The Dukan Diet

Atkins is back, this time in a beret. The Dukan Diet promises weight loss via a familiar protein-laden regimen. The plan is an all-out craze in France, where Pierre Dukan, MD, created it. But will it catch on in the United States?
18 Simple ways to lose weight—and keep it off.
The Program: The Dukan Diet is structured in stages. Stage one allows only lean proteins (think nonfat dairy, fish, chicken breast), oat bran, and water—at least 48 ounces each day. The next two stages gradually integrate other foods but in limited portions and only on certain days. And the final stage, which lasts the rest of your life, allows you to eat whatever you want 6 days a week—as long as you resume the protein-only diet on the 7th.
The Claim: Dr. Dukan believes in the power of protein. He says that his regimen isn't a low-calorie diet, and eating unlimited amounts of lean protein eliminates hunger. These foods, according to Dr. Dukan, are harder to digest, which means the body gets fewer calories from proteins than other types of food.
Your goal may be to lose 10, 20 or 30 pounds, but you can do it with these simple nutrition and recipe tips from The Biggest Loser.
The Facts: There's nothing magic about protein, and some of Dr. Dukan's theories about it are just plain wrong. Animal proteins are actually absorbed more efficiently than plant foods. Dr. Dukan's book is nothing more than a twist on a low-calorie diet, which is what you have when you eliminate categories of food, according to Andrea Giancoli, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. This diet lacks the produce and whole grains you need to ward off diseases, including cancer. Giancoli also points out that the maintenance plan doesn't add up: You can gain weight eating whatever you like 6 days each week. "The plan isn't balanced enough to give you the nutrition you need, but it will probably give you constipation, low energy, brain fog, and bad breath," says Giancoli.

Top 10 male health worries (part2)

Testicular cancer

Most testicular lumps are not cancerous, but it's important to spot any changes:

• a lump in either testicle
• enlargement of the testicle
• a heaviness or sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
• growth or tenderness of the upper chest.

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 15 to 44.

What can you do?

Make sure you become familiar with what is normal for you.
'Regular self-examination will help you become aware of the normal feel and size of your testicles and any changes can be spotted early on,' says Dr Elizabeth Rapley, scientific spokesperson for Everyman, a charity aiming to increase awareness of prostate and testicular cancer.
'If diagnosed early, testicular cancer can be cured in up to 99 per cent of cases. Even when the disease has spread cure rates exceed 85 per cent.'

Prostate cancer

Symptoms may include getting up and needing the toilet in the night or going more frequently.

Every year 37,000 men in the UK are diagnosed with prostate cancer and one man dies from it every hour.
For men, it's the most common cause of cancer in the UK.

What can you do?

Don't feel embarrassed about seeing a doctor.
'There are no specific prostate cancer symptoms, but many men are diagnosed after presenting urinary symptoms,' says John Robertson, a nurse at the Prostate Cancer Charity.
'They may be getting up and needing the toilet in the night, going more frequently or needing the toilet again after just having been. Less commonly they may notice blood in their urine or semen.'
The good news is prostate cancer is often a slow growing cancer.
'It can often be treated very successfully, so it's important to get to your GP – the earlier the diagnosis, the better the outcome,' adds John Robertson.
Remember there are two other common prostate problems that affect men too: an enlarged prostate and prostatitis.
For more information visit Prostate Cancer Charity.

Sexual health

Sexually transmitted infections among teenagers and young adults are reaching record levels, according to figures from the Health Protection Agency last year.
Men between the ages of 20 to 23 are most at risk, but an increase has also been reported in the over 50s in recent years.
Chlamydia is the most common STI in the UK, followed by genital warts.

What can you do?

Many STIs can be cleared up with treatments, such as antibiotics, so it's important to seek help from places, such as a GUM (genitourinary medicine) clinic.
HIV cannot be cured, but treatments are available.

Remember STIs, such as chlamydia don't always have symptoms, so you should get a screening after unsafe sex and remember to use a condom with each new partner.

Depression

According to Mind, the mental health charity, 2.7 million men in England have a mental health problem – such as depression, stress and anxiety.
'There's good evidence to suggest many men suffer from depression and stress but don’t access services as well as women,' says Dr Daniel Smith, senior lecturer in psychiatry at Cardiff University.
'They can also have unhelpful strategies for dealing with it, such as self-medicating with alcohol, which can have a further negative impact.'

What can you do?

'Most mild to moderate cases of depression can be managed using approaches, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which can help you reassess events in your life,' says Dr Smith.
'More severe cases may need a combination of a psychological approach and medication, such as Prozac.'
Look at lifestyle factors too:

• cut down on alcohol
• eat a healthy diet
• get enough sleep
• exercise
• get out in the sunlight
• socialise
• if out of work, try to find gainful employment as soon as possible.

Mid-life crisis

'A lot of men go through a period of anxiety in middle-age,' says Peter Baker.
'They find they're not able to do as much as when they were younger. They develop aches and pains and can have relationship issues.'

What can you do?

'Some people claim this is related to a drop in testosterone levels – but this is debatable,' says Peter Baker.
'The important thing is to have people you can talk to about your issues. You need to be open with friends and if necessary a health professional.

Top 10 male health worries (part1)

Men can be shy creatures when it comes to talking about health – especially if the problem is a bit embarrassing.
We look at the top 10 body worries for men and ask male health experts what a man can do to solve them?

Man boobs (gynecomastia)

Obesity and hormonal imbalances are largely to blame, with men now exposed to greater levels of oestrogen.

According to Nick Mitchell, personal trainer and founder of Ultimate Performance in London, man boobs are becoming a huge problem in the western world, particularly in the last 3 to 4 years.
Obesity and hormonal imbalances are largely to blame, with men now exposed to greater levels of oestrogen.

What can you do?

'You have to ask whether you are too fat or whether your fat is unevenly distributed,' says Nick Mitchell.
'If it's the first, you need to exercise more and diet. The key place where testosterone is converted into oestrogen is in fat cells. So the more fat you have, the more likely you are to have the feminising enzyme aromatase.'
'However if you're one of those men with skinny arms and legs but still have a problem with man boobs, you may need to look at doing other things.
'Strength training can promote testosterone levels, and you can moderate and decrease oestrogens with foods and supplements.'
Nick Mitchell recommends eating plenty of broccoli and watercress, fibre, taking a DIM (diindolylmethane) supplement – a compound found in cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli etc) – and avoiding tap water and microwaved or processed foods.

Skin problems

Skin problems are high on the list of issues many men feel embarrassed about says Peter Baker, with acne in particular an issue for younger men and often a cause of anxiety.

What can you do?

Consult your GP.
'Young men may not feel confident about going to the doctor. But there are many drugs available that can help,' says Peter Baker.
Mild acne can be treated with topical treatments – creams and gels – such as benzoyl peroxide, while moderate cases may need a combination of topical treatments and antibiotics.
If your acne is more severe, you may be referred to a dermatologist.

Receding hairlines

Thinning hair may be natural, but it can cause much anxiety.

'Hair loss and bald patches are something that happens to most men. But some men feel pretty anxious and depressed about it,' says Peter Baker, chief executive of the Men’s Health Forum.
'They feel less attractive, and see it as a sign that things are going downhill.'

What to do?

'There are various treatments that claim to halt and reverse hair loss,' says Peter Baker.
'Finasteride and minoxidil are two over-the-counter products that can also be prescribed privately by a doctor.
'Hair surgery is also an option – although an expensive one.
'My own view is that most of us are better off coming to terms with the fact we are going bald. There are lots of famous, important, attractive men who are bald, and we should take inspiration from them.'

Erectile dysfunction

'Erectile dysfunction is not a disease in its own right, but a symptom of an underlying issue – including serious conditions such as diabetes and heart disease,' says Peter Baker.
'There's growing evidence that erectile dysfunction is an early indicator of heart disease – and might be a sign that a heart attack is on its way in three or four years.'

What can you do?

'Seek help from a doctor, and don't just lie awake and worry about it,' says Peter Baker.
'Men tend to delay visiting the doctor for as long as possible, but delaying can make a serious condition more difficult to treat.
'Other causes include depression, so you might need antidepressants or someone to talk to.
'Seeking help means the underlying condition can be treated as well as the erectile dysfunction.'

Beer bellies

Male waists above 37 inches are associated with a higher risk of health problems.

Beer bellies or pot bellies – where the belly protrudes excessively – are due to an excess of visceral fat that sits around the internal organs.
Visceral fat has been linked to serious health issues, such as cardiovascular disease, heart disease and diabetes.

What can you do?

'You need to rebalance your blood sugar levels,' says Nick Mitchell.
'Cut down on carbohydrates, processed foods and don't worry about eating fat from natural sources – such as meat, eggs and butter.
'I go along with the theory that beer bellies may also be related to gluten intolerance – and if that's the case, you should cut out gluten – which is found in wheat, and funnily enough, beer.'
Remember, male waists above 37 inches are associated with a higher risk of health problems.

Pesticides Are Dumbing Down Our Kids

Children born to mothers with higher levels of pesticides in their body during pregnancy go on to experience lower IQ scores in elementary school, according to three recent independent reports from different research institutions. These studies out of Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, University of California-Berkeley School of Public Health, and the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University add credence to a growing body of research linking childhood developmental problems to everyday chemicals in the environment.
The details: The studies, which will appear in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, all linked a particular class of pesticides known as organophosphates—common bug killers—to IQ deficits in children. Collectively, the studies included about 800 women who lived in different parts of the country, including both agricultural and urban settings.
Researchers at Berkeley and Mount Sinai tested the pregnant mothers' urine for organophosphate pesticide breakdown components, while Columbia experts tested umbilical cord blood for a common pesticide called chlorpyrifos. (Chlorpyrifos has turned up on nonorganic apples, kale, bell peppers, and other produce, and scientists are investigating its possible ties to autism.) Researchers then followed up with elementary school-age children years after testing their mothers and found that the prenatal pesticide exposure was associated with negative effects on cognitive function. One study found a 7-point reduction in IQ in children whose mothers had harbored the highest levels of pesticides, versus the group with the lowest levels of pesticides.
What it means: This trio of studies finding pesticides messing with kids' health is just the latest in a slew of research suggesting that chemical weedkillers and bug sprays don't just harm the pests, but kids, too. The damage likely doesn't end there, either. Many pesticides are believed to be hormone disruptors, and prenatal exposure could set people up for chronic diseases like diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and obesity. Oftentimes, these ailments only surface later in life.
Some problems appear to be cropping up in childhood, too, though, as the latest three studies suggest. And last year, Harvard researchers released a study showing a connection between ingesting levels of pesticides commonly found in nonorganic food and ADHD.
Emerging research is finding that the timing of prenatal exposure to toxic chemicals matters, as well. This likely has something to do with the pivotal times in a pregnancy during which intricate systems are developing. For instance, a Penn State researcher released new data this week showing that prenatal BPA exposure was linked to wheezing babies. Like chemical pesticides, BPA is a chemical that public health experts are very concerned about. BPA leaches from most metal food cans, and is found in some No. 7 plastic bottles and serving ware.
Here's a three-pronged attack to keep pesticides out of your body:
Be a budget organic buyer.
Farmer's market season is just around the corner. If you're trying to stretch your food budget (who isn't?), restrain yourself from buying local, organic produce the first week it turns up at the market, and you can pay less for it in following weeks. Stock up when prices are low, and preserve the extra for the biggest savings.
For more tips, read "A Guide to Eating Healthy on the Cheap."
Beat back pests naturally.
There's a natural pest solution to virtually every bug problem, and many such approaches are outlined in "How to Beat Back Household Bugs."
Get a great, green lawn.
Spring is here, and while that great American green lawn is on many parents' minds, it's best to sidestep the chemical lawn services. Some of the pesticides used have been linked to the most common form of childhood cancer, so it's best to trade in chemical treatments for nontoxic ones.

6 Cancer-Fighting Superfoods (part2)

Walnuts

Walnuts Their phytosterols (cholesterol-like molecules found in plants) have been shown to block estrogen receptors in breast cancer cells, possibly slowing the cells' growth, says Elaine Hardman, PhD, associate professor at Marshall University School of Medicine in Huntington, West Virginia.

Helps fight: breast and prostate cancers

Your Rx: Munching on an ounce of walnuts a day may yield the best benefits, Hardman's research found.

Garlic

Phytochemicals in garlic have been found to halt the formation of nitrosamines, carcinogens formed in the stomach (and in the intestines, in certain conditions) when you consume nitrates, a common food preservative, Béliveau says. In fact, the Iowa Women's Health Study found that women with the highest amounts of garlic in their diets had a 50 percent lower risk of certain colon cancers than women who ate the least.

Helps fight: breast, colon, esophageal, and stomach cancers

Your Rx: Chop a clove of fresh, crushed garlic (crushing helps release beneficial enzymes), and sprinkle it into that lycopene-rich tomato sauce while it simmers.

Beans

A study out of Michigan State University found that black and navy beans significantly reduced colon cancer incidence in rats, in part because a diet rich in the legumes increased levels of the fatty acid butyrate, which in high concentrations has protective effects against cancer growth. Another study, in the journal Crop Science, found dried beans particularly effective in preventing breast cancer in rats.

Helps fight: breast and colon cancers

Your Rx: Add a serving—a half-cup—of legumes a few times a week (either from a can or dry beans that've been soaked and cooked) to your usual rotation of greens or other veggies.

6 Cancer-Fighting Superfoods (part1)

By Leslie Barrie
From Health magazine
To reduce your risk of cancer, look no further than your fridge. "All the studies on cancer and nutrition point to eating plant-based foods for their phytonutrients and other special compounds," says Richard Béliveau, PhD, chair in the prevention and treatment of cancer at the University of Québec at Montreal and author of Foods to Fight Cancer.

Aim for five to nine daily servings of all kinds of fruits and vegetables—especially these six superstars.

Broccoli

All cruciferous veggies (think cauliflower, cabbage, kale) contain cancer-fighting properties, but broccoli is the only one with a sizable amount of sulforaphane, a particularly potent compound that boosts the body's protective enzymes and flushes out cancer-causing chemicals, says Jed Fahey, ScD. A recent University of Michigan study on mice found that sulforaphane also targets cancer stem cells—those that aid in tumor growth.

Helps fight: breast, liver, lung, prostate, skin, stomach, and bladder cancers

Your Rx: The more broccoli, the better, research suggests—so add it wherever you can, from salads to omelets to the top of your pizza.

Berries

All berries are packed with cancer-fighting phytonutrients. But black raspberries, in particular, contain very high concentrations of phytochemicals called anthocyanins, which slow down the growth of premalignant cells and keep new blood vessels from forming (and potentially feeding a cancerous tumor), according to Gary D. Stoner, PhD, a professor of internal medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Helps fight: colon, esophageal, oral, and skin cancers

Your Rx: Stoner uses a concentrated berry powder in his studies but says a half-cup serving of berries a day may help your health, too.

Tomatoes

This juicy fruit is the best dietary source of lycopene, a carotenoid that gives tomatoes their red hue, Béliveau says. And that's good news, because lycopene was found to stop endometrial cancer cell growth in a study in Nutrition and Cancer. Endometrial cancer causes nearly 8,000 deaths a year.

Helps fight: endometrial, lung, prostate, and stomach cancers

Your Rx: The biggest benefits come from cooked tomatoes (think pasta sauce!), since the heating process increases the amount of lycopene your body is able to absorb.

6 Worst Summer-Body Desserts

Here's the biggest weight-loss secret in the world: The best way to drop pounds fast is to indulge in a delicious dessert. 

Whoa! Careful, don't give yourself whiplash. It may sound crazy, but it's true. Studies show that the discipline you need to resist temptation comes from the brain, in an activity fueled by glucose-blood sugar. And glucose is exactly what you get from sweet, indulgent desserts. So by passing up dessert, you actually make it harder to stick to your diet—and that's why so many of us stay on course for weeks or months, then wake up one morning face down in a box of Ho-Hos.
If you eat dessert wisely—choosing treats that give you the satisfying tastes you crave without the ridiculous calorie counts that sometimes come with them—you could put yourself back on the road to rapid weight loss. So take a good look at the six desserts on this list, compliments of the New York Times–bestselling Eat This, Not That! book series. Then make the simple swaps we recommend to start stripping away pounds—fast!

#6: Worst Pie
Perkins Peanut Butter Silk Pie (1 slice)
960 calories
68 g fat (33 g saturated, 1 g trans)
47 g sugars

Pie is the quintessential American dessert, and that doesn't bode well for any of us. Still, how Perkins manages to cram nearly 1,000 calories and a day and a half worth of saturated fat into one slice is a mystery, but the combination of icing, whipped cream, and peanut butter cups doesn't help. Save yourself 570 calories and 23 grams of saturated fat by ordering their sundae instead.

Eat This Instead!
Ice Cream Sundae
390 calories
25 g fat (10 g saturated)
32 g sugars

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#5: Worst Kids’ Dessert
Outback Steakhouse Spotted Dog Sundae
1,216 calories
94 g fat (58.5 g saturated)
89 g carbohydrates

A 2010 study found that empty calories comprise a whopping 40 percent of kids’ diets, and cutesy sounding desserts like this only fuel the problem. The sad part is that the average parent probably doesn't even realize how dangerous this dessert is. According to USDA recommendations, 20 grams is the absolute maximum amount of saturated fat a person should consume in one day. Think busy parents know that? Probably not, which means they probably wouldn't notice that this dessert has nearly three times that much! Shocking, and really irresponsible.

Eat This Instead!Carrot Cake
448 calories
10.5 g fat (1.5 g saturated)
86 g carbohydrates

BONUS TIP: Even foods that sound perfectly healthy can be secretly laced with dangerous amounts of fat and sodium. To prove it, we've collected the absolutely shocking 20 Salads Worse Than a Whopper. Prepare to be blown away!

#4: Worst Fruit-Based Dessert
LongHorn Steakhouse Caramel Apple Goldrush
1,640 calories
71 g fat (25 g saturated)
237 g carbohydrates

One Caramel Apple Goldrush a day keeps the doctor in business. Sure, apples are flab-fighting foods, but apple-inspired desserts—think pie, cobbler, and this monstrosity—are just the opposite. What's really strange is that Longhorn makes it clear that some of its desserts—like the 2,180-calorie Chocolate Stampede—are meant to be split, but this isn't one of them. Apparently, the chain believes 1,640 calories is suitable for one belly. The truth is, none of Langhorn's desserts is fit for one person, so partner up with someone at the table and order your safest option, the Key Lime Pie. Split this dessert two ways and you'll take in only 315 calories.

Eat This Instead!Key Lime Pie
630 calories
20 g fat (9 g saturated)
102 g carbohydrates

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#3: Worst Cake
Cheesecake Factory Chocolate Tower Truffle Cake
1,670 calories
49 g saturated fat
204 g carbohydrates

When a cake’s girth is so great that it can’t stand upright, it has a problem. This thing is six inches of fudge cake lined with chocolate cream, creating a fattening, sugar-bloated mammoth more calorie-dense than the Factory’s other 40-plus cheesecakes. Want proof of its potential damage to your body? Just pick it up. One slice weighs a pound and a half. Your best bet for nutritional salvation at Cheesecake Factory is to pair a scoop of ice cream with a bowl of strawberries. That will keep more than a thousand calories off your hips.

Eat This Instead! Scoop Coffee Ice Cream with a Bowl of Strawberries
400 calories
13 g saturated fat
97 g carbohydrates 

HEALTH SHOCKER: Beware—Mr. Salty is running loose at your local supermarket and in your favorite restaurants! Check out our shocking list of the 30 Saltiest Foods in America. Then promise to throw them all over your shoulder for good luck!

#2: Worst Shake
Baskin Robbins Fudge Brownie 31 Degrees Below (large, 24 ounces)
1,900 calories
80 g fat (39 g saturated, 1.5 g trans)
1,350 mg sodium
225 g sugar (Eat This, Not That! translation: 56 spoonfuls worth!)

This is a 1.5 pints of ice cream, far more than you should ever consume in one sitting. That's especially true when the ice cream is blended with molten fudge and dense chunks of brownie. Eat this entire cup and you'll take in the sugar equivalent of 21 Reese Peanut Butter Cups and the Saturated Fat equivalent of nearly 60 Oreos. Gross!

Eat This Instead!Two Scoops Premium Churned Light Aloha Brownie Ice Cream in a Cake Cone
325 calories
10 g fat (6 saturated)
21 g sugar

BEST SUPPLEMENTS: Beat allergies, boost immunity, lower your cholesterol, and more—check out these natural cures for 10 common conditions. They can help you feel better fast.

#1: Worst Sundae
Friendly’s Giant Crowd Pleaser
2,480 calories
118 g fat (64 g saturated)
233 g sugars

Attempting to scale this mountain range of ice cream might put your heart in peril. Okay, Friendly’s gets some leeway because the name itself implores you to share, but even a four-way split leaves everyone with three-quarters of a day’s saturated fat! That's double what you'd find in a McDonald’s Hot Fudge Sundae. That’s what happens when you dump a dozen scoops of ice cream into a crater-sized bowl and recklessly drizzle it with six different sugared toppings. So why tempt your taste buds? Choose an individual serving and guarantee your nutritional safety.

Eat This Instead!Strawberry Shortcake Sundae
580 calories
27 g fat (16 g saturated)
63 g sugars