In a perfect world, we'd all eat fresh fruit and veggies, low fat, high protein foods and fast foods would be non-existent.

But since we all live in the real world, fast food is a reality for nearly all of us.
Simply stated - Americans love fast food.

To answer the question of how much is too much, many nutritionists would say any amount is too much. Fast food is an overly processed collection of salty, saturated fats that offer little in terms of nutrition. And for the most part, the nutritionists are right.

MONDAY, June 30 (HealthDay News) -- Are 3 or 4 grams of trans fats in a serving of baked or fried food bad for you, or can you stop worrying?

Answer: It's always unhealthy, since no amount of the artery-clogging artificial fat is good for you.

However, a new study suggests that the Nutrition Facts panel found on the side of grocery store products does a poor job of getting that message across to consumers.

"It's very misleading to just throw a number out there," contends study author Elizabeth Howlett, a professor of marketing at the University of Arkansas, in Little Rock.

Good Day Ladies, With a PhD in nutrition and 15+ years of experience as a registered dietitian perhaps together we can transform women's healthcare.
Fire away with any questions you may have about food, diet, holistic wellness, weight management etc.
thanks
Diet Doctor #1

Saw this story on bbc.com about Rimonabant -- a controversial weight-loss drug that was approved by the Britain's NHS. The drug has apparently been linked to an increased risk of depression and suicide especially among those already taking anti-depressants.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/747178...

The story got me thinking about whether drugs that have death or suicide as a side effect should be approved? If so, does the patient and doctor assume all risks associated with the drug? Should a drug not be approved to protect a few with high risk factors?

Uh-oh - I guess Empowher might be attracting the wrong crowd!

File this under News of the Weird but a study has shown that most criminals are in great shape!

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Morbidly obese patients who undergo weight-loss surgery greatly reduce their risk of cancer, according to a study providing fresh evidence of health benefits from these increasingly common operations.

Researchers from McGill University in Montreal found that the people who underwent bariatric surgery saw reductions in particular in the risk for breast and colon cancer. Many people see dramatic weight loss after such surgery.

QUINTON, Va. - A Virginia man lost about 80 pounds in six months by eating nearly every meal at McDonald's.

Not Big Macs, french fries and chocolate shakes. Mostly salads, wraps and apple dippers without the caramel sauce.

Read full story

A recent episode of the television show The Secret Lives of Women (seen on We TV @ www.wetv.com), highlighted women of different sizes. Some extremely tall or small and some extremely heavy.

The heavy women called themselves Big Beautiful Women or BBW's - a now common term used by women of size.

The women were gorgeous, smart, happy and successful, running a business devoted to the empowerment of large women.

Part of me really champions them. Why should they conform to the size society (or their doctor) tells them they should be if that's not what they want to do?

Flavoring Food May Promote Weight Loss

MONDAY, June 16 (HealthDay News) -- Boosting the flavor of your food with calorie-free seasonings and sweeteners may help you feel fuller faster and decrease the amount you eat, according to a U.S. study that suggests this may be a new way to help people lose weight.

SUNDAY, June 15 (HealthDay News) -- The current standard screening test for prediabetes in children often fails to detect the condition, Canadian researchers contend.

Ironically, the findings are from a study group of 172 obese children -- ages 5 to 17 -- who joined a program to help them slim down to a healthy weight.