10 Healthy Snacks You Should Always Have in Your Fridge

By Scott Shimberg


Especially for people who work from home, the refrigerator is an extremely tempting monster in the kitchen. It's mid-morning and you feel as though your breakfast was yesterday. Your tummy is growling and begging to be fed. Or perhaps the late night news is on and you simply want a little something to hold you over til the morning. It's inviting to grab the sugar-laced stuff, however if you have good, nutritious choices in the fridge, then you won't find yourself 5 pounds heaver in three months.

We are providing you a list of 10 great foods to keep in your fridge. Stock these foods and you will always be ready to have a delicious, guilt-free snack.

10. Edamame - snack on steamed edamame that are full of iron, calcium and other vitamins and minerals. It is a Japanese soybean that has a great nutty flavor. You can find it fresh in the seafood section or in the frozen section already shelled.

9. Cottage Cheese - this delicious snack is loaded with casein, a protein that keeps you feeling full for a longer time of time. On it's own, or combine it with fresh fruit for a little bit of sweetness, or almonds for a nice crunch.

8. Peanut Butter - not necessarily in the fridge, but a great, healthy snack. It is packed with healthy monounsaturated fats and folate, a B vitamin. But don't buy the processed kind off the shelf, get the fresh kind in your deli department - they literally put the roasted peanuts through a grinder, no preservatives or additives.

7. Almonds - a handful of raw almonds provide a wholesome substitute for oily, crunchy snacks like potato chips and crackers). Have them in the fridge to prevent its natural oils from oxidation.

6. Milk - be sure you have low-fat or non-fat milk in the fridge. A small glass of milk is very comforting and one 8 ounce glass per day helps to provide your daily dose of calcium. A lot better for you as compared to that scoop of ice cream or frozen yogurt.

5. Eggs - whether you like to whip up a quick scramble or eat them hard-boiled - always keep eggs on hand. We always have a half dozen hard-boiled eggs in the fridge - remove the yolk and fill it with hummus for a delicious, well-rounded snack.

4. Miso - this may be an unexpected item to store in your fridge, but you'll get tons of use from it. Simply mix it with hot water and it dissolves into a tasty soup. Be sure to choose a low-sodium kind.

3. Bananas - they are rich in potassium and fiber, necessary nutrients for your daily living. Always good on their own, but enjoy with peanut butter or in your oatmeal for an even more filling snack.

2. Homemade Kale Chips - so easy to do, and a great snack to have around: 1. Preheat oven to 375F; 2. Wash 2 bunches of kale, remove stems, tear into small pieces; 3. Toss with 2 tsp olive oil and spread on baking sheet; 4. Salt lightly; 5. Bake until crisp and slightly golden around edges (10 minutes).

1. Hummus - a quick go to already ready in your deli section. Since its popularity grows, so do the options. Be smart - don't blend with crackers or chips, enjoy it with chopped veggies or in a hard-boiled egg as described above.

Hope this will help you in maintaining a healthy you! If you found this story helpful, feel free to share with others.

Until next time

Scott & Heidi




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Optimize The Health In A Natural Way With Herbal Supplements

By Bernard Miner


The ingredients of anything you take by mouth have to go somewhere. It's because of such why there are people who stay away from OTC and prescription drugs as much as they can. They rather take herbal supplements which contain nothing else but botanical ingredients. Throughout history, traditional medicine has taken advantage of plants and their extracts.

Many of these products provide the necessary nutrients that your everyday diet may not provide completely. Because of them, it is possible to attain optimum health as the things that the body needs for proper functioning are supplied. Certain herbs are used to effectively deal with nutritional problems some people are having, such as iron and calcium deficiencies.

You may also find those that are specifically formulated to provide therapeutic effects. For instance, you may come across products that are meant for those with high blood pressure, arthritis, kidney stones, cough and even erectile dysfunction. Some provide assistance to people who want to improve their appearance, such as those with weight or acne problems.

What makes these products particularly appealing is their reliance on only those that nature bears as gifts to man. Nothing that has been invented in the laboratory makes it to the list of ingredients. There are a lot of pharmaceutical products that are known to produce unfavorable side effects. It's no wonder why a lot of individuals look for alternatives.

But this doesn't mean that herbal supplements are completely devoid of any side effect. Because some botanicals are really potent, it's possible for them to produce unwanted signs and symptoms too. This is particularly true if they are taken in the wrong fashion. See to it that you go through the label for your safety, especially the directions given by the manufacturer.

Informing your primary health care provider about your intention to use such product is recommended. Botanicals may interfere with the ingredients of drugs being taken, regardless if prescription or OTC. When such happens, their efficacy may be lessened. What's more, health problems may also be encountered because of such interaction, like liver damage.

Ensure that you consider getting herbal supplements coming from respected and well-known manufacturers. Conduct a research online before you buy anything. Read about the brand as well as the ingredients used by the product. It's also possible to look for blogs or online discussion sites where the experiences of past and current users are shared.




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Useful Guidelines In Purchasing Authentic Vitamins Made In USA

By Doris Madden


Buying of authentic vitamins made in USA is quite a challenge these days due to the burgeoning number of manufacturers in the world. It is a known fact that ever since its boom in the 90s, using vitamins has continually increased in the consciousness of men and women thereby increasing its significance and demand in the market. With growing concern over aging, weight and immune system functions, finding supplements that will increase bodily potential has never been this demanding.

Though the FTC or the Federal Trade Commission's "Made in the USA" label stipulates that a product must be "all or virtually all" or more than fifty percent of its parts or content must be manufactured or produced in the US, various implications crossing different industries have been subjected to debate. With various counterfeiting and doubtful security in vitamin products being sold nowadays, determining if a product is indeed manufactured in American soil or not can be taxing. To get you started, here are some simple steps how.

When buying items on actual stores, look for the label usually stamped or embossed on the box or bottle of the vitamins. Check where the product came from as indicated on its "packed in" information content. Some products may have passed under FTC's requirement but is actually manufactured elsewhere. Be aware also that the word "US" or "America" can sometimes mean South, North, East or West America or any of the fifty states under its flagship.

Luckily, you can actually check the origin of a product you want to buy via online channels. There are online databases and directories that provide important insights on various products being sold today. US FDA usually provides important information on all products being approved by them in their interactive website. FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition has been ensuring the American public on the accuracy of labeling of all food products including vitamin supplements in US territories. If it has FDA approval, then, it must be good.

When you decide to buy online, always verify store's location. Online stores often have huge AUTHENTIC US MADE on its banner but when you double check the store's actual location, it is situated in some other continent with China and India as dominant leader of the pack. Make sure that the one you got is not from bogus sellers.

Call the number indicated on the consumer hotline. Steer clear of live chats and email correspondence. The Federal Communications Commission has a website that lists database of all toll-free number series within the country. You can easily verify if number indicated is US based or international.

It is also possible though that retailer is based in America but the manufacturer of products being sold is not. To guarantee if what you are planning to take is safe and effective, seek out trusted recommendations instead. A friend or a relative might have used it already and can give you no-nonsense feedback on its efficacy.

Indeed, all reports on recalls is disheartening to an American consumer. Being more aware of the products we continually use or take into our system should be done with extra vigilance. Though verifying if vitamins made in USA is authentic or not may sound taxing, doing so can only guarantee its safety.




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Choosing Landyachtz Longboards For Best Performance

By Azalee Bouillon


Skateboarding began back in the 1950's as a substitute for surfing when the waves were not in good form. Surfers attached roller skate wheels to planks and took to riding the concrete as if it were the rolling ocean beneath them. Landyachtz longboards are available in a variety of sizes and types to accommodate all different styles of board cruising.

This company has been producing top quality boards since 1997 and have one of the most uniquely diversified product lines available. Though the same basic components make up both the skateboard and the longboard, there are certain modifications that are made to satisfy the differing styles. Variations in size, shape and weight can make all the difference when speed, maneuverability and dampening are important.

The details are what makes all the difference in obtaining the best results for each type of ride. For those who choose to use their board as a mode of transportation, shorter cuts are more effective because they are easy to carry and navigate. Longer boards are preferred for casual distance rides that do not require a lot of quick turns or difficult maneuvering.

Just as each rider is different, so is each board and it is the individual modifications that bring the two into perfect harmony. Choosing the right size deck is how one gets finds their sweet spot for balance, turning power and spin. The positioning of the trucks and the hardness and diameter of the wheels will affect the smoothness of the ride.

With rising gas prices and elevated environmental concerns, some people like to use their longboards as a form of transportation when traveling short distances. For this method, shorter boards of about 50" in length, featuring loose trucks and a deck with more flexibility for easier control when turning are preferred. The compact cut of a more narrowed nose and a kick-tail make it great for tight corners and changes in direction.

Downhill riding, or bombing, is not only one of the most exciting forms of boarding but also one of the most difficult. This style uses a mid-size board of between 60-80" long with a rigid, short deck and widely positioned trucks that allow it to reach speeds up about 50 MPH. Although quite the adrenaline rush, this method can be very dangerous and should not be attempted by beginners.

The longest boards on the market are up to 110" long and look very much like surfboards. These are used in the styles of cruising and carving and are most reminiscent of how the sport got it's start all those years ago. Setting the trucks to a mid-range tightness allows the rider to enjoy a leisurely roll over landscapes with gently rolling hills and valleys that simulate the movement of the waves.

Distance, dancing and slalom are just three of the many more skateboarding styles, each featuring their own component adjustments designed to enhance the experience of the ride. Enthusiastic riders are always trying to up the ante and constantly developing new ways to test the board. Whatever new challenges are prevented, Landyachtz longboards are fully customizable and ready to rise to the occasion.




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Proven Techniques to Shave Off Your Love Handles for Good

By Rico Reynaud


Believe it or not, deciding to lose your love handles isn't all that different from deciding to make money over the Internet. Basically you have two camps with one being the quick results people and the other are those who do it properly. You cannot simply take one pill or use one machine and have them disappear over night. You have to lose weight and firm up all over, but quick weight loss methods are a losing proposition. If you have ever done that and lost weight, then you know that the weight will re-appear.

A popular exercise that came along decades ago was isometrics, and it was all the rage for a certain period of time. For some reason, these days you don't hear of too many people doing isometric exercises. But you can do them for your love handle muscles and dedicated effort will produce results. More than one exercise needs to be practiced for best results, and being at the right weight is also important. So the simple isometric oblique exercise is to tighten your love handle muscles for perhaps 30 seconds to a minute and then release. In order to learn the ideal amount of time for keeping the muscles contracted, you will have to experiment on your own. Once you have the time down, you can do as many reps and sets as you want.

One question you probably have about losing your love handles is how long will it take. You need to eliminate the fat that covers your love handles before you can successfully get rid of them. Even people who are in the best shape of their lives might have to deal with love handles. What makes them different is that their love handles are all muscle and not muscle and fat.

Every lose love handle fat plan can be broken down into three parts. You must eat healthy foods and avoid all the sugary drinks and snack foods. This diet will give you more energy and help you get all of the right nutrients and vitamins. If you really want to burn fat, cardio training can be quite helpful. Not only will you be burning fat, cardio training helps increase the strength of your muscles, the muscles that get built will depend upon exactly how you are carrying out your cardio exercises. From here you will be able to start concentrating on your abdominal muscles. Use that general plan for six months or so and you won't have any fat on your love handles (or a very small amount) and you will look so much better.

Combine the effectiveness of crunches and rotating movement to give your midsection and love handles a solid workout. You probably know how to do crunches and there are different kinds you can do, too. Adding a twisting movement to your basic crunch is what you can now do. A common crunch has you lying on your back with your knees bent, crunching towards your knees. Add this simple variation. With hands behind your neck, touch your right elbow to your left knee and vice versa. This effectively adds an efficient twist of the torso to your basic crunch.

Finding your supposed secret to banishing love handles is pretty similar to simply looking into a mirror. This is just another way of saying that the secret or trick is right in front of you. All you really have to do is make the decision to do it and then commit--it isn't any real mystery.




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