Re-thinking red meat: what’s the beef?

Re-thinking red meat: what’s the beef?

By Perrin Braun - Jun 15, 2013

Do you enjoy an occasional hamburger? Many people love the taste of red meat, but wonder if it’s healthy.  

During the past few years, red meat has received some bad press, but there’s conflicting data out there about its benefits and drawbacks. So, what’s a full-blooded carnivore to do?

If you include red meat in your diet, InsideTracker’s Food Basket page can help you ensure that you’re fueling your body with healthy foods that match your unique dietary preferences and needs. Conversely, if you are looking to find some delicious alternatives to red meat, InsideTracker has got you covered, too. 

Whether you eat red meat or not, how will your food choices affect your body? Your InsideTracker blood analysis measures key biomarkers. And now InsideTracker has introduced the Home Kit, an innovative and affordable product, that makes it easy for you to collect blood samples at home. Using the Home Kit, you can collect a few drops of blood and return the sample in the prepaid mailer to measure 6 basic biomarkers, including cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, glucose and ALT (a marker of liver health). The Home Kit is so easy to use that you can measure your progress monthly, and adjust your diet, exercise, supplement, and lifestyle choices to optimize your well-being and performance.

What are the benefits of red meat?

Red meat contains some important nutrients—it’s very high in iron, which plays an important role in ensuring wellness and optimizing physical performance. Iron is an essential mineral that is a part of the protein hemoglobin, which is found in all the body’s red blood cells. Hemoglobin works to supply the muscles and other organs with enough oxygen, as well as to help the body to convert carbohydrates and fat into energy. Maintaining optimal levels of iron is important for athletes and non-athletes alike because iron plays the following important roles in the body:

• Synthesizes protein
• Maintains the health of hair and skin
• Fights infection and preserves the body’s immune system
• Helps to create energy

In addition to iron, red meat is high in vitamin B12, a vitamin that aids with brain and nervous system function and the formation of blood; and in zinc, which keeps your immune system working properly. Red meat provides a great source of protein too, an important nutrient. Protein is broken down into amino acids that assist with everything from digesting food to repairing body tissue in the body.

What are the drawbacks of red meat?

The fact is that the typical western diet is very high in red meat. What are the problems with this?  First, like butter and other animal products, red meat is high in saturated fat. The dangers of this type of fat are fairly contentious among the scientific community. We have been conditioned to believe that increased intakes of saturated fat can lead to heart disease and increased cholesterol. However, a recent meta-analysis reviewed several studies with a combined total of over one million subjects and found that processed meats were associated with heart disease, but red meat was not. This study shows that preservatives used in processed meats or other unhealthy dietary patterns could play an important role in increasing the risk for heart disease. 

Despite this evidence, the relatively high fat content in red meat remains a fairly controversial topic, and many people with heart disease are still advised to steer clear of red meat. 

In addition, there is an increasing body of evidence that a substance in red meat called L-carnitine is linked to heart disease. A 2013 study done in mice found that the L-carnitine in red meat helps to transport fatty acids into your body’s cells. After it is eaten, L-carnitine is converted into another compound called trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which is believed to be a valid predictor of poor heart health. The study also found that people who tend to eat a lot of red meat are more efficient at converting L-cartnitine to TMAO than those who don’t often partake, which suggests that people should cut down on their intake of red meat. 

It is important to remember, however, that this study was conducted in mice and therefore may not apply to humans. Furthermore, scientists note that l-carnitine also plays an important role in helping to convert fat into energy, so it is not necessary to eliminate it from your diet completely. More research is needed to determine safe levels of dietary l-carnitine, but we do know that one serving of red meat contains up to 94 mg, while cheese and milk contain only about 3 mg per serving. 

The use of drugs in raising animals for meat production is another potential problem with consuming red meat. Animals raised for their meat sometimes receive antibiotics or hormones to prevent bacterial diseases or help increase growth. While these drugs must be discontinued prior to slaughter, trace amounts may remain in the meat. If you’re going to eat red meat, the safest bet is to choose organic, grass-fed meats because it will reduce your exposure to the drugs that are often used in commercial meat production.

Better meat choices

If you choose to eat red meat, remember that some options are healthier than others. Here’s a handy guide to making the best choices when you’re at the supermarket:

Beef – Choose the leanest cuts. If possible, try to pick beef that has under 10 grams of fat with less than 4 grams of saturated fat per 4 ounce serving. The leanest cuts are from the loin, and many people enjoy the tenderloin because it is so tender. Flank steak has only about 6 grams of fat per serving, so it’s also a great choice. For those of you who like to eat ground beef, a good rule of thumb is to look at the color. The redder it is, the better, because the higher fat content will make ground beef have a pinkish appearance. 

Purchase lean ground beef, which is no more than 10% fat by weight, or extra-lean ground beef, which is no more than 5% fat by weight. Remember though that this percentage is different from the percentage of calories from fat. In lean ground beef, about 50% of the calories are from fat. And in extra lean ground beef, about a third of the calories are from fat. 

Lamb – Americans love their lamb chops, but they’re also pretty high in fat. Even when trimmed to 1/8-inch of fat, 4 ounces of lamb chops still contain roughly 383 calories and 34 grams of fat, of which 15 grams is saturated fat. Instead of lamb chops, try lamb shoulder. Shoulder steaks are leaner and only contain 148 calories in a 4 ounce serving, with 6 grams of fat and 2 grams of saturated fat.

Pork – according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the “other white meat” is actually red meat! Pork tenderloin is the best option because it’s juicy and very lean. Center cut loin pork chops are very low in fat and calories when well-trimmed. Pork loin is also a great cut because it’s relatively low in fat and calories when trimmed.

 
If you’re going to eat red meat, focus on sensible portion sizes. The American Heart Association and the USDA suggest that you shouldn’t consume more than 6 ounces of meat per day (that includes white meat!). A 3-ounce portion is about the size of a deck of cards or a bar of soap. InsideTracker will provide you with sensible recommendations for all kinds of food. The bottom line is that red meat can be incorporated into a healthy diet—but eat it in moderation!

Eight Foods You Should Never Eat Again

By Justin

With so much misinformation out there about food and how it affects human health, making healthy food choices for you and your family can be difficult and confusing. There are a number of specific foods; however, that you will want to avoid in almost every circumstance because they provide virtually no health benefits while posing plenty of health risks. Here are nine foods you should never eat again if you care about preserving your long-term health:

1) White bread, refined flours. By definition, white bread and refined flours in general are toxic for your body because they have been stripped of virtually all vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other important nutrients. Because of this, the body does not know how to properly digest and assimilate these so-called foods, which can lead to health problems. Refined white flour has also been bleached with chlorine and brominated with bromide, two poisonous chemicals that have been linked to causing thyroid and organ damage.

2) Conventional frozen meals. Most conventionally-prepared frozen meals are loaded with preservatives, processed salt, hydrogenated oils and other artificial ingredients, not to mention the fact that most frozen meals have been heavily pre-cooked, rendering their nutrient content minimal at best (especially after getting microwaved again at home). With the exception of a few truly healthy frozen meal brands such as Amy’s and Organic Bistro, most frozen meals are little more than disease in a box, so avoid them in favor of fresh foods.

3) White rice. Like white bread, white rice has been stripped of most of its nutrients, and separated from the bran and germ, two natural components that make up rice in its brown form. Even so-called “fortified” white rice is nutritionally deficient, as the body still processes this refined food much differently than brown rice, which is absorbed more slowly and does not cause the same spike in blood sugar that white rice does.

4) Microwaveable popcorn. This processed food is a favorite among moviegoers and regular snackers alike, but it is one of the unhealthiest foods you can eat. Practically every component of microwaveable popcorn, from the genetically-modified (GM) corn kernels to the processed salt and preservative chemicals used to enhance its flavor, is unhealthy and disease-promoting. On top of this, microwaveable popcorn contains a chemical known as diacetyl that can actually destroy your lungs. If you love popcorn, stick with organic kernels that you can pop yourself in a kettle and douse with healthy ingredients like coconut oil, grass-fed butter, and Himalayan pink salt.

5) Cured meat products with nitrates, nitrites. Deli meats, summer sausage, hot dogs, bacon, and many other meats sold at the grocery store are often loaded with sodium nitrite and other chemical preservatives that have been linked to causing heart disease and cancer. If you eat meat, stick with uncured, nitrite and nitrate-free varieties, and preferably those that come from organic, grass-fed animals.

6) Most conventional protein, energy bars. By the way they are often marketed, it might seem as though protein and energy bars are a strong addition to a healthy diet. But more often than not, these meal replacements contain processed soy protein, refined sugar, hydrogenated fat, and other harmful additives that contribute to chronic illness. Not all protein and energy bars are bad, of course — Thunderbird Energetica, Organic Food Bar, Boku Superfood, Vega Sport, PROBAR, and Zing all make healthy protein and energy bars. Just be sure to read the ingredient labels and know what you are buying.

7) Margarine. Hidden in all sorts of processed foods, margarine, a hydrogenated trans-fat oil, is something you will want to avoid at all costs for your health. Contrary to popular belief, butter and saturated fats in general are not unhealthy, especially when they are derived from pastured animals that feed on grass rather than corn and soy. And if animal-based fats are not for you, stick with extra-virgin coconut oil or olive oil rather than margarine.

 8) “Diet” anything. Many so-called “diet” products on the market today contains artificial sweeteners like aspartame (Equal) and sucralose (Splenda), both of which are linked to causing neurological damage, gastrointestinal problems, and endocrine disruption. Many diet products also contain added chemical flavoring agents to take the place of fat and other natural components that have been removed to artificially reduce calorie content. Instead, stick with whole foods that are as close to nature as possible, including high-fat foods grown the way nature intended, and your body will respond surprisingly well.

Oh No - Women On Viagra Like Ladies On Streoid

Oh No - Women On Viagra Like Ladies On Streoid

By Farouk Martins Aresa 

Oh no! Please do not put women on Viagra, it would be like a V-8 on steroid. One of the precious moments for men is when their ladies call them tigers. Though the same ladies may be faking it, but men just love it. If you are serial monogamists or polygamists, and all of your ladies call you tiger, wait until they go on Viagra, men would start dying like flies. Viagra for men benefited the ladies, who else would Viagra for women benefit?

Viagra is used to boost relationships by men, not just for sex.  Centennial Park is a U.S settlement in Arizona where polygamists have figured out how to treat women right. The ladies chose their husbands. They are free within polygamous family if they wish to leave or stay. Naturally the ladies enjoy their sex life, even when they admit they feel jealous sometimes, but chose to share the man on Viagra they love. See

Most of us respect the medical scientists and support their research. But since we have Night school physician graduates now, some of them have rejuvenated the research we had suppressed when Viagra for men was invented. We also have many women in the medical field these days. Actually, they have complemented prestigious professions. It is a good development of course, but this Viagra for women will kill us!

Hardly a week goes by without hearing about some men dying on top of some women. Most of these men were heavily armed with Viagra and some just want to talk. You see, men need a break from their heavy responsibilities and may need someone that is a good listener to share the burden of success. They do not want to cry to their significant other and sound like wimps. Can you imagine if the ladies were also armed with Viagra?

Well, please do not think more men are sexists. We support the ladies. Especially, young ones that are complaining that since Viagra for men became available, ladies have to work harder for the money given to them by filthy older men. Actually, some of the high class prostitutes said the same thing. These men just befriended them, spilled out their problems and fell asleep. But now with Viagra, ladies have to work hard for the money.

If you think this is not a serious matter, just think about the toy boys. If women go on Viagra, those guys would be finished before they get to the old age of thirty. They would have to work harder when their cougars go on Viagra. The young men were very useful and they serve a good cause for cougars. But when you add desire of women on Viagra to desire for young boys, they will start dying on top of ladies like the old filthy men.

Naturally women boast that they only pity men in bed and fake satisfaction sometimes. They claim that men get satisfied too early in the process and need to learn how to please women longer in bed. So the real men are advised to prolong the foreplay. As we are learning that, Michael Douglas warned about oral sex and cancer. He was supported by: you guess right – medical evidence. This time, by Day school science graduates.

So now men have to learn other tricks making it difficult to please just one woman not to mention all the girlfriends, wives and quickies in the offices and parties. There are seminars, vacation spots and one to one trainings where these tricks can be learned. But putting women on Viagra will complicate matters. There must be physicians against this!

It must be sad news for our friend. The Governor of the Central Bank, Alhaji Sanusi is a man of God. He prays many times a day until some jealous people on the job expose his sexual affairs with a married woman. Haba, Alhaji Sanusi; we have so many single ladies around looking for your type. He has no reason to go after another man’s wife. Sanusi has problem. If the woman and his wives at home go on Viagra, he might drop dead.

There is going to be a bigger problem when men start running away from women on the notion of fear like those of killer bees after sex. Without Viagra, some women are avoided by many men. Men can identify readily those generous givers that can never be satisfied, give them Viagra! But so are some men that their wives have to seek divorce from because of too much demand, like Eric Benet the sex addict Haile Berry divorced.

Old fashioned men still like to be the one in company of women without the desire for Viagra. We have 10-17% male and female addicts already with compulsive sex drive. Putting more men and women on Viagra or getting it on demand will only create more addicts. Actually, young men and women claim there are too much easy sex already, Viagra for women is not going to reduce that.

On the other hand, this may be an opportunity for women to get many husbands like men have many wives. Think about it, women makes good money today than their parents used to. They have more disposable income and can afford to keep more than one home with a husband. If they want to cope with so many boyfriends at once, Viagra for women would be a good choice.

This may revolutionize sexual behavior as we know it. Well, some may say: not any more than it did for men. The fact is every culture has always had some form of Viagra that men use. Since it is mainly men dominated society, there has not been traditional sex enhancer for women. So it will be the first time in most cultures and the consequences of Viagra for women will reverberate throughout our universe.

Disclaimer: Having written all this, it must be remembered that there are some sexual dysfunctional hidden habits in both men and women. Some women have suffered for years for lack of sexual appetite. They marry but never enjoyed sex. It has nothing to do with marital problem, work pressure or behavior. It has to do with some other aversion for sex. This group of women needs the attention of the medical community.

If some form of Viagra will alleviate their socio-psychological and medical problems, it was about time. There will be abuses, no doubt. But no more than the abuses we have with Viagra for men. It must be noted that some men just as some women may suffer from the trauma of penis and virginia modification after birth.

Especially, prevention of HIV has been proven in circumcised heterosexual men. It has no victims in most cultures where lack of circumcision may also be traumatic.
 
Post 05 June 2013

TO PREVENT ATHLETE'S FOOT

Health Tip: Keep Toes Cool, Clean and Dry

To help prevent athlete's foot

Athlete's foot is a fungal infection, medically called tinea pedis. If the fungus takes hold between your toes, it can cause itchiness, cracking and peeling.

These suggestions would help protect your feet from athlete's foot:

• Dry your feet completely after getting out of the bath, shower or pool.
• Slip on a pair of sandals or flip-flops when walking at public pools or showers.
• Swap sweaty socks for a clean dry pair at least once daily.
• If you tend to get athlete's foot, use an antifungal or drying powder.
• Choose shoes made of natural material (such as leather) that offers good ventilation. Avoid shoes with plastic lining.

Don't wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row, so the shoes can air out.