WARNING! FRIES MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH

Exercise classes are back in business. Everyone’s trying to lose that post pandemic weight. Yes, we social distance, but people can still carry on conversations which can be heard by others in the locker room or gymnasium. One thing I’ve noticed is that many people enjoy talking about food and exchanging recipes. From there, the subject matter may turn to favorite restaurants. Last week, I heard two weight watchers comparing the merits of French fries served in different places around town. To me, this was like hearing smokers compare the nicotine content of different cigarette brands. Warning! Fries may be hazardous to health.

If someone is investing the time, and making the effort to participate in an exercise class, why concentrate on food at all? Much less admit to eating French fries on a regular basis?

Hopefully, I won’t be getting a text from McDonald’s or Wendy’s corporate headquarters. Although, it wouldn’t surprise me, considering the ease with which strangers are able to find my cell phone number. If so, they might hasten to assure me that potatoes are good source of nutrients. This is true. Plain old potatoes are pretty good for you. The problem occurs when we doctor them up with butter , sour cream and cheese. And worst of all, deep fry them in fat.

As an example, one small baked potato (100 grams) contains 93 calories and 0 grams of fat, while the same amount (100 grams) of French fries contain 319 calories and 17 grams of fat.

Warning! Fries May Be Hazardous to your health and sabotage your diet. — Warning! Fries may be hazardous to your health. French fried potatoes are loaded with salt and saturated fat.

If you’re scarfing down a bag of fries that have been heavily fried in oil, they are dripping in saturated fats. Taking in too much saturated fat can raise your “bad” LDL cholesterol levels and can potentially lead to heart disease and stroke.

If you long for the taste of fries, you can make roast potatoes in the oven at home. Just cut the potatoes in cubes, sprinkle them with spices like chili powder, thyme or paprika. Then lightly roll them in olive oil and bake at 375 for 25 minutes. Roasted potatoes contain less than half the calories of French fries, and they don’t have any saturated fat.

Do I ever eat French Fries? Yes, every once in awhile. But there’s one thing I can never forget: Warning! Fries may be hazardous to your health.

February 17, 2020February 17, 2020

SHOULD YOU ASK SOMEONE TO LOSE WEIGHT?

The media has taken out after poor Meghan Markle again. This time, they’re saying that she had the nerve to tell her husband to lose weight. On top of that, they claim she’s started picking out his clothes. Where do they come up with all this supposedly inside information? Was a reporter hiding in their bedroom closet? Maybe someone noticed Prince Harry had dropped a few pounds , and concocted this story. But it does present a moral issue: Should you ask someone to lose weight? Should you help your husband pick out new clothes?

Body shaming is another matter. It’s harmful to make fun of someone’s size. My sister struggled with overweight as a young adult, and was often the target of ridicule. She ended up taking so many diet pills that it affected her mental health for the rest of her life.

Should a wife tell a husband to lose some weight — A caring wife may ask her husband to lose some weight.

On the other hand, what is so terrible about a concerned wife suggesting her husband lose a few pounds? Seem to me, it’s the caring thing to do. My husband has bad knees, and must walk with a cane. When he starts complaining, I’m apt to suggest he take off a few pounds to relieve the pressure on his joints. Maintaining a normal weight is also important for heart health. On top of that, he’s a diabetic. Is a wife supposed to ignore it when her husband starts packing on the pounds?

Research has shown that the loss of 10 pounds can lead to a healthier life. Benefits may include: 1) 50% reduction in heart disease. 2) 60% reduction in diabetes risk. 3) 50 % decrease in arthritis.

What’s so mean and terrible about that?

About the clothes issue: My husband always wants me with him when he buys new clothes. I can tell him which colors are unflattering, or when the shoulders of a jacket or sweater are too saggy—things he doesn’t always notice. By the same token, I want his advice on what to wear for special occasions. Seems to me that’s one good thing about having a loving spouse or partner.

So I’m asking the media: please leave Meghan alone. It won’t hurt Harry at all to lose some weight. And it might inspire others to do the same.

April 17, 2019April 17, 2019

SECRET TRIUMPHS OF THE HEART

Many of us are struggling with inner demons that no one knows about. You may be uncomfortable at social events. You could be struggling with a slight case of depression, or an addiction to alcohol., prescription drugs, or nicotine. Your weight might be affecting your health , but you can’t stop over eating. You limp along with these afflictions, until one day, you face reality and decide to do something about it. You might seek counseling, or maybe just some self help books. You enroll in a support group like Weight Watchers. And at last, there comes a time when you realize that your efforts at changing your life have paid off. These are the secret triumphs of the heart.

Seniors often struggle with inner demons that they are resigned to — YOU MAY BE STRUGGLING WITH FAILINGS OR INNER PROBLEMS NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT; ITS TIME TO GET YOUR LIFE BACK

The trouble might not be one of spirit , but of body. A sudden onset of sciatica makes walking painful.. You feel off balance at times, but you won’t submit to the indignity of using a cane. Suddenly, you can’t hear what your grandchildren are saying. Driving at night is scary because you see halos around the street lights..

For a while—months, maybe years–you deny these failings of your aging body. But suddenly, you’re tired of it all, and you realize you don’t want to do this anymore.

You make an appointment with a physical therapist, and faithfully do the prescribed exercises at home, even after your Medicare coverage runs out. You bite the bullet and buy some hearing aids. You see an eye doctor and agree to whatever surgery or treatment he recommends. You share your fears and insecurities with a counselor.

Instead of sinking into a chair and looking out the window, you make the decision to get your life back. You work on overcoming these problems by whatever means it takes. With the help of modern medicines you can see, hear, and walk.—maybe not as well as you used to, but better than before. You can go places and do things. These are the secret triumphs of the heart.