Posts Tagged ‘fibromyalgia diet’

The 10 Most Unhealthy Fast Food Meals

… DON’T Eat These Worst Fast Food Heart Attacks!

You know fast food isn’t health food, but you might be surprised to learn just how much sugar, fat, sodium and calories are packed into these seemingly unassuming sandwiches.

The nutritional stats on these worst fast food items make a home-cooked burger look like a superfood … or may make you start to view your prior favorite more like a “heart attack or stroke in a box … “

10 Worst Fast Food Items

10. McDonald’s Bacon Angus and Cheese

This one-third of a pound burger will set you back nearly 800 calories and 39 grams of fat – 17 of them saturated (that’s 87% of the amount you’re supposed to get in a day). Add in the 2,070 mg of sodium (86% of the daily value) and the artificial flavors (in the beef, no less), and you’re better of taking a pass.

9. Taco Bell Volcano Nachos

These spicy nachos boast that they’re topped with “reduced fat sour cream,” which is kind of laughable when you consider one portion still has 58 grams of fat (9 saturated), 970 calories and 1,670 mg of sodium.

8. Sonic Footlong Quarter Pound Coney Dog

This concoction of hotdog, chili and cheese is supposed to conjure up memories of summer, but with 830 calories, 1,940 mg of sodium (nearly a day’s worth) and 54 grams of fat – 22 of them saturated (more than you’re supposed to eat in an entire day), this dog will leave you with more than just memories …

7. Burger King Triple Whopper With Cheese

1,230 calories, 82 grams of fat (32 grams saturated and 2 g trans fat) and 1,550 mg of sodium. Need we say more?

6. KFC Chicken Pot Pie

While at 790 the calorie count may not seem too bad compared to some of the other choices on this list, more than half of these calories come from fat. This entrée has 45 grams of fat total, and 37 of them are saturated. It also has nearly a day’s worth of sodium – 1,970 mg.

5. Super Sonic Bacon Double Cheeseburger with Mayo

With 1,280 calories and a whopping 92 grams of fat, 36 of them saturated (plus 3.5 grams of trans fats!), this is one burger that might leave you clutching your chest. It’s also got 1,630 mg of sodium to round out your meal.

4. Quiznos Large Classic Italian Sub

Think a sub is a better choice than a burger? Not always. This Italian sub, which has capicola, salami, ham, pepperoni, mozzarella, black olives, and red wine vinaigrette has 1,150 calories, 61 grams of fat (18 saturated and 1 trans fat), and 3,260 mg of sodium – well over a day’s worth.

3. Quiznos Large Tuna Sub

Another deceiving one if you think a tuna sandwich is good for you. This one is so big that it has 1,260 calories and 74 grams of fat (16 saturated), plus over 2,000 mg of sodium. For a tuna sandwich!

2. Burger King Ultimate Breakfast Platter

This platter of scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, a biscuit and pancakes and syrup will set you back 1,450 calories, 84 grams of fat (30 grams saturated, 1 trans fat), and 2,920 mg sodium. And you’re still supposed to have room for lunch and dinner, too …

1. Friendly’s Honey BBQ Chicken Supermelt

This is no ordinary chicken sandwich; it’s made from breaded chicken strips, cheddar cheese, bacon and ranch dressing.  At 1,500 calories, it’s got close to a day’s worth right there, along with 78 grams of fat (24 saturated) and 2,410 mg of sodium. If you thought chicken was always the “healthier” option, this will make you think again.

Get Your Cravings Under Control Now!

Admit it … did this article get your mouth watering for a big, greasy burger, a foot-long hot dog or a big sub sandwich with extra mayo?

If you had a bottle of ThinMist on hand, you could do a quick spritz under your tongue, and in just 23 seconds this all-natural formula will enter your bloodstream, flooding your body with critical minerals, amino acids and natural, bio-identical hormones that work synergistically to help curb your appetite for junk food while burning fat more efficiently.

That’s right! It helps STOP your cravings almost immediately, and it helps to boost your body’s natural production of human growth hormone (HGH), which has been proven to lead to a 14 percent reduction in fat, and a nearly 9 percent increase in lean body mass, when supplemented for just six months.[i] Don’t let fast-food restaurants’ latest creations sabotage your health and weight loss goals … get ThinMist to put the power of control back in your hands. Click here to learn more >>

Fibromyalgia Pain Management, What You Need To Know?

Defining Fibromyalgia:

Though classified as a disorder of the musculoskeletal system, the condition is now seen as a central nervous system problem. Symptoms include increased sensitivity to pain, achy and stiff joints, fatigue, and specific tender points on the back, chest, arms, and legs. Migraines, sleep disorders, and irritable bowel syndrome are also common complaints. Up to 3 percent of the population may suffer from fibromyalgia, but with no clear cause, the condition is difficult to diagnose.

Western Medicine Approach:

A formal diagnosis for fibromyalgia didn’t exist until 1990, but now there are three FDA-approved meds to combat the pain. Still, says Nancy Klimas, MD, director of the Allergy and Immunology Clinic at the University of Miami, “there is much more to treatment than a pill.” Strategies are needed to improve sleep, stretch and restore symmetry to muscles that have been shortened by spasm, and raise overall conditioning through exercise.

Energy-Based Approach:

Practitioners believe the root of fibromyalgia is a disturbance in nerves that blocks energy. The disturbance, says Devi S. Nambudripad, MD, PhD, and a licensed acupuncturist, is caused by sensitivities to substances ranging from pollen to vaccines to chemical agents in fabrics. Anxiety and depression may also play a part. Practitioners use acupuncture to release energy and allergy testing to identify problem substances.

Nutrition-Based Approach:

Fibromyalgia is a systemwide breakdown, says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, medical director of the nationwide Fibromyalgia & Fatigue Centers. After suffering from the disease in the 1970s, he developed his own protocol; in studies, patients improved by as much as 91 percent. He recommends supplements to help sufferers sleep, balance hormones, boost immunity, and improve nutrition. He also prescribes regular exercise.

Psychological Approach:

“The pain of fibromyalgia is not caused by depression,” says Leonard Jason, PhD, professor of psychology at DePaul University, “but depression can deepen a patient’s experience of pain.” Mental health professionals may play a complementary role in treatment, but it’s a vital one. Cognitive behavioral therapy can relieve depression and help patients identify sources of stress that magnify their symptoms.

People with fibromyalgia face a unique challenge because they must combat not only the condition’s disabling symptoms, but they face the stress of having an illness that is hard to diagnose, slow to respond to treatment and frequently not taken seriously by others because they look normal. This combination of factors often leaves those with fibromyalgia feeling helpless and hopeless.

Feelings of anxiety and depression are common among people with fibromyalgia, with an average of 18 percent of fibromyalgia patients suffering major depression at any point in time (1).

The pain of fibromyalgia is not simply a physical entity; pain always has an emotional component, which varies from person to person.

To focus only on the cause and treatment of physical pain, ignores the profound impact of pain on your emotions. Everyone has their own perspective of pain. The same amount of pain that causes manageable discomfort in one person can be emotionally devastating to another.

The changes in your life that accompany fibromyalgia make pain even more difficult to handle. Most individuals find family support, the stability of a regular job, and the refreshment of physical activity help bolster them in overcoming life’s emotional hurdles. But chronic pain and sleep deprivation can erode a person’s normally dependable sources of stability, alienating friends and family. The resulting imbalance can make the original symptoms of pain, sleep loss, or social withdrawal even more distressful.

Some fibromyalgia sufferers find that seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist helps them to better manage the physical and emotional aspects of living with fibromyalgia. Seeking psychiatric assistance to cope with fibromyalgia, is not an admission that “it is all in your head.” Instead, you are accepting that having such an illness is difficult to manage. For instance, patients with rheumatoid arthritis often benefit from psychological counseling even though their condition has obvious physical changes.

As a fibromyalgia sufferer, you may seek simple, short-term counseling sessions or intensive therapy. Whatever the case, your treatment will ultimately depend on your individual needs.

Recommendations:

Because Western medicine was slow to accept fibromyalgia, it is behind in its work; this is an area where patients will want to take a serious look at alternative approaches. Energy-based medicine could offer some important advances in treatment over the next decade, but since it has yet to be tested by independent research, it’s premature to base your therapy solely on this approach. I’m more impressed by Teitelbaum’s supplement regimen as he has tested his theories. I would add counseling, as it should always be a part of fibromyalgia treatment. If after a couple of months you don’t see improvement, talk to your doctor about drug therapy. You may also want to read this >> 

References

(1) ”The relationship between fibromyalgia and major depressive disorder,” by J.I. Hudson and H.G. Pope, Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America, Controversies in Fibromyalgia and Related Conditions, Vol. 22, No. 2, May 1996, pages 285-303.

Related Resources:

"Fibromyalgia Pain Relief – A Holistic Approach"

"Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome With Acupuncture"

"Everything You Need to Know About Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain"