Food Fact:
Go bananas.
Smart bakers have a bunch of tricks for cutting fat using this versatile fruit. Mash very ripe bananas into a puree, and you can use it to replace half to 3/4 of the fat in your favorite muffin or quick bread recipe. As if that alone wasn't enough of a heart-healthy improvement, bananas are chock full of potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. Just be aware they're a little high in calories and sugar compared to most other fruits -- a medium-sized banana has about 110 calories, a "super-sized" one may have twice that.
Fitness Tip of the day:
Knock down cholesterol.
It's not just about diet -- physical activity makes a huge difference, too. Exercise improves your blood cholesterol profile by lowering your levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and, more important, boosting your levels of HDL (protective) cholesterol. It also reduces your overall risk of dying prematurely and helps you control your weight; significantly reduces your risk of dying from coronary artery disease or a heart attack; helps your heart pump more blood with each contraction; reduces your risk of developing high blood pressure and helps lower existing high blood pressure; and improves blood circulation throughout your body.
FAQ of the day:
Is grilling safe?
Grilling, broiling and barbecuing creates compounds in meat that may increase risk of cancers of the stomach, colon and rectum. Some stem from burning fat, while others are inside highly heated meat. Char-broiled foods are the worst offenders. You can substantially reduce the levels of these potential carcinogens by marinating the meat beforehand, and then cooking it on a cooler part of the grill. If any meat gets charred, scrape it off before serving. This advice also applies to chicken and fish.
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