Fat cells for life

If an overweight individual loses weight, do you think they lose their chubby fat cells? If you thought “yep”…think again.

(This is a big “aha!” moment for most people.)

The number of fat cells you acquire by your late teens/early 20’s are yours for life. When you lose weight, those cells do shrink in size, but they never go away. THIS is why maintaining weight after weight loss is so incredibly difficult – you’re predisposed to gaining it back. Literally. This is also why childhood obesity is a risk factor for adulthood obesity [1].

Think bariatric surgery can take some of those cells away for you? Not according to a study performed by Bruce Buchholz at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California.

For reasons as such, prevention is being shifted to childhood-aged population [1] – childhoods build lasting blueprints of what’s to come for our weight, health, and ultimately, our happiness.

On a lighter note, I got asked at work today to contribute to tomorrow's bake sale. With a hockey game this evening, I was short on time. I stopped on my way home, all sweat and picked up break and bake chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter cookies... and of course: NO PUDGE BROWNIES! Mint AND raspberry. I taste tested just a bit and they are delicious!!! If you haven't tried these fat free brownies...you're missing out! They can be found in the baking aisle right next to their full-fat counterparts. The best part: you just add yogurt, mix, and bake. Does it get any easier than that? Try'em out!

[1]. Mahan, Rachel. Trying To Get Rid of Chubby Cells? Fat Chance. MSNBC. May 30, 2009.

Worth Dining @ The Artist Chef

Few years ago I was captivated by some posters about shoes that were posted in New York City. The headline goes, "There is a little Imelda in everyone of us." I definitely like the creativity on how they played on Imelda's Unique Selling Proposition as a person. And I believe every woman can relate to that. On the contrary another version circulates on the internet lately. After Gloria Arroyo's famous US $20,000 at Le Cirque in Manhattan, it turned out she just can't stop ravaging food for another US$15,000. We can post this visual as a poster around New York City. I think each and every one of us has there own share of story about pigging out. But I guess no body can surpass the amount GMA splurged on the food that she ate. It was overwhelming and I think abusive. It's okay if you use your hard earned money and not your country's money. There are cases of famines in most undeveloped parts of the Philippines and I don't know how she was able to feed her stomach with that luxurious meals. That amount of money could have fed millions of hungry Filipinos. Bottom-line, both women gave their own version of using the Philippine money to fill their own personal cravings. Sigh.

Well I'd like to invite the Philippine President to dine in at The Artist Chef when she visits Vietnam, it will only cost her $100 for a complete set meal. Looking forward to it :)

hugs,
joanie xxx

Teddy Kennedy

You might not have agreed with his politics, but we all mourn his passing. May we all live our lives with such passion, commitment and "human-ness."

Rest in peace, Senator Kennedy.

Omega-3 Show-Down!

Know that omega-3’s are good for you…but that’s about it? Bruce Watkins, Purdue University professor of nutrition and director of the International Omega-3 Learning and Education Consortium for Health and Medicine helped in developing a website devoted to teaching consumers about types of omega-3’s, benefits of omega-3’s, and where to find them in the diet. They created this site in the process. The site answers basic questions about omega-3 fatty acids. Also included for doctors, medical providers, and veterinarians is a fact sheet and patient handout [1] – check it out!

Additionally, the site includes a database of foods containing omega-3’s as well as the amounts. I know Gina and I have a discussion back about the feasibility of consuming adequate omega-3’s for cardio-protective benefits through the diet alone. There is also a chart showing how much and what types of omega-3’s men and women of varying ages and with differing health histories should consume [1]. Sign-up to receive their monthly newsletter, too! Jackpot!

Omega-3’s for asthma? Heart disease? Cancer? Maternal Health? Cognitive function? Transplantation? Mental health? Eye health? Diabetes? Go here!

The run-down (per 100 grams/~3.5 ounces):

Highest overall omega-3 content (fresh fish) = salmon, Atlantic, farm-raised (2507 mg omega-3’s)

Highest ALA content (fresh fish) = salmon, wild (295 mg ALA)

Highest EPA content (fresh fish) = salmon, Atlantic, farm-raised (862 mg EPA)

Highest DHA content (fresh fish) = salmon, wild (1115 mg DHA)

Okay…salmon takes the cake for the fresh fish. Other great options include: swordfish, trout, tuna (bluefin), whitefish, halibut, catfish, and anchovies.

Highest overall omega-3 content (shellfish) = shrimp (540-601 mg omega-3’s)

Highest ALA content (shellfish) = crayfish, wild (32 mg ALA)

Highest EPA content (shellfish) = shrimp (293 mg EPA)

Highest DHA content (shellfish) = squid (342 mg DHA)

So, shrimp are a GREAT option for omega-3's. Other shellfish sources of omega-3’s include: blue crab, Dungeness crab, queen crab, spiny lobster, mussels (yum!), and scallops!

And FYI: canola oil and flaxseed oil contain omega-3’s! Per 100 grams there are 9137 mg omega-3’s in canola oil and 53,300 mg omega-3’s in FLAXSEED OIL! I must ask, who knew that canola and flaxseed oils had so many omega-3’s!? You can boast your intelligence, it’s alright!

What do YOU need?

- If you have no documented coronary heart disease, eat a variety of fish at least twice a week. Try to focus on fattier fish such as salmon. Use other products such as flaxseed and canola oil, as well as flaxseeds and walnuts.

- If you HAVE documented coronary heart disease, consume about 1 gram of EPA + DHA per day, preferably from fatty fish. Supplementation may be recommended by a physician.

- If you have elevated triglycerides, take 2-4 grams of EPA+DHA per day through a supplement provided under a physician’s care.

As always, purchase and use supplements with caution. Supplements are not FDA-regulated and are not tested for purity or potency.

All the nutrition facts are provided by the US Department of Agriculture’s National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 21.

[1]. New Web Site Aims To Deepen Public Knowledge of Omega-3s. Purdue University. August 21, 2009.

Budapest day 3: the show starts!

On our third day at Budapest the sziget started and we saw some good concerts that day; but some of them weren't that good.

We woke up at 10 in the morning and had breakfast, and about one o'clock in the evening we sat down at the main stage just for be at the first line of the concerts.

We saw at three o'clock IAMX; I was expecting this very much because I really like IAMX and Chris Corner is a cool frontman... but OMG, I felll in totally love qith their bassit-keyboard girl... she was wearing a extremely cool look and almost capted all the attention!

By the way, in this concert I get Chris' towel, because he stared at me while I was making pictures and said "You, get that camera off your face, I want to see you". After that comment, I smiled and he said again "Oh, I love you, you've got a lovely smile... I like you!" and he gave me his towel, it was very funny.


After this great show, Nouvelle vague jumped into the stage and gave another amazing concert. Nadeah and Melanie Pain are excellent frontgirls and it was a lovely concert; they played their covers of "God save the Queen", "This is not a love song", "The guns of Brixton" or "Love will tear us apart", the final theme they played.


After two great shows, the massacre come to us... yes, MASSACRE!! Ska-P, an spanish band, was playing at six o'clock on the main stage... and EVERYONE was there! And for me, who was at the firs line, it was Hell... people get crazy and started to push, fight and well, imagine about that! I couldn't take any good picture... I was afraid about my life! XD

When Ska-p finnished, it was Snow Patrol's moment; it was a very relaxing concert (everything is relaxing after Ska-p) and we had a lovely time.


And finally, Lily Allen! What a lovely and funny show! Lily was so friendly and talkative, and we enjoyed her concert very much. She played lots of good songs and make her live cover of britney's "Womanizer" and Kaiser chiefs' "Oh my God"; so cool! oh, and she gave al the first line beer for free!! Yeah!


So the main stage was close for that day, but we went to the A-38 stage for seeing White Lies... and yes, here it come the deception... OMG WHAT A CRAP!! I'm sorry about that, I was very exitec for seeing them... and it dissapointed me so deeply! The voice was HORRIBLE! And no, it wasn't for the stage (at the next day I saw tricky and it was perfect)... the suck in live events T_T...

Anyway, that was the first day of concerts!! You can see more pictures at my flickr account.

In other way; yesterday i bought the new issue of Vogue Magazine and... OMG!! Have you seen the new Prada pumps? They're PERFECT! so punk, so chic... and SO expensive, sigh... I wish I could have a pair...


I love them I love them I LOVE THEM! In red and black are just so gorgeous!

And I'm thinking about buying a leopard coat I saw at H&M; if my boss pays this week... I'll go to Marbella and get it!! It's very similar to the one of the picture, which is from Zara (I couldn't find the H&M's picture).


That would be a total look for this winter: tube black skirt, leopard coat and pumps... with my blonde hair, of course. I was thinking about turning it into red, but definitly blonde is the color for this winter, so I will stay with it for a few months...

By the way, I'm thinking about making a collection of a Hello Kitty's tableware, so lovely and funny!

Yaw, that's all for today!! Have a nice wendesday