If you like fast food on your lunch hour, or on the way home from work or school with the kids, here are some ways to minimize the harm these foods can do.
McDonald's
Instead of this - 6-piece Chicken McNuggets with Ranch dressing and a large order of French fries
Order this - Same McNuggets, but without the Ranch (use Barbecue instead) and cut the fries down to the medium size. But if you want to do even better, get their Cobb Salad with grilled chicken. And use a low-fat vinaigrette dressing instead of anything creamy.
Burger King
Instead of this - A whopper with cheese and a salad
Order this - Order a regular hamburger from the kids' menu. This alone will cut out about 500 calories because they are smaller. But if you want something even better, get the Tender Grilled Chicken Sandwich. Refuse any creamy sauces, and ask for extra lettuce and tomato.
Wendy's
Instead of this - Baked potato slathered with sour cream, butter, cheese, and bacon, with a chocolate Frosty milkshake on the side.
Order this - Put chili, broccoli and low fat sour cream on the potato instead. That cuts out a lot of the fat and calories, but you can do better. Cut out the sour cream completely, and have plain chocolate milk instead of a shake.
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Instead of this - Extra Crispy Chicken Breast with a side of mashed potatoes and gravy.
Order this - Get a wing and a leg, Original Recipe, as these have fewer calories than the breast meat. Or, have the Honey BBQ chicken sandwich, with potatoes and NO gravy, with green beans and corn on the cob on the side. Eat your vegetables!
Subway
Instead of this - Any subway sandwich with all the toppings.
Order this - Get it on a wheat roll, and use all the veggie toppings you like. Just forget the cheese, mayo and the bag of chips that comes with it. A good choice overall would be the Veggie Delite or the Turkey Breast sandwich. Also, order from the "6 Grams of Fat or Less" section of their menu.
Taco Bell
Instead of this - Fried tacos with beef and cheese
Order this - Always go for tacos with the soft shell. They haven't been fried. Also, avoid the cheese and ask for salsa instead. And no, don't get any sour cream or guacamole either.
As long as you order carefully, you can still eat out with your friends at the fast food places.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Are Fad Diets Safe?
The problem with fad diets is that their fat-reducing effect is temporary and results in quick regain of weight. What is worse is that most of these diets are harmful in many ways.
Fad diets are not as new as they might seem at first. These date back to the mid 19th century when an obese Londoner was prescribed such a diet on an experimental basis. Now, after a century and a half, fad diets have become popular among people with weight problems. Teens and young adults especially flock to fad diets for an answer to their weight problems.
Fad diets often promote the idea of completely cutting out carbohydrates. It is the low intake of carbohydrates that brings about rapid weight loss. However, it is a water loss. With loss of glycogen, the large amount of water stored in it is also lost and body weight drops. The fats are still there and as the fad diets are given up, the body regains its proportion of water lost. Weight is put back on faster than it was lost.
Normally, carbohydrates remain the source of energy for work. With fad diets, the carbs may be so low that so the body starts using the stored fat, breaking it down. This may appear beneficial, but in fact, it is not. In the absence of carbs, fats cannot be completely oxidized and put to work. Hence, the body feels fatigued and weak. In addition, the ketone molecules resulting from the fat breakdown accumulate in the blood and are excreted from the body by urination, causing dehydration.
Given the harmful health effects of fad diets, it is important for us to recognize and beware of these diet plans. Watch out for diets that:
· Promise quick weight loss
· Publicize before and after pictures
· Present weight-loss testimonials
· Tend to limit natural food choices
· Require a large sum of money
Fad diets may be popular, but they can hurt your body. Be careful with any diet or exercise program and ask your health professional to be sure it is safe.
Fad diets are not as new as they might seem at first. These date back to the mid 19th century when an obese Londoner was prescribed such a diet on an experimental basis. Now, after a century and a half, fad diets have become popular among people with weight problems. Teens and young adults especially flock to fad diets for an answer to their weight problems.
Fad diets often promote the idea of completely cutting out carbohydrates. It is the low intake of carbohydrates that brings about rapid weight loss. However, it is a water loss. With loss of glycogen, the large amount of water stored in it is also lost and body weight drops. The fats are still there and as the fad diets are given up, the body regains its proportion of water lost. Weight is put back on faster than it was lost.
Normally, carbohydrates remain the source of energy for work. With fad diets, the carbs may be so low that so the body starts using the stored fat, breaking it down. This may appear beneficial, but in fact, it is not. In the absence of carbs, fats cannot be completely oxidized and put to work. Hence, the body feels fatigued and weak. In addition, the ketone molecules resulting from the fat breakdown accumulate in the blood and are excreted from the body by urination, causing dehydration.
Given the harmful health effects of fad diets, it is important for us to recognize and beware of these diet plans. Watch out for diets that:
· Promise quick weight loss
· Publicize before and after pictures
· Present weight-loss testimonials
· Tend to limit natural food choices
· Require a large sum of money
Fad diets may be popular, but they can hurt your body. Be careful with any diet or exercise program and ask your health professional to be sure it is safe.
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