Features this Month:

• Pistons to Support YMCA Strong Kids with Discounted Tickets
• WNBA Shock Star and Coach to Run Hoops Clinics at YMCAs
• Know the Fats - a Q & A on Eating Healthy

Pistons to Support YMCA Strong Kids with Discounted Tickets

YMCA family and friends can enjoy a fun afternoon of Detroit Pistons basketball on Sunday, March 15, and support the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign. For $20, members enjoy $40 seats for the matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies. What’s more, the Pistons will donate half of all YMCA ticket sales to support the Strong Kids Campaign, the Y’s annual scholarship campaign scholarship program.

Purchase tickets at your branch today or go to www.nba.com/pistons/ymca/ to access the YMCA’s promo page on the Pistons’ Web site. The YMCA Strong Kids Campaign raises much needed financial support for children, teens and families who are unable to afford the full cost of participation in a YMCA program or activity. This year’s community effort kicks off March 1, 2009.

“As donors we all wonder how our individual gift could ever have an impact when the needs of our community seem so great,” said Reid Thebault, president and chief executive officer for the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit. “The YMCA Strong Kids Campaign helps one person at a time, one family at a time, or one program at a time.” That may mean providing the funds to:

• Help a child attend day camp for the first time
• Help a struggling teen find employment
• Enable a child to participate in a recreation or fitness activity
• Enable a struggling family to use a child care facility
• Gain the confidence and skills to avoid addiction, violence, and isolation
• Each YMCA association offers unique programs to serve the needs of their community; each community has children, teens, and families that need your help.

Invest in a child today purchasing tickets to attend the March 15 game at the Palace or simply donate now. Each year more than 3,000 donors raise some $1.5 million to support more than 4,000 families and children in Metro Detroit through the YMCA Strong Kids Campaign.

The YMCA Strong Kids Campaign: Are you in?

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Know the Fats - a Q & A on Eating Healthy

Q & A Courtesy, American Heart Association

Does my body need fats?

Yes, it does. Dietary fats are essential to give your body energy and to support cell growth. They also help protect your organs and help keep your body warm. Fats help your body absorb some nutrients and produce important hormones, too. Your body definitely needs fat – but not as much fat as most people eat.

How many different fats are there?

There are four major dietary fats in the foods we eat: saturated fats, trans fats, monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats. The four types have different chemical structures and physical properties. The bad fats, saturated and trans fats, tend to be more solid at room temperature (like a stick of butter), while monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats tend to be more liquid (like liquid vegetable oil).

Fats can also have different effects on the cholesterol levels in your body. The bad fats, saturated fats and trans fats raise bad cholesterol (LDL) levels in your blood. Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats can lower bad cholesterol levels and are beneficial when consumed in moderation.

Do all fats have the same number of calories?

There are nine calories in every gram of fat, regardless of what type of fat it is. That’s a lot of calories compared to carbohydrates and proteins, which contain four calories per gram. Because fats are so energy-dense, consuming high levels of fat – regardless of the type – can lead to taking in too many calories. That can lead to weight gain or being overweight. Consuming high levels of saturated or trans fats can also lead to heart disease and stroke. Health experts generally recommend replacing saturated fats and trans fats with monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats – while still limiting the total amount of fat you consume.

Are all foods labeled “trans fat-free” healthy foods?

Not necessarily. Foods labeled “0 trans fat” or cooked with “trans fat-free” oils may contain a lot of saturated fats, which raise your bad cholesterol levels. “Trans fat-free” foods may also be unhealthy in terms of their general nutrient content. For example, baked goods tend to be high in added sugars and low in nutrients.

Can fats be part of a healthy diet?

Eating foods with a moderate amount of fat is definitely part of a healthy diet. Just remember to balance the amount of calories you eat with the amount of calories you burn. Aim to eat more vegetables, fruits, whole-grain/high-fiber foods, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, lean meats, poultry, and fish (at least twice a week). Doing so means that your diet will be low in both saturated fats and trans fats.

Does eating more healthfully mean giving up my favorite foods?

A healthy diet can include the foods you love. You don’t have to avoid sugary or salty treats entirely, but you do need to eat less of these foods since they’re low in nutrition and high in calories.

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