Do You Know These “Food Frauds?”

What's a "food fraud?"

Recently, University of Pittsburgh nutritionist Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, shared with WebMD the foods that have us fooled. While many of us think these foods sound healthy, they can actually be wrecking our diets in a very sneaky way.

The first example?  Caesar salad, which sounds like a healthy choice on the surface--until you take a closer look.  The dressing is the real culprit, making just a small bowl a 400 calorie, 30 gram-of-fat diet destroyer.  The fix?  Start with a plain Caesar salad and then add just a tablespoon of dressing and cheese, instead of preparing the salad with large amounts of both ingredients.

Another culprit is the fresh smoothie.  We may think we're getting a healthy dose of fruit with this delicious drink, but the reality is they are often loaded with up to 80 grams of sugar, 350 calories and very little protein or true "fresh" fruit.  Bonci recommends getting a small size and asking specifically for fresh fruit, low fat milk or protein powder to add nutrition.

Energy bars, which are very popular, can also be a real problem. They tend to be small but pack a lot of calories and are often "no better than a candy bar."  Bonci advises looking for bars that are no more than 200 calories and have at least 5 grams of fiber and some protein.

Chicken burritos are yet another food that sounds deceptively healthy.  However, lots of calories and the saturated fat in the cheese, sour cream and flour tortilla can really sabotage your healthy eating efforts.  Instead, go for a soft taco or fajita with grilled meats, veggies, and low-calorie salsa on a corn tortilla.

Other not-so-healthy foods mentioned by Bonci include 2% milk, turkey hot dogs, breakfast muffins, low-fat granola, low-fat yogurt, iced tea, microwave popcorn and cole slaw.

So what can you do to avoid falling prey to these common "food frauds?"  Just be sure to look beneath the surface and know what you're really getting in some of these deceptive choices. Being more aware is the first step to a healthier way of life.

How to Deal with Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes cells to build up on the skin's surface, forming scales and itchy red patches that can be painful.

Psoriasis is a chronic disease, and symptoms can alternate between getting worse and going into remission.

Depending on the person, symptoms of psoriasis vary.  Common symptoms include:

* Cracked/dry skin that may bleed
* Red patches of skin covered with scales
* Small scaling spots (common in children)
* Stiff and swollen joints
* Itching, burning or soreness
* Thickened or ridged nails
* Cracked/dry skin that may bleed

While psoriasis may be a minor nuisance to some, more severe cases can be disfiguring and painful.  There are several different types of psoriasis, including scalp psoriasis, nail psoriasis, plaque psoriasis (the most common, involving dry, red skin lesions covered in scales) and guttate psoriasis (triggered by a bacterial infection and marked by small sores).

Psoriasis occurs when a person's T cells attack healthy cells of the skin by mistake as if they were fighting an infection or healing a wound.  These overactive T cells cause new skin cells move to the outermost layer of skin must faster than they should, resulting in dead skin which can't slough off quickly enough and that builds up in thick patches on the skin.  Psoriasis can also be triggered by certain things such as stress, cold weather, infections, skin injuries and certain medications--for example, lithium.

So how can psoriasis be treated?  Generally, treatments can be divided into three main areas:

1) Oral medications, like retinoids or Cyclosporine

2) Topical treatments, for example corticosteroids and topical retinoids

3) Light therapy, such as UVB therapy or brief exposure to sunlight

If you are experiencing symptoms of psoriasis, be sure to see your doctor as soon as possible. He or she will advise you as to the best course of action to follow.

Photo credit: Mayo Clinic

The 10 Most Fattening Foods of Summer

There's no doubt that summer can be a fun, active time for many people.  It's also a delicious time, filled with barbecues, baseball games and beer--and even though people may be more active during this season, they are also more likely to be indulging in some not-so-healthy foods.

WebMD recently gave a rundown of the most fattening summer foods, and it's quite an eye-opening list.  Here are their top 10, along with suggestions for some healthier alternatives:

1. High-fat meats, such as cheeseburgers, pork or beef ribs and T-bone steaks.  Try instead: lean ground beef, skinless chicken breast or pork tenderloin.

2. Hots dogs and sausages, which are not only high in calories and fat, but also sodium.

3. Mayonnaise-based salads, like cole slaw or potato salad.  Try instead: salads with light mayo or chicken stock, or substituting vinegar for oil.

4. Sweet alcoholic drinks, such as a pina colada or Long Island Iced Tea.  Try instead: wine, wine spritzers or mixed drinks with seltzer or 100% fruit juice.

5. High-calorie soft drinks, such as sweet tea, soda, fruit juice or energy drinks.  Try instead: water or light versions of your favorite drinks.

6. Frozen treats, such as ice cream topped with high calorie toppings.  Try instead: low calorie fruit bars, fudge bars or sherbet.

7. Fair foods, like fried mac and cheese, fried cheesecake and funnel cake.  Try instead: grilled meat, or even cotton candy or caramel apples.

8. High-calorie salad toppers, such as certain dressings, cheese, croutons and bacon.  Try instead: veggies, light dressing, eggs and lean meat.

9. Chips and other snacks, like cheese puffs, buttered popcorn or nachos.  Try instead: veggies, fruits or fat-free popcorn.

10. Fried chicken, especially when indulging in more than one piece.  Still want to enjoy your chicken?  Stick to grilled, boneless and skinless chicken and add spices or a marinade to keep it flavorful.

Could You or Your Child Have a Wheat Allergy?

You may have heard talk lately about such things as gluten allergies, wheat allergies or Celiac disease.  It seems more and more people are being diagnosed with these types of allergies, and you might be wondering what they are exactly.

First, a definition might be in order.  A wheat allergy is a reaction of the immune system to proteins that are found in wheat. Essentially, when someone has this type of allergy, the immune system has developed an antibody to wheat protein.  A wheat allergy is actually one of the more common food allergies found in children.

It is important to distinguish that a wheat allergy is different from having celiac disease, which is an immune system reaction to any food that has gluten, which is one type of protein found in wheat.

What are the symptoms of a wheat allergy?  They include difficulty breathing, diarrhea, watery or itchy eyes, nasal congestion, nausea or vomiting, cramps, hives or itchy skin, itching or swelling of the throat or mouth or anaphylaxis.  This last symptom can be life-threatening, as it often causes severe breathing difficulty, swelling of the throat, dizziness, trouble swallowing and a weak pulse.

Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency, and it requires immediate care. It is a good idea for someone who knows that they are more likely to have an anaphylactic reaction to wheat to carry injectable doses of epinephrine (the drug form of adrenaline which increases the heart rate).

Interestingly, while wheat allergies often begin in childhood, they are not always lifelong. Often, a child will outgrow it between the ages of 3 and 5.  If you think that you or your child has a wheat allergy, it is important to see your doctor. Many different conditions can cause the same symptoms that are seen with a wheat allergy, so it is important to get an accurate diagnosis.

Organic Food: What You Need to Know

In the United States, there are strict rules regarding when a rancher or farmer may label their food as being "organic." In order to use that label, an inspector from the government must go to the farm to ensure that they are following the required stringent rules.

So, what qualifies a food as being organic?  Ranchers and farmers who grow organic food must not give their animals antibiotics or growth hormones, use irridation (using X-rays and other rays to kill pests), must use only natural fertilizers and natural pest killers (such as oils or soaps) and must feed their animals organic food only.

Generally, organic food is more expensive than non-organic food for several reasons.  For example, it can cost more for organic ranchers to feed their cattle, plus organic farms tend to be smaller (making it hard to get help from the government) and it takes more labor to raise animals and grow plants without pesticides, chemical fertilizers and the like.

As organic food gets more and more popular, you may be wondering what the benefits are.  For one, organic food is better for the environment, as organic farmers and ranchers often conserve water and soil. Also, pesticides can kill small animals and birds and and affect their reproduction, therefore using less toxic chemicals is beneficial to the environment.

Also, pesticides are used to grow non-organic food and when it arrives at the store there are often small amounts of pesticides still left on the food. Studies have shown that ingesting large quantities of pesticide chemicals is harmful, but the effects of smaller amounts are still unknown.

However, if you can it may give you and your family more peace of mind to purchase the organic versions of the 12 fruits and vegetables with the highest levels of pesticides (according to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit group that analyzes the results of government pesticide testing in the U.S.).  Those 12 fruits and vegetables are strawberries, cherries, kale, celery, bell peppers, peaches, apples, nectarines, carrots, pears, grapes and lettuce.

Not ready to go organic or concerned about the cost?  You can still take a precautionary step by always washing fresh vegetables and fruits with detergent, such as dishwashing soap, to remove some of the pesticides. A scrub brush is also a good idea.  This way, you can feel better knowing you've done your part to help keep your family a little more safe when eating fresh produce.