Whole Food Multis- Real Nutritional Supplements

Liquid HCG Diet

2010-03-03T15:18:00.005-06:00

I recently saw an ad on my Facebook and became curious about it. The liquid HCG diet. Being currently pregnant, I am familiar with the term, and was wanting to know what new fad had come about. Well, much to my shock, and personal horror, they are claiming that the pregnancy hormone, Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), can actually help a person lose weight. I started to read up on this new "miracle" and discovered some scary things. One, you must follow a strict 4 phase plan. Two, you must follow a strict diet plan of only 500 calories per day for up to 40 days. This in itself is very upsetting. You are not only burning off fat, you can make yourself seriously ill by starving yourself like this. Three, this a homeopathic supplement, man made in a laboratory. Yes the majority of things we take are made this way, but they must also pass numerous safety measures before being passed on to consumers. No where on the page does it say anything about FDA approval. There is nothing natural about this stuff, the actual HCG hormone as I stated earlier is found in pregnant women only.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) is a hormone that is normally produced first by the cells that make up the placenta, then later by the placenta during pregnancy. Its primary function is to support the pregnancy by encouraging the production of progesterone. This supports and promotes the further development of the placenta early in pregnancy. HCGsees a rapid increase early in pregnancy, but tapers off slowly as the placenta can produce enough progesterone to support the pregnancy on its own. The hormone also serves in aiding in the development of gonads in the fetus and the production of androgens by the testes of a male fetus.

(posted from wisegeek)

To believe that starving yourself will make you lose weight is believable, but the repercussions of this are also well known. You will lose fat, but also muscle and possibly your life. Please do not buy into fad diets that make you starve yourself. I have several plans listed on this blog for safe weight loss methods that allow you to eat and teach you to what to eat to become a happier healthier you.

Recession Pricing on the Pops!

2009-07-23T13:09:00.003-05:00

Everyone has felt the pain of this recession by now. While some of us are pulling out of it, for my husband and I it seems as if the end will never come. Between my working outside of the home, and my impending stressful school schedule my online business has suffered. For my followers, I do apologize. As a goal for myself, I have decided to put more time into The Pops. The great news is that with this economic downturn, the Pops are now being offered at special prices! All plans are 20% off, with special savings for those on subscription plans. Installments are also offered for those on the subscription. Also, if you blog, why not make some extra money doing it? Whole Food Nation is free to join as an affiliate, and practically sell themselves. You are on the computer anyway right? Do you take the Pops yourself? You can sign up and get paid for ordering for yourself! How great is that? Think about it. Who wouldn't want to get paid for something you already do?

Green Pops Page
Purple Pops Page
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TV Causes Overeating???

2009-07-07T09:49:00.002-05:00

I mean really. This is an actual study. How long have people studied this? Way to long in my opinion. Advertising reps get paid 6 figure incomes to know when and how to show these ads to a target audience. Think about Saturday morning cartoons. All the ads are for things kids want. Kool-Aid, Go-gurt, ect. Kids are typically a captive audience. While adults take these opppurtunitues to grab a snack, children will sit glued to the television. The kids see these ads and urge their parents to go out and buy what they saw. Now fast food ads are shown after the news during your evening programs. When dinner is wearing off, and a snack sounds good. Here is the full article. What do you think about all this?

WEDNESDAY, July 1 (HealthDay News) -- Watching food ads on TV leads to a boost in snacking among children and adults, increasing the risk of weight gain, U.S. researchers say.

Yale University researchers conducted a series of experiments to test the effects of food commercials on television. One test found that children aged 7 to 11 who watched a half-hour cartoon that included food commercials ate 45% more snack food while watching the show than children who watched the same cartoon with non-food commercials.

That increased amount of snacking would lead to a weight gain of nearly 10 pounds a year, unless it was countered by decreased intake of other foods or increased physical activity, the researchers said.

In another experiment, adults who saw TV ads for unhealthy foods ate much more than those who saw ads that featured messages about good nutrition or healthy food.

"This research shows a direct and powerful link between television food advertising and calories consumed by adults and children," lead author Jennifer Harris, director of marketing initiatives at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale, said in a news release from the university.

"Food advertising triggers automatic eating, regardless of hunger, and is a significant contributor to the obesity epidemic. Reducing unhealthy food advertising to children is critical," she said.

The study appears in the July issue of the journal Health Psychology.

-- Robert Preidt

SOURCE: Yale University, news release, July 1, 2009

Herbal EVERYTHING?!

2009-06-13T09:54:00.004-05:00

I have started some personal research on a very touchy topic. Infertility. My sister recently lost twins at 5 months. This sparked my interest to find out how this happens. I myself have lost 3 pregnancies, 4 years apart each time, and each before 8 weeks. So what causes all these problems? The answers are varied greatly. Each individual can have just as many individual reasons for not being able to either conceive and or carry a pregnancy. Now while I do understand that Chinese herbal remedies have been around for centuries, some of these are not safe during pregnancy. In fact many everyday things are taboo for those who are high risk. Caffeine, smoking, alcohol, certain foods, strenuous activity, the list goes on. So how do you sort it all out? The very first thing to do is get yourself as healthy as you can prior to trying to get pregnant. If you are overweight, you need to change whatever it may be keeping you this way. Whole food nation offers several different plans to get you to your goal weight. This goes for those who are underweight as well. Having to much body fat or not enough can put a fetus at risk. If you smoke, as you probably already know, you need to quit. Smoking causes ovulation problems and can prevent pregnancy. The chances of becoming pregnant are only about 20% each month in a healthy woman and each of the other factors involved can decrease those chances even further. The steps you take to prepare yourself prior to trying to become pregnant are just as important as what you do after you learn you have in fact conceived. It often takes 2 weeks before you suspect it has occurred, therefor making sure your body is ready before can prevent any drastic life changes after you receive the good news. Caffeine with drawls are terrible, so easing off it slowly is best. Try switching up 1 soda a day for water, after about a week replace another. Changing to low caff coffee is also a small easy to handle change. Health care pros say it is relatively safe to have 1 cup of regular coffee a day during pregnancy. So if you can't live without your morning pick me up, remember to limit it to just one. Working out is also vital to your health but don't overdo it. If you plan to have a baby, discuss your routine with your physician and see if you need to change it up. Yoga is a great alternative that helps to relieve some stress and minor aches and pains. There are some poses that cannot safely be done, and you need to consult a pro before starting any new workout regime. Videos can be found almost everywhere that focus on prenatal workouts. The food you eat can also sabotage your body in many different ways. In this fast food, instant gratification society, making good choices is often hard if not impossible to do. Clean out your fridge, make that extra few mile drive to the local farmers market, buy organic produce. The drive thru window is not the way to be healthy. For you or your baby to be. Think of it this way, would you feed that to your child? If you are pregnant or trying to become that way, that is exactly what you are doing. Do you really want your kids eating a double quarter pounder? Another huge issue is vitamins. You need extra nutrients during this time. The pops are an easy to use way to get your servings of veggies and fruits as well as other essential nutrients. Calcium, and iron are found naturally in veggies and fruits and getting them in their natural state is much more nutritious. Also the Pops have zero additives. No dyes, binding agents, or gels. If you are taking a prenatal, good for you, but please make sure you understand what is in them. (previous post about lake #40) As with anything you take, eat, or do, be sure to inform your physician. While there is a multitude of free information on the web, only you and your doctor can decide what is best for your situation.

To learn more about the Pops, or the ER Fat Burn check out my website.
http://www.vitamingirlshop.info

Recession Proof Your Diet

2009-06-08T10:18:00.003-05:00

Everyone is feeling the pain of job cuts. Making cutbacks on lots of things is more important in these tough times. So is there a way to still eat right without going over budget? I have found a way. Almost everywhere I know of you have a way to access coupons. Each Sunday I go buy a paper. The 2.00 I spend is made up for by the savings I find. You would be amazed how much money you really can save on everyday items. Shopping at a different store can also help. I have several options available near me, but I have found the cheapest overall is Wal-Mart. They carry just as much of the organic products as every one else, and everything in their stores is at a lower cost. Local farmers markets are also a great way to save on produce. If you have a meat processor nearby, be sure to call them and see if they sell retail. You can typically save anywhere from a few cents to several dollars a pound on the same quality of meats you would buy at a chain store. While it may not seem as convenient to drive a few more miles to go to these stores, the money saved tends to make up for it. I moved several months ago and a trip to town is now a 10 mile drive for me. I try to get to all my stores in one trip. I start at the farthest and work my way back towards home. Before I leave I look in my cabinets, make a list, and look through all my coupons. I make notes on the list in regards to the coupon so I know how many I need to buy. When I get to the store I compare everything. Some stores list price per ounce ect. right on the shelf so you know what is your best buy. Certain snack foods I will only buy if I have a coupon, I buy generic when I can, and freeze all my meats. I buy in bulk, separate the package into meal size portions, and freeze them. You don't need a vacuum sealer, or some other high tech food saving storage. A good selection of freezer bags saves space as well as money. Many stores also have specials on items close to their sell date. You can get bread and meats at a greatly reduced price. You just need to use it or freeze it by the date. Rolls are wonderful for this. You can get a bag of fresh dinner rolls, and place enough for a meal into freezer bags. Then when you are ready to use them it takes a short time to defrost. If you plan meals in advance, you can easily have the things you need thawed before you get home. I take these out prior to leaving for work in the morning, so they are ready when I make home in the evening. Healthy eating does not have to break the bank. Simply changing the way you shop can make all the difference in the world.

http://www.vitamingirlshop.info

Breaking BAD Habits

2009-01-28T23:56:00.002-06:00

I can see how easy it is to eat junk. I recently reentered the work away from home world, as well as am taking some college courses again. My school hours are 1-4pm. And I work 1130-730. Now this may not seem to bad. My hours are nice enough. The problem that I have is this: These are the times of day most people are having lunch and dinner hours. I am used to eating lunch around noon, and dinner around 6. So the 2 days a week i am in school, I am driving during my normal lunch time. Work days I am already at work when I usually eat. I spend over an hour a day driving, 6 days a week. When you are in the car that often it's difficult to not stop in somewhere an hit the drive thru. (I had a jumbo Jack and fries on the way to school the other day.) I was starving an had woken up late. My other problem is that no matter how early I set my alarm for, I hit snooze an sleep as late as I can. I have to be up at least 2 hours before I can eat anything, and usually am already on my way by then. (try eating a bagel with cream cheese and jelly while you drive) So bad habits come back. I have been taking meals for lunch. And keep healthy things with me to resist eating junk at work. I do alright on my way home, but when I get home I am so tired and have homework to do and cooking is not in the gameplan. When I went shopping last I was careful about what I bought. I stayed away from frozen foods with a few small exceptions of french fries and taquitos. I have been making snacks of fresh celery and peanut butter with honey. I buy the Jif, it has less of the crap in it an no preservatives. Just peanuts, honey, and a bit of soduim. But all in all peanut butter is not that bad for you. It has far less fat and calories than microwave popcorn and frozen dinners. While fresh whole foods are best for all of us, there are still ways to eat well and fast without eating junk. Read the labels. It may look harmless, but you would be amazed. Look at a Marie Callanders Pot Pie. I love those. but if you eat 2 a day you have exceded almost all of your recommended daily allowence for everything. They have over 1000 calories in one. Even the new smaller ones, (10.5 oz) have about 650 fat grams. I recently quit smoking an took up Yoga in it's place. I made a deal to myself to trade a bad habit for a good one. It's all about the small things we do that make a big difference. The next time you are in the grocery store, make one or two small changes. Instead of can veggies, but fresh ones. Replace the box potatos with a salad. It's very easy to integrate veggies into your meals, think of the colors of what you are eating. Put colorful foods on your plate. Try a fresh fruit salad for dessert instead of chocolate cake. Fresh corn on the cob instead of canned peas. Always trade a bad habit for a good one. Everytime you do your new "good habit" congradulate yourself. You can never have to many GOOD habits.

How your friends and family may be killing your diet....

2009-01-17T23:57:00.002-06:00

Many of us already know what I'm about to talk about, but few of us know what to do about it. A good friend of mine made the simplest comment the other day, but I've been mulling it over ever since. She said "It's so hard to eat right when everyone around you is eating the wrong stuff." Now she is not heavy by any means, but in the last year she has put on 20lbs she would rather not have. I am sure her situation is very similar to many other people out there. She has 2 children, a husband, and works full time and goes to college at night. Her job and home life are the reason she gives for her weight gain. She explained to me that with a 8 and 9 yr old in the house, at times it's easier to pick something up on the way home from her night classes. So fast food is often on the menu. Her husbands hours vary at times so he is on occasion not home at dinner time. Quick fix meals, microwave stuff ect. Her job is in an office full of other people who often have lunch together. They either order in, pizza, subs, ect. Or a large group gets together to go eat at a nearby Mexican place. So, between being extremely busy, having children whom are used to fast food, and the people at work eating junk all the time, she has a very hard time making good choices for her meals. This also had me thinking back to my days of working away from home, each place we would order in from had a $15 - $25 min. for delivery. Now if you are really just wanting a sandwich, you would run around and collect orders from everyone. Needless to say, we ate a ton of pizza, chinese, and on ocassion Jason's Deli. Location made a difference as well, only 3 places were within delivery range for us. Making terrible choices is so much easier when everyone around you is eating things like pizza. Willpower is an amazing thing, but I love pizza and a salad just dosn't compare. So, how do we fix these delicious downfalls? Try these suggestions:

Find another person at work who is dieting as well, go have lunch with them
If you must eat fast food, take advantage of the "better" choices they offer. Have a salad instead of fries. Bottle water instead of soda. Grilled chicken instead of fried.
Take healthy snacks with you, keep them in an easy to see place so you will be less tempted to get a candy bar from the vending machine.
Make a goal to cut out 1 bad food each day. Slowly increase this until you are no longer eating any junk.

Other people eating badly is not always so easy to fix. Schools offer junk for lunch. Pack a lunch for your child. If they love PB & J, pack that with an apple. A small change will not shock them so badly, and they may not even notice. Add extra veggies to your meals. Trust me, people will notice. My husband has recently started eating better. I didn't do anything but mention it to him. He works on the road 14 days at a time, but he said he has been eating at Subway and getting salads more often than before. He has almost completely cut out hamburgers from his diet. Our house is packed with fresh fruits and veggies. He went and bought celery and oranges the other night for snacks. Hmmm. I thought I was going to have to force this stuff down his throat. All I had to do was change what I have in my house, and not eat junk in front of him. Now I still like the occassional burger, but only about once a month. Just like my freind said, It's hard to make good choices when everyone around is making bad ones. I guess it goes the same for good choices. If people see you eating good for you food, it just may make them take a second look at that plate of nachos they just ordered.

New study shows diet drinks can actually cause weight gain

2008-12-31T19:33:00.002-06:00

From ABC News:

Calorie-conscious consumers who opt for diet sodas may gain more weight than if they drank sugary drinks because of artificial sweeteners contained in the diet sodas, according to a new study.

A new study suggests diet soda may lead to weight gain.

(PhotoDisc )

A Purdue University study released Sunday in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience reported that rats on diets containing the artificial sweetener saccharin gained more weight than rats given sugary food, casting doubt on the benefits of low-calorie sweeteners.

"There's something about diet foods that changes your metabolic limit, your brain chemistry," said ABC News' medical contributor Dr. Marie Savard.

Though Savard said more research needs to be done to uncover more information, the study does hint at the idea that the sweeteners alter a person's metabolism.

Savard said another recent study, which included more than 18,000 people, found healthy adults who consumed at least one diet drink a day could increase their chance for weight gain.

Saccharine Making Us Fat? Aw, Rats!

In the Purdue study, the rats whose diets contained artificial sweeteners appeared to experience a physiological connection between sweet tastes and calories, which drove them to overeat.

"The taste buds taste sweet, but there's no calorie load that comes with it. There's a mismatch here. It seems it changes your brain chemistry in some way," Savard said. "Anything you put in your mouth, your body has a strong reaction to it. It's much more than counting calories. It seems normally with sweet foods that we rev up our metabolism."

The information may come as a surprise to the 59 percent of Americans who consume diet soft drinks, making them the the second-most-popular low-calorie, sugar-free products in the nation, according to a consumer survey from the Calorie Control Council, a nonprofit association that represents the low-calorie and reduced-fat food and beverage industry.

Because so many foods today contain artificial sweeteners, the study results may go beyond diet drinks.

"The truth is, we're putting artificial sweetener in so many different things in water, in yogurt," Savard said. It's unclear if the results only adhere to diet sodas, she said.

"We have to rethink what this artificial stuff does to us. If we put this in water it might not be so good," she added.

The Calorie Control Council issued a statement that disagreed with the findings of the Purdue study and noted that past studies indicated low-calorie sweeteners benefit weight control.

But Savard said people who consume a drink or more a day should think about cutting back their consumption.

"The truth is, if you're consuming a drink or more a day, you know it. You know that you're taking it, and you really have to think about eliminating it. You're probably the very person who needs to change those health behaviors to prevent the diabetes, heart disease and stroke," Savard said.

"If you're just taking it once in a while, fine -- no big deal. If you're consuming one or more drinks a day, you should rethink what you're doing. You might be negating the whole reason in the first place."

You can eat what you want

2008-12-31T18:47:00.004-06:00

I say this for one reason only. It is possible to eat what you want if you do it the right way. Let me give you some facts about me. I am 28, 5'5" and weigh 107. I do have a small frame, and am in some peoples opinions thin. I wear a size 1 in pants. No my skin does not hang on my bones. I have curves, and am very proportionate. Now, I take whole food vitamins everyday. I do not eat right. I don't eat fast food very often either though. Most of what I eat is carbs. I love red meat and potatoes. I eat can foods, all the time. Now the way I stay the size I am, I eat small portions. I eat when I want, all day long. I only eat enough to get full. I eat slowly. Snail slow. Doing this allows you to know when you are full and helps to keep you from eating to much. If you sit down and have 3 full meals a day, your metabolism is not able to keep up. By eating several small meals a day your metabolism is always moving. I never eat breakfast. I have to be awake at least 2 hours before I can eat. My dad is the same way. He eats a little all day long. At 51 he is 5lbs heavier than he was when he got out of high school. Now yes it could be genetics, but I'm my opinion it has more to do with how we eat, what we do after we eat, and how much we eat at one time. My husband is a prime example of proof genetics is not the cause. His mother and 4 sisters are all very overweight. But he is 38 and 165lbs. He eats like a horse. He eats fast food most of the time, and is on the road 3 weeks at a time. But he is active. He works outside 12 hours a day and is always moving. His sisters all work desk jobs. They rarely do anything more active than walking to the refrigerator. After you eat, get up an moving. Sitting in one place is not going to help you at all. If you work at a desk, make it a point to leave the desk to eat. Get up. Go outside and sit. Go to a different part of the office and stand while you eat. Just get up and move. And NEVER eat so much you feel like you cannot move. The more you eat, the more your stomach stretches. This means you will require more an more food to feel full. By eating small amounts more often it will take you less to feel full. You are better able to digest a smaller amount than a large amount. It is better for every aspect of digestion. You are less likely to experience indegestion, gas, and heartburn this way as well. If you are trying to lose weight, my first suggestion is to get up and moving. Second, eat less more often. If I were to eat 3 big meals a day, I would certainly weigh 150 or more. I have been 135lbs, and on my frame I was heavy and very unhappy with myself and my appearance. I changed what I did, ate more often, but less at one time, and in a matter of 8 weeks lost 20lbs without dieting. Yes your weight problem is in many ways your own fault. Make a chart for yourself. Everyday for a week write down what you eat and drink. Every bit of it. At the end of that week look it over. How much of it was junk? healthy? what could you have done without? Does it amaze you yet how much you eat in an average week? I have a friend of over 15yrs. He is obese. He is almost 550lbs. He blames it on his family. His family is all heavy, I give him that, but in the last few years his eating habits have gotten worse, and his activity has slowed to nothing. He has a desk job. And he eats in one meal what I eat in 2 days. But it's not his fault he is fat. I hate excuses. Everyone has some control over what they look like. Yes genetics has some impact on it, but the majority of it is you. I know this is mean and rude, but if you are overweight, do you blame yourself or do you blame your parents? Do you blame McDonalds? They offer salads. Do you exercise? Do you sit at a desk 8 hours a day and in front of the tv the other 16? So, it's your jobs fault? If you have made a resolution to lose weight this year, good for you. Now how are going to do it?

Jump start you weight loss, ER Fat Burn Program

New Years Resolution #1

2008-12-29T20:05:00.003-06:00

My number 1 this year is to start a work out routine. I have always enjoyed Yoga, but slacked off after a short time. I found an excellent site, Yoga Journal, and started by building my own routine. I used the tool to create this, consisting of 15 poses, and printed them out. Anyone who is skeptical about how useful yoga is should really try some of these poses. I was amazed at how difficult a few of them I chose really were. They look easy, but trust me, my muscles are telling me otherwise. I only did this for about 15min, but I can feel it all over. My shoulders and abs are showing the most sign of use. Balance is very necessary as well, this I have very little of. I am intimidated by going to a gym, and don't want to join a class, so I find this is the best way for me. I can do it at home, in front of my tv. No special clothes, or equipment required. Really this is my favorite low impact workout routine. No knee pain, and I feel relaxed.

ER Fat Burn, Detox Plans, Whole Food Vitamins

Tainted Weight Loss Pills, are you taking any of these?

2008-12-29T18:22:00.002-06:00

Tainted Weight Loss Pills Flagged as Health Risks

On Dec. 22, 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alerted consumers not to buy or use more than 25 different weight-loss pill products because the products may be harmful to their health.

Which products were cited?

The tainted weight-loss products specified in the alert are:

Fatloss Slimming
2 Day Diet
3x Slimming Power
Japan Lingzhi 24 Hours Diet
5x Imelda Perfect Slimming
3 Day Diet
7 Day Herbal Slim
8 Factor Diet
7 Diet Day/Night Formula
999 Fitness Essence
Extrim Plus
GMP
Imelda Perfect Slim
Lida DaiDaihua
Miaozi Slim Capsules
Perfect Slim
Perfect Slim 5x
Phyto Shape
ProSlim Plus
Royal Slimming Formula
Slim 3 in 1
Slim Express 360
Slimtech
Somotrim
Superslim
TripleSlim
Zhen de Shou
Venom Hyperdrive 3.0

Why did FDA act against these products?

These products contain undeclared, active pharmaceutical ingredients that may put consumers' health at risk. Some of the amounts of active pharmaceutical ingredients far exceed FDA-recommended levels.

Some of the products claim to be "natural" or to contain only "herbal" ingredients, but actually contain potentially harmful ingredients not listed on the product labels or in promotional advertisements. These products have not been approved by FDA, are illegal, and may be potentially harmful to unsuspecting consumers.

What undeclared ingredients were found?

An FDA analysis found that the undeclared active pharmaceutical ingredients in some of these products include

sibutramine, a controlled substance that can cause high blood pressure, seizures, abnormally rapid heart rate (tachycardia), palpitations, heart attack or stroke. It can also interact with other medications and increase patients' risk of unexpected bad side effects (adverse reactions). Sibutramine's safety has also not been established in pregnant and lactating women, or in children younger than 16.
rimonabant, a drug not approved for marketing in the United States, has been associated with increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts. In Europe, where it is approved, rimonabant has been linked to five deaths and 720 adverse reactions over the last two years.
phenytoin, an anti-seizure medication
phenolphthalein, a solution used in chemical experiments that is a suspected cancer-causing agent

Where are these products sold?

These weight-loss products, some of which are marketed as "dietary supplements," are promoted and sold on various Web sites and in some retail stores.

Is FDA taking further action?

The agency is currently seeking product recalls. FDA may take additional enforcement steps, such as issuing warning letters or initiating seizures, injunctions, or criminal charges.

Tips for consumers

If you use any of these weight-loss products, stop taking them and consult your health care professional immediately.
Seek guidance from a health care professional before purchasing weight-loss products.
Report serious adverse reactions or product quality problems to FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program at www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm

This article appears on FDA's Consumer Health Information Web page (www.fda.gov/consumer), which features the latest updates on FDA-regulated products. Sign up for free e-mail subscriptions at www.fda.gov/consumer/consumerenews.html.

For More Information

FDA Press Release
www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01933.html

Information for Consumers
www.fda.gov/cder/consumerinfo/weight_loss_products.htm

FDA MedWatch
www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm

Natural Weight Loss Plans

2009 is just around the corner...

2008-12-29T13:54:00.003-06:00

With a new year lurking just around the corner, I have forced myself to reevaluate my not so healthy choices of the past years. With these in mind I sat down to begin my list. Every year I make a list of things I plan to change. For the past 6 the number one has been to quit smoking. I previously made a post about more reasons to kick the habit, and have been reviewing these quite a bit. Some of my list has been more difficult to stick to in the past. My job choices were a big reason for not eating right. After working 14 hours the on the way home 24 hr burger place was my main source of food. Who really wants to go home and cook after being on your feet 14 hours straight? A few minor changes to my lifestyle this year will in my opinion make it easier to stick to my goals for the new year. I now work from home, which gives me plenty of time to cook better for me meals. My 3 dogs are always anxious to get out of the house, and taking them for daily walks is not impossible, weather permitting. Quitting smoking has been a big one for me, I live with 2 heavy smokers. I plan to move soon to help eliminate the stress involved 1 with living with other people, and 2 remove the temptation. Financial issues may keep me from moving as soon as I want to, but I will stick to my no smoking rule for myself no matter what it takes. Making a list of "resolutions" is the easy part. Sticking to them is the hard part. With my past years of failure behind me, I have made several of these lists and posted them all over the place. In my car, on my computer, on my refrigerator. Everywhere I know I will see them. My goals for better health started months ago, I now take vitamins daily, they sit on my nightstand where I know I will see them and not forget. I have all my research plastered on my walls about smoking eating right, ect. These constant reminders help to keep me on track. I read them daily. A few small things you can do to help yourself out is to work out while you watch tv. It need not be a back breaking weight lifting experience. something as simple as stretching can do wonders to get your metabolism moving. If you have dogs take them for a walk. To the end of the road is better than sitting inside on the couch with them. Go outside and play fetch with them. Get out and walk with your children, or play ball, go to a park. The point is to get up and moving. You will never burn calories sitting on the couch not moving. Buy some ankle weights, do leg lifts while watching the news. Get a small 5lb set of dumbells. You can use them to strenghten your arms. Setting small goals are easier to accomplish than big ones. Don't say, "I will work out 30min a day, 3 times a week. " Say instead, "I will do stretching while I watch .... program on tv." Then go from there. Start small. And slowly increase it. After a week or month or 3 months, however long you give yourself of doing the goal, increase it. Add I will do leg lifts and stretching while watching this program. This will help to keep you motivated. If you achieve several smaller goals, you will build confidence in yourself, and knowing you can achieve a goal keeps you motivated. If you set a huge goal you will be less likely to work at it. Lack of time, energy, or any other factors can cause you to put it off. I will do it tommorow. Then at the end of year, you are in the same boat you were the year before. Happy new year to all, and best of luck with setting your new year new you goals.

Using Colon Cleansers

2008-12-17T12:30:00.003-06:00

A recent warning from the FDA has been issued. I for one don't understand this recent phenomena. I mean really, cleansing something that for all human history has been done by itself screams problems. Our bodies are the way they are for a reason. They function the way they are intended to for a reason. To use something like this as weight loss?????? Get real. How much "waste" can you really have? If you eat correctly, exercise, supplement THE RIGHT WAY, why would you believe all this about having years of waste in your colon???? The colon is only so large, I for one find it impossible to even begin to believe you can have 10+ extra pounds built up. Now I agree that factors in our lives can impact our overall health. Stress is the biggest factor in weight gain, headaches, and so on. But to think that there is a magic cure in a bottle is why all the billions of people in this world are so unhealthy. Your health starts with choices. What you eat. Food is our health. We need food. But we need the right food. Eating 40 years of junk and expecting a "cleaning" of any kind to fix the bad choices we made is just plain ignorance. Fad diets, colon cleansing, "do this now, not that". Why do you think people lose weight and gain it right back? Diets don't work. Sure if you want to stay attached to those diet foods forever maybe you will keep it off, but get real. How many people do that? And how healthy is it? You don't need diet plans or diet food. You need to start getting the trash out of your house. The processed easy to fix foods. Have a real salad. Eat fresh food not canned. And supplement the right way. Whole food vitamins. Not synthetic lab made stuff. Those are not helping you. Whole foods provide nearly everything the body needs. They naturally cleanse the body. No chemicals. No junk. Just stuff found in fruits and veggies. The way it was meant to be.

Learn to diet the right way

Kidney Risk Spurs Warning on Bowel Cleansers

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has acted to reduce the risk of acute kidney injury from oral sodium phosphate (OSP) products. These products are routinely used as bowel cleansers before colon examinations and other medical procedures.

The agency is adding a Boxed Warning to two prescription OSP products: Visicol and OsmoPrep. The warning addresses the risk of a kidney injury known as acute phosphate nephropathy.

FDA has also directed the makers of Visicol and OsmoPrep to

develop a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy
distribute a Medication Guide to alert patients to the risk of kidney injury
conduct a postmarketing clinical trial to further assess this risk

Concerns With OTC Products Too

FDA is equally concerned about the risks associated with over-the-counter (OTC) OSP products (e.g., Fleet Phospho-soda) when they are used at higher doses for bowel cleansing.

The available data show no risk of acute kidney injury when OTC products are used at the lower doses as laxatives. But these products present the same risks as prescription OSP products when used for bowel cleansing.

FDA is recommending that consumers not use OTC OSP products for bowel cleansing. The agency plans to amend the labeling conditions for these products.

Safety Advice

OSP products should NOT be used

by children under 18 years of age
in combination with other laxative products containing sodium phosphate

OSP prescription products should be used with caution by people who are

over 55 years of age
suffering from dehydration, kidney disease, acute colitis, or delayed bowel emptying
taking certain medicines that affect kidney function, including
— diuretics (fluid pills)
— angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (medications that lower blood pressure)
— angiotensin receptor blockers (treatments for high blood pressure and heart or kidney failure)
— possibly nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (similar to ibuprofen and other arthritis medications)

Serious side effects or quality problems associated with these products can be reported to FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online www.fda.gov/MedWatch/report.htm, or by mail, fax, or phone. (See FDA Press Release, available at the link below, for details.)

For More Information

FDA Press Release
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01923.html

Date Posted: December 16, 2008

Pops Bare Bones Special

2008-12-10T13:41:00.000-06:00

Have you been wanting the try the Pops? Here is your chance to give yourself, or someone you love the gift of good health at half the cost. Starting Dec 10 at 12 Noon ET you can order these amazing vitamins, winner or the 2008 Best Multivitamin Award, for over 1/2 off.
Go to this page to take advantage of this great offer!

Here's why we're doing this crazy special :

1) to acknowledge the current economic hardship many folks are experiencing
2) to express our gratitude that the Pops have started so many folks back on the road to their health.
3) To offer you the option of giving someone you care about - this year - the first step back to health. We'll ship them for you in U.S. with a personal card.
4) to celebrate the selection of the Pops as the "Best Multi of 2008"

This special will be available only on this page. Doors open on this bare bones Pops event December 10, NOON ET.

To read more on the Pops, visit here

Are your vitamins safe?

2008-12-09T17:10:00.004-06:00

Most of us out there have heard the news. Synthetic Vitamins are not safe. Now, if you have heard this, do know why? Most of the easily accessible vitamins out there are synthetic. Man made. They are produced in a lab. Vitamins and minerals come from the foods we eat, not a petri dish. These labs create vitamins and minerals. These are not the natural ones we find in our food. Prescription drugs are created in this way. From chemical compositions which in most cases are in fact harmful to the human body. The combination of these chemicals are in a way safe for us, but only after being processed in a certain way. You wouldn't drink a bottle of bleach would you? No, it's not safe. So why would you take a pill which has many of these chemicals in them? In essence, when you take synthetic vitamins you are putting chemicals into your body. "Fake" vitamins. Man made vitamins. Not natural food source vitamins. Here is another example. Do you have jewelry with diamonds in it? Are those diamonds mined or lab created? Mined diamonds are found in nature, cut, polished, and shaped to get to the product you see in your jewelry. On the other hand, lab created diamonds are grown in a lab under strict conditions to have the same qualities as natural diamonds. These are not natural diamonds, and though they may have very similar properties, are not in fact "real" diamonds. Nor are they the same cost. Lab created diamonds are a fraction of the cost of natural diamonds. This is an easier to understand way of viewing vitamins. If you were to go out, collect all kinds of fruit and veggies, dry them, grind them, and place them in a pill, it would take more man hours, and more work to get these. Therefor science came up with a way to simplify this. They can "create" vitamins. They are making vitamins with similar properties to vitamins and minerals found in nature and making pills out them. They are not natural, cost less to make, and therefor cost less to buy. They can mass produce these vitamins at a much lower cost. More product for less money is what corporations focus on. This way they have less overhead cost. And a larger profit at the end of the year. I have heard "They just don't make 'em like they used to" in reference to nearly every aspect of consumer goods out there. Lower quality, less life expectancy of a product, more need to buy more product more frequently. Higher quality means higher price. The more pure gold is the higher the price. The better quality the car is, the higher the price. I bought a set of knives this year, my set I had bought the year before were wearing out. The ones I bought this year are Cutco. They were over $1000. The previous set I bought had started rusting after 2 months. And were no longer sharp after 3. My Cucto set has neither rusted nor needed sharping and I use them daily. They also have a lifetime warranty, the company will sharpen them for me free any time I wish, if I ever break one they replace it free. It was the best $1000 I ever spent. Now relate this to your vitamins. How much of those vitamins is your body absorbing? If you have "neon" urine, not much if any. Yes your body does take what it needs and eliminates the rest. But if you were to actually test your urine you would find nearly every bit of those vitamins have in fact passed right through you. Your body will identify these "chemicals" as waste and rid itself of them. Lets say you spend $6 a month on a once daily vitamin. Good for you, you know you need something in your diet. After 3 months of taking these you have noticed no improvements in how you feel, the way you sleep, or any of the other "promises" you received when you first tried these vitamins. And you have wasted $18. Now this may not seem like much, but after 5 years of this you have literally flushed $360 down the toilet. And filled your body with synthetic chemicals. If you were to take that $6 a month and buy 2 bags of apples you would have gotten far more nutrition and health benefits than you did from that bottle of vitamins you used. But what if you don't like fruits or veggies? You are a fast food junkie. The only lettuce you eat comes on a hamburger. Those cheap vitamins you are taking aren't doing you any good. Your fast food habits need to change or you need to take something worth while. The excuse, "I take vitamins, so it's okay I don't eat right" is not going to work. You have to take the right kind of vitamins. Whole food vitamins are the only ones that have "REAL" vitamins and minerals in them. You could eat more fruit and veggies, and still not get enough of what your body needs. The foods that are available to us today are still lacking so much of what we need. To get what your body requires from food you would quite literally have to sit in a produce section 24/7 and eat constantly. So how do you fix that issue? Take a vitamin that is useful. The Pops contain over 47 different fruits and veggies. Can you eat 47 of these a day? This is by far much more than the leading whole food vitamin, and it's in an easy to swallow capsule. Dried, and ground and placed in a capsule. All they contain is real veggies, and fruits. Nothing fake, nothing synthetic, nothing man made about them. All natural things. And you can try them for 1/2 off the regular price Dec 10-14. Really, if you eat stuff not good for you, even if you do, if you do not live in a produce department, in all likelyhood you can benefit from having more vitamins in your diet.
Real whole food vitamins, made by real people for real people.

Red #40, it's in everything

2008-12-07T13:29:00.003-06:00

I just took out the vitamins my dad takes daily. Equate Mature Formula for Men. I looked over the ingredients and found Lake Red #40. So what is it? Well, here is what it is.

The Chemistry of Red 40

Red Dye #40 (and all FDA certified dyes) is referred to as a "Coal Tar" dye. The phrase has little meaning today but a hundred years ago it was used to describe synthetic chemicals that started out with coal tar as a precursor. It's more likely today to find a petrochemical as the original base of most synthetic chemicals, though they're so highly refined that you won't find any residual petroleum in the product.

The proper chemical name for Red40 is:
6-hydroxy-5-[(2-methoxy-5-methyl-4-sulfophenyl)azo]-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid
which is a terribly long word for a very tiny molecule. The chemical is often referred to as an "azo" dye. If you look at the drawing of the chemical below, you'll see two Nitrogen atoms near the center of the molecule (passing your cursor over the drawing will highlight the "N" on the nitrogen atoms) The way the two Nitrogens are connected together with a double bond is called an "azo" bond; this is what makes this chemical a part of the "azo" family.

Lakes

Often on a label you'll see a color listed as a lake, i.e.: "FD&C Red #40 Lake" or "Blue 1 Lake" So what's a lake? Most of the dyes in use are water soluble, which is wonderful if you're coloring a juice or syrup. It becomes a bit of a problem if you're trying to color the outside of a medicine tablet. The manufacturer doesn't want the color to run off if the pill gets a little wet. The answer is to use a dye in a lake form.

A lake is a solid, non water soluble form of a dye. It's produced by mixing the dye with Aluminum Hydroxide. By itself Aluminum Hydroxide is a safe food ingredient and it's often sold as an antacid. When combined with Red Dye #40, the chemicals form a deep red powder that can be applied to the outsides of tablets, gumballs and other solids. You may also notice this form listed in the ingredients as "Red 40 Aluminum Lake"

http://www.red40.com/pages/chemistry.html

So why would you put these in your body? Yes they have been proven to a certain extend to in fact be safe. But do you really want aluminum in your body? Can your body digest metals? Doubtful. So it, like any ting else your body does not know what to do with passes through you.As do many of the other things found in common cheap synthetic vitamins.

For more info: www.vitamingirlshop.info

Even more of my opinions about "Fake Whole Food Vitamins"

2008-12-05T15:40:00.005-06:00

This goes along with a post I formerly made in regards to buying vitamins. As the post regarding the Pops receiving an award points out, tablets are generally a bad idea. The reason for this being that to make a tablet stay in one piece, they must have binding agents added to them. I for one am lactose intolerant, and have no idea if I have any soy allergies. These are really not a good choice for me in either of these situations. I have also sent emails to the companies of a few of these "natural vitamin" companies. I have received no reply at all. As a consumer, I feel that these companies would be interested in answering my questions. Isn't that how they stay in business? Also many of these say they should not be taken by people with certain health issues. Diabetics, Pregnant or nursing women, the list goes on. So how would you explain that? If they are "all natural" and "organic" why would they be potentially harmful to these groups? If they are in fact made of fruits and veggies, since when are fruits and veggies bad for you? I thought the point of taking these was to help you with bad diet choices. My husband and I are trying for a baby, and I am very weary of taking something that says it's not safe for someone whom is pregnant. As far as I have seen, everything in the Pops is in fact natural. The only thing that's not is the gelatin used to make the capsule. No binding agents, no tablets. If you open them up you can literally shake out the contents. They are more of a powder form. And they smell nice. No awful taste if you don't swallow them fast enough. And the cost is almost double that of the Pops if you take the recommended 3-4 a day. You would think that one a day would be enough if they really do contain what they claim. How do you make a tablet out of a whole food anyway? And then its white? Really now, last time I checked green veggies are green. Fruits are typically a pink or purple shade. Not white.

The Pops- Voted Best Multivitamin 2008

2008-12-04T00:43:00.003-06:00

- News Feed Comments

Best Multivitamin 2008

December 3, 2008 by Dr. Nicole Sundene
Filed under Anti-aging, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidants, Best 2008, Juicing, Kitchen Sink, Multivitamin, Preventative Medicine, Product reviews

The Best Multivitamin for 2008 Kitchen Table Award is granted to Whole Food Nation!

Congratulations for formulating a fantastic whole food multivitamin at a reasonable price we can afford!

Today I will be discussing why I chose the whole foods “Purple and Green Pops” as the best, so that everyone can understand what key features to address while shopping for a multivitamin.

“Do I need a multivitamin?”

Everyone that doesn’t eat perfect, or is under stress, or has a chronic disease should be on some form of a multivitamin. First of all, our soil is not as nutrient dense as it once was, second of all I don’t know anyone that eats perfectly every single day, and at every single occasion, and is never under any form of stress.

Drinking alcohol, stress, and eating white refined foods actually depletes our bodies of vital nutrients.

Most importantly though a high quality whole foods multi is a great “insurance policy” that all of our necessary vitamin and mineral cofactors are always topped off for optimal biochemical functioning.

For most patients I recommend a standard wellness program that includes a whole foods multi, Omega 3 oils, enzymes, probiotics, and glucosamine for older and more active folks.

The nice thing about “Pops” whole food multi is that it comes complete with enzymes and probiotics, so my wellness program just got that much simpler. I don’t know about you, but I hate taking pills so prefer efficiency when at all possible.

Without vitamins and minerals our bodies can’t do the work they need to do each day. Most people aren’t actually deficient in one or two nutrients, most people are deficient in a myriad of nutrients because what they are REALLY deficient in is nutrition, and that deficiency of whole food nutrition is compounded by the fact that most Americans are not properly digesting their nutrients.

What features should a great whole food multivitamin contain?

Organic and pesticide free or eco-harvested whenever possible.
No tablets! Capsules are the best and help us avoid chemical binders and fillers.
No food coloring! If your multivitamin has food coloring in it, it is hype, or it is garbage. Phase it out and find a food coloring free alternative.
Minimal excipients and stabilizers. Check the labels and see if there other artificial ingredients such as food coloring. These are typically the last ingredients listed.
A full spectrum of all the colors found in nature. We need to “eat by the rainbow” to get the full spectrum of nutrients found in nature. The most important colors being green, purple, and the yellow/oranges found in the carotenoid family.
No synthetics or synthetic isolates. I am obviously not a fan of synthetic vitamins, as the biochemist in me knows to only trust nature and never man, but I am also against the consumption of isolated nutrients taken in high quantities. Nature intended for us to get our vitamin C from foods like oranges and broccoli, not chewable candies. Whole foods come complete with bioflavonoids that further help vitamin C work to heal and repair damaged tissues. While a synthetic vitamin can promise you 1333% of the USRDA, it can’t promise you a dose of healthy nutrition that your diet is likely lacking. We don’t just need vitamins, we need nutrition. Obviously children and pregnant women need standardized doses of specific vitamins and minerals, but the majority of us looking to prevent disease, just need a comprehensive spectrum of daily nutrition to cover up for those inevitable times that we fall off the whole food wagon.
No plastic bottles. In an effort to reduce the amount of plastics that are added to our environment annually, I will avoid recommending products that are packaged in plastic bottles when there are better alternatives such as glass bottles, and blister packs that minimize plastic waste put in landfills.

Why are Whole Food Nation “Pops” a great choice?

Potent antioxidants. The formulators of this product have smartly taken all of nature’s finest superfoods and placed them in to two blends. An AM energizing/weight loss/antioxidant herbal blend or “Purple Pops” and an evening calming herbal food blend found in the “Green Pops.” Antioxidants are the foundation to every healing and anti-aging program.

What they DON’T have: No food coloring. no sugar, no synthetic product stabilizers, no binders (easily avoided by purchasing only capsules.) Regardless of what multivitamin you choose to use, you should never be taking a daily dose of these artificial chemicals.

Natural vitamins. These are not synthetic vitamins, or even vitamins isolated from foods. These are whole food nutrient concentrates, brought to us by nature’s finest superfoods, and in the form that nature intends that we take them. With that being said be sure to take this supplement with food so that the vitamins and minerals can be properly digested and utilized.

More than just vitamins. Do you get confused about the latest new hot nutrient that scientists have “just discovered?” Well these nutrients have existed in nature for centuries, and just because a scientist discovers them in a lab, doesn’t mean that we need to suddenly start taking them in a high dose supplement. We should be taking these healing plant pigments, cofactors and coenzymes in our food on a daily basis, and if we don’t eat perfectly we should supplement with a whole food multi, not one that contains only the vitamins that scientists are currently capable of recognizing. Twenty years ago we only recognized about twenty vitamins and minerals as “essential,” but think forward to the next twenty years. The best way to ensure you have everything in your system that is “essential” is to take a whole food multivitamin, or start juicing. Or if you really want to feel awesome-BOTH!

Enzymes aid digestion. You aren’t just getting whole food nutrients, you are getting plant enzymes that will help you digest, break down, and absorb your food better.

Probiotics. Acidophilus helps us digest our food, metabolize hormones and vitamins, and is killed off by antibiotic use. Most cooked and processed foods we eat are deficient in probiotics and is vital to our health that we supplement them daily or consume in yogurt, kim chee, sauerkraut, kefir and other fermented foods.

You Need Greens! Have you had 2-3 servings of leafy green vegetables today? Greens are important because they are rich in magnesium. The chloryphyll molecule is shaped just like the hemoglobin in our red blood cells, the only difference is that an iron molecule sits in the middle of the hemoglobin ring, and magnesium sits in the center of a chlorophyll ring. This is why all green foods are particularly healing to those on the Standard American Diet (SAD), as the SAD diet is deficient in minerals such as magnesium found in green foods.

You Need Purples! If you peruse all of my treatment plans you will see that a cup of frozen blueberries a day is recommended pretty consistently throughout, as blueberries are a featured food on the anti-inflammatory diet. In addition to fighting inflammation, purple plant pigments known as proanthocyanins are especially healing to the skin, blood vessels, and cardiovascular system. Be sure to eat a cup of purple/red/blue foods everyday!

No Plastic Bottles! Plastics are destroying our ecosystem, and we need to use glass and paper alternatives when available.

Capsules NOT Tablets: To form tablets natural ingredients have to be attached to binders and mechanically pressed in to a tablet which may alter their molecular stability and thus efficacy. Avoid tablets and take capsules. You will have to take a couple more capsules to equate what is super-compressed in to tablets, but it is well worth it.

Great Environmental Shipping. My product arrived within two days, was packed in recycled boxes and recycled paper. I can’t tell you how many times I have stopped purchasing a great product because my values did not align with their shipping methods. Kitchen table only promotes companies with firm environmental efforts.

Great Company Business Model. You know something is good when you ask to try it for free and the company is happy to send you free samples. A company confident in their product knows you will become a customer, and they were right. This is the multivitamin that I have chosen to take myself every day. I also signed up for their mailings, and couldn’t agree more with the great advice from the Harvard grads that put the whole food “Pops” together. I typically find companies that oversell annoying, but the weekly newsletters are clearly designed to educate. Really a good product sells itself, and the formulators of this whole food multivitamin are smart enough to know that.

To read more about Whole Foods Nation you can visit sign up for their free report:

“Are Your Vitamins Safe?” or visit www.WholeFoodsNation.com

Thank you to Whole Food Nation for donating a portion of sales to our free publication and expert product reviews at the kitchen table!

All sales and partnerships kindly support this free publication.
View Full Report Here
Go Here To Get Some!

Salt in unsupected foods

2008-12-02T15:01:00.001-06:00

Salt Lurks in Unsuspected Foods

Sure, Fast Food and Frozen Dinners Are Often High in Sodium, but Pancake Mix and Bagels, Too?

By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Dec. 1, 2008 -- Even if you never touch a salt shaker and steer clear of potato chips and french fries, you are probably eating more salt than you think and much more than is good for you, an investigation from Consumer Reports shows.

Researchers analyzed 37 processed foods and identified some surprising sources of hidden sodium.

Among the least expected findings:

A 1/2-cup serving of a low-fat cottage cheese had twice as much sodium (360 milligrams) as a 1-ounce serving of regular potato chips (180 milligrams).
A Premium Caesar Salad with grilled chicken from McDonald's had more than twice the salt (890 milligrams) as a large order of McDonald's fries (350 milligrams). And that's without the dressing.
A half-cup serving of Prego's Heart Smart Traditional Italian Sauce had 430 milligrams of sodium, slightly less than what the USDA allows per serving in foods labeled "healthy."
Breakfast foods were an unexpected source of hidden salt. A popular whole-grain bagel had 440 milligrams of sodium, a best-selling pancake mix had 200 milligrams per pancake, and raisin-bran cereals had between 230 milligrams and 350 milligrams per cup serving. A maple and brown sugar-flavored instant oatmeal had more than three times as much sodium as its original flavored version.

"One of the big surprises is that foods that you would think would be really salty, like salted nuts, have less sodium than many processed or packaged foods that don't taste salty at all," Consumer Reports Associate Health Editor Jamie Hirsh tells WebMD.

How Much Salt Is Too Much?

Government guidelines call for healthy adults to get no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day, which is the equivalent of about a teaspoon of table salt. People with high blood pressure, African-Americans, and middle-aged or older adults should get no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day.

But the average American eats much more than that, especially if they eat a lot of processed foods or if they eat out a lot, Hirsh says.

"Restaurant foods are a huge source of sodium," she says. "The amount of salt in some of these foods would just blow your mind. I saw a single entree offered by a national chain restaurant that had over 5,000 milligrams of sodium. That doesn't mean you can't get low-salt meals at restaurants, but you have to work at it."

The investigation found that low-fat processed foods are often higher in salt than their full-fat counterparts.

Case in point: A serving of Ruffles Original Potato Chips was found to have 10 grams of fat and 160 milligrams of sodium; a serving of the baked version of the chip had 3 grams of fat but 200 milligrams of sodium.

Even foods that claim to be heart healthy can be filled with sodium. The Prego "Heart Smart" pasta sauce with 430 milligrams of sodium in a half-cup serving carries the American Heart Association logo because it is low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Source: WebMD

Real Nutritional Supplements

Recall of All Lots of Zhen De Shou Fat Loss Capsules Found to Contain an Undeclared Drug Ingredient

2008-11-25T22:58:00.000-06:00

Fashion Sanctuary Issues a Voluntary Nationwide Recall of All Lots of Zhen De Shou Fat Loss Capsules Found to Contain an Undeclared Drug Ingredient

Contact:
Zhen De Shou product recall
Fashionsanctuary.com
PO Box 19369
San Diego, CA 92159
zhendeshourecall@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --San Diego, CA -- November 23, 2008 --- Fashion Sanctuary is recalling all lot codes of Zhen De Shou Fat Loss Capsules sold in 10 count blister cards. The recall was initiated after notification by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that lab analysis of Zhen De Shou samples found the product to contain undeclared sibutramine, making it an unapproved drug. Sibutramine is an FDA approved drug used as an appetite suppressant for weight loss. This poses a potential threat to consumers because sibutramine is known to substantially increase blood pressure and/or pulse rate in some patients and may present a significant risk for patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias or stroke.

The product was primarily distributed in the U.S and sold via the Internet. It is sold in a box with an inner foil pouch. Inside the pouch is a blister pack containing light and dark green capsules. This recall affects all lot codes and use by dates. No illnesses or injuries have been reported to date in connection with this product.

Consumers who may have purchased product from this company should immediately discontinue using the product and contact the firm at zhendeshourecall@gmail.com to receive further instructions for returning the product or with any questions.

We sincerely regret any inconvenience to consumers. The firm has taken this voluntary action out of concern for the health and safety of consumers.

This recall is being made in cooperation with the US Food and Drug Administration.

Any adverse reactions experienced with the use of this product should also be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Program by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088, by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, by mail at MedWatch, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787, or on the MedWatch website at wwww.fda.gov/medwatch.

Natural, Drug Free Weight Loss Plans

Urgent Nationwide Recall of Starcaps Dietary Supplement Capsules

2008-11-25T22:56:00.000-06:00

Balanced Health Products, Inc. Conducts Voluntary Urgent Nationwide Recall of Starcaps Dietary Supplement Capsules Found to Contain an Undeclared Drug Ingredient

Contact:
Balanced Health Products
(212)794-9793

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- November 24, 2008--- Balanced Health Products, Inc. is voluntarily recalling STARCAPS DIET SYSTEM DIETARY SUPPLEMENT, Lot 12/2011 – 84810, sold in 30 capsule plastic bottles.

The recall is effective immediately and is being undertaken because this lot of STARCAPS contains an undeclared drug ingredient- Bumetanide – a diuretic available by prescription only. Bumetanide is also not listed on the product label as an ingredient in this product.

Bumetanide is a diuretic indicated for the treatment of edema associated with congestive heart failure, hepatic and renal disease including nephrotic syndrome. Bumetanide has been detected in STARCAPS at a level of 0.8mg per capsule. Potential risks associated with the use of Bumetanide include serious and significant fluid and electrolyte loss and an elevation in uric acid concentrations. Consumers should not take Bumetanide if they are allergic to sulfonamides. Significant drug interactions with Bumetanide, such as with digoxin and lithium, may lead to an increase risk of toxicity. Patients may also be at an increased risk of hypotension (low blood pressure), fainting (syncope) and resultant injury if they have normal blood pressure or are already taking an antihypertensive medication and take STARCAPS with undeclared Bumetanide.

The company has received no reports of illness associated with this product.

To date, this recall only applies to Lot 12/2011 – 84810. The company is in the process of testing other lots and will notify the FDA of its results, as well as, if additional lots are to be recalled.

The recalled lot totaling 1,974 consumer-size bottles were distributed nationwide from August 2008 to October 30, 2008 through retail outlets and online sales.

Consumers who purchased STARCAPS Lot 12/2011 – 84810 should immediately discontinue their use and return it to Balanced Health Products, Inc at the address on the product label.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at (212) 794-9793 from 10:30am to 4pm EST Monday through Friday.

Consumers who experience adverse events with any lots of this product should seek immediate help from their physician or healthcare provider.

Retail stores are being notified by fax or registered mail to immediately stop all sales and return product to the company.

This recall is being made in cooperation with the US Food and Drug Administration.

Any adverse reactions experienced with the use of this product should also be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Program by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088, by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, by mail at MedWatch, HF-410, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787, or on the MedWatch website at wwww.fda.gov/medwatch.

Natural, Drug Free Weight Loss Programs

Stop & Shop Squash Recall

2008-11-25T14:07:00.001-06:00

Stop & Shop Recalls Butternut Squash in Prepared Turkey and Ham Dinner
Recall due to undeclared allergen, quality concerns

Contact:
Robert Keane
(617) 770-6023

Faith Weiner
(617) 770-6025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --Quincy, MA -- November 24, 2008 --- Following a recall from its vendor, the Stop & Shop Supermarket Company has announced it is recalling all butternut squash sides that are packaged with the supermarket chain’s prepared turkey and ham holiday dinners.

The recall applies to all 24-ounce sides of butternut squash packaged in the holiday meals and was issued immediately after Stop & Shop’s vendor, Simmering Soup, Inc. recalled the product because of an undeclared egg allergen and quality concerns. The recall applies only to butternut squash that comes as part of the packaged holiday dinners and not to squash sold in the prepared foods department.

To date, no illnesses have been reported due to the recalled product.

Customers who have already picked up their holiday meals are asked to discard the two containers of squash and return to the store either before or after the holiday, where they will receive a $12 refund to enable them to purchase an alternative side dish of their choice. Customers who have not yet picked up their meals may do so as planned—the squash will be removed, and the price of the meal will be reduced by $12.

No other items in the meals are being recalled besides the squash, and customers are asked not to return the entire meal. All other components of the holiday meals meet Stop & Shop’s high quality standards.

Customers with questions may contact Stop & Shop Customer Service starting Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. at (800) 767-7772. The call center is open from 9 – 5, Monday through Friday. Customers can also visit Stop & Shop’s website at www.stopandshop.com.

About Stop & Shop

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, based in Quincy, Massachusetts, employs more than 59,000 associates and operates stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, New York and New Jersey.

Real Whole Food Vitamins, Made By Real People, For Real People

FDA Recall

I have to take how MANY????

2008-11-23T13:19:00.003-06:00

I know that whole food vitamins are the next "big thing" in health. Do a search on them and see how many results you get. So I thought I should compare theirs to the ones I take. Here is what I found:

Most of these whole food vitamins contain far less nutrients in one pill than the Pops
The cost is very similar
You have to take 3 or more a day, I found one that says 4, and at $40 for a bottle of 90, the math is not that great
If you want an energizing for the morning, that's great, but try to find one for the evening
Many of these products are in tablet form, using soy as a binding agent
If you need a specific vitamin, you have to buy those separately
Some have Lactose, since when do veggies have lactose in them?
Many of these provide the least amount of information as possible
The Pops have natural food source vitamins, and gelatin/water to make up the capsule no added bonding agents, no other stuff to make them look good. You can put them in food and eat them, they don't taste/smell bad. You can put them in a smothie, you only need 1 a day, unless you take both the purple and green. Then it is 1 purple in the am, 1 green in the pm.
They do not offer eating plans, diet plans, or any other form of support to the consumer as to ways to live better and eat better. It's like buying diet pills hoping they will make you lose weight without changing anything, then you wonder why you are not losing any.

They appear to be in it just for the money, to say "hey, we can make those to"
In my opinion, I would rather take something that has people standing behind it. People who have tried them and give their honest reviews of them. I like the idea of finding someone who not only markets them, but also uses them. I want to take something that has been around for more than 6 months. The fly-by-night companies are out there. Whatever is the "deal" at the time, everyone wants to jump on board, make a quick buck, then run when it's over. Think Atkins, Acai Berries, Cabbage Soup Diet. Call me crazy, but I don't want to be the guinea pig for big corporations who make whole food vitamins just to fill in the gaps of their company not selling the cheap synthetics anymore. I will stick to my Pops myself.

Whatever vitamins you decide on, do your homework. What's in them? How much is a serving? How long has the company been making them? What other products do they make? Are there REAL people who are taking them willing to share their experiences with you? Good & Bad? Anyone can say "these are great, take them" Companies pay people to say things like this. Watch commercials, results not typical, paid reenactments, ect. If someone was willing to pay me to say something, I would say it. I do not get paid to say "Take the Pops", I take them myself. I believe in them, and I stand behind them. They are not "miracle" pills. They are designed for real people with real lives who have a hard time eating right all the time. They help fill in the gaps. If you eat burgers all day, you are missing out on vitamins your body needs. The Pops help to give you those.

Real Whole Food Vitamins, Made By Real People, For Real People

Are Whole Food Vitamins Better For You Than Regular Vitamins?

2008-11-22T23:52:00.001-06:00

Are Whole Food Vitamins Better Than Regular Vitamins?

By: Ben Adams

A lot of people have been wondering and asking whether whole food vitamins are better than regular vitamins. Many experts have tried to answer that question based on different premises, different studies and different researches. But this article is the only one that will give you a straight-up, no frills answer and that is: YES whole food vitamins are better than regular vitamins. Of course the next question that comes after is, WHY are whole food vitamins better than regular vitamins?

Here are a few reasons why:

Whole food vitamins make you feel great and look great because it contains all natural vitamins and not the synthetic, laboratory-created vitamins. Whole food vitamins also help you lose weight and give you more energy to go through your day.
Recently, researchers and experts have been peddling the benefits of having a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and seeds. Having these in your daily regimen, they say, lowers the risk of getting cancer, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. But in order to get the sufficient amount of vitamins and nutrients it is advised to not only have fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and seeds present in your everyday diet but to also take whole food vitamins along with it. The significant antioxidant properties of vitamins, minerals and raw enzymes found in whole foods has previously been taken too lightly but is now proving to be a real life saver.
In order to reach the prescribed amount of vitamins and nutrients, like lycopene and beta-carotene, intake per day you would have to consume enormous amounts of food that you may not have the stomach to handle. For example, the required daily dose of lycopene is equivalent to 10 tomatoes and that is plenty enough to make you full without having enough room for other food offering other essential minerals and nutrients too. Whole food vitamins, on the other hand, allows you to achieve the prescribed daily nutritional requirement because each pill you take contains the sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals that you would otherwise be unable to get.
Whole food vitamins compared to regular vitamins is made of dried fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and seeds that have been pounded and turned to a powdery form and then placed in a capsule or shaped like a pill. Regular vitamins are synthetic vitamins that are not natural and are nothing but artificial concoctions by chemists in laboratories. They are not a product of nature and are therefore not as healthy as the natural vitamins you can get from raw food. Synthetic vitamins are designed right down to its molecular structure to imitate the molecular structure of a natural vitamin. This means that regular vitamins are stripped of the "life giving" enzymes present in raw foods and whole food vitamins.
Minerals and calcium supplements are made from rocks, corals and industrial mineral compounds. Would you want these things in your body? The truth is these compounds may not even want to be in your body in the first place because these types of minerals are in a raw form, which the human body may not absorb. Eve though these raw minerals are being treated to make it less coarse, its effectiveness is still questionable and whether it is being properly absorbed is still unknown. Aside from that, long term benefits from synthetic calcium and other minerals are also unknown. Whole food vitamins and minerals on the other hand are made from all-natural REAL food that naturally contains calcium and other minerals. Whole food vitamins and minerals is the safer, more effective alternative to regular vitamins.
The human body is designed to receive and process nutrients that come from food and not synthetic supplements. Regular vitamins contain synthetic materials or ingredients that the human body may not agree to and may not be able to absorb and process properly. Although regular vitamins have never been tagged as a culprit for man's many afflictions, just the fact that it is an unnatural creation and is alien to our body is enough reason for me to fear it. Whole food vitamins are the only vitamin supplement that is 100% safe because it is 100% natural.

Author Resource:-> Ben Adams is the author of: 'Vitamin Supplements Health Boosting Secrets' an informative guide on how to naturally improve your health. Claim your free 5-part 'Vitamin and Supplement tips' course here: Free Vitamin Supplement Tips

Whole Food Vitamins And More Articles

Article From Talkinmince Article Directory

Wegmans Italian Classics Recall

2008-11-22T21:30:00.001-06:00

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. Issues Voluntary Recall on Wegmans Italian Classics Seasoned Tomato Sauce

Contact:
Jo Natale
585-429-3627

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Rochester, NY -- November 20, 2008 -- Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is initiating a voluntary recall of 24 oz. Wegmans Italian Classics Seasoned Tomato Sauce with a “use-by- date of 11/26/08”, UPC 77890 79010. The product is being recalled because the package may actually contain a milk ingredient which is not declared on the label. The recall of this product is of concern only to those individuals who have an allergy to milk. Consumption may cause a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction in persons with an allergy to milk. No other code dates are affected by this recall.

The 24 oz. Wegmans Italian Classics Seasoned Tomato Sauce is packaged in a clear flexible pouch, and was sold in the prepared foods department of Wegmans stores located in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland.

The affected product would have been available in Wegmans stores between Saturday, November 15 and Thursday, November 20. Wegmans reports that this problem is limited to 108 cases of product, and that all product with the affected code date is no longer on store shelve.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The problem was discovered by a Wegmans store employee. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the affected code of Italian Classics Seasoned Tomato Sauce actually contained VODKA BLUSH SAUCE which contains milk.

Concerned customers should return the recalled product to Wegmans for a full refund. Customers who have consumed the product and feel they are experiencing symptoms should contact their physician. Wegmans’ customers who have questions or concerns about this recall should contact the consumer affairs department at 1-800-WEGMANS, ext. 4760.

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a 72-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, and Maryland. The family-owned company, founded in 1916, is recognized as an industry leader and innovator. Wegmans has been named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE magazine for eleven consecutive years. In 2008, Wegmans ranked #3 on the list.

Whole Food Vitamins, Weight Loss Plans, Rebounder Excercise Equipment

FDA Recall Page

Panos Brands Cheddar Recall

2008-11-22T21:27:00.001-06:00

PANOS Brands Recalls Vegan Rella Cheddar Block

Contact:
Kathie Gibbs Borkowski
(201) 843-8900 x 425

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --Saddle Brook, NJ -- November 20, 2008 --- PANOS brands, of Saddle Brook, NJ is recalling Vegan Rella Cheddar Block, (a cheese substitute) with a Sell by date of 12/09/2008. This product is being recalled because it may possibly contain an undeclared milk protein. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk protein run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product. No other lot or variety of Vegan is involved.

The product was sold directly to the consumers from their retail stores located nationwide.

The recalled product is packed in 8oz packages with UPC Code 0 37983 00015 4 and a sell by date of 12/09/2008.

There was one reported incident of an allergic reaction associated with the consumption of the product. The product is manufactured by Swan Gardens/Tree of Life, Austell, GA. This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.

Consumers who have purchased this product are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may call (800) 494-8839 ext. 425

Whole Food Vitamins, Weight Loss Plans, Rebounder Exercise Equipment

FDA Recall Page

In The News:Ban on fast food ads

2008-11-20T13:28:00.001-06:00

This is an excerpt from recent health news:

(AP) A little less "I'm Lovin' It" could put a significant dent in the problem of childhood obesity, suggests a new study in the U.S. that attempts to measure the effect of TV fast-food ads. A ban on such commercials would reduce the number of obese young children by 18 percent, and the number of obese older kids by 14 percent, researchers found. They also suggested that ending an advertising expense tax deduction for fast-food restaurants could mean a slight reduction in childhood obesity. Some experts say it's the first national study to show fast-food TV commercials have such a large effect on childhood obesity. A 2006 Institute of Medicine report suggested a link, but concluded proof was lacking. "Our study provides evidence of that link," said study co-author Michael Grossman, an economics professor at City University of New York. The study has important implications for the effectiveness of regulating TV advertising, said Lisa Powell, a researcher at the University of Illinois at Chicago's Institute for Health Research and Policy. She was not involved in the research but was familiar with it. The percentage of U.S. children who are overweight or obese rose steadily from the 1980s until recently, when it leveled off. About a third of American kids are overweight or obese, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. The causes of childhood obesity are complicated, but for years researchers have been pondering the effects of TV advertising. Powell, for example, found fast-food commercials account for as much as 23 percent of the food-related ads kids see on TV. Others have estimated children see fast-food commercials tens of thousands of times a year. The new study is based in part on several years of government survey data from the late 1990s that involved in-person interviews with thousands of U.S. families. The researchers also looked at information about local stations in the 75 largest TV markets, including locally seen fast-food commercials and the size of viewing audiences. The researchers used a statistical test that presumes TV ads lead to obesity but made calculations to address other influences such as income and the number of nearby fast-food restaurants. They also took steps to account for the possibility that some children may already have been overweight and inactive regardless of their TV-watching habits. The study is being published this month in the Journal of Law & Economics. The authors, funded by a federal grant, included Grossman and researchers from Lehigh University and Georgia State University. The authors stopped short of advocating an advertising ban or eliminating the advertising tax deduction. Grossman said it is possible that some families benefit from advertising by finding out what restaurants are nearby and what they're serving. "A lot of people consume fast food in moderate amounts and it doesn't harm their health," he said. McDonald's Corp., the giant fast-food chain responsible for the widely seen "I'm Lovin' It" ad campaign, referred questions about the study to the National Council of Chain Restaurants. Officials with that organization could not be reached Wednesday evening.

cbsnews.com

The Truth Behind Tea

2008-11-13T07:39:00.003-06:00

Tea was at a point the miracle cure. Green Tea made it into nearly every home as the new "cure all", great marketing huh? Well, as an avid tea drinker myself, I decided to do some research on it today. After I found out everything I could about caffeine, I have opted to go back to my regular Dr. Pepper, it wasn't the caffeine in it that is so bad for me, it's the sugar. But I am also leaning toward drinking more Iced Tea. It's a southern tradition, and I drink it with a cup of sugar per gallon, which is much less sugar than my Dr. Pepper. I'm sure this is still to much, but I hate tap water and bottled is much the same. So, here is what I gathered:

Tea is the most commonly consumed beverage in the world after water.
Green & Black are the most popular. Followed by Ginseng, Herbal, Oolong (red), Rooibos, White, and tons of other varieties and variations of the above.
The degree of processing the leaves of camellia sinensis determines whether a tea will be green, black or red (oolong). Green tea is the least processed. Black the most, and red in between.
Any tea derived from camellia sinensis has cancer fighting properties.
The leaves of this plant contain chemicals called polyphenols, which give tea its antioxidant properties.

The polyphenols found in tea have been known to:

Help protect cells from normal, but damaging processes. Oxidative Stress
Oxygen is vital to life but it also but it also incorporates into reactive substances known as free radicals, the stuff that damages cells leading to heart disease and cancer
Helps prevent blood clots
Helps lower cholesterol
Helps to neutralize the enzymes that aid in tumor growth
Helps to deactivate cancer promoters
Helps to stimulate the immune system

Tea also has fluoride, necessary for strong teeth. Almost no calories, really, read the box. And half the caffeine of a regular cup of coffee. Caffeine is found naturally in tea leaves, not added like in soft drinks. Tea also contains other beneficial ingredients like theanine, an amino acid unique to tea. Vitamins, minerals, and methylxanthines. These are know to:

Help fight against mutagenic agents
Delay aging
Help fight high blood pressure
Helps fight against viral and bacterial infections
Help improve the functions of the digestive and excretory systems

Iced Tea is said to have the same health benefits as the others. By recommendation, buy a tea pot. The ones that whistle. I love that sound, and they are making a comeback. Colors to match anything. Heat the water by itself. Wait for the whistle, and remove from the heat. Place your bag(s) in the water, I use 1 family size per gallon, and let it sit. I found I can get away with one, as I often let my tea steep for about an hour. This is simply because I find it easier to drink when it is cooled and I hate all my ice melting as soon as I put in a glass. I pour the tea into the pitcher, add some water, sugar, and ta-da! Some other variations I love are no sugar, add lemon.

A great tea website Tea Association of the United States
Whole Food Vitamins, Diet & Detox Plans, & More....

Google, Where is the Flu at?

2008-11-12T18:01:00.003-06:00

Yes, Google is now more up-to-date on the Flu than the CDC. They unveiled a new site today to track the progress of the flu based on searches for certain keywords. The data goes back to 2003, and they are able to track it up to 3 weeks faster than the center for disease control. You can check it out at google.org/flutrends.

Get the story at CBS News

Whole Food Multivitams

Easy changes to keep Holidays from killing your diet

2008-11-11T09:43:00.002-06:00

Don't let the holiday wreck your weight loss goals

Dressing, pumpkin pie, sweet potato casserole ... the annual Thanksgiving bounty is something we all look forward to. But if you can't afford the traditional holiday weight gain, this time of the year can leave you running scared. With a few simple changes to your usual approach, you can enjoy the feast without wrapping yourself in those extra pounds.

Thanksgiving is the official start of the holiday party season, and restrictive diets can make this time of the year grueling. But it's also the time when most of us gain an extra 1-3 pounds that, unfortunately, tend to become permanent baggage.

The Power of the Plan

You can feast on the food, but this year arm yourself with a plan that will help whittle down the usual 3,500-calorie meal to a more reasonable indulgence. Think ahead to Jan. 1 when you will delight in seeing the needle on the scale right where you left it in November.

Choose a few of the useful weight control-tips below to help you maintain your weight while still enjoying the good cheer and delicious food on Thanksgiving day and the rest of the holiday season.

Preparing for the Big Day

Wear a tight-fitting outfit. This will make you less likely to overeat because it becomes too uncomfortable.
Don't arrive starving. Eat before the big feast. A small healthful meal with lots of fiber (oatmeal, whole-grain sandwich, salad with beans) keeps you feeling full until dinner.
Make time for exercise every day, especially on Thanksgiving Day.
Establish some ground rules in advance of the meal that allow you to indulge but not pig out -- for example, only one sliver of dessert.
Buddy up with someone who is also trying to keep his or her weight in check.
Keep a food journal and write down everything that you eat. This is an incredibly powerful tool, especially when you are tempted to overeat.
Start a new family tradition. Take a bike ride, go for a hike, or play tennis Thanksgiving morning.

Ready, Set, Go

Enjoy higher-calorie food in smaller portions.
Don't eat food just because it is there. Save your calories for the foods you love.
Distance yourself from the hors d'oeuvre table.
Munch on fresh fruits and veggies instead of high fat appetizers.
Scan the buffet and carefully choose the foods you love. If they are high in calories like the gravy, just take a smaller portion. Take larger portions of the simply prepared foods such as baked sweet potatoes, steamed vegetables, and skinless white meat of turkey.
Limit yourself to one plate of food, no second helpings.
Eat slowly and savor every bite. Give the food a chance to let you feel the satisfying feeling of fullness.
Eat what you like, just eat a little less of it.

Desserts, Desserts, and More Desserts

Enjoy a small serving of dessert. Choose pumpkin over pecan pie and save a few hundred calories. Eat just the filling to take in fewer additional calories and limit trans fats.

Cheers

If you drink alcohol, save those calories for a glass of wine with the meal.
Skip the high-calorie, high-fat eggnog this year.

When You're Done

At the end of the meal, drink a glass of water and push away from the table to help you realize that you are full.
Follow the large meal with a leisurely walk.

Be realistic -- don't try to lose weight during the holidays, just aim to maintain your current weight. And if you plan on overindulging, bank some calories early in the week and get more physical activity before and after Thanksgiving Day to make up for it.

Have fun sharing food and celebrating your new Thanksgiving traditions with your family and friends.

Whole Food Vitamins, ER Fat Burn Plans, and More...

Top 20 Fitness Trends For 2009

2008-11-11T09:39:00.004-06:00

American College of Sports Medicine Survey Predicts Next Year's Fitness Trends

-- Ready for a sneak peek at the top 20 fitness trends for 2009?

Those trends were ranked in an online survey by 1,540 professionals certified by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

Here are the survey's results, reported by exercise science expert Walter Thompson, PhD, FACSM, FAACVPR, Regent's Professor at Georgia State University:

Educated and experienced fitness professionals. Certification and accreditation for health and fitness programs and professionals are becoming more common.

Children and obesity. Fitness programs to address childhood obesity are a top trend for the third year in a row in the ACSM survey.

Personal training. Personal trainers are becoming more accessible to more people, according to the survey.

Strength training . Men and women are lifting weights; staying strong while aging is increasingly part of their motivation.

Core training . This trend is about strengthening muscles in the abdomen and back to stabilize the spine.

Special fitness programs for older adults. This trend includes aging baby boomers, frail elders who want to get stronger for daily tasks, active older adults, and master athletes.

Pilates. Done on a mat or special equipment, Pilates trains the core muscles and improves flexibility and posture.

Stability ball. These big, inflatable balls (also called Swiss balls or balance balls) are used for crunches, push-ups, and other exercises. Staying stable on the ball is part of the challenge.

Sport-specific training. This trend is about athletes training in the off-season to build their strength and endurance.

Balance training. In balance training, you might stand on a wobble board or use a stability ball to hone your balance. It's a trend for all ages, Thompson notes.

Functional fitness. A functional fitness workout preps your body for daily activities such as running for the bus or lifting groceries -- not just gliding along on the elliptical machine.

Comprehensive health programming at work. This trend is about improving employees' health -- and lowering employers' health care costs.

Wellness coaching. Wellness coaches support clients in making behavior changes for better wellness.

Worker incentive programs. Some employers are giving their workers incentives to make healthy changes.

Outcome measurements. This trend is about accountability and measuring progress toward fitness goals.

Spinning (indoor cycling). Spinning classes, fast-paced group workouts on stationary bikes, have been around for a while, but they're still going strong.

Physician referrals. Doctors are increasingly referring patients to health and fitness facilities, according to the ACSM survey.

Exercise and weight loss. Sensible or "sensationalized," most diets now include an exercise component, Thompson notes.

Group personal training. Groups of two or three people can often get discounts from personal trainers.

Reaching new markets. Thompson estimates that 80% of the U.S. public doesn't have an exercise routine or a place to exercise, which amounts to a huge market for the health and fitness industry.

Whole Food Vitamins, and Rebounders Products for Fitness

Feeds are Ok now

2008-11-10T09:49:00.001-06:00

Sorry for no updates appearing, I was having feed issues, but all better now :)

Nestle Nesquik Recall

2008-11-10T06:50:00.002-06:00

Contact (Media):
Pam Krebs
Nestlé USA
818-551-3362

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- November 7, 2008, Glendale, CA -- Nestlé USA is voluntarily recalling two (2) production codes of Nestlé Nesquik Strawberry Powder 21.8 ounce that may contain small fragments of aluminum.

The recall only includes two (2) production codes of 21.8-ounce containers of Nestlé Nesquik Strawberry Powder. Printed on the bottom of each plastic container is a production code of 82255880 or 82265880 with a best by date of August 2010.

No other Nestlé Nesquik products or production codes of Nestlé Nesquik Strawberry Powder are affected by this recall.

The products were produced on August 12 and 13 and were distributed in the U.S. and in Puerto Rico.
Consumers who have this product at home can return it to the store where it was purchased for a refund.

Consumers with questions about the recall should call Nestlé Consumer Services Center at 888-637-4345.

Nestlé apologizes for any inconvenience experienced by our valued consumers and retail customers.

Top 10 Food Trends for 2008

2008-11-09T07:45:00.002-06:00

What new food trends are in store (the grocery store, that is) for 2008? According to the experts, 2008 might be called the year of ethical eating. Consumers are looking for more locally grown foods that support a healthier environment and a healthier lifestyle.

Locavore -- a person who seeks out locally grown and produced foods -- was designated the 2007 word of the year by the New Oxford American Dictionary, and eating locally is also is anticipated to be the biggest food trend of 2008. Experts say we can also expect consumers to think more holistically about their food -- questioning where it came from, its packaging, and its ecological footprint.

Americans are also expected to experiment this year with exotic foods with bold flavors -- like goji berries, yumberries, pomegranates, blood oranges, colored and flavored salts, and grains such as red rice, amaranth, and black quinoa.

And, experts predict we can look forward to more healthy choices on grocery store shelves. People want foods that are convenient, fill them up, taste good, and will help them lose weight, says American Dietetic Association President Connie Diekman, MEd, RD.

Soups, salads, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein are examples of these healthy foods that multitask. Manufacturers are also expected to continue to create more portion-controlled packages of foods (like the popular 100-calorie snack packs).

Here's more of what diet and nutrition experts have named as the top food trends for 2008:

Food Trend No. 1: Eco-Friendly Foods

Increasingly, consumers want to know more about their food -- where it was grown, what ingredients it contains, how it was packaged, and the footprint its production left on the earth.

It is the evolution of organics that consumers want to know and understand more about the foods they eat, says Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert, food trends editor and correspondent for NBC's Today Show. You may choose a locally grown product over one that is organic because the food is fresher and its footprint is smaller.

Food Trend No. 2: Local, Natural, and Fresh Foods

On a similar note, we're likely to see more farmers markets and community co-ops, as well as more locally grown foods in mainstream grocery stores. Consumers are also said to be scrutinizing imported foods more carefully these days, and looking for those from countries that have very high safety standards.

Food Trend No. 3: Concern About Food Safety

No one wants to repeat the scares we had in 2007, when tainted pet food, peanut butter, ground beef, and other products made headlines. Consumers are demanding safe food for us and our pets, and want the government to update the food safety system so we can have confidence that our food supply is safe, says American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Jeannie Moloo, PhD, RD.

Food Trend No. 4: Higher Prices

Food prices are expected to continue rising, which experts say will cause consumers to rethink their purchasing patterns. Higher food prices will push consumers out of the fresh produce section into the freezer or canned food aisles to re-evaluate other options that can be just as nutritious, says Lempert.

Food Trend No. 5: Prebiotics and Probiotics

Consumers are learning that adding friendly bacteria to foods can help with digestion. And they're not just for yogurt any more. We'll be seeing the beneficial bacteria added to a wide variety of foods -- including chocolate, predicts Moloo.

Food Trend No. 6: Whole Grains

Shoppers will continue to opt for more healthy whole grains, including exotic types aimed at tempting the jaded palates of baby boomers, experts say. There are numerous health benefits of whole grains, and food manufacturers are making it easier to enjoy them with new products, says Diekman. Exotic grains such as amaranth, quinoa, teff, millet, and Kamut are going mainstream.

Food Trend No. 7: Simple Ingredients and Clearer Labels

Increasingly, consumers don't want ingredients they can't pronounce, nor do they want artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, experts say. Look for more informative and cleaner labels, and foods with just a handful of simple ingredients.

Food Trend No. 8: Emphasis on Lowering Salt

The American Medical Association has urged food manufacturers to lower the sodium in processed foods. With an aging population and recommendations to lower sodium in our diets, companies are working to keep the same flavor profile and lower the sodium, says Moloo.

Food Trend No. 9: Alternative Sweeteners

Alternative natural sweeteners like ultrasweet stevia (which is 300 times sweeter than table sugar) and zero-calorie erythritol will replace high-fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners in more beverages and foods, experts predict.

Food Trend No. 10: Bottled Water Backlash

Bottled water remains popular among consumers looking to cut down on calories and artificial sweeteners. But growing awareness of the impact all those empty plastic bottles have on the environment (and the fact that many brands of bottled water are nothing more than purified tap water) is expected to make this option less appealing, experts say.

Are Your Vitamins Safe?

Food Safety

2008-11-09T07:42:00.002-06:00

Food Safety Strategies From The Market to the Table

Tainted animal feed. Spinach scares. Peanut butter recalls. Food safety has been big news lately, which is making many people think twice about what's on their plates.

First, the facts. The FDA says some U.S. hogs, poultry, and farmed fish recently ate animal feed containing Chinese ingredients tainted with an industrial chemical called melamine. But the FDA says people who ate meat from those animals are likely at very low risk of melamine-related health problems.

The source of the salmonella outbreak in Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter has been found, and maker ConAgra plans to start shipping Peter Pan Peanut Butter to retailers this summer. And Last fall's E. coli outbreak in fresh bagged spinach is over.

Despite the spate of food safety snafus, America's food safety system works, CDC senior epidemiologist Linda Demma, PhD, tells WebMD.

I certainly don't think it's broken. I think we can improve, but I don't think it's broken, says Demma, who works in the enteric disease epidemiology branch of the CDC's division of foodborne, bacterial, and mycotic diseases.

All the food safety agencies are working very hard to collaborate and come up with some ideas on how to improve the meat and produce industry as a whole, Demma says, adding that food industries are being very cooperative.

In light of food safety issues, the FDA recently created a new FDA job -- assistant commissioner for food protection -- and appointed David Acheson, MD, FRCP, to fill that post. Earlier this year, the FDA issued new guidelines for the fresh-cut produce industry, which market packaged, minimally processed fresh fruits and vegetables.

While food safety controls are being tweaked, here are 15 tips on making your food safer, from the market to the table.

1. Consider your source. Eating locally grown food is becoming more popular, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's safer than supermarket produce.

Just because you grow it in a farm down the street, it doesn't make it any safer or worse than any other produce that you get, Suresh Pillai, PhD, tells WebMD.

Pillai is a professor of food safety and environmental microbiology at Texas A&M University.

Locally grown food is pretty much on par with what you would find in a supermarket, in terms of food safety, Demma agrees. Of course, there are other reasons to buy and eat locally, she says.

At farmers markets, you may get the chance to meet and talk with the people who produced your food.

Farmers markets have become more common, with 4,385 U.S. farmers markets in 2006, up from 1,755 farmers markets in 1994, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Eating food shipped from overseas? The melamine-tainted animal feed ingredients came from China. But that doesn't mean that all imported food is suspect.

The assumption that the imported products are unsafe is absolutely not true, Pillai says. In fact, there are as many outbreaks associated with foods grown in the United States. So blaming it on imported products, I think, is a cop-out.

2. Map your supermarket route. Don't cruise the store aisles aimlessly. Gather nonperishable items first, fresh or frozen goods last. That strategy minimizes the time that perishable goods sit in your shopping cart instead of in a freezer or refrigerator.

3. Be choosy. Select fresh produce that isn't bruised or damaged. Check that eggs aren't cracked. Look for a clean meat or fish counter and a clean salad bar. Don't buy bulging or dented cans, cracked jars, or jars with loose or bulging lids. If fresh-cut produce (such as half a watermelon or bagged salad mixes) is on your shopping list, choose those that are refrigerated or surrounded by ice.

4. Pack it up. At the grocery store, bag fresh fruits and vegetables separately from meat, poultry, and seafood products.

Bring an ice chest to keep frozen or perishable items if it will take more than an hour to get those items home.

No ice chest? If it's hot outside, put the groceries in the air-conditioned passenger area of your car instead of putting them in the trunk, which may not have air-conditioning.

5. Keep your kitchen clean. Wash your cutting boards, countertops, refrigerator, pots, and utensils regularly in hot, soapy water, especially after they've been in contact with raw meat, poultry, and seafood.

6. Check your cutting boards. They shouldn't have lots of cracks and crevices where bacteria can lurk.

7. Sanitize. The FDA recommends periodically sanitizing your cutting boards, countertops, and kitchen sink drain with a homemade mixture of one teaspoon of chlorine bleach to one quart of water.

Sponges and dishcloths can house bacteria, so wash them weekly in hot water in the washing machine.

8. Store your food properly. Refrigerate frozen and perishable items as soon as possible.

Don't store foods near household chemicals or cleaning products. Some produce -- like onions and potatoes -- don't need to go in the refrigerator, but don't store them under the sink, where they could be damaged by leaky pipes.

9. Check the refrigerator and freezer temperature. Set the refrigerator temperature to 40 degrees Fahrenheit, set the freezer to zero degrees Fahrenheit.

Use a refrigerator thermometer to check those temperatures periodically.

10. Wash your hands. Before you handle food, lather up with soap and hot water, washing your hands for at least 20 seconds. Repeat after handling produce, meat, poultry, seafood, or eggs.

11. Wash fruits and vegetables in running water. A small scrub brush may help, but don't use soap or other detergents to wash produce.

What about produce washes? All of these solutions and washes may have some applications but studies show that washing with water is as safe as anything else, says Pillai, who calls water the most effective, the safest, and the cheapest way to wash produce.

12. Thaw foods in the refrigerator, not on the countertop. It may take longer, but it's safer.

13. Cook foods thoroughly. Use a meat thermometer to make sure meat is fully cooked. Never put cooked meats on an unwashed plate or platter that has held raw meat.

14. Store leftovers safely. Refrigerate leftovers in tight containers as soon as possible and use them within three days. When in doubt, throw it out.

15. Maintain perspective. There's no such thing as a zero risk, says Pillai. There's no such thing as a sterile product.

Are Your Vitamins Safe?

Is it organic?

2008-11-08T15:10:00.003-06:00

Organic Foods Slideshow This is worth taking a peek at

Make Grocery Shopping a Healthy Habit

2008-11-08T15:00:00.000-06:00

It all starts in the grocery store. The foods you choose to stock your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer are the foundation for your diet.

Grocery shopping can be daunting. It can be overwhelming to try to choose the healthiest foods from among all the options that line every aisle. And new trends and choices pop up every day, from fortified foods to upscale gourmet.

To help you navigate the supermarket, here are some expert tips to help you read food labels and choose healthy products. We've also got a top 10 list of nutritious foods to add to your grocery cart.

Label Reading Tips

The first thing you'll see is the label on the front of the food package. Manufacturers can say most anything they want on the front label (to get the real story, see the Nutrition Facts panel on the back). Here are some terms you may see there, and what they really mean:

Fortified, enriched, added, extra, and plus. This means nutrients such as minerals and fiber have been removed and vitamins added in processing. Look for 100% whole-wheat bread and high-fiber, low-sugar cereals.
Fruit drink. This means there's probably little or no real fruit, and lots of sugar. Look for products that say "100% Fruit Juice."
Made with wheat, rye, or multigrain. These products may have very little whole grain. Look for the word "whole" before the grain to ensure you're getting a 100% whole-grain product.
Natural. The manufacturer started with a natural source, but once it's processed the food may not resemble anything natural. Look for "100% All Natural" and "No Preservatives."
Organically grown, pesticide-free, or no artificial ingredients. Trust only labels that say "Certified Organically Grown."
Sugar-free or fat-free. Don't assume the product is low-calorie. The manufacturer may have compensated with unhealthy ingredients that don't taste very good -- and have no fewer calories than the real thing.

Here are some key phrases you'll see on the Nutrition Facts panel on the back of the package:

Serving Size. Portion control is important for weight management, but don't expect manufacturers to make it easy for you. Pop-Tarts, for instance, come two to a package. The label says one serving is 200 calories -- for "one pastry."
Calories and Calories From Fat. This tells you how many calories are in a serving, and how many of those calories come from fat. Remember that this information is for one serving as defined on the label.
Nutrients by Weight and Percentage of Daily Value (%DV). This shows how much of each nutrient is in one serving, by weight in grams and by %DV. This symbol refers to the recommended daily allowance for a nutrient based on a 2,000-calorie diet (some nutrients, such as sugar and protein, don't have a %DV). Fats are listed as "Total Fat" and also broken down so you can see how much is unhealthy saturated fat and trans fat.
Vitamins and Minerals. Vitamins and minerals are listed by %DV only. Pay particular attention to vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron; most Americans don't get enough in their diets.
Ingredients. They're listed in order from the greatest amount to the least. Experts offer a rule of thumb: the fewer the ingredients, the better.

Top 10 Foods to Put on Your Grocery List

Here are some foods that experts say should be on any health-conscious shopper's grocery list:

Tomatoes. These juicy, red fruits are loaded with the antioxidant lycopene, which has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in women.
Low-fat proteins. Good sources of lean protein include seafood, skinless white-meat poultry, eggs, lean beef (tenderloin, sirloin, eye of round), and skim or low-fat yogurts, milk, and cheeses. Some research has indicated that a diet moderately high in protein can keep hunger at bay, and thus help you lose weight.
Whole grains, oats, and fibrous foods. Fiber helps your digestive tract work properly and lowers cholesterol levels while keeping your belly feeling full. Whole grains also contain antioxidants, are fat free, and are easy to fit into your diet.
Berries (red and blue), including grapes. Berries are loaded with vitamins and minerals, as well as phytochemicals with cancer-fighting properties. Red grapes, in the form of one glass of red wine daily, may even reduce the risk of heart disease, according to the American Heart Association. (If you're a nondrinker, check with a doctor before starting.)
Nuts. A handful of almonds, cashews, pecans, or walnuts provides fiber, vitamin E, and healthful, monounsaturated fats. Just watch your portion size; these nutritious nuggets are high in calories.
Fish and fish oil contain omega-3 fatty acids that can reduce the risk of heart disease by protecting the heart against inflammation. The American Heart Association recommends eating fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, or sardines at least twice a week.
Unsaturated fats such as olive, canola, and soybean oils are the best kind of fats.
Low-fat dairy products provide plenty of calcium to help keep bones and teeth strong, are a great source of protein, and may even enhance weight loss, according to some research.
Vegetables are a healthful eater's best friend. All veggies, except avocadoes, are fat-free and loaded with disease-fighting phytochemicals.
Legumes (like pinto, garbanzo, kidney and black beans and lentils) are underrated. The lowly bean is naturally fat free and loaded with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, especially iron. They add few calories, but keep you feeling full.

Holiday Eating Time Is Back

2008-11-04T23:24:00.001-06:00

From Halloween through Valentine's Day, temptations abound.It happens every year about this time. The air gets nippier, the days get shorter -- and your jeans start getting tighter.

Ready or not, feasting season is here -- that seemingly endless time of temptation that starts with Halloween candy and continues with Thanksgiving stuffing and pies, merry-making treats, then New Year's toasts. Even beyond Jan. 1, there are Super Bowl chips and dips and Valentine's Day chocolates to contend with.

We have four months of constant feasting, says Roger A. Clemens, DrPH, food science expert for the Institute of Food Technologists. If we do feast, as many people do, without control, then we set ourselves up for bad patterns, ill health, and weight gain.

Statistics for how much weight Americans tend to gain during the end-of-the-year festivities vary from 1 pound to 10, but it's undoubtedly a tough time for anyone trying to eat healthfully.

And then there's exercise. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, most Americans -- 59% in 2003 -- do not engage in vigorous, leisure-time physical activity. Add in the time demands of the holidays and the urge to stay inside because of the weather, and you have a recipe for even more inactivity.

With all this working against us, just how can we keep from overeating and underexercising during the Halloween-through-Valentine's Day season? WebMD asked some health and fitness experts for advice.

Dietary Downfalls

First, it's important to understand why it's so hard to keep up healthful habits this time of year. During the fall and winter seasons, the experts say, many factors combine to increase the urge to overeat. They include:

Food-focused celebrations. We normally socialize with friends and family using food and drink, says Clemens. And on special occasions, such as holidays, the availability and quantity of social fare increases -- raising the temptation to overindulge. The pressure to give in can be great, as we don't want to put a damper on the merrymaking or disappoint loved ones who have toiled to present good eats. The alcohol served at many social events can also destroy our resolve to eat in moderation.
Stress. As if there weren't enough stress in everyday life, holiday obligations and expectations add to the strain. In an effort to ensure that you have the perfect holiday, you're doing all these extra things, like making sure you have the right decorations out and making sure your cards are done, says Bethany Thayer, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. All that extra work can be overwhelming. It can add to the stress, and the stress can lead to the overeating.
Exhaustion. The demands of fall/winter festivities can leave people feeling sluggish and sleep-deprived. And when people are tired, they're more likely to overeat, says Amy Schmid, MA, RD, program director of nutrition communication for the Dairy Council of Nebraska.
Emotional eating. Schmid says some people use food to soothe sadness, anxiety, dissatisfaction, or loss. Others simply use any celebration as an excuse to overindulge, says Janet R. Laubgross, PhD, a clinical psychologist specializing in weight management in Fairfax, Va. They think, Oh, I get to indulge because it's Halloween or I get to indulge because it's Thanksgiving, she says, noting that holiday marketing of food and consumerism contributes to the excess as well. Also, Thayer notes, when people who are trying hard to eat healthfully fall off the wagon, many get frustrated and give up on healthy eating.
Cold weather. Some people crave high-calorie comfort food and drink when the mercury dips. It's comforting to eat stuffing, pumpkin pie, or your grandmother's high-calorie salad, says Schmid. It makes you feel good. It makes you remember the good days.

The same factors that contribute to overeating can also lead to physical inactivity.

The No. 1 reason people report for not exercising is lack of time, says Cedric Bryant, PhD, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise.

And, of course, overfull stomachs from all that holiday feasting, as well as stress, exhaustion, and cold weather, can dampen the best of workout intentions.

3 Keys to Survival

To make the feasting season a healthier one, experts say, it's important to do three things: Practice awareness, manage your stress and emotions, and plan in advance.

1. Practice Awareness

Be conscious of what you eat and how much, says Karmeen Kulkarni, MS,RD, BC-ADM, CDE, president of health care and education for the American Diabetes Association. Allow yourself some special treats on the holidays but have moderate servings. When there's a lot of food available, try an appetizer-sized helping of each dish instead of dishing up a full serving.
Tis the season to be realistic, says Schmid, noting this is not the best time for weight loss. She recommends trying to maintain weight instead of lose it.
Be sure to keep it all in perspective, the experts say. Even though it's the holiday season, it doesn't mean for the next three months, you can do whatever it is you want, says Thayer. Allow some treats for the special days, but then get back into your healthy routine the next day.
Always look for opportunities to move, says Bryant. For example, take a brisk walk whenever you get a few minutes; stand up and move around while you're on the phone call; and walk to a co-worker's desk instead of emailing him or her.

2. Manage Stress and Emotions

One way to keep stress at a minimum is to lower your expectations about holidays. Ask for help to lighten your holiday schedule. Host a potluck holiday meal instead of cooking dinner. Or serve it buffet style instead of having a sit-down meal.
Learn to say "no," in a courteous manner, to activities and food that aren't in your best interest. People may grow to respect it, and may even emulate it, Clemens says.
If you're sad about a loss, turn to people for comfort instead of food. Invite a new member to your holiday table, says Schmid. Maybe it's not the same without a loved one, but think of new traditions.
At social events, don't fill silence with food. Many people will eat and drink any beverage because they don't know what to say or how to act, says Clemens. Instead, he recommends making an effort to really get to know people, beyond superficial small talk: When we do that, we actually have the tendency to eat less, he says.
Another way to deal with emotions is to make sure exercise remains a priority in your life. Exercise can be a great stress reliever.

3. Plan in Advance

Eat a little before you go to a holiday gathering; hunger can undo the best intentions.
Also, avoid sources of temptation whenever you can, says Thayer. After visiting a buffet, leave the room that's filled with food. If there are sweets in the office break room, don't go there. If you're given unhealthy food as a gift, bring it to the office to share.
If you're traveling for the holidays, pick up some healthy, portable snacks at the grocery store before you leave so you're less likely to be tempted by unhealthy options.
Think about what really matters during this busy time of year, and plan accordingly. Figure out what you absolutely have to do, because there always are some obligations, says Laubgross. Then let go of the rest.
Also, schedule a brisk walk or hike after a holiday party or meal. Five minutes of exercise is better than 20 minutes of nothing, says Schmid.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line, the experts say, is to try to maintain a healthy lifestyle both in and outside of the fall/winter feasting season. Constant weight gains and losses can be harmful to your health and your psyche.

The best way to survive the feasting season? Keep in mind that celebrations are really about family and friends -- not food.

We need to instill in our social events that balance, moderation, and variety are key to better health, Clemens says.

Are Your Vitamins Safe?

Soup Recall, Progresso Tomato

2008-11-03T19:33:00.000-06:00

General Mills Issues Voluntary Class One Recall Involving One Day’s Production of Progresso Hearty Tomato Soup

Contact:
Tom Forsythe
763-764-6364

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Minneapolis, Minn., October 31, 2008 – General Mills is voluntarily recalling a single day's production of Progresso Hearty Tomato soup because of a product labeling issue. Product produced on this date may have been mislabeled, and may contain allergens not listed on the ingredient label, specifically egg, milk, and soy.

There have been no reports of allergic reactions or illnesses associated with this product, however, the possibility of unlabeled allergens makes this a Class One recall.

This voluntary recall includes only 19-ounce Progresso Hearty Tomato soup with the following code date printed on the bottom of the can:

19May10 NV VN-3

A production error resulted in a limited number of cases of Progresso Light Vegetable and Noodle soup being mislabeled as Progresso Hearty Tomato soup. Mislabeled cans have the code date 19May10 NV VN-3 on the bottom of the can, but are mislabeled as Progresso Hearty Tomato soup.

The mislabeled soups contain a product that is visibly different from the soup depicted on the label. Rather than containing Progresso Hearty Tomato soup, a mislabeled can would actually contain Progresso Light Vegetable and Noodle soup. Consumers allergic to egg, milk or soy products, or who are unsure of whether they are allergic to egg, milk or soy products, should not consume product with a Progresso Hearty Tomato label bearing the code date 19May10 NV VN-3 on the bottom of the can, and should contact General Mills for replacement or a full refund.

No other varieties or production dates of Progresso soup are affected by this recall.

Consumers requesting refunds or calling with further questions should contact General Mills Consumer Services at 1-800-200-9377.

Are Your Vitamins Safe?

10 diet myths

2008-11-02T21:58:00.000-06:00

Does Eating at Night Make You Fat? Is Caffeine Bad for You? Get the Facts on These and Other Diet Myths

By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Health News

Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD

Oct. 28, 2008 -- True or false: You'll get fat if you eat at night, high fructose corn syrup makes you gain weight, and caffeine is bad for you.

Those are all diet myths that got busted today in Chicago at the American Dietetic Association's annual meeting.

Meet the diet myth busters:

Christine Rosenbloom, PhD, RD, CSSD, of Georgia State University in Atlanta
Roberta Duyff, MS, RD, FADA, CFCS, the St. Louis-based author of the American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide.

Here are 10 diet myths Rosenbloom shattered at the conference, and Duyff's tips on telling diet fact from diet fiction.

Myth: Eating at night makes you fat.

Reality: Calories count, whenever you eat them.

There's no proof for this myth, Rosenbloom says. She notes some small studies with mixed results, tests on animals, and a belief that because eating breakfast is linked to lower BMI, eating at night isn't as good. But all in all, Rosenbloom says, it's your calorie total that matters, day or night.

Myth: Avoid foods with a high glycemic index.

Reality: You could use the glycemic index to adjust your food choices, but don't make it your sole strategy for losing weight or controlling blood sugar, Rosenbloom says.

"For those people that are already counting carbs, this can be a way for them to fine-tune their food choices, but it isn't the be-all, end-all for weight loss," she says.

Myth: High fructose corn syrup causes weight gain.

Reality: "There's probably nothing particularly evil about high fructose corn syrup, compared to regular old sugar," Rosenbloom says.

She explains that this diet myth arose in 2003, when researchers noticed that obesity was rising along with the use of high fructose corn syrup. "They speculated that ... maybe we handle [high fructose corn syrup] differently than we do sugar," but "there really isn't any evidence to support that," she says.

The American Medical Association recently concluded that high fructose corn syrup doesn't contribute to obesity beyond its calories.

Myth: Caffeine is unhealthy.

Reality: Rosenbloom says there is some evidence that caffeine may have a positive effect on some diseases, including gout and Parkinson's disease, besides caffeine's famous alertness buzz.

Also, caffeine doesn't dehydrate people who consume it regularly, Rosenbloom says.

But she cautions that caffeine isn't always listed on product labels, and children who drink a lot of caffeinated energy drinks may get more caffeine than their parents expect. "Kids tend to guzzle these things, whereas an adult may sip a beverage," Rosenbloom says.

Myth: The less fat you eat, the better.

Reality: "For some people, counting fat grams can work for weight control, but it isn't the be-all end-all for people," Rosenbloom says.

She says that people with heart disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome may benefit from adding a little healthy fat -- the monounsaturated kind -- and cutting back on carbohydrates. But they shouldn't increase their overall fat intake -- just swap saturated fat for monounsaturated fat.

"If you go out to an Italian restaurant and you have triple cheese-meat-sausage lasagna but then you have a little olive oil on your bread, you're not doing much for your heart," Rosenbloom says.

Myth: To eat less sodium, avoid salty-tasting foods and use sea salt in place of table salt.

Reality: Your sense of taste doesn't always notice sodium, and sea salt or other gourmet salts aren't healthier than table salt.

"Just because it doesn't taste salty doesn't mean that it isn't salty," Rosenbloom says. She says many processed foods contain a lot of sodium -- check the label.

Sea salt, Rosenbloom says, contains slightly less sodium per teaspoon than table salt only because sea salt is coarser, so fewer grains fit into the teaspoon.

Myth: Drinking more water daily will help you lose weight.

Reality: There's no evidence that water peels off pounds.

Foods containing water -- such as soup -- can fill you up, "but just drinking water alone doesn't have the same impact," Rosenbloom says. "Our thirst mechanism and our hunger mechanism are two different things."

Myth: Whole grains are always healthier than refined grains.

Reality: Whole grains are a healthy choice, but you needn't ditch refined grains. "You can have some of each," Rosenbloom says.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's "My Pyramid" dietary guidelines recommend getting at least half of your grain servings from whole grains.

"It doesn't say you have to replace all of your breads with whole grains or all of your foods with whole grains," Rosenbloom says. She adds that enriched grains -- refined grains with certain nutrients added (such as wheat enriched with folic acid, an important nutrient for preventing neural tube birth defects) -- have some perks.

"Enriched grains generally are going to have more folate, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and iron. The whole grains usually have more fiber, vitamin e, selenium, zinc, potassium -- so there's kind of a trade-off," Rosenbloom says.

Myth: Sugar causes behavioral problems in kids.

Reality: You might want to check your expectations about sugar and children's behavior.

For most children, "the excitement that kids have when supposedly they eat sugar is probably more related to the event and the excitement of the event than it is to actually consuming sugar," Rosenbloom says.

She cites research showing that when parents think their kids have been given sugar, they rate the children's behavior as more hyperactive -- even when no sugar is eaten.

Myth: Protein is the most important nutrient for athletes.

Reality: "It is true that athletes need more protein than sedentary people. They just don't need as much as they think. And they probably don't need it from supplements; they're probably getting plenty in their food," Rosenbloom says.

But timing matters. Rosenbloom recommends that after weight training, athletes consume a little bit of protein -- about 8 grams, the amount in a small carton of low-fat chocolate milk -- to help their muscles rebuild.

"That's probably all you need," she says. "You don't need four scoops of whey powder to get that amount of protein."

How to Spot a Diet Myth

New diet myths can crop up at any time; fads come and go. To Duyff, the task of telling nutrition myth from reality boils down to this: Step back, check out the evidence, and be a bit skeptical. Here is Duyff's specific advice:

Look for red flags, such as promises that sound too good to be true or dramatic statements refuted by reputable health organizations.
Think critically. Consider the "facts" touted in diet myths. Are they from biased or preliminary research? "One study doesn't make a fact," Duyff says. "The messages need to be evidence-based," which means multiple studies conducted in large groups of people and reviewed by independent scientists.
Ask an expert. A registered dietitian or other health professional can help you tell nutritional fact from fiction.
Remember, there are no magic bullets. "The true approach to good health includes an overall healthy eating pattern, enjoyed and followed over time," Duyff says.

Whole Food Multis

Frightning Fall Foods

2008-11-02T21:42:00.004-06:00

Fall Diet-spoilers

When the temperature starts to dip, many of us turn to rich fall foods - perfect for football games, hayrides, cozy fireside meals, and, if we aren't careful, weight gain. Take a look at some of fall's most fattening foods. Find tips on how to avoid or improve them so you can make it to Thanksgiving without gaining a pound.

Oktoberfest Fare

Oktoberfest celebrates fall with calorie-laden beer, sausages, and potato salads. Two weight-saving tips:

Eat smaller portions.
Decide how many alcoholic drinks you're going to have beforehand, then alternate them with nonalcoholic beverages.

One 12-ounce regular beer has 150 calories. Make it a light beer and you'll trim 40 calories.

Cream Soups and Hearty Stews

Cream of potato soup, broccoli cheese soup, and beef stroganoff may seem like perfect fall foods, but beware. Warm soups and stews that are loaded with cream, cheese, or meat are also loaded with calories. If you serve them in a bread bowl or atop rice or noodles, you add even more calories.

Tip:Choose broth-based and vegetable-based soups and stews to fill you up for fewer calories.

Special Pricing on the Pops!

2008-11-01T20:26:00.002-05:00

Try the Pops with special pricing! Get 2 for 1 or 4 for 2!!!!

Pops 2 for 1 Special
Pops 4 for 2 Special
Whole Food Multivitamins

Biscuits recalled for Melamine contamination

2008-10-31T17:13:00.000-05:00

Everlasting Distributors Inc. Issues a Nationwide Recall of Fresh and Crispy Jacobina Biscuits Because of Possible Health Risks

Contact:
Everlasting Distributors Inc.
201-823-0800

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- October 29, 2008 -- Everlasting Distributors Inc., Bayonne NJ is initiating a nationwide recall of all their 3.88oz (110gm) packages of Fresh and Crispy Jacobina Biscuits because it may be contaminated with Melamine.

Consumers who have the product which is being recalled should stop using it immediately. If consumers have questions about possible health risks, they should contact their doctor.

Product was distributed nationwide in Asian Grocery stores.

The product comes in 3.88oz (110 gm) blue and red color clear plastic package, labeled “JACOBINA”.

No illnesses associated with this product have been reported to date.

The recall was initiated after FDA testing discovered that product was found to contain Melamine. Consumers who have purchased Fresh and Crispy Jacobina Biscuits are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 201-823-0800, Monday to Friday 9:00 to 5:00, Eastern Standard Time.

Whole Food Multis

Win A ER Detox Spot!

2008-10-29T19:14:00.001-05:00

Contest: Win ER Detox Spot ($535)

"I was cleaned out, calmed down and cleared up, and prepared to continue the process as a way of life." Donna Karan, designer, after her cleansing experience."

You have to move fast. We'll pick a winner from entries received here (use Comments below) by this Friday, October 31. Entries must be submitted by Friday, Oct 31, 6PM PT 9PM ET.

ER Detox starts Sunday, Nov 2.

Value: $535. See here

Contest Link Here

Another Reason to take Whole Food Vitamins

2008-10-28T21:50:00.001-05:00

Taking vitamins and supplements by pill has long been advocated by doctors and nutritionists in the health world - particularly in the realm of natural or holistic health. Unfortunately, many people take the wrong approach to ensuring their body gets the vitamins and nutrients it needs. What many don't realize is that the human body works best when digesting whole foods that include all the important vitamins - not just the vitamin itself. Thankfully, whole food vitamins and supplements can provide a healthier and better way!

When reading that Vitamin C found in many citrus fruits and vegetables helps to boost the immune system, you might be tempted to rush out and buy the latest Vitamin C tablet at a local discount or drug store. But when taking Vitamin C as an isolated vitamin, your body is missing out on a more complex source of nutrition that is produced only through consuming whole foods. In other words, it's not just the Vitamin C that contributes to a boost in your immune system or other health benefits; it's the entire process of eating and digesting whole foods. This process can only be matched by taking whole food vitamins and supplements.

What are Whole Food Vitamins?

Whole food vitamins are just the opposite of synthetic isolated vitamins. They are high-density concentrates of real whole foods processed by drying the whole foods and turning them into a powder form, which is then encapsulated so we can take the food as a pill. Whole food supplements contain all the cofactors and micronutrients found in whole foods, thereby providing a more complex source of nutrition than the vitamin supplements created in a lab.

With more than 25,000 different micronutrients, or cofactors, being contained in whole fruits and vegetables, it's no wonder citizens in our Western society find it difficult to consume the number of nutrients needed for optimal health. And synthetic vitamin supplements simply don't meet the complex nutritional needs of the body as do whole foods. By consuming whole food vitamins, you are getting the vitamins your body needs and providing an easy way for your body to process these vitamins. In a world of fast food and processed meals, these can be a lifesaver!

The Creation Process Makes a Difference

Whole food vitamins and supplements are produced through a unique process of culturing and fermentation, which makes the nutrients more easily digestible. This process also creates even more nutrients, probiotics, and enzymes to benefit the body. Many isolated vitamin supplements or synthetic vitamins actually pull nutrients from the body while being processed. These may also cause your body to store unprocessed nutrients that cannot be absorbed properly (sometimes at toxic levels), or the unprocessed nutrients may simply be passed out of the body unused.

Whole Food Multis

ER Detox Program

2008-10-28T16:15:00.005-05:00

Detox movie- Will I be hungry??

What is it?

A 4-week jumpstart on weight loss. Plus a body tune-up. So your body can handle the holiday cheer

Do I have to do Fat Burn first?

No. Detox is a great way to start a weight loss program. It’s designed to get rid of “false fat” caused by toxic buildup. It makes it easier to develop brand new eating and drinking habits.

If you’ve done Fat Burn, a Detox tune-up makes your body more efficient in burning fat. Helps break through weight loss plateaus.

Either way, Detox takes your body on vacation. It:

Helps release the toxins caught in tissues and fat cells..
Cleans out metabolic waste - like cleaning out your fireplace at the end of winter...
Helps pinpoint food sensitivies...
Helps you let go of addictions. Gets rid of false fat brought on by toxic buildup
Rejuvenates skin and other organs

Will I be hungry?

YOU will be in control of what you eat and drink. Most people are amazed that they never feel hungry, even during the juice fasting part.

You’ll eat so that your body feels light, not hungry. It’s a rejuvenation plan that restores the body. NOT calorie restriction that depletes the body.

How long is the fasting part?

The fast is optional. It’s a 5-day guided juice fast – after you have prepared your body during the previous ten days. Vegetable and fruit juices during the day, warm broths at night. With superfoods as necessary.

Juice fasting is a pretty aggressive cleanse, but the rewards are commensurate. It gives you the opportunity to reprogram your cells to create a new blueprint. Replacing sick, tired and addicted with fit, strong, and in control.

Here’s an overview:

Days 1-10:	Solid food cleanse – primarily vegetables and fruits. Protein and fat as necessary. Some grain if appropriate. Elimination diet to begin to pinpoint food sensitivities Preparation for fasting
Days 11-15	Optional juice fast Alternative toddy cleanse Adjunct therapies like skin brushing, baths, etc.
Days 16-30	Transition to next cycle Adding back foods to pinpoint food sensitivities

You overdue for a new you? From the inside out?

Go to little spa to sign up

Click on ER Detox

Half of US doctors use placebo treatments

2008-10-28T16:12:00.002-05:00

Survey: Half of US doctors use placebo treatments

Interesting dilemma.

Just in from London...

"About half of American doctors in a new survey say they regularly give patients placebo treatments - usually drugs or vitamins that won't really help their condition. And many of these doctors are not honest with their patients about what they are doing, the survey found.

"That contradicts advice from the American Medical Association, which recommends doctors use treatments with the full knowledge of their patients.

"It's a disturbing finding," said Franklin G. Miller, director of the research ethics program at the U.S. National Institutes Health and one of the study authors. "There is an element of deception here which is contrary to the principle of informed consent."
"Placebos as defined in the survey went beyond the typical sugar pill commonly used in medical studies. A placebo was any treatment that wouldn't necessarily help the patient.
"Scientists have long known of the "placebo effect," in which patients given a fake or ineffective treatment often improve anyway, simply because they expected to get better..." Continued here. PDF in case

And therein lies the dilemma: to tell or not to tell?

Experts don't know if the placebo effect would be undermined if patients were explicitly told they were getting a dummy pill.

Your take?

Whole Food Multis

Special Kitty Food Recall

2008-10-28T16:08:00.000-05:00

Mars Petcare US Issues Voluntary Recall of a Limited Number of Bags of SPECIAL KITTY® Gourmet Sold at Wal-Mart locations in Fifteen States due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

Contact:
Debra Fair
MARS PETCARE US
(973) 691-3536

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- FRANKLIN, Tenn. – October 27, 2008 – Mars Petcare US today announced a voluntary recall of a limited number of bags of SPECIAL KITTY® Gourmet Blend dry cat food sold at Wal-Mart locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia. The pet food is being voluntarily recalled following a positive test result indicating a potential contamination with Salmonella.

This product should not be sold or fed to pets. Pet owners should dispose of product in a safe manner (example, a securely covered trash receptacle) and return the empty bag to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Salmonella can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and, if there is cross contamination caused by handling of the pet food, in people as well, especially children, the aged, and people with compromised immune systems. Healthy people potentially infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. On rare occasions, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Animals can be carriers with no visible symptoms and potentially infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

There have been no complaints or reports of illness resulting from consumption or handling of the recalled product.

Pet owners who have questions about the recall should call 1-877-568-4463 or visit www.petcare.mars.com.

Recalled Pet Food
Product: SPECIAL KITTY® Gourmet Blend Dry Cat Food
Best If Used By Date: AUG 11 09
Best If Used By Date Location: Back of bag
Production Lot Code: 50 XXXX X (Found on back of bag just after "Best If Used By" date. Consumers should look for "50" as the first two digits of the second line.)
UPC Code: UPC code numbers can be found directly underneath the bar code on the package. Please find recalled pet food UPC information below.

3.5 lb.	SPECIAL KITTY® Gourmet Blend	81131 17546
7 lb.	SPECIAL KITTY® Gourmet Blend	81131 17547
18 lb.	SPECIAL KITTY® Gourmet Blend	81131 17548

Affected Stores: Wal-Mart locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia.

In an effort to prevent the transmission of Salmonella from pets to family members and care givers, the FDA recommends that everyone follow appropriate pet food handling guidelines when feeding their pets. A list of safe pet food handling tips can be found at: www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html

Pet owners who have questions about the recall should call 1-877-568-4463 or visit www.petcare.mars.com.

Whole Food Multis

Harry and David, Moose Munch Recall

2008-10-24T16:58:00.000-05:00

Harry and David Issues Nationwide Allergy Alert on Undeclared Pecans in Harry & David Moose Munch Confection, Milk Chocolate Gingerbread

Contact:
Mr. Bill Ihle EVP, Corporate Relations
541 864-2145 (Media Calls Only)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- October 22, 2008 -- Harry and David, of Medford, Oregon, is voluntarily recalling approximately 400 1 lb. 4 oz. boxes labeled Harry & David Moose Munch Confection, Milk Chocolate Gingerbread because the package may contain a different Moose Munch product which contains pecans not declared on the ingredient statement. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to pecans run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

Affected product was distributed throughout the United States under the Harry & David brand only in Harry and David stores.

Harry and David is recalling 1 lb. 4 oz. boxes of Harry & David Moose Munch Confection, Milk Chocolate with a "Best if used by" date of 06/28/09. The "Best if used by" date is located on a sticker on the bottom of the box. The bottom of the box also has the stock identifying number RSD142014 printed on it. This lot of product was sold beginning 10/09/08. The popcorn-based confection is packaged in 1 lb. 4 oz. brown and white paperboard boxes. The boxes have a slight wedge shape and feature a large white moose image on the front. Inside the boxes are clear plastic bags of the confection.

There have been no illnesses or injuries reported to date. Anyone concerned about an illness/injury should contact a physician immediately.

This problem, which was discovered on October 21st, 2008, occurred because Dark Chocolate Butter Pecan Moose Munch® Confection was inadvertently packed in a Milk Chocolate Gingerbread outer box. It is estimated that fewer than 60 such boxes were produced.

Consumers with product may return it to any Harry and David retail store for a full refund. Consumers with questions about the recalled product may phone the Harry and David Customer Service division at 800-233-1101, 24 hours a day.

www.fda.gov

Whole Food Multis

Italiana Cuccine Recall, Allergy Alert!

2008-10-24T16:56:00.001-05:00

Nonna's Real Italiana Cuccine Issues an Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk, Soy, and Wheat in Stuffed Artichokes

Contact:
Ruby Lovecchio
214-535-7630

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- October 22, 2008 -- Nonna's Real Italiana Cuccine of Slidell, LA is recalling the following Nonna's Real Italiana Cuccine brand products:

Stuffed Artichokes, Net Wt. 15 oz.

This product is being recalled because it contains milk, soy, and wheat that was distributed in packaging that does not reveal the presence of these ingredients. People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk, soy, or wheat run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.

This product is distributed through retailers in the Greater New Orleans area including the Northshore from October 8, 2008 to October 17, 2008. The product is individually wrapped in clear plastic wrap bearing the label: "STUFFED ARTICHOKE, Net Wt. 15 oz., NONNA'S REAL ITALIANA CUCCINE".

There have been no reported illnesses to date.

The above omission was found during a routine FDA inspection. Distribution of these products has been suspended while we correct the labels to include all ingredients.

Consumers who have questions or purchased the product may contact Ruby Lovecchio at 214-253-7630 for information and return instructions.

www.fda.gov

Whole Food Multivitamins

Hartz Recall, Chicken Rawhide has Salmonella

2008-10-24T16:45:00.001-05:00

The Hartz Mountain Corporation Voluntarily Recalls One Specific Lot of Nationwide Chicken-Basted Rawhide Chips Because of Possible Health Risk

Contact:
John Mullane
(914) 712 9150

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- October 20, 2008 -- The Hartz Mountain Corporation, Secaucus, NJ is voluntarily recalling one specific lot of Hartz Chicken-Basted Rawhide Chips due to concerns that one or more bags within the lot are potentially contaminated with Salmonella. Hartz is fully cooperating with the US Food and Drug Administration in this voluntary recall.

Salmonella can cause serious infections in dogs, and, if there is cross-contamination caused by handling of the rawhide chips, in people as well, especially children, the aged, and people with compromised immune systems. Healthy people potentially infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. On rare occasions, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Animals can be carriers with no visible symptoms and can potentially infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The product involved is 4,850 - 2 pound plastic bags of Hartz Chicken-Basted Rawhide Chips, lot code JC23282, UPC number 3270096463 which were distributed to a national retail customer. While the normal testing that Hartz conducts through an independent outside laboratory did not detect the presence of Salmonella in any Hartz rawhide products, sample testing conducted by another laboratory did indicate the presence of the bacteria in a sample bag of the Chicken-Basted Rawhide Chips. Hartz is aggressively investigating the difference in test results and the potential source of the problem.

Although Hartz has not received any reports of animals or humans becoming ill as a result of coming into contact with this product, Hartz is taking immediate steps to remove the product from all retail stores and distribution centers. Dog owners who purchased this product should check the lot code on their bag, and, if the code is not visible, or if the bag has lot code JC23282 imprinted thereon, they should immediately discontinue use of the product and discard it in a proper manner.

Consumers can contact Hartz at 1-800-275-1414 with any questions they may have and to obtain reimbursement for purchased product.

Vitamin Girl Shop, Whole Food Multis

Vitamins A, C and E are 'a waste of time and may even shorten your life'

2008-10-21T16:48:00.001-05:00

Vitamins A, C and E are 'a waste of time and may even shorten your life'

So said the headline published around the world this past week:

From the newspaper article:

"Vitamins taken by around a third of the population do not extend life and may even cause premature death, according to a respected group of international scientists.

"After reviewing 67 studies involving more than 230,000 men and women, the experts say there is no convincing evidence that taking supplements of the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E can make you healthier."

We were as stunned as anyone else at the timing and impact of this huge report.

As you know from the "Are Your Vitamins Safe?" report, this is only the most recent in a growing number of studies finding that synthetic vitamins (either from a lab beaker or isolated from a plant or animal) are worthless or even risky for a significant number of people. How can this be?

Here's a big reason:

These isolated synthetic vitamins are not absorbed and utilized properly by the body.

That's because - the 'main vitamin' ingredient, (e.g. A, E, C, etc.) which is extracted by synthetic vitamin makers, does not include the chemical cousins and other ingredients that main vitamin comes with in its natural form. Apparently, the body needs these "cofactors" to absorb the main vitamin.

It's cheaper to extract just the main vitamin. Only it appears now that the resulting synthetic vitamins are useless or worse.

What's the alternative?

Today there is a new class of multis, whole food multis. They put the whole food in the supplement (minus water and fiber), rather than just the isolated main vitamin or mineral.

Order the Pops Here

Vitamin Scare

2008-10-21T16:42:00.001-05:00

Your daily vitamin might not be the insurance you think it is.

Are you aware of big vitamin scare going around the US and UK? The staid Reader's Digest even had a cover story, "The Vitamin Hoax: 10 not to take" Feb., 2007).

Worst case: some vitamins are harmful. Best case: they do, well, nothing. So says the Reader's Digest.

Before you pop that next daily multi, check the bottle for two things:

1. Toxic ingredients.
Artificial colors: FD&C Blue #2 Lake, FD&C Red 40, etc.
Preservatives: sorbates (eg, Polysorbate 80), benzoates (eg, sodium benzoate), nitrites (eg, sodium nitrite), sulphites (eg, sulphur dioxide)

2. Are they synthetic?
Look at the names of the vitamins and minerals in the “Ingredients” listing on the label of the bottle. (You may need a magnifying glass.) A vitamin or mineral is synthetic if only its chemical and/or popular name appears, with no plant source.
E.g. from the label of a popular synthetic multivitamin seen on TV
Ingredients: Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Phosphate, Magnesium Oxide, Potassium Chloride, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), DL-tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E), ALL SYNTHETIC vitamins.

Your vitamins are not synthetic if they are listed with their whole food source. For example, “Vitamin C (from camucamu fruit)” indicates that you’re getting the Vitamin C, along with the other nutrients it lives with in the whole fruit. Not just the isolated vitamin C made in a lab.

That's the reason Dr. Heidi finally designed a daily whole food multi, the Pops.

If you want a daily multi that is whole-food based, with no toxins or synthetic vitamins, go here and get some. They're not a drug, so give them a few months to test them.

If you HATE to pay shipping like I do, check the 4 month (4 boxes) "subscription" option, and you don't pay shipping.

Regardless of whether you get the whole food multis designed by Dr. Heidi or not (I've taken them for three years) please throw out any synthetic vitamins that might be doing you more harm than good.

Got Toxis? Next Detox Program Starts In 5 Days!

2008-10-20T14:54:00.002-05:00

The next Detox Program starts in 5 Days! Sign up now! I know we all try to take care of our bodies, eat right, exercise ect. But Toxins can still get into our bodies. Dr. Heidis Detox Program is designed to get us back on the right track by getting all the bad stuff out of us. There are several options available for the program, and specials for boxes of pops as well.
Little Spa
Go to Little Spa and click on registration. The full program includes one-on-one calls, as well as all the support you need during this program. The program is a total of 5 weeks. Spots are filling up fast, so what are you waiting for?

Little Spa Detox

FDA Cookie Recall

2008-10-18T11:38:00.002-05:00

Lotte USA, Inc. Initiates Nationwide Recall of Koala's March Crème filled Cookies

Contact:
Lotte USA, Inc.
269-963-6664

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- October 17, 2008 -- Lotte USA, Inc., Battle Creek, MI initiated a recall of all Koalas' March Cookies on September 29, 2008 because they were produced in China and they may be contaminated with melamine. The products are packaged in a plastic overwrap and the recall includes the following products:

Koala March King Size Chocolate 1.8 oz 50 grams
UPC 0 81900 00001 7

Koala March King Size Strawberry 1.8 oz/50 grams
UPC 0 81900 00007 9

Koala March King Size White Chocolate 1.8 oz/50 grams
UPC 0 81900 00011 6

Koala March Family Pack Chocolate 9.5 oz/270 grams
UPC 0 81900 08001 9

Koala March Family Pack Strawberry 9.5 oz/270 grams
UPC 0 81900 08002 6

Koala March Family Pack White Chocolate 9.5 oz/270 grams
UPC 0 81900 08011 8

Koala March Family Pack Chestnut 9.5 oz/270 grams
UPC 0 81900 08010 1

Koala March Family Hawaii Chocolate 9.5 oz/270 grams
UPC 0 81900 08003 3

Koala March Family Hawaii Pineapple 9.5 oz/270 grams
UPC 0 81900 08004 0

The product were distributed nationwide and to Canada through wholesale distributors and retail stores. Lotte USA, Inc. is not aware of any illnesses or injuries associated with these products.

Individuals who have experienced any health problems after consuming the Koala March cookies are advised to contact their health care professional.

Customers who have purchased Koala’s March cookies are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or discard it in their trash. Consumers with questions may contact the company at (269) 963-6664, Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 5:00 Eastern Standard Time.

FDA Home Page
Vitamin Girl Shop, Are your vitamins safe?

Leaving Town

2008-10-17T17:34:00.002-05:00

I have to announce I will be out of town for the next week. I am leaving in the morning, so it will be a bit before I can get back to anyone. Thanks again for stopping by! I will get back to everyone as soon as I get back!
Are Your Vitamins Safe?

Food Resitance

2008-10-16T20:34:00.001-05:00

Food resistance? What's that?

A movement to resist the industrial food that jams supermarket shelves and restaurant menus.

Yes, I have joined the Resistance. So have others. The inspiration of the real food drive is Dr. Heidi, whose ER Fat Burn program, rooted in real food instead of industrial fare, is changing lives before my eyes. And in weeks, not months or years.

You might be surprised at what you're eating - that you thought was real food - but isn't. Eating real food has brought "believe it or not" kind of results.

One gent went from 8 beers/day to 0 beers/day in 10 days.

One gal lost 24 pounds in 6 weeks and was never hungry. Still isn't.

Other tidbits from members of the Food Resistance:

"Sexual energy up. - after one week.

"Hot flashes finally gone.
I can sleep through the night again
I'm off Diet Pepsi" - two weeks.

"No more gas and bloating
No more diarrhea
Depression gone." -two weeks.

"Energy for sports back up
Sexual desire back up
Belching almost gone" - two weeks

What are they doing?

Resisting the industrial foods they used to eat everyday. Industrial foods from supermarkets and restaurants.

Instead, they're eating real food: Learning what it is and where to find it.

This clan of folks is happily foraging for their food in all kinds of places, online and off. And that, apparently, has helped all manner of ailments - in as little as 10 days to two weeks. They also have private weekly consultations with Dr. Heidi, the nutritionist who created ER.

Want to join us?

New ER Detox/Cleanse program starts October 25

The ER Detox/Cleanse is the second cycle in Dr. Heidi's Extreme Regime Weight Loss program. You alternate between Far Burn and Detox to achieve healthy weight loss.

In Dr. Heidi's ER Fat Burn program, based on real food, 95% of the participants have

1) lost weight and so far, kept it off;
2) have watched their daily harmful habits fade away...without the usual suffering and feelings of deprivation; and
3) feel like new people from the inside out.

"Everything I believed (about the industrial food they sell us)," Lulu whispered, "was a lie." Posted by Kim Klaver at 12:55 PM

To sign up for one of the programs visit The Little Spa here

FDA Monitoring Vitamins

2008-10-16T01:17:00.003-05:00

....a firm is responsible for determining that the dietary supplements it manufactures or distributes are safe and that any representations or claims made about them are substantiated by adequate evidence to show that they are not false or misleading. This means that dietary supplements do not need approval from FDA before they are marketed...firm does not have to provide FDA with the evidence it relies on to substantiate safety or effectiveness before or after it markets its products.....manufacturers do not need to register themselves nor their dietary supplement products with FDA before producing or selling them......the manufacturer is responsible for establishing its own manufacturing practice guidelines to ensure that the dietary supplements it produces are safe and contain the ingredients listed on the label.....there are no provisions in the law for FDA to "approve" dietary supplements for safety or effectiveness before they reach the consumer.....The manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that the "Supplement Facts" label and ingredient list are accurate, that the dietary ingredients are safe, and that the content matches the amount declared on the label...That is directly from the FDA website, It honestly scares me.

Whole Food Nation has posted this.........

Whole Food Nation’s manufacturing facility, Garden State Nutritionals (GSN), New Jersey is FDA-licensed and certified GMP. GMP, which stands for Good Manufacturing Practices, is a certification given by the National Nutritional Foods Association (NNFA) and NSF International, two independent national nonprofit organizations that employ a uniform set of standards so that consumers can be assured that what’s on the label is also in the box, and that they are receiving pure supplements at accurate dosage levels. GSN has earned the coveted NNFA GMA 'A' rating, and is kosher-approved.

GSN has been manufacturing health supplements since 1977 and supplies diatary supplements to more than 35 countries around the world.

GSN link - http://www.gardenstatenutritionals.com /

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not review or approve dietary supplements like Pop a Green™ or Pop a Purple™.
The FDA instead licenses factories to manufacture dietary supplements, and issue label guidelines.
Pop a Green™ and Pop a Purple™ are manufactured by an FDA-licensed factory that has met all the FDA label guidelines.
These guidelines include posting the statement in the box below. (The FDA does review and approve drugs like Vioxx and Celebrex.)

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Whole Food Nation
Are Your Vitamins Safe?
Vitamin Girl Shop

Allergy Alert, Kroger Chocolate Chips Recalled By FDA

2008-10-16T00:57:00.001-05:00

Barry Callebaut USA LLC Issues Allergen Alert on Undeclared Milk Protein in Kroger Value Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

Contact:
Technical: Mr. Bradley Wilson, Director of Quality Assurance
Press: Ms. Sarah O’Neil, Marketing Director
Telephone: 1-866-678-5221

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Chicago, IL -- October 10, 2008 – Barry Callebaut USA LLC is conducting a voluntary recall on its product sold by Kroger Stores under the brand "Kroger Value Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips", 12 oz., UPC Code is 11110–86603 and "sell by" date May 30, 2010, as the product may contain undeclared milk protein. The "sell by" date is found printed in black on the end of the bag. People with allergies or severe sensitivity to milk protein may be at risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume this product.

The Kroger Value Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips subject to this recall were sold in Kroger stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

This recall was determined necessary after it was identified by 3 consumers that packages of Kroger Value Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips may also contain chocolate chips with undeclared milk protein. The package ingredient label does not identify that the product may contain milk protein.

Consumers who have purchased Kroger Value Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips with the above indicated code date may return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with any questions may contact Barry Callebaut at 1-866-678-5221.

http://www.fda.gov
Vitamin Girl Shop

8 healthy foods?

2008-10-15T19:57:00.003-05:00

These 8 "Healthy" Foods Are Fakes...

Foods are found in grocers everywhere that claim to be healthy. If you read the front package it seems like real fruit, or whole grains but we have to think twice about foods that make health claims and read the ingredients - not just the BIG BOLD things on the front of the package.

Look at this list of these Fraud Foods, the ones that lead us to believe we are eating healthy.

1 Smucker’s Simply Fruit
All varieties of Smucker’s Simply Fruit contain more fruit syrup than actual fruit. And the syrup doesn’t even come from the fruit in the products’ names, but from (cheaper) apple, pineapple, or pear juice concentrate.

2 Multigrain Tostitos
A one-ounce (8 chips) serving of Multigrain Tostitos has more sugar (1 gram) than any of its “Four Wholesome Grains.”

3 Kellogg’s Special K Fruit & Yogurt
The company touts that the “ cereal combines the crunch of whole grain goodness, the smooth creaminess of yogurt and the sweet taste of berries….” Yet there is more refined rice than whole grain wheat, no berries (just dyed apple pieces), and no yogurt (just yogurt powder that is usually heat treated, killing any beneficial bacteria) in the cereal.

4 Sara Lee Fruits of the Forest Deep Dish Pie
Pie is no health food, but Sara Lee’s looks like an exception. With photos of luscious apples, rhubarb, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, the pie seems like a virtual cocktail of vitamin-packed fruits, “simmered in their own juices” to cut down on the added sugar. But Fruits of the Forest has more partially hydrogenated oil and sugar than any fruit except apples. The upshot: Each serving (1/9 of a pie) has 340 calories, 4 -1/2 grams of saturated fat, and 4 grams of trans! That’s half a day’s bad fat.

5 Kellogg’s Eggo Nutri- Grain Pancakes
The box boasts that these pancakes are “Made with Whole Wheat and Whole Grain,” but they consist primarily of white flour.

6 Gerber Graduates for Toddlers Juice Treats
The packaging is decorated with pictures of oranges, grapes, cherries, peaches,
and pineapples. Yet the leading ingredients are corn syrup and sugar – and the only “fruit” they contain is nutritionally poor white grape juice concentrate. These snacks are more candy than fruit juice!

7 Enviga
Coca-Cola/Nestle claims that their new drink’s combination of caffeine and an antioxidant extracted from green tea will cause people to burn more calories than the drink provides and help them control their weight. In fact, one in five people drinking Enviga burn fewer, not more, calories and long-term studies on the ingredients in Enviga show no consistent effect on weight.

8 DanActive “immunity” dairy drink
This Dannon product claims to help “strengthen your body's defenses.” But the only study Dannon did to see if drinking DanActive kept people from getting sick found that it didn’t! Source cspinet.org

From the: Whole Food And More Blog

Can't eat right? Missing your daily dose of fruits and veggies? Try the Pops, Whole Food Vitamins. Veggies and Fruit in a way you can live with.
Green Pops Page
Purple Pops Page

From Robin- About the ER Fat Burn Program

2008-10-15T19:14:00.004-05:00

This is a post from my aunt, I thought it was great and felt I should share it, I am hoping to start the program soon myself. I share a lot of the same views, I also do not have a weight problem, am to thin in fact, but have similar issues with food.

Why the ER Fat Burn wasn't for me...

"I didn't need to lose weight. I audited the program because I wanted to make sure my ten-year-old son was eating right." -Robin.

"I was eating right, mostly plants, and no red meat, not too much fat and rarely ate sweets. (ok I thought I was eating right!)

"I did drink a lot of Alka Seltzer because my stomach was always upset. I was always bloated and couldn't get rid of the 10-year-old baby belly fat. I didn't have energy to play with my son or stay awake with my husband after our son went to sleep.

"I didn't sleep well, always woke up a few hours after falling asleep tossing and turning for hours. I didn't make a connection with how I felt and the food I ate.

"A little voice kept telling me the ER Fat Burn program wasn't for me because I don't like meat, I've never heard of kefir, can't drink milk, don't like fish or cod liver oil, and didn't know how to find or afford the foods on the ER list.

"It wasn't as hard to find the real food as I thought it would be. I've become a regular at the St. Paul Farmers Market. This is where I found pastured eggs, pastured chicken, and grass-fed beef.

"I found raw cheese, uncured bacon and ham, real butter from grass-fed cows, Himalayan salt, sprouted bread, Kombucha and many other ER foods from my local Mississippi Market co-op. It was fun foraging for these foods. I didn't have to eat things I didn't like – fish, yuck. ( I am using lemon Cod Liver oil and drinking non-homogenized whole milk)

"The best and most unexpected thing was how my 10-year-old has grasped what I've learned in the ER program and has changed the way he eats.

"He tells all his friends what we eat now and why. He's on his own mission to help get his friends off the chicken nuggets, fast food and even low-fat milk. He will only eat eggs and meat from pastured sources. He helped me make butter a while back and loves the whole milk (I admit I haven't found raw milk yet - but I will).

"It's priceless to know I'm teaching my son how food affects health. The timing was so perfect to involve him in the things I was learning from Dr. Heidi. The entire ER group has helped shape the future of my son, so Thank you all!

"Also, my family loves grass-fed beef, that's huge for my son and me, we've never been red meat eaters.

"I haven't used Alka Seltzer in 10 weeks, no more upset stomach, bloating and the baby belly fat is gone.

"I enjoy playing with my son (and husband) again. I have energy again.

"Most nights I sleep through the night. If I do wake it's not all the tossing and turning like before.

"Thank you Dr. Heidi for showing what real food is and helping my son get on the ER food plan. Maybe when he has his own family our Extreme Regime food will be normal...

Thank You Robin!!!

Lemonu Sugar Cookie Monsters

2008-10-15T14:32:00.001-05:00

Lemony Sugar Cookie Monsters

Makes about 3 dozen

To decorate these frightening monster cookies, we’ve opted for flavorful dried fruit and nuts instead of sugary icing. Try using dried blueberries or currants for the eyes and pumpkin seeds or pine nuts for the teeth and eyebrows. Dried cranberries and slivered almonds are great to have on hand for decorating, too. Make sure to allow time for chilling the dough.

Ingredients

2½ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fine salt
3/4 cup (1½ sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons lemon zest
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 drops natural orange (or a combination of red and yellow) food coloring (optional)
Dried fruit and nuts for decorating

Method

Whisk together flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl; set aside. In a second large bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 30 seconds, then beat in 1 egg. Add lemon juice, zest and vanilla and beat again until smooth, about 30 seconds more. Add flour mixture and beat to combine. Add food coloring (if using) and beat again, or knead by hand, just until color is evenly distributed. Shape dough into two logs then wrap each snugly in parchment paper, twisting the ends in opposite directions like a piece of candy to tighten each roll and make it uniformly round and about 6 inches long. Chill for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk remaining egg and 1 tablespoon water together in a small bowl to make an egg wash; set aside.

Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Cut dough crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and transfer to prepared baking sheets, arranging cookies about 1 inch apart. Working with a few cookies at a time, brush tops with egg wash then decorate with dried fruit and nuts to make monster faces on each. Bake until light golden brown about the edges, 12 to 13 minutes. Set aside to let cookies cool completely then serve.

Nutrition

Per serving (3 cookies/86g-wt.): 360 calories (160 from fat), 19g total fat, 8g saturated fat, 65mg cholesterol, 105mg sodium, 44g total carbohydrate (3g dietary fiber, 20g sugar), 6g protein

Cheddar, Corn and potato chowder

2008-10-15T14:29:00.002-05:00

Recipe:

Cheddar, Corn and Potato Chowder

Serves 4

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 tablespoon flour
32 ounces vegetable broth
2 1/2 cup diced Yukon Gold potatoes (about 4 large)
2 cups frozen yellow corn
2/3 cup milk
1 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Pinch of cayenne pepper (garnish)
Chopped parsley (garnish)

Method

In a large saucepan over medium high heat, melt butter and sauté onion about 5 minutes, until tender. Mix in flour, coating the onion. Add broth and bring to a boil, whisking constantly until smooth. Reduce heat, add potatoes and simmer 20 minutes until tender. Slightly mash potatoes in soup, then stir in corn and milk. Cook another 5 minutes, remove from heat and stir in cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish, if desired.

Nutrition

Per serving (about 19oz/535g-wt.): 450 calories (210 from fat), 23g total fat, 13g saturated fat, 70mg cholesterol, 1200mg sodium, 47g total carbohydrate (4g dietary fiber, 6g sugar), 17g protein

Day 2 of the Pops expieriment

2008-10-15T00:30:00.004-05:00

Today was day 2 for me. I slept like a baby last night. It was heaven. I have 3 dogs in my house who seem to only sleep during the day, for once they did not keep me up. I got up today, had my 1/2 caf coffee, and a few apples, and took a purple. It was great. I have not had this much energy in a long time. I took my green about an hour ago, and have been winding down nicely. I love these!!! I have been working on my webpage all day, thats a bit frustrating, but I think I have it finally. Ready for day 3!
vitamingirlshop

Are Your Vitamins Safe?

Bread Recall by FDA

2008-10-14T13:30:00.001-05:00

Arnold Foods Company, Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Nuts in Brownberry Whole Grains Bread 100% Whole Wheat

Contact:
Lou Minella
215-323-9210

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- HORSHAM, PA, October 8, 2008 – Arnold Foods Company, Inc. is recalling BROWNBERRY brand Whole Grains BREAD 100% WHOLE WHEAT (1 LB 8 OZ) because it may contain undeclared almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts. People who have an allergy to these nuts run the risk of life threatening or serious allergic reactions if they consume the product.

The BROWNBERRY brand Whole Grains BREAD 100% WHOLE WHEAT was sold in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. This product was sold through retail stores and bakery thrift outlets.

The product being recalled has a green twist tie with a code date of "Oct 11" printed on the bread bag. No other Arnold brand or Brownberry brand products are affected.

The company announced the recall after receiving a report from one consumer who found nuts in the bread which are known allergens but were not listed on the ingredient statement. The company has received no other reports from consumers. There are no reports of injuries.

All packages with the above code date have been removed from store shelves.

Consumers with allergies to nuts who have purchased the product can return the product to its place of purchase for a full refund or call the company at 1-800-984-0989.

Are Your Vitamins Safe?

Milk Recalls

2008-10-14T13:29:00.002-05:00

HUA XIA Food Trade USA, Inc. Recalls YILI Brand Sour Milk Drink and YILI Brand Pure Milk Drink, Because of Possible Health Risk

Contact:
HUA XIA Food Trade USA, Inc.
(917) 216-0575

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- October 10, 2008 -- HUA XIA Food Trade USA, Inc. of Flushing, NY, is recalling YILI Brand Sour Milk Drink packaged in 250ml flexible paperboard boxes (all codes and all lots are affected) and YILI Brand Pure Milk Drink packaged in 250ml flexible paperboard boxes (all codes and all lots are affected) because it may be contaminated with melamine.

Consumers who have the product which is being recalled should stop using it immediately. If consumers have questions about possible health risks, they should contact their doctor.

YILI Brand Sour Milk Drink and YILI Brand Pure Milk Drink were distributed to New York City through Asian retail grocery stores.

PRODUCTS:

YILI Brand Sour Milk Drink is packaged in 250ml flexible paperboard boxes with blue, red and green Chinese writing. There is a picture of an Asian man in a green shirt and white tie clapping his hands on the face of the box. All codes and all lots are affected.
YILI Brand Pure Milk Drink packaged in 250ml flexible paperboard boxes with black, red and white writing, the writing on the package is in both English and Chinese. There is a picture of two cows playing basketball on the face of the box. All codes and all lots are affected.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall was initiated after FDA testing discovered that the product was found to contain Melamine.

Consumers who have purchased YILI Brand Sour Milk or YILI Brand Pure Milk Drink are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at (917) 216-0575, Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 5:00, Eastern Standard Time.

Are Your Vitamins Safe?

Food Fight Round 2

2008-10-14T13:21:00.001-05:00

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Food fight. Round two.

In Food fight. Round One, we discovered what, contrary to some people's beliefs, does not make most people fat.

Here's the second surprise from the food fight front:
What food DOES make a person fat?

One journalist spent five years looking into this full time. He reviewed tens of thousands of pages of research findings, and interviewed numerous doctors and nutrition folks. Here's his second (of nine) conclusions about what DOES make a person fat.

"2. The problem is carbohydrates in the diet, their effect on insulin secretion, and thus the hormonal regulation of homeostasis - the entire harmonic ensemble of the human body.

"9. By stimulating insulin secretion, carbohydrates make us fat and ultimately cause obesity. The fewer carbohydrates we consume, the leaner we will be." Taubes, p. 454

Before you gasp in disbelief, here's what Andrew Weil, the well known MD said about Taubes' stunning and revolutionary book on Larry King Live:

“I think this is a very important book. I’ve been recommending it to my medical colleagues and students. There are some very big ideas in this book…[Gary Taubes] has done a meticulous job of showing that many of the assumptions that are held by the conventional medical community simply rest on nothing…

"It’s very important to get these out to the medical community because a lot of the ways we try and prevent and treat obesity are based on assumptions that have no scientific evidence.”
-Dr. Weil, speaking on Larry King Live, 2008

Gary Taubes was as surprised by this conclusion as you might be right now.

[Carbs: bread, pasta, legumes, grains, cereal, chips, rice, sugar & sweets, donuts, muffins...]

"Hey," you say, "doesn't that sound like Atkins? But he's been been vilified in the professional community, hasn't he?"

Yep. Millions of people have lost weight using his approach. But Atkins today has many detractors. Here's a surprise reason...

Food fight. Round Three, next.

Posted by Kim Klaver at 12:11 AM

What does not make a person fat

2008-10-14T13:19:00.002-05:00

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Food fight. Round One

People have been fighting for years about what foods make a person fat or slinky, sick or healthy.

Here's the latest surprise from the food fight front:
What's a food that does NOT make a person obese?

One journalist spent five years looking into this full time. He reviewed tens of thousands of pages of research findings, and interviewed numerous doctors and nutrition folks. Here's his first (of seven) conclusions about what does NOT make a person fat.

"1. Dietary fat, whether saturated or not, is not a cause of obesity, heart disease or any other chronic disease of civilization." Taubes

Dietary fats include coconut oil, the fat on a Porterhouse steak, butter and bacon. They do NOT make you fat or obese after all.

Before you gasp in disbelief, here's what Andrew Weil, the well known MD said about Taubes' stunning and revolutionary book on Larry King Live:

“I think this is a very important book. I’ve been recommending it to my medical colleagues and students. There are some very big ideas in this book…[Gary Taubes] has done a meticulous job of showing that many of the assumptions that are held by the conventional medical community simply rest on nothing…

"It’s very important to get these out to the medical community because a lot of the ways we try and prevent and treat obesity are based on assumptions that have no scientific evidence.”
-Dr. Weil, speaking on Larry King Live, 2008

Gary Taubes was as surprised by his conclusion as you might be right now.

So what, did he find, really DOES make a person fat?

Food fight. Round Two, next.
By Kim Klaver, Whole Food Nation

Are Your Vitamins Safe?

Dr. Heidis ER Program Observations

2008-10-14T11:38:00.003-05:00

Friday, October 10, 2008

5 things I learned from ER Fat Burn

It's nice to know when a way of eating works for you. But it's nicer still when that same strategy works for lots of others, too.

Dr. Heidi has just run two ER Fat Burn 5-week programs. I know everyone in it because all were customers and readers of my stuff (about 50 active participants and more auditors). Here's what I learned while taping the group calls and from the many emails I received.

1. The experienced dieters in the group report that losing weight by eating ER real food works better than calorie counting, starving or pills. WAY better. Plus they were never hungry.

2. Eating real foods has a big side benefit: it regenerates bodies and heals ailments that most people thought they'd have to just "live with" for the rest of their lives. From acid reflux to scaly skin.

3. Eating specific real foods helps people reduce cravings for sweets and bread. Suddenly they don't feel deprived and sad about not having it.

4. Most of the participants thought they were eating pretty well. But they were stunned at how rejuvenated they felt after a week or two of eating ER real food. And love to go foraging for it.

5. Half of the group of July ER Fat Burn actives signed up for the Sep Fat Burn, and nearly half are already signed up for the October Detox/Cleanse program. In a time of "recession" someone laying out $500-600 for such a program several times over 4 months is a statement of its effectiveness all by itself. Think? NO ONE is rich here.

Dr. Heidi's October Detox/Cleanse 4-week program starts Oct 25. It's the second major cycle in the ER Real Food Weigh Loss approach. ER Fat Burn is not a prerequisite. You can start with the Detox/Cleanse. You will be able to sign up for it soon.

What if these neat things happen to you when you put some real food into your body?

Posted by Kim Klaver at 4:30 PM

Are Your Vitamins Safe?

Is exercise an impractical way to lose weight?

2008-10-14T11:33:00.004-05:00

Exercise? Impractical for weight loss? But everyone says to exercise to lose weight!

What should I do to lose weight then? Well, according to Dr. Heidi:

#1 to lose fat and weight: Eat right. A real food plan (with no pills required) does way more for fat burn and weight loss, including losing inches in the waist and gut, than exercise. Especially in the beginning. See below...

Yes, exercise is necessary for a healthy body. But for weight and fat loss, it's secondary to a real food plan. Dr. Heidi of ER Fat Burn explains...

You have to exercise so much (90 minutes a day now, they say) that right after, a body gets hungry. And its owner eats. After a good workout, has anyone else here (righteously) stopped off for the Starbucks latte + sweet thing?

People in the 5-week ER Fat Burn program have lost weight and inches, without changing their exercise habits. Oh. They don't exercise much because they work too much, not cuz they're lazy.

If it's weight you're trying to lose, says Dr. Heidi, right food is first. Then, if you want, exercise.

The body NEEDS exercise, yes. But for weight loss, it's an inefficient strategy, especially in the beginning. Exercise researcher Dr. Blair reports that "it’s much easier to eat 1,000 calories than to burn off 1,000 calories with exercise."

After four weeks...

Shane's gut hanging over hands before ER Fat Burn at 245 lbs

Shane's gut 4 weeks into ER Fat Burn at 225 lbs. See how much less is hanging over his hands...

Posted by Kim Klaver at 12:29 PM

Are Your Vitamins Safe?

Drugmakers Warning was FDA's Idea

2008-10-13T20:36:00.003-05:00

When drug makers made a suprise announcement that they no longer recommend cough and cold remedies for children under 4, they didn't let on that it was the governments idea. And why at age 4 rather than 6 like pediatricians wanted? Because the FDA suggested that, too. FDA officials proposed the cutoff this year in private discussions with the industry, government and industry officials confirmed Friday. The maneuvering is an example of how government health officials and the industries they regulate seek to come to an accommidation behind the scenes on tricky issues. In this case, there is scant evidence that the widely used over-the-counter medicines really work in children. "There is a delicate dance between how much legal authority the FDA has and their use of the bully pulpit for getting some sort of comprimise," said Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, Baltimore's health commisoner. He and other pediatricians have asked the FDA to ban the cold products for children under 6. A panel of independent advisers to the FDA strongly seconded the recommendation. But the agency took a different approach. The FDA says it settled on age 4 after a careful data review and a vigorous internal debate. Emergency-room data show that most of the problems involve kids under 4, but the FDA would not release the hospital data. Still, some of the FDA's independent advisers question the under 4 recommendation. "There was no data suggesting that the drugs were effective in kids under 12," said Sean Hennesey, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Pennsylvania. "I don't see how that's a fully rational approach to the problem."

Fort Worth Star-Telegram Sunday, 10-12-08

My web site

2008-10-12T18:14:00.002-05:00

For more articles, information, and ways to order the POPS go to VitaminGirlShop

Experts Agree

2008-10-12T18:12:00.001-05:00

Experts agree on something. Finally.

Posted on: October 16th, 2007 by Heidi Dulay

Why Veggies? Because they are a prime source of "co-factors" - the term professionals use to refer to vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients the body needs to process food. Co-factors are crucial for absorbing nutrition from food, making fuel for energy, neutralizing stress, and aging gracefully. Even the low carb fanatics know they have to eat veggies with their meat, fish, eggs or cheese2. Otherwise, they get stuck and have bad breath. Our bodies can't break down the proteins in meats well enough without co-factors. Not only do poorly processed proteins clog us up, but they cause leaky gut - holes in the intestines that bacteria make, as they gobble up the rotting protein lodged in the intestines.

A leaky gut allows foreign substances to pass into the bloodstream and land in joints. This results in inflammation and joint pain. It causes the immune system to start misfiring and the skin to break out in unsightly acne, lesions and scabs. Sometimes, what leaks through causes toxic growths and arterial plaque. Soon, diseases emerge, like allergies, arthritis, acne, osteoporosis, lupus, even cancer and heart disease.3

Not having enough cofactors causes cravings

- the body's cries for missing nutrients. Cravings remain until the body gets what it's looking for, or becomes too exhausted to look. When we eat junk food like sugar, alcohol, any white grain (white bread, white rice, most pasta), or other refined food like soybean or corn oil, the body has to scrounge for co-factors. It steals them from bones, organs, muscles and other tissues. It does that so that it can at least use the junk food for fuel. This puts off death, but not for very long.

"But I hate veggies," people say.

"The only ones I like are French fries and ketchup. Fruit makes me fat… Do beans count?" Or, "I can't eat fruit. I’m diabetic." Or, I don't have time to cook veggies. They just rot in my fridge."

That's why we created Pop-a-Green. And its twin Pop-a-Purple. So we could pop a pill to help make up for our sins of nutrition omission… We ' re not perfect either.

Whole Food Nation

The Pops

2008-10-12T17:58:00.004-05:00

Introducing "The Pops"™

Posted on: October 16th, 2007 by Heidi Dulay

The Pops are a dose of good nutrition in a capsule - one Purple in the morning, one Green in the afternoon or evening.

Promotes

Digestion
Elimination and detoxification
Energy
Better sleep
Better skin
Reduced stress and anxiety
Reduced cravings
Reduced aches and pains
Normal cholesterol and blood pressure
Weight loss

Whole food source of:

Antioxidants
Metabolic enhancers
Digestive enzymes
Probiotics

Green Pops Page
Purple Pops Page

Who needs whole food multis?

2008-10-12T17:57:00.001-05:00

Who Needs Whole-Food Multis?

Adolescents
Alcohol drinkers
Athletes
Dieters
Drug users, prescription or recreational
Elderly
Health fanatics
Junk food regulars
Overweight and obese people
People who supplement with specific nutrients
Sick people
Stressed out people
Smokers
Women who are pregnant, nursing, or taking oral contraceptives
Workaholics

Whole Food Nation

Fiber is a cheap filler....

2008-10-12T17:54:00.001-05:00

Fiber is a cheap filler...
Posted on: October 16th, 2007 by Heidi Dulay

Fiber is a good thing - if it's in food, or in a fiber supplement. It is NOT a good thing in a vitamin/mineral supplement, whether the supplement is synthetic or whole-food.

Why? Two reasons:

First, if fiber is among the ingredients in a capsule or tablet, you're getting less of the expensive ingredients (the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, probiotics, etc). You can buy a month's supply of fiber (psyllium husk, oat bran, wheat bran, etc.) in the bulk section of a health food store for a few dollars. A good vitamin or whole-food supplement costs way more.

The space in a capsule is best saved for precious ingredients, not wasted on cheap fillers, don't you think?

Second, fiber prevents the body from using vitamins and minerals. It can bind with vitamins and minerals and carry them right out of the body. Phyllis Balch, in the Fourth Edition of her immensely popular guide to natural health, recommends that "supplemental fiber and minerals should be taken at different times." (Prescription for Natural Healing, 2006, p. 30).

So, if you need to add fiber to what you eat, take it alone.

Whole Food Nation

What's wrong with synthetic supplements?

2008-10-12T17:50:00.003-05:00

What’s wrong with Synthetic Supplements?
Posted on: October 16th, 2007 by Heidi Dulay

Have you heard people laugh about Americans having the most expensive urine in the world? That's because the vitamins most Americans take are synthetic, and 90% of synthetic vitamins pass through the body unabsorbed.

A synthetic vitamin or mineral is a laboratory simulation of a simple version of the real thing. In the plant, the vitamin/mineral lives with many other vitamins, minerals and nutrients - the "cofactors" the body needs to absorb and use it.

If the cofactors are missing, as they are in synthetic vitamins, the body steals them from its organs, bones, muscles and other tissue. That's why taking synthetic vitamins/minerals over time can be harmful to your health. They deplete the body of other nutrients. For example, taking synthetic calcium regularly depletes the body of magnesium.

Multivitamins - blends of synthetic vitamins and minerals - don't remedy this problem. The concentrations of the vitamins and minerals in the formulas are rarely those found naturally in the plant. And many of their cofactors are missing. Some haven't even been discovered yet!

Synthetic vitamins are super-processed. They are usually manufactured at high temperatures and contain artificial or toxic ingredients, such as dyes, preservatives, coal tars, sugars, starch, and other additives. Kind of like paint or plastics.

Why would a manufacturer of health products do this? Aren't they in business to help us improve our health? Well, marketing concerns often overtake nutritional goals. Extending shelf life, making products look or taste better, meeting machine requirements, and lowering manufacturing costs, usually take precedence over nutritional value. The resulting supplements become pretty useless to us. Some experts say that they might even be dangerous over time.

3 Studies

#1. Study using synthetic beta carotene and Vitamin E halted. (reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, 1994) 29,000 male smokers were given synthetic beta carotene and synthetic Vitamin E. The study was stopped when rates of lung cancer, heart attacks and death increased.
#2. Birth defects increased for women on synthetic supplements (reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, 1995) 22,000 pregnant women were given synthetic Vitamin A. The study was halted because birth defects increased 400%.
#3. Men get thickened arteries on synthetic supplements (reported in Reuters Health, March, 2000). Men who took 500 mg of synthetic Vitamin C daily over 18 months showed signs of thickening of the arteries.

Dr. Zoltan P. Rona, M.D., says that while a healthy person will not drop dead immediately after ingesting synthetic supplements, "the long-term consequences of continuous, daily intakes are potentially dangerous." Reactions include fatigue, memory loss, depression, insomnia and potential liver disorders.

Whole Food Nation

Whole Food Multis- Real Nutritional Supplements

Liquid HCG Diet

Recession Pricing on the Pops!

TV Causes Overeating???

Herbal EVERYTHING?!

Recession Proof Your Diet

Breaking BAD Habits

How your friends and family may be killing your diet....

New study shows diet drinks can actually cause weight gain

You can eat what you want

New Years Resolution #1

Tainted Weight Loss Pills, are you taking any of these?

Tainted Weight Loss Pills Flagged as Health Risks

Which products were cited?

Why did FDA act against these products?

What undeclared ingredients were found?

Where are these products sold?

Is FDA taking further action?

Tips for consumers

For More Information

2009 is just around the corner...

Using Colon Cleansers

Kidney Risk Spurs Warning on Bowel Cleansers

Concerns With OTC Products Too

Safety Advice

For More Information

Pops Bare Bones Special

Are your vitamins safe?

Red #40, it's in everything

Even more of my opinions about "Fake Whole Food Vitamins"

The Pops- Voted Best Multivitamin 2008

Best Multivitamin 2008

Salt in unsupected foods

Salt Lurks in Unsuspected Foods

How Much Salt Is Too Much?

Recall of All Lots of Zhen De Shou Fat Loss Capsules Found to Contain an Undeclared Drug Ingredient

Fashion Sanctuary Issues a Voluntary Nationwide Recall of All Lots of Zhen De Shou Fat Loss Capsules Found to Contain an Undeclared Drug Ingredient

Urgent Nationwide Recall of Starcaps Dietary Supplement Capsules

Balanced Health Products, Inc. Conducts Voluntary Urgent Nationwide Recall of Starcaps Dietary Supplement Capsules Found to Contain an Undeclared Drug Ingredient

Stop & Shop Squash Recall

Stop & Shop Recalls Butternut Squash in Prepared Turkey and Ham DinnerRecall due to undeclared allergen, quality concerns

I have to take how MANY????

Are Whole Food Vitamins Better For You Than Regular Vitamins?

Wegmans Italian Classics Recall

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. Issues Voluntary Recall on Wegmans Italian Classics Seasoned Tomato Sauce

Panos Brands Cheddar Recall

PANOS Brands Recalls Vegan Rella Cheddar Block

In The News:Ban on fast food ads

The Truth Behind Tea

Google, Where is the Flu at?

Easy changes to keep Holidays from killing your diet

Top 20 Fitness Trends For 2009

Feeds are Ok now

Nestle Nesquik Recall

Top 10 Food Trends for 2008

Food Safety

Is it organic?

Make Grocery Shopping a Healthy Habit

Holiday Eating Time Is Back

Soup Recall, Progresso Tomato

General Mills Issues Voluntary Class One Recall Involving One Day’s Production of Progresso Hearty Tomato Soup

10 diet myths

Myth: Eating at night makes you fat.

Myth: Avoid foods with a high glycemic index.

Myth: High fructose corn syrup causes weight gain.

Myth: Caffeine is unhealthy.

Myth: The less fat you eat, the better.

Myth: To eat less sodium, avoid salty-tasting foods and use sea salt in place of table salt.

Myth: Drinking more water daily will help you lose weight.

Myth: Whole grains are always healthier than refined grains.

Myth: Sugar causes behavioral problems in kids.

Myth: Protein is the most important nutrient for athletes.

How to Spot a Diet Myth

Frightning Fall Foods

Fall Diet-spoilers

Oktoberfest Fare

Cream Soups and Hearty Stews

Seasonal Beverages

Carmel Apples

Macaroni and Cheese

Stop & Shop Recalls Butternut Squash in Prepared Turkey and Ham Dinner
Recall due to undeclared allergen, quality concerns