from MLIA- Today I found out that when you call Nestle Crunch for nutritional information, they ask if you want it in English, Spanish, or Pig Latin. MLIA along with a few other fun things..lol. and yes i know there are a lot of spelling mistakes in the text, i just recorded/made this super quickly. number found at www.nestlecrunch.com
Monday, November 28, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
How Chocolate Benefits Your Health
Chocolate is a perennial gift, almost as common as soap and fruitcake. The quality ranges from High Fructose Corn Syrup tubular brown goo in Brand's candies and Tootsie Rolls all the way up to 00 boxes of exclusive Beverly Hills handcrafted cocoa confections. Most of us prefer something in between. While my wife always goes for the Belgium variety, I like the bitter raw flavor of the cocoa. My favorite is an 85% dark.
Despite the myth that chocolate causes pimples (it's the sugar, not the cocoa!), chocolate has a wide spectrum of health benefits. It can lower blood pressure, reduce the instance of blood clots, and even help prevent cancer. It's rich in phenolic phytochemicals-or in layman's terms, antioxidants. Cocoa has even more antioxidant flavonoids than green tea or red wine.
But not all chocolate is created equal.
It's not just the taste that separates A Nestle's Crunch from a Scharffenberger's dark chocolate bar. When trying to maximize the health benefits of chocolate you are receiving, always go for the dark. In fact, the higher percentage of cocoa, the better. 50% cocoa is really a good place to start, but I'd suggest jumping up to 70% if you can handle the strength. The reason health benefits in milk chocolate are so low is because such a low percentage of what you are actually eating is chocolate in the first place. In most cases, milk chocolate contains many more sugars and milk solids, which all but nullify the antioxidant from the actual cocoa powder.
So you've decided to go with the healthy dark chocolate. Now you need to weed out the processed from the natural brands. Heavy processing can dramatically reduce the antioxidant and flavonoid levels in otherwise healthy chocolate. Dutch processed chocolate is a particular culprit, not healthy chocolate in the least. So, go with organic brands. Or even better, find "single source" batch of chocolate. Higher end chocolate makers will source their bars like wines, making entire batches of bars harvested from one particular date from one particular region. To maintain authenticity, these brands of healthy chocolate go through minimal processing. Connoisseurs collect and cherish particular batches of single source cocoa bars. These chocolates offer some of the highest phenolic phytochemal levels and some of the best chocolate health benefits.
Finally, one good way to receive the health benefits of chocolate is to drink a cup of hot cocoa. No, not Swiss Miss or Nestle Quick (is that even chocolate at all?). Make your own cocoa the simple way, use warm milk and cocoa powder. You can also use melted baking squares for thicker consistency. Now you're getting all the antioxidants from the cocoa without all the unnecessary sugar. And if you absolutely need the extra sweetness, you can use a little Splenda without losing the great chocolate health benefits. The goal is to maximize your health while satisfying your sweet tooth.
To recap, stick to the dark chocolate, buy organic, and try making your own hot cocoa.
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Thursday, November 10, 2011
Pet Treats: Buyer Beware of These Sweet Snacks of Love
What is it about pet treats that can make even the most unruly pet obey us in exchange for a tiny piece of something that tastes so good they can barely contain themselves? It's an ingredient that is found in some of the most popular cat and dog treats. It's addictive, causes weight gain and could ultimately shorten the lifespan of your pet and it's commonly known as sugar.
Kibble Crack
Just like humans, dogs and cats can develop a sweet tooth and crave sugary snacks, which are essentially junk food for pets. The sugar in some pet treats can create almost addictive-like cravings that have earned them the name, 'kibble crack'. Read the ingredients label on your pet's favorite treats. If any of the following are listed as one of the first five ingredients on the label, your pet's treats are doing them more far more harm than good:
Corn syrup
Sugar
Fructose
Sucrose
Dextrose
Maltodextrin
Sugar-laden treats are one of the primary culprits behind the pet obesity epidemic and over time can lead to excessive weight gain. An overweight pet can suffer from arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure, any of which can shorten their life and impact your wallet due to more frequent visits to the vet.
Calories Count Too
Besides high sugar content, another concern with pet treats is the calorie count per serving. Often not disclosed on the packaging, most of us are unaware of how many calories we're adding to our pets diet by giving them treats. According to Marion Nestle, author of Feed your Pet Right, if the treat package does not list calories, you should assume 3-4 calories per gram, (i.e. a treat that is 3 grams/serving would be 9-12 calories per serving). Treats should account for no more than 10% of your pet's daily calorie requirements to maintain their ideal weight. Some rawhide chews and larger Greenies Dental Chews can contain 100 calories or more, which may far exceed the recommended 10% rule, depending on your dog's size and calorie requirements.
A New Marketing Gimmick
Treats are big business for the pet industry and the newest marketing gimmick is treats that promote healthy benefits, such as healthier hips and joints. There is no government oversight or scientific basis for these claims. When Consumer Lab tested joint health supplements for dogs and cats they found that a popular treat, Dogswell Happy Hips Chicken Breast with Glucosamine and Chondroitin, contained only 6% of its claimed glucosamine and only 15.9% of its claimed chondroitin; amounts too insignificant to provide any claimed benefit.
Healthy Options
With 88% of dog owners and 68% of cat owners giving their pets treats according to the American Pet Products Association, we're not suggesting pet parents cut out this much-loved ritual. We do suggest the following eight tips to ensure your act of love promotes a healthy pet:
Read the Ingredients Label: Pet treats with sugar, corn syrup, fructose, sucrose or dextrose in the first five ingredients should be avoided. A very common filler in pet foods, maltodextrin, is another name to look for on the label. It has a high glucose level, so it should be avoided if it is a primary ingredient.
Opt for Natural Sweeteners: Choose treats with applesauce, molasses or honey as a sweetening ingredient if you wish to indulge your pet in a sweet treat.
Try Vegetable Dog Chews: Opt for all-natural vegetable-based dog chews made from sweet potatoes over animal-based rawhide chews. Some rawhide is high in calories and may be treated with chemicals and bleach.
Consider Home-cooked or Naturally Moistened Cat Treats: Try giving your cat a small piece of cut up chicken or fish as a treat. If you prefer to buy packaged treats look for those moistened with vegetable glycerin rather than a chemical humectant such as propylene glycol.
Try Fresh Fruit and Veggie Dog Treats: Opt for low-calorie vegetables or fruit as a treat for your dog instead of packaged treats. Baby carrots, cut-up apples and green beans are good choices.
Don't Rely on Treats with Health Claims: Discuss supplement options with your veterinarian for your pet's ailments rather than relying on treats that claim to provide adequate nutrients to maintain a healthy heart or joints.
Use VOHC-Approved Dental Chews: Establish a routine of practicing good dental hygiene on your pet and use treats approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council, (VOHC), to clean your pet's teeth.
Learn How to Read and Understand Pet Food Labels: Marion Nestle's book, Feed Your Pet Right , published in 2010, is a great resource for pet owners who want to better understand pet food ingredients and nutrition while also learning how to distinguish healthy pet foods with nutritious ingredients from unhealthy pet foods.
There are many good options available for pet treats and we've listed some of our favorites below. They are low in sugar or calories, all natural and generally easy to find in grocery and big box stores if you don't have a neighborhood pet boutique or pet supply store nearby.
Recommended Dog Treats:
Carnivore Crunch or Carnivore Kisses by Stella & Chewy's
Charlie Bear Dog Treats by Charlie Bear Dog Products
Jerky Naturals and other treats for dogs by Zukes
Liv-a-Littles Protein Treats for dogs by Halopets
Newman's Own Premium Dog Treats by Newman's Own Organics
Original Buddy Biscuits or Muttos by Cloud Star
Sam's Yams Veggie Rawhide Sweet Potato Dog Chews by Front Porch Pets
Recommended Cat Treats:
Natural Purrz by Zukes
Liv-a-Littles Protein Treats for cats by Halopets
Wellness Pure Delights for cats by WellPet LLC
The Pet Obesity Prevention Association's Top Treats to Avoid Sugary Dog Treats:
Beneful Snackin' Slice: Sugar fourth ingredient
Canine CarryOuts Chew-lotta: Dextrose first ingredient
Canine Carryouts Dog Treats: Corn syrup second ingredient
Cesar Softies Dog Treats: Sugar third ingredient
Exclusively Dog Vanilla Flavor Sandwich Creme Dog Cookies: Sugars first two ingredients
Milk-Bone Chewy Chicken Drumsticks: Sugar third ingredient
Milk Bone Essentials Plus Oral Care: Sugar third ingredient
Pedigree Jumbone: Sugar third ingredient
Pedigree Jumbone Mini Snack Food for Small Dogs: Sugars 2 of 3 first ingredients
Pedigree Marrobone: Sugar third ingredient
Pup-Peroni Lean Beef Recipe: Sugar third ingredient
Purina Busy Chewnola: Maltodextrin second ingredient
Science Diet Simple Essentials Treats Training Adult Treats with Real Beef: Sugar third ingredient
Snausages SnawSomes! Beef and Chicken Flavor: Sugars 3 of first 4 ingredients
Three Dog Bakery Lick 'n Crunch: Dextrose third ingredient
Sugary Cat Treats:
Petrodex Dental Treats for Cats: Dextrose second ingredient
Meow Mix Moist Cat Treats: Corn syrup fourth ingredient
Pit'r Pat Fresh Breath Mint Flavored Cat Treats: Maltodextrin first ingredient
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