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Are Liquid Supplements For You?

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Until recently such products as Ensure ™ and Boost ™ were primarily used to meet the special needs of patients in hospitals and in nursing homes. Lately, we have seen companies marketing these sorts of drinks to people of all ages and states of health.

Supposedly, liquid supplements are the answer for busy moms with a tight schedule, business people running out without time for a sit-down breakfast, and older adults wanting to guarantee that they’ll be able to enjoy their grandchildren. What are the benefits liquid supplements reportedly offer?

Generally, these supplements are composed of water, sugar, milk and soy proteins, oils, vitamins, and minerals. A typical 8-ounce can contains 250 calories, and the Aplus@ version may contain as many as 355 calories. Most are lactose free, some have added fibre, and some are specifically designed for children or adults with certain health problems.

Companies are also selling supplements in the shape of pudding or bars, with a varying nutrient content.

What nutritional needs are these companies trying to help consumers answer? Here are some of the reasons companies give for buying their products.

Advertisers sometimes use fear tactics to make you worry that you’re not getting proper nutrition through ordinary foods. Although some people are consuming less than the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for certain nutrients, this does not mean they will develop a deficiency disease. If you truly feel you’re not getting enough nutrients from your food, consult a registered dietician or a KSU Extension Specialist in nutrition. They will be able to help you evaluate your need for supplements.

“Too busy to eat properly” – Liquid supplements may be a fast way to get vitamins, minerals and protein, but there’s more needed for good health! Scientists continue to discover new compounds in certain foods that provide health-protective benefits. Whereas the canned supplements may lack fibre and other healthy components, they may be high in sugar and calories. Although this was ideal for the original intent of these products, most healthy consumers do not want or need all the extra calories that these supplements provide.

“Difficulty preparing meals or no appetite” –  Liquid supplements can provide an answer for occasional use, but a continued use may lead to boredom and even less interest in eating. For a consumer with a poor appetite or impaired ability to fix meals, the solution might be found in home-delivered meals or eating at a group meal site. These meals can offer more variety and may be available at little or no cost to the consumer.

“Nutrition after surgery, during an illness or a chronic disease” –  Liquid nutritional supplements can prove to be beneficial for people with special nutritional needs brought on by serious illnesses. For example, people with AIDS or cancer have some increased nutritional needs, and liquid nutritional supplements are appropriate and valuable in this situation.

To summarize it all, whereas there is a need for liquid nutritional supplements in certain medical conditions, these products are unnecessary for the average, healthy person. The cost for a 8-ounce can of standard formula, and more for specialized formulas must be part of a decision if a person is considering to use a liquid nutritional supplement.

 

John Rifkind is a contributing editor at FitnessHealthArticles.com. This article may be reproduced provided that its complete content, links and author byline are kept intact and unchanged. No additional links permitted. Hyperlinks and/or URLs must remain both human clickable and search engine spiderable.

Benefits Of Jenny Craig Weight Loss

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The basics of the Jenny Craig Weight Management Program are available in one of two ways:

• By attending the Jenny Craig Center

This option does involve personal, one-on-one consultations at Jenny Craig Centers. You will be assigned a trained weight loss consultant to help you plan nutritionally balanced diet menus. The diet foods will be purchased from Jenny Craig. Jenny Craig outlets are located throughout the country.

• By joining the Jenny Craig Direct At-Home Program

This will allow you to participate in the Jenny Craig Program from the convenience of your own home. You will enjoy weekly “phone-meetings” with your trained Consultant, and order your food in at least two-week increments. Weekly support consultations will be done over the phone, toll-free and Jenny Craig menus and support materials will be delivered to your door.

• Your Calories And Weight Loss

The calorie-level of your menu plan will tend to vary according to your needs. The lowest calorie level is of 1200 calories per day. The Jenny Craig Program has been designed to result in an approximate weekly weight loss of 1-2 pounds or 1% of your body weight.

• The Menu Plans

All our menu plans are nutritionally balanced according to the recommendations of the USDA Food Guide Pyramid and U.S. Dietary Guidelines. Clients are able to choose from more than 70 food products. Each product is manufactured to the specification of our dieticians, approved by our Medical Advisory Panel, and purchased through Jenny Craig Centers and Jenny Direct.

• The Diet Foods

All your diet food will be shipped via UPS, which will typically take 5-7 business days to arrive at your home. You can also choose to receive your food quicker via FedEx (1-2 day delivery time) for a small surcharge.

• Weight Maintenance

Support for weight maintenance is also available under certain conditions.

A Few Notes about Healthy Weight Control

Fad diets, unbalanced diets, diet pills, diet supplements, surgery for losing weight and other short term weight loss methods are methods we do not recommended for permanent weight control. The best way to lose excess fat and maintain a healthy weight in the long term is to follow a balanced and calorie-controlled diet (which improves your eating habits) and take up some regular aerobic exercise.

John Rifkind is a contributing editor at FitnessHealthArticles.com. This article may be reproduced provided that its complete content, links and author byline are kept intact and unchanged. No additional links permitted. Hyperlinks and/or URLs must remain both human clickable and search engine spiderable.

Some Weight Watchers Recipes

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Weight Watchers weight loss recipes, using real and everyday foods that you can find anywhere, are popular because they taste good! These offerings come from About.com:

Chicken Rice Casserole with Mozzarella

Ingredients

Two teaspoons olive oil.
Half cup chopped onion.
One clove minced garlic.
One and a half medium red bell peppers, diced.
One cup frozen corn, thawed.
One cup low-salt chicken broth.
One and a half teaspoons dried thyme.
One quarter of a teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
Two cups cooked brown or white rice.
One quarter of a cup plus 2 tablespoons non-fat sour cream.
Two tablespoons Dijon mustard.
Eight ounces skinless, diced cooked chicken or smoked turkey.
Three ounces part skim milk mozzarella cheese, shredded.
One quarter of a cup chopped parsley.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 1-1/2 quart casserole with nonstick cooking spray. In a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, warm the oil until hot but not until smoking. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until the onion begins to brown, for 3 to 5 minutes.

Add the bell peppers, corn one quarter of a cup of the broth, the thyme and black pepper, and continue cooking until the bell pepper begins to soften, for 3 to 5 minutes.
Stir in the remaining three quarters of a cup of broth, the rice, sour cream, and mustard. Add the chicken, remove from the heat, and stir until the ingredients are well combined. Stir in one-third of the mozzarella and then the parsley.

Blend the mixture to the prepared casserole. Spread the mixture evenly. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and bake for twenty to twenty five minutes, or until the casserole is heated through and the cheese has melted.

Microwave Shortcuts:

In a two quart microwave safe casserole, mix the oil, onion, garlic and bell peppers. Cover and cook at high for four minutes, or until the peppers and onion begin to soften. Stir in the corn, half a cup of the broth, the thyme, black pepper, rice, sour cream, mustard, and chicken. Stir in one-third of the mozzarella and the parsley. Re-cover and cook at high for seven minutes, stirring once. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and cook at high for three minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through.

Yields: 4 servings

Serving Suggestion: Slice tomatoes and sprinkle them freely with fresh basil. For dessert, serve crisp almond biscotti with freshly brewed coffee.
Each serving provides: 1/2 fat, 3 proteins, 1/2 vegetable (adjusted to new program), 1-1/2 breads, 20 optional calories.

Nutrition Information:

Values are approximate per serving: 378 calories, 28 g protein, 12 g fat, 39 g carbohydrate, 63 mg cholesterol, 557 mg sodium.

Credits – Recipe from: Ralph’s Market

John Rifkind is a contributing editor at FitnessHealthArticles.com. This article may be reproduced provided that its complete content, links and author byline are kept intact and unchanged. No additional links permitted. Hyperlinks and/or URLs must remain both human clickable and search engine spiderable.