Salt is somewhere between 97.5% to 99% sodium chloride – 40% as sodium, 60% as chloride. The biggest differences between salts are the size of the crystals, minute amounts of minerals in sea salt and certain additives added to table salt.
One level teaspoon of table salt contains about 2,400 milligrams sodium, about the maximum recommended daily amount. Based on much research, some experts believe that half that is best for lowering high blood pressure. Keeping sodium intake that low is not necessarily dependent on the salt you shake, because 70% of intake is from processed foods.
Kosher salt and some sea salts have larger crystals than regular table salt, so you get less actual salt – and therefore sodium – per teaspoon. Kosher salts, for example, contain anywhere from one-fifth to one-half the amount of sodium per teaspoon as in regular salt.
Some food experts say the larger crystals of these salts affect how your taste buds perceive their flavor. Sea salts may also simply be more flavorful (perhaps from their mineral content). Both reasons might allow you to use less and still get the same taste effect, a claim many professional chefs make. If so, they could indeed be more healthful. Their high cost may turn you off, though.
- Table Salt. Obtained from salt mines, often by pumping in water and then evaporating water from the brine. The salt crystals are then refined. Typically, additives are added to keep the salt free-flowing. It may or may not be “iodized” by adding potassium iodide.
- Sea Salt. True sea salt is recovered from seawater by evaporation; solar sea salt uses the sun and wind. Sea salts range in color from pure white to red and include sel gris (grey salt), Hawaiian sea salt and very expensive fleur de sel (flower of salt), which are very fine salt crystals hand harvested from only the top layer, often from salt marshes. Most sea salts contain tiny amounts of calcium, magnesium and sulfate. Sea salt often has no anti-caking additives so the crystals may clump together. Most also lack iodine.
- Kosher Salt. Coarse salt used in meat processing as dictated by Jewish dietary laws. Works as an everyday cooking salt because the large grains stick to foods well. generally contains no additives or iodine.
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February 7th, 2010
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Food Facts |
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Below are five of the Web’s most popular online coupon sites (although there are several more), ranked in order of unique monthly website traffic, according to Compoete.com data as of Dec., 2009.
Coupons.com – Far and away the most visited coupon website. In 2009, $300 million worth of coupons were printed and that number is expected to triple by the end of next year.
RetailMeNot.com – From modest beginnings, they have nearly doubled in usage since late 2008.
CouponCabin.com - CouponCabin features discounts available online, printable coupons and localized offerings. They also (along with Coupons.com) offer an iPhone app.
FatWallet.com – One of the industry’s pioneers, FatWallet.com started in 1999 and includes more than 800 merchants.
DealCatcher.com – While not the largest coupon site out there, DealCatcher does a good job highlighting tech-oriented and consumer products, along with a recently released grocery section.
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February 5th, 2010
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Haifa Smoked Fish, located in Queens, New York, is recalling Haifa brand vacuum packaged Whole Schmaltz Herring with the lot number 20, because the product was found to be uneviscerated.
The lot being recalled is a product of Norway, individually vacuum-packed in clear plastic pouches with lot # 20 indicated on the label and distributed through various food retailers in the NY and NJ area.
The Whole Schmaltz Herring was sampled by a New York State Agriculture and Markets Food Inspector during a routine inspection. Subsequent analysis of the product by New York State Food Laboratory personnel confirmed that Whole Schmaltz Herring was not properly eviscerated prior to processing.
The sale of uneviscerated fish is prohibited under New York State Agriculture and Markets regulations because of Clostridium Botulinum spores are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than any other portion of the fish. Uneviscerated fish has been linked to outbreaks of botulism poisoning.
Botulism is a serious and potentially fatal form of food poisoning, causes the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation may also be common symptoms. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.
Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled and should return it to the place of purchase. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 718-523-8899.
Source: FDA
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February 5th, 2010
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The label of the weight-loss drug Meridia (sibutramine) will include new information stating that the drug is not to be used in people with a history of disease involving the heart or blood vessels (cardiovascular disease), including
- coronary artery disease (for example, heart attack or angina)
- stroke or mini-stroke (transient ischemic attack, or TIA)
- slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat (heart arrhythmia)
- congestive heart failure
- plaque build-up in the arteries (peripheral arterial disease)
- uncontrolled high blood pressure (for example, greater than 145/90 mmHg)
Meridia is only recommended for obese people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, or BMI of 27 or greater with other risk factors such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or controlled high blood pressure. (To determine your BMI, see the BMI calculator.)
The risk: FDA’s review of data indicates an increased risk of heart attack and stroke in people using Meridia who have a history of cardiovascular disease.
Recommendation: Talk to your health care professional about whether Meridia is right for you.
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February 3rd, 2010
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Hara Hachi Bu is a cultural concept of eating only until you’re 80 percent full in Japan. Of course, you can’t really know when you’ve reached the 80-percent full mark, but the message is simple: Don’t stuff yourself. Further evidence is a 2006 National Institute on Aging study, which showed that a low-calorie diet decreased DNA damage – thought to be a result of increased sirtuin (a protein produced in cells) activity.
How to put this in practice? First, we’ll phrase it calorie-reduction; next here are a few suggestions:
- Eat more slowly. It takes around 15 minutes for your stomach (it’s true!) to signal your brain that you’re full. Always make sure to take a sip of whatever beverage you’re drinking in between each bite to help slow you down.
- Never feel you have to finish every morsel on your plate.
- Look at your portions and cut off anything beyond the size of your palm and save it for another meal.
- Use smaller plates.
- Hydrate well – thirst is often misinterpreted as hunger.
- Refuse 2nd helpings.
- Snack. Healthfully, that is. Nuts, fruit, etc.
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February 1st, 2010
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- Choose lean meats and poultry. Bake it, broil it, or grill it.
- In a restaurant, opt for steamed, grilled, or broiled dishes instead of those that are fried or sautéed.
- Look for foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol. Most of the fats you eat should come from polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, such as those found in fish, nuts, and vegetable oils.
- Look for foods high in potassium (unless your health care professional has told you to restrict the amount of potassium you eat). Potassium counteracts some of the effects of salt on blood pressure.
- Choose foods and beverages low in added sugars. Read the ingredient list to make sure that added sugars are not one of the first few ingredients. (Ingredients are listed in descending order of weight. Those in the largest amounts are listed first.) Some names for added sugars include sucrose, glucose, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, maple syrup, and fructose.
- Pick foods that provide dietary fiber, like fruits, beans, vegetables, and whole grains.
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January 30th, 2010
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To Your Health! |
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At the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Patrick Ryan has found that exposure to dog dander sets off immune reactions that cause wheezing and asthma.
The study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), the total pet population is more than 100 million, or about four pets for every 10 people.
Dogs and cats secrete fluids and shed dander that contain the allergens. They collect on fur and other surfaces. The allergens will not lose their strength for a long time, sometimes for several months. They appear to be sticky and adhere to walls, clothing and other surfaces.
Cat and dog allergens are everywhere. Pet dander is even in homes never occupied by these animals because it is carried on people’s clothing.
Many airborne particles are small enough to get into the lungs. When inhaled, the allergens combine with antibodies. This can cause severe breathing problems – coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath – within 15 to 30 minutes. Cat allergies also can lead to chronic asthma.
The best treatment is to avoid contact with cats or dogs or their dander. Keep the pets out of the house, and avoid visiting people with pets. Once a pet has been removed from a home, it may take up to eight months to have the pet allergen out of the home.
If you decide to keep a pet, bar it from the bedroom. You spend from one-third to one-half of your time there. Keep the bedroom door closed and clean the bedroom aggressively.
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January 28th, 2010
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To Your Health! |
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This recipe makes one mug – especially helpful with those annoying sniffles…
Ingredients:
3 slices fresh ginger (spicy, warming, immune balancing)
5 to 10 leaves chopped sage (spicy, antihistamine)
2 to 3 springs fresh thyme (spicy, antibiotic, antiviral)
1 tablespoon honey (sweet, simple sugar)
Juice of half a lemon (sour, vitamin c)
A dash of cayenne pepper (hot, immune enhancing) [optional]
This mug of hot grog will make you feel stronger while giving you a rest from those aggravating cold symptoms.
Nearly all herbs are safe in low doses.
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January 26th, 2010
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning the public about a counterfeit version of the weight-loss drug Alli 60 mg capsules (120 count refill pack) being sold over the Internet, particularly at online auction sites.
The counterfeit product is illegal and unsafe. FDA advises people who believe that they have a counterfeit product not to use the drug and to dispose of it immediately. There is no evidence at this time that the counterfeit Alli product has been sold in retail stores.
The counterfeit Alli looks similar to the authentic product, with a few notable differences (see photos). The counterfeit Alli has
- a missing LOT code on the outer cardboard packaging
- an expiration date that includes a MONTH, DAY, and YEAR—the expiration date of the real Alli only contains a MONTH and a YEAR
- a plain foil for the inner safety seal without any words on it—the safety seal of the real Alli has the words “SEALED FOR YOUR PROTECTION” prominently printed on it.
- large capsules with white powder, as opposed to small white pellets found in the real Alli
- a slightly taller plastic bottle with a wider cap and coarser ribbing on the cap than what is seen with the real Alli
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Alli is an FDA-approved, over-the-counter weight-loss drug that contains orlistat as its active ingredient. The counterfeit version of Alli does not contain orlistat; instead it is made with varying amounts of sibutramine, a stimulant drug.
Although sibutramine is the active ingredient in another FDA-approved prescription weight-loss drug, it is only to be used in specific doses and under the supervision of a physician.
FDA first warned consumers about the counterfeit product on Jan. 18, 2010, based on preliminary laboratory tests that revealed the counterfeit version contained sibutramine and not orlistat. Since that time, FDA lab tests on the counterfeit product show that people may be taking three times the usual daily dose (and twice the recommended maximum dose) of sibutramine if they are following the dosing directions for Alli.
This excessive amount of sibutramine is dangerous to people who have a history of cardiovascular disease and can lead to
- elevated blood pressure
- stroke
- heart attack
Even healthy people who take this much sibutramine can experience
- anxiety
- nausea
- heart palpitations
- a racing heart
- insomnia
- small increases in blood pressure
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Check to make sure you are not taking counterfeit Alli. If you think you might have the counterfeit product:
- stop taking the drug and throw it away
- contact your health care professional if you are experiencing more than mild side effects, especially if you have a history of cardiovascular disease
- call FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) at 800-551-3989 or by visiting the OCI Web site; you may also contact Alli’s maker, GlaxoSmithKline at 800-671-2554
FDA encourages people to report any unexpected side effects that may be related to the use of the counterfeit product to FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail, by fax, or by phone.
- Online
- Regular Mail: Use postage-paid, pre-addressed FDA form 3500
- Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178
- Phone: 1-800-332-1088
Counterfeit Alli Sample
Source: FDA
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January 26th, 2010
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To Your Health! |
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Snacks seem to be the latest “on the attack” by the self-declared food police.
One article, which attacks children’s snacking habits, rudely stated the following:
Apparently, we have collectively decided as a culture that it is impossible for children to take part in any activity without simultaneously shoving something into their pie holes. Source: Snack Time Never Ends
(Their “pie holes”?) Well, children are active. Children are growing. Together these factors make for some seriously hungry kids. Seems it’s been that way since time began…why should today’s kids be any different? The after-school-snack has been a “staple” of the American diet for so long recipes are named after it.
And for us adults, snacking can be healthful. In the case of diabetics, utterly necessary. Snacks play an important role in the daily life of a diabetic, particularly those with type 1 diabetes and insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes. (See Snacks: Healthy Necessity in a Diabetic Diet)
In fact, there are New Snack Ideas that are healthy, Smart and healthful snacks for kids and adults to enjoy on an every day basis. There are healthy alternative snacks, and downright Smart Snacks we can eat.
The American Dietetic Association recently offered up suggestions as “Healthy Pyramid Snacks“.
Don’t fall into all this stuff and nonsense about the big, bad snack. Avoid all the hype and just use common sense and all will be well…we promise.
Consider: Quick 100 Calorie Snacks and/or One Hundred Calorie Snack Packs.
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January 25th, 2010
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Weightloss Wisdom |
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