Diet and Nutrition

7-Eleven Double Big Gulps Exempt from NYC Soda Ban

Earlier today New York City’s Board of Health ruled to pass Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposed ban on over-sized sugary drinks, otherwise known as the Soda Ban. It’s a landmark ruling that is the first of its kind anywhere in the nation. At the most basic, the ruling puts in to effect a law six months from now that will ban the sale of sweetened beverages, like soda, sweetened iced tea, and energy drinks, larger than 16 ounces.


This means you can no longer order a large sweet tea at McDonald’s or a large soda at Subway. In fact, you can’t order anything above a small at any restaurant, street cart, sports stadium, or movie theater in New York City if it’s filled with sugary beverages. The ruling applies to any business that receives inspections from NYC’s health department. At some restaurants, their smallest cup sizes starts well past 16 ounces.

There are always loop holes though, and that is where places like 7-Eleven, Starbucks, and Dunkin’ Donuts might be able to help Americans keep getting fatter with every sip they take.

“The restrictions would not affect fruit juices, dairy-based drinks like milkshakes, or alcoholic beverages; no-calorie diet sodas would not be affected,” reported the NYTimes.com following the ruling. Large Frostys at Wendy’s are safe; Cokes in that same establishment are not. (more…)

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Natalie K

New York City Soda Ban Passes; Soda Industry Plans to Fight [UPDATED]

UPDATE: On Friday, October 12, the beverage industry and 11 other organizations filed a lawsuit against New York City challenging the recent soda ban, according to an article in The Washington Post. The lawsuit deals less with the ban itself and more with whether or not the New York City Board of Health had the right to pass the regulation in the first place.

A portion of the lawsuit reads: “The Board of Health’s decision nonetheless to ban certain sizes of sweetened beverages in certain outlets, imposed by executive fiat, usurps the role of the City Council, violating core principles of democratic government, and ignoring the rights of the people of New York City to make their own choices.”

The NYC Board of Health reportedly contends that it does, in fact, have the authority to create such a regulation that ‘promotes healthier living,’ and is poised to fight the lawsuit much like it battled chain restaurants in court over the issue of calorie labeling on menus. (10/15/12)

It seems the nation has been on high alert as the New York City soda ban vote inched nearer. As of Thursday morning, New Yorkers and their mayor Michael Bloomberg can take a deep sigh of relief as the wait is now over. The proposed amendment to ban the sale of sugary beverages exceeding 16 ounces has been approved by the city’s Board of Health.

The measure will take effect in six months unless overturned by a judge, which the soda industry has vowed to pursue. Those living in New York can expect to see their favorite sugary beverages available only in a 16 ounce size or smaller at businesses regulated by the city.

Bloomberg takes the health of his citizens seriously and has passed similar measures before, one being the initiative to place calorie counts on restaurant menus and another that limited the amount of trans fats food sold in the city could contain. Despite any resistance to Bloomberg’s past or current legislation positive changes have been made, so it’s no surprise that his most recent initiative was approved.

People are already turning to Twitter in response to the news.

 

 

The trans fats ban of 2006 limited the amount per serving to less than 0.5 grams. Studies have since shown that the trans fat content of meals was reduced from 2.91 grams in 2024 to 0.51 grams in 2024. While a 2.4 gram reduction doesn’t sound like much of difference, even small progress is progress in the eyes of Bloomberg and his team.

Though the initiative to place calorie counts on menus wasn’t as successful- a reported 15 percent of diners now choose healthier options and consume 100 fewer calories on average per meal – the mayor’s commitment to building a healthier city seems to be unwavering. (more…)

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Dana

McDonald’s Posting Nutrition Information on Menus Nationwide, but Will it Do Any Good?

Ever wonder how many calories are in a McDonald’s meal? If you do want to know just how nutritionally void that Big Mac is, you would have to pull up the information on the restaurant’s web site. Until now!

Today, the corporation announced that they will list nutrition information on restaurant and drive-thru menus nationwide. President Obama’s new health regulation requires restaurant chains to post calorie information. McDonald’s move comes ahead of federal government regulation that could require major chains to post nutrition information as early as next year.

Jan Fields, president of McDonald’s USA, said in a press release that the company volunteered to give out their nutrition information. “We believe it will help educate customers.”

I asked our resident dietitian, Mary Hartley, what she thinks of McDonald’s providing their nutrition information, and she said, “It’s good publicity and they (McDonalds) know it really won’t make a difference, but who knows what will happen over time. Many people have no idea of how many calories they need and so the information is meaningless.” She points to the fact that New York City has required calories posted on menus for several years and it’s done little to change buyer behavior there. (more…)

Posted on September 12, 2024 by Samantha

9 Good-for-You Goodies Worth the Indulgence

By Bob Greene from TheBestLife.com

Here’s a not-so-surprising fact: Deprivation diets don’t work. Ever notice that when you try to avoid a certain food—cookies, candy, wine—you just end up wanting it even more? And worse, you often wind up having more of it than you would have if you’d simply allowed yourself to have a small amount in the first place.

On the Best Life plan, we build treats right into your daily eating plan. After all, what would life be like if you couldn’t enjoy the foods you love? The trick to making it work is to enjoy these foods in moderation. (Check out how Best Life lead nutritionist Janis Jibrin plans for treats.) We offer a set amount of calories, called Anything Goes calories, per day that can be used toward your favorite foods.

If you want to use them on indulgent foods, that’s fine. If you’d rather put them toward treat foods that also offer some health or nutritional benefits, all the better. Need some ideas for nutritious nibbles? Try any of the healthier bites in the slideshow.

View Good For You Goodies Slideshow

Posted on September 12, 2024 by BestLifeDiet

Atkins Announces Sharon Osbourne as New Brand Ambassador

Sharon Osbourne, made famous by her marriage to rocker Ozzy Osbourne and role as co-host on both “America’s Got Talent” and “The Talk,” has a new venture on the horizon. The star announced this week that she will be partnering with Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. – the diet company most well known for putting “low-carb” on the map – as their newest celebrity ambassador.

Osbourne is thrilled of the new partnership and hopes she’ll be able to lose the extra pounds she’s put on over the years as she nears her 60th birthday on October 9.

Sharon will be following the Atkins diet approach, focusing on plenty of protein and a healthy balance of good carbs and fats. As reported by RedOrbit, Osbourne will be chronicling her weight loss journey online at Atkins.com, where she has also agreed to contribute tips and advice for the website’s followers. In addition, she will also appear in online, TV and print marketing campaigns.

“As I near a milestone birthday, I don’t want to take my health for granted any longer,” said Osbourne. “I’ve struggled with my weight for years, and I wanted a diet plan that would ensure I’d look and feel great. After looking at other weight-loss plans, I realized that Atkins is the best plan for me because my body – like many women my age – doesn’t process sugar and refined carbs well.” (more…)

Posted on September 12, 2024 by Dana

Organic vs Non-Organic: Battle of the Packaged Foods

We’ve all been at the grocery store, holding up two products trying to decide which is better for our health. With miles-long ingredients lists and confusing nutrition labels, picking the right foods for our families can be a daunting task – especially when cost is a major consideration. Throw in the factor that organic is supposedly superior and it’s enough to make your head spin.

We’ve been curious for a while now if organic packaged foods are really that much better for you than their non-organic counterparts. A little research proved that our suspicions about organic food were confirmed: they really are the healthier choice on the basis of nutrition.

Yes, the organic Oreos may cost more and taste different than the non-organic version, but we found that organic foods concentrate much more on whole, natural ingredients and leave out the artificial and highly-processed items that are ultimately harmful to our health. If cost wasn’t a factor, we’d tout organic all the way. But we’ve comprised a slideshow with a side-by-side comparison of ingredients and nutrition so you can decide which products are worth going organic for.

While organic packaged foods are often healthier than non-organic, always keep in mind that eating a balanced diet of whole, natural foods and keeping processed foods to a minimum is always the best diet approach.

Posted on September 11, 2024 by Dana

4 Healthy Breakfasts You Can Eat on Your Way to Work

By Kati Mora, MS, RD

In a perfect world, eating every meal at the table would be ideal. Yet in today’s busy world, that isn’t always possible. And unfortunately, breakfast is one meal that often gets left in our daily schedule’s dust.

If you have a busy morning getting yourself, your kids, and maybe even your spouse up and out of the house, don’t let breakfast pass you by! It really is the most important meal of the day and can help you feel more energized and perform your best at your day job. So instead of missing breakfast completely, choose one of these four meal ideas that will not only quench your hunger, but travel with you as you get up and go!

Four Healthy On-the-Go Breakfast Ideas

Power Up Smoothie. Smoothies are a great way to get a lot of nutrients fast! Pick out your favorite fruits, veggies, and protein sources, hit blend, and voila! You’ve got a healthy, on-the-go breakfast you can carry with you in a cup.

Need some smoothie inspiration? Check out these four phenomenal recipes from AroundthePlate.org. My favorite is the Vanilla Melon smoothie. Just mix together honeydew melon, an apple, avocado, lemon juice, vanilla extract, almonds and ice cubes for a delightful morning treat. (more…)

Posted on September 11, 2024 by Around The Plate

The Doctors’ Powerhouse Smoothie Recipe and How to Lose an Unhealthy Guy

On the September 10 premiere episode of The Doctors, girlfriends reveal their guys’ harmful habits and ask for help.

The Doctors get these couples set on the right track for health through simple but lasting solutions. Sedentary lifestyles, a problem for many, are extremely detrimental, and the doctors tell viewers that sitting for 11 hours a day or more increases your chance of death by 40 percent! They encourage the use of fitness apps and trackers as well as short high-intensity workouts like Crossfit.  (more…)

Posted on September 10, 2024 by SarahS

A Low Glycemic Diet May be the Best Way to Slim Down

If there’s one thing we know about losing weight, it’s that simply cutting calories isn’t always the answer. Those who have tried the Baby Food Diet and the Beyonce Diet can attest to this fact. This is because when we over-restrict calories, especially for extended periods of time, the pounds end up coming back and usually sticking around for good. 

However, one researcher, David Ludwig of the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, argues that there’s one way to lose weight more efficiently and keep it off: a low glycemic diet.

DietsInReview.com’s registered dietitian Mary Hartley, RD, explains that a low glycemic index diet is touted as beneficial because it helps avert hunger and blood sugar dips by discouraging the rapid release release of insulin.

“The Glycemic Index (GI) ranks carbohydrate-containing foods based on how they affect blood glucose,” she said. “Foods with a low GI produce a gradual rise, while high GI foods bring about a sharp increase.”

Highly processed foods like potato chips and Twinkies are considered high GI foods. But there are also naturally-occurring foods like potatoes and corn that are considered high GI because they cause a spike in blood sugar as well. (more…)

Posted on September 10, 2024 by Dana

How to Cook with Ginger

Ginger is often used to add flavor to dishes, but it’s also relied on for medicinal purposes in various cultures. India, for example, introduced the Western world to ginger root when Europe was trading it heavily in Asia. In Eastern households, it’s common to use a lot of ginger in dishes to add plenty of flavor and spice. And in Western cultures, ginger is typically used to sweeten foods like ginger ale, gingerbread, and ginger cake. In addition to being incredibly versatile for cooking, ginger is also surprisingly nutritious touting a number of health benefits.

Health benefits: Ancient Chinese medicine men were the first to document the health benefits of ginger root. Several studies found that the roots can help pregnant women lessen symptoms of morning sickness.

Cancer treatment is another benefit of ginger. The University of Michigan conducted a study that linked ginger powder to the death of ovarian cancer cells. In addition to this study, the University of Minnesota found that ginger can slow the growth of colon cancer cells. Ginger root can also help reduce menstrual cramping, migraines, heartburn, and pain and inflammation.

Nutritional statistics: One quarter cup of raw ginger root has approximately 19 calories, 0 g of fat, 3 mg of sodium, 0 g of sugar, and 0 g of protein.  (more…)

Posted on September 9, 2024 by Dana

Energy Drinks Under Investigation by New York State Attorney General: Is it Worth the Fight?

By Rachel Berman, RD Director of Nutrition at CalorieCount.com

Just as the new school year is getting underway and students everywhere are looking for a pick-me-up to stay focused in class, the NY State Attorney General announced his investigation of energy drinks and the safety of their caffeine levels. You might remember a couple of years ago when the USDA forced removal of products from the marketplace, such as Four Loko, which added caffeine to alcohol. They deemed it unsafe since caffeine masks the depressant qualities of alcohol and people who mix the two are more likely to binge drink, according to studies.

However, it seems like there’s a new product appearing every week touting its ability to keep you awake and energized. Energy drinks are a billion-dollar industry, the fastest growing segment of the beverage market, and they generally contain caffeine, other plant based supplements, simple sugars and additives to achieve their goal. According to the CDC, about one-third of teenage Americans consume energy drinks. But the problem is that the drinks are considered dietary supplements and therefore aren’t tightly regulated by the FDA like other foods and beverages. So can energy drinks be bad for your health?

Cap the caffeine

The caffeine content listed on energy drinks doesn’t usually exceed the recommended 400 mg per day for adult. However, if you’re downing more than one or mixing with coffee, soda, and other caffeinated beverages, you might be getting more than you need. The FDA recognizes caffeine as a drug and regulates the amount found in carbonated soft drinks, but not in energy drinks. Too much caffeine can cause increased heart beat, interrupted sleep, irritability, and nervousness. In addition, some studies have found that high caffeine content in energy drinks results in irregular heart beat and increased blood pressure. (more…)

Posted on September 7, 2024 by Calorie_Count