakfastHabit.