Thursday, April 03, 2008
Newsletter Archive
HFL March 2008
Happy March, all! We hope this newsletter greets everyone in a happy and healthy state. We are hoping that March will be a big month for us, as we are working on a new website design and adding more products. We will keep you informed of those improvements and additions.
As always, returning customers can use this 10% discount every time you shop on our site. Enter REORDER to redeem this coupon at checkout every time you shop at HealthFitLabs.com.
Free shipping on orders over $75. No coupon needed, just fill up those shopping carts. Order larger sizes to gain an even larger savings.
Become an affiliate today! Visit our affiliate page and fill out the form. Be sure to enter your correct email address. Please contact rmartin@HealthFitLabs.com or call 630-563-0199 if you have any questions.
Our Mission: At HealthFitLabs we sell only the highest-quality natural vitamins and nutritional supplements, as well as bath and personal care products. We're passionate about customer service and dedicated to helping our customers and affiliates meet their personal health goals.
As always, please forward this on to your friends and family (they can subscribe at the bottom of the newsletter and get a $5 coupon for a future purchase!). Thank you for your support!
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The Anti-flu Diet
Whether we like it or not, cold and flu season is still upon us. With no cure for the common cold or flu, your best friend is prevention, particularly diet. What you eat can actually boost your immune system and help your body ward off illness. Here are some tips from Linda Montpetit, a Montreal-based nutritionist and registered dietician, about the super foods you should be eating. While no one food can protect you from colds and flu, a healthy diet rich in antioxidants can help stave off illness, protecting your cells from the damage caused by free radicals.
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First, make sure you're getting enough calories! If your intake is too low, your immune system won't function at an optimal level. A woman eating less than 1,300 calories per day will be more vulnerable to colds and flu, so make sure you're eating enough.
Get your cruciferous veggies: broccoli, cabbage and brussel sprouts are all rich in antioxidants, and can help you stay healthy. Cook these with garlic and enjoy with a glass of red wine, for an extra antioxidant boost.
Snack on nuts. Almonds and sunflower seeds are rich in vitamin E. Research has indicated that vitamin E may help reduce the number and duration of common colds. Brazil nuts are rich in selenium which, according to a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, may help protect you from respiratory infection. Researchers have concluded that a lack of selenium can hamper the body's ability to fight off disease, so add more Brazil nuts to your diet.
Eat yogurt, particularly the kind containing live cultures of "healthy" bacteria. To get the full benefits, Linda recommends eating one probiotic-rich yogurt every day. "Specific probiotics work together to help your immune system, in the digestive track," says Monpetit.
Sip green tea: it may be a key flu-fighter, according to research. Green tea was found to stimulate T-cells that boost the immunity system. Green tea supplements are available in pill form. (find green tea extract on HealthFitLabs! click here)
Open a can of tomato soup: a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the lycopene in tomatoes acts as an antioxidant, boosting your immune system.
Spice it up! Chili pepper contains capsaicin, the compound that makes the peppers hot, which may improve immune status, according to Korean researchers. Tip: a bowl of spicy tomato soup covers two nutrients at once!
Get your fats. A low-fat diet will keep both your heart and your immune system healthy. But don't cut out all fats: omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are powerful immune system allies. You can get them in fatty fish like salmon and sardines. Other sources of these essential fatty acids include flaxseed, safflower oil, and eggs.
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Blueberry Goat Cheese Salad
Serves 4
Goat cheese, thyme, and blueberries meld in your mouth for a simple and sensational spring salad. Toasted sesame seeds add earthiness and your favorite vinaigrette will imbue zest for a fantastic first course or refreshing light meal.
Ingredients:
6 cups of mixed baby greens or baby spinach leaves
1 cup fresh blueberries or other berry in season
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
4 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
4 ounces goat cheese or Neufchatel cheese
Your favorite homemade or store-bought vinaigrette
Directions:
Evenly divide greens and blueberries among four salad plates. Place salads in refrigerator to chill while you prepare goat cheese. On a sheet of wax paper or clean surface, mix thyme, sesame seeds and black pepper together and spread into a single layer. Roll the goat cheese or Neufchatel into a log 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Roll cheese onto thyme and sesame seed mixture, lightly pressing mixture onto the surface of the cheese. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 10 to 15 minutes. When ready to serve, remove plastic wrap from cheese and cut log into thin slices. Evenly divide among salads and modestly drizzle with vinaigrette.
Nutritional Analysis (per salad without vinaigrette): Calories 171 (58% from fat); Protein 10 grams; Carbohydrates 9 grams; Fiber 4 grams; Total Fat 11 grams (Saturated Fat 5 grams; Monounsaturated Fat 3.5 grams; Polyunsaturated Fat 2.5 grams); Cholesterol 13 milligrams; Sodium 176 milligrams
*Find other recipes in our Healthy Library*
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Healthy Humor
Two guys are out in the woods hiking.
All of a sudden, a bear starts chasing them. They climb a tree, but the bear starts climbing up the tree after them.
The first guy gets his sneakers out of his knapsack and starts putting them on.
The second guy says, "What are you doing? He says, "I figure when the bear gets too close, we'll have to jump down and make a run for it." The second guy says, "Are you crazy? You can't outrun a bear"!
The first guy says, "I don't have to outrun the bear. I only have to outrun you."