Which Butter Is Best

The Pros & Cons of Butter, Margarine & Everything In Between!

The butter vs. margarine controversy has been raging since the 1930's. We all wonder which one is better for you. Or should you avoid it all together?

Through research there have been varying viewpoints. So to begin, I should tell you what Margarine is and what butter is.

Margarine: The word margarine came from the Greek for "pearl," because the original version was hard, white, and glossy. It also must have been less than appetizing, since it was made from beef fat, milk, and chopped sheep's stomachs and cows' udders, all treated with heat, lye, and pressure.

In its early years, margarine was a meat product which was dependent on the beef and dairy industries and whose main appeal was its low cost relative to butter. In this period, it was exclusively a food of the poor. In the early 1900s, food chemists discovered how to harden liquid oils by reacting them with hydrogen in the presence of metal catalysts and heat. Vegetable and fish oils then became raw materials for margarine, weakening its ties to the meat industry. Manufacturers bought up the cheapest oils they could find throughout the world, reduced them all to bland neutrality through chemical processing, and hardened them into margarine, which remained a food of the poor.

By the 1920s only vegetable oils went into the product, and over the next 30 years, busy food chemists using a host of chemical additives greatly improved the spreadability, appearance, and especially the flavor of margarine, always working toward the goal of greater resemblance to butter.

Butter: Butter is made from the cream that rises to the top if milk is allowed to sit for a time. Butter is made by churning cream. This causes a chemical reaction that causes the cream to harden slightly, giving it the buttery consistency.

Butter is all fat but contains some vitamin A, D, E and K.

I have taken 4 different kinds of butters to weigh out the health benefits, negative effects and which one is the best option.

Listed below, least to favorite.

Solid Margarine: Contains high amounts of hydrogenated oils & saturated fats. Hydrogenated oils and saturated fats can cause cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Imitation butter spray (I can't believe it's not butter): Contains low amounts of calories, but contains high amounts of man made chemicals.

Soft margarine or Smart Balance: It was designed as a healthier alternative to solid margarine. Lower in saturated fats and cholesterol, it was believed to be healthier than solid margarine & butter and it grew in popularity.

Solid Butter: It is made from the cream that rises to the top if milk is allowed to sit for a time. Butter is made by churning cream. It contains saturated fats, but also vitamins A, D, E and K.

Ultimately, I would avoid anything w/ hydrogenated oils or man made chemicals. Both create long term health impairments. But in the same light, I would not use butter regularly either. Butter contains high amounts of fat. If you must use butter, use in moderation. I would practice using light olive oil in your baking and giving up the practice of spreading your toast with butter. Opt for the healthier choice of almond butter or olive oil.

Pilates Potion

Pilates is one of the most popular exercise systems in the country. It is an innovative system of mind-body exercise evolved from the principles of Joseph Pilates.

Pilates dramatically transforms the way your body looks, feels and performs. It builds strength without excess bulk, creating a sleek, toned body with slender thighs and a flat abdomen.

It teaches body awareness, good posture and easy, graceful movement. Pilates improves flexibility, agility and economy of motion. It can even help alleviate back pain.

Professional dancers have known the benefits of Pilates for decades. Top athletes use it for strength, flexibility, and injury prevention. Hollywood celebrities and supermodels use it to maintain beautiful physiques.

Core strength is the foundation of Pilates exercise. The core muscles are the deep, internal muscles of the abdomen and back. When the core muscles are strong and doing their job, as they are trained to do in Pilates, they work in tandem with the more superficial muscles of the trunk to support the spine and movement.

As you develop your core strength you develop stability throughout your entire torso. This is one of the ways Pilates helps people overcome back pain. As the trunk is properly stabilized, pressure on the back is relieved and the body is able to move freely and efficiently.

A miracle? Not really. Pilates is a safe, sensible exercise system using a floor mat or equipment, that will help you look and feel your very best. No matter what your age or condition, it will work for you. Here are 5 effective moves that will help you slim down in your midsection and help with lower back pain.

1. Half roll back: feet placed on floor, pull in your midsection, create a C curve with your spine and roll back until your feet want to leave the floor, gently roll back up) 

2. Half roll back w/ oblique twist: roll back and then maintain position as you extend your hand back, repeat on other side. 

3. Roll up: body flat, gently roll up, sucking in midsection and reach over toes. Gently roll down, laying your spine down vertebra by vertebra. 

4. Roll over: Reach your legs over your head, then gently place them down using your abdominal muscles. 

5. Plank w/ knee extension: elbows down, body in plank position, hold abdominals in towards spine. Pull your knee in towards your elbow. Repeat on other side. 

Energy Foods

A Shopping List of Top Foods to Fuel Your Body

Tired. Drained. Pooped. No matter how you put it, you're beat and need to drum up some energy. You are not alone. Many people have trouble getting in gear in the morning, experience the afternoon slump, or just want to crash on the couch in the evening.

The exhaustion can be a constant problem for some folks. Fatigue is a common complaint associated with many factors. It is found in all populations and generally reported by more women than men. Sluggishness can be caused by many factors, but experts say poor nutrition is a big culprit. A well-balanced diet, on the other hand, can boost energy.

Food is truly our body's fuel. What we choose as our fuel is going to absolutely impact the performance of our bodies.

The best strategy is to eat small meals of energy-promoting foods several times throughout the day, rather than infrequently bingeing on huge meals (you also need to exercise, get enough sleep and control stress, but that's a whole different segment.) With that in mind, I offer you 6 foods that are guaranteed to charge your batteries and stave off the dreaded afternoon and early-evening head-nods.

1. Oatmeal: Don't forget the oatmeal ever! Start your day with oatmeal. This is an excellent healthy food that not only makes digestion easier but also stabilizes blood glucose level (because of its complex carbohydrates and fiber content). Fiber content in the oatmeal helps you to get a steady stream of energy. Oats also contain Vitamin B which helps transform carbohydrates into usable energy.

2. Almonds: Not all fats are created equal. Saturated fats such as butter and cheese tend to make you lethargic by lowering the amount of circulating oxygen in your bloodstream. Monounsaturated fats such as almonds provide essential fatty acids, known as omega-3s and omega-6s, that produce an alert mental state. Other healthy fats to include in your diet are avocados, seeds, nuts, olive oil, fish oil and canola oil. Of course, with the possible exception of fish oil, eat all of these in moderation

3. Lentils: Lentils provide both carbohydrates and protein, making them a great addition to any meal. They're also a great source of fiber--which translates to a slow release of glucose--as well as B vitamins, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, calcium and copper. And they're low in fat and calories to boot. If you don't eat beans often, start with a small portion or you'll experience the flatulence factor and end up dining alone. Some other good choices include navy beans, chickpeas and kidney beans.

4. Blue Berries: Blueberries are high in manganese, fiber andVitamin K. All these are great to reduce blood cholesterol level and improve condition of the heart. Blueberries are the number one antioxidants fruit. Antioxidants help to get rid of free radicals and balance the protein level.

5. Sardines: A lean protein food- contains an amino acid called tyrosine. This helps to improve mental function. Besides sardines, salmon (rich with omega 3 fatty acids) is also very good for health.

6. Chocolate: Not just a pick-me-up-in-the-love-moment for women, chocolate can elevate your energy levels by way of certain bioactive compounds such as tyramine and phenylethylamine, says a study in the Journal of Food Science. Chocolate has also been claimed to improve anemia, awaken the appetite, aid in digestion, improve longevity, and increase sexual appetite. Chocolate does contain sugar and caffeine along with fat and calories, so consume in moderation and, when possible, opt for dark chocolate, 70% or more, which has the fewest calories and the most antioxidants.

Spring Clean & Detox Your Body

For Ways To Detox Your Body

There are a few simple steps we can all make that will detox our bodies, jump start our metabolisms, and help us feeling refreshed and ready to conquer our fitness and health goals.

1. Sweat at least once a day for a week. Go for a run, take a spin class, stretch in the steam room, and dance around your house until your body starts to sweat. Sweating helps clear clogged pores and eliminate toxins. It may also feel good and help start a new habit!

2. Eliminate white sugar from your diet for one week. White sugar (sucrose) is one of the most toxic chemicals in the body and it is also one of the most addicting. When you find that your body is constantly craving sweet food, you know you need a cleanse. Sugar is inflammatory in the body and decreases elasticity in the skin and drains your energy. Remove sugar for one week and you will see a more youthful appearance and renewed energy. Good tip: Throw out or give away all sweets in your home and in your drawers at work.

3. DRINK WATER! Most of us do not get enough water as it is. Make it a reminder to get enough each day for one week. Drink 64 oz. or more each day. Water helps eliminate toxins and flush out the inside of your body. I like to think that sweating and drinking water each day is like taking a bath for your insides. Most of us do not like to go more than one day without a shower. Our internal bodies do not like to go without an internal bath of exercise (sweating) and drinking water for more than one day as well. Good tip: Place a 32 oz water bottle in places you are going to be throughout the day. Tell yourself you have to drink at least half before you can go to the next spot. Refill bottles for the next day.

4. Do a daily scrub. As our bodies try to detox due to eliminating sugar, sweating, and drinking water it will eliminate out through the body via our skin. Scrub your skin each night in the shower with a shower scrub and then do a nice sesame oil rub after. While applying the sesame oil, rub in a circular motion around joints and the abdomen area. This will hydrate the skin and help you feel refreshed and renewed. This is an Ayurvedic tradition that has had years of success in healing fibromyalgia, arthritis, and aids in renewed energy.