Earthly Eating

Most of us look to calcium and vitamin D to protect our bones and teeth, but the benefits of these nutrients are more than just that. Taking calcium in preganancy may help reduce the risk of high blood pressure in your children.

Premenopausal women with higher intakes of vitamin D and calcium also have lower risk for more aggressive forms of breast cancer. WIth calcium and almost three times the recommended daily amount of vitamin D3 of their age group are 60 precent lower risk factors for common cancers.

Most women should take a calcium supplement with vitamin D when they hit the ages of 18-21 and continue to take these supplements the rest of their lives. Taking a calcium supplemts with vitamon D in it helps promote the effective absorption of calcium. Beyond that, get your bone building necessities from vegetables, fruits and whole grains as well.

Calcium can also help cut your blood pressure, sheild you from colon cancer and ease or end PMS symptoms. It can also help keep you slim. Lots of food, from beans to sardines, are rich in calcium. But, few people eat enough to hit their daily goal.

Caffeine can rip away at the calcium storages of women who are already running short. One of every two American women will at some time in her life suffer and osteoporosis-related bone fracture without the caffeine taking away what every women needs already.

How Much Calcium Do You Get?

Food:

• Yogurt, low-fat (1 cup): 447 mg
• Orange juice, calcium-fortified (1 cup): 350 mg
• Sardines, canned (3 ounces): 325 mg
• Milk, 1 precent (1 cup): 300 mg
• Cheese, Swiss (1 slice): 272 mg
• Spinach, cooked (1 cup): 245 mg
• Tofu, firn (1/2 cup): 204 mg
• White beans, cooked (1 cup): 161 mg
• Figs, dried (1/2 cup, or about 5): 143 mg
• Parmesan cheese (2 tbs.): 138 mg
• Frozen yogurt (1/2 cup): 103 mg
• Breakfast cereal, calcium-fortified: 100 mg
• English muffin, toasted: 98 mg
• Broccoli, cooked (1 cup): 72 mg
• Almonds (1 ounce, or about 24 nuts): 70 mg
• Green beans, boiled (1 cup): 58 mg

**Over at Joss Stone-Fan, KiKi writes about the recent breast cancer charity event Joss Stone participated in. Frosted Pink Benefit, Joss sang “Bruised but not Broken”. Read and watch the video of Joss Stone here.**
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Earthly Eating Recipe: Day 2 of Low-Fat Eating

Low-Fat Diet

With so many diets out now and the pressure to be thin by the media, what diet will work best for you?
The Atkins Diet?
The Zone?
Weight Watchers?
Or do you even need a diet plan at all? Give yourself point for each of the following questions that you answer yes to. If you score six or more, you may want to reevaluate your eating habits. Talk to a nutritionist if you need additional diet help.

1. Do you spend more than three hours a day thinking about healthy food and planning or shipping for your meals?

2. Do you often dwell on tomorrow’s menu today?

3. Do you care more about the virtue of what you eat than the pleasure you receive from eating it?

4. Has the quality of your life decreased as the quality of your diet has increased?

5. Do you keep getting stricter with yourself?

6. Do you sacrifice experieces you once enjoyed to eat the food you believe is right?

7. Do you feel an increased sense of self-esteem when you are eating healthy food?

8. Do you look down on others you don’t?

9. Do you feel guilt or self-loathing when you stray from your diet?

10. Does your diet isolate your socially?
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Herb Pesto At Home
Makes 3 cups

1 cup watercress leaves
1 cup Italian parsley leaves
1 cup basil leaves
1/4 cup thyme leaves
1/2 cup oregani leaves
1/2 cup chopped nuts (such as macadamia nuts, almonds, walnuts or pine nuts)
4 garlic cloves, rouhgly chopped
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup olive oil
Black pepper, to taste

Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender, and process until combines but still fairly coarse. Use with breads, high-end crackers, or even. Keep in the freezer for about six months to enjoy pesto anytime of the year.

Happy Eating!