Do food labels lie?

June 21st, 2010

Holy lying food labels, Batman!  It’s true.  Food labels sometimes lie.  If you count every Calorie and gram of fat, you might be more than a little dismayed to learn that food labels aren’t always accurate.  Most of the time, however, “lying” is probably not quite the right term to use.

Check out this video from the Today Show regarding several popular frozen “diet” meals:

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While it’s true that each meal has some inherent variability in its nutritional content, being off by more than 20% is not excusable.  It should be of concern that food companies are responsible for creating their own Nutrition Facts panel.  It’s not an independent determination.  Moreover, the FDA does not have the resources to maintain adequate control over the food supply.  In the end, we must trust that food companies will do the right thing.  Sometimes, however, the companies’ incessant hunger  for money may blur the line between lying and inherent variability.

Kyle Kent is the President & Director of Innovation for Imagination to Burn. He is passionate about the role that imagination and creativity play in empowering people to achieve their wellness goals.

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Find the fantastic in yourself

June 14th, 2010

I want you to do something for me.  Are you ready?  Take a quick look around and make sure no one is watching.  Aw, who cares if someone is watching?  I want you to give yourself a pat on the back and while thinking of one of the many good things you did today.  What’s that?  Can’t think of anything?  Surely, there must be something.  Maybe you walked the dogs (a good thing for you and the dogs).  Maybe you hugged your kids (no small thing to your kids).  Perhaps you simply smiled and said hello to someone who looked a little down.  We do good things everyday, and yet we tend to focus on what went wrong instead of those good things.  We can make a tremendous difference in the lives of those around us, but first we need to find the fantastic in ourselves.

Kyle Kent & his two wonderful (and ornery) kids

Smile.  You may be doing more good than you realize.

A simple act like smiling can do much to brighten the days of those around you.  In fact, smiles can be powerful and contagious.  A nice smile can even save someone’s life.  Take, for example, the story of Don Ritchie of Australia.  Mr. Ritchie has lived across the street from a rather infamous cliff in Australia for the past half century.  This cliff, known as The Gap, is the final destination for many suffering people looking to end their lives, many of whom just need to know that someone in this world cares about them.  Enter Mr. Ritchie, who has saved around 160 people over the past half century simply by smiling and inviting them over for tea in a clam, soothing voice.  He doesn’t impose his sense of morality on them.  He simply listens if they would like to talk and smiles warmly. (Read more about the extraordinary tale of Don Ritchie here).

There is much power in a smile.  If you see a coworker or neighbor looking down in the dumps, sometimes the simple act of smiling and waving can do wonders for them.

Count your blessings before bed.

I have a homework assignment for you.  I want you to do two things for me. These two things have worked wonders for me, and they will work for you too.

  1. Stop calling yourself “stupid” or other names when you mess something up accidentally.  Mistakes are human.  Don’t beat yourself up for things you didn’t intentionally do.  Sometimes forgiving yourself is harder than forgiving others, but it is a critical first step to find the fantastic in yourself.
  2. As you go to sleep tonight, think of three things you did today that were good or remind yourself of your three most admirable qualities.  My guess is that you’ll end up with many more than three things.  Plus, you’ll sleep better and wake up with more energy and drive than you have had in a long time.

Kyle Kent is the President & Director of Innovation for Imagination to Burn. He is passionate about the role that imagination and creativity play in empowering people to achieve their wellness goals.

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Some tips to avoid sleepiness at work

June 9th, 2010

I just came across this article summarizing some research about the issue sleepiness at work.  We’ve all had a rough night occasionally.  Maybe the kids were up.  Maybe your significant other was snoring loudly.  Whatever the case, sleepiness at work is a big issue at work.  The article indicates that 19% of Americans studied reported feeling moderate to excessive daytime sleepiness.  That number is much too high considering that there are some simple lifestyle adjustments that the average person can make to avoid the sleepiness (and no, it doesn’t involve paying $3 for an over-marketed energy shot).  Here are some tips to keep the sleepiness at bay.

exhausted iStock_000000665933XSmall

Eat a sensible breakfast

While you sleep, your body is fasting.  When you wake up, you need to refuel.  If you refuel with a sugar-filled cereal or toaster treat, you are asking for a mid-morning sugar crash.  Instead, focus on whole grain breads or cereals in which whole grain is the first ingredient.  Work in a serving or two of fresh fruits like strawberries or blueberries.  If you are not allergic, peanut butter on whole grain toast is a fantastic, quick breakfast option that will keep the mid-morning lull away.  Want something quicker yet, grab a banana and hit the road.  Bananas are great because they come with their own wrapper.

Follow with a light lunch

One of the biggest reasons for that mid-afternoon slump is overeating at lunch time.  Maybe you skipped breakfast and are really hungry.  Maybe you went for the tasty, fried food after a particularly stressful morning.  Whatever the case may be, eating a high carb, high fat meal at lunch will give anyone the afternoon sleepies.  If you are trying to stay fresh and alert for the entire day, try a fresh salad with a cup or water or tea.  Salad is full of water, fiber, and a host of healthful nutrients.  Don’t be afraid to add some dressing because the fat in the dressing will actually help your body absorb more of the healthy nutrients. 

Avoid energy drinks

Energy drinks are not the answer to sleepiness.  The B vitamins will do nothing for you because you are not deficient in B vitamins.  True, the caffeine can give an alertness boost, but the sugar crash following consumption of the energy drink will leave you feeling worse that before.  If you need caffeine, go for black coffee or your favorite type of tea.  If you need to sweeten it, avoid sugar.  The refined sugar is hard on your tired body and contributes to sleepiness.

Make a sacred sleep schedule

You need about 8 hours of sleep.  Get it.  Find a bedtime that works for you and schedule 8 solid hours.  Turn off the crackberry.  Get a new pillow.  Snuggle up, and enjoy sleeping.  Of course, there will be occasional rough night, but if you regularly get 8 hours, you will feel more alert, be more productive, and maybe even feel like saying “Hi!” to your neighbor in the morning.

Exercise, exercise, exercise

Simply put, exercise will make you feel better and more alert.  Try to make time for 20-30 minutes at least 5 times a week.  Maybe it is a walk around the block at lunchtime.  Maybe it’s walking the dog before work.  Find some exercise activities that you like to day and make them as sacred as your bedtime.

If you incorporate some of these suggestions into your routine, you will be beating the daytime sleepiness in no time.

Kyle Kent is the President & Director of Innovation for Imagination to Burn. He is passionate about the role that imagination and creativity play in empowering people to achieve their wellness goals.

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Posted in Added Sugar, Breakfast Ideas, Lunch Ideas, Whole Grains, Workplace Wellness Works, Your Health, kyledkent posts | View Comments

Where the sidewalk ends

June 8th, 2010

Before you start a walking program in a busy city, you’ll want to read this article. Apparently, a woman visiting Salt Lake City used a popular map service to chart her walking path and found herself walking on the edge of a busy road with no sidewalks.  OOPS!  She was injured and now seeks damages.

Walking programs take more thought than I had originally imagined

First of all, I must give the woman credit for making the effort to get the exercise, even while traveling.  It’s easy to stay in the hotel room and watch movies in your free time.  Maybe she should have tried the treadmill in the fitness center though.

Source: iStock Photo
Source: iStock Photo

If the sidewalk ends near busy traffic, please stop

That is where the credit ends, however.  If the sidewalk ends, and you are near busy traffic, you should realize that something is wrong with your directions.  Don’t stride boldly ahead into oncoming traffic.  What if the directions had led her through the most crime-infested part of town?  It just doesn’t make sense to always trust the map-making services … and it really doesn’t make sense to abandon your common sense.

Starting a walking program is a great idea.  Scouting out the route in your car first … that might be a better one.

Kyle Kent is the President & Director of Innovation for Imagination to Burn. He is passionate about the role that imagination and creativity play in empowering people to achieve their wellness goals.

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Workplace Wellness Works

June 7th, 2010

A little while back, I was interviewed on Ohio & Company about the importance of wellness in the workplace.  Whether you are looking at workplace wellness programs from the perspective of the employer or the employee, these programs make a lot of sense. The time has passed for the old approach to wellness … you know, the annual HRA, health fair, and a few targeted mailings. Wellness programs are becoming more innovative and more focused on the needs of the employee, rather than the employer.

Why embrace workplace wellness?

To all the employers out there, it is clear that well-directed workplace wellness programs can save money on healthcare costs in both the short and long term.  A study conducted by Towers-Perrin last year found that employers (with a true focus on workplace wellness) saved on average nearly $1500 per employee per year. It might take a year or two to fully realize the savings, but with a firm commitment to creating a culture of wellness, these savings can be realized. Not only do you achieve savings, but you create an environment in which morale is higher, productivity is increased, and teamwork is improved. Thus, you can save on healthcare costs, but you also might achieve the type of cultural change that leads to innovation and enhanced productivity.

But at what cost?

A few things need to happen for a culture of wellness to develop. You need top management support and participation. You need fun programming that appeals to the masses (not just the healthy choir and the scared-into-action group). You need to make it a priority for those passionate employees guiding the program by rewarding them for good results and including the work they do on wellness in their objectives. Finally, you need a little bit of money. You need to expect to spend approximately $200-500 per employee per year to bring in high quality programming and make the changes that needed to be made in order to maintain a work environment supportive of  wellness.

Happy business people laughing against white background

Do it for your employees because it is the right thing to do. With job dissatisfaction at an all-time high, why not do something that shows your employees that you really care.

Kyle Kent is the President & Director of Innovation for Imagination to Burn. He is passionate about the role that imagination and creativity play in empowering people to achieve their wellness goals.

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Getting to Know … Dr. Kyle Kent

June 2nd, 2010

Hi there!  I thought it would be a nice time to step out from behind the curtain of Imagination to Burn and introduce myself.

Basically, I am passionate about helping people understand the important role that a healthy lifestyle plays in helping maintain good healthy.  It all started when I was at The Ohio State University, where I had the opportunity to research the link between nutrition and health.  There is so much evidence that regular exercise combined with a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help you delay or prevent the development of obesity and chronic health conditions, like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Once I started working in my first job for a global food giant as a Nutrition Scientist, I began to wonder why people don’t adopt healthy lifestyles.  I participated in the wellness committee, and I provided regular nutrition training … but I found myself often preaching to the choir.  The environment wasn’t set up for success around wellness.  So I began to wonder which elements were missing.  Bribes work to spur short-term change, but there is little to encourage long-term adoption of health lifestyles.  The breakroom was full of cheap, fatty foods.  Management support was passive.  There was no coordinated wellness message.  Basically, we ended up with a program that was run by a passionate few that preached to the healthy choir or those with specific health concerns.  Most people were not getting the message, and that is part of the reason I left to start Imagination to Burn.

Kyle Kent & his two wonderful (and ornery) kids

Kyle Kent & his two wonderful (and ornery) kids

The most important element in my life, however, is family.  I have been married for the better part of a decade, and I have two wonderful (and ornery) kids.  We make eating well and exercising a priority for us, but it takes effort and an environment that supports our goals.  We’re far from perfect, but we try to eat well & exercise so that we can live as well as we can for as long as we can. I love my family and want to be there as long as I can for them.

Kyle Kent is the President & Director of Innovation for Imagination to Burn. He is passionate about the role that imagination and creativity play in empowering people to achieve their wellness goals.

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Posted in Heart Health, Innovation, The Truth About The Obesity Epidemic, Weight Management, Weight loss, Workplace Wellness Works, cancer, kyledkent posts | View Comments

Are You Taking The Right Multivitamin?

May 29th, 2010
It’s becoming more evident, each year, that American’s are really interested in dietary supplements.  These days Americans of all ages are taking dietary supplements.  In fact, according to The Nutrition Business Journal, sales of children’s supplements were estimated at $1.1 billion in 2008!  The most common type of dietary supplement is the multivitamin.  The following is a list of some of the best multivitamins.  This list is brought to you by Nutrition Action Healthletter.
Best Brands for Premenopausal Women

CVS Daily Multiple Plus Minerals
CVS Naturalized Spectravite
CVS Spectravite Advanced Formula
GNC Solo Day
Kirkland Signature Daily Multi
Nature Made Multi Complete
Nature’s Bounty ABC Plus
One-A-Day Maximum
Puritan’s Pride ABC Plus
Rite Aid Central-Vite
Safeway Select Central-Vite
Sundown Advanced Formula SunVite
Sundown Naturals Complete Daily
Target Multivitamin/Multimineral
Vitamin World ABC Plus
Walgreen’s Advanced Formula A though Z

Best Brands for Men and Postmenopausal Women

CVS Daily Multiple for Men
Equate (Wal-Mart) Men’s Health Formula One Daily
Nature Made Multi for Her 50+
Nature Made Multi for Him
Nature Made Multi for Him 50+
One-A-Day Men’s Health Formula
One-A-Day Men’s 50+ Advantage
Safeway Select Men’s Health Formula One Tablet Daily
Target Men’s Daily
Walgreen’s One Daily 50 Plus
Walgreen’s Daily Men’s

Many multivitamins provide more than 100% DV of several vitamins and minerals.  This is not necessary, nor is it safe. The above multivitamins were chosen because they all contained the proper amounts of vitamins and minerals. Notice this list consists of some generic brands. There is no need to waste your money on the really expensive brands when many generic (and cheaper) brands tend to be just as good, if not better.
If you have some multivitamins at home, make sure they contain the following:

Vitamin A: No more than 4,000 IU
Beta-Carotene: No more than 5,000 IU (there is no upper limit for beta carotene from food)
Vitamin C: 60-1,000 mg
Vitamin D: 400 IU or more
Vitamin E: 30-100 IU
Vitamin K: 20 mcg or more
Thiamin (B1): 1.2 mg or more
Riboflavin (B2): 1.7 mg or more
Niacin (B3): 16-35 mg
Vitamin B6: 2-100 mg
Folic Acid: No more than 400 mcg (** if you are taking a multivitamin avoid eating cereals or bars that provide 100% of the DV of folate!!**)
Vitamin B12: 6 mcg or more
Calcium: Don’t rely on a supplement! (**Men shouldn’t have more than 200 mg in their multi**)
Iron: No more than 10 mg (**Premenopausal women should have 18mg in their multi, men and postmenopausal may not need any in their supplement)
Phosphorus: No more than 350 mg
Magnesium: 100-350 mg
Zinc: 8-23 mg
Copper: .9-10 mg
Selenium: 20-105 mcg
Chromium: 35 mcg or more
NOTE: “OR MORE” does not mean there is no upper limit, only that the level in a majority of multivitamins are not high enough to cause harm
If you have any questions or concerns about a specific dietary supplement, I encourage you to e-mail me at gina.casagrande@imaginationtoburn, or visit the following websites:


Quality symbols to look for on your supplement

Need more reasons to be careful when you are purchasing supplements?  Read this article from the New York Times.  It’s quite an eye opener.

“The Candid RD”, Gina Casagrande, is the Director of Nutrition & Health for Imagination to Burn. She is passionate about empowering people to achieve their wellness goals. Read more of her work on her blog; The Candid RD.

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Is Your Fridge Safe?

May 27th, 2010

Fewer than 50% of Americans know that their refrigerator should be 40 degrees Fahrenheit (F), or below. In addition, a large majority of Americans have no idea what the current temperature of their refrigerator actually is! (Source: ADA Times).  To put this into perspective, if food sits in temperatures above 40 degrees F they are more susceptible to contamination by bacteria (and I’m not talking about the good bacteria found in yogurts!).  With summer right around the corner, it’s even more important to make sure your refrigerator is at the correct temperatures.  Each time you open your fridge you are letting in warm air, and therefore allowing the temperature to creep up.  I recently bought a thermometer for my own refrigerator, and found that I fell in the “large majority” category (the temperature was above 40 degrees).  YIKES!  I quickly fixed this by decreasing the temperature (most refrigerators allow you to make the temperature cooler or warmer, as you wish).

DSC04672

Now I am happy to say my refrigerator is below 40 degrees, and my foods are no longer at an increased risk for contamination. I should note this is especially important for households with young children, immune-compromised individuals (those with chronic illness or on certain medications), pregnant women, or elderly adults.  Each of these groups are more susceptible to food borne illness.  I purchased my thermometer for eight dollars at a local grocery store.  I think that was an eight dollars well spent.  It’s crazy how fast the temperature creeps up when I keep the door open even for thirty seconds.

DSC04673

What are you waiting for?  Go get a refrigerator thermometer!

“The Candid RD”, Gina Casagrande, is the Director of Nutrition & Health for Imagination to Burn. She is passionate about empowering people to achieve their wellness goals. Read more of her work on her blog; The Candid RD.

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The world of fruits and veggies is getting turned upside down …

May 26th, 2010

How does your garden grow?  Do you have fun gardening?

I was just reading this article about that upside-down hanging planter you’ve probably seen on TV.  Talk about turning the world of fruits and veggies upside-down!  Personally, I’ve been struggling with the idea.  Maybe I’m sick, but I kind of like pulling weeds.  It’s therapeutic after working all day. Also, there is so much wind where I live that it seems like the planter would just keep blowing down and damaging the plant or the fruits/veggies.  However, I could see where the lack of weeding and general ease of upkeep could make it a more enjoyable gardening experience for some.  I think it has great value when it comes to getting kids interested in gardening.

In general, it is fun to watch your plants grow from seeds.  My little girl brought some maple seeds home the other day.  I found some old pots and potting soil, so that we could have fun planting the seeds.  I didn’t expect much.  I thought, if we were lucky, one might sprout.  Instead, 5 out of the 7 seeds we planted have sprouted and are doing well!  My kids love it, and I get a kick out of watching them check their little maple trees each day.

These are the trees I planted with my kids.(These are the trees I planted with my kids.)

Gardening is a great hobby.  It can be a lot of fun, deliver some much-needed relaxation, and serve as one of those precious .  Upside-down or rightside-up … it doesn’t matter.

Kyle Kent is the President & Director of Innovation for Imagination to Burn. He is passionate about creating new ideas and empowering people to achieve their wellness goals through innovation.

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Just found this article on 15 “age-erasing” superfoods …

May 25th, 2010

Usually, when I read an article that has “age-erasing” or “age-defying in the title, I am disappointed. Many times, the authors spin some overhyped acai, mangosteen, or other exotic botanical with little scientific evidence to support its miraculous claims. So when I found this article on MSNBC.com with the title “15 best age-erasing superfoods” I frankly didn’t expect it to contain high quality advice. I expected more of the typical exotic superfruit nonsense. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised to see a list of superfoods that you can find in your own backyard. The list contained, flax, tomatoes, almonds, black beans, and a host of other very good “backyard” superfoods that have good believability as superfoods.  These superfoods are great targets to incorporate into your diet.  Are they “age-erasing”?  I wouldn’t go that far, but if you try to work these superfoods into your diet, you will feel the difference.  It might not tank years off, but it will add some gas to the tank.

Source: iStock Photo

Source: iStock Photo

Here’s the full list from the article

  • almonds
  • flaxseeds
  • tomatoes
  • rosemary
  • dried plums
  • whole grains
  • yogurt
  • avocados
  • walnuts
  • turmeric
  • black beans
  • apples
  • leaks
  • mushrooms
  • figs

Kyle Kent is the President & Director of Innovation for Imagination to Burn. He is passionate about creating new ideas and empowering people to achieve their wellness goals through innovation.

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Posted in Healthy Fats, Omega 3, gardening, kyledkent posts, local produce | View Comments

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