Editor's Blog
5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake - It Doesn't Get Any Easier or Faster
by Annette Pinder on 10/24/11
Ready in 13 mins Prep: 10 mins |Cook: 3 mins Add dry ingredients to the mug, and mix well. Crack an egg and add it to your mug. Be sure to mix it well to avoid any pockets of flour in the corners. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the vanilla essence Pop your mug into the microwave & zap for 3 minutes on maximum power (1000watt). Wait until the cake stops rising, and sets in the mug If necessary, run a knife around the sides of the mug, and tip the still warm cake out of the mug and onto a saucer.
Note: This would be a lot less calories without oil, and by using applesauce instead.
Coffee May Make Women Happy
by Annette Pinder on 09/27/11
I am happy to learn that researchers at Harvard found that women who consumed two to three cups of caffeinated joe per day had a 15 percent lower risk of depression than non-coffee drinkers, while those who drank four-plus cups daily had a 20 percent lower risk.
Researchers followed more than 50,000 participants in the Nurses Health Study -- one of the largest women's health studies in the U.S -- for 10 years. Still, they aren't drawing any firm conclusions yet and say that the results must be replicated.
Dr. Albert Ascherio, a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, said, "Caffeine modulates the release of mood transmitters." He also talked about other studies which showed a link to caffeine and decreased suicide risk.
He pointed out, however, that the National Institute of Health has found that caffeine may cause or worsen anxiety issues. Dr. John Greden, executive director of the University of Michigan's Comprehensive Depression Center, said the Harvard study poses interesting possibilities. He said, "Clinical depression is found in one out of every six people, roughly, and caffeine is one of the most widely used stimulants in the world. If you put those two together, it has always been a logical question to ask, 'Is there a connection?'"
Greden cautioned that the participant pool was consisted of women age or above 60, and was therefore somewhat limiting in terms of drawing any real conclusions. He said, "Most depressions start young, so in a strange way, this is probably a very protected group, given the fact that none had depression at the start of the study."
The results of the new study center on the potential impact of caffeine from coffee -- not caffeine in general. Ascherio said the study should not prompt non-coffee drinkers to take up the habit, however, it may offer current coffee drinkers some reassurance.
"I'm not saying we're on the path to discovering a new way to prevent depression," he said. "But I think you can be reassured that if you are drinking coffee, it is coming out as a positive thing."
Source: the Huffington Post, September 27, 2011
Turning the Corner on Summer
by Annette Pinder on 09/24/11
I am turning the corner into fall somewhat reluctantly this year. Maybe it’s because I enjoyed the summer so much. I also discovered how much I love swimming and how good it is for you. It works practically all of the muscles in the body and is great for cardiovascular fitness and arthritis. So it’s definitely an activity that I will continue as the seasons change.
As for Buffalo Healthy Living, despite dire predictions about print media losing its appeal, www.allbusiness.com says the opposite is true for special interest niche publications. In fact, participants at a recent journalism conference at UC Berkley predict magazines focusing on health care that affect people of all ages will continue to gain in popularity.
Nevertheless, in an effort to make sure that we are delivering information in many different ways that people like to receive it, we continue to engage our readers through various media forms, including Facebook, twitter, linked-in, blogs, and the digital version of the magazine. So check them out periodically by visiting our home page at www.buffalohealthyliving.com. Learn about what’s new that may affect you and those you care for. And don’t forget to send us information you’d like to share with others both in the magazine and online at info@buffalohealthyliving.com.
In the meantime, here’s to a pleasant and healthy Fall.
She Had Me At Hello!
by Annette Pinder on 08/31/11
We never quite know the effect we have on people, and I suppose I should be more modest regarding what I am about to share with you. But I always say that the very best thing about what I do revolves around the people I meet every day. They are the people who enrich and change my life. Yesterday I met one more. Sheila is a wonderful person and I immediately raced home to tell some of my closest friends about the kindred spirit I had met. I was about to call her this morning to make sure she'd received my note of thanks, and then an email appeared in my inbox that made my day. So here is what Sheila had to say, and why doing what I do every day is so special.
Dear Readers:
As an avid reader of Buffalo Healthy Living, I often wondered who Annette Pinder really is. Was she tall, was she short, was she slender, or like so many of us is she at the age where she too woke up one day and some gremlin took a rolling pin giving her more width then height? So much for tall and slender these days! And what team will she actually belong to? Blondes or Brunettes at the September 10th event? Maybe she is one of those who can choose either team. Yes, she must be a redhead! So as this mystery continued to peek my curiosity with each issue, little did I know I would have the pleasure of meeting her delightful husband last week at an American Diabetes Association fundraiser event for their up and coming walkathon. Thanks to her husband, I actually found myself on the telephone with Annette planning a luncheon date for the following week that very same night!
As a health care professional I imagined this would be a totally business-type luncheon, which I did look forward to; however to my surprise (here is where I will try to minimally embarrass Annette), a very perky, exquisite lady appeared at the restaurant, with a sincere smile and twinkle in her eyes. I knew this was going to be great fun! So this is Annette Pinder!
Yes we talked "business," health care, home care, every care imaginable, but I knew Annette and I had a bond, which upon discovering in conversation, went back to both being from New York, both having daughters the same age, (we both must have shared a peace sign in our hippie days on the streets of New York) and both of us, just inherently loving to help enrich peoples lives. Both of us ended up with gigantic take home salads and soups! Who could eat when you are so engaged in conversation!
Speaking with Annette, it is no wonder that Buffalo Healthy Living is such a success. Annette is truly a warm, intelligent, and caring individual, who loves what she does, and is sincere in her desire to reach out to every age group in our community. Yes, I enjoyed my time with Annette and learned so much from our luncheon about health care related topics and up-and-coming events she enjoys bringing to her readers. I also learned who Annette Pinder really is, and am not at all surprised. I think the words of actress Renee Zellweger in the movie Jerry Maguire, express my sentiments and desire to remain in contact with Annette in the future as health care colleagues and newly found friends. Without a doubt, it can be said about our editor, Annette Pinder,"She had me at" hello !"
Sheila E. Bernard, Senior Account Representative
WILLCARE
My Absolutely Favorite Decadent Chocolate Recipe! And It's Gluten Free!
by Annette Pinder on 07/03/11
Flourless Chocolate Cake Preheat oven to 375°F and butter an 8-inch round baking pan. Line bottom with a round of wax paper and butter paper. Chop chocolate into small pieces. In a double boiler or metal bowl set over a saucepan of barely simmering water melt chocolate with butter, stirring, until smooth. Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat and whisk sugar into chocolate mixture. Add eggs and whisk well. Sift 1/2 cup cocoa powder over chocolate mixture and whisk until just combined. Pour batter into pan and bake in middle of oven 25 minutes, or until top has formed a thin crust. Cool cake in pan on a rack 5 minutes and invert onto a serving plate. Dust cake with additional cocoa powder and serve with sorbet if desired. (Cake keeps, after being cooled completely, in an airtight container, 1 week.)
Compliments of Epicurious.com and tried many times!
