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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
Leafy, green vegetables, like spinach, provide more nutrients than any other food.
Researchers have found at least 13 different flavonoid compounds in spinach that have been known to act as antioxidants and as anti-cancer agents, combating specific cancers like ovarian and prostate cancer.
The vitamin K in spinach provides 200% of the daily value in fresh spinach and nearly 1000% of the daily value in boiled spinach.
Health benefits of Spinach
Recipe: Spinach Lasagna
2 egg whites
26 oz of prepared spaghetti sauce
24 oz of ricotta cheese
10 oz of Lasagna noodles, cooked
10 oz of frozen spinach, thawed and chopped, then squeezed dry
2 cups of mozzarella cheese, grated, reserve ½ cup
¾ cup of Parmesan cheese, grated and divided, reserve 2 tablespoons
½ teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoon of black pepper
Olive oil
Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare lasagna noodles as directed on the package. Combine parmesan cheese, ricotta cheeses with the egg whites, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Pour ¼ cup of spaghetti sauce in the bottom of the baking dish and spread it out using a spatula. Cover the sauce with a single layer of lasagna noodles. Spread about half the cheese mixture over the noodles, and then cover with about half of the spinach and shredded mozzarella cheese. Finish this layer with half of the remaining spaghetti sauce. Add a second layer of noodles, topping with the remaining cheese mixture, spinach, and mozzarella cheese. Top with the final layer of noodles and remaining spaghetti sauce. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and set for 10-12 minutes.
Recipe: Wilted Spinach Salad
10 to 12 ounces spinach, washed and torn into pieces
¼ cup minced red onion
5 to 6 radishes, thinly sliced
2 hard-cooked eggs, 1 chopped and 1 sliced
2 to 4 slices bacon
1 to 1 ½ tablespoons bacon drippings
1 ½ tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon water
½ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Place prepared spinach in a large bowl. Add onions and radishes. Refrigerate, tightly covered. Fry or microwave bacon until crisp; remove to paper towel and set aside. In a small jar or measuring cup combine drippings with sugar, vinegar, water, salt and pepper. Refrigerate all ingredients until just before serving. When ready to serve, microwave the dressing on high for 30-45 seconds. Toss the chopped egg with the greens then pour the hot dressing over greens mixture; toss again lightly. Top with sliced egg and crumbled bacon.
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
Now that the seasons are changing, it is the perfect time to change up some of those old worn out items and routines that you have been stuck with for so long in your exercise routine. This is a handy list of “what to ditch” to make the exercise switch:
Spring workout tips
Ditch the old running shoes. Instead opt for a new pair and keep track of how much “mileage” you get out of them. Typically, if you run/walk 10 miles per week then shoes can last for 12 months (15 miles : 8 months, 20 miles : 6 months, 30 miles : 4 months).
Throw out the old cotton workout t-shirt. Instead invest in some shirts that are made of wicking fabrics. Wicking fabrics (like synthetics) do a better job of keeping you drier and cooler when you are exercising.
Toss the lightweight dumbbells. Instead try heavier dumbbells that are more challenging in your workout.
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
Easter may be just around the corner, but that Easter candy always sticks around for a few weeks and sometimes months. While it's ok to satisfy your sweet tooth use this calorie calculator to monitor your intake!
Candy calorie counter
From marshmallow peeps to chocolate, find out the calories of the content of your Easter basket,
4 Peeps Marshmallow Bunnies: 130 calories
1 Peeps Hollow Milk Chocolate Egg: 420 calories
5 Mars Mini Chocolate Eggs: 179 calories
1 Cadbury Solid Milk Chocolate Easter Bunny: 890 calories
1 Cadbury Crème Egg: 150 calories
12 Cadbury Chocolate Eggs: 190 calories
1 Reese's Peanut Butter Egg: 180 calories
1 Reese's Reester Bunny: 798 calories
1 Brachs Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Egg: 43 calories
5 Brachs Malted Easter Eggs: 180 calories
35 Jelly Belly Assorted Jelly Beans: 140 calories
1 Cadbury Caramel Egg: 190 calories
5 Peeps Marshmallow Chicks: 136 calories
1 Large Solid Chocolate Bunny (7 oz.): 1050 calories
8 Robin Eggs: 180 calories
1 Milky Way Bunny: 160 calories
12 Cadbury Mini Eggs: 190 calories
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
For more than 120 years, experts have been researching the benefits of massage therapy, and besides the obvious stress-free feeling that people have following a massage, there are plenty of other benefits to this ancient healing procedure.
Massage therapy benefits
One major benefit of massage therapy that researchers have found is that people who get massages on a regular basis have noticed a decrease in their blood pressure.
Massages also help to alleviate the pain of those who suffer from migraine headaches.
Massage can also: reduce your heart rate, increase blood circulation and lymph flow, relax your muscles, improve your range of motion, and increase endorphins.
Research has also shown that while massage therapy does not increase your muscle strength, it can stimulate your weak and inactive muscles and can thereby aid muscles that you may not have worked out in quite some time.
Some other physical benefits of massage therapy include relieving muscle tension and stiffness, alleviating discomfort during pregnancy, reducing
muscle spasms, promoting deeper and easier breathing, enhancing the health and nourishment of your skin, and improving your posture.
Massage therapy, while a physical act, is not all about physical benefits. There are plenty of mental benefits that having a massage can give you. Some of these mental benefits include promoting mental alertness, relieving mental stress, reducing levels of anxiety, improving motor skills, creating body awareness, and fostering a feeling of well-being.
While this article only touches on a few benefits of massage therapy, both physical and mental, there are plenty more out there that researchers are learning about each day.
So, whatever your reason may be, pamper yourself today and reap all the benefits of a great massage.
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- Written by Lisa Jillanza
Spring is finally here! After a long and cold winter, everyone is in their glory with the sunshine and warm weather.
However, coming together with the blooming season is some people's dreaded seasonal nightmare: hay fever.
Hay Fever Prevention
One of the best plans of action for fighting spring allergies is to avoid the things that make your sneezing, itching and watering eyes worse. Warren V. Filley, M.D., a spokesperson for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, recently told www.health.com which plants you should avoid.
- Ragweed : It is common along riverbanks and in rural areas. Dr. Filley says that almost 75 percent of people with allergies are sensitive to ragweed.
- Maple : These trees are found along streams and in woods all through the eastern United States and Canada. The maple produces potent allergens.
- Elm : Common in the wetlands, these trees will most likely aggravate your allergies.
- Mulberry : This pretty tree can be very deceiving. Found in woods and river valleys, it is often associated with contributing to hay fever.
- Pecan : Although it makes many good desserts, the pollen from pecan : found in woods and orchards : is second only to ragweed as the most severe source of allergens.
- Oak : It may have less potent pollen, but it produces very large quantities of it, Dr. Filley says. Avoid the woods just for this one.
