Is Sea Salt Better Than Table Salt?

Is sea salt better for you than table salt?

Specifically, does it have a lower probability of causing high blood pressure?

Common table salt is sodium chloride. NaCl. It is natural; in other words, it is found in nature, in salt mines to be specific. It is refined to remove any impurities and sometimes additives - like iodine - are added into the salt.

Sea salt, on the other hand, is formed from the natural evaporation of ocean water. It, too, is natural NaCl. But, it is sold in a more pure or raw form than table salt. As such, it contains trace elements of magnesium, sulfur, calcium, and potassium.

Bottom line, both table salt and sea salt are over 98% sodium chloride. That doesn't leave a lot of room for sea salt to be vastly different than table salt.

So, what does a medical expert say? According to WebMD:

"Table salt is getting a lot of competition from the new guy on the block - sea salt. The hype about sea salt is that they claim it contains trace minerals that table salt doesn't have. Truth is, those minerals are in such a low quantity that they don't make a difference to your health. The interesting news is that because sea salt has a much more intense flavor, you end up using less of it."

So, in a roundabout way, sea salt is better for you than table salt. But, not necessarily in the way you think.

Please see my blog post about Campbell's soup switching from table salt to sea salt at http://goo.gl/SxrNX.

4 Ways to Deal With Insomnia Naturally

According to WebMD, 15% of adults suffer from chronic insomnia. Many more struggle with insomnia on an occasional basis.

If you find yourself falling into this group of adults, you know just how debilitating insomnia can be. It not only affects your evenings, as you lay in bed tossing and turning, but it also cascades into your life as you face each morning tired and frustrated.

There certainly are medical ways to deal with your insomnia. A sleeping pill may help you consistently settle into a deep, uninterrupted sleep.

But, what happens if you aren’t particularly excited about taking a pill? Or if sleeping pills affect you in ways that unsettle you, like causing you to sleepwalk, to talk in your sleep, or to sleep so deeply that you don’t wake up when your alarm goes off?

There are a number of things that may help you deal with insomnia more naturally. Even if none of these tips help you to overcome your sleep problems, there is no harm in at least trying to deal with your insomnia in a more natural way.

Here are a few tips that you may find helpful:

• Keep a notepad next to your bed. When something runs through your head over and over again, write it down. Then tell yourself that you can deal with this problem in the morning.
• If you are having difficulty falling asleep or you wake up unexpectedly during the evening, get out of bed. You don’t want to associate your bed with negative thoughts, like insomnia. Get up, read a chapter of a book, try to get yourself tired. Then, head back to bed to get some sleep.
• Turn your alarm clock away from your bed so you don’t fixate on the time.  Resist the temptation to continually turn the clock towards you.
• If you are concerned about oversleeping – and thus can’t fall asleep – find two or three different ways to ensure that you wake up. Set your bedside alarm clock, as well as the clock on your phone. If you are in a hotel, ask for a wake up call. Reassure yourself that you can’t oversleep because you will be awakened by two or even three different alarms.

Hopefully, some of the above tips will help you sleep more restfully, without the aid of sleep medication.

Be a Health Nut

Are you aware of all the health benefits of almonds? It's amazing really.

According to the Almond Board of California, almonds offer the following:

- A handful of almonds adds 6 grams of energy-rich protein to salads.

- Whole almonds are a naturally high source of vitamin E, calcium, magnesium and potassium. 

- Almonds are a natural source of protein and naturally high in fiber, while being naturally low in sugars.

 

- Scientific evidence suggests that eating a handful of almonds as part of a diet low in saturated fat helps to maintain healthy blood cholesterol levels and a healthy heart.

- According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, almonds rank strongly among food containing AT vitamin E. One ounce of almonds contains 7.4 milligrams or 35% of the Daily Value of this nutrient.

- A handful of almonds offers key benefits to anyone trying to shed a few pounds, namely satiety, fewer calories for more nutrients, crunch, and an undeniable, tasty flavor. In fact, a one-ounce serving (about 23 almonds) is an excellent source of three nutrients and 100% cholesterol free, all for a measly 160 calories. Not to mention the 6 grams of energy-packed protein.

- U.S. dietary guidelines recommend that the majority of your fat intake be unsaturated. One serving of almonds 28(g) has 13g of unsaturated fat and only 1g of saturated fat.

It sounds like adding 23 almonds to your everyday diet would be a smart move, doesn't it?

20 Salads Worse Than a Whopper

I was disheartened to run across an article on the "Eat This, Not That" website today, called "20 Salads Worse Than a Whopper." Believe it or not, salads from Cosi, Chipotle, P.F. Chang's, Quizno's, Einstein's, Applebee's, T.G.I. Friday's, and even California Pizza Kitchen were all on this list.

I must admit that I'm not terribly surprised that places like Quizno's, Chipotle, and Cosi were on this list. If we are totally honest with ourselves, we'll admit that these dining establishments are only a tiny step up from places like McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King.

But I was truly bummed to see that CPK and TGIF had not one, but several, salads that made this Top 20 list. Both of these restaurants - at least in my mind - have positioned themselves as restaurants that offer healthier dining options. I have ordered some of these salads in the past, thinking that I was being good to my body. Learning that I could have enjoyed my lunch a whole lot more by having something a bit more indulgent - and still consume fewer calories - definitely annoys me.

I'm not asking the California Pizza Kitchen to offer the healthiest salads on the planet. But, to offer a salad that is actually less healthy than a Burger King Whopper is a travesty. 

It just goes to show ... you can't always believe what you're told.

All That Goodness in One Itty Bitty Berry

 

The berry. It comes in all shapes, sizes, textures, colors, and flavors. 

There's the strawberry, the blueberry, and the raspberry. Acai berries, goji berries, and elderberries. Blueberries, gooseberries, and bearberries. Crowberries, mayapples, and nannyberries.

But, regardless of what the berry tastes like, looks like, or sounds like, all berries are great for your diet.

In fact, recent cancer research has shown that the pigment that gives berries their bright and beautiful colors might just save your life. 

Take the cute little raspberry, for example. Research has shown that a diet rich in raspberries can offer the following health benefits:

- Reduce colorectal inflammation and polyps. (Colorectal Cancer Coalition)
- May help fight colon cancer. (NutraIngredients.comhttp://goo.gl/uYbl)
- Help to lower blood pressure. (Ezinearticles.com)
- Reduce joint inflammation. (Ezinearticles.com)
- Reduce the effects of aging. (Science Daily) 
- Reduce the potential for heart disease. (Science Daily)

All that goodness in one itty bitty raspberry. Not bad, huh?

Five U.S. Food Trends

 Check out the presentation I created and shared on SlideShare.  The presentation describes the five most interesting food trends in the U.S.

Going Public May Lead to Success

Our first thought when we decide to lose weight is often to keep it to ourselves.

Why?

Maybe we convince ourselves that we want to "surprise" our friends and family when we lose all that weight!  But, chances are - if we're really being honest with ourselves - we probably don't tell others because we don't want to be embarrassed if we fail.

It's time to reverse your thinking.

Think about it this way. If you tell others, you may try just a little bit harder, resist temptation a little bit better, work out a little bit harder. And all those "little bits" may just add up to success.

So, set goals. Tell the people in your life that matter. Ask them to help you resist temptation.

You may be surprised how supportive your friends and family actually are.  And maybe they'll lose weight in the process too!

An Apple a Day DOES Keep the Doctor Away!

It turns out that the doctors of yesteryear knew what they were talking about when they proclaimed, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

Did you know that an average size apple contains the following: 

•  4 g dietary fiber
•  10 mg Calcium
•  10 mg Phosphorus
•  .25 mg Iron
•  159 mg Potassium
•  8 mg Vitamin C
•  73 IU Vitamin A
•  4 mcg Folate

What's the price of all this goodness?  81 calories + 21 g carbohydrates + 0 salt + virtually no fat.

If you're not convinced, read on.

 

BNET Health Publications offers up the following benefits:

1. Apples' fiber, pectin, antioxidants, and other compounds can lower bad (LDL) cholesterol and raise good (HDL) cholesterol. 

2. The flavonoids and other phytochemicals in apples help protect against lung and colon cancer. 

3. Apples contain boron, a mineral that helps maintain bone density and protect against heart disease. 

4. The tannins prevent tooth decay, gum disease and urinary-tract infections. 

5. Eating an apple a day (with skin) can guard against stroke. 

6. The vitamins and antioxidants in apples may help prevent age-related vision loss. 

7. The quercetin (a flavonoid) may fight cancer better than vitamin C does. 

8. Apples are a good source of folic acid, a B vitamin that helps prevent serious birth defects as well as heart disease.

It's apple season now.

Go buy a bag of apples and enjoy!

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Please check out my advertising blog at: http://goo.gl/uuYj

No Pain, No Gain, No Way

Do you know the old adage, "no pain, no gain?" Well, frankly, I think that adage is for the birds.

People that live by this adage go into a workout with determination and vigor. They try to accomplish in one workout what should be accomplished over a longer period of time. They push themselves to the limit, stressing every muscle in their body. They limp away from their workout gratified that they took pain head-on and won.

Until the next day.

They wake up the next day and every muscle in their body screams. Even small little tasks, like walking up a flight of stairs or bending down to tie their shoes makes them wince in pain.

And then what happens?

Well, they skip a workout either right away or a few days down the road. Why? Not only because it hurts, but because they realize that working out really isn't fun. It has become a chore. And who likes to do chores?

So, how should you approach your workouts?

You definitely should work hard and give it your all ... but not to the point where you are in agony. Instead, push yourself to the point where you are a bit uncomfortable. Then, add 5 more minutes on to your walk/run or do 5 more push-ups. Just that little bit more to push yourself to the next level without killing yourself.

My theory on no pain, no gain?

No Pain, No Gain, No Way.

Know Your Daypart

In the advertising world, we have something called a daypart. The industry segments a day into different parts in which a company can buy advertising: rush hour, day time soaps, prime time, etc.

Dayparts is a concept that you can apply to your own life. Which daypart do you perform your best? Which time of day will you be most likely to consistently work out in?

For me, it's definitely morning. Years of experience have proven to me that if I wait to work out until after work or later in the day, odds are 10:1 that I'll never do it. My life becomes busy. I invent 20 things that must be done before the end of the day. And poof! Before I know it, I have no time left to work out.

So, when the alarm goes off 45 minutes earlier on workout days, I tell myself that I have to get up if I have any hope of working out that day. No excuses. Just do it.

Know Your Daypart

Redefine Bad

It's interesting how your definition of "bad" changes as you begin to eat healthier.

On September 1, I made a vow to do the following for one month:

- No fast food
- No carbonated beverages
- No alcohol
- No dairy
- No carbohydrates
- No sugar

As I sit here on the 27th of September, my little plan has worked to a large degree ... although I've certainly had some little cheats along the way. But, overall, I am proud of my performance; that is, until last weekend.

My husband and I went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Badger football game with our best friends, Jill and Jeff. It was a gorgeous day outside; high 60s and sunny, with just a hint of autumn in the air. The Badgers clobbered Austin Peay 70-3!!!

I ask you, how could I not celebrate on a day like that? So, I celebrated with a few cocktails, a few bites of bread at dinner, a few handfuls of kettle corn, two crackers with cheese on them, a partial bag of chips ... well, you get my drift. I fell off the wagon ... and hard.

On my way back home, I started to think about how "bad" I had been ... when it hit me. I was beginning to change my definition of bad. Just one month ago, I wouldn't have given a second thought to what I had eaten on Saturday or any other day for that matter. But now that I'm 7 pounds lighter and have shaved several inches off my measurements, I find myself redefining what is good and is bad for me.

And isn't that what it's all about - changing your attitude about food? As Patti LaBelle sings:

I'm feelin' good from my head to my shoes
Know where I'm goin' and I know what to do
I tidied up my point of view
I got a new attitude

Finding More Ways to Measure Up

Something occurred to me the other day. In my career as a market researcher, I am fond of telling my clients that they should never put all of their measurement eggs in one basket, so to speak. In other words, don't determine the extent of your success by only looking at one measurement.

Let me explain. Let's say Company A bases their success solely on product sales. One day, their sales grow dramatically and they conclude that their advertising is working great and they are stealing market share from their competitors.

Now, think of their key competitor - Company B. They had an unanticipated production problem which caused them to experience out of stock conditions across the country. Consumers got to the store and found an empty spot on the shelf. Because they really needed the product, they bought Company A's product ... merely as a short-term substitute.

Company B fixes their problem and, lo and behold, product sales for Company A go back to what they were before.

Are you with me so far?

As you can see, drawing a conclusion based on one single piece of data can be very dangerous. That's why reporters and lawyers always look for secondary sources to validate what they are saying.

So, why do we always hop on a scale, look at the number, and make a snap decision about how "thin" we are. We get discouraged that we're not moving the needle and before you know it, we've given up entirely.

Go ahead and weigh yourself but also measure yourself in other ways:

- Measure your waist, thighs, and bust
- Count how many sit ups you do and try improve your number
- Count how many days you can go without soda, carbs, or sweets
- Judge the fit of your clothes, striving for a more comfortable fit
- Count how many steps you can walk up before getting winded

Any good researcher will tell you that doing a PRE and a POST measurement is the best way to track movement. So, select a handful of measures (some that are uniquely your own) and write them down in a notebook. Make notes at least once a week and then do a little Irish jig when you start to see your numbers improve.

The greater the number of standards of measurement you have, the greater the possibility that you will find little successes in your life that continue to motivate you to be the healthiest you possible.

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Please visit my advertising blog at http://adpr1400.blogspot.com/

36-18-33: An Unrealistic Image

The Barbie doll was introduced in 1959, defining what the so-called "ideal" woman looked like. She had an impossibly small waist, accompanied by full-figured breasts and hips.

Interestingly, research conducted by University Central Hospital in Helsinki, Finland a few years ago, revealed that if a real woman had Barbie's 39-18-33 figure, she would actually lack the 17-22% body fat needed to menstruate.

Now, you could argue that Barbie is just a plastic doll ... an unrealistic icon. But, according to USA Today, today's super-models are somewhat similar in size to a Barbie. The average runway model is 16 to 17 years. Most stand 5'10" to 5'11" in height, weigh 120 to 124 pounds, and wear either a size 2 or size 4.

Impossibly thin young woman who capture the adoration of young girls across the world.

A great deal of press has been dedicated to the question of whether the common Barbie doll our children play with or the sexy runway model that teens aspire to be is psychologically damaging. Do we set our nation's young girls up for serious eating disorders like anorexia or bulimia as they strive to become our view of what an ideal woman looks like?

But, I think there is one more question that I haven't heard discussed. Is this standard of an ideal woman so unattainable by our nation's youth, that they make the decision early on that it's not even worth their effort? Let's face it, most people don't have a body type that would ever allow them to look like Barbie or like Heidi Klum ... even if they ate 500 calories a day and worked out for hours on end, day after day after day.

I think it's time that we, as a nation, start encouraging young ladies to do a few things:

1) Accept that they are who they are, not someone else
2) Live a lifestyle that will encourage them to "be the best me" they can be
3) Find ways to educate them on what a healthy body really looks like

If we can encourage our youth to be the "healthiest me I can be," we can make serious psychological disorders like anorexia and bulimia a thing of the past.

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Please check out my Advertising blog at: http://adpr1400.blogspot.com/

Wash The Germs Away

The American Society for Microbiology was curious: Just how many people wash their hands after using a public restroom? So, they called over 1,000 people across the U.S. and asked them. Nearly all - 95% - claimed that hand-washing was a regular practice after ... well, after going to the bathroom.

But, as all good researchers know, what people say they do and what they actually do are not always in synch.

So, those sneaky microbiologists decided to hang out in public restrooms and see what people actually did. It turns out that one in three people actually didn't wash up before leaving the restroom.

So, here's the question: Do you really need to wash your hands or is it all a bunch of hype?

Germs stick to hands. The next time you touch something - a person, an ATM, a stair railing - you transfer and spread your germs.

The same holds true when you touch something that another germy person has touched. Their germs can transfer colds, flues, and viruses over to you.

So, bottom line, do as mom told you and regularly wash your hands ... with soap and water!

Eat Like a Caveman

We have been reading a lot these days about eating as "close to the source" as possible. Farmer's markets, organic food, fresh produce ... they're all on the rise.

Well, I recently heard about another way to think about what you should eat. Eat like a caveman.

Now, at first blush, that sounds downright silly. But, when you think about it, it's actually really smart. Cavemen didn't have the opportunity to go to McDonald's, to deep fry their vegetables, or to pop a frozen dinner in the microwave. These foods are highly processed and are more difficult for your body to understand and to break down.

I found that visualizing a caveman and what kinds of food were available to him is a lot easier way for me to understand if something is good for me or not.

So, eat like a caveman!

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Is everything okay if it's in moderation?

You know the old saying, "everything in moderation." I lived by that saying for the past several years, believing that even bad stuff (like cake, chocolate, ice cream and soda) was okay as long as I didn't overdo it.

But, time has taught me that moderation is just an excuse to eat or drink what I really want to eat or drink.

Let's be frank here ... if something is bad for you, it's bad for you. If something has a lot of calories in it. it has a lot of calories in it. If something is sugar-laden, it's sugar-laden.

No, moderation is not acceptable. If you're going to eat something that falls outside the realm of healthy, than call it what it is ... a momentary diversion from what is good. A cheat, of sorts.

And, don't feel guilty about it ... as long as you spread the cheats out. We all can't be perfect all the time. We just have to strive to eat healthy a lot more often than not.

I think I can, I think I can

One of my favorite stories from my childhood days was, "The Little Engine That Could." It's a wonderful story that has entertained children since its inception in 1930. Looking back on some of the words from that story, it's easy to understand why millions of children have so loved this book. It's a book about determination and pride and hope and believing that you can do whatever you put your mind to. Here's an excerpt:

The toys all started crying cause that engine was so mean.
And then there came another one, the smallest ever seen.
And though it seemed that she could hardly pull herself along,
she hitched on to the front, and as she pulled she sang this song,
I think I can, I think I can, I think I have a plan,
and I can do most anything if I only think I can.
Then up that great big mountain with the cars all full of toys,
and soon they reached the waiting arms of little girls and boys.
And though that ends the story, it will do you lots of good
to take a lesson from the little engine that could.
Just think you can, just think you can and have that understood,
and very soon you'll start to say I always knew I could.
I knew I could, I knew I could, I knew I could, I knew I could.

We all want to achieve what we dreamed when we were little children, don't we? But, life has a habit of wearing us down over the years and soon we find ourselves letting some of our dreams slip away.

So, re-read the words to this beloved tale and find that sense of childhood wonder in your life again. Keep telling yourself, I think I can, I think I can, and before you know it, you'll know you can.

I think I can, I think I can.
I know I can.

Stop the Negative Self-Talk...Now!

It seems like everywhere you're turning these days, someone is talking about losing weight. And once you get a bit older, all we talk about is how we're NOT losing weight.

In order to lose weight, we all need to start at the same place ... with our attitude. Too often, we berate ourselves for our weight.

We look in the mirror as we get ready for our day and say, "I''m fat."
We grab the tire around our waist and squeeze it, thinking "I'm fat."
We try a new shirt on at the store and think, "I look terrible."

All that negative talk adds up to a big fat ball of negative influence in our lives. What would we do if our spouse or friend or even doctor talked to us like that? We likely would think they were out of place. We might start to like them less. Ultimately, we may decide we don't even want them in our life anymore. So, why is it okay to talk to ourselves that way?

Starting this moment, try to be kinder to yourself. Understand that "fat" does not have to be how you define yourself.

"A strong positive mental attitude will create
more miracles than any wonder drug."
Patricia Neal

An Apple A Day...

When I came down for work a few days ago, I noticed a fabulous bowl of fruit sitting on the kitchen counter. My daughter had gone grocery shopping the day before and had decided to put her favorite fruits in a bowl on the counter.

Looking at that bowl of fruit, something interesting happened...

The fruit looked so fresh and delicious that I grabbed an apple on the way out the door and ate it in my car on the way to work. I have done the same thing every day this week.

I learned something valuable from this bowl of fruit. We are often influenced by what is right in front of our noses.

So, instead of sitting that pan of brownies you made last night on the counter to welcome you in the morning, make up a tantalizing bowl of fruit. Fill it with a variety of different fruits that you really like and enjoy your way to good health.

Tempt yourself with healthy.

It's All in a Good Night's Sleep

Did you know that one way to lose weight is to get a good night's sleep every night? According to WebMD:

"...substantial medical evidence suggests some fascinating links between sleep and weight. Researchers say that how much you sleep and quite possibility the quality of your sleep may silently orchestrate a symphony of hormonal activity tied to your appetite."

While a good night's rest may not be the magic bullet to shed loads of weight, every little bit helps! Check out "33 Secrets to a Good Night's Sleep." Maybe you'll find some magical idea on this list that will help you fall asleep tonight!

Counting sheep can help you count calories!