cool-jams.com Blog

We all know that eating fresh fruits and veges are good for us and can help with our menopausal symptoms, but did you know that eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can lower a woman’s chance of breast cancer. At least that’s what we’ve been told. The truth is evidence is inconclusive that eating things like  cabbage and tomatoes can stave off the disease. Although a new analysis suggests a less common and deadlier type of breast cancer – ER negative – might be prevented by high vegetable intake especially.

Eat Fresh Veges

Researchers for the study explain since there are subtypes of breast cancer (ER+ and ER-) it’s important to sort how what impact diet has on each type.

ER negative breast cancer accounts for just 15 to 20 percent of cases. The subtype carries a poor prognosis

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If you are looking for  an absolutely delicious coleslaw, try this one from Cool-jams.com . It is our favorite… more tart and tangy than the creamy kind. It keeps well and can be made ahead of time.

 

Cool-jams coleslaw

 

Ingredients: 1 medium head cabbage, shredded 1 large red onion, diced 1 cup grated carrots 2 stalks celery, chopped 1 cup white sugar 1 cup white vinegar 3/4 cup vegetable oil 1 tablespoon salt 1 tablespoon dry mustard black pepper to taste Directions: 1. In a large bowl, combine cabbage, onion, carrots, and celery. Sprinkle with 1 cup sugar, and mix well. In a small saucepan, combine vinegar, oil, salt, dry mustard, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Pour hot dressing over cabbage mixture, and mix well. Click here to continue reading

We all know about the hot flashes and night sweats that occur during and after menopause. But did you know that after a woman reaches menopause, she becomes more prone to various heart diseases. Did you know that heart disease is one of the most common causes of death in women over 60?

In fact, most of the deaths in women are caused because of cardiovascular problems . Menopause is the natural risk generator for heart diseases in women. Besides menopause, other risk factors include diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, high LDL or “bad” cholesterol, low HDL or “good” cholesterol, obesity, inactive lifestyle and family history of heart disease.

My Happy Heart

Here are some tips to keep your heart healthy and happy…

Get Enough Sleep

Recent studies show that people that do not get enough sleep increase their risk of

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Have you ever made pizza outside on the grill? This is one of our Cool-jams summer favorites.

Fire up the grill and bring your pizza fixings outdoors. Grilled pizza with mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes is a fun and refreshing way to spend a summer evening.

Ingredients: 1 (16 ounce) package pizza dough, at room temperature 1/4 cup olive oil 4 ounces shredded Asiago cheese 3 large tomatoes, thinly sliced 1 cup packed whole basil leaves 1 (8 ounce) package fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded salt and ground black pepper to taste

Cool-jams Grilled Pizza

Directions: 1. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil the grate. 2. Place pizza dough in a bowl to rise 2 to 3 times the original size, about 1 hour. Flour a work surface and a rolling pin. Divide dough in half; roll each half to a 10- to 12-inch diameter circle. 3. Place pizza dough rounds on

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We all know how it feels to have a night of tossing and turning due to sleep issues like night sweats and hot flashes. Sleep deprivation can  cause huge problems for your mind, body, and  your general  health in ways that might  surprise you.

Research shows that consistent lack of sleep is linked to colds and flu, diabetes, heart disease, mental health, and even obesity. So it’s natural to ask: Does getting enough sleep protect me from sickness? The definitive answer is that it definitely helps.

Sleep is a quiescent period where the cells are doing a lot of repairing. Your hormones act differently when you’re asleep, and your immune system as well. If your immune system is out of whack, you can’t fight off illness — and I would  say that you can’t repair your cells very well, either.

Here

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Cool-jams favorite Risotto

 

A  delicious one-pot meal, this creamy risotto is packed with flavor from Italian sausage, mushrooms, and asparagus. A quick and easy Cool-jams dinner favorite. Ingredients: 5 1/4 cups chicken stock 3 sprigs fresh herbs (basil, oregano, or thyme) (optional) 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped 1 (19.76 ounce) package Italian Mild Sausage Links, casings removed 2 cups white button mushrooms, wiped clean and sliced about 1/4 inch thick 2 cups Arborio rice or medium-grain risotto rice 1/2 cup dry white wine 1/2 pound asparagus, stemmed and cut into 1 inch pieces 1/2 cup peas (fresh shelled or frozen) Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese Shaved or shredded Parmesan for garnish (optional) Directions: 1. Pour the stock into a sauce pan, if using fresh herbs, add them to the stock and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover until ready to use. 2. In a large sauce pan, heat oil over medium heat, add onionClick here to continue reading

 

night sweats and hot flashes

Night sweats and hot flashes in  healthy postmenopausal women are correlated  to a reduced risk for death for   20 years after menopause, independent of use of hormone therapy, according to the results of a prospective, population-based cohort study reported in the September issue of Menopause.

“Night sweats, reported by approximately half of postmenopausal women, are thought to reflect more severe hot flashes, although there is some evidence that they have a different etiology and may have more severe consequences related to impaired sleep,” write researchers from  University Hospital of North Norway in Tromsø, Norway, and colleagues. “The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of vasomotor symptoms with risk of all cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in community-dwelling older women, with a mean

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These are our favorite morning muffins at Cool-jams. These  super easy   and  tasty muffins are a glorious way to start any day. They combine the great taste and chewy texture of carrots with the wonderful flavors of apple, raisins, coconut, walnuts, and cinnamon. Enjoy!! Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/4 cups white sugar 2 teaspoons baking soda 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 cups shredded carrots 1/2 cup raisins 1/2 cup chopped walnuts 1/2 cup unsweetened flaked coconut 1 apple – peeled, cored and shredded 3 eggs 1 cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 12 muffin cups, or line with paper muffin liners. 2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in the carrot, raisins, nuts, coconut, and apple. 3. In a separate bowl, beat together eggs, oil, and vanilla. Stir eggClick here to continue reading

Was it possible for women who are beginning menopause to stop hot flashes and night sweats if they boost  soy products such as soy milk and tofu in their diet? A  new study has suggests that this is not the case.

Help Hot Flashes

Unlike previous studies investigating the relationship between soy and these menopausal symptoms, the current study included a very large population over a long period of time: more than 1,600 women over 10 years.

Researcher Ellen Gold explains the following. ” Given that most women experience unpleasant symptoms, particularly hot flashes and night sweats, during menopause, we were hopeful that certain dietary intakes would provide good alternatives to hormone therapy”.

“Unfortunately, based on our study, soy-related foods did not turn out to be the ‘magic bullet.’”

The study analyzed data from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN),

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Are you in a pinch for a quick dinner or need a great brunch dish? Try these eggs   baked in a spicy marinara sauce and topped with cream and Parmigiano-Reggiano, for a delicious twist on eggs .

Cool-jams Baked Eggs

Ingredients: Serves 1( multiply to serve more) 1/3 cup marinara sauce 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley 2 eggs 1 tablespoon finely shredded Parmigiano -Reggiano cheese 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 tablespoons light sour cream 2 slices whole wheat toast Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). 2. Spoon marinara sauce into the bottom of a small baking dish, about 1/4 inch high. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper, and parsley. Make a narrow well in the center of the sauce for the eggs. 3. Crack each egg into a ramekin, then pour into the baking dish over the marinaraClick here to continue reading