Sunday, January 28, 2007

Are you making the right food choices? Take the test.

When it comes to making good food choices, conventional wisdom seems to be a moving target. Think you're up on the latest nutrition facts? Test yourself to see which of the following food pairs is the healthier choice. By Liz Neporent

Ketchup or Tomatoes?

Organic ketchups -- typically darker in color compared to non-organic brands -- are the best source of lycopene, a chemical that reduces the risk of heart disease and fends off many types of cancer. Ketchup contains about five times as much lycopene per weight as a tomato.

Cloudy or Clear Apple Juice?

The murkier the juice, the higher the antioxidant count -- up to four times higher than the sparkling version, according to a brand new Polish study. Though clear is more attractive, it's been processed to remove apple solids, diminishing many of the health benefits.

Butter or Margarine?

Believe it: Butter is the better choice. Both butter and margarine are high in calories and saturated fat but traditional margarines also delivers two to three grams of artery busting trans fats per tablespoon. A recent slew of new heart-smart margarines are trans fat free and can actually help lower cholesterol.

Red or Green Pepper?

All bell peppers are deliciously healthy because they're low in calories and high in vitamins, antioxidants and fiber. But when green peppers are ripened to red they become true nutritional champs by supplying a generous dose of lycopene and 50 percent more vitamin C as well.

Black Tea or Tea with Milk?

Hold that splash of moo juice to your spot of tea. A German study found that all of tea's cardio-protective effects are canceled out by adding milk. Milk proteins called caseins decrease the amount of catechins, the compound found in tea shown to guard against heart disease.

Farmed or Wild Salmon?

Farm-raised salmon contain 13 times more cancer-causing pollutants than salmon caught in the wild. Since the bulk of the contaminants are stored in fish fat, you can eliminate them by removing the skin and grilling thoroughly -- but this also reduces heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

Bottled or Tap Water?

The thirst for bottled water has nearly doubled in the past decade despite the fact that it offers no real health benefits. A four-year study judged it no safer or cleaner than regular tap water. Bottles gobble up natural resources and cost up to 10,000 times more than turning on a faucet.

Low Fat or Full Fat Dairy?

More than 19,000 women who ate at least one serving of full fat dairy each day put on less weight over the long term, according to a Swedish study . Low-fat dairy didn't seem to prevent a bulked up waist line but researchers are unclear why.

Just found this recipe and couldn't help but add it:

Hootenanny Pancakes
½ cup margarine or butter
9 eggs
1 ½ cups milk
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups flour

Cut butter or margarine into pieces and place in a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Place dish and butter in hot oven (375 degrees). While butter or margarine is melting, combine in a separate bowl the eggs, milk, salt, and flour. Beat until smooth. Pour mixture immediately into hot baking pan with the melted butter. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve with fresh fruit, hot syrup, or jam. Makes 6 to 8 servings

33 Comments:

At 10:18 PM, Blogger Mad Housewife said...

Thanks for treating us to some wisdom once again! Though I do prefer my filtered or bottled water--I can actually taste the calcium deposits in the hard water here. It grosses me out.

 
At 11:27 PM, Blogger Live, Love, Laugh said...

wow these are some interesting facts, I was surprised when I read some of these. Thanks for the info!!

 
At 3:16 AM, Blogger Pragmatician said...

Very interesting,
I never add milk to my tea.
On the other hand I drink about two bottles of Evian (not so expensive here) everyday.
It could be psychological but I always get nervous when I drink tap water.

 
At 8:21 AM, Blogger T. F. Stern said...

I drink bottle water because I don't like to have thing wave at me while I'm drinking tap water.

 
At 7:56 PM, Blogger Nabeel said...

hmm .. funny that I just pondered about food choices being the least worries in today's world when it comes to making the right CHOICES.

 
At 6:39 AM, Blogger Mad Housewife said...

I do drink hot tea before bed, but it's not chamomile per se... It does have chamomile in it, along with lemongrass and a few other herbs. It's decaf and it does relax me. Still, I'm uncomfortable more now due to the back pain. It's just that phase of my pregnancy where nothing seems to make me feel better. Won't be long now.

 
At 9:42 AM, Blogger LZ Blogger said...

I usually always make the wrong food choices... but I would choose your Hootenanny Pancakes TOO! ~ jb///

 
At 6:54 PM, Blogger Michelle said...

Well, i faired 50/50, thats not too bad :o)

 
At 9:16 AM, Blogger BarbaraFromCalifornia said...

Interesting facts as usual, Lucy.

I had no idea there was a distinction between wild and farm raised salmomn.

Have a good week.

 
At 1:59 PM, Blogger Big Dave T said...

I heard that green tea is better for you than black tea. But there's so much of that info out there now it's hard to keep track of it all.

But I did speak with a noted dietician this week who advised that if I were going to drink alcohol, I should have something to eat with it as well. I'm assuming she meant like potato chips or nachos. That I can remember.

 
At 8:54 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

once again I have learned something new from you.

 
At 9:43 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

9 eggs for pancakes!!!
that's can't be right, holy cholestrol.

 
At 11:57 PM, Blogger Lucy Stern said...

leslie - I'm with you.

live, love & laugh - I thought they were interesting too.

Prag - I don't drink tap water either...I buy the gallon jugs of spring water at Wal-Mart. My husband takes bottled Orzarka water with him when he is out in the field.

TF - I know how you are with your water...Ha Ha.

nabeel - food choices are important if you want to live a good life and be healthy.

Barbara - I have been reading that wild salmon is better for you. I buy it at Walmart when it is in season. It only costs $0.96 for a 5oz. serving....TF and I love it with seasoning and butter spread on top....Yummmm

michelle - at least you learned something new.

leslie - you still have time before the baby comes, it's ashame that you are having so much back pain..

lz blogger - Those hootenanny pancakes do sound good.

Big Dave - Yeah, green tea is better for you and there are so many kinds of green tea to choose from. You are so funny eating chips and nachos when you drink.... I have also heard that if you eat something about 30 minutes before you start that it will help. Still...It couldn't be that good for your diabetis.

DaybyDay - Glad you learned something....

better safe than sorry - You could use an egg substitute of you wanted too.

 
At 9:27 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, I'm not doing too badly. After being diagnosed with diabetes, I had to take a good hard look at what I am eating and for the most part my diet looks pretty good. Must eat more salmon though and start drinking tea it seems. Thanks for the reminder on all the rest.
:)

 
At 10:17 AM, Blogger Rachel said...

Thanks for the info. I'm glad I never put cream in my tea! In my coffee yes, but not in my tea.

I got a pitcher with the filter to purify the water and I really like it. Now I don't have to buy bottled water and put all that plastic into the landfills.

 
At 10:18 AM, Blogger Rachel said...

Thanks for the info. I'm glad I never put cream in my tea! In my coffee yes, but not in my tea.

I got a pitcher with the filter to purify the water and I really like it. Now I don't have to buy bottled water and put all that plastic into the landfills.

 
At 8:59 PM, Blogger Jeff H said...

Ever the contrarian, my input:

1. There is no reliable scientific study evidence that suggests transfats are any different from other fats.

2. "Organic" as a retail label means one thing only: manure was used for the fertilizer, and no pesticides were used to keep the bugs off. So, you get s*** and bugs in your food.

 
At 9:01 PM, Blogger Jeff H said...

Just as a clarifier (and sorry for the expurgated word in the previous comment): If you follow the news closely, you'll notice that every single one instance of e. coli or other food-borne illness outbreak is eventually traced back to some "organic" farm; it is precisely because they use manure that is infested/infected instead of superior, manufactured fertilizers.

 
At 9:12 PM, Blogger Fred said...

I've been making all the wrong food choices in the past few months.

So, after I watch the Super Bowl, it's back to the diet on Monday. I need to lose 10 pounds.

 
At 9:43 PM, Blogger Lucy Stern said...

sp - Diabetics do have to worry about what they eat. Diabetias runs on both sides of my family so I have to be carefull what I eat too. Good luck with your diet.

rachel - I'm thinking about getting one of those water pictures.

jeff h - I've been reading a lot about the trans fats and I don't plan eating them If I have too. I don't go all organic but I get it when I can afford to.

Fred - "after the super bowl?" Ha ha. Glad to see you are still around.

 
At 9:52 AM, Blogger Oh great One said...

Those were very interesting facts! I switched to regular butter a while back. I was surprised about the salmon. It will make a difference in my shopping.

 
At 6:36 PM, Blogger Jamie Dawn said...

Very good info. I'm a tap water drinker. I only use real butter. I do drink skim milk though instead of those with higher fat content.

You sold me on the Hootenanny Pancakes.
I copied the recipe and will make them for sure!!
Sounds like such an easy and simple recipe. Thanks!

 
At 6:37 PM, Blogger Jamie Dawn said...

Very good info. I'm a tap water drinker. I only use real butter. I do drink skim milk though instead of those with higher fat content.

You sold me on the Hootenanny Pancakes.
I copied the recipe and will make them for sure!!
Sounds like such an easy and simple recipe. Thanks!

 
At 6:38 PM, Blogger Jamie Dawn said...

Very good info. I'm a tap water drinker. I only use real butter. I do drink skim milk though instead of those with higher fat content.

You sold me on the Hootenanny Pancakes.
I copied the recipe and will make them for sure!!
Sounds like such an easy and simple recipe. Thanks!

 
At 6:39 PM, Blogger Jamie Dawn said...

Very good info. I'm a tap water drinker. I only use real butter. I do drink skim milk though instead of those with higher fat content.

You sold me on the Hootenanny Pancakes.
I copied the recipe and will make them for sure!!
Sounds like such an easy and simple recipe. Thanks!

 
At 6:45 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very good info. I'm a tap water drinker. I only use real butter. I do drink skim milk though instead of those with higher fat content.

You sold me on the Hootenanny Pancakes.
I copied the recipe and will make them for sure!!
Sounds like such an easy and simple recipe. Thanks!

 
At 6:51 PM, Blogger Jamie Dawn said...

Very good info. I'm a tap water drinker. I only use real butter. I do drink skim milk though instead of those with higher fat content.

You sold me on the Hootenanny Pancakes.
I copied the recipe and will make them for sure!!
Sounds like such an easy and simple recipe. Thanks!

 
At 3:14 AM, Blogger Merle said...

Hi Lucy ~~ As usual, I learn something
every time I visit, Thank you so much for doing the research for us.
I have copied the recipe - it sounds great. Thanks, Lucy. Take care, Love, Merle.

 
At 4:07 AM, Blogger Askazombiehousewife said...

The tea and milk study was badly done and means nothing really. They only had 16 people studyed and milk has health benfits it's does the tea remove it's as well.

 
At 7:09 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

a lot of these, i don't seem to choose either. hm. and i thought my diet was relatively healthy. well, at least it's better.

 
At 6:48 AM, Blogger Mad Housewife said...

I responded to your crib bedding Q in my latest post. There's even a pic of what's on Sara's registry. I bet you'll think it's pretty!

 
At 9:06 PM, Blogger Fred said...

Uh, oh, I've been making all the wrong choices.

Since I'm going back on a more healthy diet Monday, this should help.

Hope you're doing well, Lucy.

 
At 11:09 PM, Blogger Unknown said...

cool--

the only one I got wrong was the ketchup one. Actually, sun-dried tomatoes provide the same benefits, did you know that?

Anyway, thanks for the post. Really makes you think about how a small choice that seems neither here-nor-there can make such a big difference in health.

 

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