Chew on this

From an October 18, 2011 article appearing on ESPN.com the 1st sentence, regarding the ban of tobacco in MLB, read like this-

"U.S. senators and health officials are taking on a baseball tradition older than the World Series itself: chewing tobacco on the diamond."

Even though this can be a heavily debated topic, I think it's imperative to share not only some of the eye-opening, harmful side effects from chewing (smokeless) tobacco but also the health benefits of a much healthier & smarter alternative: sunflower seeds.

CHEWING TOBACCO











1. Tooth decay & gum disease

2. Oral cancer of the mouth, cheeks, lips, tongue & throat

3. Reduced sense of taste; leading to an excessive intake of salts & sugars

4. Lung cancer

5. Increased heart rate & blood pressure

6. Negatively affects performance


SUNFLOWER SEEDS











1. Sunflower seeds are high in the "good" unsaturated fat, making them a great heart healthy snack.

2. healthy source of dietary fiber.

3. sunflower seeds contain vitamin E, thiamin (B1), magnesium, ; plus a host of other nutrients

3. Contains sodium. Yes salt. Baseball players often find themselves playing in extreme hot, humid conditions and the lack of sodium under such conditions can place the ball player at risk for developing a sodium imbalance leading to muscle cramps and poor performance.

Choose smart, eat healthy...and reach for the seeds.

Go hard in the yard