• Angus Deluxe opens up the bidding with 750 calories, 350 from fat, 39 grams of total fat, 135 grams of cholesterol, and 1700 mg of sodium.
• The Angus Mushroom and Swiss counters back with 770 calories, 360 from fat, 40 grams of fat, 135 grams of cholesterol and 1170 mg of sodium.
• In a last ditch effort, the Angus Bacon and Cheese closes it out with 790 calories, 40 from fat, 145 grams of cholesterol and an astounding 2070 mg of sodium.

Those numbers are, in some cases, more than a daily allowance of calories, fat and sodium. Just in one sandwich, never mind the rest of the meal!

If you really must have a burger, choosing a regular – or even child’s order – can meet your craving and save your diet. These burger choices have no place in a healthy lifestyle or diet.

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

McDonald’s Angus Burgers are a Nutritional Nightmare on a Bun

Then you see a study like this:

Red meat and processed meat may boost your risk of early death. That recent news may be more sensational than substance; or at least much adieu about nothing for most of the population. But, when you see a heading that reads: Study Shows Red Meat Consumption Linked to Higher Risk of Dying From Cancer, Heart Disease, it’s hard not to be alarmed.

When you actually dig into the study (at least what’s presented at WebMD), you see that the risk comes about with the subjects who were, let’s just say, really enthusiastic about beef (not to mention processed meats (hot dogs, sausage, etc.).

So, what was considered a high intake of red and processed meats, and therefore a high risk for early death? For red meat, those in the highest intake group ate a median amount of 4.5 ounces a day. For processed meat, those in the highest intake group was about 1.5 ounces a day.

Men in the group with the highest intake of red meat had a 31 percent higher overall risk of dying during the study. Interestingly, women with the highest intake of red meat had a 50 percent higher risk of dying due to heart disease.

So basically, as long as you aren’t eating red meat and processed meats every single day, you’re probably fine. The one caveat may be that processed foods include deli meats. So, if you’re in the habit of making deli-style turkey sandwiches for lunch, according to this study, you may want to cut back a little. But nothing in this study is particularly alarming for most people.

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

Too Much Red Meat Boost Risk of Death

Meat Counter

• Good – Lean Beef
• Better – Organic Beef
• Best – Grass-fed Beef

Egg Section

• Good – Packaged egg whites
• Better – Whole eggs
• Best – Omega-3-fortified eggs

Dairy Section

• Fat-free milk (skim)
• Skim Plus
• Organic fat-free milk

Butter Section

• Trans-free margarine
• Light trans-free margarine
• Margarine with added plant sterols

Yogurt Section

• Good – Low-fat flavored yogurt
• Better – Low-fat plain yogurt
• Best – Greek yogurt

Fish Counter

• Good – Tilapia
• Better – Halibut
• Best – Salmon

Produce Section

• Good – Romaine lettuce
• Better – Watercress
• Best – Spinach

Snack Aisle

• Good – Air-popped Popcorn
• Better – Peanuts
• Best – Almonds

• Good – Raisins
• Better – Dried Apricots
• Best – Dried Figs

Condiments Aisle

• Good – Low-fat creamy dressing
• Better – Full-fat oil-based dressing
• Best – Olive oil and flavored vinegar

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

The 10 Healthiest Grocery Store Food Choices

While most nutritionists will steer you away from the steer, in favor of chicken, turkey, and fish, they won’t tell you to avoid it altogether. You just need to be aware of which kind of beef to buy.

Cooking Light’s Aliza Green was researching for her book, Field Guide to Meat, when she realized that she should expand her palate to include different cuts of beef. In her article on CNN.com she outlines which to choose for “maximum flavor and nutrition.”

In reading Green’s article, I learned something new: the origins of domesticated cattle. While humans have been domesticating cattle for some 8,500 years, Columbus was the one to first bring beef to the New World.

Here are some tips excerpted from Green’s article:

• There are 29 naturally lean cuts of beef that pass the government’s guidelines (less than 10 grams of total fat, 4.5 grams or less of saturated fat, and less than 95 milligrams of cholesterol per 3-ounce serving). They include flank steak, and sirloin, as well as “five lesser-known cuts,” according to Green. But she doesn’t elaborate on what those five are.

• Try to buy grass-fed beef. They have less saturated fat, cholesterol, and calories than corn-fed beef. Nearly 75 percent of U.S. beef comes from cattle fattened on grain (usually corn). Since corn is not a natural dietary choice for cattle, there are adverse reactions, which necessitate antibiotics. While grass-fed beef can be more expensive, the health benefits are worth it.

• Believe it or not, buying lean cuts can be cheaper. Also, when the fat cooks away, lean cuts provide more meat for your dollar.

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

Make Healthy Choices When Eating Beef

Until last night. All of my Food Finds are always healthy, unexpected finds I’ve made myself at the grocery store. I’ll be honest, this company contacted me and offered to send the product to taste. I was skeptical because it’s a mail-order beef company, and my aforementioned feelings about beef. As I learned more about the La Cense Beef company, I was anxious to try it, and for nothing less, my husband would be thrilled to throw a burger on the grill again.

I would tell if you if I didn’t like it- but it was quite possibly the best hamburger I’ve ever had. La Cense Beef is raised on the range in Montana and has a laundry list of admirable qualities like:
- Antibiotic-free cattle
- Hormone-free cattle
- Grass-fed, not grain-fed, which influences a cleaner, more natural taste in the beef
- No pesticides

We immediately noticed the flavor of this Black Angus Steak Burger was very different from the beef we’re used to eating. The other thing I noticed was that it was so juicy and so tender. Best of all, I never once felt or tasted the grease. It was a clean, delicious flavor.

La Cense Beef is also lower in calories and fat than regular beef, and it offers a good source of Omega-3 Fatty Acid. See how this 6oz. burger compares with a standard 6oz. Black Angus Steak Burger.
La Cense / Standard
Calories: 290 / 500
Fat: 18g / 43.2g
Sat. Fat: 9g / 17g
Cholesterol: 90mg / 131mg
Protein: 32g / 28mg
WW Points: 7 / 14

I’ll also note that I was very impressed by the shipping and packaging. It was sent FedEx 2 Day and the inside of that cooler might have been colder than my own freezer. The meat was frozen solid (we also received a New York Strip that I look forward to trying). The entire thing was beautifully wrapped and presented with recipes from La Cense’s master chef, a product catalog and detailed instructions on how best to prepare the beef.

La Cense is definitely worth a try if you’re looking for a healthier way to still enjoy beef.

Post from: Diets in Review Blog

Food Find: La Cense Beef