Martha A. Cheves's Blog, page 115

Caffeine Myth #9 - Caffein comes with calories galore - True or False?

Myth #9: Caffeine comes with calories galore.
False: On their own, coffee and tea have no calories or fat.

It's the flavored syrups, whole milk and cream that turn innocent caffeinated drinks into calorie bombs. Those tasty blended drinks can contain 200-600 calories.

And the creamers found in many offices? Two tablespoons can add 80 calories and four grams of fat - equal to a pat of butter.
To cut calories, choose the smallest serving, either 8 or 12 ounces. Order your beverage with...

Caffeine Myth #8 - Caffeine is unhealthy for pregnant women - True or False?

Myth #8: Caffeine is unhealthy for pregnant women.True: 
But if you're pregnant, you'll have to watch how much you drink.
Once a woman is carrying, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises no more than one or two cups of coffee a day.

The National Institutes of Health recommends consuming no more than 300 mg a day during pregnancy, about three to four cups of regular coffee.

"The bottom line is, if the intake for a pregnant woman is less than 300 mg of caffeine a day...

Dijon - What is it?

Dijon is originally from Dijon, France. It's a pale variety of mustard and is know for its sharp, clean flavor that ranges from mild to hot. It is made from brown mustard seeds, white wine, un-fermented grape juice and a variety of seasonings.

Shrimp-a-Roni & Cheese

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The idea for this came from a tuna casserole that I found while thumbing through a cookbook.  The original recipe called for a box of macaroni & cheese.  I changed that to use elbow macaroni and shredded cheese.  I eliminated the 1 Tbsp. of lemon juice, which you can add back if you want.  In it's place I added the evaporated milk.  And of course there was the change form tuna to shrimp.  (The original recipe called for 1 small can of tuna.)  You can change this dish by using tuna, crab...

Caffeine Myth #7 - Caffeine is linked to fibrocystic breast disease - True or False?

Myth #7: Caffeine is linked to fibrocystic breast disease. False :  
Caffeine intake isn't related to the benign condition of lumpy breasts, reports the American Medical Association.

"There's no evidence to support the idea that caffeine causes fibrocystic changes," says Katherine B. Lee, M.D., a staff physician in Cleveland Clinic's Breast Center.

"It seems to contribute to breast pain, but doesn't cause breast cancer," Lee says.

That's because breast pain is hormonal and caffeine causes...

Grilled Cheese Pizza

I had an idea for a great tasting Grilled Cheese. Butter 2 slices of bread. Place 1 slice, butter side down, on your heated waffle iron, Foreman Grill or any other form of sandwich maker you might have. Add cheese, pepperoni, black olives, sliced bell peppers, onions, mushrooms and anything else you might like on your pizza. Top with the other slice of bread, butter side up. Shut the lid and cook. Use heated pizza sauce for dipping. Boy this is good! I used my waffle iron so I could do 2 sand...

Imitation Crab Casserole

1 pkg. (12-16 oz.) Imitation Crab
1 cup dry stuffing
milk
4 hard cooked eggs, chopped
1 cup mayonnaise
1 stalk celery
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 cup shredded cheese
1/2 cup French fried onions

Squeeze as much water as possible out of Imitation Crab. Place in a bowl. Place dry stuffing into a measuring cup and add enough milk to bring it to the 1 cup line. Mix with crab, eggs, mayonnaise and lemon juice. Place in a 1 qt. baking dish sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake 20 minutes in a 350 degree preheat...

Caffeine Myth #6 - Caffeine causes bone loss - True or False?

Myth #6: Caffeine causes bone loss. True:  
Caffeine causes a slight, negligible increase in calcium excretion, according to a study by the Creighton University Osteoporosis Research Center in Omaha, Neb. And you'd have to down three cups of coffee for this to occur.

Any calcium loss could be offset by consuming more calcium – a few tablespoons of milk, for example.

Even youngsters who drink one or two caffeinated beverages a day aren't harming their bones, Sheres says, unless they consume ...

Caffeine Myth #5 - Caffeine causes hyperactivity in Children - True or False?

Myth #5: Caffeine causes hyperactivity in children. False:  
A kid on a Coke rush will practically bounce off walls. But studies show that a moderate amount of caffeine (40 mg to 200 mg) doesn't make them hyperactive. (For reference, that 12-ounce can of Coke has 35 mg.)

Like adults, kids will get an energy boost from caffeine. But whether it's soda, green tea or coffee, "on average, one serving a day wouldn't be considered harmful overall for children," says Suzanne Sheres, a pediatric...

Caffine Myths #4 - Caffeine heightens hypertension risk True or False?

Myth #4: Caffeine heightens hypertension risk.True and false:  
Caffeine does cause a small, short-term boost in blood pressure, but it's nothing serious, Messerli says, and has no lingering health effect.

In fact, a Harvard University Medical School study of 155,000 female nurses found no link between a decade of coffee drinking – with or without caffeine – and an increased risk of hypertension. Caffeinated colas did increase the risk, but that could be due to the sugar and other...