Wendy's Introduce "Gourmet" Fries

In an attempt to capture a new segment of the market, Wendy's has introduced a new take on fast-food: "natural-cut fries with sea salt."

You can imagine the same wording on a fancy restaurant menu. The fries even sound healthy. But are they?

Sadly, no. Wendy's new fries contain considerably more sodium and slightly more calories than the standard ones.

As NPR reports:
Wendy's confirmed to us that the new medium sized fry goes from 350 milligrams to 500 milligrams.

The recommended daily limit on sodium is 2,400 milligrams, the equivalent of one teaspoon of salt. These fries would account for over a fifth of that.

The word "natural" in the fries' name isn't regulated by the government. It sounds healthy, but is essentially meaningless. Other words like "pure" and "fresh" are often used in a similar way. And even legitimate claims like "fat-free" are often misapplied to products which are unhealthy in other ways.

What's the upshot for dieters?

Well, if you're going to eat fries, you may find that you prefer the new gourmet ones (which cost the same as standard fries), and perhaps you'll be satisfied with a medium portion rather than a large one. But don't kid yourself that these fries are a healthy option.

Fast Food fries salt and sodium Wendy's 14 Comments RickInMiami on 22 Nov 2010

Who do you trust? The fries are still put into oil frozen that cools the oil that needs to be reheated to fry temperature. This cooling and reheating breaks down the oil releasing free radicals. Gourmet or natural they are still processed. Too bad it's another empty example of business trying to pander to the trend.

Reply ArrowSmith on 22 Nov 2010

My arteries are screaming for free radicals. Ok, I just want any excuse to gorge myself on burgers and fries!

Reply O. on 22 Nov 2010

As far as I can remember, Wendy's was the first fast food burger restaurant to offer alternatives to fried sides.

First it was the chili, baked potatoes, and salad bar which were all pretty unheard of in that industry.

Later on, I think they were the first to have large and small prepackaged salads. They also added fruit platers at one time and followed McDonalds putting yogurt on the menu.

Most recently, it was offering these sides as an alternative to fries on the value menu without an additional charge.

I went to them alot when I first started to try to "cut back" and change my fast food habits.

Reply Spectra on 22 Nov 2010

It's just like the people who go out and buy "organic" cookies and cakes and stuff because they are organic, so they must be somehow "healthier" than any other kind of cookie. Fries are fries...they're deep fried potatoes; they shouldn't be masquerading as a health food.

Reply Suds on 22 Nov 2010

I think the "natural" word on there is supposed to fool people into thinking "healthy" even though it refers to the cut of the fries and that's it.
And the Campbell's low sodium soup advertises that it's made with sea salt so people are going to now associate sea salt with low sodium.
Spectra- organic cookies must be the new Snackwells. Everyone gorged themselves on Snackwells years ago because they were "low fat" and who cares how many calories were in them, right?

Reply ArrowSmith on 22 Nov 2010

Oh god I'm stuffed.

Reply Bonnie on 22 Nov 2010

I think this is a way of cashing in on the 'foodie' craze. You're not just eating french fries - you're going the luxury route by eating gourmet fries with sea salt!

Reply O. on 22 Nov 2010

Oh I love that comment Bonnie! I hate foodies. It's like they (American ones) hate their own heritage.

Eating sea horses in China is "trendy" but eating mac and cheese is seen as "common". How do we know sea horses isn't the "common" snack in China and not gourmet?

I like gourmet, I like Kraft mac and cheese, I can make my own homemade mac and cheese. It's all good on different occasions.

Reply O. on 22 Nov 2010

I liked Wendy's original fries. They were pretty much the only other fast food fries that tasted anything close to McDonald"s awsome fries.

I mean how many places do you see people ordering ONLY fries? Mickey D's.

Reply ArrowSmith on 22 Nov 2010

Dude there's something wondrously chemical in Mickey D's fries. It's made in New Jersey.

Reply O. on 23 Nov 2010

You are so right! McDonald's fries have magical powers I swear.

Reply rupertgr10 on 22 Nov 2010

I am dying to taste them

Reply Jim F. on 23 Nov 2010

They look tasty enough...

Reply blob on 25 Nov 2010

Hooray for salt Mr Bloomberg! Seasoned, sea salt, it's all so good. Sometimes I enjoy a salt tablet before ingesting to ensure water retention. I also installed a salt lick at the dinner table to make sure I get enough.

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Diabetes to Triple in the U.S. by 2050

America, "land of the free" - yeah, free to eat whatever we want, which isn't exactly doing us any favors. Obesity epidemic, heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes... lots of diabetes.

And if we don't kick our unhealthy habits, it's going to get a lot worse.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn if we continue to eat poorly and avoid exercise, one third of Americans will have diabetes by 2050.

Officials at the CDC studied census numbers and data on current diabetes trends, and made models to project future spikes in diabetes. Researchers say unless Americans change their lifestyles, diabetes could become even more common in the United States over the next 40 years.

The new report claims over the next 40 years the prevalence of total diabetes, both diagnosed and undiagnosed, could jump from 1 in 10 adults to between 1 in 5 adults, and 1 in 3 adults by 2050.

A spokesperson for the CDC said, "These are alarming numbers that show how critical it is to change the course of type-2 diabetes."

It's only 2010 and the U.S. is already mired in diabetes. In 2007, the American Diabetes Association estimated 17.9 million people were diagnosed with diabetes, with potentially another 5.7 million undiagnosed cases.

The CDC's current figures are no better. They estimate 24 million U.S. adults have diabetes, with type-2 diabetes being the most common. Poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity are major risk factors for type-2 diabetes.

But hey, the rest of the world is in bad shape, too. The World Health Organization reports 220 million people have diabetes worldwide. World fail.

Image credit: Bektvel

Health diabetes obesity 7 Comments NEMO on 23 Nov 2010

Worldwide - 5.9% of adults have diabetes

Highest Prevalence (% of population):

Island of Nauru - 30% of population has diabetes
UAE - 18.7% of population has diabetes
Bahrain & Qatar - 17% of population has diabetes
Saudi Arabia - 16.7% of population has diabetes

Highest incidence of diabetes (number in population):

#1 - India
#2 - China
#3 - USA
#4 - Japan
#5 - Pakistan
#6 - Germany
#7 - Russia
#8 - Brazil
#9 - Mexico
#10 - Egypt

Reply Berzerker on 23 Nov 2010

Highest incidence of diabetes (number in population):
#1 - India
#2 - China

So...Not percentage wise? Maybe I misread, Because any idiot can tell you that India and China each have a population of over one billion people, so saying there are more diabetics in India or China than in the US is kind of a big fat "Duh" - More people! Aren't you glad this idiot told you that?

Reply NEMO on 23 Nov 2010

You didn't misread - I specifically noted the two methods of measure of population with diabetes currently in the world. What I find interesting is the percentage of population stats - the middle east has a very high percentage in their populations!

Reply Ryan on 23 Nov 2010

Hah, the FDA/USDA have taken great measures to make sure we haven't been free to eat what we want.

Reply Spectra on 23 Nov 2010

It's not surprising to me at all. Diabetes-related problems account for about 25-30% of our lab's business. Our company's president actually said that he expects an increase in business for us as diabetes becomes more prevalent. My mother-in-law is a type 2 diabetic and is starting to experience kidney failure related to her condition. Her doctor has told her to at least try to exercise, but she refuses to do it. I don't get it--many type 2 diabetics can be almost symptom-free if they alter their diet and get exercise. You'd think that would be the slap in the face they needed to get themselves in gear, but apparently that isn't the case.

Reply ps on 23 Nov 2010

NYC today has a type 2 diabetes epidemic. Over 12% of the population. Of that 12% over 75% are on the lower socio-economic strata. We have porkers yelling for their right to eat like pigs and then have them ask for handouts to treat their self induced illnesses. Then the FDA is under assault by the "American Beverage Council" and industrial food processors. Tax processed crap the liquor and tobacco is taxed while actually apllying the cash to treatment. And by the way to the factoid posters above, islands such as Tonga and others in the Pacific have the highest obesity rates. Type 2 diabetes is close behind.

Reply kitekrazy on 23 Nov 2010

The up side is that sugar free products will be more affordable.

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What Are You Doing to Get Through the 2010 Holidays Unscathed? [Forum]

What Are You Doing to Get Through the 2010 Holidays Unscathed? By RickInMiami on Nov 23, 2010 4

It's that time of the year. Starting off this week with a BIG meal for Thanksgiving. What plans have you in place to make sure that your first New Year's resolution doesn't involve weight loss? Now's the time to be thinking about it. How about you?

RICK

Exercise & Fitness   4 Comments

Poll: Are You Blind To Your True Weight?

The mystery of why some obese people think that they look good in Lycra has been solved.

Usually a distorted body image is discussed in regards to skinny people who think they are fat.

However, a new study reveals that this works the other way too, as many obese women see themselves as not overweight.

The University of Texas Medical Branch surveyed 2200 women between the ages of 18 and 25 about their lifestyle, self-perception and dieting habits. About 25% of the women, who based on BMI were classified as obese, perceived themselves as normal.

Researchers say that this is alarming because if women don't see themselves as having a problem they are unlikely to eat healthy and exercise. Women aren't alone in this area as other recent studies noted that obese men often see themselves as normal also.

Do you struggle with a distorted body image or know someone that does? Participate in the poll and comments below.

Source: Fox News

Do you have an accurate perception of your body?

Yes No I do now, but didn't in the past. View results

Body Image Psychology polls 8 Comments Spectra on 23 Nov 2010

Oooh, I love the new format!

Anyways, on to the subject--Yes, I have an accurate perception of my body, but society does not. I get told all the time that I am "WAY too skinny", even though I am at a NORMAL body weight and have a normal body fat % (it's on the lower end of normal, but it's normal). I know of several people that are obese that think that they are just overweight and plenty of overweight people that think they are just normal. Vanity sizing has something to do with it, I think--after all, if you aren't in "plus sized" clothes, you aren't obese, right? Yet most women that wear a size 14 are pretty overweight in my opinion.

Reply O. on 23 Nov 2010

I like to say that vanity sizing is like paper money... it only means something if enough people get together to agree to give it a certain meaning... otherwise it's worthless.

The people who got together to give it a meaning are the same industry that has been selling and sizing clothing for often at least 1 decade prior to the vanity sizing craze.

It's like this, the more people you can sell to the more money you can make.

I think this term "vanity sizing" is the industry that praises skinny models way of getting revenge on the fact that they are at the mercy of thicker people with money to spend.

Reply O. on 23 Nov 2010

I was at the website of a woman that makes medieval costumes the other day. She said on her website that any potential client of hers must be a size 18 or smaller otherwise she cant't make a costume for them.

Why? I don't know exactly. I doubt she is making the cut off at 18 just for folly and at a loss of pontential business.

There is "bigger" and then there is someone who needs two airplane seats.

And that is what I think it is about. When you are too big to get the outfit you want or sit on a plane like a normal person.

I'm not going to make an issue out of someone who could loose what weight they need to in 2-3 months!

Do you really want to put someone 90 days aways from being treated with dignity?

Reply Berzerker on 23 Nov 2010

I was anorexic as a teen, and considered myself fat if I dared got into triple digits as far as weight ('m 5'5"). These days, if I measure over 35/25/35 I consider myself fat. (Sad as it sounds, that's a step up from my ana years.) So, in a way I can't help but envy people who are okay with themselves although they need to lose a few. It sure beats the hell I've put myself through.

Reply ralphfie89 on 24 Nov 2010

that's too much fat

Reply bijou on 24 Nov 2010

I'm disappointed when the scale shows 100 lbs and thrilled when it shows 99 lbs. I'm 5'1"-5'2".

Reply Pater Rolf Hermann Lingen on 24 Nov 2010

I have similar experiences as Spectra:

3 Ways to Avoid Overdoing it This Holiday Season

Can a single meal trigger a heart attack?

According to researchers, a huge meal similar to what many eat at Thanksgiving or Christmas, can actually set the stage for a heart attack, in those at risk for heart disease.

The study of 1,986 heart attack patients in 2000, suggested that an unusually large meal quadrupled the chance of having a heart attack within the next two hours.

Dr. Lopez-Jimenez said this,
Overeating should be considered as a heart attack trigger, much in the same way as extreme physical activities and severe anger episodes may cause an MI... People at risk for a heart attack should be careful not only about the total caloric intake they eat every day, but the size of individual meals as well.

So, if you tend to eat way to much at this time of year, here are 3 ways avoid overdoing it this holiday season:

1. Downsize Your Serveware
Most people will eat everything that is pilled onto their plates, regardless of whether it's more than they need to feel satisfied. So, eating from a salad plate is a good way to control this.

Studies have also shown that people eat as much as 56 percent more when they serve themselves from a one-gallon bowl, rather than a half-gallon one. So, if you plan to serve your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner from large bowls in the centre of the table, try using smaller serving dishes, as a way to encourage everyone to eat a little less.

This idea works with glassware, too. Large gobblet-shaped glasses can hold up to one third of a bottle of wine. However, people fail to realize just how much alcohol they are consuming from these supersized glasses.

If you drink alcohol, limit your intake to just one small glass of wine. As for juices and soft drinks, they are simply empty calories -- you would be better sticking with water, and saving up the calories for something tastier later on.

2. Portion Control
As an extra way to check that your food portions aren't too big, here are some guidelines: fill half your dinner plate with non-starchy vegetables, then one quarter with starchy carbs, and one quarter with lean meat, or alternatives.

3. Indulge -- but just a little!
Personally, I enjoy dessert way too much to avoid it. If you are the same, pass on the drinks pre-dinner, the bread roll and butter with your entree, and also that extra scoop of potatoes at dinner. Then you can easily enjoy a small piece of cheesecake, guilt-free and without too much sacrifice.

If all else fails, and you end up eating enough to feed a tiny country, get back on the healthy eating handwagon right away, and then get some exercise. There's no point slacking off just because it's the holidays. When you do that, you set yourself up for a long slippery road back to where you were pre-vacation. It's not worth it!

So, what are your tips for surviving the holiday season without gaining those dreaded extra pounds?

Image source: falconreid

Food 14 Comments Berzerker on 24 Nov 2010

Could always try fasting for Thanksgiving - By giving up food for the day (Or at least most of), it makes you realize what you take for granted, and thus feel truly thankful. I've told several people this and they either ignore me or think I'm crazy - Figures.

Reply Melanie Thomassian R.D. on 25 Nov 2010

That would certainly be a unique way to approach the holiday. I don't fancy it personally, though!

Reply Spectra on 24 Nov 2010

I don't plan on overdoing it at all this year. I usually do what I normally do--fill about half the plate with salad and take a tiny serving of all of my absolute favorites (green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, turkey, and a little bit of cranberry sauce). I share a piece of pie with my husband and drink a cup of coffee with cream and sugar for dessert. It's a nice meal, but I don't pig out or anything.

Reply Dennis Blair Fort Collins Personal Trainer on 24 Nov 2010

You know, why is it that every year these common sense tips are always offered but never followed? We always hear about portion control, but since it is the holidays, we just tell ourselves it will be okay!

Reply Melanie Thomassian R.D. on 25 Nov 2010

Yes, and then wonder where all the extra fat came from!

Reply ArrowSmith on 25 Nov 2010

Yeah tell it our poor, overstressed bodies that it's a holiday.

Reply Bethany on 24 Nov 2010

Love the site's new look!

Reply Melanie Thomassian R.D. on 25 Nov 2010

Me too!! :)

Reply Auden C on 24 Nov 2010

Is it really that terrible to indulge for one day, especially if it is a cherished holiday? If you do not want to, more power to you. But for those dieters who love partaking in a family meal, or specifically enjoy Thanksgiving, why not have one day where you can have both cocktails and a slice of cheesecake? Think of it as your 'free' day. Checking the anxiety at the door will go a long way towards your mental health, and towards finding a balanced approach to eating, as opposed to cycles of binging and restriction. Maybe reduce calories in the days leading up if you are that concerned. For me, what has always worked is allowing myself to enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas but showing restraint at the endless procession of holiday parties. 6 weeks of fudge trays, rhubarb pies, mashed potatoes, egg nog, etc. is what kills most people's waistlines, I think, not a slice of pumpkin pie and an extra scoop of mashed potatoes one day a year.

Reply Melanie Thomassian R.D. on 25 Nov 2010

No I don't think it is. But, overdoing it can send some people off on a downward spiral. And, the reality is that for many people the overeating is constant from Thanksgiving right through to New Year, with so many parties and family get togethers.

These tips can be applied all over the holiday season, not just on one day of the year.

Reply Larry Scott on 25 Nov 2010

Thanks for the nice article. I think that weight gain is the major concern of most people during this festive season. One simple way to avoid overeating during the holiday season is to firstly opt for veggies and healthy salads. It will ensure that you will eat less of high calorie foods on your second trip to the kitchen. Also, try to exercise a bit more to burn off the extra calories that you consumed during the holidays.

Reply ArrowSmith on 25 Nov 2010

So what are the details of the study? 2000 perfectly healthy people had heart attacks after having an "unusually large meal"? Or were it high-risk people who had this meal and that's what triggered it? Really if you're gonna have sensationalist articles like this, please back it up with more concrete facts.

Reply Melanie Thomassian R.D. on 25 Nov 2010

Hi ArrowSmith,
I've added a bit more detail to the article. The findings were reported at one of the American Heart Association's Scientific meetings. I've linked to the Medscape Medical News coverage of it in the article now. They reported that people at risk for heart disease were 4 times more likely than others to suffer a MI after eating a large meal.

Reply ArrowSmith on 25 Nov 2010

You would think those people would be extra careful with portion control.

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Aerobic and Strength Training Good for Diabetes Control

Diabetes is a pretty big deal -- with rising obesity it has become the epidemic of this century. 23.6 million children and adults in the United States alone are affected (7.8% of the population). Add another 57 million (give or take) who have pre-diabetes, and we have a crisis on our hands that is projected to triple by 2050, and cost over 3.3 trillion (with a "T") by 2020.

It's now pretty common sense that exercise does improve blood sugar control in type II diabetics, however most studies focus on singular exercise interventions.

But, a study from the Journal of the American Medical Association examined the effectiveness of both aerobic, strength training, and combined aerobics and strength training protocols when it comes to haemoglobin A1c levels (a measure of how much sugar is sticking to cells and hence a good predictor of long term elevated blood glucose). Here are the details.

Study Parameters262 men and women with type II diabetesAverage age 56 years9 month exercise programAverage Hemoglobin A1c levels 7.7% (normal levels are 4-5.9%)41 participants were assigned to the non-exercise control group; 73 to resistance training sessions; 72 to aerobic exercise sessions; and 76 to combined aerobic and resistance training.Study Results

Hba1c Levels

- 0.34% combo group- 0.16% strength training only- 0.24% aerobic training only

The control group actually increased its use of diabetes medications, while the combination training group decreased its diabetes medication use.

Weight Loss

All exercise groups reduced waist circumference (.75-1.1 inches)The resistance training group lost an average of 3.1 lbs of fat massThe combo group lost an average of 3.7 lbs of fat massFor Best Results: Diversify

If I could describe your diabetes action plan in the most basic of terms it would be clean up your diet, move, and lift. In other words, do a combo and stop ordering combos!

Make better nutritional choices by drastically reducing refined/liquid carbs and overall calories, strength train at least two times per week, and get your heart rate going through cardio activity and/or metabolic strength training. Also, keep yourself moving when you aren't doing the above.

Image credit: stevendepolo

Science cardio diabetes strength training 2 Comments xenastar on 25 Nov 2010

maintaining your weight into healthy range will help also help you to control your diabetes

Reply Spectra on 25 Nov 2010

This is very true--my MIL is diabetic and never exercises. But I know another woman who also has type 2 diabetes and is off all her meds because she walks/jogs and lifts weights regularly. It can make a huge difference. That's part of why I stay active--diabetes runs in my family and I plan to avoid it at all costs.

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People Who Handle Your Food Work Sick

Have you ever actually found a fly in your soup? I haven't. I've seen it in cartoons, but in real life? No, never.

Unless you're eating at an outdoor café in Calcutta, you're probably safe from rabid winged pests.

But apparently food service workers are a bigger threat to your dinner than Musca domestica Linnaeus; a new study says many food restaurant employees go to work sick, and don't get sick days.

The survey, conducted by Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, a national organization representing restaurant workers, found two-thirds of restaurant workers go to work when they're sick. Oh fantastic!

It gets worse. Nearly 90% of these brave souls serving our food do not get paid sick days and 60% do not receive any health insurance.

Sorry folks, that's just wrong. But, in the United States we have a bizarre dynamic. If you button up your white collar and don't have health benefits it's a travesty, but if you punch a clock. Oh well, get a real job loser!

In the report, a lady working in the food service for 30 years talks about being really sick one day. She had a bad cold with all the trimmings: runny nose, sneezing, cough, and a fever. But she couldn't call out, she needed the money.

However, later on she asked her manager if she could leave. She was too sick to carry on and was coughing up a storm and didn't want to make the customers sick. So her compassionate manager said, "Try not to cough, then."

Now that's classy! Listen, that can't happen. People who handle your food or who take care of sick people need special allowances, for the sake of public health. And if it requires a doctor's note, fine, so be it.

If I go out to eat and someone on death's door serves me my food, I'm going to be ticked off, so any self-respecting restaurant owner should be on high-alert for that sort of thing...same goes for doctors and nurses too.

Image credit: TheEmoSurfer

Fast Food Weird food preparation food safety healthcare 11 Comments O. on 14 Nov 2010

My dad went to an old coworkers house for lunch a few months ago. I guess he had never been to the guys house. Well anyway my dad politely ( naw, probably not!) declined to eat because the guy pet his dog then went back to cooking without washing his hands.

Reply O. on 14 Nov 2010

By the way, as a former retail worker I know that that going out in public sick thing works for customers as well as employees. I'm having flashbacks of all the Christmases I caught someones cold.

Reply Bonnie on 14 Nov 2010

A friend of mine worked in a buffet style restaurant where if you came in sick they would put you at the register. The idea was that at least you weren't handling the food, just breathing (& coughing & sneezing) into customers' faces.

The restaurant industry really needs to give sick time for employees, since they don't pay enough for them to be able to miss work.

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How Much Do Fast Food Companies Spend on Advertising?

Never underestimate the power of screaming child. It's like nails on a chalkboard, only a gabillion times worse.

Most parents can barely stand their kids, especially if they're throwing a tantrum. Make them stop, make them stop!

That's why advertising to kids is so successful. It taps into the nag-factor. Why argue with a 5-year old, when you can just give them what they want and be done with it.

Fast food companies know this all too well, so they've stepped up advertising to children.

The report, from the Yale University Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, found the fast food industry spent over $4.2 billion on marketing and advertising on television, Internet, social media sites, and mobile applications in 2009.

Researchers say despite pledges by fast food companies to improve their marketing practices, advertising to kids is on the up tick. Ha! Ask businesses to act responsibly? Oh that's rich!

Additionally, the experts claim preschoolers see 21% more fast food ads on television than they did in 2003. Older kids see 34% more. Figures show McDonald's has thirteen websites, attracting 365,000 unique child visitors under 12 every month, like Ronald.com.

In Europe, they've tightened restrictions on marketing to children, which is a good thing. Kids are way too naïve and impressionable. They don't know that McDonald's is unhealthy, loaded with salt and fat. It's not fair.

Then again, to be totally honest, I haven't seen too many TV commercials hawking fast food to kids anymore, more web ads than anything else. Maybe they're on kids' channels. I'm not a Sponge Bob fan so I wouldn't know.

Image credit: DBessolo

Big Business Teens and Kids advertising childhood obesity fast food 5 Comments Ninja Techniques on 14 Nov 2010

Totally not surprised, though. Companies love marketing to kids because of all the $ involved, but I wish they would show some restraint.

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Huge Chocolate Christmas Tree Created in France

Christmas: traditionally a time for festive decorations, and festive gluttony. Both have been combined by Patrick Roger, a French chocolatier, who has created a ten-meter (32-foot) Christmas tree... made out of chocolate.

The tree took a month to create and weighs four tons.

Mr Roger spoke of the difficulties involved, and said:
To achieve this kind of architecture - because this really is a piece of architecture - we used a sort of cavity inside to make the chocolate solid enough, because there is very strong vertical pressure.

The tree will be dismantled and given away in return for donations during France's Telethon (a charity event supporting neuromuscular disease research), which runs on December 3rd and 4th.

With four thousand kilos of chocolate, the giant tree contains over 20 million calories - that's over 25 years' worth of calories for an average person.

Image: The Telegraph's video

Weird chocolate Christmas 2 Comments Anya on 29 Nov 2010

Yes. And? I guess this must be a slow news day on the diet front. It's a piece of chocolate art made to raise money... it is not a statement of health or diet for petes sake.

Reply Spectra on 29 Nov 2010

I think it's awesome. Most definitely a fantastic exhibition of chocolate art and engineering.

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Weight Watchers Points Plus

Weight Watchers have overhauled their points system and come up with a completely new program - called Points Plus (or Pro Points in the UK).

The previous Points formula (started in 1997) took into account Calories, Fiber grams and Fat grams. The PointsPlus formula uses Protein, Carbohydrate, Fiber, and Fat grams.

Weight Watchers have spent a number of years testing the new program (at the Medical University of South Carolina among other places). According to Weight Watchers the trials resulted in "an improvement in behaviors that help people maintain weight loss and a reduction in the desire to eat when there's no physical hunger or need for food." (src).

Critics of the previous Points formula claimed that it did not accurately differentiate between more nutritionally dense foods, and "empty calories". This is due to the heavy weighting of Calories over other nutrient measures.

When we have a 100-calorie apple in one hand and a 100-calorie pack of cookies in the other, and we view them as being "the same" because the calories are the same, it says everything that needs to be said about the limitations of just using calories in guiding food choices.

Google Street View For Weight Loss Motivation?

I love a good weight loss success story. And, here's one a little different from the norm....

When Bob Mewse, aged 56, saw an image of himself side-on via Google Street View last November, he was stunned at just how out of shape he looked. He commented,

I'd been thinking about losing weight for some time but after seeing that picture, I knew that I actually had to do something about it. I was in such bad condition that I was unable to walk and talk at the same time.

So, after viewing the image, he drastically changed his diet of cakes, potato chips, biscuits and takeaway foods, for healthier foods like salads, fruits, fibrous vegetables, and protein-rich foods. He also started working out three days per week.

The Result?

15 Smart Tips You Can Try Now

Some of what's been swimming around in my head lately;

Moderation: It's probably less than you think it is. In general, I advise against buying into the extremes of nutritional philosophy. The answer is usually somewhere in the middle. Kick yourself in the comfort zone - try things you haven't before - attack your weaknesses in the gym and in regards to what you put down your pie-hole. If the world of dietary claims and opinions needs one thing, it's context. It is hasty to label things as "good" or "evil" without the proper context. There is a fine line between skepticism and closed-mindedness but there is an equally fine line between open-minded and gullibility. 2 things I could do without: Celebrity gyms and single-food diet experiments.Don't forget your D's! My hemisphere is approaching winter. There's a 95

Poll: Paleo Diet - Cult, Fad or Solution?

This past decade the paleo dieting trend hit the mainstream teaching it's followers to reject our modern diet and embrace one from 10,000 years ago.

Since Loren Cordain's popular book many other versions of the paleolithic or ancestral diet have emerged, but is this old way of eating really necessary to our survival as humans or is the paleolithic diet becoming more like a religion?

Leigh Peele recently wrote a very extensive article exploring the Paleo Diet phenomena. In this article she looks at the diet of the paleothic era, the lifestyle of that era, and discusses whether or not it's truly beneficial for us to try to return to that way of eating.

She also discusses how the paleolithic diet has even begun to form somewhat of a cult or religious philosophy among it's followers.

Peele brings up some good points that I tend to agree with. Why would we want to follow a diet that our "relatively stupid" ancestors followed? Surely our bodies have evolved along with our minds.

What do you think? Is the paleo diet a solution to obesity or is it a fad or even a new cult? Participate in the poll and comments below.

What is your opinion of the paleolithic type diet?

It's a solution. It's a fad. It's a cult. View results

Diets paleolithic diet polls 32 Comments

Alcohol and High-Energy Drinks Don't Mix

After a college freshman ended up in hospital, Washington has become the fourth state in America to restrict the sale of Four Loko - a canned drink with high levels of alcohol and caffeine.

Experts say that the combination can be deadly. The high caffeine levels can make drinkers feel less intoxicated than they really are, often leading to excessive drinking.

Some students mix high-energy drinks with hard liquor, creating their own concoctions; others buy pre-packaged products.The Independent reported on the contents of one of these, Four Loko:
One can has about the same caffeine as a six-pack of Diet Coke. Four Loko's drinks contain 12% alcohol and are packaged in 23.5-ounce cans - that is reportedly equivalent to drinking almost an entire bottle of wine.

Sure, alcohol and caffeine isn't a brand new combination, rum and coke has always been popular. But excessive levels of caffeine and alcohol can lead to tragedy. New York are considering banning these drinks after a girl died.

If you enjoy drinks with mixers:

Avoid high-caffeine mixers, like Jolt and MonsterIf you're dieting, remember that liquids contain calories too. Alcohol contains seven calories per gram, and energy drinks tend to be packed with sugar (around four calories per gram).Keep an eye on your alcohol intake. Some mixed drinks taste deceptively un-alcoholic.

Image Credit: jameskm03

Health Alcohol Caffeine 9 Comments Ann on 17 Nov 2010

This is kind of ridiculous. One of these drinks alone won't hurt you, the problem is binge drinking kids. Are they planning to ban red bull and vodka? How about Irish coffee?

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