Hummus: as if you needed another reason to love it! Well, here’s another reason: as America’s love affair with the Middle Eastern dip grows, the humble chickpea is beginning to compete with tobacco as a profitable cash crop for farmers in the tobacco-growing region of the U.S.

In April, The Wall Street Journal reported a 25 percent increase in sales of “refrigerated flavored spreads” from 2010—that’s a category dominated by hummus. One of the largest manufacturers in the country, the (partly) Israeli-owned Sabra Dipping Co., is behind the push to grow more chickpeas. Right now most of their product comes from farms in the Pacific Northwest, but they’re looking to develop a separate crop close to their plant in Virginia to ensure supply (and, no doubt, keep things competitive). I mean, what would the N.F.L. do if their official dip supply ran out mid-season? Perish the thought!

As cigarette sales are rapidly declining (hurrah!), this video from Truth, an anti-smoking campaign directed at teens, prompts a totally relevant question: if we eat enough hummus, could we help put an end to smoking?

It’s actually not a crazy thought. Here’s our recipe. Eat up.

http://youtu.be/4WWFG0n58aw

Related: Sabra Trying to Pass ‘Hummus Bill’ in the U.S.
Make Your Own Hummus at Home With This Easy Recipe!

The post Eat More Hummus, Help End Smoking? appeared first on Jewcy.

Are you feeling those post-Thanksgivukkah pounds? Luckily for your waistline, you won’t have to deal with those two highly caloric days overlapping for another 70,000 years. But currently—you are likely dealing with a little excess. You might have some leftovers on your hips, or maybe it all goes to your arms. Wherever the latkes are lying on your body, it’s time to reboot. You want to look and feel your best at all the upcoming ugly sweater parties, and of course, the infamous New Year’s Eve party.

Here are some tips that will allow you to manage your weight and health during the upcoming weeks:

MINDFUL EATING

Mindful eating is the practice rooted in Buddhism that focuses on expanding consciousness while consuming meals. Mindful eating is essentially recognizing when you’re hungry and stopping when you’re full. This all comes from being in tune with your hunger and satiety cues in order to guide you from eating that last jelly doughnut.

Before reaching for food, first ask yourself if you are physically hungry or if you just feel bored. Maybe there is something bothering you. Become aware of it, and then direct that energy to something more constructive than mindless eating.

BREAKFAST

Make sure to start the day with a breakfast that includes both carbohydrates and protein. The combinations will jumpstart your day and kick start your metabolism. Skipping breakfast will cause your body to hold on to excess fat, making it harder to lose weight, even if you’re hitting Soul Cycle or the yoga mat. Some healthy ways to start the day:

– oatmeal with Greek yogurt and a banana

– whole grain toast with almond or peanut butter (or you can even spread a 1/2 of a ripe avocado and drizzle some olive oil)

– an apple with walnuts and goat cheese

– cottage cheese & berries

– egg whites with a piece of toast

People who eat breakfast in the morning are less likely to impulsively eat later in the day. If you are in a rush, or absolutely hate eating in the morning, at least make sure to have a piece of fruit or a cold pressed juice.

Speaking of cold pressed juice…GO GREEN

Cold pressed green juice will increase your energy during this busy, and likely draining, time of year. Green juice aides in absorption, digestion, and decreased bloating. Even better–it’s low calorie, but still full of nutrients that will make your skin glow sans Insta-filter.

You can check out a juice bar such as Organic Avenue or Juice Press, or you can always blend your own. It’s important to have a vegetable based juice as opposed to fruit based. Fruity drinks are normally very high in sugar and calories; although of course, a fruit or two CAN be added to balance the bitterness of the vegetables. Beets and apples usually do the trick. Also, ginger and lemon create a balanced taste. Ginger is especially useful during this time of year, because it decreases gastrointestinal disturbances such as nausea, bloating and stomach pain. Lemons are a natural diuretic promoting detox–you may need this the morning after! The Vitamin C in lemons will boost immunity to avoid coming down with a cold during this busy time.

Some good mixes to start with:

– 5 handfuls of spinach, 3 kale leaves, 3 celery stalks, 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 lemon and 1 red apple

– 6 swiss chard leaves, 1 cup of green grapes, 1/2 cucumber, 1 green apple, 1 piece of ginger

– 4 handfuls of spinach, 2 cucumbers, 2 red apples

SCHEDULE ACTIVITY

The key to staying motivated and efficient with anything in life is to have a schedule. In the beginning of each week when looking at your iCal or calendar (if you’re old school), make yourself block out time for exercise. If it helps, go out and purchase a new workout top in a color you like. You make think it’s silly, but I know from experience, it helps. Aim for at least four active days–whether that means a walking around the Central Park loop or kickboxing with your roommate.

Intervals are ideal for this time of year. When on the treadmill, elliptical, or bike, alternate intensity and speed every two minutes to achieve maximum calorie burn.

Gapfit and Gapbody are great choices for affordable, comfortable, and cute work out clothes. The GapFit Breathe long-sleeve T is perfect for this time of year. It keeps you warm, but is also available in bright colors to boost your mood.

I’ve found their Pure Body leggings to be perfect for yoga and pilates. They are super soft and sustain in sweaty times.

Athleta is another great brand. They offer petite, tall, and plus sizes. The Tinker Tank is perfect for those days when you don’t feel your best. Its slightly relaxed fit allows for comfort, but also a full range of movement.

PRE-EAT

Have a snack before leaving for parties–that way when the egg nog and black & white cookies come around, you won’t go wild! Safe choices for snacks are:

– wholegrain english muffin with 2 tablespoons of unsalted peanut or almond butter

– two Laughing Cow cheese wedges and 1/2 cup of grapes or a medium sized apple

– 3 ounces of hummus with baby carrots or 10 whole grain crackers

CHOOSE YOUR VICE

Would you rather a glass of Cabernet or a sugar cookie with frosting? Before you bite off the reindeer’s head, decide to make it an alcohol night or a sweet night–not both. Low calorie drinks include vodka and club soda with lime juice, Prosecco, Cava, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabarnet Sauvignon, Merlot, or a light beer such as Amstel. Stay away from dessert wines or anything with simple syrup, muddled fruit, or juices. Forget screwdrivers! The sugar in the orange juice DOES and WILL add up. As far as desserts–if there is a pure chocolate option, definitely choose that. Chocolate contains antioxidants and will give you a boost of dopamine, the hormone responsible for feelings of pleasure.

Happy Holidays!

(Photo by Chris Gramley/Vetta)

The post Post-Thanksgivukkah and Pre-New Year’s Diet Tips appeared first on Jewcy.

God-fearing germaphobes can breathe a sigh of relief.

A Maimonides Medical Center study found out last week that with a little TLC, mezuzahs are not necessarily cesspools of bacteria and disease, the New York Daily News reports. Researchers swabbed 100 boxes throughout the hospital, finding no dangerous microbes.

The results contradict a 2009 study done at Assaf Harofeh Hospital in Israel, which after examining 70 mezuzah covers, found traces of potentially harmful bacteria—including traces of fecal matter and fungi—and recommended against kissing the mezuzahs to prevent the transference of disease.

So what accounts for the disparity?

The staff at that hospital said it avoided cleaning the mezuzahs out of fear of ruining the religious artifact.But at Maimonides, cleanliness is next to godliness: the hospital deploys aluminium prayer boxes — and the staff is instructed to clean with impunity, hospital officials said.

Do you own a mezuzah? You may want to give it a good scrub.

(Photo by dominique landau/Shutterstock)

The post Study: Kissing Mezuzahs Will Not Make You Sick appeared first on Jewcy.

Israel’s Health Ministry has decided to offer free human papillomavirus vaccines (HPV) for eight grade girls. The vaccine could prevent thousands of “nonfatal” cases of genital warts and precancerous growths.

Since HPV can be sexually transmitted it’s likely that certain Orthodox sects of the country might turn down the vaccination, the Jerusalem Post reports.

Critics argue that it could also give some girls of any background confidence that they can have sex without worrying about HPV, even though the shot does not prevent infection with HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

(Photo by Adam Gregor/Shutterstock)

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