MaDonald’s reports a record sales month in July 2010

The fast-food giant McDonald’s has posted its biggest monthly sales increase in more than a year as the fast-food chain’s new fruit smoothies and ice-cold frappes hit the market.

McDonald’s said U.S. consumers flocked to its roughly 14,000 restaurants throughout the month, seeking its new drinks that are part of the restaurant chain’s rapidly expanding beverage lineup.

MaDonald’s is adding new “healthier” products

These fruit smoothies are marketed to the health conscious consumer and are proving to be a tremendous financial success for the McDoanlds restaurants. However, as a consumer, it’s important to understand what you are getting and what is really happening here.

Fast food restaurants are now global.

There has been a dramatic increase in global consumption of fast food since 1977, which has made a significant impact on our overall health.

McDonalds operates 31,000 locations in more than 119 countries on six continents, Burger King operates 12,000 outlets in 73 countries, and Wendy’s as the worlds third largest at 6,500 restaurants. This means that just about every corner of the world is now exposed to these restaurant chains.

Fast Food Giants, specifically McDonalds, are trying to change THIS IMAGE ===>

Fast food has become the primary sources of fat in our diet. Fast food consumption and the negative affects it has on the consumer’s health is well known by just about everyone.

MacDonalds for example, continues its attempt to change its public image since the 2004 movie “Super Size Me” shed light on this fast food obesity problem.

But despite all that, people continue to eat at these locations in record numbers.

McDonald’s Fruit Smoothie – is it really healthy?

Here is what CNN reports (August 10, 2010), “The sugar-laden, high-calorie fruit smoothies that are selling so well are perceived by many consumers as being healthy because they’re made from fruit-a misperception that McDonald’s doesn’t do much to rectify”.

Take a look at the ingredients in the fruit smoothie and pay particular attention to the third ingredient. Then take a look at the sugar content in comparison to a Coca-Cola® Classic.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie (Small)
Serving Size: 12 fl oz cup (347 g)

Strawberry puree, banana puree, water, sugar, concentrated apple juice, contains less than 1% of the following: cellulose powder, natural (botanical source) and artificial flavors, xanthan gum, citric acid, colored with fruit and vegetable juice, pectin, ascorbic acid (preservative).

44 grams of sugar = 11 teaspoons

Coca-Cola® Classic (Medium)
Serving Size: 21 fl oz cup

High fructose corn syrup, carbonated water, caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavors (vegetable source), caffeine.

58 grams of sugar = 14.5 teaspoons

Notice it also contains high fructose corn syrup!

All Fast Food Chains are the same

McDonalds is not the only fast food chain that offers many food choices that are full of sugar. Below is a comparison of a few competitors based on a size small 12-ounce serving.

• McDonald’s Strawberry Banana: 210 Calories, .5g Fat, 44g of Sugar
• Jack in the Box Banana Berry: 220 Calories, 0g Fat, 42.5g of Sugar
• Panera Strawberry with Ginseng: 195 Calories, 1.1g Fat, 39.8g of Sugar
• Jamba Juice Strawberry Banana: 223 Calories, .8g Fat, 45.9g of Sugar
• Starbucks Strawberry: 210 Calories, 1.1g Fat, 30.8g of Sugar

What does Keri Gans, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association have to say about the Fruit Smoothies.

“These smoothies are very high in sugar and there are way too many calories to have as your beverage choice with a meal,” said Keri Gans, Registered Dietician in private practice in New York.

Enjoying a smoothie with your quarter-pounder meal is a no-no, but what about a smoothie as a meal on its own? Gans balked at this idea, too. “They have very little protein, which is important to keep a person satiated until their next meal.”

If you are looking for a “healthy replacement” to drinking soda pop with your meal don’t be fooled as the sugar content still very high. You are not going to find a healthy meal that provides all the nutritional needs of the body at any of these fast food restaurants. What you will find is high processed packaged foods, but keep in mind the key to all this is moderation. Just don’t over-consume these foods.

Did you know that an extra ten calories a day for a person who doesn’t exercise will add up to an extra pound of weight gain per year? Know that you can begin to understand how you gained weight all these years and never really noticed it.

Obesity is an Epidemic

Thirty-five percent of North Americans are now medically obese. Two-thirds of the population is overweight. Added sugars in our foods play a key role in the obesity epidemic.

When it comes to sugar in your diet it’s important to understand how the body reacts to it by increasing the insulin levels which the the Glycemic affect.

Glycemic Affect

By lowering the glycemic affect the body will reduce the insulin levels following the digestion of your meals, and throughout the day. The longer you have insulin in your body, the faster you will age and develop conditions like obesity and other degenerative diseases.

What do you think? I want to hear your opinion.

Leave a comment below.

Obesity is clearly a problem and this is another report illustrating the problem.

Trust for America’s Health released a report this month on the state of health within the US. As part of their report, they have a map, shown here, listing the percentages of obese people on a state by state basis.

The TFHA gave the US a failing grade in terms of health as measured by body mass index. Obesity is clearly a problem and this is another report illustrating the problem.

“Obesity is one of the biggest public health challenges the country has ever faced and troubling disparities exist based on race, ethnicity, region and income”, TFHA executive director, Jeff Levi.

Some other key features of the report are:

1. The number of states where adult obesity rates exceed 30 percent doubled in the past year, from four to eight –Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia.
2. Adult obesity rates for Blacks topped 40 percent in nine states, 35 percent in 34 states, and 30 percent in 43 states and D.C.
3. Rates of adult obesity for Latinos were above 35 percent in two states (North Dakota and Tennessee) and at 30 percent and above in 19 states.
4. Ten of the 11 states with the highest rates of diabetes are in the South, as are the 10 states with the highest rates of hypertension.

“Obesity rates among the current generation of young people are unacceptably high and a very serious problem,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., RWJF president and CEO.

“To reverse this national epidemic, we have to make every community a healthy community. Americans are increasingly ready and willing to make that investment.”

Here is a simple investment to make in improving your own health and the health of others, Bios Life Slim!

There is a huge need for this product. According to the latest figures 67% of Americans are overweight and it’s estimated that roughly 24 million Americans have type II diabetes. We need to get this product into as many hands as possible! You have the product and you have the tools – now in the infamous words of Nike, JUST DO IT!

Source: Unicity Chief Science Office, Tom Cutler Blog

With all the recent focus and media publicity on the alarming statistics of obesity throughout North America, and around the world, we tend to forget that percentage population who cannot gain weight.

I was recently asked by a friend how she can gain weight. What an important question, so I decided to post this for those who are in the same situation.

In order to really provide specifics and action steps for healthy weight gain, it is important to learn more about a persons individual dietary lifestyle and overall state of health. What (if any) health issues a person is having are signs of nutritional and hereditary deficiencies.

Everybody is different and everyone has specific nutritional needs…that is why the majority of people are prone to gaining weight, were a smaller number actually cannot.

First, you need to think about what you are eating and how you’re feeding yourself through the sources of foods in your diet. The key ingredient is the sources of protein in your diet and digestion of that protein; as you are trying to build muscle mass; NOT fat.

Undigested protein in your body actually leads to other health problems starting with intestinal toxemia; which then leads to inflammation throughout the body and a host of other health concerns.

Just about everyone knows that muscles are made of protein. Every single cell in the body has some protein. Protein makes up 50% of the dry weight of the body. Protein is made up of 8 essential amino acids and 12 non-essential amino acids. Are you getting all these? That is a question you need to consider. I can assure you with almost certainty that you are NOT getting all amino acids in your diet.

There are some things you can do and consider to change or enhance your dietary intake to make sure you are getting everything you need. I would recommend a few supplements to add that enhance your dietary foundation. From there, once you are feeding and fueling your body it will react with weight gain, and bring you to an overall healthier state.

I hope you find this interesting and helpful to get you started.

If you want to learn more or discuss your dietary lifestyle and how to enhance your health and gain weight e-mail or call me. Contact me today!

Doug Collins
Riverview, New Brunswick
doug_collins@rogers.com

The majority of North Americans are concerned with being overweight and obesity. We tend to look at being thin as being healthy, but it is possible to be thin and unhealthy, just as it is possible to be slightly overweight and healthy.

How do we really know if thin is TOO THIN?

The BMI (Body Mass Index) is often used to gauge whether a person is over or underweight. The BMI of less than 19 for women and less than 20 for men is considered underweight.

What are YOUR measurements?

A good way to measure yourself is to place a measuring tape around the smallest area below your rib cage but above your belly button.

For men, the ideal waist measurement should be 31 to 36 inches; overweight is between 36 and 40 inches; and obese is over 40 inches. For women the waist measurement 28 to 33 inches is normal; 33 to 37 inches is overweight; and over 37 inches is overweight.

Keep in mind that these measurements all depend on an individual’s body size and shape. For those who have a muscular body you may find your numbers are on the lower side of the overweight measurements; even though you are at an average weight for your body type. This is just a simple way to help you determine your size.

Being underweight does have health risks

Being underweight does come with health risks that include being malnourished, anemia, fertility problems, heart problems, and hormonal imbalances, lowered resistance to infection, chronic fatigue and lack of energy, along with a host of other health related concerns.

It is important to understand your body and your nutritional needs.

If you want to learn more or discuss your dietary lifestyle and how to enhance your health and gain weight e-mail or call me.

Doug Collins
Riverview, New Brunswick
doug_collins@rogers.com