To build muscle, or even more important conserve muscle if you are trying to lose weight, eating foods high in protein is essential.  But to design your diet in the most efficient way, you want to add proteins to your diet without a lot of added fat, carbs, and calories.  Here is a list of foods that offer the highest ratio of protein to calories.

Lean Poultry and Fish

Skinless poultry and fish are excellent food sources of protein in comparison to the amount of calories they provide. For example, about 3.5 oz. of roasted light meat chicken offers 27g of protein and only 150 calories. Roasted chicken breast provides about the same amount of calories and protein. Breast meat from a roasted turkey, about 3.5 oz, is even lower in calories and higher in protein, offering 135 calories and 30g of protein. Less fatty fish offer a lot of protein per calorie. A 3-oz. portion of Atlantic baked cod offers about 90 calories and 19g of protein. The same amount of cooked king mackerel offers about 114 calories and 22g of protein. A 3-oz. portion of canned, water-packed light tuna offers 99 calories and 22g of protein.

Soy Foods

Soy protein isolate is pure soy protein powder. Most brands of soy protein isolate powder supplements provide 25g of protein and 95 calories per 1 oz., or 28g, of powder. Light firm tofu is also very low in calories but rich in protein. A 100-g serving, or about 3.5 oz., provides 8g of protein but only 55 calories. One slice of soy-based vegetarian meatloaf or patty (about 56g) offers approximately 12g of protein and only 110 calories. Vegetarian hot dogs or frankfurters provide 11g of protein for just under 75 calories for each link (about 57g). Textured vegetable protein (TVP), also known as “soy crumbles” when rehydrated, are rich in protein. On average, 2/3-cup offers about 10g of protein and 70 calories.

Dairy Products and Eggs

Nonfat dry milk powder is rich in protein but low in calories. For example, 1 oz., or 28g, which is enough to make one 8-oz. glass of fluid milk, offers 10g of protein for 99 calories. Nonfat yogurt, sweetened with a low- or no-calorie non-nutrative sweetener, on average offers about 100 calories and 10g of protein for an 8-oz. container. The amount of protein and calories varies by brand, flavor and type. Lowfat (1 percent milkfat) cottage cheese is a low-calorie, protein-rich food. A 4-oz. serving provides about 14g of protein yet only 80 calories. Other types of cheese are high in protein, but also very high in calories. One egg is the equivalent of 1 oz. of meat in the amount of protein it has. A whole egg provides about 7g of protein and about 80 calories. Most of the protein in an egg is in the white. So, dried egg whites are excellent, concentrated sources of protein. About 28g, or 1 oz., of dried, powdered egg white provides 23g of protein but only 107 calories.

Whey Protein

Whey protein powder which is derived from milk,  is widely used by athletes and body builders. It is a great source of quality protein that is easy to digest and is very low in fat.  A typical whey protein powder will contain about 23 grams of very high quality protein with only 120 calories.  Whey protein smoothies are a great way to build muscle, kill your appetite and lose weight.

For me, I cannot control my appetite without eating protein with virtually every snack and meal. Carbs only make me crave more carbs. When I am on my most efficient  healtjag, lots of protein is the key.

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 Dr. Wiseman says:

“A few seconds of bad fortune can unravel years of striving, while a moment of good luck can lead to success and happiness. Luck has the power to transform the improbable into the possible; to make the difference between life and death, reward and ruin, happiness and despair. Research has revealed there are four main differences between the lives of lucky and unlucky people.”

Lucky people…

Create, notice and act upon chance opportunities
Use intuition to make successful decisions
Expect the best for the future
Transform bad luck into good fortune

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Director Kevin Smith was recently a victim of this policy and has “vowed never to fly Southwest again”.  Now if only we could get all the other airlines to adopt this policy we could ground Kevin forever.

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Make your Valentine’s Day celebration this year a healthy one with these Hot &  Healthy ideas:

Breakfast in Bed with a Healthy Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Wake her up with a  pink smoothie on Valentine’s Day. Start by adding some low-fat strawberry yogurt to your blender. Toss in some frozen strawberries and a frozen banana, add a little orange juice and blend on high until well mixed. Pour the smoothie into tall glasses and top with a little low-calorie whipped topping, a strawberry and a Hershey’s kiss.

Give Her a Stress Reducing Massage

Many studies have confirmed the health benefits of massage: stress reduction, improved circulation, endorphin release. Grab some massage oil and give your partner a sensual treat before or after your evening out. For massage tips, just search “couples massage” on Youtube and you will find everything you need.

 Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Combine ripe strawberries with dark chocolate for a healthy, yet indulgent Valentines Day snack full of anti-oxidants. Start with large, ripe strawberries. Melt some dark chocolate over a double boiler or in the microwave. Dip the strawberries halfway into the dark chocolate. Allow the excess chocolate to drip off, and then place them on some wax paper to allow the chocolate to harden.

You don’t need a heart-stopping fat-filled dinner out to heat up your honey for Valentine”s Day. Keep it healthy and simple and you both will have more energy for the heart healthy exercise that will ensue.

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Dr. Oz has even developed an 8 times a week sex schedule to help you figure out how to work it in. 

To eamil this post to your significant other, click on the title and cut and paste the web address into your email…………. or email the author dennis@healthjag.com

A research team at the University of Minnesota followed thousands of men and women participating in the Singapore Chinese Health Study for 14 years. At the end of the study, published this month in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, the team found that those drank two or more soft drinks a week had an 87 percent higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Oddly enough, those who drank fruit juice, which can contain as much sugar as soda, didn’t have the same cancer risk. However, there may also be a link between soda drinkers’ other unhealthy habits which explains the discrepency. Individuals who drank soda were more likely to smoke and eat red meat — two lifestyle factors already linked to cancer.

Researchers suspect that sugary soda interferes with the body’s insulin levels, which then contributes to cancerous cell growth in the pancreas, which is responsible for insulin production.

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To comment on this post, click on the title, or email the author dennis@healthjag.com

Warning: If you are a one of those picky micro-brew/craft beer drinkers step away from this post. You will find it frightening.

You can’t really watch the Big Game without beer, right?  I am not picky about my beer, as long as it’s cold, wet, and preferably light. Since taste is not my most important focus, I go for the lightest of the lights. My personal favorite is MGD 64 with that many calories and only 2.4 carbs per bottle. The new Bud Select 55 is fewer calories and an astoundingly low 1.9 carbs per bottle, but is even more watery if that is possible. Either will work for the Big Game and you won’t be feeling the bloat when Manning wins his second.

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Sautee onions, garlic, and zucchini in olive oil. Add remaining ingredients to chicken broth and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve with whole grain crackers or bread.

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To comment on this post, click on the title, or email the author dennis@healthjag.com

But if we are really serious in this country about healthcare reform, shouldn’t we be equally serious about healthy behavior reform?  With obesity as the single largest contributor to healthcare costs in our country, shouldn’t we be applauding companies that give employee incentives for healthy behavior? Last week I discussed this issue in Super Sized- My Story. And I was thrilled to see someone in this country taking the initiative to influence people in a positive way to engage in healthy behaviors that will help all of us. Thank you, Mr. Mackey!

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To comment on this post, click on the title, or email the author dennis@healthjag.com

I was reflecting on this when I recently analyzed the McDonald’s menu for the drive-thru diet posts on this blog. In those days, a meal of a McDonald’s hamburger, small fry, and small coke ran 685 calories. Hardly a healthy meal, but manageable. Fast forward to 2009. Hardly anyone orders a McDonald’s hamburger  or a small fry anymore. That sandwich is considered so small that it is relegated to the children’s Happy Meal. And McDonald’s recently ran a promotion where the 32 ounce drink was 99 cents, which was actually less than the small size. In 2009 ,the typical average adult meal at McDonald’s consists of a Big Mac, large fry, and large coke, and comes in at a whopping 1,370 calories, exactly double my satisfying fast food treat from 1963. And although I am using McDonald’s as an example, it is only the prototypical example of all corporate fast food and sit down restaurants. The bottle of Coca-cola that I grew up with was 6.5 ounces. The average bottle that you purchase in a convenience store is between 20 and 32 ounces, a four fold increase.

Given these facts, it is actually amazing that only 1/3 of Americans are classified as obese and only 2/3 are overweight. It is popular for us to blame our obesity on stress eating, depression, or unhappiness. From my point of view our obesity is caused by our evolutionary craving for food that drove our hunter-gatherer ancestors to spend their entire existence looking for food, combined with our scientific ability to engineer artificial foods that satisfy our most basic cravings without the satiation that comes with nutrients. Add to that cocktail the unbelievable ability of humans to market to each other, and the unlimited (relatively speaking) ability of the average American to afford to purchase calories, and it’s actually amazing that obesity isn’t closer to 100%.

Although hunting for food with a gun is still practiced in parts of our country, the most common weapon for hunting now is the automobile.  We cruise the suburban savannah in our SUV’s, spotting our food sources grazing on the edges of the boulevard.  Our prey aren’t camoflaged by their surroundings, they invite us to hunt them with signs that brag about the billions and billions of their kind that have been downed before.  And there are no limits to the amount of our prey that we can take home. Our limits are our pocketbooks, and as obesity statistics show, money is not a limiting factor for calorie consumption.

So the question is, what human motivation is stronger than our evolutionary need to binge on food, stronger than the easy accessibility of calories, stronger than multi-billion dollar advertsiing budgets?  What motivates people to engage in a  healthy lifestyle in the face of all that is stacked against us? Are most of us doomed by our DNA controlled  propensity for instant gratification? Maybe not. The obesity rate in Japan is about 3.5% compared to over 30% in the U.S. The average citizen of Japan consumes over 200 caloires less per day than the average American. It seems to me that we have created a culture of unhealthy eating in our country. Over the last year, we have focused the debate in this country on our health care delivery system and costs. But the number one health care problem in this country is obesity. Obesity by itself is the source of the majority of our country’s health care costs. And this problem has gotten little attention from the government.  A few years ago, we declared a government sponsored “war on drugs”.  And although this war has not been successful, we have been fairly successful in indoctrinating our children in the dangers of drugs through the DARE school drug education programs.

Until we recognize that obesity is a severe national problem, as severe as cigarette smoking and drugs, we cannot begin the cultural change that is required for us to slim down.  For example, I have noticed that it is not politically correct to criticize people who are obese. In the 1960’s smoking was part of our culture. It was promoted through advertising and protected by the government. It would have been unthinkable to outlaw smoking in public places. Has the time finally come for us to treat obesity like cigarettes? It is a choice that turns into an addiction. It causes severe health problems, costs our country billions of dollars that we cannot afford, and if we don’t prevent our children from getting hooked, then they all become unhealthy obese adults.

I came to realize over a period of time that being fat made me less attractive, less able to do the active things I wanted to do, and was going to become more and more of a problem as I grew older.  But we are all fighting an uphill battle living in a culture that promotes obesity and doesn’t treat it for what it is. Until we can turn our culture around, each of us are fighting the battle as an army of one.

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Shirataki noodles are packaged “wet”, that is, you purchase them pre-packaged in liquid, and they are ready-to-eat out of the package. You can prepare them by boiling them briefly or running them under hot water, then combining them with other dishes, or adding things like tofu, garlic, spinach, or soy sauce to enhance the flavor.

Glucomannan is a water-soluble dietary fiber made from the roots of the Asian Konjac plant. Glucomannan makes up the majority of substance in shirataki noodles. Eating lots of dietary fiber, which is found only in plant foods (such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, seeds and nuts) has been proven to have many health benefits.

Cooking shirataki noodles by themselves is relatively straightforward. Since shirataki noodles are packaged pre-cooked, you simply heat them up and enjoy. WARNING: the liquid that shirataki noodles are packaged in has a slight fishy/seafood smell to it, so it’s recommended that you rinse the noodles under water for a couple of minutes until the fish smell is gone.

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The researchers scanned the brains of 94 elderly people.  Although the test participants were elderly, they were all  cognitively normal. They were not afflicted by brain degenerating diseases such as Alzheimer or Parkinsons. According to Dr. Paul Thompson, a UCLA professor of neurology, just a 4% loss of brain tissue represents“severe” brain degeneration.

So not only can being fat affect your health, we now have evidence that if affects your intelligence.  Of course, we don’t know for sure if the deficiency in brain tissue caused people to be fat, or if the fat caused the loss in brain tissue.

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To comment on this post, click on the title or email the author dennis@healthjag.com

A television advertisement featured a spokeswoman, Valerie Bertinelli, in a lab coat saying that ”a major clinical trial” had shown that ”Jenny Craig clients lost, on average, over twice as much weight as those on the largest weight-loss program”, which referred to Weight Watchers, a complaint filed in federal court in New York on Tuesday said.

”The Jenny Craig advertisements are false,” Weight Watchers said. ”Jenny Craig did not conduct ‘a major clinical trial’ comparing its product with the Weight Watchers program.”

Weight Watchers, which is based in New York, asked the court to stop Jenny Craig, a unit of the Swiss company Nestle, from using advertisements claiming that its weight-loss program was superior. It also seeks damages.

Weight Watchers said the start of the year was ”a critical time for weight-loss companies” because people sought to stick to their New Year’s resolutions to lose weight.

Couldn’t we just settle this with a wrestling match between spokespersons Valerie Bertinelli and Jenny McCarthy?

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To comment on this post, click on the title, or email the author dennis@healthjag.com

Two-hundred twenty-five seniors with mild cases of Alzheimer’s, from the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom and United States  participated in the 12-week trial of the drink, called Souvenaid .Half were asked to take the nutrient-rich milkshake each morning, while the other half were given a substitute drink that looked and tasted like Souvenaid but lacked key ingredients, such as B vitamins, EPA and omega-3 fatty acids. All these nutrients are believed to promote healthy synapses, the connections that carry vital messages between brain cells.

At the end of the trial, 40 percent of participants who drank daily Souvenaid shakes showed significantly improved scores on verbal recall tests, while only 24 percent of those imbibing the placebo showed improvement.

So this explains why so few babies are afflicted with Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

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Most of the fast food menus are horrible (avoid the fries)

Although the fast food industry has done a pretty good job of eliminating transfats from their menu, most of the menus are high in fat and calories. There are a limited number of healthy choices on each menu. The fries average 50% of their calories from fat, and all breaded or deep fried selections are high in fat. The best fries choice is the small McDonalds fries which is 230 calories, and 11 grams of fat.  Adding a side of fries pretty much blows the whole idea.

You Can’t Really Get Fruits & Veggies

Forget the idea of having a “balanced” meal. It is almost impossible to add fruits and veggies. The best I can come up with is grilled chicken and a side of green beans at KFC or the Fruit and Yogurt Parfait and McDonalds.  The fast food idea of veggies is adding lettuce and a slice of tomato to your burger, or putting lettuce on your taco.

The good news is that you can have a drive-thru  breakfast, lunch or dinner at one of the fast food restaurants without totally blowing your diet. You just need to make wise and informed decisions. And if you carry your fruits and veggies with you in your car, you could even eat from the drive-thru window 100% of the time.

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McDonalds

Fruit n Yogurt Parfait- 130 calories, 4g protein, 2 g fat (0 trans, 1g saturated), 0 fiber

Apple dippers with caramel- 105 calories,  0 protein,  .5 g fat,  0 fiber

Reduced Fat Ice Cream Cone- 150 calories, 4g protein, 3.5 g fat (0 trans, 2g saturated). 0 fiber

Strawberry Sundae- 280 calories, 6g protein, 6g fat (0 trans, 4g satuarated), 1g fiber

McDonalds

Regular hamburger- 250 calories, 12g protein, 9g fat (.5 trans, 3.5 saturated), 2g fiber

McChicken Sandwich- 360 calories, 14g protein, 16g fat (0 trans, 3g saturated), 2g fiber

KFC

Grilled chicken, breast & wing- 270 calories, 10.5g fat (0 trans, 3g saturated), o fiber

Green bean side- 25 calories, 1g protein, o fat, 2g fiber

Mashed potato with gravy side- 130 calories, 2g protein, 4.5 g fat (0 trans, 1g saturated), 1g fiber

Arby’s

Regular roast beef sandwich- 350 calories, 23g protein,13g fat (.5 trans, 4.5 saturated), 2g fiber

Arby’s Melt- 320 calories, 18g protein, 11g fat (0 trans, 3.5 saturated), 2g fiber

Arby’s Ham & Swiss Melt - 300 calories, 18g protein, 8g fat (0 trans, 3.5 saturated), 2g fiber

Roast Chicken Ranch Sandwich-  340 calories, 23g protein, 9 g fat (0 trans, 1.5 saturated), 3g fiber    

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TACO BELL FRESCO MENU

Fresco  Crunchy  Taco- 150 calories, 7g protein, 7g fat (0 trans,2.5 saturated), 3g fiber

Fresco Soft Taco-Beef- 180 calories, 8g protein, 7g fat (0 trans, 3 saturated), 3g fiber

Fresco Burrito Supreme-Chicken- 340 calories, 18g protein, 8g fat (0 trans, 2.5 saturated), 8g fiber

Fresco Burrito Supreme-Steak- 330 calories, 16g protein, 8g fat (0 trasns, 3 saturated), 8g fiber

Fresco Ranchero Chicken Soft Taco- 170 calories, 12g protein,4g fat (0 trans,1.5 saturated),2g fiber

Fresco Grilled Steak Soft Taco-160 calories, 9g protein, 4.5g fat (0 trans, 1.5 saturated), 2g fiber

Fresco Bean Burrito- 340 calories, 12g protein, 8g fat (0 trans,2.5 saturated), 11g fiber

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 Wendy’s

Madarin Chicken Salad with Oriental Sesame Dressing (without noodles or almonds)-350 calories, 25 g protein, 12 g fat (0 transfat, 2 g saturated), 2 g fiber

Chicken Caesar Salad (no croutons with Supreme Caesar Dressing)-300 calories, 29 g protein, 17 g fat (0 transfat, 4 saturated), 3 g fiber

Spicy Chicken Go Wrap- 320 calories, 16g protein, 15g fat (0 trans, 4 saturated), 1 g fiber

Large Chili- (small chili is 2/3 of large) 280 calories, 21g protein, 9g fat (.5 trans, 3.5 saturated), 7g fiber

 McDonalds

Premium Southwest Salad with Grilled Chicken and Newman’s Own Creamy Southwest Dressing- 420 calories, 31g protein, 15g fat (0 transfat, 4g saturated), 6g fiber

Chipolte BBQ Snack Wrap Grilled- 260 calories, 18g protein, 9g fat (0 trans, 3.5g saturated), 1g fiber

Fruit & Walnut Salad (snack size)- 210 calories, 4g protein, 8g fat (0 trans, 1.5 saturated, 2g fiber

KFC

Toasted Wrap with Tender Roast Filet with Sauce- 310 calories, 22g protein, 14 (0 trans, 5 saturated), 1g fiber

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Dunkin Donuts

Egg & Cheese on English Muffin  – 320 calories, 15 g protein, 13 g fat (0 transfat, 5g saturated), 2 g fiber

Egg White Veggie Flatbread-290 calories, 11 g protein, 9 g fat (0 transfat, 4g saturated), 3 g fiber

McDonald’s

Egg McMuffin-300 calories, 18 g protein, 12 g fat (0 transfat, 5g saturated), 2 g fiber

Fruit n Yogurt Parfait with Granola- 160 calories,4 g protein, 2 g fat (0 transfat, 1 g saturated), 1 g fiber

Sausage Burrito- 300 calories, 12 g  protein,16 g fat (.5 transfat, 7g saturated), 1g fiber

Burger King

Whopper Jr. No Mayo- 290 calories, 15 g protein, 12g fat (4.5 saturated), 2 g fiber

T0 comment on this post click on the title, or email the author dennis@healthjag.com

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I have been searching high and low for the one superfood that contains all the protein your body needs as well as a complete set of vitamins and minerals.  Although there is no such thing as a perfect food, the closest food to perfection is the egg. The egg contains the best protein source on the planet; eggs consistently outrank milk, beef, whey, and soy in the quality of protein they provide. In addition to containing all nine essential amino acids, eggs are loaded with nutrients and contain 13 essential vitamins and minerals. The egg yolks contain choline, which helps protect heart and brain function and prevents cholesterol and fat from accumulating in the liver. Also, egg yolks are high in lutein, a type of carotenoid that helps fight macular degeneration, the leading cause of legal blindness. In fact, eggs seem to contain virtually all necessary nutrients with the exception of carbs and Vitamin C. But if you have an egg sandwich on whole wheat bread with a glass of ojfor breakfast, you pretty much have a perfect breakfast for fitness and weight loss. Also, multiple studies have allayed the cholesterol concerns about egg consumption from 20 years ago. And if all of that is not enough, eggs are the lowest cost complete protein. So go for it: scrambled, over easy, sunny side up, poached, boiled, deviled, omelets. The possibilities are endless.

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“It surprised us to find that cell phone exposure, begun in early adulthood, protects the memory of mice otherwise destined to develop Alzheimer’s symptoms,” said lead author Gary Arendash, PhD, USF Research Professor at the Florida ADRC. “It was even more astonishing that the electromagnetic waves generated by cell phones actually reversed memory impairment in old Alzheimer’s mice.”

The researchers showed that exposing old Alzheimer’s mice to electromagnetic waves generated by cell phones erased brain deposits of the harmful protein beta-amyloid, in addition to preventing the protein’s build-up in younger Alzheimer’s mice. The sticky brain plaques formed by the abnormal accumulation of beta amyloid are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Most treatments against Alzheimer’s try to target beta-amyloid.

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• Too much food, especially fatty, rich food.  These take a lot of work for your stomach to digest and may keep you up. Spicy or acidic foods in the evening can cause stomach trouble and heartburn, which worsens as you are laying down.
• Too much liquid. Drinking lots of fluid may result in frequent bathroom trips throughout the night.
• Alcohol. Although it may initially make you feel sleepy, alcohol can interfere with sleep and cause  frequent awakenings. Also some people are also sensitive to tyrosine, found in certain red wines
• Caffeine. Avoid food and drinks that contain caffeine, and that doesn’t just mean coffee. Hidden sources of caffeine include chocolate, caffeinated sodas, and teas. Try to avoid all caffeine for 4-6 hours before you go to bed.

If you suspect a food or drink is keeping you up, try eliminating it for a few days to see if sleep improves.

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This is a good brown bag alternative and will satisfy that Chinese food craving without breaking your eating plan.

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Comment on this post by clicking on the title or email the author, dennis@healthjag.com

Because sleeping is the most important thing that we can do for our health that doesn’t require depriving ourselves of something, we are bringing you a series of sleeping tips. Sleep in a cool room (65 degrees or so or even cooler if you can stand it). Pile on another blanket or add one under the mattress pad rather than turn up the heat. Studies show that the cooler temperature helps your body get to sleep and stay asleep. You will also save on your heating bill in the winter. In the summer you can turn up the temperature a bit, sleep in light pjs or none at all, and use a fan to push cooling air over your body.

Add your sleeping tips by clicking on the title to this post, or email the author, dennis@healthjag.com

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large egg whites, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup cornmeal
• 1/4 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon cornstarch, divided
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 pound cube steak, cut into 4 portions
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons canola oil, divided
• 1 14-ounce can reduced-sodium beef broth
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/4 cup half-and-half

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Place all-purpose flour on a large plate. Place egg whites in a shallow dish. Whisk cornmeal, whole-wheat flour, 1/4 cup cornstarch and paprika in another shallow dish. Season both sides of steak with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Dredge the steak in the flour, shaking off excess; dip in the egg whites, then dredge in the cornmeal mixture.
3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium and add 2 pieces of the steak; cook until browned on both sides, turning once, 3 to 5 minutes total. Transfer the steak to the prepared baking sheet and repeat with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 2 pieces of steak. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake until cooked through, about 10 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, add broth to the pan and boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until reduced to about 1 cup, 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk water and the remaining 1 tablespoon cornstarch until smooth. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cornstarch mixture. Return to the heat and cook, stirring, until thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in half-and-half; season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Serve the steak topped with the gravy.

Nutrition

Per serving: 315 calories; 13 g fat (3 g sat, 7 g mono); 57 mg cholesterol; 14 g carbohydrates; 33 g protein; 1 g fiber

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Today’s tip is to make sure you sleep in a very dark room. Light is one of the body’s most powerful time cues. Any light while you are trying to sleep can cue your body that it is time to stop sleeping. A dark room is the most conducive for sleep – day or night. Even a night light or light from the bathroom can disrupt your normal sleep cycle. Darkness is also required for your body to maximize its production of melatonin, which protects your immune system. So make sure that your room is completely dark.  It’s okay if your room lets in natural light as the sun rises as this will let you awake naturally, but you want to eliminate as much light as possible during your normal sleep cycle.

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The simple fact is that most of us sabotage our own health by poor eating and lifetstyle choices. Corporate America has capitalized on our evolutionized craving for high fat, high calorie foods by providing the ability to access a virtual unlimited menu of unhealthy, highly processed foods for $1 simply by rolling down the window (actually we don’t roll down windows anymore, we push the button, thus relieving our fingers of that strenuous, calorie burning task). I once drove 300 miles, and using cruise control was able to  severely limit any body movement and calorie burning, but was able to consume over 5,000 calories in less than 5 hours.

I have never smoked, but I suspect that my poor eating choices for much of my life have left my heart just as unhealthy as a lifelong smoker’s. My first resolution for the New Year: Be Conscious of Every Eating Choice that I Make Every Day.  Being conscious of each choice doesn’t guarantee a good choice. But it does make me say, “Yes, the satisfaction I am going to get from this Big Mac is worth more than life itself.” Sort of like shaming myself into being a healthier eater. 

I wish  you all a New Year full of healthy eating.

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