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| Friday, March 12, 2010 |
| New “Salt Bill” Proposes Salt Ban in New York Restaurants |
In an effort to reduce consumption of salt and improve health, Assemblyman Felix Ortiz has proposed a bill to ban the use of salt in food preparation at restaurants in New York State. According to the bill “Customers will have the discretion to add salt to their own meal after it has been prepared.”
Ortiz is a big proponent of the menu labeling laws and believes that a ban on the use of salt in food preparation will give customers more control over the amount of salt they take in and give them the “option” to make healthier food choices.
I’m not going to argue the logic of this bill; especially considering the majority of sodium in the U.S. diet comes from restaurant, fast food and processed foods. But to the lawmakers I say “good luck!” I can only imagine the outrage of chefs and restaurant owners alike. I don’t believe for a second they will allow such a ban to be passed without putting up a good fight. And even if the bill were passed…the logistics of implementing such a ban and monitoring compliance seems like it would be a nightmare.
This is just another small chapter in an ongoing story about lawmakers proposing changes to improve the health of Americans. I believe the argument can go both ways. Eating out at restaurants used to be considered more of a special occasion, but in recent times eating out has become the norm. Having a high sodium meal on occasion isn’t that big of a concern for most people, but if you’re going out the eat all the time then the sodium can definitely add up. Should restaurants be required to take responsibility because Americans are consistently making poor food choices?
I can tell you one thing for sure…the debate will continue for a long time to come. In the meantime remember that the key here is moderation and education. Regardless of what restaurants are required to do, you always still have the choice and the responsibility at the end of the day.
What do you think?
- Lauren
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Labels: Lauren, salt
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posted by My Sensei @ Friday, March 12, 2010   |
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| Thursday, March 11, 2010 |
| What’s In Your Fast Food? |
Earlier this week, I came across this Men’s Health article which talks about the “hidden” ingredients in some fast food favorites, like McDonald’s chicken nuggets, Filet-O-Fish sandwich and Wendy’s Frosty. As you know by now, I’m all about not cooking, so I hesitated when I saw the title, “What’s Really in Your Food?” Do I really want to know what chicken nuggets are made of? As they say, knowledge is power, so I decided to take a peek at what all is in those chicken nuggets. It turns out that aside from the chicken, they also contain “water, wheat starch, dextrose, safflower oil, and sodium phosphates” among other things. As for the Frosty, it is “mostly a barrage of thickening agents that includes guar gum, cellulose gum, and carrageenan”. Yum!
I have to say I was a bit disappointed by their “revelation”. Not to say that these extra ingredients make fast food any less appealing to some people, but are we really surprised? The fact of the matter is that it’s called fast food for a reason. This isn’t a homemade meal. You give your order to a speaker and 2 minutes later you have a bag of hot food in your hand. That sort of convenience definitely comes at a price!
Although the article only refers to fast food, the same thing applies to other processed items like frozen meals, canned soups, sauces and other prepackaged foods. These foods need to be able to sit on a shelf (or in a freezer) for extended periods of time and still come out of the box looking shiny and pretty. This doesn’t happen without a little food additive magic. I think this article is valid in the sense that it shows you the reality of convenience foods. They are bound to have long lists of ingredients, and some of them may make you cringe. So, what’s a girl (or guy) to do? Moderation, my friends! Prepare fresh meals as often as possible, and leave the fast food for those days when you wake up late or haven’t stocked the fridge. I can make very few things without a recipe, so if you’re like me, here are a few simple Sensei recipes that you can try out instead of hitting the drive-thru:
5 Minute Chile
Spicy Veggie Pasta
Crab Stuffed Avocado
Easy Garlic Dill Salmon
- Eunice
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Labels: Eunice, Fast Food
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| posted by My Sensei @ Thursday, March 11, 2010 |
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| Wednesday, March 10, 2010 |
| Pringles Now Part of Massive FDA Recall |
The hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) recall I told you about last week has now expanded to include certain flavors of Pringles potato crisps. Proctor & Gamble made the announcement Monday that Pringles Restaurant Cravers Cheeseburger and Family Faves Taco Night varieties were being voluntarily recalled because they both contain HVP manufactured by Basic Food Flavors Inc.
No other Pringles flavors or varieties are included in the recall and the company says there have been no reported illnesses. Consumers who have purchased the recalled products should discard the product and call Proctor & Gamble for a replacement coupon or refund at 1-877-876-7881.
According to a report released today by the FDA, Basic Food Flavors Inc (the company originally responsible for the recalled HVP) continued to ship products they knew were tainted with salmonella. The report states:
“After receiving the first private laboratory analytical results (Certificate of Analysis dated 1/21/2010) indicating the presence of Salmonella in your facility, you continued to distribute paste and powder products until 2/15/2010. Furthermore, from 1/21/2010 to 2/20/2010, you continued to manufacture HVP paste and powder products under the same processing conditions that did not minimize microbial contamination.”
The FDA has said that the risk of illness is low because most of the foods containing the HVP would be cooked after the ingredient was added, destroying salmonella. However, we encourage you to follow the updates on this recall and continue using safe food handling practices including proper washing, storage and cooking. Check out FoodSafety.gov or Fightbac.org for more information on safe food handling.
For a complete list of recalled items click here.
- Lauren
Labels: Breaking News, Lauren, Product Recall
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| posted by My Sensei @ Wednesday, March 10, 2010 |
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| Will Taxes on Unhealthy Foods Lead to Weight Loss? |
This isn’t the first time people have entertained the idea of taxing unhealthy foods. The thought has always been that imposing a tax on foods that directly contribute to the obesity epidemic (such as soda or other sugar sweetened beverages) could discourage their intake and therefore improve the problem. I’ve always personally believed that people would still continue to buy the unhealthy foods regardless of the tax. However, a new study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that as the price of soda and pizza went up, their overall intake went down.
This 20 year study aimed to explore the associations between food price, dietary intake, overall calorie intake and weight. Over 5,000 participants from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study were included. Researchers found that a 10% increase in the price of soda and pizza was associated with a 7% and 12% decrease in the calories eaten from these foods respectively. They also discovered that a $1.00 increase in the price of soda was associated with a lower daily calorie intake, lower weight and improved insulin resistance and that a $1.00 increase in the price of both soda and pizza was associated with even greater changes in these measures.
According to an article published in Science Daily, “researchers estimate that an 18-percent tax on these foods would result in a decline of roughly 56 calories per person per day”. That adds up to five pounds at the end of the year. That might not seem like a lot, but we already know that even small amounts of weight loss improve overall health and decrease the risk of developing obesity-related diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure.
This is one of the first studies of its kind to really look at these relationships. I think it will be very interesting to follow new developments and to see how lawmakers use this information in the fight against obesity. They’ve tried it before with cigarettes and that didn’t seem to have much of an impact. Foodminds, a food and nutrition company out of Chicago, recently conducted a survey of 1045 adult shoppers and found that 65% of them were opposed to taxes on soft drinks and foods high in sugar and calories, but low in nutritional value.
I want to believe a tax could help, but I have to say I’m still pretty skeptical. Even if a tax was imposed, I think we need to stay focused on educating people from a young age on the importance of good nutrition and physical activity, parents need to lead by example and the government and food companies have to make healthy food desirable, affordable and readily available if we are ever really going to fix the problem.
Tell me what you think. Would an 18% tax on unhealthy items like soda make you buy them less? If healthy foods like fruits and vegetables were more “affordable” would you buy more of them?
- Lauren
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Labels: Lauren, Recent Research, Weight Loss
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| posted by My Sensei @ Wednesday, March 10, 2010 |
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| Tuesday, March 09, 2010 |
| Red Wine Helps Women Maintain Their Weight |
This morning is a glorious morning indeed. For one thing the weather is almost back to normal in South Florida and I can wear Capri pants without a jacket. But most importantly, research has finally shown that drinking wine in moderation doesn’t make women gain weight over time. Dr. Lu Wang’s research team from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston looked at 19,220 women over 39 years of age who were within their normal BMI (body mass index) range (18.5 to 25) for a period of 13 years. They found that women who drink wine, especially red wine, on a regular basis gained the least amount of weight over time compared to non-drinkers.
During the 13 year study, 41.3 % of the women became overweight (BMI 25 to 30) including 3.8% who became obese (BMI above 30). Non-drinking women gained the most weight, but as the alcohol intake increased to one glass a day, the weight gain decreased. The good news for Mediterranean diet promoters is that women who drank red wine gained the least amount of weight. I cannot quote the exact details of the study yet but what I can do is share my experience with you.
As a promoter of the Mediterranean diet and someone who lives this lifestyle as much as I can, I drink wine on a daily basis and mostly red wine. But last spring I decided to stop drinking in an attempt to get ride of the 5 extra pounds I have been carrying for the past year. So I didn’t drink at all. I tried some non-alcoholic wines, which tasted the same as grape juice so I avoided them. I drank sparkling water with a few drops of Angostura bitters when I went out and that was fine. My eating habits remained the same and so did my habit of not exercising. During those three months I didn’t loose one pound! And all these years I convinced myself that if I didn’t drink I would be a twig. What a relief when I heard about this study.
Here is my take on this. It’s all about moderation. When we drink wine with our meals it’s all about the enjoyment. We eat slower, we sit at the table longer, we are more relaxed and we will slowly finish the wine without having the desire for a dessert. We compensate; if we have wine, we don’t have desserts. It’s the Mediterranean lifestyle where eating is a joy that we share with others. It’s not sitting at a bar after work pounding sweet martini concoctions and stopping at the drive thru afterwards. It’s about having a glass of wine after work followed by a nice dinner comprised of small portions of freshly prepared foods followed by a salad indicating the end of a satisfying meal. Drinking wine is a way of life. For other people it’s chocolate or others need some kind of fried food or their favorite “junk” or whatever treat.
So ladies, if you avoided wine just because of the 100-125 calories per glass it contains but you have a sweet treat or crackers and cheese when you get home; you may want to rethink it. Maybe the glass of wine (one) would give you much more guilt free enjoyment compared to whatever else you were using to unwind.
Cheers! Or as we say in French, Santé, which means to your health. Maybe they knew it all along?
Peace and Love,
- Josée
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Labels: Josee, Women's Health
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| posted by My Sensei @ Tuesday, March 09, 2010 |
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| Monday, March 08, 2010 |
| Eat Clean to Get Healthy & Lean |
My clients are always looking for the right diet to help them get healthy and fit. Many of them are willing to try fad diets, low calorie diets or whatever else they read about. Often times I just recommend eating clean. Many people haven’t heard the term clean eating, but once I explain it, it makes perfect sense.
Clean eating isn’t just for people who are already fit or exercise regularly. Everyone can benefit from it. It can help you lose and maintain weight and look and feel great. Of course, changing your diet is one of the biggest obstacles in improving your health but clean eating is easy and can quickly become a habit. It can be hard to give up some of your favorite foods, but you might find you feel and look better without them.
So, what is Clean Eating? Simply put, it is the practice of eating whole, natural foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and complex carbohydrates. The plan eliminates the most popular foods in the U.S. diet including: processed snacks, high sugar snacks, foods with hydrogenated fats, foods with preservatives, and any other foods with man made ingredients. Many people unknowingly have an addiction to sugar, flour or fast food. When they stop eating it, they may experience cravings. Therefore, starting to eat clean can be difficult. It does take some dedication since it may be difficult at first. Here are the basic steps to Clean Eating:
- Eliminate refined sugar. Many snacks, processed foods and fast food items have refined sugar.
- Include a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables.
- Cook your own meals.
- Eat 5-6 times per day.
- Drink water throughout the day.
- Include a complex carbohydrate at meals.
- Maintain healthy portions.
- Limit saturated fats and trans fats.
- Eliminate processed foods.
- Eat fresh lean protein.
- Limit or avoid alcohol.
If the steps sound familiar to you, that’s great. You might already be thinking about eating clean. Basically you should be trying to eat healthy foods in their most natural state. Of course everyone wants to eat cake on their birthday or have a cocktail at a party, so I recommend eating clean 80% of the time. If you can start eating clean or cleaner, you will most likely see some changes. You may lose weight, feel more energetic and look younger and brighter. If you exercise, eating clean can really help you get the most out of your workouts and increase your fitness. You can get more information on clean eating by checking out Clean Eating Magazine or reading some of the previously written Sensei healthy eating or diet blogs. Give clean eating a try and see how it improves your health and wellness.
- Lauren
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Labels: healthy eating, healthy tips, Lauren
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| posted by My Sensei @ Monday, March 08, 2010 |
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