Almonds: A Great Snack to Keep You Healthy

It's traveling time again for festivals and tours but airplane service is getting worse.  Even on long hauls they now sell fattening snacks. But you can beat them by carrying your own highly nutritional snacks.

Almonds make a great choice since they are small, weigh very little, easy to pack and carry a big impact. In fact they are good all the time. Just think, a high-fat food that is good for your health. But the fats are the healthy fats. They make a great snack when the afternoon droop comes along, much better than a high-sugar snack that will cause a rebound leaving you tired again later in the day.

Almonds aid in lessening after-meal blood sugar surges which helps protect against diabetes and cardiovascular disease, probably by lessening the increase in cholesterol-damaging free radicals that accompany large elevations in blood sugars. They also provide antioxidants that clean up the smaller amounts of free radical that still occur. Almonds help fight cardiac disease, hypertension, cancer, lowering or controlling cholesterol and seem to promote weight loss. The weight loss is not completely understood but some think that the cell walls of the almond do not allow all the fat to be absorbed into our bodies. The ones with the skin on them are thought to the best bet.

A serving is one ounce which translates to 20-25 almonds. They are high in fiber, giving about 12% of the daily allowance. Almonds are also high in protein, vitamin E, Folic Acid, Magnesium, Phosphorus, and Zinc.

If you don't like almonds, other nuts are also helpful. Walnuts, pecans and chestnuts have high antioxidants along with peanuts. Just remember in moderation. Not a whole can or big bag at one time - one to two ounces per day worked into your food plan.

Sincerely,

Rose Mancini, RN
New Orleans Musicians' Clinic (NOMC)
and Assistance Foundation (NOMAF)

Cucumbers Save a Summer Day!

Summer heat can get to the best of us.  One way to beat it is to snack on cucumbers.  That may sound weird but cucumbers are mostly water and so can help keep us hydrated on these sweaty days.

They can also act as a great afternoon pick-me-up because of their Vitamin B content and carbohydrates. They are a good source of Vitamin C, Calcium, Phosphorus, Silica, Vitamin A, and Zinc for only 42 calories. Cucumbers help control both high and low blood pressure since they are rich in Magnesium, and Potassium and also act as a natural diuretic. The best way to eat cucumbers is with the skin but a lot are waxed, so try to buy them at the local farmers' market or get organic ones. Wash them before eating or even peeling. Store them in the refrigerator to keep them.

Other useful tips for Cucumbers include:

• A couple of slices placed on the eyes for about 5-10 minutes will reduce puffiness and dark circles. Grated cucumber placed on the face and neck is an excellent face mask for home spa treatment.
• It can reduce cellulite by rubbing a cucumber over trouble spots and letting it dry, according to one report.
• I do not know for a definite fact, but it is said that eating some slices of cucumber before going to bed after drinking too much prevents hangovers and headaches.
   
• Cucumbers are also beneficial for your home.
  • Rubbing sliced cucumber over your bathroom mirror is said to keep it from fogging up and adding a nice fragrance at the same time.
  • It is good for polishing your sinks, faucets and stainless steel without streaking while removing tarnish. 
  • It can also cure a squeaky door just by rubbing it over the hinge.
  • The outside skin reportedly can remove ink, crayons and markers from walls & paper. Just slowly rub it back and forth to remove. I have not tested this.
• Placing some sliced cucumbers in an aluminum pan outside in the garden will chase away grubs and slugs. The resulting odor from the aluminum and cucumber combining drives them away but is not detectable by humans.
• To eliminate bad breathe hold a slice of cucumber against the roof of your mouth. The chemicals released will give you a naturally clean-smelling mouth.
• Need a quick shoe shine?  Rub them with cucumber, of course.  The shine will last and will be water proof.

Now if all of this has stressed you out, slice some cucumbers and boil them in some water. The resulting steam is a stress-buster, helping you relax and making the kitchen smell good at the same time. Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Rose Mancini, RN
New Orleans Musicians' Clinic (NOMC)
and Assistance Foundation (NOMAF)