4 Healthy Fall Appetizers -- Flexitarian Style

Next time you are asked to bring something to a party, office potluck or family gathering -- try one of these fast flexitarian recipes. You'll get plenty of compliments on how delish everything is plus you will have a clean conscience knowing you are serving food that's wholesome and nourishing.



Simple Vegan Antipasto Tray: This is the perfect vegan version of a cheese plate! Roasted garlic and roasted tomatoes are plated with seasoned slices of bread and assorted olives. Since it's not tomato season, roasting cherry tomatoes brings out more natural flavor.



Spiced Chickpea Nuts: This crunchy snack has three times fewer calories than mixed nuts, is a good source of fiber and contains protein for added fullness. You can season them with your favorite herbs and spices. My favorites are chili powder or a cumin-allspice blend.



Polenta and Spinach Bites: They taste so flavorful you'll be surprised these bites are made from just a few simple ingredients: olive oil, frozen spinach, garlic, cornmeal, broth and spices. They are gluten-free and vegetarian. Dunk them into hot pasta sauce and leftovers (if there are any) can be enjoyed with eggs for breakfast.



Pumpkin Pie Turnovers: Pumpkin pie is one of the healthiest choices when it comes to seasonal desserts. This version is even more waistline friendly than the classic, since the crust is made from low-calorie wonton wrappers!



For more by Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, CSSD, LDN, click here.



For more on diet and nutrition, click here.



from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dawn-jackson-blatner-rd-cssd-ldn/healthy-fall-cooking_b_4219944.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living&ir=Healthy+Living

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'If I Don't Sell You Weight Loss, I Won't Make Any Money'

ABC's Amy Robach Has Breast Cancer, Will Undergo Double Mastectomy

ABC correspondent Amy Robach announced on Monday morning that she has breast cancer and will undergo a double mastectomy.



Speaking on "Good Morning America," Robach called it "the diagnosis that's still hard for me to say out loud."



In a twist of fate, her diagnosis was revealed only after she reluctantly underwent a mammogram on a recent episode of "GMA." Robach said she had not wanted to get the screening, but that Robin Roberts—herself a breast cancer survivor—pushed her to do so.



"Thank God you did," she told Roberts. "I had cancer the whole time we were sitting in that office, and I said, I don't have any connection to that disease."



"You saved my life," she added.



"YOU saved your life, Amy," Roberts replied.



from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/11/amy-robach-breast-cancer_n_4254093.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living&ir=Healthy+Living

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Stress, Memory Problems Linked In Pond Snail Study

When humans are stressed out, they often have a tough time remembering things — and, it seems, the same goes for pond snails, according to a new study.

Researchers found that when pond snails are placed in an overcrowded pail or deprived of calcium, a mineral necessary for shell growth and reproduction, the "stressed-out" animals have trouble forming long-term memories, although their short-term recall remains intact. When the team combined the stressors, however, the snails' short-term memories fizzled, and they failed to form new memories, said Sarah Dalesman, a researcher at the University of Exeter in England.

"By combing the stressors, we can actually block all types of memory, and block learning, in which short-term memory is intimately involved," said Dalesman, co-author of the study, published Nov. 6 in the journal PLOS ONE. [7 Weird Ways Animals Act Like Humans]

The results suggest that stress can have additive effects on memory, which may also be the case in humans, since the same neural processes that underpin short- and long-term memory are similar in the two species, Dalesman told LiveScience.

To test the snails' memories, researchers first exposed the animals to stressful environments with low-calcium or overcrowding, or both. Next, the animals were placed in a pail with low levels of oxygen, mimicking the natural environment of swamps and slow-moving streams where the creatures live. In these types of environments, the snails can survive for more than two days by absorbing oxygen through their skin. They do, however, come to the surface to respire through their breathing hole, or pneumostome, Dalesman said. When the snails surfaced, the researchers tapped their pneumostomes, causing them to close.

After 30 minutes of this training, the snails were placed in a separate pail, and scientists then recorded how many times the snails came to the surface for air, testing their short-term memory of what would happen when they surfaced (their breathing holes would be closed). Snails that hadn't been stressed, or only subjected to one stressor, came up about three times less often than those exposed to multiple stressors, suggesting they learned from their "training session" and opted to make due with a low-oxygen environment. Snails that had been subject to overcrowding and calcium deficiency, however, came up the same number of times as before they were trained with the pneumostome poking.

The snails were then retrained, and again tapped for a half hour as they came to the surface. The scientists then tested the snails' intermediate- and long-term memories at 3 hours and 24 hours, respectively, by recording how often they came up for air. A single stressor impacted the snails' long-term memory but not their short-term memory, the study found.

In the study, calcium deficiency was meant to mimic physical stress, while the overcrowding served as a stand-in for psychological stress, making the results more relevant for mammals like humans, Dalesman said. However, there are limits to the parallels, as the brains of mammals like humans and those of snails are quite different, she added.

Email Douglas Main or follow him on Twitter or Google+ . Follow us @livescience, Facebook or Google+. Article originally on LiveScience.

• 10 Ways to Keep Your Mind Sharp


• Amazing Mollusks: Images of Strange & Slimy Snails


• 11 Tips to Lower Stress

Copyright 2013 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ]]>



from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/11/stress-memory-snail-study_n_4253967.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living&ir=Healthy+Living

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Would You Rather Be Perfect or Happy?

Have I led you to believe that my life is perfect? That my kids are always impeccably dressed and sweetly behaved? That my marriage is flawless and my home is gorgeously Zen and organized at all times? That I have bulletproof body confidence and walk around in negligee every evening for my husband?



Let me disappoint you (or relieve you).



The truth is, my life is far from perfect, and I apologize if I've led you to believe that it is. My kids are phenomenal little humans, but they look like ragamuffins most of the time and are prone to public meltdowns when tired. There are days when I'm so furious with my husband that I fantasize about putting all three of my kids in the car and leaving him for sunny Southern California. I truly love my body, but that certainly doesn't mean it's society's ideal. I am curvy, have some soft spots, and could definitely stand to lose a few pounds, but I am healthy and strong. I am not willing to diet or deprive myself and I really like to savor delicious meals and drink wine! It's all about our choices and where we put our time and energy.



Do you choose a perfectly clean and organized home or a place of play and comfort for your family? Sometimes we choose different priorities on different days. There are moments when my house looks gorgeous and beautifully organized for guests, but if you looked in the closets and drawers you'd see where I'd just stuffed a week worth of papers and junk.



My life is real.



My mentor, Lissa, just wrote a powerful blog, encouraging us to get real and to be honest with ourselves and with the world. We often feel like we have to present perfection to the world, but if we have or seek perfection in one area... it will be at the expense of another. Nobody is perfect in all areas at all times, and striving for it just might drive you crazy.



It is in our imperfections that we relate and bond with one another. It is how we handle our failures and weakness that makes us truly great. I do is strive to be my best in every moment. If that isn't working, I try to take a step back or a day off, get some rest, and try for better the next day. Why beat ourselves up?



Would you rather be "perfect" or happy?



And what example would you rather set for your child?



There was a time when I felt that I had to always put my best appearance forward to be a thought leader in the self-help world. I didn't want to admit serious weakness or major flaws... or else why would anyone want to follow me? I've matured and have come to understand that nobody's perfect, and what I crave now is complete authenticity. Don't you?



Life is beautiful, breathtaking, and lovely, but also complicated, messy and ugly at times. That's what is so amazing about our spirit's human experience! Without our struggle and pain, how would we fully experience and appreciate the beauty and joy? I urge you to let your guard down. Admit when you need help or are struggling. Nobody expects perfection and I promise that you'll bond with others through the tough times if you just let yourself open up and be real.



Come on now. Tell me about your "real self" below -- the good, bad, and ugly! No judging here, only love and acceptance.



For more by Erin Cox, click here.



For more on happiness tips, click here.



from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erin-cox/happiness-tips_b_4221491.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living&ir=Healthy+Living

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Is Multitasking Actually a Myth?

When you're a family caregiver, your list of to-dos probably feels endless: doctor appointments, meting out medications, prepping meals, shopping, scheduling home visits, not to mention caring for your own family, working, and, oh, trying to carve out a few minutes of peace and quiet... and that's just Monday.



In order to tackle the exhaustive list of responsibilities, many caregivers turn to multitasking to get it all done in the least amount of time. I define multitasking as conducting two (or more) unrelated activities at the same time -- lets say, doling out a prescription while talking on the phone with your child's teacher. "Did I just give you two or three pills, Mom?" You see where this is heading.



The truth is, effective multitasking is an oxymoron. Research has shown that your brain can only process one activity at a time. But what the brain is extremely good at is rapidly switching from one task to another.



MIT neuroscientist Earl Miller (Think You're Multitasking? Think Again: John Hamilton, NPR October 2008) says, "Switching from task to task, you think that you're actually paying attention to everything around you at the same time. But, you're not." You're really toggling between tasks at amazing speeds. Apparently, we were never multitasking. It's a myth!



For decades, we've been lead to believe that people who are effective multitaskers have either genetically inherited this unique ability, or, through constant practice, have acquired the skills required to function at higher levels than the rest of us. Interestingly, many family caregivers actually aspire to be proficient multitaskers because they believe it'll eventually make life easier for everyone.



I'll admit that I was one of those people who "practiced" multitasking. And it felt pretty good to tick off boxes on my to-do list, even though I often felt scattered and frustrated, because "completed" well, just didn't feel... "completed."



As far back as 2001, scientists at the Center of Cognitive Brain Imaging at Carnegie Mellon University discovered that when people were driving in traffic and conversing, two tasks most of us consider easy and natural, the area of the brain that managed these functions was overwhelmed. Researchers found that brain activity didn't double, but rather it decreased, so each task was completed less efficiently and less expertly than when being conducted separately. That's why texting and driving is so dangerous.



As a family caregiver, you may say, "I have a ton of things to do and only so much time to do them, I have to multitask." But chronic multitaskers ultimately diminish their powers of mental organization, demonstrate increased difficulty switching between tasks, and report more social problems than low-multitasking peers, according to Clifford Nass, a professor of communications at Stamford University. On top of that, the rapid swapping between tasks also generates pulses of stress hormones, which contribute to heath issues like memory dysfunction.



I realize that a certain amount of multitasking is somewhat inevitable given the amount family caregivers have on their plates each day. But there are several new habits you can adopt to mitigate stress and enable you to focus more successfully:



1. At the start of each day, prioritize your tasks into three groups: the tasks that you must do, tasks that you should do and finally those tasks that you would like to do. Focus only on the "musts" -- everything else is icing.



2. For family caregivers, uncertainty is the only certainty, so when unplanned events pop up, hit the pause button and see where to include these last-minute tasks on your to-do list. Just because a task comes up unexpectedly, doesn't mean it's automatically a "must."



3. Don't go it alone. As you schedule your day, identify a family member or friend that can lend a hand and then ask for help. Asking for help can be empowering.



4. When things go haywire, step away for a few minutes. The simple act of changing your physical stance has a tremendous emotional impact. Once you've reclaimed your calm, return your attention to your "must" list.



5. Know that multitasking might feel comfortable, like an old shoe, but making a concerted attention to narrow your focus and compartmentalize will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed.



So, please include these suggestions into your daily routine, but I recommend trying them one at a time! Be well.



Help yourself. Help others.



For more by Victor Imbimbo, click here.



For more on emotional wellness, click here.



from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/victor-imbimbo/multitasking-myth_b_4224667.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living&ir=Healthy+Living

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Greenpeace Activists Held In Russia Moved To St. Petersburg Detention Centers

By Steve Gutterman



MOSCOW, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Thirty people arrested in Russia over a protest against Arctic oil drilling were moved from the northern city of Murmansk on Monday on their way to pre-trial detention centres in St. Petersburg, federal investigators and Greenpeace said.



The transfer, which follows a reduction of the charges against 28 activists and two journalists, may be aimed to curb international criticism of Russia over what the environmental group says was a peaceful protest.



Activists have reported being confined for 23 hours a day in bleak, sometimes ice-cold cells in Murmansk, a port city above the Arctic Circle whose remote location complicates access for lawyers and consular officials.



The Kremlin has essentially rejected Greenpeace head Kumi Naidoo's offer to come to Russia and stand as security for their release of the detainees, who come from 18 nations on five continents.



The 30 were arrested after coast guards boarded the Greenpeace icebreaker Arctic Sunrise following a protest at an oil platform owned by state-controlled Gazprom off Russia's northern coast on Sept. 18.



Now charged with hooliganism and facing up to seven years in prison if convicted, they had been denied bail and held in pre-trial detention in Murmansk, 1,030 km (640 miles) north of St Petersburg.



Lawyers who tried to visit them on Monday were told they had been moved out before dawn, Greenpeace said, and Russia's federal Investigative Committee said they would be taken to detention facilities in St. Petersburg.



"St Petersburg has some daylight in the winter months, unlike Murmansk," Ben Ayliffe, an Arctic campaigner for Greenpeace said in a statement, although he added there was no guarantee of better conditions.



When prisoners are transferred across Russia's vast distances, they are often taken in special trains.



"From the information we have there (railroad) cars are not heated," Ayliffe said. "We have advised the 30 to dress in warm clothes and shoes. We have also organised prompt deliveries of additional supplies of warm outfits."



Russia says the environmental activists violated the law in the protest in which some tried to scale the Prirazlomnaya platform, Russia's first offshore oil rig in the Arctic and part of its efforts to develop the region's oil and gas reserves.



Russia has refused to take part in a case at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, in which the Netherlands is seeking the release of the activists, two of whom are Dutch, and the Dutch-registered Greenpeace vessel.





from Healthy Living - The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/11/greenpeace-activists-st-petersburg_n_4253266.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living&ir=Healthy+Living

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