February 2016
Brownies with Butterscotch Drizzle
National Wear Red Day®
Chocolate and valentines go together like peas and
carrots. Life’s so much better when they’re together.
National Wear Red Day® is more than just a day to wear
red. It is an opportunity for people to raise awareness of
heart disease and for women to know their cardiovascular
risk so they can take action to live longer.
Indulge Your Sweet Tooth This Valentine’s Day
Ingredients: yields 16 servings
• 4 tbsp. unsalted butter
• 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• 1/4 c. low-fat sour cream
• 1/2 c. granulated sugar
• 1/2 c. light brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 c. whole-wheat flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 c. bittersweet chocolate chunks or chips
• 1/2 c. butterscotch chips
• 2 tsp. 1 percent low-fat milk
Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 325°. Lightly coat an 8-inch baking pan
with cooking spray.
2.Melt butter and chocolate in a medium saucepan over
low heat.
3.Remove pan from heat, and stir in sour cream, sugars,
eggs and vanilla until combined.
4.Stir in flour, salt and chocolate chips.
5.Pour into pan and bake in middle of oven for 35 minutes
6.Cool brownies in a pan; cut into 16 squares.
7.Melt butterscotch chips in a small pan over low heat,
stirring (about 4 minutes). Add milk and whisk until
smooth. Pour butterscotch into a plastic bag; snip end
off one of the bottom corners. Stack 2-4 brownies and
drizzle with butterscotch.
Nutritional Information: serving size: 1 brownie
Calories 179; Fat 9g; Saturated fat 6g; Monounsaturated
fat 2g; Protein 2g; Carbohydrates 24g; Fiber 2g;
Cholesterol 35mg; Iron 1mg; Sodium 60mg; Calcium 25mg
February 5, 2016
Heart disease is the number one killer of women,
causing 1 in 3 deaths each year.
The American Heart Association has designated February
as American Heart Month in honor of women’s health and
saving lives. With education and lifestyle changes, 80
percent of cardiac events can be prevented.* This month
is an opportunity for communities to unite to prevent heart
disease and stroke.
For more information on Go Red and details on how you
can show support for women’s health, visit the American
Heart Association online.
*American Heart Association
Unusual Health Tips
Strange But True Methods
Most health tips focus on losing weight, exercising, getting
more sleep, hydrating and a multitude of other methods to
improve your health. That’s why the tips listed below may
sound counterintuitive to what you’ve come to know, but
they might be worth a try!
Health.com
MyBlueKC.com
Continued…
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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Drink coffee right before a short nap to feel even better
It counteracts adenosine – a molecule in the brain that
makes you feel fatigued.
For healthy teeth, don’t brush after eating
It can speed up acid’s effect on your enamel. Wait 30 to 60
minutes instead.
To wear a smaller size, gain weight
Muscle weight, that is, as it takes up less space than fat.
Cut back on calories and add weight to your workout to
lose inches.
Visit About.com for a list of these and other exercises. As
with any exercise, remember to make sure the exercises
you are performing are right for you. Check with your
doctor before beginning a new exercise program.
About.com
Diseases Associated With
Prolonged Sitting
What’s Your Health Risk?
Drink a hot beverage to cool off
The body senses the change in temperature and increases
sweat production, naturally cooling your body.
Handwrite notes to boost your brainpower
Handwriting notes, rather than typing them, enables your
brain to better process or learn more information.
For the complete list of tips and details, visit Health.com.
Health.com
Workout Anywhere
Convenient, Cost-Effective Exercises
The average American spends an average of 7.5 hours
a day sitting at work. Additionally, the hours of inactivity
amount to a whopping 22 hours a day when you factor in
time spent watching TV, on the computer, sitting in the car
and eating.
Health Risks of Prolonged Sitting
•
•
•
•
•
The gym may not always be an option for getting exercise.
If you’re looking for effective and accessible cardio
exercises you can do at home to burn calories and stay in
shape, then take note of these simple exercises that can
be done anytime, anywhere.
Chronic back pain and headaches
Weight gain, obesity or diabetes
Cardiovascular decay
Colon cancer
Muscular disorders
Sitting can be risky, but there are alternatives. Those who
alternated sitting with standing experienced these benefits:
Jump Rope
Burn up to 220 calories in 20 minutes. Jump ropes are
inexpensive, travel well, require no special skills and can
be used anywhere you have the space.
Jumping Jacks
Burn up to 100 calories in 10 minutes. No special
equipment or skills are needed.
BlueKC.com
Jogging in Place
Jogging in a stationary position gets the heart rate up and
warms up the body for more intense exercises.
MyBlueKC.com
Insta
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.