Life

Lean beef OK for certain diets: study

(Reuters Health) – People using a diet centered on fruits and vegetables to lower their cholesterol may be able to introduce lean beef and get similar results, suggests a new study.

The findings, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, are similar to those of past research that found red meat may be fine in moderation. The new study, while small, was uncommonly well controlled, with participants’ diets closely monitored.

“It isn’t all that different from what people were saying,” said Dr. Elizabeth Jackson, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Michigan Health Systems, who was not involved in the study.

“It was very well done, and that is one of the things that are difficult with nutrition science,” said Jackson. “You could never do data like this on thousands of patients.”

The new research followed 36 people with high cholesterol as they ate four different diets for five weeks each.

Penny Kris-Etherton, a professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Pennsylvania State University in University Park, and her colleagues closely monitored the men and women between late 2007 and early 2009.

Of the four eating patterns followed by the participants in different stages of the study, the “healthy American diet” allowed for more oils, saturated fat and refined grains compared to the “DASH” diet based on fruits and vegetables, and two other diets that each included lean cuts of beef. But all diets had about the same number of calories.

To make sure each person stuck to the regimens, participants in the study ate one meal a day at Penn State’s Metabolic Diet Study Center between Monday and Friday. The rest of the meals were also prepared by the Center and packed to be eaten later.

At the outset, the mean LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol for the group was 139 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) and mean total cholesterol was 211 mg/dL. Those are considered borderline-high numbers according to the National Institutes of Health’s standards. The group’s mean HDL, or “good,” cholesterol was 52 mg/dL, which is about the recommended amount.

Compared to the healthy American diet, which slightly raised cholesterol, the vegetable- and fruit-based DASH diet and the diets including lean beef lowered LDL and total cholesterol to a mean of 129 and 200 mg/dL, respectively.

The diets also slightly lowered the group’s mean levels of “good” cholesterol, which the researchers said can be explained by the fact that saturated fat raises HDL.

The lean beef diets were lower in saturated fat than an average American diet, which contains more full-fat cheese and butter.

The beef diets included between 4 and 5.5 ounces a day of lean meats, primarily in the form of top round, chuck shoulder pot roast and 95-percent-lean ground beef. Meats were grilled, braised, or in the case of ground beef, fried.

The study was jointly funded by Penn State and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Joan Salge Blake, a clinical associate professor at Boston University’s Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson, said it’s important to make sure a person watches their entire diet.

“I think it’s really important that the public understands that and is not going to go hog-wild with beef,” said Salge Blake.

“We just have to make sure that the portions stay lean and small, and that it’s a part of a heart-healthy diet,” Salge Blake told Reuters Health.

SOURCE: bit.ly/tJ8754 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Online December 20, 2011.

Canvas Pictures by The Sassy Pepper

I have had a few people ask about the canvas pictures that I made for Christmas and how it was done.   So I have re-blogged the post that I found on how to make these amazing gifts!  I hope you enjoy!

Guest post: DIY Photos on canvas by The Sassy Pepper

January 24, 2011  By Becca

This is what your finished product can look like!

Darling of course, and the perfect gift for those grandma’s and grandpa’s, or even yourself!

Mod Podge Photo Tutorial:

Part I

You can also look back to Sassy’s mod podge tutorial for the original instructions.

What you will need:

Pre-stretched canvas

Paper cutter or scissors

Cute paper pre-cut to fit the sides of your canvas

Cute photo’s

Two (2) – Paint Brushes or Sponge Brushes

Wax Paper

Mod Podge in Matte

towel

 

Step 1: Apply a thin coat of mod podge to your entire canvas, sides included.

 

Step 2: Have your strips ready? If not, cut them to fit on each canvas side while the Mod Podge is drying. My strips were 1/8 of a inch smaller that my measured sides.

 

Once Mod Podge is Dry, you will re-paint an additional thin layer on one side of your canvas.

I wanted to make sure that my edges would stick, and stick well. So you have an optional step of applying a thin layer of Mod Podge to each strip.

 

Step 3: Place your strip of paper along the edge of your canvas. Smooth it over with your fingers several times making sure no bubbles form. Repeat step 3 with all sides.

 Your edges don’t have to meet up exactly.

You can cover the exposed canvas with paint in a few more steps.

 

Step 4: Photo Application

If you didn’t already tear off a large piece of wax paper, DO IT NOW! Good job.

I also pre-cut my photo 1/8 inch on each size so that there was no edge overlap.

 

Place the photo down onto wax paper and apply a good amount of mod podge to the back of your photo. The photo paper is thick enough that it won’t pucker or bubble at all.

 

Step 5: Turn the photo over and smooth it onto your canvas.

You can cover the image with a soft towel to do the smoothing. It is easier to smooth a photo onto the canvas with something on top to keep front jerky movements. Wait about 20 minutes for Mod Podge to dry.

Step 6: Mod Podge the front of the photo. It will look milky white, but remember it dries clear.

 

The photo on the left is almost dry, the photo on the right was just Mod Podged.

It will take about 20 minutes again for Mod Podge to dry.

 

Step 7: Dry Brush (or sponge) Paint Application.

You can use any dry brush or sponge. Make sure the brush or sponge is DRY to get that vintage look. Before you start to apply, wipe your sponge/brush on a paper plate or paper towel so you use a minimal amount. Then dab your sponge/brush along the edge repeatedly until it is as dark as you want.

Voila!

 

But wait…there’s more.

Mod Podge Photo’s on Canvas

Part II

What you will need:

Mod Podged Photo’s on Canvas

Staple Gun

Ruler

Ribbon

Step 1: Put your canvases in order the way you want them to look on your wall. Also, decide how far apart you want them to be {1 inch, 2 inches…etc}. Multiply that number by 4. Measure your ribbon out to that length. Cut as many as you need for holding up canvases below. For three Canvases you will need four ribbons in this length.

Step 2: Get your ribbon ready to staple.

I like to fold my ribbon with about 1 inch overlap. The double strand will give the ribbon more strength when holding up another photo canvas below.

Step 3: Staple your ribbon to your canvas.

I stapled my ribbon 1 inch in from the edge of my canvas.

I used two Staples on top and on bottom for additional strength. Repeat as needed.

 

Step 4: The Top

I unraveled my ribbon first to “eyeball” how long I wanted it to be.

Then I cut double that length again for extra strength. Hey, that rhymes!

Stretch your ribbon flat, and then fold it over the the other side.

Again, I wanted my ribbon 1 inch from the edge.

Step 5: Staple your ribbon.

I used two staples on each side because I am paranoid.

Now you can hang your finished product! All you need is one cute hook or nail!

Who will you be giving your photo canvas prints gift to?

Cheers,

This beyond cool post comes to us from the amazing blog “Sassy Pepper!” I adore the name of this blog and the content! Be sure to jump on over and check out all that Sassy Pepper has to offer!

Sweet Cream

What do you get when you mix salt and heavy whipping cream?

Yep that’s right you guessed it sweet cream butter.

Then when you add a toddler, three adults and two mason jars rolling back and forth it becomes a very good time!

On another note here are a few pictures from Christmas that I wanted to share.

Some of the food.

Til Next Time!

Homemade Gifts

For Christmas 2011 I made all homemade gifts.  It seems like it might have been the trend this year, but I usually try to make homemade items, since it saves on money but seems more meaningful to me.

Here are a few pictures of all the homemade gifts.

Christmas Ornament Wreath

Salt Dough Hand Ornaments

Canvas Pictures

Canned Peaches

Magnetic Banana Grams Board

More Salt Dough ornaments

We also made homemade hot coco mix, mocha mix, Chi tea mix, chocolate cookie mix, peanut butter cookie mix, hearty pasta soup mix and lentil soup mix, along with mini chocolate bread loaf, mini lemon almond poppy-seed loaf, and banana bread loaf, and peanut clusters.  We gave these to all of our family and friends.

I didn’t get all of the items that I wanted to make done before the big day, but plan on getting them done before this Christmas.  I will have to say that I was very pleased with all of my gifts that I did get done this year!

Til Next Time!