A Fruity Way to Lose Weight

By Kelley Herring

Want to drop a few pounds? It may sound counterintuitive, but there's a before-meal snack that can give your weight-loss efforts a boost.

A recent study published in the journal Nutrition divided women into two groups. One group got an apple or a pear before meals, while the other group got an oat cookie. Aside from that, both groups were on the same reduced-calorie diet for 12 weeks.

At the end of the 12 weeks, the fruit eaters had lost an average of more than 2.6 pounds, while the cookie crunchers had insignificant weight loss. What's more, the fruit eaters had a greater decrease in blood sugar levels.

Researchers believe the weight-loss secret of apples and pears lies in their high-water, high-fiber, yet low-calorie composition.

Shape up your health with organic apples and pears. But make sure you're conscious of your sugar intake. A medium apple has 14 grams of sugar (72 calories, 19 carbs, 3 grams of fiber). A medium pear has 16 grams of sugar (96 calories, 26 carbs, 5 grams of fiber).

It's Good to Know: The Gulf Stream Power Plant

At 8.5 billion gallons per second, the Gulf Stream is the world's strongest sustained ocean current. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University believe it could also provide enough energy to meet one-third of their state's electricity needs.

The energy would be harnessed by thousands of underwater turbines set 30 to 40 feet below the surface. Plans call for an offshore test turbine within months. Based on the results of that experiment, a larger system could be established.

(Source: Associated Press)

Word to the Wise: Temerarious

"Temerarious" (tem-uh-RARE-ee-us) - from the Latin - means recklessly or presumptuously daring.

Example (as used by H.G. Wells in The New Machiavelli): "I have confessed myself a temerarious theologian, and in that passage from boyhood to manhood I ranged widely in my search for some permanently satisfying Truth."

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These articles appear courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2301, 03-12-08], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.