oxygenmag.com 25
By Jessie R. Shafer, RDNutrition
mythBUSTIN’
True or False: Are all
calories really equal?
False. It is true that
all calories contain
the same amount of
energy, no matter
whether they come
from candy or carrots.
It is not true, however,
that a carrot calorie
has the same eff ect
on your body as a
candy calorie. Your
body uses diff erent
metabolic pathways
to break down the
macronutrients in
food, and those
nutrients subsequently
have diff erent eff ects
on the hormones that
control hunger and
eating behavior. Also,
some foods have a
satiating eff ect while
others can actually
make you hungrier.
Bottom line: Judging
food based on
calories alone is way
too simplistic. Work on
balancing your plate
and getting a healthy
amount of protein,
carbs and fat in each
meal and snack.THE PERCENTAGE BY WHICH YOU INCREASE
YOUR METABOLIC RATE WHEN YOU LOL.
A study published in the International Journal of Obesity
showed a signifi cant increase in energy expenditure
and heart rate — both of which elevate metabolism —
when you are genuinely laughing. No more shame in
binge-watching those cat videos: For every 10 minutes of laughter, you release
joy-boosting endorphins and burn as many as 40 extra calories!practices for thousands
of years and is reputed to
relieve constipation, combat
bacterial diseases, treat
depression and alleviate
arthritis.
Moringa is high in
antioxidants — namely
quercetin and chlorogenic
acid — that fi ght free radicals
in your body, lower blood
pressure and moderate blood
sugar. In one study, womenSPOTLIGHT ON ...MORINGA
POWDER
Made from the leaves
of the Moringa oleifera
plant, this herb is unique
in that it retains a lot of its
vitamins and minerals when
dried and, therefore, is an
important food source in
impoverished countries.
The moringa plant has
been used in herbal healingwho took 1½ teaspoons of
moringa powder daily for
three months reduced their
fasting blood sugar levels
by an average of 13.5
percent. Other research
has shown that consistent
moringa use has a similar
cholesterol-reducing eff ect as
fl axseeds, oats and almonds.
Moringa is available as a
supplement in either powder or
capsule form.20
Use
moringa in
smoothies, soup,
baked goods,
salad dressing
and even
guacamole!