7 minute read
Health And Fitness
Back To Basics – The Sweet Potato
by Nick Thomas, owner of Prime Performance Training, and Certified Sports Nutritionist
Advertisement
I want to go back to basics to kick off the year. There seems to be no better time than the present for a fresh start in life. Nutrition in general determines SO much about how we feel and perform in daily life, from big tasks to small. Therefore, I can think of no better way to positively change life than to incorporate the right combination of all-natural, whole food daily. Let’s start with potatoes. As a rule they do not usually come to mind when thinking of eating a highly nutritional diet, however the sweet potato defies this. The sweet potato is a complex carbohydrate which, unlike the white potato, has a great deal of nutritional value and deserves to be part of our regular diet. A complex carbohydrate is slow acting with minimal sugar, while a simple carbohydrate is fast acting with a higher sugar content. This means that for most adults, including this daily will work well, but as in all things, everyone is different and has different goals; so these things need to be considered. For example, a weight-loss or maintenance nutrition plan for someone doing basic regular exercise would need a high amount of complex carbohydrates early in the day and taper off in the evening. On the flip side, a highly active athlete would need an increased amount of simple carbohydrates because of the fast-acting rush of sugar to the muscle, which will aide in the athlete’s performance. Just one sweet potato contains 400% of the vitamin A recommended to keep our eyes, skin, and organ function healthy, not to mention it helps keep illness away, which is especially important at this time in our world. The sweet potato also contains almost half of our daily vitamin C intake. Both of these vitamins hold the antioxidants which also protect against aging and disease. Research has proven that a unique protein called protease inhibitor, which slows cancer growth, can be gained by eating the sweet potato. One serving of sweet potato also holds a third of our needed daily manganese intake, a mineral that helps our bodies produce collagen and promotes skin and bone health. Finally, several energy-supporting B vitamins and minerals can be found in the sweet potato, including potassium which is responsible for releasing excess sodium from the body and lowering blood pressure, causing the heart to have a more regular rhythm. For those who struggle with blood sugar issues and are worried about the starchy side of this super food, rest easy knowing that the high fiber content makes the sweet potato a slow-burning starch which means it will not cause a spike in blood sugar or insulin levels. One serving of sweet potato is about 6 grams of fiber, which is more than a quarter of the recommended daily amount our bodies need. Here are a couple of simple ways to make the sweet potato taste great. Keep in mind, cooking it in the skin does provide another element of nutrients. Take a washed sweet potato still in the skin, place it on a baking sheet, and put it in a 400-degree oven for roughly 45 minutes or until fork tender. Boiling or grilling the potatoes will also work. When it is cool to the touch, cut it open, and add a small amount of olive oil-based butter, pinch of sea salt, and cinnamon. Another option when the craving for fries hits is to peel a few sweet potatoes, cut them in 1-inch cubes or slices, place them on a baking sheet, drizzle them with olive oil, and give them a generous sprinkle of sea salt. Bake them at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes until crisp and tender. For more information regarding a personalized general or sports nutrition plan, contact me at Prime Performance. My personal contact is 423-805-0870.
Cover Story Jennifer Baxter: A New Librarian And A New Year
by Ali Elizabeth Turner
continued from page 1
University of Southern Mississippi. Years ago, she started off as a volunteer at her local library, never expecting it to become her career that she dearly loves. As she clearly states, “Libraries are more important than ever.” Here are some of the things Jennifer says about herself: “As you know, I started in December, so currently we’re all focused on a smooth transition of operations under new management. I have spent time getting to know staff and have started learning the local community. I have met with the Athens mayor, and I’ve attended a City Council meeting as well as a Limestone County meeting. I’ve attended a few Chamber events, and I’m trying to build my professional network of other leaders and organizations within the community. I want to know and understand Limestone County and the City of Athens so that I can begin to understand the best ways the library can serve our communities.” These days there are certain challenges faced by libraries everywhere. Of course, funding for any institution is an ongoing issue. In addition, Jennifer told me that she is “trying to find a way to take the library of old and turning it into a library that serves everyone.” That is easier said than done, and following are some of the ideas upon which she is working. Public Podcasts - The kinds of telecommunication changes that have been made even in the past five years have created a demand for people to have a working knowledge of computers, social media, and podcasts. The day we spoke, the brand-new equipment had just arrived, and there will be podcast classes for people of all ages and skill levels. The hope is that the rollout of the podcast production services will be in the spring, and it was easy to tell that Jennifer was looking forward to providing this new service. Virtual Programming - COVID has put everyone in a po-
sition of having to get creative in order to keep going, and the library is no exception. Yesterday they held their children’s writing group, and on January 25, the teen writing program will be held online. All program information can be found at www.alcpl.org or on the library’s Facebook page. Used Book Sale - If you are looking for a great buy on a gently used hard or softback book, make sure you come to the Library on Feb 6 and shop at leisure. The book sale is a win-win for all, as the Friends of the Library organization earns money to support the library, and you are able to get books at a relative pittance. The sale also features used DVDs, CDs, audio books, and more. The used book sale is the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Ask A Master Gardener - North Alabama is one of the reasons our state motto is “Alabama the Beautiful,” and the Master Gardeners come to the library each Tuesday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to answer questions. If you are a beginner or an expert, they are ready to help and educate. Book Signings - Local authors abound in our area, and the library loves to support them through book signings. Coming up in February, Carissa Lovvorn’s first work for children, Seeds For Sharing will be featured. Food For Fines - It is not at all uncommon for libraries to have various types of amnesty programs to encourage the return of books and resources checked out long ago. For the next two weeks through the end of January, the Athens Limestone County Public Library will be doing ‘food for fines,’ where patrons can donate one food item for $1 off their overdue fines. The collected food items will go to Limestone County Churches Involved (LCCI). Jennifer continued to unfold her vision by saying, “ALCPL staff is aiming to find the best ways to serve our community during these times, and that’s why we’re working diligently on our podcast – to offer our voices, our knowledge, and our resources to patrons in the comfort of their own homes. We’re also offering virtual options for programming as well as our digital library resources, including e-books and audiobooks.” She finished our time together with one of her favorite quotes from Nelson Mandela: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Come and let the resourceful staff at the Athens Limestone Public Library help you do just that.
