PAST PICKS AUGUST 2009

If you're thinking that, well, a hamburger is just a hamburger, think again.  First of all, you cannot get a hamburger at Five Guys prepared any other way than well done.  I know that because my husband (who happens to be in the meat business) wanted to try the quality of meat there so he went in.  He asked for a hamburger medium-rare, and was told all the hamburgers are made one way---well done.  Yet, Five Guys claims their hamburgers are 'juicy.'  Now, I ask you:  If something is well done, how can it be juicy?  Because it's full of fat and oil, that's how!  A regular hamburger, no cheese or any other topping, is 700 calories, 430 mg. of sodium, and ... are you ready? ... 43 grams of fat!!!   That's right, you heard me.  Adding cheese to your burger will up it to 840 calories, 1,050 mg. sodium and 55 grams of fat.  Think the Veggie Sandwich would be better?  Well that's 440 calories, and 1,040 mg. sodium.    

Obesity-related conditions now account for 9.1% of all medical spending, up from 6.5% in 1998.  About a third of adult Americans are obese, and the obesity rate rose 37% between 1998 and 2006.

Did you know that the wealth of vitamin K found in green beans plays an important role in bone health? Although calcium and vitamin D are often the nutrients highlighted in discussions on bone and prevention of bone-related disease, current research is increasingly revealing the importance of vitamin K. Although much of the research has focused on the K2 form of the vitamin, the K1 form found in greens beans has also been associated with better bone mineral density and decreased risk of bone-related diseases. So, green beans can now join in with a variety of vegetables (including kale, spinach, collard greens and mustard greens) which are excellent sources of vitamin K1 and provide welcomed support for our bones. [Source:  www.whf.com]

A client in the Oakhurst office had a question about snow crab clusters:  What are the calories, and what is a serving.   One large snow crab cluster, in the shell, averages about ½ lbs. (or 8 oz.) each.  A standard one-serving measurement of snow crabs is 100 grams (which calculates to 3.5 oz) and 95 calories.   Therefore, one full snow crab cluster, if measured in a scale at ½ lb. = a little over 200 calories or 1 Protein serving.

Did you know that a cup of sliced raw green bell pepper contains 12% of your daily value for vitamin A, but an equivalent cup of sliced red bell peppers contains 104% DV! Red bell peppers provide both color and taste to your meals, along with plenty of both vitamins C and A. They are also a concentrated source of carotenoid phytonutrients that provide powerful antioxidant protection against the oxidative damage to cells caused by free radicals.  Free radicals play a major role in the cholesterol build-up associated with the increased risk of heart disease, the nerve and blood vessel damage seen in diabetes, the cloudy lenses of cataracts, and the joint pain and damage seen in arthritis. The lycopene and beta-cryptoxanthin found in red bell peppers are associated with promoting a healthy heart and lungs, while their lutein and zeaxanthin promote vision health.  [Source:  www.whf.com]

Dr. Maria Hrycenko, chiropractic physician and a member of our Advisory Board, is currently reading and highly recommends “The End of Overeating:  Taking Control of the Insatiable American Appetite,” written by David Kessler.  Mr. Kessler is a physician, a lawyer, and former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  I’ve already ordered my copy of the book, but, in the meantime, here’s a very interesting article / interview with Dr. Kessler from the July/August 2009 issue of the Nutrition Action Newsletter.  Click here.

Often brought on by excess weight, diabetes undermines insulin production, sending blood sugar soaring. This can triple levels of free radicals (unstable molecules which can wreak havoc on healthy cells) contributing to a variety of diabetic woes, ranging from kidney failure to heart disease and blindness.  So how can eggplant help? A study from the University of Massachusetts found that extracts from several eggplant varieties—purple, white and graffiti—inhibited an enzyme that converts starch to blood sugar. The eggplant compounds restrained the glucose-releasing enzyme by as much as 60%, and the effect correlated with antioxidant activity, which also helps squelch blood sugar-generated free radicals.

August / end-of-summer carnivals are soon upon us.  In case you're even thinking about a funnel cake ... think again:  The average funnel cake weights 8.3 oz., has 760 calories, 44 grams of fat and 80 grams of carbohydrates.  Uggh.