PETER'S PRINCIPLES - July 22, 2007
Debbie from Flat Rock keeps hearing how breakfast is the most important meal of the day, just how important is it?
Debbie, it could actually save your life! A new study found eating whole grain cereal can protect you from heart failure. In a study of more than 20,000 adults those who ate whole grain cereal two to six times a week decreased their risk of heart failure by 22%. Those who ate whole grain cereal once a week decreased their risk by 14%. And if you ate whole grain cereal 7 or more times a week you can lower your risk of heart failure by a whopping 28%!
Experts say eating a whole grain, high fiber breakfast cereal may lower blood pressure and bad cholesterol which can prevent heart attacks. But make sure you steer clear of cereals which have a lot of sugar.
Leah from Bloomfield Hills is thinking about giving her toddler juice because of the vitamins, but heard it is not good for him. Is this true?
Well Leah, you are right when you say juice has vitamins, but the biggest problem is it is also packed with sugar! Fifty to seventy-five percent of juice is sugar and that means empty calories! Fruit juice can have anywhere from 100 to 180 calories per 8 ounce cup, so if you or your child drank one 8 ounce glass of juice 365 days a year, youÕll gain 16 pounds!
DonÕt even think about picking up a juice drink either. Anything called drink, beverage, punch, ade or cocktail is typically fruit juice with added water and a lot of sugar. So when it comes to nutrition, nothing can replace the real thing. Eat the fruit, donÕt drink it! That way youÕll get all the benefits without all the sugar.
