(Guilt-Free!) Minty Green Smoothie

      Skip the sugar & fat overload~Make this minty shake instead!

Everything is a green buzz on St. Patrick's Day!  From Beer to Shamrock Shakes, we love to celebrate this event with everything green, including our drinks!

Indulging in your favorite thick & minty shake should truly be enjoyed as a very special treat. Unfortunately, highly sugared & high fat treats seem to be an every day event for many, especially as we are surrounded by the advertising that reminds us that this special McDonald's treat will only be available for a limited time-so get yours today, and tomorrow, and the next day, and next week!

If you are planning to indulge in this minty McDonald's McCafe Shamrock Shake to celebrate, there's a few things you might like to know.  There are many sizes available, but lets settle on the Medium.

medium, 16-ounce Shamrock Shake:

• 660 calories
• 19 grams of fat 
• 12 grams of saturated fat 
• 1 gram of trans fat
• 93 grams of sugar (See chart below on what that looks like!)
• 210 milligrams of sodium 

Thinking you may want to avoid the extra calories, overload of sugars, fats, and unhealthy ingredients?  Making your own minty shake at home is the perfect way to enjoy a healthier version of the overloaded Shamrock Shake!

                            A Healthy Shamrock Shake Recipe:
This nutritious & delicious green shake alternative gives you that smooth and minty taste, it will also provide you with over 24 grams of Protein, More than 6 grams of Fiber, it is packed with vitamins, minerals, offers NO questionable ingredients, and it will fill you up without filling you out!

Recipe:
2-Scoops Shaklee 180 Vanilla Shake Mix
1-Cup low-fat milk or milk alternative
Handful of spinach leaves
1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract
1 Cup frozen sliced banana OR 1 Cup ice cubes

Blend all ingredients and enjoy!  Each Recipe makes 1 complete meal replacement.

Want more green?  Add in one or more of the following & adjust liquid to taste.
1 whole peeled kiwi
1/2 peeled avocado
1/2 cup green kale or collard greens
Handful of mint leaves


For additional healthy smoothie recipes, click here:  Shaklee 180

~Wishing you a Happy, Healthy St. Patrick's Day and Beyond~

Denise Gaskell
Gaskell Healthy Solutions
Offering Tips & Tools for Optimal Health & Wealth
www.gaskell@myshaklee.com

Now that it's March, it's time to break out the green stuff for St. Patrick's Day! But if you're planning to do so by indulging in a cool, minty McDonald's McCafé Shamrock Shake to celebrate the Irish holiday, there's a few things you should know before hitting the drive-thru.  - See more at: http://www.shape.com/blogs/shape-your-life/shamrock-shake-what-you-should-know-you-sip-and-how-make-healthier-version#sthash.50OGriU7.dpuf

Now that it's March, it's time to break out the green stuff for St. Patrick's Day! But if you're planning to do so by indulging in a cool, minty McDonald's McCafé Shamrock Shake to celebrate the Irish holiday, there's a few things you should know before hitting the drive-thru.

Available for just a limited time, you probably already know that the Shamrock Shake isn't exactly healthy for you. But, let's go over the nutrition facts. A 16-ounce serving of the Shamrock Shake has 550 calories, 13 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, no fiber, 82 grams of sugar and 13 grams of protein. The Shamrock Shake is made with McDonald's low-fat vanilla soft-serve ice cream and Shamrock Shake syrup, and then topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.

Compared to other fast-food calorie-bombs, the Shamrock Shake isn't the worst thing out there, says Mary Hartley, registered dietitian and online nutritionist at AskMaryRD.com. For example, a 16-ounce Dairy Queen Blizzard has 1170 calories and 152 grams of sugar! But that doesn't mean the Shamrock Shake is a healthy choice.

"The 82 grams of sugar is the worst," Hartley says. "It’s like eating around six slices of bread all at once. The saturated fat is also high, at 40 percent of the daily limit (the goal is 10 percent). On the other hand, it is loaded with calcium (460 milligrams percent)." 

In fact, the 550 calories in a two-cup serving are about 28 percent of the average woman’s daily caloric requirement, so drinking this shake is more like eating lunch than having a treat, she says. A healthier option at the McDonald's drive-thru would be a McCafé large coffee, which has zero calories, fat and sugar. 

But, Hartley admits, if you're a true Shamrock Shake fan, you shouldn't be afraid to indulge a little. After all, you drink a Shamrock Shake for fun and camaraderie — not for health, she says. 

Making your own healthier version at home might be the perfect Shamrock Shake compromise. 

- See more at: http://www.shape.com/blogs/shape-your-life/shamrock-shake-what-you-should-know-you-sip-and-how-make-healthier-version#sthash.50OGriU7.dpuf

Now that it's March, it's time to break out the green stuff for St. Patrick's Day! But if you're planning to do so by indulging in a cool, minty McDonald's McCafé Shamrock Shake to celebrate the Irish holiday, there's a few things you should know before hitting the drive-thru.

Available for just a limited time, you probably already know that the Shamrock Shake isn't exactly healthy for you. But, let's go over the nutrition facts. A 16-ounce serving of the Shamrock Shake has 550 calories, 13 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, no fiber, 82 grams of sugar and 13 grams of protein. The Shamrock Shake is made with McDonald's low-fat vanilla soft-serve ice cream and Shamrock Shake syrup, and then topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.

Compared to other fast-food calorie-bombs, the Shamrock Shake isn't the worst thing out there, says Mary Hartley, registered dietitian and online nutritionist at AskMaryRD.com. For example, a 16-ounce Dairy Queen Blizzard has 1170 calories and 152 grams of sugar! But that doesn't mean the Shamrock Shake is a healthy choice.

"The 82 grams of sugar is the worst," Hartley says. "It’s like eating around six slices of bread all at once. The saturated fat is also high, at 40 percent of the daily limit (the goal is 10 percent). On the other hand, it is loaded with calcium (460 milligrams percent)." 

In fact, the 550 calories in a two-cup serving are about 28 percent of the average woman’s daily caloric requirement, so drinking this shake is more like eating lunch than having a treat, she says. A healthier option at the McDonald's drive-thru would be a McCafé large coffee, which has zero calories, fat and sugar. 

But, Hartley admits, if you're a true Shamrock Shake fan, you shouldn't be afraid to indulge a little. After all, you drink a Shamrock Shake for fun and camaraderie — not for health, she says. 

Making your own healthier version at home might be the perfect Shamrock Shake compromise. 

- See more at: http://www.shape.com/blogs/shape-your-life/shamrock-shake-what-you-should-know-you-sip-and-how-make-healthier-version#sthash.50OGriU7.dpuf

Now that it's March, it's time to break out the green stuff for St. Patrick's Day! But if you're planning to do so by indulging in a cool, minty McDonald's McCafé Shamrock Shake to celebrate the Irish holiday, there's a few things you should know before hitting the drive-thru.

Available for just a limited time, you probably already know that the Shamrock Shake isn't exactly healthy for you. But, let's go over the nutrition facts. A 16-ounce serving of the Shamrock Shake has 550 calories, 13 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 1 gram of trans fat, 50 milligrams of cholesterol, 180 milligrams of sodium, no fiber, 82 grams of sugar and 13 grams of protein. The Shamrock Shake is made with McDonald's low-fat vanilla soft-serve ice cream and Shamrock Shake syrup, and then topped with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.

Compared to other fast-food calorie-bombs, the Shamrock Shake isn't the worst thing out there, says Mary Hartley, registered dietitian and online nutritionist at AskMaryRD.com. For example, a 16-ounce Dairy Queen Blizzard has 1170 calories and 152 grams of sugar! But that doesn't mean the Shamrock Shake is a healthy choice.

"The 82 grams of sugar is the worst," Hartley says. "It’s like eating around six slices of bread all at once. The saturated fat is also high, at 40 percent of the daily limit (the goal is 10 percent). On the other hand, it is loaded with calcium (460 milligrams percent)." 

In fact, the 550 calories in a two-cup serving are about 28 percent of the average woman’s daily caloric requirement, so drinking this shake is more like eating lunch than having a treat, she says. A healthier option at the McDonald's drive-thru would be a McCafé large coffee, which has zero calories, fat and sugar. 

But, Hartley admits, if you're a true Shamrock Shake fan, you shouldn't be afraid to indulge a little. After all, you drink a Shamrock Shake for fun and camaraderie — not for health, she says. 

Making your own healthier version at home might be the perfect Shamrock Shake compromise. 

- See more at: http://www.shape.com/blogs/shape-your-life/shamrock-shake-what-you-should-know-you-sip-and-how-make-healthier-version#sthash.50OGriU7.dpuf

A Hearty Laugh is Good for the Heart

Happy Heart Health Month!

With Heart Health tips flooding nightly news, magazine stands, cereal boxes, and more, the “how to’s” of taking care of your Heart; the hardest working muscle in our body, can be a bit overwhelming-but every bit worth reviewing and understanding.  For this month’s blog entries, I would will share Facts and Proven Heart Health solutions to help you make easy and healthy choices to keep your Heart:  Healthy, Happy & Hardy! 

Most people are aware of many of the health tips for a healthy Heart, however many of us have known for years about ways to improve our health and our Heart yet Heart Disease has become the #1 Killer in both men & women and sadly the disease is NOT slowing down and now affecting our children. 

To get a better understanding of the Heart, let’s take a look at 5 Facts:

ü      The heart does the most physical work of any muscle during a lifetime. Grab a tennis ball and squeeze it tightly: that’s how hard the beating heart works to pump blood.

ü      Even at rest, the muscles of the heart work hard-twice as hard as the leg muscles of a person sprinting.

ü      More than 82 Million American adults are estimated to have cardiovascular disease. That’s’ 1 in 3 people.

ü      Heart disease is a lifelong condition-once you get it, you'll always have it. That's why it is so vital to take action to prevent and control this disease.

ü      Obesity is the #1 indicator of potential Heart diseases. Side effects of obesity include increased blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels and lower levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. Blood pressure rises in obese people who also are at greater risk of developing diabetes, which can also add to the risks of heart problems.

Through my Heart Health blogs this month, I am going to offer 8 Heart Health necessities I hope you will implement.  The good news is that you can make the changes gradually, one at a time.  But please know that taking steps towards each one of the tips is equally essential to a Healthy Heart and a Healthy You. In addition to the tips and info, I will be sharing which Shaklee products have been proven to offer the health tip suggested. 

 The first 2 changes are Getting Active & Losing Weight:

While most people believe, including me, that you are what you eat, it takes more than great food to keep your Heart healthy and happy.  Playing outside, laughing, volunteering and finding other ways to stay active and maintain balance in your life are keys to staying Heart healthy.

­Getting Active:
Exercise doesn’t have to be a costly gym membership, or require a new wardrobe, simply getting 10,000 steps in every day will help your heart (purchase an inexpensive pedometer to track your daily steps).  Park further away from your destinations; Take the stairs instead of the elevator/escalator, Walk to nearby stores when shopping, Dance with your vacuum and twirl with your duster! Turn up the music while cleaning and enjoy it. Also, did you know?  A hearty laugh is also good for the heart.  This laugh attack can actually cause the lining of blood vessels to relax, enabling more blood to flow through for at least 45 minutes afterward.

Lose Weight:

I know, easier said than done, but truth is, Obesity is now recognized as a major independent risk factor for Heart Disease.  If you have too much fat-especially if a lot is at your waist-you’re at a higher risk for health problems such as High blood pressure, High blood cholesterol, some Cancers and Diabetes.

Start by focusing on losing just 10 lbs.  Starting with just 10 lbs is much less overwhelming than a total amount of weight loss however, once you lose the 10 lbs, its very motivating and rewarding to work toward another 10 lbs.

Weight Loss Tips:  Yes, it is a great idea to remove those unhealthy snacks, sugary foods, fattening deserts, and salty temptations, whatever your downfall.  But the very most important tip to remember is to ADD in something good.  Many of us are not eating the daily recommended amount of fruits & veggies.  Did you know the top 3 vegetables consumed in the US are Ketchum, Iceburg Lettuce and French Fries?  I am not joking.  Let’s work on increasing the amount of fruits & veggies and the variety we eat daily. How about, try a new fruit or vegetable every week?

Because of the Obesity, Heart Disease and Diabetes Epidemic currently happening, there have been new dietary guidelines set.   

See http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2010/DietaryGuidelines2010.pdf for great info.

Another essential is to add in to your daily diet is Leucine.  Never heard of it?  Unless you are a body-builder, most people are not familiar with this essential amino acid.  What makes it so unique?  It builds muscle and muscle equals weight loss and with your Heart being the most important muscle in our body, we want to feed it well.  And don’t worry, by adding in Leucine, you will not be the next muscle master!

Looking for a great way to lose that unwanted fat and build healthy muscle?  Maybe you're ready to get off that yo-yo dieting cycle? Great News! Shaklee has studied and used Leucine for decades.  Our Cinch Inch Loss products offer a balance of nutrients, Leucine, fiber, and protein to keep the muscle you need and burn the fat you don’t want.  Plus Cinch is super yummy, very convenient, cost-effective, and it works.  

Learn more at:

Shaklee Cinch Products & Info

I hope you have found these tips helpful and easy to implement.  Stay tuned for next weeks Heart Health update with 2 more easy but essential health changes you can make for a Healthier, Happier You~