Striving4Zen

Salmon (and other fish) develop a gray-brown layer of insulating fat between their skin and flesh. This is in addition to fat deposited within the flesh. Yes, it’s okay to eat it.

A large amount of the healthy omega-3 fats in salmon are found here. For cosmetic reasons, however, vendors who remove the skin also take off as much of the gray fat as they can. But you may still find some of it on your salmon fillets or smoked salmon.

In general, the fatty layer adds an intensity of flavor, but it has a consistency that some people may dislike. If you scrape it off, rest assured that you are still getting significant amounts of omega-3s from the flesh of the salmon.

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Labels: canned salmon, Fat, healthy cooking, healthy diet, Omega-3s, Omega-3s fish oil, salmon

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Labels: Calories, deceit, fast food, Fat, Lies

A diet high in red meat is just not good for us. But some people need to eat meat. If you're one of them, make sure you select grass-fed meat (not grain-fed or even worse!).

According to recent studies, grass fed cattle produce meat higher in beta carotene, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids than meat produced from cattle raised by conventional ranching techniques. Conventional ranching techniques means cows raised in lots and fed mostly corn and processed feed.

According to Michael Pollan's well known book The Omnivore's Dilemma, cows evolved to eat grass and roam around in pastures. When cows eat grass they are leaner animals and produce leaner meat, which translates into healthier protein for us. Corn creates fat marbled meat, but the corn also upsets the cows four stomachs. Which in turn, leaves cattle more prone to infections, hence the increase in antibiotics given to cows. Historically speaking, corn was not the major feed for cows until after WW II, which is relatively recent in the grand scheme of things.

Unfortunately, the label/term grass fed is not currently regulated by the USDA. Ranchers and farmers raising grass fed animals are lobbying hard to have the term regulated. So your best bet is finding a ranch close by that raises grass fed cattle. If you are interested in finding grass fed beef produced close to you - check out Local Harvest.

Thanks FitSugar!

Labels: beef, corn, eating healthy, Fat, grains, grass-fed, healthier, meat, Michael Pollan, organic farms, red meat

Almost 1 in 5 American 4-year-olds is obese, and the rate is alarmingly higher among American Indian children, with nearly one-third of them fat, a striking new study says.

Researchers said they were surprised to see differences by race at so early an age.

Overall, more than a half-million 4-year-olds are obese, the study suggests. Obesity is more common in Hispanic and black youngsters, too, but the disparity is most startling in American Indian kids, whose rate is almost double that of white children.

The study's lead author said that rate is worrisome among children so young, even in a population at higher risk for obesity because of other health problems and economic disadvantages.

"The magnitude of these differences was larger than we expected, and it is surprising to see differences by racial groups present so early in childhood," said Sarah Anderson, an Ohio State University public-health researcher.

Anderson conducted the research with Temple University's Dr. Robert Whitaker.

Dr. Glenn Flores, a pediatrics and public-health professor at University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, said the research is an important contribution to studies documenting racial and ethnic disparities in children's weight.

"The cumulative evidence is alarming because within just a few decades, America will become a 'minority majority' nation," he said.

Without interventions, the next generation "will be at very high risk" for heart disease, high blood pressure, cancers, joint diseases and other problems connected with obesity, said Flores, who was not involved in the new research.

The results appeared in yesterday's Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Almost 13% of Asian children were obese, along with 16% of whites, almost 21% of blacks, 22% of Hispanics, and 31% of American Indians.

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Labels: children, disturbing trend, Fat, obese, Obesity, study

Muscle tissue is more dense than fat tissue, so it takes up less space. When you lose fat and gain muscle your body measurements will change, like waist circumference, even though your weight doesn't.

Muscle also requires more energy and therefore burns more calories than fat. Meaning the more muscle mass you have the faster your metabolism, which is great. If you're looking to lose weight, I think you should alter your goal to change your body composition. Keep on exercising and counting calories, since that is how you effectively lose weight. Make sure to keep your caloric intake above 1200 calories, because if you go under your body goes into famine mode and holds onto fat. Measure your progress by how your clothes feel and remember, the slower you lose weight — two pounds maximum a week — the higher the chances you will keep it off.

Thanks Fit!

Labels: exercise, Fat, metabolism, muscle vs. fat, muscles

With a few exceptions, few restaurants go out of their way to publish the nutritional information about their food, at least not in any obvious way offline. Much the way D+caf Test Strips have blown the proverbial lid open on caffeine content, however, Fatburgr is a new site that puts together in one place the nutritional facts about a variety of fast-food restaurants and chains.

Some 20 restaurants are currently listed on Fatburgr—including McDonald's, Subway and Chili's, for example—and more are being added every day, the company says. For each of them the site lists the calories, fat, carbs and fiber content for each menu item, and users can sort the list by any of those criteria. Listings can also be searched by food type, and all data is available by iPhone for those needing to make ordering decisions on the go. Fatburgr is free to use.

Besides equipping consumers with information that can help them stay healthier, of course, Fatburgr is also a nice example of what our sister site trendwatching would call transparency tyranny, leaving companies with nowhere to hide the facts they might prefer not be known. On that note, Fatburgr has even set up a "wall of shame"—though it's still empty—for restaurants that won't fork over their nutritional information. Restaurants around the world: Be prepared to open up the truth about your food, or this could happen to you! ;-)

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Labels: Calories, fast food, Fat, innovative, junk food, nutritional information, restaurants

It's no mystery why Americans are getting fatter. We're expending less energy to work, play, travel and acquire food. And we're taking more calories in.

And how!

New York City's recent law requiring chain restaurants to post calorie counts on menus has revealed some intriguing -- and appalling -- information.

Some observations:

Studies have shown that even dietitians often underestimate how many calories dishes contain, and no wonder. Applebee's Fiesta Lime Chicken packs 1,290 calories. Pizzeria Uno's Individual Chicago Classic (serves one) has 2,310. Who could eat another bite after an appetizer like T.G.I. Friday's Jack Daniel's Sampler at 2,330?

But It Sounds So Healthy …

Salads come so embellished these days they may as well be dessert. The Pecan-Coated Chicken Salad at T.G.I. Friday's (garnished with mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, glazed pecans, celery and blue cheese) is 1,360 calories. California Pizza Kitchen's Grilled Vegetable Salad is 1,020, or 1,490 with sautéed salmon.

Sandwiches can be a caloric bargain in comparison. At Shea Stadium's Metropolitan Club, the Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad is 807 calories; the Grilled Chicken Sandwich is 340. As veteran dieters know, dressing sends salads to the moon, calorically.

Lightening Up

Some restaurants have had their own sticker shock and started offering lighter options. Così had a nutritionist look for ways to save on every item. S witching to low-fat mayo brought the Così Club from nearly 800 calories to 447. Così's popular Signature Salad (with gorgonzola, grapes, pears, pistachios, dried cranberries and roasted sherry shallot vinaigrette) goes from 611 calories to 371 with reduced-fat dressing and half the cheese." Having to post this information in New York really focused us on paying attention as well," says Chris Carroll, the chain's chief marketing officer.

"A lot of restaurants use a lot of butter or oil in the preparation. Cutting that by half usually doesn't change the taste or the consistency but it dramatically changes the calories and fat," says Healthy Dining Program's president Anita Jones-Mueller. "Some restaurants are really embracing this and creating exciting new items," she adds. "And others are kind of waiting to see if it goes away."

Will posting calories prominently really make Americans think twice and order more healthy items? "Anecdotally, you hear constantly about people who've changed their choices," say Commissioner Frieden. "You go into fast-food places and you hear a lot of buzz online."

Elisabetta Politi, director of nutrition at the Duke Diet & Fitness Center, isn't so sure. "Some of our clients know so much about nutrition they could teach the classes, but does that help them control their weight? Absolutely not," she says.

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Labels: eating out, epidemic, Fat, Obesity, restaurants

We did not evolve for a sedentary lifestyle. We were made to be on the move, but if you can’t get up and stroll at your job you might considered adding in some standing time. Researchers at the University of Missouri found that after four hours of sitting an enzyme responsible for metabolizing fat and cholesterol all but turns off. Four hours of inactivity translates to a metabolic slowdown where your body stops using fat as energy and stores it instead.

The enzyme likes you to be on the move or at least on your feet. Since the average American spends almost eight hours a day sedentary, it is worth the time to figure out how to get back on your feet. On a long call? Why not stand up? Need to reboot your computer? Why not stand up? Keep those enzymes revved up!

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Labels: at work, exercise, Fat, standing, study

The reason 200 million Americans are overweight is not because of flawed genetics that cause them to make excessive insulin.
Hypersecretion of insulin is an effect -- NOT the cause. The reason 200 million are overweight is because they have impaired insulin receptor sensitivity.
Impaired Insulin Receptor Sensitivity: How do your insulin receptors stop working effectively? Very simple. This is a natural consequence that occurs when you don’t exercise and move the way you were designed to. Your body dynamically makes this adjustment because the receptors are not being used. This is very similar to what happens if you lie in bed for a few weeks; your muscles start to atrophy. Some have called this the “use it or lose it” phenomena. So when your insulin receptors become desensitized the only way your body can adjust is to make MORE insulin. You become an insulin hypersecretor.

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Labels: exercise, Fat, Mercola

June 6, 2007 -- With 53 percent of city residents classified as overweight, lawmakers said yesterday they're allocating $6.5 million to fight the battle of the bulge.

"New Yorkers are consuming more calories than ever before," said City Councilman Joel Rivera (D-Bronx), the trim Health Committee chairman, in announcing grants to five groups to expand obesity-prevention programs.

NYPOST

Labels: battle of the bulge, Fat, NYC