News You Can Use: Exercise May Reduce Effects of Aging

New research released this week by the National Academy of Sciences showed that exercise effectively reduced or eliminated most detrimental effects of aging in lab mice that had been genetically altered to age at an accelerated rate. This could have a significant impact on how we understand the benefits of exercise in the long term.

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Spicy Thai Soba Noodle Salad

This tasty salad can be a great side dish or a filling meal. The crunchy veggies, combined with the salty soy sauce and the spicy kick of the curry paste makes for a complex and delicious salad. Buckwheat soba noodles are a wonderful whole grain option that are filled with vitamin B1, B2, minerals, and twice as much protein as rice. Buckwheat also contains choline, which is a compound in B vitamins that plays an important role in metabolism, lowering blood pressure, and decreasing cholesterol. The key to making this great is not to overcook the veggies, they should still be crunchy and crisp. This dish can be served either hot or cold and you can add chicken, beef, shrimp or tofu for protein. Best of all, it tastes even better the day after when the noodles have soaked up all the sauce.

Full recipe and photos after the jump.
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Wholesome Wednesday Links!

• Herbs and spices that promote longevity - Huffington Post
• 11 foods to build healthy bones - Health.com
• A positive attitude will lengthen your life! - NYT
• New research suggests soda may raise your blood pressure - WebMD

Apple Oat Bran Bread

I felt like something sweet today so I decided to experiment with oat bran. Oat bran is the outermost layer of the oat kernel. Like oatmeal, it contains B vitamins and heart healthy soluble fiber. This bread is hearty and filling, due to the 9 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber per slice. The secret to this recipe? Plain greek yogurt. Substituted for butter and oil, it adds calcium and protein and you can't even tell the difference. You can throw this together quickly and have breakfast for days. Drizzled with a bit of honey its tasty and filling.

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Chicken Fingers

These chicken fingers and a delicious and healthy version of the traditional junk food. Crusted with whole wheat bread-crumbs and crushed pecans, these are low in fat and calories and packed with protein. Unlike greasy fried chicken fingers, this recipe is light and crunchy and adds additional protein and fiber. I also season the crumb mix with some garlic and cayenne to give it a bit of kick. Ready in less than 30 minutes, this is a fast and easy dinner option. This recipe makes 4 servings, so it also provides ample leftovers.

Full recipe and photos after the jump.
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