6 Worst Frozen Diet Foods

Charlatans! Imposters! Frauds! Scoundrels! They’re everywhere, from the late-night infomercials to the floor of your local used-car dealership. And there’s no place as packed with truth-twisting treats as the frozen food aisle of your supermarket.

How do so many bad-for-you foods get away with masquerading as “health” foods? Well, consider the case of the most famous imposter of all, Frank Abagnale: Over the course of several years, he masqueraded as a doctor, airline pilot, and lawyer. So successful were his impersonations that Hollywood made a movie about his life: "Catch Me if You Can," starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Abagnale had exactly what it took to pull off any hoax: the right look, the right talk, and a detachment from the consequences of his actions.

Sound familiar? Think about food industry: The people who fill our supermarket freezer section have no problem clumping together pseudo-foods and processing chemicals and selling it to you under the guise of "healthy eating." They give these foods the right look (gourmet packaging with wholesome images) and the right talk (nutritional buzz-terms like "light," "natural," and "gluten-free"), and they obviously don't care about the consequences (more than two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese).

Indeed, some frozen-food manufacturers even go so far as to spackle terms like "lean" or "healthy" right on the label. But the truth is, many of these foods are charlatans, imposters, frauds! Don’t let these scoundrels sabotage your waistline. 

WORST FROZEN PASTA DISH

Amy’s Rice Macaroni with Non-Dairy Cheeze

520 calories
22 g fat (5 g saturated)
740 mg sodium

Amy’s casts itself as the healthy alternative to other frozen meals, and often that's true. But not here. “Made with organic pasta,” as the package proclaims, means nothing if you’re consuming an oil-soaked cheese-alternative that crams in more than a third of your day’s fat allotment. For the same amount of calories, you could eat two packages of Banquet’s macaroni and cheese.

Eat This Instead!

Banquet Macaroni and Cheese Meal

260 calories
6 g fat (3 g saturated)
760 mg sodium

 WORST FROZEN BURRITO

Evol Burritos Egg & Sausage

480 calories
16 g fat (5 g saturated)
850 mg sodium

We love Evol’s commitment to unadulterated produce and naturally raised meats, but "natural" alone won't keep fat off your body. Sausage is still the first ingredient in this beast of a morning wrap, and as such, it saddles you with 25 percent of your day’s fat and saturated fat, 35 percent of your sodium, and half your cholesterol. These numbers don’t make Evol evil, but they don’t make this burrito nutritious either.

BREAKFAST BOMBSHELLS: Research shows that those who eat a balanced breakfast consume fewer calories over the course of the day. But do the first meal wrong, and you can set yourself up for calorie overload. 

Eat This Instead!

Amy’s Breakfast Burrito

270 calories
8 g fat (1 g saturated)
540 mg sodium

 WORST FROZEN CHICKEN DISH

Healthy Choice Roasted Sesame Chicken

440 calories
9 g fat (1.5 g saturated)
470 mg sodium
23 g sugars

Remove the calming green packaging and the ostentatious use of "healthy" in the name, and you'll see this meal for what it is: fried chicken swimming in sugary syrup. Healthy Choice claims this is “roasted” chicken, but an inspection of the ingredient statement reveals the meat is coated in corn flour and cooked in vegetable oil. At KFC they call that "fried."

FOWL FOULS: Chicken is a lean, fat-fighting protein. But it's also the most abused food in American restuarants.

Eat This Instead!

Healthy Choice Café Steamers Lemon Garlic Chicken and Shrimp

260 calories
6 g fat (2 g saturated)
350 mg sodium
4 g sugars

WORST FROZEN MEXICAN MEAL

Cedarlane Roasted Chile Relleno

400 calories
20 g fat (12 g saturated)
770 mg sodium

This box advertises “all natural” in the corner. Maybe, but Monterey jack and cheddar cheese, which make up two of the first five ingredients, are still naturally full of fat. And that’s how Cedarlane stuffs this relatively small dish with 60 percent of your day’s heart-unhealthy saturated fat.

Eat This Instead!

Kashi Spicy Black Bean Enchilada

260 calories
7 g fat (1 g saturated)
600 mg sodium

WORST FROZEN BEEF MEAL

Lean Cuisine Beef Chow Fun

320 calories
5 g fat (1.5 g saturated)
520 mg sodium
18 g sugars

The calorie toll here isn't so bad, but the sugar impact is unacceptable. This isn't dessert, after all. You could have a scoop of Edy's Slow Churned Rocky Road ice cream and still cut 6 grams of sugar. The problem here is Lean Cuisine's “sweet and spicy” Asian sauce. Think of it as pancake syrup with a few spices stirred in.

Eat This Instead!

Lean Cuisine Garlic Beef & Broccoli

170 calories
6 g fat (2 g saturated)
670 mg sodium
5 g sugars

 WORST FROZEN DESSERT

Ben & Jerry’s FroYo Phish Food (1/2 cup)

240 calories
6 g fat (4.5 g saturated)
27 g sugars

Frozen yogurt is often a healthy alternative to ice cream, but not this version. In fact, it has 100 more calories than your standard vanilla frozen treat. That’s largely due to coconut oil and butter being high on the ingredient list—not to mention nearly a half-dozen Oreos' worth of sugar in every scoop.

Eat This Instead!

Haagen-Dazs Chocolate All Natural Sorbet

130 calories
0.5 g fat (0 g saturated)
21 g sugars

Washboard Abs

One Secret To Getting Flat Chiseled Abs Again

By Kevin DiDonato MS, CSCS, CES

Guys, we have a problem!  A very BIG problem too!  The minute we are born, we start the aging process.  Flash forward a few years to the age of 12 or 13 when the changes started to happen.  Your little voice got deeper and manlier.   You started to grow hair in places you would never have even dreamed would grow hair.   Your body started to change as well.  You started to notice you were stronger, able to run faster, and your chest was taking shape.
Puberty is a time in a man’s life when there is a transition from boy to man.  Testosterone production starts to increase, resulting in a deeper voice, a chiseled chest and arms and, yes, the extra body hair.  For some, sports became easier to play and we started to notice the girls! For some reason they were more attractive.
The big problem I mentioned before is as we get older there is a gradual decline in testosterone.  Research points to the age of 50 as the magic number when we notice a decline in energy, which might be a sign of declining testosterone levels.    Declining testosterone affects us in many ways.   A lack of motivation, decreased energy levels, a decrease in sex drive and sexual enjoyment, and a decrease in muscle strength and size can be typical reactions.
The decrease in muscle size and strength can be alarming to any man.  I know I have done everything I can to get back to the chiseled, lean physique I once had in my twenties.  What I have noticed is most men tend to gain weight around their bellies than anywhere else.  Let me explain why.

What the heck is LPL?

A gradual decline in testosterone, results in our bodies being unable to process abdominal fat correctly.  A hormone in the body called lipoprotein lipase (LPL) aids the breakdown of fat into usable nutrients for energy.  The problem is this:  When there is a decrease in testosterone, the hormone, LPL, increases in activity resulting in fat breakdown and storage in the cells of the body and not used for energy.  Fat breakdown from lipoprotein lipase happens in two areas of the body: the abdominal region, specifically the adipose tissue, and in muscle.
Simply put, when LPL is increased, the body breaks down fat and stores it in the cells for use later.  Results: higher stored triglycerides in the form of adipose tissue.  When LPL is decreased, the opposite is true.  The LPL in the muscle activates and breaks down more fat as opposed to blood sugar for energy.  This is a good thing!  The body is now using the stored energy from fat as a main energy source.  The problem is this: some, if not most of us, have high LPL activity resulting in more fat storage.

Testosterone and Diabetes

This gets complicated with diabetes thrown into the mix.  Diabetes, a metabolic disease characterized by the body either not producing enough insulin or the cells are not sensitive to insulin, rendering the body unable to remove sugar from the blood.    When diabetes is controlled, people are able to process sugar and use it for energy due to increased insulin capabilities, or the cells are more sensitive to insulin secreted in the body.  The drawback is when it is NOT under control.
Without proper control of insulin and blood sugar, our body utilizes the sugar in the blood and from food as energy and stores the rest in the cells.  Where do you think we store it?  You got it - whatever is not used for energy, we store as fat in the form of adipose tissue.   There are three types of fat we need to discuss before we go any further. 

Subcutaneous, Visceral and Brown

The three types of fat in the body: adipose or subcutaneous, brown fat, and visceral fat.   Adipose tissue, namely white adipose or subcutanenous, is fat that lies right over our abs.  This type of fat is stored energy, and is used in times of starvation, during intense or long duration cardio, or at rest to enable our brain to keep functioning.  High levels of adipose and visceral fat pose potential health risks.  The second type is visceral fat.  This is the worst type of fat you can have.  Higher levels of visceral fat, commonly found deep in the abdomen, is linked to higher cholesterol levels, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.  This type of fat poses a much higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease and other metabolic diseases. The increased risk is due to the higher triglycerides, cholesterol, and LDL.
The last is Brown Fat, or BAT.  This is a great type of fat, and there is plenty of research praising benefits brown fat has on the body.   The reason for the brown color is due to the abundance of mitochondria in the tissue.  This fat utilizes adipose fat as fuel to produce heat, resulting in reduced weight and body fat stores.   Great news for the fight against obesity!
Now the fat is out of the way, let’s turn our attention to how increasing testosterone can help you lose that stubborn belly fat.  If you’re like me, you have done all the moves you could possibly do for the abs to help strengthen them, but it seems like nothing can get rid of stubborn belly fat.
Now don’t be afraid about having stubborn belly fat forever.  This information should put your mind at ease.  Increasing levels of testosterone might possibly decrease the activity of LPL - resulting in decreases in belly fat!  This hormone, which decreases with age, can actually help to give us the lean and chiseled look.   Research done by Rebuffee-Sevia et al. reinforces testosterone’s ability to fight belly fat.

The Research

Their research points out two main things: increased levels of testosterone increases lipolytic potential, and it decreases the activity of LPL in adipose tissue.  Their research showed increased testosterone levels resulted in decreased waist-to-hip ratio and an increase in the responsiveness of lipolytic activity due to the hormone norepinephrine.  They concluded increased testosterone results in adaptations in the metabolism of abdominal fat in the forms of adipose tissue and visceral fat.  Results: decreased abdominal (adipose and visceral) fat levels.  Great news!  Here’s more.
Research done by Marin et al. also concluded increased testosterone levels resulted in a decrease of adipose triglycerides and a similar decrease in LPL activity.  Interestingly enough, bad visceral fat decreased as well.   They also found benefits including: a decrease in fat mass, fasting blood glucose levels, both fasting plasma cholesterol and triglycerides levels, and an increase in insulin activity related to sugar glucose control.  The bottom line: increased testosterone results in metabolic and circulatory improvements.  Want more?
Here is a great study for men suffering low testosterone who also have Diabetes.  This research shows tremendous promise for men with diabetes AND low testosterone levels.
Research by Boyanor et al. concluded increased testosterone has positive effects at reducing visceral fat.  Their research resulted in increased sensitivity to insulin and a similar decrease in LPL activity.  This helped break down the fat into usable fuel for the body enabling its use at the muscular level, sparing glucose.  Their subjects showed a decrease in body weight, waist-to-hip ratio, and overall body fat, especially adipose and visceral fat in the abdomen.  Very important information in the possibility of testosterone in the management of Diabetes!

Sum it all up….

Hard work and dedication to diet and exercise will help shed belly fat.  But wouldn’t it be nice to have an advantage?  There are plenty of different herbs and other natural ways to increase your testosterone.  In fact, there are five special nutrients in nature shown to increase testosterone and sex drive, andPrograde K20 has those exact nutrients in it!  If you are middle-aged, these five special ingredients might help make your dreams a reality.   Look no further, and find a way to possibly raise your testosterone and shed your belly fat and achieve the lean, chiseled look you have been dreaming about. 

This "Twisted-Vegetable" Makes Animals Fat - Are You Eating it? 
Animals fed this ate more, got fatter and also suffered immune system problems. It breaks open the stomach of certain insects and kills them. Could this be why food allergies, childhood learning disorders and gastrointestinal problems have skyrocketed since 1996? 

Harvard Study Finds Fluoride Lowers IQ 
If you live in a fluoridated community, your children's intelligence may pay the price for your supposedly "healthier" teeth. Is it really worth it?

Do You Want Joints as Smooth as Glass for Clear Sailing Through Every Day's 'Fun Stuff'?* Six ways to promote comfortable and flexible joints, so you can do the enjoyable and fun things that create life memories.* And 8 reasons many people can't tolerate glucosamine and chondroitin - along with 4 breakthrough ingredients that form an EASY-to-take proven alternative...*

Safe Cookware That's Lightweight, Too? Finally... safe and smartly-styled cookware that's actually lightweight. No chemicals, toxins, or gases produced in cooking -- and now, you don't have to lift that heavy cast iron stuff, either. See what you've been missing.

Is Your Water Loaded with Drugs? Professional Perspectives on Water Fluoridation exposes the ongoing dangers of fluoridation in a concise and hard-hitting format. As they outline the science behind fluoridation and the effects it has had on entire generations, a select panel of experts show conclusively why there is no logical or rational reason to continue fluoridating our water supply. I encourage you to watch this DVD to benefit your health and the well-being of your loved ones and our global community.

The Most Nutritious Whole Foods

Zinc

What is it: A mineral that regulates carbohydrate metabolism and blood sugar.

Why you need it: Stabilizes metabolism and blood sugar, helps immune system when you're sick, and heightens your sense of smell and taste. Also plays an important role in male fertility.


BEST SOURCES
Broiled beef tenderloin (4 ounces, 240 calories)
42 percent daily value
Roasted lamb loin (4 ounces, 230 calories)
30 percent daily value
General Mills Cheerios (1 cup cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk, 146 calories)
30 percent daily value
Wheat germ (1 ounce, 101 calories)
23 percent daily value
Venison (4 ounces, 180 calories)
21 percent daily value
Sesame seeds (1/4 cup, 206 calories)
18 percent daily value
Pastrami (2 slices, 82 calories)
18 percent daily value
Cooked green peas (1 cup, 134 calories)
13 percent daily value
Steamed shrimp (4 ounces, 112 calories)
12 percent daily value
Nonfat shredded mozzarella cheese (1 ounce, 42 calories)
7 percent daily value

The Most Nutritious Whole Foods

Selenium

What is it: A mineral needed daily, but only in small amounts.

Why you need it: Protects cells from free radical damage, allows thyroid to produce hormones, and protects joints from inflammation.


BEST SOURCES
Wild cooked oysters (3 ounces, 61 calories)
87 percent daily value
Cooked snapper (4 ounces, 145 calories)
80 percent daily value
Cannned white tuna, in water (3 ounces, 109 calories)
80 percent daily value
Cooked halibut (4 ounces, 158 calories)
76 percent daily value
Cooked shrimp (4 ounces, 112 calories)
65 percent daily value
Roasted turkey breast (4 ounces, 215 calories)
47 percent daily value
Broiled beef tenderloin (4 ounces, 240 calories)
40 percent daily value
Grilled portobello mushrooms (1 cup, 42 calories)
31 percent daily value
Hard-boiled egg (68 calories)
19 percent daily value
Raw tofu (4 ounces, 86 calories)
14 percent daily value

The Most Nutritious Whole Foods

Potassium

What is it: Another mineral, stored within cells to regulate muscle contraction and nerve activity.

Why you need it: Keeps your muscles strong, balances electrolytes, and lowers risk of high blood pressure.

BEST SOURCES
Baked winter squash (1 cup, 80 calories)
26 percent daily value
Avocado (1 cup, 235 calories)
25 percent daily value
Pinto beans (1 cup, 243 calories)
23 percent daily value
Cooked lentils (1 cup, 230 calories)
21 percent daily value
Cooked beets (1 cup, 75 calories)
15 percent daily value
Fresh figs (8 ounces, 168 calories)
15 percent daily value
Cooked brussels sprouts (1 cup, 60 calories)
14 percent daily value
Cantaloupe (1 cup, 56 calories)
14 percent daily value
Banana (108 calories)
13 percent daily value
Tomato (1 cup, 38 calories)
11 percent daily value

The Most Nutritious Whole Foods

Magnesium

What is it: A mineral found mostly in our bones, but also in our muscles. The human body is unable to produce it, so it's vital to seek out foods that contain it.

Why you need it: Helps muscles and nerves relax, strengthens bones, and ensures healthy blood circulation.



BEST SOURCES
Cooked salmon (4 ounces, 260 calories)
35 percent daily value
Raw sunflower seeds (1/4 cup, 205 calories)
32 percent daily value
Sesame seeds (1/4 cup, 206 calories)
32 percent daily value
Prickly pear (1 cup, 61 calories)
32 percent daily value
Cooked black beans (1 cup, 227 calories)
30 percent daily value
Roasted almonds (1/4 cup, 206 calories)
25 percent daily value
Cooked pinto beans (1 cup, 235 calories)
24 percent daily value
Cooked brown rice (1 cup, 216 calories)
21 percent daily value
Cooked scallops (4 ounces, 151 calories)
19 percent daily value
Cooked summer squash (1 cup, 36 calories)
11 percent daily value

The Most Nutritious Whole Foods

Iron

What is it: A common metal that's essential to nearly all life forms.

Why you need it: Key for oxygen transport, cell growth, and immunity.

BEST SOURCES
Chicken liver (3.5 ounces, 100 calories)
70 percent daily value
Soybeans (1 cup, 297 calories)
50 percent daily value
Spinach (1 cup, 40 calories)
36 percent daily value
Tofu (4 ounces, 86 calories)
34 percent daily value
Sesame seeds (1/4 cup, 205 calories)
30 percent daily value
Kidney beans (1 cup, 225 calories)
29 percent daily value
Venison (4 ounces, 180 calories)
28 percent daily value
Lima beans (1 cup, 215 calories)
25 percent daily value
Beef tenderloin (4 ounces, 240 calories)
23 percent daily value
Roast turkey (3.5 ounces, 220 calories)
10 percent daily value

The Most Nutritious Whole Foods

Vitamin E

What is it: A group of fat-soluble vitamins that are found throughout the body.

Why you need it: Protects your skin from ultraviolet rays, promotes communication among your cells, prevents free radical damage, and lowers risk of prostate cancer and Alzheimer's disease.


BEST SOURCES
General Mills Total Cereal (3/4 cup cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk, 143 calories)
100 percent daily value
Raw sunflower seeds (1/4 cup, 205 calories)
90 percent daily value
Peanut butter (2 tbsp., 189 calories)
69 percent daily value
Kashi Heart to Heart Instant Oatmeal, Maple (1 packet, 162 calories)
68 percent daily value
Roasted almonds (1/4 cup, 206 calories)
45 percent daily value
Olives (1 cup, 154 calories)
20 percent daily value
Papaya (118 calories)
17 percent daily value
Sweet potato chips (1 ounce, 139 calories)
14 percent daily value
Cooked spinach (1 cup, 41 calories)
9 percent daily value
Blueberries (1 cup, 81 calories)
7 percent daily value

The Most Nutritious Whole Foods

Calcium

What is it: A mineral that is found in your bones and teeth.

Why you need it: Keeps your bones strong and healthy, promotes efficient function of your nerves and muscles, and helps blood clotting.

BEST SOURCES
Sesame seeds (1/4 cup, 206 calories)
35 percent daily value
2% milk (1 cup, 121 calories)
30 percent daily value
Plain or vanilla soymilk (1 cup, 70 calories)
30 percent daily value
Low-fat yogurt (8 ounces, 155 calories)
25 percent daily value
Cooked spinach (1 cup, 40 calories)
25 percent daily value
Part-skim mozzarella cheese (1 ounce, 72 calories)
18 percent daily value
Nature's Path Optimum Slim cereal (1 cup cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk, 250 calories)
15 percent daily value
Raw tofu (4 ounces, 86 calories)
10 percent daily value
Cream cheese (1 ounce, 29 calories)
10 percent daily value

The Most Nutritious Whole Foods

Vitamin C

What is it: Also known as ascorbic acid. A water-soluble nutrient that acts as an antioxidant to protect us from colds and infections, cardiovascular disease, cancer, joint diseases, and cataracts.

Why you need it: Protects cells from free radical damage, regenerates vitamin E supplies, and improves iron absorption.


BEST SOURCES
Steamed broccoli (1 cup, 43 calories)
205 percent daily value
Cooked brussels sprouts (1 cup, 60 calories)
161 percent daily value
Strawberries (1 cup, 43 calories)
136 percent daily value
Orange (61 calories)
116 percent daily value
Cantaloupe (1 cup, 56 calories)
112 percent daily value
Kiwi (46 calories)
95 percent daily value
Grapefruit (1/2 fruit, 36 calories)
78 percent daily value
Pineapple (1 cup, 76 calories)
39 percent daily value
Cooked winter squash (1 cup, 80 calories)
32 percent daily value
Blueberries (1 cup, 81 calories)
31 percent daily value

The Most Nutritious Whole Foods

Folate

What is it: Also known as folic acid. A chemically complex vitamin found naturally in foods, folate requires enzymes in the intestine to aid in its absorption.

Why you need it: Aids fetal development in pregnancy, helps produce red blood cells, prevents anemia, helps skin cells grow, aids nervous system function, prevents bone fractures, and lowers risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

BEST SOURCES
Cooked lentils (1 cup, 229 calories)
89 percent daily value
Cooked navy beans (1 cup, 258 calories)
63 percent daily value
Cooked beets (1 cup, 74 calories)
34 percent daily value
Cooked split peas (1 cup, 231 calories)
31 percent daily value
Papaya (118 calories)
28 percent daily value
Mustard greens (1 cup, 21 calories)
25 percent daily value
Raw peanuts (1/4 cup, 207 calories)
21 percent daily value
Flaxseeds (2 tbsp., 95 calories)
13 percent daily value
Orange (61 calories)
10 percent daily value
Raspberries (1 cup, 60 calories)
8 percent daily value

The Most Nutritious Whole Foods

Vitamin D

What is it: A vitamin present in just a few foods (but added to some others) that's also produced when UV rays hit the skin.

Why you need it: Essential to calcium absorption - without it, bones don't grow correctly and become thing, brittle, and easily broken. Also helps with the immune system and can reduce inflammation.


BEST SOURCES
Halibut (3 ounces, 160 calories)
130 percent daily value
Mackerel (3.5 ounces, 180 calories)
90 percent daily value
Salmon (3.5 ounces, 185 calories)
90 percent daily value
Canned sardines (1.75 ounces, 100 calories)
70 percent daily value
Oysters (6, 112 calories)
67 percent daily value
Shrimp (4 ounces, 112 calories)
40 percent daily value
Vitamin D-fortified milk, reduced fat (1 cup, 125 calories)
25 percent daily value
Cod (4 ounces, 120 calories)
16 percent daily value
Vitamin D-fortified cereal (1 cup, 105 calories)
10-30 percent daily value
Egg (70 calories) 
6 percent daily value

The Most Nutritious Whole Foods

Vitamin B12

What is it: An unusual vitamin formed by microorganisms like bacteria and yeast (and found in the various and sundry animals that ingest them).

Why you need it: Plays a key role in developing blood cells and nerve cells and processing protein. Helps protect individuals with anemia and gastrointestinal disorders.

BEST SOURCES
Clams (3 ounces, 126 calories)
1404 percent daily value
Duck liver (3 ounces, 114 calories)
756 percent daily value
Oysters (6, 250 calories)
720 percent daily value
Calf liver (4 ounces, 187 calories)
690 percent daily value
Rainbow trout (3 ounces, 130 calories)
90 percent daily value
Top sirloin (3 ounces, 160 calories)
25 percent daily value
Skim yogurt (1 cup, 137 calories)
25 percent daily value
Milk (1 cup, 121 calories)
14 percent daily value
Lean cured ham (3 ounces, 130 calories)
10 percent daily value
Hard-boiled egg (80 calories)
10 percent daily value
Chicken breast (140 calories) 
6 percent daily value

The Most Nutritious Whole Foods

Vitamin B6

What is it: Involved in more than 100 enzyme reactions throughout the body.

Why you need it: Helps your nervous system, promotes proper breakdown of starch and sugar, and prevents amino acid buildup in your blood.


BEST SOURCES
Banana (108 calories)
34 percent daily value
Roasted chicken breast (4 ounces, 223 calories)
32 percent daily value
Roasted turkey (4 ounces, 214 calories)
27 percent daily value
Cooked cod (4 ounces, 119 calories)
26 percent daily value
Baked potato (1 medium, 133 calories)
21 percent daily value
Avocado (1 cup, 235 calories)
20 percent daily value
Garlic (1 ounce, 42 calories)
17 percent daily value
Raw red pepper (1 cup, 24 calories)
11 percent daily value
Watermelon (1 cup, 48 calories)
11 percent daily value
Cooked cauliflower (1 cup, 28 calories)
10 percent daily value

The Most Nutritious Whole Foods

Vitamin B1

What is it: Also known as thiamin. Helps cells' enzyme systems convert oxygen into usable energy.

Why you need it: Maintains your energy, coordinates nerve and muscle activity, and keeps your heart healthy.

BEST SOURCES
Raw sunflower seeds (1/4 cup, 205 calories)
54 percent daily value
Cooked yellowfin tuna (4 ounces, 157 calories)
38 percent daily value
Cooked black beans (1 cup, 227 calories)
28 percent daily value
Cooked corn (1 cup, 177 calories)
24 percent daily value
Sesame seeds (1/4 cup, 206 calories)
18 percent daily value
Oatmeal (1 cup, 145 calories)
17 percent daily value
Cooked asparagus (1 cup, 43 calories)
14 percent daily value
Brussels sprouts (1 cup, 60 calories)
11 percent daily value
Cooked spinach (1 cup, 41 calories)
11 percent daily value
Pineapple (1 cup, 76 calories)
9 percent daily value

The Most Nutritious Whole Foods

Vitamin A

What is it: A pale yellow crystalline compound also known as retinol.

Why you need it: It preserves and improves your eyesight as well as fights viral infections.


BEST SOURCES 
Raw carrots (1 cup, 53 calories)
686 percent daily value
Cooked spinach (1 cup, 41 calories)
294 percent daily value
Baked sweet potato with skin (95 calories)
262 percent daily value
Cooked turnip greens (1 cup, 28 calories)
158 percent daily value
Baked winter squash (1 cup, 80 calories)
145 percent daily value
Cooked collard greens (1 cup, 49 calories)
118 percent daily value
Cantaloupe (1 cup, 56 calories)
103 percent daily value
Romaine lettuce (2 cups, 16 calories)
58 percent daily value
Steamed broccoli (1 cup, 43 calories)
45 percent daily value
Cooked green peas (1 cup, 134 calories)
19 percent daily value

World's First NON-SURGICAL Joint
Replacement for Arthritis!

 If you have arthritis — or know someone who does — you're going to love this new arthritis-reversing discovery that puts an end to joint pain without drugs and makes replacement surgery unnecessary.

A famous M.D. has created a revolutionary non-drug treatment that halts joint inflammation... rebuilds cartilage... and restores mobility in 30 days or less. I have high respect for this doctor and his discovery is definitely worth a look.

It's not some "miracle" supplement, doctor- administered procedure or unsubstantiated gimmick. On the contrary, hundreds of scientific studies prove that arthritis, joint pain and degenerating immobility can indeed be reversed with this remarkable all-natural approach.

Most orthopedic surgeons will tell you it's not possible because they're only taught about painkillers and joint replacement.

But here's what one surprised doctor reported after viewing the x-rays of a patient who underwent this new arthritis-reversing treatment:

"This patient displays a remarkable recovery. His x-rays show new cartilage where there was very little just one year ago..."

Read More...

P.S. If you don't have arthritis, please pass this important message on to someone you know (and care for) who does.

Belly Fat Is Death Fat

Being overweight or obese is an obvious indicator of potential other health problems. But researchers have found that even if your weight seems to be OK, if your fat is concentrated in the belly, it can threaten your life.

According to a research paper from the Mayo Clinic, people with a normal body mass index who have central obesity (a high hip-to-waist ratio) have an increased risk of dying from cardiovascular illness and all other illnesses.

“We knew from previous research that central obesity is bad, but what is new in this research is that the distribution of the fat is very important even in people with a normal weight,” says senior author Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D., a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic. “This group has the highest death rate, even higher than those who are considered obese based on body mass index. From a public health perspective, this is a significant finding.”

The researchers say that the findings are significant because a number of people believe that simply having a normal body mass index, regardless of accumulations of fat around the midsection, means they are healthy. In fact, the risk of cardiovascular death was 2.75 times higher — and the risk of death from all causes was 2.08 times higher — in people of normal weight with central obesity than for those with a normal body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio.

“The high risk of death may be related to a higher visceral fat accumulation in this group, which is associated with insulin resistance and other risk factors, the limited amount of fat located on the hips and legs, which is fat with presumed protective effects, and to the relatively limited amount of muscle mass,” says Karine Sahakyan, M.D., Ph.D., a cardiovascular researcher with the Mayo Clinic.

Autism And Wolverine Super Abilities Linked To Dad’s Age

If you hold a grudge that you weren’t born with mutant genes (like the fictional “X-gene” responsible for helping Marvel comic’s characters develop super-human abilities), your dad is most likely responsible. The largest study of human genetic mutations to date shows that humans inherit more than three times as many mutations from dad than from mom, especially if dad is middle-aged or older.

But mutations linked to autism are also more likely to be inherited from an older father. The study, based on the DNA of 85,000 Icelanders, was published in the journal Nature Genetica and sheds new light on human evolution.

“Most mutations come from dad,” says David Reich, professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and a co-leader of the study which involved researchers from deCODE Genetics, a biopharma company based in Reykjavik, Iceland.

The study also found that the mutation rate in fathers doubles every 16.5 years after age 20, but that there is no association with age in mothers. The finding may shed light on conditions, such as autism, that correlate with older parents.

Doctors Are Giving Older People Bad Drugs

As Americans age, the list of prescription medicines they consume each day seems to grow longer; but this may be leading to a rampant consumption of inappropriate, ineffective and sometimes downright dangerous medications.

One in five prescriptions given to people over the age of 65 is inappropriate for the condition which it is being used to treat, according to a new study inPLoS One. The researchers analyzed data from 19 previously conducted studies. They considered drugs inappropriate if they presented a higher risk of negative side effects than a similarly effective drug, was an insufficient treatment or was over- or mis-prescribed.

“In spite of increasing attention to the quality of medication prescription among elderly persons presenting to the primary care setting, there are still high overall rates of inappropriate medication prescription,” the study says.

The most commonly inappropriately prescribed drugs include drugs containing the pain reliever Propoxyphene, the antidepressant Amitriptiline, the beta-blocker Doxazosin and the antihistamine Diphenhydramine.

Just A Few Music Lessons Improve Your Brain For Life

Music education has been proven to ratchet up children’s mental development. And now research shows that even in small amounts, music lessons can boost your brain’s abilities for your entire life.

Published in the Journal of Neuroscience, a recentstudy queried 45 adults about the amount of musical training they received as kids and then tested their ability to recognize various sounds. The researchers found that even just one year of music lessons decades ago bettered people’s mental ability to process what they heard.

While this study focused primarily on the ability to recognize sound, the researchers say that it reflects the benefits music creates for reading and math comprehension.

Test Your Nutrients Before It’s Too Late

Often, your ability to fight off illness depends on getting the right nutrients. That’s why you should test yourself now to see what nutrients you are missing. Don’t wait until your nutrient deficiency becomes a serious problem.

As you know, it is wisest not to wait until disease is fully manifest to start learning and doing something about it. The German physician Franz Mesmer (1734-1815) is reported to have said: “In the beginning, disease is difficult to recognize but easy to cure. In the end, disease is easy to recognize but difficult to cure.” I want to discuss important lab tests that can point out the specific micronutrients your body needs most for optimal health.

Where To Begin

You know that each of us carries genetic codes that determine our health. These same codes determine our illnesses; but many genes can be turned on or off, depending on our diet and exercise choices. For example, the type 2 diabetic who begins to eat mostly raw whole foods usually will not have active diabetes anymore just from that lifestyle change.

While a nutrient-rich diet is often all it takes to turn off genes programmed for disease, there may also be individual nutrients that can make a significant difference. How would it be if you could find your specific micronutrient needs from testing and then just use targeted nutritionals along with mostly raw whole foods to conquer illness? So what about micronutrient testing: Is it valuable and affordable?

Micronutrient Analysis by Spectracell labs in Texas has something exciting in this field of directed nutrient supplementation (www.spectracell.com).

In addition to classic vitamin-deficiency syndromes such as scurvy or beriberi, we know that suboptimal intake of certain micronutrients and vitamins is a risk factor for several chronic diseases. Inadequate intake of particular vitamins contributes to coronary heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis. In fact, almost all chronic diseases and symptoms of illness stem from nutritional causes that are mostly overlooked by traditional modern medicine. This problem is especially evident in the elderly, although the deficiency begins early in life when disease is developing but before symptoms or signs manifest.

Risk Factors

Authors of an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association JAMA (2002) state, “Suboptimal folic acid levels, along with suboptimal levels of vitamins B(6) and B(12), are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects, and colon and breast cancer; low levels of vitamin D contribute to osteopenia and fractures; and low levels of the antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, E, and C) may increase risk for several chronic diseases. Most people do not consume an optimal amount of all vitamins by diet alone.” [1] Furthermore, they write, “Physicians should make specific efforts to learn about their patients’ use of vitamins to ensure that they are taking vitamins they should.” [2]

Consider chromium, an essential trace mineral that plays an important role in optimal insulin function and helps regulate blood glucose levels. Chromium may assist in lowering cholesterol and, therefore, help slow atherosclerosis development. In addition, chromium plays an important role in nucleic acid (DNA) synthesis.

Vitamin E

The antioxidant vitamin E is another crucial nutrient. It helps protect against heart disease, cancer, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. Supplementation with alpha-tocopherol vitamin E is useful to treat diabetes, fibrocystic breast disease and symptoms of menopause while also having applications in Parkinson’s disease and arthritis. Add to that the fact that vitamin E is important to immune function. Some known symptoms of vitamin E deficiency include nerve damage, muscle weakness, poor coordination, weakened red blood cells and anemia. However, a vitamin E deficiency could play a role in many other illnesses and symptoms not studied.

Available Tests

The micronutrients that can be tested at Spectracell Laboratories:

Antioxidants	Asparagine	Biotin	Calcium	Carnitine	Chromium
Vitamin D	Copper	Cysteine	Folate	Vitamin E	Vitamin K
Glutamine	Glutathione	Inositol	Lipoic acid	Magnesium	Manganese
Oleic acid	Vitamin C	Selenium	Serine	Zinc	Vitamins A
Vitamin B1 (thiamin)	Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)	Vitamin B3 (niacin)	Vitamin B5 (pantothenate)	Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)	Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)
	Coenzyme Q10	Glucose / Insulin interaction	Fructose (sensitivity)	Omega 3 fatty acids

This particular lab requires your physician to become a client by contacting new client services at 800-227-5227. Then your physician will be able to order serum testing with blood draw done at a phlebotomy station near you or in your physician’s office. The comprehensive panel (listed above) is currently a $370 test, but very worthwhile in my opinion.

SpectraCell Laboratories, Inc. in Houston, Texas, was established in 1993. The technology was developed at the University of Texas (the Clayton Foundation for Research) in order to help physicians discover the intracellular function of essential micronutrients for their patients.