Issue 18 - March 11, 2010

In This Issue:

• Another Reason to Limit Red Meat

• Go Nuts

• Fit Tips

Another Reason to Limit Red Meat

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have found a substance in red meat called Neu5Gc can actually promote cancerous tumor growth. Studies on mice showed tumors grew faster with the substance. This is not conclusive proof that consuming red meat will give you cancer, but by limiting your intake you could be helping to lower your cancer risk.

Go Nuts

Many people don't eat nuts because they're high in calories and fat, but nuts are actually quite good for you. Nuts are a good source of protein, are high in fiber, and contain plenty of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and antioxidants. And most of the fat in nuts is healthy unsaturated fat.

While nuts are calorie dense, studies have shown that people who eat nuts tend to be thinner than people who don't. If you're still worried that regular nut consumption will add too many calories to your diet, just make sure that you limit your intake to around 25-50 grams per day. Also, instead of simply adding nuts to your diet, you could eat them as a replacement for foods that are high in saturated fat or sugar.

You should avoid eating nuts that have been heavily processed, especially ones that are salted or coated with flavorings. These additives can significantly reduce the nutritional value of the nuts.

Fit Tips

• People who are physically active are 30-40% less likely to get colon cancer than nonactive people.

• If you suffer from joint pain, consider looking in your kitchen for a solution. Research shows that six foods - berries, ginger, avocado, flaxseeds, soy and fish - help reduce inflammation that causes joint pain.

• Jicama (pronounced hick-a-ma) is a low calorie, low fat, highly nutritious root vegetable that looks like a turnip or a large radish. Jicama is very high in fiber and contains calcium, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins A and C.