FitSugar

The Crusade Against Ground Meat

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:00:00 -0700

There's been a lot of talk in the media about E. coli contamination in ground meat lately, hamburgers specifically. First, The New York Times profiled Stephanie Smith, a young woman who was paralyzed after eating a contaminated hamburger. A week later, Larry King and CNN posed the question "Should Americans banish the burger"? The media is always reporting beef recall stories, which leave me a little freaked out about indulging in the occasional cheeseburger. How about you?

The argument against ground meat goes something like this: in slaughterhouses all sorts of things are flying around, including cow guts, which contain E. coli. Because slaughterhouse practices can be a little iffy, the E. coli can come into contact with the meat to be sold for consumption. Cooking a piece of contaminated steak usually kills the bacteria because the E. coli has only touched the surface, not actually penetrated the meat. The problem with ground meat is that E. coli can easily get onto every small bit of meat, making it harder to eliminate.

I'm not sure if I'm ready to completely banish the burger from my diet, but I do eat less meat these days. Besides being healthier for my heart, the sanitary conditions of large slaughterhouses worry me a bit. When it comes to eating meat I definitely try to follow certain guidelines. To learn them, continue reading.

Fast Food Breakdown: Hamburgers

FitSugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 03:00:00 -0800

If you're on the road or in a rush, sometimes you can't avoid finding yourself in a fast food restaurant. Hamburgers are a pretty popular menu item, and since every fast food joint prepares them differently, it's hard to make the healthiest choice.

Want to see how these popular burgers compare? Then read more

Burger	Calories	Trans Fat (g)	Cholesterol (mg)	Sodium (mg)
McDonald's Hamburger	250	.5	25	520
McDonald's Cheeseburger	300	.5	45	750
McDonald's Quarter Pounder	410	1	65	730
McDonald's Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese	740	2.5	155	1380
McDonald's Big Mac	540	1.5	75	1040
McDonald's Big N' Tasty with Cheese	510	1.5	85	960
Burger King (BK) Whopper with mayo (without mayo)	670 (510)	1.5 (1)	95 (80)	1020 (880)
BK Double Whopper with cheese and mayo (without mayo)	990 (830)	2.5 (2)	195 (180)	1520 (1380)
BK Triple Whopper with cheese & mayo (without mayo)	1230 (1070)	3.5 (3)	275 (260)	1590 (1450)
Wendy's 1/4 lb Single	430	1	75	870
Wendy's 1/2 lb Double with Cheese	710	2.0	160	1440
Wendy's 3/4 lb Triple with Cheese	980	3.5	245	2010
Wendy's Baconator	840	2.5	195	1880
In-N-Out Hamburger with Onion	243	0	40	650
In-N-Out Cheeseburger with Onion	268	.5	60	1000
In-N-Out Double-Double with Onion	330	.1	120	1440
Arby's Beef and Cheddar	445	1.5	51	1275
Jack in the Box Hamburger Deluxe with Cheese	460	1	70	930
Jack in the Box Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger	1090	3	140	2040

Well I just about had a heart attack looking at those numbers. As you can see, they're loaded with tons of sodium and calories. If you can, I'd stick with burgers from In-N-Out or McDonald's since they aren't as bad for you as those from Wendy's and Burger King. Go for smaller sandwiches too, ones that are made with only one patty. Order extra veggies on top, and then order a healthy salad or baked potato on the side. Forget a side of French fries, since they're loaded with sodium and crazy amounts of calories. Picking up fast food is fine every once in a while, but with numbers like these, I wouldn't make a habit of "lovin' it."

Dairy Queen Breakdown

FitSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 07:30:00 -0700

I think Dairy Queen's tag line is Do Something Different because they want us to go against the healthy eating and just blow it all at their fine establishment. Don't get me wrong, I had my fair share of Blizzards in college however after learning the nutritional information, I am not sure a Blizzard will ever cross these lips again. So next time you're doing something different, make sure you go informed with this nutritional breakdown.

(Oh, and for your convenience I've highlighted the choices that are your best bet in green.)

Item	Calories	Fat (g)	Trans Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Sugar (g)
Homestyle Burger	350	14	0.5	400	33	8
FlameThrower GrillBurger (1/2 lb)	1030	73	4	2020	41	9
Grilled Chicken Salad (no dressing)	270	11	0	1160	92	9
Grilled Chicken Sandwich	350	16	0	780	49	6
Chicken Strip Basket (6 pc)	1270	67	12	2910	121	8
French Fries (med)	510	23	3.5	1070	70	1
Onion Rings (reg)	470	30	7	740	45	7

Enough with the salty (and by salty, I mean salty), but what about the real reason you go to Dairy Queen... The sweets! To see how they compare, just read more

Item	Calories	Fat (g)	Trans Fat (g)	Sodium (mg)	Carbs (g)	Sugar (g)
Chocolate Soft Serve (1/2 cup)	150	5	0	75	22	17
Chocolate Cone (sm)	240	7	0	115	32	25
Dipped Cone (sm)	340	16	1	120	36	31
Strawberry Sundae (sm)	280	7	0	130	50	45
Chocolate Sundae (sm)	280	7	0	130	49	42
DQ Sandwich	190	5	0	95	32	18
DQ Fudge Bar	50	0	0	70	13	3
Oreo Cookie Blizzard (sm)*	560	21	0	430	83	64
Choc. Chip Cookie Dough Blizzard (sm)*	720	28	3	370	105	78
Banana Split Blizzard (sm)*	460	14	0	210	73	62
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard (sm)*	600	21	0	220	87	76
Strawberry CheeseQuake Blizzard (sm)*	530	21	1	320	76	62

*For all of the Blizzards, if you want to see how many calories they would be if you got a large then just double the amounts listed for the small.

Source

Cut the Calories at Your Next Barbecue

FitSugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:45:00 -0700

For many of us, summer is all about barbecuing. You've probably been to several BBQ's already and summer's just getting started.

I love a good BBQ as much as the next girl, but all that food can really do a number on your waistline. -- So for easy ways to cut out a few calories at your next barbecue, all while still getting to enjoy the food you love read more

If you do this...	Then you can subtract this...
Snack on pretzels instead of potato chips	70 calories
Feast on cut veggies, skip the ranch dip	120 calories
Skip the cheese portion of a cheeseburger, opt to top your burger with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, etc.	100 calories
Load up on salads, just not the croutons	100 calories
Drink wine or light beer instead of frozen blended drinks like margaritas and pina coladas	50-100 calories
Skip granny's potato salad -- Opt for healthier sides such as corn on the cob	70 calories
Eat ice cream from a small cup -- Leave the waffle cones (and the mess) for the kids	90 calories
Have one s'more instead of two	200 calories

Fit's Tip: If you're heading to a friends for a summer barbecue, offer to bring something. This way you know there will be at least on thing healthy on the menu.

Source

Red Meat Linked to Breast Cancer

FitSugar — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 04:00:00 -0700

We all know that eating too much red meat can be bad for our hearts. Now new research from the University of Leeds shows that eating red meat also increases a woman's chance of developing breast cancer.

35,000 women were tested over the course of 7 years, and those who ate red meat every day had a 56% greater risk of breast cancer than those who ate none.

Processed meat such as bacon, sausage, and ham are much worse than regular red meat such as steak. Those who ate processed meat every day, ran a 64% great risk of breast cancer than those who didn't eat any red meat.

Now I'm not saying you need to omit red meat altogether (unless you want to), just try to eat it 3 or less times a week (you know how I love moderation).

Fit's Tips: Eating 30g of fiber a day could cut your risk for developing breast cancer in half. Also heart pumping exercise has healthy effects on hormone levels and weight maintenance, which could also reduce your risk.

Source

Another Beef Recall!!!!

FitSugar — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 10:15:00 -0700

A New Jersey-based meat company is voluntarily recalling some of its hamburgers after many illnesses have been reported. The New York Health Depart says that at least 6 people in Albany have gotten sick and contaminated hamburgers were found in one of the victim's freezers. The culprit? E. coli.

These products carry the number ""Est. 9748" inside the USDA mark of inspection, and were produced June 22nd, July 12th or July 23rd.

The recalled products include:

Certain 10-pound boxes of Butcher's Best 100-percent All Beef Patties
Certain 10-pound boxes of Kohler Foods burgers
Certain 10-pound boxes of Sand Castle Fine Meat
Some two-pound boxes of Topps 100-percent Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers
Some three-pound boxes of Topps 100-percent Pure Ground Beef Hamburgers

Go to the USDA website to see the complete list of recalled products. If you have questions, you can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) from 10am - 4pm. These products were distributed nationwide so check your freezers!

Source

Healthy BBQ: Not So Healthy Whole Wheat Buns

FitSugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 09:00:00 -0700

It's that time of year again to bust out the grill. Since hamburgers and hot dogs are a staple at most backyard BBQs, there's something you should know. The whole wheat buns you're buying may not be so healthy. Gasp! They might say "made with whole wheat," or they look brown but that doesn't mean they don't contain enriched flour and corn syrup of the high fructose variety. Check out the surprising ingredients in these popular buns and rolls:

Pepperidge Farms 100% Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns: High fructose corn syrup

Arnold Select Multi Grain Kaiser Rolls: High fructose corn syrup and enriched wheat flour

Barowsky's Wheat Bulky Rolls: Enriched flour

Country Kitchen Whole Grain Wheat Hot Dog Rolls: High fructose corn syrup

Fit's Tip: Remember to read the label to make sure your buns and rolls are made with whole wheat flour or another whole grain flour, and aren't sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. At a BBQ, you don't want to eat your corn as a sweetener, but as grilled corn on the cob. Am I right?

Source

Why We Overeat: We Crave Fattening Foods

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:00:38 -0700

Juicy hamburgers, crispy French fries smothered in cheese, brownie sundaes topped with ice cream - why can't we say no to these fattening foods? We can't help it, according to Health magazine. Dr. David A. Kessler, author of The End of Overeating: Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite says, "We’re hardwired to hunger for fatty, sugary, salty foods because, back when our ancestors were foraging for every meal, palatable eats meant extra energy and a leg-up on survival."

Well thank you Mr. Caveman for my desire for greasy pizza and cheesecake. Not only do high-fat foods taste great, but when you devour them, a signal is sent to your brain that you're satisfied and happy. Your brain also forms long-term feel-good memories of the experience, which makes you crave it again and again. Even seeing or smelling certain fattening foods can spur pleasant thoughts that make us crave it. Well I guess old habits die hard. It does make me feel better to know that my brain's hunger for triple chocolate mousse pie is a force stronger than my willpower.

How can you combat this hardwired desire? Find out when you read more.

The best thing you can do is know which high-fat foods are triggers for you. Dr. Kessler says since certain moods, times of day, or places can spark our need for our favorite treats, avoid giving into your cravings. This will prevent the link from forming between foods and their triggers. Also set yourself up for success by avoiding foods that you can't say no to. That means you might want to find a different route to work that doesn't take you past a chocolate shop.

You Asked: My Vegetarian Diet Is Making Me Gassy

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:47:51 -0700

Dear Fit,
I am trying the vegetarian lifestyle and have finally given up bacon and hamburgers and went meat-free. I have a family history of obesity, heart disease, and cancer, and have read that a diet rich in fruits and veggies can play a huge role in prevention. I've been loading up on the green veggies, beans, fruits, and tofu. My taste buds don't really miss meat, but it hasn't even been a week and I'm having some, well, unpleasant side effects. I'm unbelievably bloated and gassy all the time, and am close to giving up on my veggie quest. Is it possible that my body is trying to tell me that a vegetarian diet isn't right for me, or is there a way to go about this so that I'm not feeling so inflated?
- Puffed Up

First of all, I applaud you for taking your health into your own hands and going meat-free. Your body is greatly benefiting from consuming less saturated fat and more plant-based proteins. I'm actually not surprised that you're experiencing such embarrassing and uncomfortable side effects, but that doesn't mean you can't become a vegetarian. To hear my suggestions read more.

From your diet description, you're doing everything right with your food choices, but there's such a thing as too much, too soon. Vegetarian foods are very high in fiber, and if your digestive system isn't used to that, it translates to gas and maybe even diarrhea. So my advice is to slowly ease into this diet. Be a flexitarian for a while. Consume your old diet that includes meat, and gradually increase your fruit, vegetable, legume, and whole grain intake as you fade out the meat. At first, eat small portions of foods that are especially gas-producing such as broccoli, beans, green peppers, apples, and high fiber cereals. Slowly increase the portion size over time and the gassiness should begin to dissipate. Making the switch to a vegetarian lifestyle overnight is a shock to your system, so all you need to do is move forward slowly, listen to your body, and you'll be meat-free (and less bloated) within a few weeks.

Beef Recall Update

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:45:00 -0700

Last week I told you about yet another beef recall, and now I am here to tell you it has gone from bad to worse. Originally only 332,000 lbs of meat were recalled, but on Saturday, the Topps Meat Co. expanded its recall to include 21.7 million lbs of ground beef that may also be contaminated with e. Coli.

This Elizabeth, NJ based beef company's recall includes:

All Topps products with either a "sell by date" or "best if used by date" between Sept. 25, 2007 and Sept. 25, 2008. The date can be found on the package's back panel.
They also have a USDA establishment number of EST 9748.

The USDA suspended the grinding of raw products at the Topps plant after inspectors found inadequate safety measures there. Terrific.

So far three people have confirmed cases of e. Coli contamination and there are 22 other cases under investigation. Cases were found in Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Check out the full list of recalled products here.

I don't know about you, but a salad is looking really good about now.