Surprising Grocery-Store Dangers

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Thursday, February 3, 2011
In This Issue: Surprising Grocery-Store Dangers The TRUTH About "Magic Foods" Snuff Out Secret Sugars Hiding in Your Food Say Goodbye to Pain in 15 Minutes Flat! Featured Recipe: Chewy Date and Walnut Bars Surprising Grocery-Store Dangers From bank ATMs to smartphones with GPS, from one-click online buying to drive-through coffee shops, modern living has become incredibly convenient. Entrepreneurs create shortcuts and easy solutions for most every task we face, and that "luxury" certainly extends to our food. Some of these timesaving grocery conveniences are diabetes friendly: Think frozen fruit or low-sodium chicken broth. But many convenience-friendly foods are loaded with fat, sugar, sodium, and/or preservatives. They're terrible for anyone who doesn't have diabetes, and downright dangerous for those who do. Don't fall victim to fancy packaging and tempting slogans—"Ready in minutes!"—when your health is at stake.  Some infamous convenience foods to avoid: Seasoned or "gourmet-style" frozen vegetables. That unidentifiable sauce that comes in a pre-seasoned frozen bag of peas and carrots is a nightmare for your waistline, your heart, and your blood sugar. It's loaded with saturated fat, and copious amounts of sodium and sugar. What's more, it doesn't even save you that much time! Buy plain frozen peas and carrots, toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and some fresh herbs like dill and parsley. Sure, they're quick, but powdered iced tea mixes or prepared flavored iced teas are loaded with high-fructose corn syrup and other sugars that can send your blood sugar into the stratosphere. Plus they're artificially flavored, meaning the taste comes not from actual tea leaves, but factory-created chemicals meant to match the taste of real tea. It's much healthier (and cheaper) to make your own iced tea from a few tea bags, and keep a jug in the fridge. Most tea-bag boxes have recipes, so just follow along and get creative.  Try green tea, white tea, or a mix of herbal teas. Throw a bunch of lemon slices in, but please, skip the sugar. Spice mixes like grill seasoning might seem like a time saver, but store-bought concoctions often contain a huge amount of salt, and sometimes, sugar. It only takes a minute to combine a few spices, and most cookbooks tell you exactly what you need. Or, get creative and make your own: Try equal parts paprika, thyme, garlic powder, and black pepper, plus a dash of salt. That's a perfect combo for almost all fish and meat. Boxed rice "entrée" or side-dish mixes are basically white rice (blood-sugar enemy number one), lots of salt, and factory-processed flavorings and spices. They're priced way beyond the ingredients sold individually. So you're paying a premium on an item that can potentially raise your blood pressure—and send your blood-sugar levels skyrocketing—just to save a few minutes in the kitchen. Next time, buy a bag of brown rice, measure out what you need, add your own herbs and other seasonings, and cook the rice according to package directions. If you need a pick-me-up, reach for a vitamin-and fiber-rich piece of fruit, a yogurt, or a small handful of nuts, not one of those on-the-go energy or protein bars. The calorie-laden bars are usually stacked at the checkout counter because they depend on impulse buyers who grab them, thinking they are more wholesome than a candy bar. Unfortunately, they can have very high fat and sugar content, and are often as caloric as a regular candy bar! And at $2 to $3 a bar, they're also two-to-three times more expensive than a candy bar. SPECIAL OFFER The TRUTH About "Magic Foods" Want to know if "Magic Foods" can really help you conquer diabetes? Check out what these readers are saying about our doctor-approved guide:   "I have read it cover to cover, have modified my diet and now my Blood Sugar numbers have dropped to the point that the doctor said I am no longer Diabetic. I am sure that the book will save some lives. Thank you"  – Chuck Tibbens, Georgetown, KY "The greatest of books on the subject of blood sugar control. I was so impressed that I ordered another to send my son whose wife has Diabetes 2." – Faye Dickinson, Kansas City, MO Find out how Magic Foods can help YOU reverse your diabetes. Click here now! Snuff Out Secret Sugars Hiding in Your Food Even if an ingredient label doesn't list sugar, it doesn't mean there isn't any. It's worth familiarizing yourself with some of the kinds of sugar manufacturers use so you're not fooled into thinking an item is better for you than it is. Here are some words to watch out for on ingredient labels: • Amazake • Carob powder • High-fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, fructose  • Dextrose • Evaporated cane juice • Fruit juice concentrate • Honey • Maltose   SPECIAL OFFER Say Goodbye to Pain in 15 Minutes Flat! Anyone who suffers from painful cramps, aching legs or dangerous swelling knows how debilitating it can be – and how difficult it can be to feel pain-free fast. However, the good news is that a super-quick solution has finally arrived! Now, you can stop pain instantly – even before it starts. Transform your life with a highly effective breakthrough and you can be pain-free in a little as 15 minutes a day. Best of all, you can use this home-health conditioner on your sofa or in your car to enjoy living your life pain-free! Read more here... Chewy Date and Walnut Bars These chewy snack bars are a special treat for lunchboxes—as well as for a midday snack or coffee break. Only a little reduced-fat margarine and oil are needed for the dough. Dates add natural sweetness, while walnuts and sunflower seeds provide extra texture. The result is both nutritious and delicious. Homemade snack bars are also less expensive than store-bought versions. Ingredients Cooking spray 2 tablespoons reduced-fat margarine spread 1 tablespoon canola oil 1/4 cup light-brown sugar 2 tablespoons honey Zest of 1 orange 2 tablespoons orange juice 1/3 cup dried pitted dates, chopped 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped 2 cups old-fashioned oats 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds Makes 16 bars Preparation 1    Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat a 9 x 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray and set aside. 2    Place the margarine, oil, sugar, honey, orange zest, and juice in a medium saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring until the butter has melted. Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the dates and walnuts. Add the oats, making sure they are evenly coated with the butter mixture. 3    Spread the mixture in the prepared pan, pressing it down firmly and evenly. Sprinkle the sunflower seeds over the top, and press down lightly to embed the seeds in the surface. 4    Bake until golden brown around the edges, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool completely in the pan. When cool, turn the bars out onto a cutting board, and slice into 16 bars. The bars can be kept in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Per bar: 103 cal, 4 g fat (0 g sat), 16 g carbs, 2 g protein, 2 g fiber, 0 mg chol, 12 mg sodium Until next issue, here's to good health! Neil Wertheimer Editor in Chief, Reverse Diabetes In the Next Issue: Function Over Fashion Surprising Switch for How to Treat Type 2 Diabetes Make Pizza Your Friend, Not Your Foe Is Your Morning Coffee a SECRET WEAPON Against Disease? Featured Recipe: Mediterranean Salad with Edamame
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