Welcome to the Live Better Newsletter - July 2009
Vol. 9 No. 7   

It’s July and summer is in full-swing! Welcome to this month’s Live Better Newsletter, where we highlight the steady stream of exciting news about soy and what it can do to improve your health!  The summer months are a great time for people to watch their diet, lose some weight, and stay physically active.  It can also be a very dangerous time of year for a variety of reasons.  This month we’re going to remind you of some of the dangers of summer and what you can do to avoid them!

Living a healthy and safety-conscious lifestyle is very rewarding.  Indeed there are few things more gratifying than looking in the mirror and seeing a happy, healthy and fit person smiling back at you.  Statistically speaking, people who are health and safety-minded are happier, more productive, and have significantly fewer medical expenses, so let’s make sure you are on the right track.  Together, let’s have a great summer!

Think Healthy, Drink Healthy!

Being faithful to proper hydration is challenging enough without adding the hot months of summer to the equation!  Here are some creative ways to keep you and your family going strong this summer.

Extreme caution needs to be taken during the hot months of summer when outdoor activity is at its peak.  Being outdoors is part of the fun, but if not careful, being outdoors often places people at serious risk of dehydration and other more serious heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and sometimes even death.  Remember, dehydration is 100% preventable!

It is vitally important to consume a large amount of liquids during this time of year.  Water is the best, and consumption should follow the amount of activity being performed.  Here are some great tips to stay hydrated this summer:

  • Drink, drink, drink!  It is recommended to consume at least 8- eight ounce glasses of fluid a day, and more when engaging in any activity at all.
  • Wear light colored, loose fitting clothes and a hat.  Dark colored clothing attracts heat!
  • Get your kids to drink more by making them a cool, refreshing and healthy Smoothie.  Click here to get some great recipes from Genisoy.
  • Create ways to make drinking water fun!
  • Keep a cooler of water with you wherever you go!  Keep a bottle of water within reach at all times!
  • Find creative ways to water-up your children.  Be careful not to consume too many sports drinks as they are higher in calories, but these drinks can encourage more fluid intake as they are flavored.  They also replenish more sodium to the body.
  • Drink plenty of water before, during and after summer activity and exercise.
  • Avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol which actually cause dehydration.
  • Avoid carbonated beverages as they may cause bloating, and insufficient hydration can result.  These beverages have been linked to other health problems as well.
  • Stay cool! Make sure your activities are near shaded areas, and make sure to wear sunscreen whenever possible.

Have a happier, healthier summer by drinking up some delicious Genisoy Smoothies and Shakes!  With your kids undoubtedly staying active this summer, it’s more important to make sure they are eating right!  Now is a great time for the whole family to enjoy some healthy and cool summer shakes and smoothies! 

Orange Kiwi Smoothie
Yield:  1 serving

Combine all the ingredients in a blender

1 ripe banana

and process until smooth.

1 kiwi

 

¾ cup orange juice

 

1 scoop Genisoy Natural Protein Powder ( ¼ cup )

 

Crushed Ice

Per serving:  Calories 335, Total Protein 30 g, Soy Protein 25 g.
Carbohydrates 54 g, Fat 0 g, Sodium 297 mg

 

Raspberry Splash
Yield: 1 serving

Combine all the ingredients in a blender

1 cup orange juice

and process until smooth.

¼ cup raspberries

 

1 scoop Genisoy Natural Protein Powder ( ¼ cup )

 

Crushed Ice

Per serving:  Calories 227, Total Protein 29 g, Soy Protein 25 g.
Carbohydrates 30 g, Fat 0 g, Sodium 293 mg

Click Here for all of our terrific recipes for Smoothies and Shakes!

Summertime can mean “Bummer-time” if you’re not careful!

Summer can be the best time of the year, but if you’re not careful, summer can be a dangerous time for you and your family.  Here are some of the most common dangers of summer and what you can do to avoid them.

Dehydration, Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke!

With higher summer temperatures comes the possibility of becoming dehydrated or worse. These conditions occur when the body experiences varying levels of fluid loss and exposure to heat.  These can occur at any age, but are most dangerous for babies, small children, and older adults.  Stay hydrated and cool!  One fun way to keep your children hydrated is to make some great-tasting summer smoothies.  Click here for some terrific, healthy recipes.

Head Injury!

Wear a helmet when biking, skating, skateboarding, or riding scooters, horses or ATVs. This is a very common injury, and wearing a helmet can help prevent brain injury.

Over exertion and Injuries!

Summer is a time of activity! With all of the outdoor and athletic activities going on, your chance of seeing injuries of all sorts dramatically increases.  Sprains, strains, fractures, cuts, and sore backs are common throughout the season.  Normally, lack of proper physical preparation and conditioning are to blame for these injuries.  To avoid being a statistic, make sure you maintain a regimen of diet and exercise as you enter the summer season.

Drowning!

It’s summertime and water time!  Children want to be near water and need constant supervision!  Children can drown in as little as an inch of water as well as in a swimming pool or lake.  Never leave your child unattended and swim in places with lifeguards.

Vehicle Accidents and Hot Cars!

Make sure you buckle up!  There is a lot of traveling to do, and no matter the distance, buckle up for safety.  Also, never leave a child unattended in a car. Temperatures inside a car can reach over 100 degrees in a matter of minutes and can kill your child in a very short time.

This warning goes for pets as well!  A furry pet can actually heat up and suffer injury or death faster than a human, so do not leave your pet in a hot car!

Injuries on the Playground!

Falls from equipment cause 80 percent of all injuries, so make sure there is a safe surface. Never take your eyes off of your children at the playground!

Sun Damage!

Repeated overexposure to the sun’s rays as a child can lead to skin cancer later in life. Wear lots of sunscreen protection and make sure to consume a diet rich in antioxidants to guard against free radical damage.  Remember that sunscreen is not just for the beach! Apply sunscreen regularly when engaging in any outdoor activities - even on overcast days. Children typically get an average of three times more sun exposure than adults, so slather them up!

Insect Bites!

As crazy as it sounds, West Nile Virus, Lyme disease and allergic reactions are all complications that may occur from insect bites, especially during the summer.  Make sure you dress your family appropriately for the activity you will be doing.  Use long sleeves where possible and insect repellent that contains DEET.

Lightning and Thunderstorms!

Many people are killed and injured every year by lightning. Make sure you and your family seeks safe shelter before a storm begins. If there are no safe shelters make sure to go to an open space and stay low to the ground. Kneel or crouch with hands on knees.

Watercraft Injuries!

Common injuries during the summer are ones related to watercraft.  Anyone riding jet skis are at risk of head and spinal injury, and trauma to the chest and other parts of the body.  Ride safely, abide by all rules, and wear life preservers or life jackets approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Food Poisoning!

Along with higher temperatures comes an increase in the risk of food contamination. Really nasty bugs like Listeria (dairy), Escheichia Coli (fecal), Salmonella (creams, meats), Streptococcus and Staphylococcus can cause severe problems and lead to a lot of unwanted complications.  Make sure to keep your food properly refrigerated and practice good hygiene!  Wash up after outdoor activities and make sure you cook that barbequed chicken through!

Exposure to Toxins!

There are all sorts of chemicals floating around this time of year.  Please make sure to watch out for air pollutants, pesticides, stains and paints, yard sprays, industrial chemicals and heavy amounts of chlorine where you swim.  Also, make sure you eat a healthy diet of antioxidants and soy foods.

Genisoy Food Company, Inc. is one of the largest providers of soy protein products (Genisoy) and sports nutrition (MLO) in the United States, offering consumers high quality, good tasting, affordable protein bars, shakes and snacks. Our mission is to provide convenient, delicious and affordable soy food products that make it easy to incorporate the benefits of soy in the average person's everyday diet. Please contact us toll free at 1-866-606-3829 with any questions or comments, or email us at contactgenisoy@genisoy.com.