Jan. 10, 2008, Vol. 6 Issue 1

Dear Friends,

As I was thinking about topics for this new year, I realized that (surprise!), none of my speaker-authors are debuting new books this January. Does that mean there isn’t anything new regarding health, diet and exercise? Well, not exactly, but possibly things are settling out a bit. Certainly the ever-increasing obesity statistics tell us that the need for sensible information that delivers long-term results rather than hyped-up promises, should be in bigger demand than ever.

So, the books have been written and I’m happy to see that the authors and speakers whom I know (and whom I know they know what they’re talking about) are out there making news. When it comes to hiring them for your events, you can put their notoriety for work for you. For example . . .

Elizabeth Somer, MA, RD, has been on the TODAY Show multiple times in the last few months, and I have a few of her tips from a December show regarding the Top Ten Super Foods for Women to share with you. She’ll be on the TODAY Show again Monday, Jan. 14 with information on nutrition and the common cold.

And Zonya Foco, RD, CSP, is going to be all over the country, joining Bob Greene on Oprah and Bob’s “Best Life Challenge,” tour of 17 cities in the next six weeks. Possibly that will seed some local exposure. The tour starts Monday, the 14th and we’re hoping to see some clips on Oprah’s show on Monday from a kick-off in Mississippi (the state with the highest obesity rate in the nation).

Stay tuned for more news of speakers in the news in 2008.

Zonya Joins Bob Greene on National “Best Life Challenge” Tour

Zonya Foco, RD, CSP, will be joining Bob Greene, exercise physiologist, Oprah Winfrey’s personal trainer and author of the NY Times Bestseller, “The Best Life Diet,” on a 17-city tour starting Monday, Jan. 14. The book gives readers the keys to losing weight and staying fit. Zonya is a guest presenter, providing entertaining and educational cooking presentations as only Zonya can do.

The purpose of the “Best Life Challenge” is to encourage people to drop their extra pounds. Bob asks, “Are you ready for a challenge?” That’s exactly what losing weight and becoming healthier is – a challenging journey with highs and lows and life-changing rewards. Many of you have been on this journey before and may be wondering: What’s so different about this approach?

The major difference is that Bob doesn’t hand you a diet and expect you to completely overhaul your eating and exercise habits overnight. Instead, he guides you through gradual changes that will take off the pounds, and will keep your weight down next year, in 10 years, and even 50 years down the road. Bob is focused on helping you find a way of living that will keep you at a healthy weight for life. Hence, the “Best Life Diet.”

Anyone who has ever watched “Zonya’s Health Bites” on public television or witnessed one of her presentations knows that Zonya’s message of adopting one good habit after the other completely supports Bob’s Best Life approach. Zonya uses humor, facts and maybe most importantly, common sense, to help people of all ages, incorporate healthy habits into their busy lives.

To find out if Zonya’s coming to your city, visit her online calendar.

To find out more or book Zonya for your event, contact me at 503-699-5031 or Barbara@speakwellbeing.com

Elizabeth Somer’s
Top 10 Super Foods for Women

If you’re skeptical about the sound bites about nutrition that you hear on the news, you need Elizabeth Somer, RD, MA. She makes it her business not only to read, but also to analyze and report on all of the nutrition research results so you get the big picture.

In a December segment for NBC’s TODAY Show, Elizabeth featured the “Top 10 Super Foods for Women.”  She said that while men and women both need the same nutrients to feel our best, women have nutrient needs that are special for only them.

“Eating right is not about a handful of foods, but rather is the healthiness of the entire diet,” she said. “That said, a few foods are truly super, packing in more than their share of nutrients and phytochemicals that lower women’s risk for diseases such as breast cancer and heart disease, helping prolong our lives, keep our minds sharp, and at the same time – tasting divine.”

One of the less romantic but possibly easiest to incorporate of her super foods for women is wheat germ. It’s good for stress, bones, thyroid and diabetes.

Elizabeth says:  “The heart of the wheat kernel is a gold mine of nutrition. A half cup serving of toasted wheat germ supplies more than half of a woman’s daily magnesium needs, a mineral that three out of four women don’t get enough of, yet is essential for reducing stress, building bones, and regulating thyroid function (which affects 20% of postmenopausal women) and heart rate. Magnesium also aids in the production, release, and activity of insulin. Several studies, including one from Harvard School of Public Health, found that women cut their risk of developing diabetes by 48% when they consumed magnesium-rich diets. In contrast, low intake of magnesium increases risk more than three-fold. Wheat germ also supplies husky amounts of vitamins, including 100% of your daily need for folic acid, 50% of your vitamin E requirement, and decent amounts of trace minerals, such as iron and zinc.”

How to include more in your diet: Sprinkle it on oatmeal or yogurt, add it to cookie and pancake batters, mix it into muffin or meatloaf recipes, or blend it with honey and peanut butter for a sandwich spread.

The other super foods for women included extra lean red meat (surprise!), tomato paste, old fashioned oatmeal, oranges, fresh herbs and spices and three not-so-super foods:  flaxseed, granola and wheat germ juice. If you’d like to learn more, just reply to this email and write Super Foods for Women in the subject line. I’ll email you the full report.

Elizabeth appears regularly on national television, writes for national magazines, is the author of several books including (Owl Books, 2002) and Food & Mood (Henry Holt, 1999), and is contributing editor for Shape Magazine. Her latest books are 10 Habits that Mess Up a Woman’s Diet and Age-Proof Your Body (McGraw-Hill 2006). To bring her to your event, please call us at 503-699-5031 or visit our website.

The Purge: Lightening Up

As is my usual custom, I took some time over the holidays to clean out my office. In my dedicated day, I made a huge mess that resulted in attention to the task at hand extending many hours into the weekend. I don’t know about you, but in order to put things away, I have to clean out files and drawers.  After many trips to the paper recycling bin, I’m proud to say I let go of a lot of old and plugged up energy. That leaves lots of room for the new. While I realize I’ll never catch up with the number of new speakers, books, and information that come my way, at least I’ve created some space to let them wiggle into my consciousness so I can share them with you. Please note that I don’t post anyone on my website until I’ve checked her out thoroughly. And, if you have ideas or recommendations, please feel free to send them my way.

Until next time, be good to yourself for your good health and those you love.

Yours truly,
Barbara

PLEASE NOTE: The information shared in this e-news is designed to help you make informed decisions about speakers and the programs they offer. It is not intended as a substitute for any treatment prescribed by a doctor. If you suspect you have a medical problem, seek competent medical help.