healthy diet

You are currently browsing articles tagged healthy diet.

KFC and Breast Cancer

May 18, 2010 in Fitness News, Health, Nutrition by admin | No comments

buckets-for-a-cure-1271439662

You may have seen the recent KFC commercials for their pink buckets to benefit Susan G. Komen For the Cure.  In their “Buckets for the Cure” campaign, KFC will donate 50 cents for each pink bucket of chicken sold.

Who can get down on raising money for breast cancer research?  Not me, and I won’t even try.

But when I first heard of the pairing, I did give pause, and I wasn’t the only one.  Fried chicken to beat cancer. After a little more research into the fast food chain’s campaign, I became even more wary, and you should be, too.

Komen is announcing the partnership on its website, proclaiming  “KFC and Susan G. Komen for the Cure are teaming up [to] spread educational messaging via a major national campaign which will reach thousands of communities served by nearly 5,000 KFC restaurants.”

Just what is the educational messaging?  I wonder if they will discuss the importance of a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight to prevent diseases, like cancer itself? Will they mention the National Cancer Institute’s findings of “an increased risk of developing colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancer is associated with high intakes of well-done, fried or barbecued meats”?

KFC  recently released their infamous Double Down Sandwhich made of two slices of cheese and two slices of bacon sandwhiched between 2 fried chicken patties.  This ’sandwich’ weighs in at 540 calories, has 32 grams of artery clogging fat and an astounding 1380 mg of sodium.    The rest of their menu isn’t much better, which is hardly suprising when their claim to fame is fried chicken.

KFC is going to keep on selling their chicken just like they have for years, so tossing a bit of their profits from their regular chicken-loving consumers to benefit the leading breast cancer charity is a positive thing, no doubt.  It would be ABSURD to expect that they could actually stop selling fried chicken for a period of time and offer healthier choices to buy, of which, they would donate a portion of the proceeds to Susan G. Komen.  That would be absurd, right?

We can’t change KFC’s marketting strategies, but we can vote with our wallets.  KFC knows that people who buy their fried chicken will continue to do so, and are hoping that non-regualr consumers will be enticed to buy their cancer risk raising chicken with the warm feeling of donating to a good cause.

You are smarter than that.  You can donate to breast cancer research, but don’t do it while sacrificing your health.

Donate directly to Susan G. Komen for The Cure by clicking here.

In Good Health,

Kelly Turner

Kelly Turner is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and health and fitness writer from Seattle, WA.  To contact Kelly with any questions, you email her at kellycturner@hotmail.com.

Tags: , , ,

10 Steps to a Healthier Diet

October 22, 2009 in Health, Nutrition by Dave | No comments

healthy-diet

Eating healthy is definitely an ‘easier said than done situation’.  It can seem daunting, but if you take steps to develop a habit, and a taste, for a healthier diet, the change won’t seem so drastic.  Take each of these steps one at a time, and soon you’ll find because of your eating habits, you have a ton more energy, have dropped pounds and feel amazing.

Drink water. It’s the only beverage your body really needs. Gradually replace soda,es, even diet,flavored coffees, sugary drinks and other high-cal juices with water. Aim for 8-12 cups each day.

Eat more fruit. You should get 2-4 servings a day (i serving equals about 1/2 a cup). Fruits are rich in nutrients, fiber, phytochemicals and antioxidants, which all help prevent disease. Eat a piece with breakfast and 2 for a snack- most fruit is portable, so you can bring it with you anywhere.

Eat more veggies. Aim for 4-6 servings of vegetables daily (1 servings equals about half a cup.) High in nutrients and low in calories, veggies can help prevent diabetes, stroke,heart disease and more. Veggies go great in everything, so add them to everything: soups, sandwiches, salads, casseroles, stir frys, or just on their own.

Eat breakfast. It boosts your energy, metabolism and mental focus. Plus, breakfast eaters consume fewer calories throughout the day than people who skip it.

Brown bag it. Packing your lunch will not only cut costs, it will cut calories. Bagging it ensures that you are eating better and saving money. Try lean proteins, whole grain bread, fruit, vegetables with dip, and broth-based soups for a wholesome, filling meal.

Avoid trans fats. They increase your risk of heart disease. Foods with “partially hydrogenated oil” as an ingredient contain trans fat (even if the label says 0 grams) and should be left on the grocery shelf. There is no room in your diet for trans fats- none.

Trade white grains for whole grains. White flours, breads, rice and pasta are highly processed and low in nutrients. Whole grain varieties are packed with nutrients, fiber and staying power.

Make healthy substitutions. Keep the tradition and boost the nutrition by making swaps: whole grain flour, less salt, heart-healthy fats, half the sugar, and beans instead of meat.

Check the nutrition facts. The front of a package won’t tell you the whole story. Read labels and compare key nutrients calories, serving size, fat, fiber, calcium, and ingredients to make the best choice.

Watch your portions. While big portions might keep your wallet full, they’ll also add to your waistline. Split large entrees with a friend and never ever supersize.

Tags: , , ,