High-Fat, High-Calorie Salad Shocker

If you think ordering a salad is a healthier dining-out option, you may be in for a shock. A recent survey of popular eateries has found many of them to be loaded with unwanted fat and calories. Here are the findings:

Chili's Southwestern Cobb Salad
970 calories

Pizzaria Uno's Chicken Waldorf Salad
920 calories / 62 grams of fat

Arby’s Santa Fe Salad
844 calories / 55 grams of fat

T.G.I. Friday's Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad
750 calories / 50 grams of fat

Cosi's Signature Salad
683 calories / 52 grams of fat

Dairy Queen's Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad
680 calories / 48 grams of fat

Ruby Tuesday's Grilled Salmon Salad
590 calories /35 grams of fat

Wendy's Mandarin Chicken Salad
520 calories / 25 grams of fat

Source: AOL

Anti-aging Breakthrough to Retard Wrinkles

A new study is taking the anti-aging power of antioxidants to the next level for fighting wrinkles. A researcher at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has succeeded in isolating a plant-based antioxidant that counters the breakdown of collagen fibers in the skin.

Unlike antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, which oxidize quickly becoming less potent from heat and time, this new discovery is a stable antioxidant that is more effective in combating the effects of free radicals that leads to aging.

The plant source of the antioxidant has not been disclosed yet because the research is being patented. The researcher plans to use it to develop a new generation of anti-aging skincare products.

Burn More Fat with Less Intensity

If your trying to lose fat, your best bet is through mild exercise. A recent study published in The Journal of Physiology found that a less intense workout burns more fat than glucose from carbohydrates. But as exercise intensifies, muscles demand more glucose for energy and less fat. At the highest level of intensity no fat is burned.

So much for no pain, no gain.

Source: The Journal of Physiology, June 2007

Enhance Garlic's Cancer-fighting Ability

While studies have shown that eating garlic is linked to decreasing the risk of prostate, stomach, colon and possibly breast cancers, you'll only reap the benefits if you prepare this culinary favorite just right.

To enhance garlic's cancer-fighting properties you should chop or crush it and then let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes before cooking. Preparing it this way allows garlic's anticarcinogen agents--allyl sulfide compounds--to form and makes them stable for heating.

If you heat garlic immediately after chopping or cook garlic whole, you'll negate almost all of its health benefits.

Source: Eatingwell.com

Top 10 Healthy Foods

Everyday a new superfood is being touted as the best disease fighter. It can be a bit overwhelming trying to incorporate the latest and greatest into your diet, but the Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource has made eating right much simpler. They've compiled a list of the top 10 long-standing, nutritious and great tasting foods. Here are their picks for a healthy life:

Apples: Apples are a good source of pectin, a fiber that can lower cholesterol and glucose levels. They’re also a good source of vitamin C -- an antioxidant that protects your body’s cells. Vitamin C also keeps your blood vessels healthy and aids in the absorption of iron and folate.

Almonds: These nuts are packed with nutrients -- fiber, riboflavin, magnesium, iron, calcium and vitamin E, a natural antioxidant. They’re also good for your heart. Most of the fat in almonds is monounsaturated fat, which can help lower cholesterol levels when substituted for other fats. Most almonds are considered low sodium, with less than 140 milligrams of sodium an ounce.

Broccoli: Besides providing calcium, potassium, folate and fiber, broccoli contains phytonutrients -- compounds that may help prevent diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Broccoli contains the antioxidant beta-carotene and is also an excellent source of vitamin C.

Blueberries: They are a rich, low-calorie source of fiber, antioxidants and phytonutrients. Regular intake of blueberries may improve short-term memory and reduce the cellular damage associated with aging.

Red beans: Small red, pinto and dark red kidney varieties -- are an excellent low-fat source of antioxidants, protein, dietary fiber and copper. They’re also a good source of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and thiamin.

Salmon: This fish is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are believed to provide heart benefits. Salmon is also low in saturated fat and cholesterol and is a good source of protein. If possible, choose wild salmon, which is less likely to contain unwanted chemicals such as mercury.

Spinach: It’s high in vitamin A, and also is a good source of calcium, folate, iron, magnesium, riboflavin and vitamins B-6 and C. The plant compounds in spinach may boost your immune system and help reduce your risk of certain types of cancer.

Sweet potatoes: The deep orange-yellow color of sweet potatoes tells you that they’re high in beta-carotene. Sweet potatoes are also high in vitamin C and a good source of fiber, vitamin B-6 and potassium. And, they’re fat-free and relatively low in calories.

Vegetable juice: This beverage is an easy way to include vegetables in your diet since it contains most of the same vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Tomato juice, and vegetable juices which include tomatoes, are good sources of lycopene, an antioxidant that may reduce the risk of heart attack and certain types of cancer. Be sure to select the low-sodium varieties.

Wheat germ: The germ at the center of the wheat seed is a concentrated source of nutrients. Two tablespoons provide a good source of thiamin, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, iron and zinc. Sprinkle over cereals, yogurt and salads. Or use it in muffins, cookies and pancakes.

Source: mayoclinichealthsolutions.com

Some Real Help for Autism

If you or someone you know has a child with autism, I recently stumbled upon some information that can really help. In fact, I forwarded the information to someone I know who has two children with autism. She said that after 10 weeks of following the advice, her children are now calm and focused as well as talking more and more. She said that others have commented on the difference so it wasn't just a mom's wishful thinking.

The information I sent her came from Donna Gates, author of The Body Ecology Diet, who has been helping people cure their candida-related health problems. Gates has found that the diet that has helped so many with candida is also helping children with autism and other conditions affecting the neurological system.

Gates along with leading health and nutrition experts Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride and Dr. Leonard Smith recently led a seminar focusing on natural strategies to prevent and overcome autism, ADHD, ADD, Aspergers Syndrome and other epidemic childhood disorders. As a result, Gates is now offering The Natural Autism Solution CD Set -- a recording of the presentations at the three-day seminar. It's pretty pricey at $149 for 12 CDs. No, I don't get any kind of kickback from promoting this. But I know that autism is a serious problem and that the advice offered in these CDs really helps.

Gates has also started an online support group called BEDROCK (Body Ecology Recovering Our Kids program) for parents using the Body Ecology Diet to help their children recover from autism, developmental disorders, candida, digestion problems, allergies and weak immune systems.

At the very least, you may want to check out Gate's website at BodyEcology.com and read some of her articles on autism and the diet she recommends.

Tips to Avoid Freshman 15

College students don't have to succumb to the freshman 15 -- the dreaded weight gained from eating dorm food, late night munchies and greasy pizza. Neither do they have to deprive themselves. Instead, they can make conscious decisions about what they eat, says Daphne Oz, author of The Dorm Room Diet Planner,a guide to help students get on the path to a healthy lifestyle.

Oz is the daughter of Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD, celebrity cardiologist and co-author of the bestsellers You: The Owner’s Manual and You: On a Diet.

Struggling with her weight for much of her life, Oz took the opportunity to overhaul her lifestyle when she became a student at Princeton University. Her first book, The Dorm Room Diet,was conceived out of her quest to find out how to eat and stay healthy, especially living away from home for the first time. Her new book is a simple, practical companion to her first one. It helps students make smart food choices, set achievable goals and develop a fitness program.

To become more aware of what and when you eat, Oz suggests following a few simple tricks:

Always eat breakfast.

Drink half your body weight in ounces of water daily, including one glass before every meal.

Eat at least every three hours (three meals and two snacks of fruit or veggies).

Count to your age before you “cheat.”

Avoid eating within two hours of sleeping.

For more healthy tips and inspiration, visit Oz's website at dormroomdiet.com.

Need Inspiration to Eat More Fruits & Veggies?

Can't get your kids to eat their fruits and veggies? Can barely get yourself to eat the minimum of five a day? We all know what we should be eating, but 90 percent of us are missing the mark.

Need inspiration to eat right? The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) have teamed up along with other organizations to launch a public health initiative called Fruits & Veggies - More Matters. The campaign's goal is to encourage us to consume more fruits and vegetables for better health.

In conjunction with the new initiative, September marks the first National Fruits & Veggies More Matters Month and the CDC is offering a free kit, Explore the World with Fruits and Vegetables, to help spark children's interest in fruits and vegetables.

Additionally, parents will want to check out a great interactive website at http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/ for a wealth of information, inspiration and helpful tips to help your family eat more healthy produce at every meal.

Changing eating habits is difficult. Hopefully, this new campaign will be the catalyst that will spur more Americans to finally eat their fruits and veggies.

Natural Help for Insomniacs

Having a hard time falling asleep at night? A new study has found that an herbal combination of hops and valerian can help you get to sleep faster.

The study, published in Phytotherapy Research, found that taking 120 mg of hops with 500 mg of valerian significantly reduced the time participants fell asleep. In fact, study participants taking the combined herbs fell asleep in as little as 12 minutes instead of more than 56 minutes. The results were far better than for those taking valerian alone or a placebo.

Another study found that participants taking the valerian-hops combinations to increase sleep also reported an improved quality of life.

Getting a good night's rest is important for good health. In fact, not getting enough sleep can make problems like diabetes and high blood pressure even worse. If you're one of about 40 million Americans having sleep problems, taking hops and valerian together may be the ticket to a good night's sleep.

Sources:
FDA.gov
FindArticles.com
Health Notes News Wire

Herbal Blend Helps Avoid Root Canal

Is severe tooth pain or extreme tooth sensitivity to hot or cold making you wonder if a root canal is inevitable? Before you schedule the dreaded procedure, you may want to try a promising new alternative.

A recent study found that a multi-compound Tibetan herbal formula called Padma Basichelped 82 percent of 49 patients avoid a root canal or tooth extraction. While 56 percent found relief in the first month of taking the herbal blend twice a day, most of them reported relief in the first few days. About 25 percent were still symptom free three to five years later.

EcoNugenics makes the synergistic herbal blend, containing 18 antioxidant-rich dried and milled herbs and spices. Research has also found that Padma Basiccontains anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Additionally, the formula supports the immune and cardiovascular systems.

Sources:
Better Nutrition, September 2007
MedicalNewsToday.com
BioSpace.com
EcoNugenics.com