A Diet According to Dr. Mehmet Oz
Heart surgeons know that the main reason their patients must undergo surgery can be blamed on the food the patients eat. In the U. S., we have almost unrestricted access to food. This is not producing the healthiest generation but one where more than two-thirds of adults and more than one-third of children are overweight or obese. Diet crazes have hailed certain foods only to have them declared bad for our health a few short years later. Red meat, pasta, cabbage soup, chocolate have caused confusion over what is good and bad. Dr. Oz states today that eggs, whole milk, salt, fat, nuts, wine, chocolate and coffee are all healthy if used in moderation. Fats are not universally bad – monounsaturated fats such as canola oil and olive oil can lower bad (LDL) cholesterol and raise good (HDL) cholesterol. Our hearts cannot beat without salt, but too much sodium can increase blood pressure to dangerous levels. Red wine contains the antioxidant resveratrol, helping to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Chocolate contains flavonoids which are powerful antioxidants. Milk helps to control weight since calcium binds with fat during digestion so that you absorb less fat. Moderation is the key. A recent study shows that the foods most associated with adding pounds are french fries, potato chips, sugary drinks, meats, sweets, and refined grains. The foods most associated with losing pounds are yogurt, nuts, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. It is still true that to maintain a healthy weight, calories consumed must equal calories burned; thus we must achieve a balance between diet and exercise. Twenty minutes a day of brisk walking is essential to maintain fitness and to make your metabolism more efficient.
President Obama – Can he fix the economy before the 2012 election?
President Obama has an approval rate from the American people of 42%, a disconcerting figure going into a presidential election in the next fourteen months. This, combined with an unacceptably high rate of unemployment, does not bode well for a second term for Barack Obama. However, both FDR and Ronald Reagan won re-election in the midst of substantial economic suffering. The President’s aides need to persuade the American public a year from now that their fortunes are improving and that having a Republican in the White House would be a step backward. They are banking on Obama’s positive personal qualities – that he is trustworthy, well informed, and cares about people. It may carry the day with independent voters. The perception that he is able to get things done and that he is a strong leader have plummeted recently. It appears that Republicans forced Speaker John Boehner to back away from compromising in the talks on the debt deal lest it would seem to be a victory for Obama which would benefit him in 2012. Not knowing who his opponent will be does not help the situation.
Source: Time Magazine’s Issue of September 12, 2011