FDA Panel Delays Action on Dyes Used in Foods

FDA Panel Delays Action on Dyes Used in Foods

It calls for more research, but many parents and scientists fear link to ADHD

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, March 31 (HealthDay News) -- Foods that contain dyes used to enhance color don't need warning labels, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel said Thursday.

The advisers' 8-6 vote came in response to concerns, especially from parents, that the commonly used dyes might be linked to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in some children.

The advisory panel made its recommendation based on the FDA's evaluation of existing data, as well as testimony from researchers. It was the lack of rigorous studies, as well as a lack of data, that prompted the panel to ask for more research into the issue and delay a recommendation on artificial food colorings, CNN reported.

The issue pitted the food industry against some parents, public watchdog groups and academics who've long agitated for a closer look at the additives.

The FDA advisers, concluding two days of hearings that featured parents, scientists and food-industry representatives, said there wasn't enough evidence to definitively say that food dyes contribute to ADHD. The FDA is not required to follow the recommendations of its advisory panels, but it usually does so.

Artificial dyes are added to many foods including JELL-O, Lucky Charms, Pop-Tarts, Nestles Butterfinger bars, Hostess Twinkies and Frito-Lay Doritos, to name a few, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

The FDA does have regulatory authority over food additives. For example, in 1976, Red No. 2 was banned because it might be cancer-causing.

This week's meeting was significant because it was "the first time the FDA has acknowledged that food dyes may affect children in a limited way," said Dr. David Schab, a psychiatric researcher and an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center and the New York State Psychiatric Institute in New York City.

SOURCES: Jeff Cronin, spokesman, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, D.C.; David Schab, M.D., M.P.H., psychiatric researcher and assistant clinical professor of psychiatry, Columbia Psychiatry and the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City; Roberto F. Lopez-Alberola, M.D., chief, pediatric neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Brian Kennedy, spokesman, Grocery Manufacturers Association; statement, International Food Information Council, March 30, 2011; CNN

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The ultimate list of fat burning foods

Everyone’s wondering which are the best fat burning foods for weight loss. Well guess what, we have prepared a list of these foods which will greatly satisfy your needs. Take a good look at it and don’t forget to mark your favorites! You also view the handy table of the best fat burning foods at the end of the article for easy reference.

Peppers and Garlic

Peppers (Jalapeno, habaneros, and cayenne) are said to help increase metabolism, and help burn more calories. You can add them as your regular spice and flavorings and they can help you reduce fat at the same time. You can also add garlic in your meals as it is good in reducing fatty deposits in the body as well.

Almonds

Almonds help you burn off calories and assist in stabilizing your blood sugar level, which may take hunger away. Some of them carry a lot of calories so you may need just a couple of them a day (see the tablet at the end of the article for more information on the calorie value of nuts)

Low fat milk

Drinking low fat milk may help you burn fat. A glass of milk in the morning will help you strengthen your bones and also burn fat faster. Milk or calcium rich products which include yogurt and some types of cheese, helps break down fat cells so overall fat is reduced. Calcium is also found in some veggies like broccoli and cabbage as well.

Fish

Fish meat from salmons or tunas are rich in omega 3 fatty acids which aid in regulating blood sugar levels and also it contains high level of leptin, a hormone that controls appetite and promotes fat loss.

Eggs

Eggs are rich in protein, amino acid, and vitamins that include vitamin b12, which plays an important role in burning fat. If you worry on the egg yolk then you can safely remove it from your meal and have fewer calories and still receive vitamin B12

Green Tea and Coffee

Green tea will boost metabolism and speedup the fat burning rate. Also it is a good source of antioxidants which helps prevent certain types of cancer. Caffeine from coffee can speed up your heart rate, which means you can also burn calories faster.

Olive oil

Olive oil is one of the main components of Mediterranean diet and is good for your cholesterol. This means that it can keep a good cholesterol level in the body by taking away fat or bad cholesterol, which is why it is considered a good fat burning food.

Soybeans

Soybeans are rich in lecithin. A chemical which protects the cell from accumulating too much fat and it also helps in the break down of fatty deposits in the body.

Oats

Oats and other similar food items are rich in fiber.  Fiber is a main component of weight loss foods that allows more calories burned just by the digestion process, while it offers very few calories for the body. It is a perfect negative calorie food.

Lean Meat

Lean meats such as beef or turkey are rich in protein and good for muscle building. Protein is also hard to digest and your body burns calories just by the process of digesting it. When you are currently doing strength training exercises, protein will help boost metabolism and burn more calories. The reason behind is the fact that by having more muscle mass there is a greater need for energy thus the body will burn more calories to get it.

Honey

Honey unlike refined sugar, contains vitamins and minerals, which plays a role in dissolving fat and cholesterol.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C or fruits rich in citrus burn fats by liquefying fat and easily allow it to flush out of the system.  Foods that are high in vitamin c are: apples, berries, broccoli, cabbage etc.

Apples and Berries

Apples and berries contain pectin, which restricts the amount of fat the body cells can absorb. This allows a discharge of fatty deposits so it leads to natural weight loss. Also the detoxing effect of some fruits like raspberries, strawberries and red currants help boost metabolism.

Fat Burning Foods – Fruits

Generally of course, fruits and vegetables are a good source for nutrients and vitamins and are generally considered fat burning foods. Here is a concrete list of fruits and vegetables that are quite effective in fat burning.

The top of the line fat burners are blackberry, melon cantaloupe, raspberry, guava, lemon, rhubarb. These are the best fat burning fruits but other fruits which are also effective include:  apricot, blackcurrant, clementines, damsons, grapefruit, honeydew Melon, peaches, mandarin orange, plums, strawberry, tangerine, watermelon, apples, cherries, cranberries, honeydrew, lemon, limes, mangoes, nectarines, pears, pineapple, prunes.

Fat Burning Foods – Vegetables

The top of the line fat burners from the vegetables family are: aubergine, cabbage, celery, chicory, cress, cucumber, fennel, gourd, lettuce, marrow, radish, tomato while the other good fat burners are asparagus, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, leek, peppers, spinach, turnip, beets, Brussels sprouts, corn, chives, cod, eggplant, green beans, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, okra, onions, papaya, parsley, peas, pumpkin, sauerkraut, scallions, squash, tangerines, tomatoes, turnips

Here is a quick list of the major fat burning foods with additional info about the calories they contain and fat percentage.

Apples, banana, apricots, berries (black, boysen, rasp), cherries, citric fruit (oranges, grapefruit, lemons), currants (black, red, white) damsons, figs, grapes, greengages, tropical fruit (kiwi, pineapple, guava, papaya), pears, peaches, satsumas, star fruitApple 95

Apricot 30

Avocado 150

Banana 107

Blackberry 1

Cherry 2.4

Clementine 24

Grape 3

Grapefruit 100

Kiwi 34

Lemon 20

Mango 40

Honeydew Melon (wedge) 36

Cantaloupe (wedge) 25

Nectarine 25

Olive 6.8

Orange 35

Peach 35

Pear 45

Pineapple 50

Plum 25

Prunes 9

Raisin 5

Raspberry 1.1

Strawberry 2.7

Tangerine 26

Tomato   9

Cherry Tomato 2

Asparagus, aubergine (egg plant), beetroot, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chicory, Chinese cabage, endive, artichokes, green beans, leafy vegetables (lettuce, fresh herbs, watercress), leeks, mangetouts, onions, seaweed, sprouting vegetables (alfalfa, cress, raddish), squash, swede, tomatoes, turnipsAsparagus 26

Aubergine 15

Beetroot 38

Broccoli (100g) 32

Brussels Sprouts 40

Cabbage 24

Carrot 32

Cauliflower 32

Celery 8

Chicory  10

Courgette 20

Cucumber 10

Leek 22

Lettuce 13

Marrow 10

Mushroom 15

Okra 30

Onion 35

Pumpkin 12

Radish 13

Spinach 23

Sprouts 43

Corn 24

Tomatoes 18

Turnip 21

Watercress 21

Almonds, Barcelona nuts, chestnuts, coconuts, filberts, hazelnuts, macadamia, peanuts, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts30% to 40% may reach 75% if you take salted or roastedAlmond 610

Brazils nuts 679

Cashew nuts 615

Chestnuts 175

Coconut 626

Hazelnut 659

Peanuts  570

Peanut Butter 630

Pine nuts 694

Pistachio nuts (with shells) 340

Walnuts 690

Beef, pork, lamb, veal, venison, hare, offal4% to 15% (lean with no fat area) average is 20% to 30% reaching to 85% depending on preparation and partsPork Chops (grilled) 340

Pork Leg (roast) 290

Veal fillet (roast) 240

Hare 155

Rabbit 187

Venison 200

Chicken, turkey, grouse, guinea fowl, pheasant20% to 35% may reach to 100% if fried or with skinLamb Chops (grilled) 368

Chicken Calories (average) 140

Duck (roast) 330

Goose (roast) 350

Partridge (roast) 250

Pheasant (roast) 250

Pigeon (roast) 24

Turkey (roast) 165

Cod, haddock, plaice, sole, coley, whiting, mackerel, trout, red salmon, tuna4% to 10% lean fish meat, higher with fish oil and fatTuna 90 to 156

Salmon 100 to 180

Cod, steamed 9

Trout, baked 100

Scallops, shrimp, prawns, lobster, crab, scampi, cockles, mussels, winkles, whelks, abaloneScallops 95

Shrimp 90

Lobster 80

Mussels 80

Cockles 50

Abalone 9

Skim milk, low fat cottage cheese and fromage frais, cheddar, yogurt, calcium rich milk10% to 20% might reach to 5% for skim milkCheese 110 cals (25g)

Cheddar reduced fat 130

Cottage cheese 49

Cream cheese 200

Fromage frais 125

Milk skimmed 95

Milk whole 175

Yogurt natural 90

Yogurt reduced fat 70

5% for egg white, may reach as high as 85% for egg yolkEggs ( 1 average size) 90

Eggs fried 120

Protein rich from meat, beans, milk and dairy productsOats, bread, cereals, wheat breadPlain honey, unprocessed honeyFat free if without sweeteners/ add-onsOlive oil, peanut oil, garlic oil, canola oilPreferably common soup with low fat

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Best diet foods for weight loss

There are many ways to lose weight; there are those that may put your health at risk like surgery, weight loss pills, and fad diets and there are the so called “natural weight loss methods” like exercise and diet. Among all these weight loss techniques, nutritionists and fitness experts would agree that eating right is the best way to do it. So here are the best diet foods for weight loss.

#1 Oatmeal for breakfast

Oatmeal is known to be rich in fiber and is very good for the heart due to its ability to lower cholesterol. Furthermore, oats are heavy on the stomach which means a bowlful of it is enough to make you feel full for the whole morning. For this reason, you get to avoid unnecessary mid-meal snacks.

Although oats are carbs and low-carb diets are quite popular because of their ability to help you lose weight fast, recent studies reveal that people who consume whole grain carbohydrates are less likely to gain weight or develop obesity than those who are under a fad diet.

Tip: If you wish to maximize the benefits you’ll get from oats, serve a bowlful of oatmeal topped with fresh fruits like strawberries, blueberries, and apples. These fruits contain very little calories and are rich with essential vitamins and minerals. Also, try using oats instead of breadcrumbs when preparing meatballs or as breading for turkey and chicken. These are healthier and not to mention, tastier!

#2 Steak for lunch

Meat lovers will surely rejoice to hear that weight loss does not require you to limit your diet to fruits and vegetables only. In fact, eating meat –lean meat that is – is highly recommended because they contain high amounts of protein. Protein helps build the muscles, and the muscles help burn more calories, thus including lean meat in your diet will surely help you lose weight and may even give you some muscles to brag.

Tip: Frying lean meat would significantly increase the calorie content of the dish. So, instead of frying it, better grill or bake it with some aromatic herbs rub for that “oh so delicious” meal minus the calories.

#3 Vegetable and fresh fruit salads for dinner

This one is quite obvious because vegetable and fruit salads are almost always in a dieter’s list. However, do remember that not all salads are healthy. There are those that contain heavy salad dressings and some meat that could spike the calorie content of the dish to as much as 500 calories. In fact, a hamburger at McDonalds which accounts to 250 calories is a better choice than the McDonald’s Premium Southwest Salad with Crispy Chicken which contains 430 calories per serving.

Tip: When preparing a salad, use olive oil or lemon juice with a dash of salt and pepper instead of mayonnaise or any other heavy salad dressings. It will significantly decrease the calorie content of the dish.

The above suggestions, if done right, will surely help you lose weight fast. Also, don’t forget to drink plenty of water after every meal and as often as you can, this will help your digestive system and increase your metabolism for a more effective weight loss.

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The Best and Worst Super Bowl Foods

By the time the final whistle blows to end Sunday’s big game, two things will be certain: Either Green Bay or Pittsburgh will be champions of Super Bowl XLV, and more of us will be champions of Size XXL. In fact, as a nation we’ll down a collective 156 billion calories during the game, mostly from the terrible trifecta of pizza, wings, and beer—the gluttonous gargoyles of the gridiron.

But what if there was a way to indulge in terrific football food—rich, meaty, spicy stuff—and not gain weight? The Eat This, Not That! team uncovered the super-simple swaps below; make them and you'll cut around 1,500 calories of mindless game day snacking. You won't notice the sacrifice. You will, however, notice the extra spring in your postgame step.

Bonus Tip: Super Bowl Sunday is about the beer, too. Here's your guide to the Best and Worst Beers for gameday and beyond!

Worst Pregame Snack
6 Chicken Wings
592 calories
40 g fat (11 g saturated)
167 mg sodium
0 g carbohydrates

Going to a Super Bowl bash famished is like going to the supermarket on an empty stomach: It's a recipe for diet disaster. Your game day options will most likely include seemingly innocent chicken wings—which, in reality, contain more than a quarter of your daily recommended calories. And that’s before you dunk them in blue cheese! The better option: Eat a bowl of chili at kickoff—you'll save yourself 300 calories. Plus, it's the snack that pays you back. The protein and the fiber will fill your belly and prevent the mindless munching that football (and high-budget commercials) encourage.

Eat This Instead!
Bowl of Chili
287 calories
14 g fat (6 g saturated)
1,336 mg sodium
30 g carbohydrates

Bonus Tip: Make sure this is the last time you’re surprised by how unhealthy chicken can be—don’t miss our slideshow of the Worst Chicken Dishes in America.

Worst Veggie Snack
Spinach Artichoke Dip (1/4 cup dip and 8 chips)
325 calories
19 g fat (9 g saturated)
625 mg sodium

Spinach ... good. Artichokes ... good. But most of what’s in that bowl is processed cream-based gunk, the kind that can make your arteries harder to work through than the Steelers’ linebackers. Remember, just because a snack contains vegetables doesn’t make it healthy. Swap it out for tomato bruschetta to cut more than 100 calories and nearly 80 percent of the fat.

Eat This Instead!
Tomato Bruschetta (2 pieces)
200 calories
4 g fat (1 g saturated)
230 mg sodium

Bonus Tip: Staying thin would be easy if the Super Bowl were the only day of the year filled with hidden gut-bomb foods—but unfortunately, it isn’t. Check out our slideshow of the 20 Worst Foods in America for meals to skip on every occasion.

Worst Cheesy Snack
Nachos (40 chips and 4 oz cheese)
1,101 calories
59 g fat (18 g saturated)
1,580 mg sodium

When it comes to fitness, there are two types of people: The Haves, and the Have Nachos. These little chips are nothing more than a delivery system for saturated fat, and offer nothing by way of redeeming nutrients. For your cheesy fix, take a dip in good old Goldfish, a healthy-snack standby for good reason: You can eat a whole school of them before getting anywhere close to the calories in nachos.

Eat This Instead!
Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cheddar Crackers (55 pieces)
140 calories
5 g fat (1 g saturated)
250 mg sodium

Worst Chip Dip
Lay's Smooth Ranch Dip (2 Tbsp)
60 calories
5 g fat
210 mg sodium

Think laying a hand on Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is tricky? Try walking into the supermarket and laying your hands on a healthy dip. Every time you take a dip at this ranch, you're scooping up a few grams of fat. Go with Ortega's Thick & Chunky salsa instead. Just as big-screen TVs were made for football, chips were made for munching in large numbers. With no fat and only a sixth of the calories, this salsa is delicious, filling, and guilt-free.

Eat This Instead!
Ortega Thick & Chunky Salsa (2 Tbsp)
10 calories
0 g fat
170 mg sodium

Bonus Tip: Chips and dips can be as dangerous as a helmet-to-helmet tackle: Know what to avoid with our slideshow of the Worst Chips and Dips.

Worst Popcorn
Smart Food White Cheddar Popcorn (1¾ cups)
160 calories
10 g fat (2 g saturated)
290 mg sodium

Smart food? I don't think so. This popcorn is coated in powdered cheese and covered with salt. The smart food choice here is to go with hot and freshly popped microwave popcorn, like the one from America's Best.

Eat This Instead!
American's Best Microwave Butter Popcorn (2 cups popped)
40 calories
0 g fat
80 mg sodium

Worst Potato Chips
Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream (about 11 chips)
160 calories
11 g fat (1.5 g saturated)
230 mg sodium

More than one handful of this fattening finger food will really chip away at your diet. Swap for Baked Lays Original for 40 fewer calories and 90 percent less fat. You’ll even get to enjoy more chips per serving.

Eat This Instead!
Baked Lay's Original (~15 chips)
120 calories
2 g fat (0 g saturated)
180 mg sodium

Finally, remember: I'm on a mission to uncover surprising places where hidden calories lurk. Get instant weight-loss, health, and fitness secrets every day by following me right here on Twitter or by signing up for the FREE Eat This, Not That! newsletter.

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10 Worst Supermarket Foods

Who likes food? All of us!

Who likes shopping? All of us!

Who likes food shopping? Hands? Anyone? Hello . . .?

The answer is, almost nobody likes food shopping. Going to the supermarket is a drab, draining drudgery, as even shopaholic gourmands will confess. A trip to the grocery store means spending an hour or so parsing specious nutritional claims and confusing price schemes and annoying, cloying packaging tricks, all while paying more money than you ever imagined, and doing it all under florescent lighting that could make Brooklyn Decker look like the Crypt Keeper.

Worse, thanks to tricky packaging, that supermarket is loaded with food that’s going to cause more weight gain than you bargained for. And it doesn’t matter how thorough your command of the English language is; Eminem couldn’t pronounce half of what’s on an ingredients list, and only Don Draper could make sense of marketing gobbledygook like "Part of a Well-Balanced Diet" and "Loaded with 9 Essential Nutrients." What you need is a cheat sheet that will lead you away from the worst offenders, and toward the shelves of nutritional safety. Fortunately, I’ve got one.  

Through years of groundbreaking Eat This, Not That! research, we've managed to conquer the labrynth, and to show you what I mean, we've pulled together the worst of what the supermarket has to offer. If you want to survive the aisles, you'd be wise to avoid these diet-destroying pitfalls. 

1. Worst Yogurt
Stonyfield Whole Milk Chocolate Underground (1 container)
220 calories
5 g fat (3 g saturated)
36 g sugars

Stonyfield is notorious for being generous with the sugar, but the 9 spoonfuls in its Chocolate Underground is bad even by the most indulgent dessert standards. Not even Ben & Jerry's most decadent scoop has this much sugar.

Eat This Instead!
Stonyfield Plain 0% Fat Yogurt
80 calories
0 g fat (0 g saturated)
11 g sugars

2. Worst Condiment
Eggo Original Syrup (1/4 cup)
240 calories
0 g fat
40 g sugars 

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but not when it comes topped with this much sugar. Thanks to the combined impact of three liquid sweeteners, one serving of Eggo's pancake syrup has as much sugar as two packages of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, according to Eat This, Not That! Supermarket Survival Guide. That's no way to start the day.

Eat This Instead!
Maple Grove Farms Sugar Free Syrup (1/4 cup)
25 calories
0 g fat
0 g sugars

Special Report: If you're serious about losing weight, you need to cut down on sugar first. Problem is, many of us eat too much of the white stuff for breakfast. You stay full longer when you swap out sugar for fiber, and we'll show you how to do it with ease right here: The 24 Best and Worst Cereals.

3. Worst Pick-Me-Up
Vault Red Blitz (20-oz bottle)
290 calories
78 g sugars  

Here's a staggering stat: If you're used to drinking black coffee every morning, and you switch to this bottle of Vault, you'll pack on more than 5 pounds of body fat in the first two months on your normal diet. What's more, it's unlikely that you'll earn any extra buzz. This bottle has 115 milligrams of caffeine. An 8-ounce cup of coffee has as much as 200 milligrams. Stick with coffee or pick a leaner energy drink.

Drink This Instead!
Rockstar Recovery (16 fl oz)
20 calories
2 g sugars

Special Report: Watch out for liquid calories! They add up frighteningly fast, and here's the proof: The 20 Worst Drinks in America.

4. Worst Ice Cream
Haagen-Daz Chocolate Peanut Butter (1/2 cup)
360 calories
24 g fat (11 g saturated)
24 g sugars 

Premium ice creams are notorious for heavy loads of fat and sugar, but Haagen-Dazs' Chocolate Peanut Butter is just egregious. Eat two scoops and you've just consumed more calories than a McDonald's McDouble with small fries and more saturated fat than you should consume in an entire day. Drop the peanut butter and opt for Dark Chocolate instead. You'll take in fewer than half the calories and a third less sugar.

Eat This Instead!
Haagen-Daz Dark Chocolate (1/2 cup)
160 calories
17 g fat (10 g saturated)
16 g sugars

DID YOU KNOW? Grocery cart handles are dirtier than bathrooms, and half of them carry E. coli, says a new U of Arizona study. Discover more shocking health, nutrition and weight loss secrets like this by following me on Twitter right here (where I'm giving a FREE iPad2 to a lucky follower) or by signing up for our FREE Eat This, Not That! newsletter.

5. Worst Frozen “Healthy” Entrée  
Healthy Choice Complete Meals Sweet & Sour Chicken (1 serving)
420 calories
9 g fat (2 g saturated)
480 mg sodium
25 g sugars
Since when has fried chicken been healthy? Certainly not when it's cloaked in syrup. This meal has as more sugar than a Reese's-flavored Klondike bar, which makes it more like dessert than dinner. If you’re too busy to cook your own chicken, at least make it nutritious; the Roasted Chicken below has less than half the sugar and 40 percent fewer calories.

Eat This Instead!
Healthy Choice Complete Meals Oven Roasted Chicken (1 serving)
250 calories
5 g fat (1 g saturated)
540 mg sodium
10 g sugars

6. Worst Packaged Side
Pasta Roni Fettuccine Alfredo (1 cup prepared)
450 calories
24 g fat (7 g fat, 3.5 g trans)
1,050 mg sodium
44 g carbohydrates

Once again, Alfredo proves itself to be the biggest belt-busting option on the shelf. And, in this case, it comes with a ruinous load of trans fat and as much sodium as three orders of McDonald's french fries. This side dish has a meal's worth of calories, and if you try to turn it into a meal in itself, expect to top 1,000 calories.

Eat This Instead!
Pasta Roni Tomato Parmesan (1 cup prepared)
270 calories
9 g fat (3 g saturated, 1 g trans)
840 mg sodium
40 g carbohydrates

7. Worst “Kids” Entrée
Kid Cuisine All American Fried Chicken (1 package)
540 calories
24 g fat (6 g saturated)
750 mg sodium

For kids approaching the pre-teen growth spurt, this might not be such a bad meal. But for smaller children, 540 calories quite the heavy load. Healthy lifestyles begin young, so use this as an opportunity to explain the importance of smart choices, like choosing the Dip & Dunk Ravioli instead. It has 220 fewer calories and half the saturated fat; plus, your little ones will have more fun with dippable pasta. (For hundreds more health and nutrition tips, check out Eat This, Not That! For Kids)

Eat This Instead!
Kid Cuisine Dip & Dunk Toasted Ravioli (1 package)
320 calories
7 g fat (3 g saturated)
290 mg sodium

8. Worst Stir-Fry
Bertolli Chicken Alfredo & Penne (1/2 bag)
630 calories
32 g fat (17 g saturated)
1,200 mg sodium

Dinner should get your blood flowing, but this chicken has as much saturated fat as 17 strips of bacon! Switching to Chicken Marsala will save you 240 calories per serving. Make a swap like that every day and you'll drop 25 pounds this year.

Eat This Instead!
Bertolli Chicken Marsala & Roasted Red Potatoes (1/2 bag)
390 calories
13 g fat (5 g saturated)
920 mg sodium

Special Report: You don't always have time to cook your own dinner, and that's when you succumb to the convenience of the drive-thru. The good news is you can eat fast food while still losing weight. The bad news is, you won't lose a pound if you're eating any of these: The 10 Worst Fast-Food Meals.

9. Worst Frozen Pizza
DiGiorno Traditional Crust Supreme Pizza (1 pizza)
790 calories
36 g fat (14 g saturated)
1,460 mg sodium 

This is DiGiorno's lunch-sized pizza, and it has more calories than Taco Bell's Half Pound Cheesy Potato Burrito with Cinnamon Twists on the side. A calorie load like this will probably make you feel drowsy the second half of the day. Better to downsize your meal and preserve your energy—not to mention your waistline.

Eat This Instead!
DiGiorno Flatbread Melts Chicken Parmesan (1 package)
380 calories
14 g fat (7 g saturated)
750 mg sodium

10. Worst Packaged Food
Marie Callender's Creamy Parmesan Chicken Pot Pie (1 package)
1,020 calories
58 g fat (24 g saturated)
1,660 mg sodium

Marie Callender's commits the ultimate sleight of hand here: The nutrition information says this medium-size entrée has two servings, but let's get real—nobody wants to split a potpie. The problem here is twofold: a pie crust that's shot through with lard, and a filling that's swimming in cream. That makes for one fatty dish. Go with the Herb Roasted chicken and cut your your sodium by 44 percent, calories by 55 percent, and your saturated fat by 75 percent!

Eat This Instead!
Marie Callender's Herb Roasted Chicken (1 package)
460 calories
21 g fat (6 g saturated)
940 mg sodium

Bonus Tip: Food manufacturers think you're stupid. In fact, they're counting on it. But we've cracked the packaged food labeling code. Check out 18 Supermarket Lies Revealed and never be fooled by misleading labels again. And for hundreds of smart swaps and recipes to save 10, 20, 30 pounds or more, check out the new Eat This, Not That! No-Diet Diet guide.

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TODAY'S MEN'S HEALTH NEWS: How to Do EVERYTHING Better ... The Georges St-Pierre Workout ... Healthiest Packaged Foods 2011

LOSE 15 POUNDS OF BELLY FAT FAST! Check out the brand new Men's Health Diet or the Women's Health Diet! You'll lose weight and get healthy faster than ever--thanks to a plan that draws on the easiest and most effective research ever published!

MEET YOUR 24/7 VIRTUAL PERSONAL TRAINER!

EAT RIGHT RULE: If your food can go bad, it's good for you. If it can't go bad, it's bad for you. FOLLOW DAVE ZINCZENKO RIGHT HERE ON TWITTER and get FREE health, nutrition and weight-loss secrets like this one every day! You'll lose weight and get healthy faster than ever!

Check out these cutting-edge guides to fast and easy weight loss, the brand-new Men’s Health Big Book of Exercises and Women’s Health Big Book of Exercises.

Get more nutrition, health, and fitness secrets from Men's Health: Subscribe today with this special offer and save 50% off the cover price.

View the original article here

Foods that Promote Happiness

If you’re feeling as blue as the skies above, you will be happy to know that a few spoonfuls of the right foods may turn that frown upside down! Whole foods contain vital nutrients that provide both physical and psychological benefits. Read on to discover which foods contain those mood-boosters to help you smile your way to longevity.

Fun with Folate

Eat folate-rich foods: Leafy greens like kale, broccoli, spinach, asparagus, turnip greens, bok choy, legumes, sunflower seeds, oranges, melons, beets, and fortified whole grains

Why? Folate, also know as folic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is necessary for cell division, DNA synthesis, and healthy blood cell production. Research at the University of York and Hull York Medical School has found a link between depression and low levels of folate. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for men and women is 400 micrograms and 600 micrograms for pregnant women. To keep you smiling, increase your intake of folate-rich foods. A cup of cooked lentils provides 90% of the RDA of folic acid. Plus, the fiber and protein will satisfy you longer, stabilize blood sugar, and also promote a better mood. Additional bonuses: Folate can also decrease homocysteine, an amino acid that is linked to heart disease. Low levels of folate can cause anemia, while pregnant women must increase their folate levels to prevent fetal neural tube deficiencies. 

Boost Your B6

Eat B6 foods: bananas, chicken breast, garlic, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, sunflower seeds, broccoli, red bell peppers, watermelon, avocados, and potatoes

Why? Vitamin B6 plays a role in red blood cell metabolism, protein metabolism, and synthesis of neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine. It also helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels, and increases the amount of oxygen carried to your tissues. Low levels can lead to an increase of homocysteine, anemia, headaches, and depression. The RDA for adults from age 19 to 50 is 1.3 mg/day and approximately 1.6 mg for individuals over 50. The next time you’re feeling down, grab a banana and munch your blues away! 

Go Fish!

Eat omega-3-rich foods: fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel, anchovies, and herring, flaxseeds, walnuts, and algae

Why? DHA omega-3 essential fatty acid maintains healthy brain function and is vital for fetal brain and eye development. Current research also demonstrates the association between intake of omega-3 fatty acids and depression. A meta-analysis study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that depression was significantly improved in patients with unipolar and bipolar disorders after taking three daily fish capsules for eight weeks. Eat the oily fish listed above -- a 3-ounce serving of salmon contains between 1.1 - 1.9 grams of omega-3 fatty acids. Supplementing with high quality fish oil capsules may be an alternative if you don’t consume fish on a regular basis. Vegetarian sources of omega-3 can be found in flaxseeds, walnuts, and algae. Toss a tablespoon of sunflower seeds or walnuts into a creamy cup of unsweetened low-fat yogurt for a mega mood boost! 

Good Carbs, Bad Carbs

Eat good carbs: whole grains, fruits, vegetables

Why? Not all carbohydrates are created equal. Whole grains, fruits, and veggies supply us with prolonged energy, fiber, and multiple nutrients that our bodies need for optimal health. Good quality carbohydrates can also trigger serotonin synthesis. Recognized as the “happy hormone,” serotonin is an important neurotransmitter that affects our mood and sleep. The next time you feel blue, instead of reaching for that bag of chips or sugary cookies, opt for unrefined, unprocessed carbohydrates that will provide you with sustained energy and an improved mood. Toss that muffin and enjoy a whole grain cracker with a tablespoon of natural nut butter for a delicious and uplifting snack!

You can find many more ways to live to 100 in Secrets of Longevity: Hundreds of Ways to Live to Be 100, which is now available on Kindle. Also, check out my new book Secrets of Longevity 8-Week Program, a journal that offers the best healthy habits to live to 100.

You can find many more ways to live to 100 in Secrets of Longevity: Hundreds of Ways to Live to Be 100, which is now available on Kindle. Also, check out my new book Secrets of Longevity 8-Week Program, a journal that offers the best healthy habits to live to 100.

I hope you eat foods for many long, happy years. I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

—Dr. Mao

This blog is meant to educate, but it should not be used as a substitute for personal medical advice. The reader should consult his or her physician or clinician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field is ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.

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