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Fitness Corner: Good food, bad food. You choose!
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Anonymous user Wed Oct 11, 2006 16:48:21 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments Don’t eat eggs. No, wait, do eat eggs.

 Where’s the beef? Well, why bother finding it when it is supposed to be fattening and lead to clogged arteries?

Serve me up some pasta and potatoes. Um, better not ... How about with olive oil, does it make it any healthier?

Too many questions, too many theories. Studies are undermined over and over again, but truthfully speaking, there are very few foods that are purely good or bad. Some of the foods with the worst reputation have proven to have health benefits. Genetics, environment and our lifestyles all contribute to overall health. Food is only one part of that.

Eggs-actly what is true? Let’s get back to the egg story. It’s a fact: they do have cholesterol. One large egg contains about two-thirds of the daily recommended maximum cholesterol. A study done in 1999 by Frank Hu of the Harvard School of Public Health said, “Eggs are not heart attacks in white shells. There is no relationship between moderate egg consumption (one egg yolk per day) and heart disease or stroke in healthy men and women.”

So why do I still feel guilty eating an egg yolk? Have to work on that because I really do miss deviled eggs.

Beefy idea! We should know by now that beef is an excellent source of absorbable iron, magnesium and zinc. It also may prolong life, according to the Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients. The death rate among vegetarians is slightly higher than among non-vegetarians. Veggie diets do not supply enough of certain amino acids required for normal development.

But, a reasonable portion of beef, according to leading nutritionists, is three ounces, not the 10- or 12-ounce heifer that most restaurants dish up.

Hot potato –– keep it to only one.  And I mean baked or roasted. No “tots” or “puffs” allowed. Mashed? OK, but easy on the butter.

Whenever we eat, insulin is released into the bloodstream to break down complex carbs into blood sugar so our muscles can use it as fuel. Excess calories from any source are stored as fat. So have that one potato and you’ll be fine. 

Fine wine –– let’s have some wine! More than 20 years ago, a leading French scientist published a study showing that the French had a much lower rate of heart disease compared to other countries that consume equally rich foods — red wine, particularly. Hmmm, less gym time more wine, I’m thinking here. But let’s practice moderation –– keep it to one glass per day. Not recommended for pregnant women.

Here are some other interesting food facts:

People who eat lots of sugar will have less erosion if they chew on cheddar cheese for about one minute after the sugar fix.

When tomatoes are heated up by the cooking process for making pizza they release lycopene,  a carotenoid-like beta-carotene linked to lower incidences of heart attacks and certain cancers, one of those being prostrate. 

One ounce of my favorite food (nuts/peanut butter) contains about 170 calories. Call me nutty, but when I eat a tablespoon of peanut butter or about one to two ounces of nuts I feel full, satisfied and have absolutely no cravings for sweets!

According to Richard Mattes, professor of foods and nutrition at Purdue University, “Nuts make you feel full, satisfied and less likely to overeat during other times of the day.” Also, it was discovered during a study that took several months that people who consumed nuts had an increase in their resting metabolic rate of about 11 percent.

I love guacamole, but one avocado has about 340 calories and a McDonald’s hamburger has only 280. The difference? Avocados have monounsaturated fats. “Saturated” means a fat molecule is saturated with hydrogen and tells the liver to make LDL cholesterol — the kind that is thought to contribute to artery clogging. Full of vitamins and potassium, eat half an avocado with some baked chips and be happy with every dip.

Before you unwrap those chocolate kisses be aware that while chocolate is still fattening (darn), studies have proven that dark chocolate especially contains flavonoids that may reduce the risk of blood clots. Two or three small chocolate bars (Halloween is around the corner, so you don’t have to hide your child’s stash under your bed anymore) per day seems to have more beneficial health effects over the long run. 

Good food, bad food? I love it all. I really just try to use common sense and monitor those portion sizes. Don’t to forget to exercise. Keep it simple, keep it healthy!
Fit tip for the day for those of you who do not like water (shame on us): try mixing together 3/4 cups of seltzer water and 1/4 cup of the fruit juice of your choice!

E-mail Gina at: Fitness4Life5959@yahoo.com with comments or suggestions.

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