The final “healthcare reform” bill that will pass Congress sometime in the next 6 months will be so watered down that only the most naive will believe it can help. Why? Cowardice, conflict of interest, politics, money, and unfounded fear have replaced courage and compassion.

For a provocative look at this enormous problem read Comprehensive Affordable Universal Health Care is not possible.

Try fixing sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes in any form. Baked or mashed sweet potatoes are completely yummy and more filling than white potatoes, and they are packed with vitamins A and C as well as fiber. You can cut them into fingers, coat with cooking spray, and pop them into the oven for delicious unfried French fries.

An easy switch is green tea for coffee. Green tea is rich in antioxidants and has only one-sixth the caffeine of coffee. You can drink iced green tea instead of soda, or drink herbal tea either hot or iced instead of other choices. Of course, water is always an excellent choice, and it’s an incredibly better choice than soda pop. Whether regular or diet, soda contains phosphoric acid, which actually robs your bones of calcium.

Swap fish for red meat and olive or canola oil for butter to reduce cholesterol in your diet. More varieties of fish are available today than ever before, so you don’t have to be in a rut with salmon fillets or canned tuna. Try shark, mahi-mahi, grouper, cod, catfish, or other varieties you find in the seafood section.

Olive oil is now made by big-name American manufacturers as well as by the original importers. If you are wary of trying Italian or Spanish olive oil, try one of the home-grown brands. Use it for cooking, salad dressings, and bread dip. Flaxseed oil is rich in omega-3s and antioxidants and is a good substitute for fish oil in vegan diets.

Think “brown” instead of “white” when it comes to rice, bread, and pasta. Whole wheat bread, or other whole grain bread, can be found in any grocery store. It contains more fiber and is more filling than white bread. Brown rice has a wonderful nutty flavor and still retains all the nutrients that over-processed white rice has lost. Whole-wheat pasta adds a new dimension to your casseroles and soups. You’ll be amazed at the rich flavor!

We all know that most desserts are far from healthy, yet we crave something sweet at the end of a meal. Instead of cakes or pastries, have fresh fruit. Berries are among the super foods in nutrition. Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, cranberries, and cherries are as rich in flavor as they are in color and nutrients. Add a dollop of whipped topping and a sprinkle of cinnamon, and you have a satisfying, healthy dessert.

Making these healthy, satisfying, substitutions may be the answer to your dieting woes. One thing is for sure: you’ll be eating much healthier!

There are several reasons for this, which we will examine in detail on our Supplements Page.

This ratio is critical, and an excess of Omega-6 fatty acids can lead to formation of blood clots, allergic and inflammatory disorders, and the accelerated growth of certain cancer cells. Oxidation of Omega-6 EFA and the production of arachidonic acid lead to increased inflammation, reduced blood flow and free-radical damage. Omega-3 EFAs counter these effects; therefore the consumption of Omega-3 EFAs is crucial. There is some support for a couple of special omega-6 EFAs, namely Gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA); we’ll examine them later.

There are three primary types of Omega-3 EFAs: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and the more beneficial longer-chain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). ALA is found in plant sources. There are 2 drawbacks to plant source ALA; first the plant sources (flaxseed, purslane, walnuts, pumpkin seeds) usually provide unneeded Omega-6 in addition to Omega-3, and second, the efficiency of converting ALA to EPA and DHA varies among individuals. While EPA is readily synthesized in the body from alpha-linolenic acid, the synthesis of DHA is much more difficult.

It is, therefore, more advantageous to acquire EPA and DHA directly. The sources richest in EPA/DHA content are marine algae, the animals that consume them and especially fatty fish further up the food chain. The fish with the highest concentration of EPA/DHA oils are sardines, anchovies, herring, and some mackerels, but they don’t make such great meal entrees. Salmon also have plentiful EPA/DHA but, occupying the top of the food chain, are often high in heavy metals and toxins from ocean pollution. Farmed salmon, while avoiding most of the heavy metal toxins contain undesired amounts of antibiotics and flesh coloring chemicals. In addition, because of the farm diet, they contain much higher levels of Omega-6 EFAs.

Read more on our EFA & Fish Oil page.

• Your health is more important than your weight. A diet must not only be safe and effective, it must contribute to your overall good health.
• Many diets are based on sound weight-loss concepts but do not necessarily promote overall good health
• Most diet plans narrowly adheres to one primary concept, one primary plan, and often one primary product. Too often, the diet plan becomes the basis for a marketing plan.
• The most effective weight-loss plans are stringent, detailed and difficult to follow. The dropout failure rate is high.
• Processed food producers offering “diet” foods have no interest in your health and their “diet” products are worthless even hazardous to your health.
• Diet advice from medical institutions and government agencies is generally inaccurate and often based on misinformation promoted by the food and drug industries.
• There is no one or combination of drugs, prescription or over-the-counter, that will enable you to lose weight and be healthy. Period.
• What works for each individual is somewhat different and the best strategy is to adopt those concepts that are supported by a consensus of scientific evidence, validated by human studies and which contribute to your overall good health.

Remember these concepts; they can be summarized by one simple statement: most of what you read and hear about weight-loss and diets is at best half-truths and often completely false.

Read our page on Diet Plans for more information.