Perhaps one of my Favorite Thai dishes, Som Tum (Green Papaya Salad) is served cold and is the perfect summer treat. It is healthy and refreshing and can be served as an appetizer or as a main dish. (thanks gladys for the recipe)
ThaiTable.com is a great site filled with delicious Thai recipes you can make at home. If you have trouble finding the exotic ingredients, try EthnicGrocer.com, they will ship from anywhere in the world to anywhere in the world.
Stephen Smith's website, What's for Dinner has quickly become my favorite this summer -- His recipes are delicious and his presentation makes your mouth water. Bookmark this site, he updates it daily, and you are sure to find many sumptuous delights.
Julia Griggs Havey, Ediets Master Motivator
June 13, 2005
Link: No joke: Study finds laughing can burn calories.
If you don't know it, laughing is good for you. It will raise levels of cells in your immune cells, increase the chemical output that gives you that euphoria feeling, helps keep stress at bay....and now, apparently it's good for burning calories, too!
If you observe children and observe those of retired age (over 65), you'll see a difference in who laughs more. Maybe this could be a part of the equation that contributes to obesity - a lack of laughter. "No..." you say? Well, think of it this way: doesn't your ability to laugh bear a direct reflection of your attitude? I think it does. I believe if you can laugh at the simple things and the humor about those simple things, then you probably have a pretty good attitude. Of course we're not talking about laughing at someone else's harm or bad fortune - that could be considered cruel. This kind of laughter should be pure - something cute a child says, a character in a Jim Carrey movie, or your 94 year-old grandmother telling you she wishes everyone were as perfect as we are (that really happened, and she was really kidding!).
If you think that your attitude is a reflection of how well you can laugh, then maybe it's also a reflection of how well you can get out and move around and take a walk or go on a bike ride or try roller blading. Laughing is child-like and if you want to stay feeling young and energetic, then you've got to keep some of those child-like qualities.
Does life beat us up to much as we age that we stop laughing as much as when we were kids? Could we take the time to smell the flowers, and enjoy some time finding humor? My husband and I enjoy watching funny movies with the kids every now and then, and I think we sometimes get carried away. And we like to joke with one another as long as we all know it's not at the other person's expense.
So go ahead laugh it up! It will improve your mood, your energy level, your overall health.... and you'll know you're burning some calories too!
Carpe Diet
By no means would I ever call myself overweight, in fact some might say that I am thin. I weigh 116 pounds and I am 5 foot 3 inches tall (Okay -- 5 foot 2 and 117). Because I am thin does not mean I do not have to watch what I eat. I like many others have dietary concerns. I struggle day in and day out to maintain a balance of diet and glucose levels without foregoing the sumptuous pleasures of a great tasting meal. I watch what I eat to remain healthy. By following the American Heart Association's guidelines for a healthy heart, and the American Diabetes Association's guidelines for a diabetic diet (food pyramid) -- I have come to a place where I am comfortable with my food choices.
half fillet of salmon (a few pounds) or 4 salmon steaks 3/4 of an inch thick
(optional) 1/4 cup of Saki or rice wine
one lime
one lemon
1/4 cup - extra virgin olive oil
fresh dill sprigs (about 10 - 20)
2 tablespoons of light soy sauce
20 stalks of asparagus
Mix juice of 1/2 lemon, 1/2 lime into the olive oil, soy and Saki. Place salmon skin side down on a large piece of foil on top of grill heated to a medium heat. Brush with flavored marinade. Lay dill sprigs on top of salmon. Slice remainder of lemon and lime and lay on top of the dill. Close lid to the grill and let cook for 20 minutes.
Cut the base of each asparagus, and shave the skin of the remaining stalk. Use the same marinade to brush onto stalks. Cook on grill with salmon (on foil) for 20 minutes with the salmon.
This promises to be a delicious summer dinner, light and easy to prepare. This fast meal is a good for the soul and healthy for the body.
Keep your heart strong and your energy level high. The following foods in your shopping cart are sure to guard against heart disease, keep you energized while keeping your waist trim.
Whole-grain breads and cereals -- You can reduce your cholesterol, and control your weight with a diet that includes significant amounts of insoluble fiber.
Fruits -- Eat delicious fruits like apples, pears, citrus and berries. They are packed with fiber and have shown promise in fighting heart disease. Lycopene, found in fruits like tomatoes, watermelon and pink/red grapefruit, are thought to help lower your risk cardiovascular-disease.
Dark, leafy greens -- Reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease by eating greens such as arugula and spinach which contain folate. Folate is thought to break down homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood that is thought to increases the risk of heart-disease.
Nuts -- Containing healthy fats, walnuts have omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids contribute to lowering triglyceride levels. Other nuts such as almonds, cashews,and macadamias possess monounsaturated fats. These fats are paramount in helping lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and will also raise HDL (good) cholesterol.
Salmon -- Fight heart disease with cold-water fish that contain omega-3 fatty acids; salmon, mackerel and sardines are among healthy heart fish.
