Golden Goalies – who knew?

Bea Loozer

We’ve had many good “therapy” sessions this quarter. Let me mention the last two.

Adam, from MedMetrics (near Amalfi’s), visited us and gave us “the rest of the story” about some health headlines that we’ve seen recently. It is so helpful to be able to rely on a pharmacist who knows his stuff and happily shares the truth with us. The headlines were not misinformation, but Adam gave us a more complete picture.

The other therapy I want to mention was by our leader Sharon, who shared a number of tips, some of which were new to me, and I’ll pass a few on to you.

* Red fruit has some advantages over green fruit. Who knew? Choose watermelon over honeydew and red grapes over green ones, for example. The higher level of flavonoids (which give red fruit their color) “calm the action of fat-storage genes.” You might want to research this to confirm.

* Never forget the value of omega-3 fats. They ward off depression and heart attacks. (Talk to Adam to get the full story.) They can also boost weight loss and decrease blood sugar. There are several sources of omega-3, but we usually think of the power of fish oil in tuna, salmon, mackerel and sardines. Or take supplements.

* Nuts. Walnuts are another star of omega-3 fats. In addition, pecans have been found to display four times the antioxidant value of almonds and nearly six times that of peanuts.

* Another omega-3 source is chia seeds, and they are also full of fiber, protein and calcium.

* Also consider tahini as an option for nut and seed butters.

* Sharon’s source also suggested taking your coffee black. Surely, your weight will appreciate your cutting out the bad fats and sugars. Frankly, coffee is my dessert, so I indulge myself with one or two naughty cups per day. I never claimed to be a role model.

We rarely speak in terms of “shoulds,” but we like to share experiences and ideas to consider.

At Golden Goalies, you’ll find support, motivation, shared wisdom and some good laughs. Weigh-in is Saturday from 7:00 to 7:40 a.m. in Room A-8, near the Cottonwood Library. The meeting starts after weigh-in. Contact Rita at 895-2559 for more information.