Download Put the Brakes on Texting Steer Clear of Tart Treats

Put the Brakes on Texting
According to U.S. health officials, one in three drivers in the United States admits to having sent a text or
email while behind the wheel. This is an alarming statistic, considering that in 2011, 3,000 people were
killed and another 300,000 were injured in car crashes that involved distracted driving. Americans are much
more likely to use cell phones while driving than residents of the United Kingdom and other European
countries. According to a survey sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than
two-thirds of American drivers said they use their phone while driving, compared with 21 percent in the
United Kingdom, and nearly twice as many as in Spain. No ifs ands or buts: Drivers should put their cell
phones away when they get behind the wheel and drive distraction-free, advised report author Rebecca
Naumann, a CDC epidemiologist. It’s also important for parents to model safe driving for teenagers, she
added. CDC director Tom Frieden, MD, said a cell phone in a car can be a fatal distraction.
Steer Clear of Tart Treats
Love pucker-inducing goodies like Sour Patch Kids or Cry Baby candies? Such tart treats aren’t likely to be
doing your smile any favors. Turns out, many tear-inducing candies like Warheads and Altoids Sours are
practically as acidic as battery acid. Acidic foods can strip away protective tooth enamel, leaving them
prone to decay and discoloration. Tooth enamel erosion can occur when the pH level of your mouth falls
below 4.0. Most sour candies tested have a pH level between two and three. If you’re going to indulge in
acidic treats, be sure to thoroughly rinse your mouth afterward with water, warns Cleveland Clinic dentist
Hadie Rifai, DDS. Water can help neutralize those acids and bring your mouth’s pH back up to a safe level.
Any sticky, sugary residue that gets lodged in your teeth should also be removed by brushing and flossing.
Garden Harvest Vegetable Soup
Ingredients
1 T olive oil
2 carrots, diced
1 leek, white part only, sliced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 t red pepper flakes
¼ t black pepper
3 red potatoes, quartered
9 c water
1 c baby spinach
2 small zucchini, chopped
1/4 t salt
1 c green beans
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 t thyme, fresh
1/2 c ditalini pasta (or another small pasta)
2 plum or Italian tomatoes, deseeded and chopped
Basil topping:
1 T olive oil
1/4 t salt
3 T parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 t black pepper
1 c fresh basil leaves
Directions:
Place 1 tablespoon olive oil in a heavy bottomed saucepan or stock pot. Once warm, add carrots, leek, and celery. Cook over
medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and thyme and continue to cook for 5 minutes. Add potatoes, spinach,
salt, and red and black pepper; cook 3 minutes. Add water, zucchini, beans, pasta, and tomatoes to the saucepan; cook an
additional 8 minutes. While soup is cooking, place the basil, remaining oil and cheese in a small food processor; blend until smooth.
Swirl basil mixture into the soup just until combined and serve. Recipe makes eight 2 cup servings.
Nutritional Information per serving: Calories – 160.2; Total Fat – 4.5g; Cholesterol – 1.5 mg; Sodium – 93.0mg; Total Carbs – 26.3 g;
Dietary Fiber – 6.4 g; Protein – 5.4 g