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Breakfast Recall: More Brands of Contaminated Eggs Recalled
Update: Sunday, August 22 - Still more brands have been added to the list, including Alta Dena and Driftwood. The Egg Safety Center is keeping a list, and there is a photo at the bottom of the page showing how to find the correct numbers on your egg cartons. All of the eggs affected by the recall were from the Iowa distributors.
Saturday, August 21: A new egg recall brings the total to over HALF A BILLION of recalled eggs it's up to almost 2 eggs for every person in this country! This is truly mind-boggling.
The latest company to recall its eggs due to salmonella contamination is Hillandale Farms of Iowa. According to the FDA, affected brands are "Hillandale Farms, Sunny Farms, and Sunny Meadow in 6-egg cartons, dozen-egg cartons, 18-egg cartons, 30-egg package, and 5-dozen cases. Loose eggs are packaged under the following brand names: Wholesome Farms and West Creek in 15 and 30-dozen tray packs. The loose eggs may also be repackaged by customers."
If you have eggs by these companies, check the packages for these numbers, again according to the FDA:
"The only eggs effected by this recall have plant numbers P1860 or P1663 and Julian dates as follows:
- P1860 - Julian dates ranging from 099 to 230
- P1663 - Julian dates ranging from 137 to 230"
Of course, this is in addition to the recalled eggs from a few days ago.
This is another example of how large agribusiness leaves us vulnerable. Shop local whenever you can. Cage-free eggs are less likely to be contaminated, and better yet are free-range and (best) pastured eggs, where the hens are actually running around eating what hens are supposed to eat. And those eggs are better for us, as well!
Photo © Kostas Konstantopoulos
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Breakfast Recall: More Brands of Contaminated Eggs Recalled originally appeared on About.com Low Carb Diets on Saturday, August 21st, 2010 at 16:00:02. Permalink | Comment | Email this
10 Ways With Zucchini
 Summer isn't over until the last of the zucchini crop is eaten. Thinking about it, this could take quite a while, and perhaps you're wondering what to do with it all. Fear not! Here are 10 ways to use zucchini, from savory to sweet.
Zucchini Salad © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com 10 Ways With Zucchini originally appeared on About.com Low Fat Cooking on Friday, August 27th, 2010 at 17:51:39. Permalink | Comment | Email this
HDL Cholesterol: Low Carb vs. Low Fat
A new study published in the August 3rd issue of Annals of Internal Medicine shows that low carb diets are more effective at boosting levels of HDL (good) cholesterol in very obese people (those with a BMI of 36) than low fat diets. This is good news for low carbers, as it bolsters their claim that eating low carb is not only an effective way to lose weight, but a harmless one, too. Naturally, the media are all over this study, and that's understandable.
In response, dietitians from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) issued a statement noting that the people assigned the low-fat diet were in fact eating a calorie-restricted diet rather than a strictly low fat one. Their fat intake was limited to 30 percent of calories, which for many doesn't meet the definition of low fat. The committee also notes that more low carbers dropped out of the study than those on the calorie-restricted diet, and that in the end those on the low fat/calorie-restricted diet actually did a bit better in terms of triglyceride levels, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol levels. Weight loss was about the same in both groups.
Still, raising HDL cholesterol is a good thing, yes? Indeed, but the PCRM quotes low-fat guru Dean Ornish thus, "You don't need that many garbage trucks (HDL) if you don't have that much garbage (LDL)." HDL Cholesterol: Low Carb vs. Low Fat originally appeared on About.com Low Fat Cooking on Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010 at 16:53:14. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Does Red Meat Cause Colon Cancer?
 It's pretty common to hear certain statements about health repeated so many times that it begins to gather a kind of "truthiness" - where the statement feels true, whether or not it is a fact. One of these is the "well-known fact" that red meat causes colon cancer. It's been studied quite a lot, and we hear it a lot, but what does the science tell us?
Unfortunately, the science isn't always clear. In this case, many studies have been done on this - but the results are very mixed. You can point to studies that show a small correlation between colon/rectal cancer and red meat - and others which don't. Some studies have one type of flaw, and others have different flaws (there are very few "perfect studies".) So what are we to do in a case like this?
One thing is to look at research which attempts to summarize the work done in a specific area, such as the study in the July 2010 issue of Obesity Reviews, Red meat and colorectal cancer: a critical summary of prospective epidemiologic studies. The authors looked at 35 prospective studies (that means studies where they decide ahead of time what they are looking for, instead of looking backwards, which is often done but not as helpful), most of them quite large. What did they find? Read more...Does Red Meat Cause Colon Cancer? originally appeared on About.com Low Carb Diets on Sunday, August 29th, 2010 at 21:59:38. Permalink | Comment | Email this
New Study: Low-Carb vs Low-Fat Diets
I can often tell when a diet study has hit the news in a big way, because floods of people suddenly come to my site, A couple of weeks ago (during my vacation, so I was late getting to this), there was a diet study in the news - one of the "low-fat vs low-carb" studies. This one was somewhat unusual because it followed the participants for two years, but in other ways it was similar to many other studies, and most of the results were predictable (although the ways in which they varied from the norm were telling).
Capsule Summary: People were randomly assigned to a low-carb group, which was supposed to be similar to the Atkins Diet, and a low-calorie group which was low in fat. After two years, they had both maintained a similar weight loss (about 15 pounds). Other factors, including bone density, were not significantly different, except that the low-carb group had higher "good" cholesterol (HDL), which is one good indicator of heart health.
Problems with the Study and the Report:
Compliance: When looking at diet studies, it's always important to differentiate how much the study was looking at the effects of the different diets, vs the extent to which the people actually followed the diet. Read more...New Study: Low-Carb vs Low-Fat Diets originally appeared on About.com Low Carb Diets on Monday, August 16th, 2010 at 11:59:37. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Belly weight-loss wraps
Wrap your flabby abs with the Belly Burner and sweat away the fat? Not so fast, say experts, who add that neoprene bands rid the body of water and make it harder to burn fat and tone muscles. Searching for a shortcut to weight loss? If so, you're part of a long tradition. For at least 100 years, people have been wearing full-body rubber suits in hopes of melting away pounds. The idea is simple ...
"Saturday Smart Swap!": Pick a Pie
Nothing's more American than apple pie. While pie may be a calorie-buster unless enjoyed in moderation ... The good news is, pies can actually have some plus points: Vitamins, minerals and fiber can all be found in a homemade fruit pie.
Let's see how the calories stack up if you make a swap among two popular pie varieties. (Slice of a 9 inch pie is about one-sixth.)
Pecan pie: 678 calories
Apple: 525 calories
For a savings of about 150 calories if you swap down-south fave pecan pie, for all-American fave, apple, you'll be getting in phytonutrients that might help fight certain cancers. Apples also contain a flavanoid known as quercetin which may also help in cancer fighting and strengthen your immune system. Bye-bye pecans, hello apples! "Saturday Smart Swap!": Pick a Pie originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Saturday, August 7th, 2010 at 23:45:19. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Stay Hydrated AND Sugar-Free
 A lot of people have sure been dealing with a lot of heat this summer! I heard this morning that Saint Louis was going to feel like 115-120 degrees today when heat and humidity are combined! Of course, you know it's important to drink a lot of water when the heat is high. If you're sweating a lot, it may also be a good idea to replace electrolytes. The only trouble is that most sports drinks are loaded with sugar. Is this necessary? What else is in sports drinks? I take sports drinks apart, look at the ingredients, and then put them back together for low carbers, including a recipe. Check out: Sugar-Free Sports Drinks.
Photo by Ana Abejon
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Stay Hydrated AND Sugar-Free originally appeared on About.com Low Carb Diets on Thursday, August 12th, 2010 at 19:59:42. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Sausage, White Bean and Tomato Sauce
 Chicken sausages are a great low-fat alternative to regular sausages, and there are some excellent lean varieties available. No less hearty than regular sausages, Italian chicken sausages form the base for this delicious sausage, white bean and tomato sauce. Turkey sausages would also work well in this hearty pasta sauce.
Low Fat Sausage Recipes
Sausage, White Bean and Pasta Sauce Photo © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.comSausage, White Bean and Tomato Sauce originally appeared on About.com Low Fat Cooking on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 at 19:59:13. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Roasted Zucchini Rounds
 With so much zucchini around, we're always looking for new ways to use them. There are muffins, of course, quick breads, salads, pasta dishes, and then there's this great snack or appetizer recipe for crunchy zucchini rounds.
Now, zucchini have a high water content, so you can draw out some of the water by sprinkling the zucchini rounds with a little salt, leaving them for a few minutes, then blotting them dry. Plus, the crunch really comes from the bread crumb topping, which complements the zucchini rather nicely. Enjoy these zucchini rounds as they are, or dip into a little pot of low fat marinara sauce.
Roasted Zucchini Rounds © 2010 Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com Roasted Zucchini Rounds originally appeared on About.com Low Fat Cooking on Monday, August 9th, 2010 at 00:01:31. Permalink | Comment | Email this
How I Busted a Common Weight-Loss Excuse
In the 15 or so years that I have been struggling with my weight issues, one of the most difficult things I have had to deal with is learning how to distinguish between true physical hunger and emotional hunger. One of my most common excuses for not losing weight was claiming that I was always hungry every time I tried to diet, no matter what I ate or how often I ate.
It was only later that I learned that women in particular often eat to assuage (or distract themselves from) uncomfortable emotions, such as anger. When I would feel angry after something happened that I didn't get a chance to react to appropriately -- say, I felt passed over at work -- I would reach for food. And we're not talking carrot sticks. It was usually something sweet or high-fat, or preferably, a combination of the two (donuts, anyone?).
Once I started addressing some of my emotional issues such as learning to be more assertive, and gaining a sense of control over my own life, I began tapering off on eating in response to my feelings and I found other ways to cope. Feeling more in control over how I reacted to things that happened in my life was truly the key to fighting emotional eating for me.
Of course, learning to eat better helped, too. When I eat balanced meals including healthy carbs, protein and some fat and drink plenty of water, I tend to not get overly-hungry. This not only prevents overeating, but it actually stops me from reaching for food when I need to stop and think, "Has my old emotional eating habit returned? Am I eating because I am sad, angry (fill in the appropriate emotion)?" and often, if I am experiencing pesky little urges to eat something, it's feelings that are to blame.
What has been your biggest weight-loss excuse? Have you found a helpful way to cope? Help others who are dealing with the same issue: Visit our User Answers page to express yourself!
Related Reading:
Weight Loss Excuses ... Busted!
How did You Bust Your Big Excuse?
Bust Your Exercise Excuses How I Busted a Common Weight-Loss Excuse originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 at 23:47:45. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Potato Salad with Yogurt and Dill
 Potato salad is a wonderful addition to a picnic or cookout, but most potato salads are high in calories and fat. This potato salad is different. Using nonfat plain Greek yogurt, some lemon juice, Dijon mustard and fresh dill, this low fat potato salad is light, tangy and delicious. Enjoy this almost guilt-free potato salad with some grilled fish or chicken.
Low Fat Potato Salad © 2010 Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com Potato Salad with Yogurt and Dill originally appeared on About.com Low Fat Cooking on Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 at 00:03:10. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Tyra Banks' Weight Loss: How She Did It
Tyra Banks' weight loss wowed her studio audience this week when she revealed her new body, 30 pounds and 4 dress sizes smaller. Over the past few years, there were whispers that Banks had put on a few extra pounds, though hardly anything that make her look obese. Nevertheless, Tyra set out to slim down, and as she revealed her new body this week most in the audience agreed that she had rarely ...
Oven-Fried Chicken
 Make satisfyingly crunchy fried chicken without a frying pan. This oven-fried chicken recipe is a great low-fat option for fried-chicken lovers of all ages. What's the secret ingredient that makes this chicken crunchy? Click on the oven-fried chicken recipe to find out.
Oven-Fried Chicken Photo © Fiona Haynes, licensed to About.com, Inc. Oven-Fried Chicken originally appeared on About.com Low Fat Cooking on Friday, August 13th, 2010 at 00:00:42. Permalink | Comment | Email this
New Recipe: Peach Melba Parfait
 Ah, the fruits of summer! In general, summer fruit has less sugar than winter ones, so that's great for us! Peach Melba is a delightful way to enjoy fresh summer peaches and raspberries, but traditional Peach Melba has lots of sugar. Here's my low-carb take on Peach Melba, a Low-Carb Peach Melba Parfait.
Photo © Laura Dolson
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New Recipe: Peach Melba Parfait originally appeared on About.com Low Carb Diets on Saturday, August 14th, 2010 at 17:59:41. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Saturday "Smart Swap!": Wendy's
"Smart Swaps!" are simple ways for you to make switches among the foods you already enjoy -- and at restaurants you already visit -- to cut major calories.
Today's swap takes us to Wendy's:
The Frescata sandwiches at Wendy's just "sound" healthy, don't they? But, a quick look at how the Roasted Turkey & Swiss Frescata meal's calorie count adds up and you'll be thinking twice: The sandwich, medium fries and a medium regular soda totes up to 1,100 calories, which could easily amount to half if not two-thirds of one person's daily calorie needs.
Make a few simple subs by enjoying a different meal, and you'll cut your calorie intake in half:
Simply choose an Ultimate Grill Chicken Sandiwch, which just happens to be the healthiest sandwich available on the Wendy's menu, instead and you've already reduced some serious calorie-spending. Swap those fries for a side salad with reduced fat ranch dressing and sip an iced tea instead of a soda. The calorie count? Just 540 calories for your entire meal! Now, that's a great calorie-budgeting deal!
More: Wendy's Quick Guide Saturday "Smart Swap!": Wendy's originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Saturday, August 21st, 2010 at 04:11:57. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Abbott Weight-Loss Drug Meridia Raises Heart Attack, Stroke Risk in Study
Abbott Laboratories’ weight loss pill Meridia increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes in people with existing heart disease, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
"Spotlight on Success": August
In this month's "Spotlight on Success" we meet a woman named Becky who lost an amazing 95 pounds in seven months. Losing weight has been a major change in her life, as she shared here:
My life has completely changed! I went from being winded when I walked up the stairs, to being mad if I couldn't make time in my day to get to the gym (I love working out!).
If you're on the fence about losing weight, here's some inspiration:
You just can't even imagine how amazing your life could be! You could be active and fit and healthy -- if you only took that first step, you'd get a taste of how good healthy feels.
As part of our user success stories, Becky shares more of her story, divulges her top tips and provides more sage advice: "You'll find [losing weight] is hard work you can look forward to."
Congrats, Becky, and thanks for sharing your story!
Want to share your story? Just fill out this form! "Spotlight on Success": August originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 23:56:01. Permalink | Comment | Email this
Massive Egg Recall in United States
 32 million cartons of eggs (380 million eggs total) have been recalled due to a salmonella outbreak which has sickened hundreds of people. The eggs are distributed nationwide by Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa, under the following brands:
Albertson's
Boomsma's
Dutch Farms
Farm Fresh
Hillandale
Kemps
Lucerne
Lund
Mountain Dairy
Ralph's
Shoreland
Sunshine
Trafficanda
These eggs have been sold in many stores, including Safeway, Ralophs, Walgreens, Foodsco, and Food 4 Less.
Dates and Numbers: The eggs being recalled have dates between May 16 and August 13, and product codes P-1026, P-1413, and P-1946
Advice: The CDC advises people not to eat these eggs - either return them to the store for a refund, or throw them away. If you believe you have eaten any of these eggs and have symptoms of salmonella (fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea beginning 12 to 72 hours after consumption of the contaminated food), consult your doctor.
Note:
The Humane Society is pointing out that cage-free and free-range eggs carry less danger from salmonella.
Photo: Dimitri Vervitsiotis/Getty Images
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Massive Egg Recall in United States originally appeared on About.com Low Carb Diets on Wednesday, August 18th, 2010 at 21:00:01. Permalink | Comment | Email this
"Have Your Say!": A Tax on Obesity?
The German government is considering placing a tax on obesity. The German health system is funded by national health insurance funds. Politicians backing the tax are saying that the spending -- billions of dollars -- that the government shells out for obesity-related expenses is unfair and cannot be sustained much longer.
One article from Reuters quotes a member of German parliament as saying the purpose of the tax would make people "financially accountable" for their weight.
What do you think about this issue? Vote in the poll and post your opinion in the comments section.
"Have Your Say!": A Tax on Obesity? originally appeared on About.com Weight Loss on Sunday, August 8th, 2010 at 23:58:31. Permalink | Comment | Email this
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