I need my coffee every day! Is this bad?

Actually, no.

Many recent studies have touted the benefits of coffee.  Just two cups a day may promote heart health, reduce the risk of colon cancer and diabetes, and even help hard core athletes perform better.  Note this is not the latte with whipped cream or other fancy coffee drinks!

Coffee offsets some of the damage caused by other vices such as drinking and smoking.  And it’s also suggested that coffee could protect against Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease.  Why?  Well, some of it remains a mystery, but all indications point to its antioxidants, magnesium, and caffeine.

How much caffeine is in coffee?  An eight ounce cup of drip-brewed contains about 85 mg which is about 3.5 times more than the same serving of tea or soda, or one ounce of chocolate.  Caffeine is even an ingredient in some popular medications that are taken to treat asthma and headaches.

As with everything, moderation is the key, and too much can increase nervousness, hand trembling, and cause rapid heartbeat.  In some people it may also raise cholesterol levels or contribute to artery clogging, but the recent large studies show no significant adverse affect on most healthy people.

This is good news for the 108 million Americans who drink coffee each morning.  Just be sure to watch the added calories from the sugar and cream!

NO!

Fruit is good for you!

However, like all other food, if it is the only food you eat, you won't fulfill your daily needs.  For instance, I don't recommend following the "grapefruit diet" or even an "apple diet."  Nutritionally though, fruit is strong.  It has vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, and is fat free.

It also has a low glycemic carbohydrate index so it delivers sugar slowly into the bloodstream, instead of the sugar spike that many processed foods give you.  Because of this, it is a good pre-workout snack.  It is still generally high in sugar though, so you should keep this in mind.

Fruit is easy to transport, often does not need refrigeration, and there is a great variety to choose from.  You can eat it by itself or you can:

• add a tablespoon or two of natural peanut butter to a banana
• add berries to your cereal
• add a banana or berries to a protein shake
• add berries to yogurt
• add fruit to cottage cheese, or
• freeze berries, grapes, or bananas for a cold and refreshing treat.

The possibilities are almost endless so enjoy a serving of fruit every day!

Food stamps for fast food?  REALLY?!!!  Who's brilliant idea is this?

Well, most recently, it is Yum! Brands.  You know, the owner of Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC.  They think it's a great idea, and are lobbying the state of Kentucky to change the law.   I say "most recently" because Arizona and parts of California and Michigan have already allowed this to occur!   What?!!

Let's think this through.  In general, the more fast food you eat, the fatter you become because you are eating food with little or no nutritional value.  The fatter you are, the more health problems you have.  Two-thirds of Americans are already overweight or obese.  This 2/3 of our society is more likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes, among other illnesses.  The more health problems you have, the higher your health care costs.  The higher your health care costs, whether you are insured through your  job, or you are relying on government assistance, the higher everyone's health care costs.  I'm not judging.  I'm telling you like it is.

Now back to the food stamps.  People who are in need receive food stamps to help them.  Good.  Alcohol and cigarettes, both of which are known to contribute to serious health problems,  are not permitted to be bought with food stamps.  Good.

The fast food lobbyists want to change the law in Kentucky for people who receive food stamps to buy White Castle, Taco Bell, and McDonald's.

How does this fit with the Food Stamp Program?

With the exception of Arizona, California and Michigan, the following are NOT currently allowed to be purchased with food stamps:
Prepared hot foods and hot food products sold in grocery stores, that are hot at the time of sale and ready to be eaten immediately.
Any prepared food (hot or cold) sold and meant to be eaten at the store.
All non-food items including aspirin, cough drops or syrups, and other cold remedies, and antacids.

Hmmm...how are they going to buy the much-needed antacids to help settle their stomachs after eating sliders?

In 2008, the government changed the name of this program to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.   Bahahaha     I scoff at the irony!  

On the government's website, nutrition.gov, they talk about SNAP and "Smart Nutrition 101".  Smart Nutrition 101 has a picture and description of the new MyPlate which was unveiled earlier this year to help people make better eating and drinking choices.  I wonder how the sliders and fries are going to fit?!!!  Oh wait, this is how:

They also include a 2008 study that they conducted to look at the food stamp program and obesity.  They concluded that "Results from reviewed studies indicate that for most participants in the Food Stamp Program—children, nonelderly men, and the elderly—use of food stamp benefits does not result in an increase in either Body Mass Index (BMI) or the likelihood of being overweight or obese. However, for nonelderly women, who account for 28 percent of the food stamp caseload, some evidence suggests that participation in the Food Stamp Program may increase BMI and the probability of obesity."  Just wait til the children, nonelderly men, and the elderly start eating McDonald's every day!  Have you seen Supersize Me?  I think they should extend this study to include the cost of health costs!

What do you think?  Should food stamps be accepted for Big Macs, Volcano Nachos, and Dutch Apple Pies?