Six daily tips on better health from Stanford Heart Network

• *Choosing a Weight Loss Program Wisely Joining a weight loss program? Consider asking the following questions: Does the program carry any risks? What percentage of past clients finished the program? On average, how much weight did they lose? Do participants keep off the weight they lost? If you are interested in finding a weight loss program, it is wise to first contact your health care provider.
  
  *Realistic Fitness Goals Do you expect too much when you try to increase your physical activity? Success often leads to more success, but very high goals often lead to frustration. Start slow and set realistic goals for yourself. For example, unless you are already very active, don’t set your new goal as 60 minutes of vigorous exercise every day. Instead consider starting with activities like brisk walking for 10 - 15 minutes several days a week. By conquering smaller goals first, you are more likely to continue.
  
  *Exercise and Mental Health Need more reasons to exercise? Reports suggest that active people may experience less depression, anxiety, and stress than sedentary people. Regular exercise can also improve mood and brain functioning. Skeptical? Give it a try for a couple of weeks and see how you feel.
  
  *Spot Reduction Myth Contrary to what many info commercials suggest, there is no such thing as spot reduction. Fat loss depends on many factors including age, genetics, and gender. Regular aerobic exercise will help you lose fat in all areas of your body. Also, consider modest reductions in your caloric intake to help reduce body fat.
  
  *Maintain Your Height with Exercise Exercise can help you stand taller as you grow older. Exercise can help prevent the discs in your spine from shrinking. It also helps maintain the calcium content of your bones to help prevent osteoporosis.
  
  *Fish Oil Effects Diets rich in the omega-3 fatty acid EPA have been seen to reduce major coronary events. Now, a 2007 Japanese study reports on those who already eat a lot of fish and who take statin medications. Consuming EPA rich fish oil further reduces their risks too. But play it safe, always talk with your doctor before adding nutritional supplements to your medications.
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  Stanford Heart Network Tip of the Day, presented by MissionHospital! Mission Hospital is part of the Stanford Heart Network.http://www.stanfordheart.net/online/mhhc
  
  
  

Super Low fat Sour Cream Substitute!

Mock sour cream you can use as a topping for food's like, baked potatoes, enchiladas, gazpacho, dip's and low fat tacos. Just to name a few. With summer just around the corner, here is a great recipe to lighten the heavy sour cream without lousing the flavor we all like. There is no reason to go without sour cream. Only we're going to be smart about it.
Try this recipe as a sour cream substitute! Great as topping, you can dollop on tacos,and gazpacho soup, mix into bean dip. Enjoy that twice baked potato.
Recipe:
Blend 1-cup low fat cottage cheese, 1/4 cup buttermilk and 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice in a blender until smooth. This makes 16 tablespoon-sized servings with only 14 calories and 0.3 grams of fat per serving!
Try it as a topping for baked potatoes, gazpacho and low fat tacos.