Smart Lessons from Simple Stories

Week 8 –
During our morning exercise class, Melissa and I were discussing the benefits of buying organic. I was sharing a recent study with her based on 87,000 tests conducted by the USDA, The Environmental Working Group recently scored food pesticide levels in common produce, from 1 (the lowest pesticide load) to 100 (the highest). Apples scored a scary 93! Melissa mentioned that perhaps it was the pesticides that killed Snow White and not the poison.

So that got me thinking, with all the gimmicks, diet regimes and exercise advice that bombard us in the media, is there any other place we can for healthy advice? Let’s flash back to look at some familiar characters from our younger years. Think for a moment, if Humpty Dumpty came from a free range bird, perhaps he would have survived his fall. Organic eggs from pastured hens can contain as much as ten times more omega-3’s than factory hens. Organic eggs have healthy protein and fat and contain necessary amounts of Vitamins A,D, B12, B2, niacin and folate. Poor Humpty didn’t have a chance!
Now let’s look back at a story with a happy ending. Little Miss Muffet was way ahead (no pun intended) of her time with the whole curds and whey thing! Whey protein is unsurpassed as a source of essential amino acids required in the daily diet. Essential amino acids are the building blocks for healthy muscles, skin, nails and other body tissue (Whey Protein Institute, 2009). You can find out more about the benefits of whey protein from the following reliable source http://www.wheyoflife.org/benefits.cfm
Why are we all so adamant to cut carbs? The Lady and the Tramp had it right while they sat nose to nose, sharing a plate of pasta. Not only are carbohydrates our best energy source, we need that energy source to be able to train hard enough to improve our cardio-vascular and muscular fitness. Not to mention, the pair decided to share the plate of pasta, which is terrific for portion control.
Jack was so smart to plant that magic bean, which later grew into a healthy bean stock. We should all rely more on beans and think of beans as the ultimate meat substitute! They are packed with protein, filled with fiber and antioxidants, and cheaper than almost any staple in the supermarket!
I could go on and on, with Goldilocks choosing the proper portion of oatmeal, to Chicken Little being the strongest and mightiest without being pumped with dangerous hormones, to Hansel and Gretel getting locked away as punishment for eating the entire candy house, but I think you get the picture!
Have a beautiful weekend!
Andie