Fuel Up for Fitness
The USDA's "MyPyramid" is a great resource for your health and wellness. Their information on Fruit and Vegetables is provided here for your convenience. Fruit Group includes all fresh, frozen, canned, and dried fruits and fruit juices. 
In general, 1 cup of fruit or 100% fruit juice, or 1/2 cup of dried fruit can be considered as 1 cup from the fruit group. 
Vegetable Group includes all fresh, frozen, canned, and dried vegetables and vegetable juices. In general, 1 cup of raw or cooked vegetables or vegetable juice, or 2 cups of raw leafy greens can be considered as 1 cup from the vegetable group.
Apple Juice Benefits Brain Health and Memory
LOWELL, MASS. (January 19, 2006) - "An apple a day" now has new meaning for those who want to maintain mental dexterity as they age. New research from the University of Massachusetts Lowell suggests that consuming apple juice may protect against cell damage that contributes to age-related memory loss, even in test animals that were not prone to developing Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. read full article
The Fiber 35 Diet: Nature's Weight Loss Secret'
By Carolyn Olson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Now here's what you've been seeking - a diet that's easy to follow and has been successful for many. All you have to do is eat 35 grams of fiber a day. And the catch? Most Americans eat about half that amount. Fiber is one of the most useful and beneficial ingredients on the planet, author Brenda Watson writes. It also helps prevent diabetes, heart disease and cancer, and it also is said to curb appetite, increase satisfaction and flush calories out of the body. So, if you increase your fiber intake, you should lose weight because you'll feel full, safely lose weight, look your best, feel more energetic and stay healthy for life. Fiber is the indigestible part of fruit, seeds, vegetables, whole grains and other edible plants. It is one of the most useful and beneficial ingredients on the planet, Watson writes. In addition to talking about the benefits of fiber, the authors include 49 pages of fiber-loaded recipes, menu plans and a comprehensive workout regimen of strength and cardio exercises. The three-phase Fiber35 Diet has a personalized weight-loss equation based on how many pounds you want to lose. And then it helps you maintain that weight. During the first phase, the most stringent, participants reduce their daily calories by 1,000. In phase two, they reduce their calories by 500. In the last phase, participants simply make sure they eat at 35 grams of fiber daily and eat a healthful diet. So what are the suggested fiber foods? Apples, beets, carrots, cranberries, oat bran, oranges, peaches, peas, cauliflower, dried beans, fruit skins, popcorn, potato skins and whole grain breads, cereal, oatmeal and pasta. Watson summarizes the book's goals with this: "Optimum health begins and ends with what we eat, and of equal importance, what we do not eat."
