Filet Mignon with Roquefort and Red Leaf

Filet Mignon with Roquefort and Red Leaf

This steak-and-potatoes dish is guaranteed to make salad lovers out of the staunchest meat eaters.

Ingredients: Yukon Gold potatoes, extra-virgin olive oil, thyme sprigs rosemary sprigs, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, fresh garlic, sliced shallot, honey, fresh thyme leaves, sugar, canola oil, sea salt, yellow onion, filet mignon steaks , red leaf lettuce, tomatoes, quartered and sliced, Roquefort blue cheese

Calories: 441

Grilled Asparagus and 6-Minute Egg

Grilled Asparagus and 6-Minute Egg

This recipe calls for an aioli, which uses a raw egg. If you’re pregnant or have food-safety concerns, use a pasteurized egg. And cook the other 4 eggs about 4 minutes more (total of 10 minutes) or until they are completely hard-boiled.

Ingredients: Egg yolk, extra-virgin olive oil, aged sherry vinegar, truffle or truffle oil, asparagus spears, pancetta, whole-wheat bread, unsalted butter, eggs, preferably organic

Butter Lettuce and Fresh Herbs with Maytag Blue Cheese

Butter Lettuce and Fresh Herbs with Maytag Blue Cheese

This salad is a clever update on the classic wedge. Serve it with grilled steak or chicken.

Ingredients: Pear vinegar or other fruit vinegar, shallots, whole-grain mustard, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, ground black pepper, butter lettuce, Maytag blue cheese, tarragon, chervil

Calories: 313

Summer Melon With Fig And Prosciutto

Summer Melon with Fig and Prosciutto

The luscious, fleshy fruit gives this classic combo a refreshing twist. If you can’t find Sharlyn melon, use extra honeydew or cantaloupe.

Ingredients: Sharlyn melon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, prosciutto di Parma, basil, fresh dark-skinned figs, arugula, extra-virgin olive oil, ricotta salata, crushed red pepper

Calories: 212

The Best Summer Salads

Mâche with Summer Lemon Cucumbers and Lychee

Tender greens, delicate mushrooms, crunchy cucumber, and fragrant lychee fruit make this an especially refreshing salad. And, with only 241 calories, it won’t weigh you down.

Ingredients: Rice wine vinegar, fresh lemon juice, sugar, extra-virgin, olive oil, fine sea salt, ground black pepper, fresh or canned lychees, enoki mushrooms, mâche lettuce, mixed cherry tomatoes, lemon cucumbers, English cucumber

Calories: 241

Grilled Zucchini Roll-Ups With Herbs and Cheese

Ingredients
3 small zucchini (about 1/2 pound each), cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/8 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
1/16 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
1 1/2 ounces fresh goat cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
2 ounces bagged baby spinach (2 cups lightly packed)
1/3 cup basil leaves
Preparation

1. Preheat grill or grill pan to medium.

2. Discard the outermost slices of zucchini; brush the rest with oil on both sides. Sprinkle the zucchini slices with salt and pepper. Grill until tender, about 4 minutes per side. You can prepare the zucchini a day ahead and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

3. In a small bowl, combine the goat cheese, parsley, and lemon juice, mashing together with a fork.

4. Put 1/2 teaspoon of the cheese mixture about 1/2 inch from the end of a zucchini slice. Top with a few spinach leaves and a small (or half of a large) basil leaf. Roll up and place seam side down on a platter. Repeat with remaining zucchini slices. You can make these up to a day in advance; store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Red Pepper, Goat Cheese, and Fresh Mint Wraps

Ingredients
1 (4-ounce) package goat cheese
4 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
4 (8-inch) spinach tortillas
1/2 cup chopped bottled roasted red bell peppers
1/4 teaspoon salt
Preparation

1. Combine cheese and mint in bowl.

2. Wrap tortillas in paper towel. Microwave on HIGH 20 seconds.

3. Spread each tortilla with 2 tablespoons cheese mixture. Divide peppers evenly among tortillas; sprinkle with salt. Roll up tortillas; wrap each tightly in plastic wrap, twisting ends to secure. Chill 1 hour.

4. Unwrap tortillas. Cut each wrap into 4 pieces, cutting one end of each piece diagonally and one end straight across so the piece can stand on end (see photo above).

Note: Nutritional analysis includes Sugars 2g.

Oven-Fried Chicken

Health Note

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You won’t miss the skin (or saturated fat) on this fried chicken. Browning the chicken pieces on the stove top ensures a crispy coating that locks in moisture, and the blend of spices adds a peppery kick that is sure to be “finger-lickin' good.”

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Ingredients

1 cup low-fat buttermilk
2 large egg whites, beaten
1 cup all-purpose flour (about 4 1/2 ounces)
1/3 cup cornmeal
1 teaspoon salt, divided
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
2 chicken breast halves, skinned (about 1 pound)
2 chicken thighs, skinned (about 1/2 pound)
2 chicken drumsticks, skinned (about 1/2 pound)
2 tablespoons canola oil
Cooking spray
Preparation

Preheat oven to 425°.

Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Combine buttermilk and egg whites in a shallow dish; stir well with a whisk. Combine flour, cornmeal, 1/2 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and red pepper in a separate shallow dish; stir well. Sprinkle chicken evenly with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Dip chicken in buttermilk mixture; dredge in flour mixture.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken to pan; cook 4 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Place chicken on prepared baking sheet; lightly coat chicken with cooking spray. Bake at 425° for 30 minutes or until chicken is done.

The CarbLovers Diet Ultimate Eat-Out Guide

Need to know what to order at a restaurant or fast-food joint on the CarbLovers Diet? It’s here. You’ll even find the right foods in the right portion sizes, so you don’t have to do the math yourself.

The following choices all contain at least one ingredient high in Resistant Starch as well as several other metabolism boosters. You can mix and match them, too. Pair any option that totals fewer than 300 calories with a piece of fruit.

Food	Calories	Serving Size
Au Bon Pain Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal	280	12 oz.
Così Oatmeal	101	7.5 oz.
Dunkin’ Donuts Ham, Egg White, and Cheese on Wheat English Muffin	300	1 sandwich
Einstein Bros. Sante Fe	360	1/2 portion
Einstein Bros. Spicy Elmo	360	1/2 portion
Jamba Juice Blueberry & Blackberry Oatmeal	290	8.9 oz.
Jamba Juice Coldbuster	240	16 fl oz.
Jamba Juice Fresh Banana Oatmeal	280	9.6 oz.
Jamba Juice Protein Berry Workout With Soy Protein	270	16 fl oz.
Orange Julius Bananarilla	400	20 oz.
Orange Julius Berry Banana Squeeze	270	16 fl oz.
Panera Strawberry Granola Parfait	280	8.25 oz.
Starbucks Apple Bran Muffin	350	1 muffin
Subway Egg & Cheese on 9-Grain Bread With Egg White	320	6-inch sandwich
Subway Ham, Egg, and Cheese on 9-Grain Bread With Egg White	350	6-inch sandwich

How to Stock Your CarbLovers Kitchen

While Resistant Starch (RS) is definitely the star player in The CarbLovers Diet, it has a strong string of supporters. This is a balanced diet, one that includes all the foods you need to look and feel your best.

Yes, you’ll eat carbs—pasta, bread, potatoes…but you’ll also enjoy protein and a little fat, too. Make sure you have the following within reach at all times.

10 Fat-Burning Carbs

Health magazine's upcoming CarbLovers Diet is going to sneak Resistant Starch into your diet. But where do you get it? And what does it taste like?

Lots of familiar foods are loaded with Resistant Starch, but most people don’t consume enough. Aim to get 10 to 15 grams a day of this important fat-burning nutrient by eating these 10 foods.

4 Hearty Whole-Grain Recipes

Whole grains are part of any healthy diet. Not only do they fight cardiovascular disease, but they're also full of figure-friendly fiber. A 2003 Harvard study found that women who consumed more whole grains consistently weighed less than women who didn’t include as many whole grains in their diet. But with nearly every package in the grocery store boasting "whole-grain" and "high-fiber" products, how are you supposed to choose? Simple—just try these four easy ways to get your grains with a gourmet taste.

Ready in less than 30 minutes, this recipe blends tangy lime juice with a hint of unsweetened cocoa. The result is a savory, hearty dish that has more protein and fiber than rice, couscous, or pasta. The chile peppers and cumin give it a Southwestern flavor, and adding spices to your diet can curb hunger and boost brainpower.

No Carb Left Behind: How I Overcame My Carb Phobia

I spent last weekend in San Francisco at a food blogger festival, where I ate and drank my little heart out! On my trip, some of my blogger friends and I joked that, on our indulgent weekend, no carb was left behind. Of course, we thought this little saying was pretty funny, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that though the Atkins rage ended years ago, carbs still get a bad rap—even among my healthy, foodie friends.

Before finding my Feel Great Weight, I tried all kinds of low-carb diets—most notably the Atkins Diet. I would load my grocery cart with meat, cheese, and eggs, and avoid oatmeal and brightly colored fruits like the plague. In the month that I devoted myself to Atkins, I ate eggs every day for breakfast. I even ate an entire block of cheese more than once. And the whole time I felt cranky and lethargic—I was not pleasant to be around! Of course, I questioned how healthy this diet could really be, but the pounds soon came off and motivated me to stick with it.

Like with most restrictive diets, I eventually caved in and binged on carbs—the unhealthy kind, like doughnuts, ginormous Dunkin’ Donuts muffins, and tortilla chips. That didn’t make me feel much better either, but it did make me realize that I need carbs—the good kind—in order to function. So I vowed to incorporate healthy carbs back into my diet, and as soon as I did, my mood and energy levels improved almost instantly.

The key was finally figuring out the right kind of carbs to eat. Sure, I knew that a candy bar provided a different type of carb than steamed broccoli, but how did my morning bagel fit into that equation? If the bag said whole wheat, could I consider it a good carb? I was definitely carb confused.

It took me a while to banish Atkins- and South Beach–inspired rules from my mind. I don’t like to categorize foods as “good” and “bad,” but it’s no secret that complex carbs benefit me more than simple ones. Good carbs satisfy me and bad carbs—like those doughnuts (my favorite) or a bag of pretzels—do nothing for my hunger. If I choose whole grains, beans, and fibrous fruits and veggies, I feel satisfied for much longer and I don’t feel that blood-sugar crash, which inevitably leaves me hungry. Filling up on complex carbohydrates provides my body with a ton of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients too. Plus I’m more fun to be around. And what fun is fitting into your post-Atkins jeans if you’re too cranky and tired to go out and flaunt it?

What are your favorite healthy carbohydrates?

8 Reasons Why Carbs Help You Lose Weight

Eating a diet packed with the right kind of carbs is the little-known secret to getting and staying slim for life.

When we talk about the right kind of carbs, we mean Resistant Starch. Hundreds of studies conducted at respected universities and research centers have shown Resistant Starch helps you eat less, burn more calories, feel more energized and less stressed, and lower cholesterol.

Sound too good to be true? Here are eight evidence-based reasons you must get carbs back in your life if you are ever to achieve that coveted sleek, slim look.

Healthy Eating 7-Day Menu

Slimming World's 7-day menu will show you how vitally important Free Foods are to your weight loss.

They provide you with hundreds of delicious, satisfying meals and snacks to ensure you will slim without ever having to go hungry. And together with Healthy Extras – portions of food including wholemeal bread, cereals and milk for extra fibre and calcium – they ensure you have a healthy, balanced diet you can enjoy for life.

We've put together a deliciously diverse
7-day menu that's just bursting with basic Free Food (shown in bold) and includes your Healthy Extra choices (shown in italics) each day – super for your weight loss and simple to follow.

Get started with these quick guidelines - happy eating!

How to Transform Your Thighs with Yoga

This shorts season, why not show off your thighs? The best upper-leg-sculpting secret I know is Chair Pose. By squeezing your legs together and then lowering your hips to almost knee level, you can quickly strengthen and firm your thighs, front and back. Do this quick pose at least 4 times a week (every day is even better), and you should see results in about 3 weeks.

How to:
Stand with feet together and hands on hips. Begin to bend your knees as if sitting in a chair, moving your hips back; your torso will tilt slightly forward. Keep bending your knees until your thighs are parallel to the floor (or as close as you can get). Stabilize your back by drawing your belly in and tailbone down; relax your shoulders.

If comfortable, increase the challenge by raising your arms until they are in line with your ears, keeping your shoulders relaxed and jaw soft. Hold for 5–15 breaths, then return to standing. Repeat up to 3 times.

Gear Guide: Workout Shorts You’ll Wear Everywhere

My ideal workout shorts? A pair that works for a bunch of different situations—yoga, circuit training, even running out to grab a coffee with a girlfriend. (OK, and wearing to the grocery store too.) One excellent candidate: Moving Comfort’s new Fusion Bermuda shorts.

Here’s what makes them so versatile: They’ve got both fashion and function down pat. Fashion-wise, they’re shaped like traditional Bermuda shorts, with an almost tailored look, ending right above the knee. The cut is flattering, and they skim my curves without clinging to them (and making me wonder just which lumps and bumps are poking out).

Function-wise, they’re made of wicking, tech material, so sweat is no problem (though thanks to the closeness of the weave, they’re more suited for indoor or lower-intensity workouts than full-on heat-of-the-summer-day outdoor sessions). What’s more, they’re super comfy.

Other cool features: They’re buttery soft and have a handy little internal pocket, just the right size for your key (or, in my case, my I’m-never-without-it Fitbit activity monitor).

My only grumble: The waistband is cut a bit higher than I prefer for my short-trunk body. But hey, that’s just me, and regardless of that, I love wearing them.

Hmm. I wonder if I could get away with wearing these to work….

Product: Moving Comfort Fusion Bermuda shorts

Category: Apparel

Pros: Soft-on-your-skin, flattering workout shorts you can wear to yoga class, to the gym, or when just hanging around.

Cons: The waistband’s set a little high (though admittedly not everyone will consider this a con).

Cost: $42 at MovingComfort.com

Extra tip: Black, schmack. Choose the aubergine color with flame piping—so cute!

Ground Sirloin Sliders

Ingredients
12 miniature buns or dinner rolls
3/4 pound lean ground sirloin
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Olive oil cooking spray
2 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, thinly sliced
24 small dill pickle slices
Preparation

1. Remove some of the fluffy center from the buns so that they will sit well on top of burgers; set aside.

2. Combine sirloin with Worcestershire and pepper, and form into 12 (2-inch) flat patties.

3. Preheat a lightly oiled grill pan over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Cook burgers over moderate heat, turning, and evenly top with cheese, about 2 minutes per side for medium or until cheese is melted. (Use a meat thermometer to check that burgers have reached 160°.) Transfer the burgers to a plate, and grill the buns, cut sides down, 1-2 minutes or until toasted.

4. Sandwich burgers between buns with about 2 pickles per slider.

New Potato Salad With Arugula

Ingredients
2 pounds red potatoes, quartered (or halved if small)
1 teaspoon plus 1 dash kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup feta cheese
1/4 cup plain nonfat yogurt
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
4 cups trimmed arugula
1/4 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 475°.

2. Combine potatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and 1/2 tablespoon oil in bowl; toss to coat. Arrange potatoes in a single layer on baking sheet. Bake 25 minutes, turning after 15 minutes.

3. Place garlic on cutting board; sprinkle with a dash of salt, and crush with flat side of a large knife to make a paste. Place feta in bowl; mash with back of a spoon. Add yogurt, lemon juice, remaining oil, and garlic paste, stirring with a whisk.

4. Combine arugula, olives, parsley, and half of feta dressing in large bowl; toss to coat. Add potatoes; toss until arugula wilts, and cool 5 min-utes. Toss with remaining dressing and serve.

Semifreddo with Honeyed Fresh Berries

Ingredients
3 cups vanilla light ice cream, softened
1 tablespoon finely grated Meyer lemon zest
1/3 cup fresh Meyer lemon juice
1 (8-ounce) container frozen light whipped cream topping, thawed
1/2 cup coarse amaretti cookie crumbs (about 24 cookies)
2 cups fresh mixed berries
2 tablespoons honey
Preparation

1. Line an 8 1/2- x 4-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving plenty of extra wrap on the ends. Set aside.

2. Stir together first 3 ingredients in a bowl. Gently fold in whipped cream topping until well-combined.

3. Spread the mixture into a prepared pan. Sprinkle evenly with cookie crumbs; fold over plastic wrap to cover. Freeze mixture at least 4 hours or until firm.

4. Toss berries with honey about 15 minutes before serving; let stand.

5. Lift semifreddo from pan with plastic wrap, and transfer crumb side down to a cutting board. Use a serrated knife (dipped in hot water and wiped dry) to cut loaf into slices. Serve topped with the mixed berries.

Black and Blue Berries in Ginger Syrup

Ingredients
2 cups water
2 1/2 cups blackberries, divided
1/3 cup turbinado or granulated sugar
2 (1-inch) pieces peeled fresh ginger, thinly sliced
2 (3-inch) strips lime zest
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 cups blueberries
2 cups lemon sorbet (optional)
Preparation

1. Bring 2 cups water, 1/2 cup blackberries, sugar, ginger, and lime zest to a boil over medium-high heat in a saucepan, stirring just until sugar is dissolved. Boil for 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat, and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Pour mixture through a fine strainer set over a bowl; don't press on solids. Reserve the syrup, discarding the blackberries. Then stir in the lime juice.

2. Add the remaining 2 cups blackberries and blueberries to the syrup. Serve over 1/2 cup lemon sorbet, if desired.

Good-Bye, Headaches! Banish Tension With This Relaxing Pose

The most common headache culprit? Stress. When the muscles in your neck, back, shoulders, and jaw tense up, pain usually isn’t far behind. My favorite remedy is Goddess Pose, which thoroughly relaxes your body and mind, helping all that tension evaporate. For maximum benefit, give yourself at least 10 minutes in this pose.

Sit tall with knees bent and your lower back against the short end of a firm cushion or a couple of stacked, folded blankets. Let knees drop open to the sides; bring soles of feet together. Lie back so back and head are on the cushion or blankets, shoulders dropping toward the floor. Bring arms out to the sides, palms up. Relax, breathing deeply and evenly. If hips feel uncomfortable, straighten legs.

Seane Corn teaches yoga at Exhale at Sacred Movement in Venice, California, and has three yoga DVDs and a CD set, Detox Flow Yoga. For downloadable videos, go to Video.SeaneCorn.com.

Sandra Oh’s Simple Pleasures

What makes Sandra Oh smile? The Grey’s Anatomy star—now in the movie Ramona and Beezus—dishes about the small stuff that makes life grand, from dancing with friends to indulging in Häagen Dazs.

The best thing I do for my health is…breathe and try to be exactly where I am.

Three things that inspire me: my nieces, my teachers, my fear.

My favorite summer pleasure: traveling.

Playing a doctor has made me… appreciate nurses.

I like to treat myself every day to… a salted caramel.

My biggest pet peeve is… people who don’t care.

When I’m not in the mood to exercise, I tell myself… don’t exercise.

My idea of fun: dancing in my kitchen with my close friends.

The last time I went shopping, I bought… organic food.

I will never get tired of eating… Häagen-Dazs Peanut Butter Brittle ice cream. It’s a limited edition—I hope they never stop making it. That and my mom’s mung bean pancake.

If I have a free 10 minutes, you’ll find me… sleeping, trying to meditate, or listening to music.

The part of my body that I’m most confident about: This is obviously a trick question. The whole imperfect thing.

What I love about my life is… pretty much all of it.

Health-Care Reform: What’s In It For You?

Not up to sifting through the 2,000-page health-care bill? (We didn’t think so!) Here’s what you can expect and when. (For more info, go to HealthReform.gov.)

Now:
Can’t get insurance because of a pre-existing health condition? You may qualify for a new, affordable federal plan.

As of September:
• Your insurance company can no longer drop you from your health-care plan if you get sick.
• Insurance carriers must cover preventive screenings, such as breast exams, mammograms, and Pap smears.
• A child cannot be denied health coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

By 2014:
• It will be illegal for insurers to charge women higher premiums simply for being female.
• Insurance companies will no longer be able to deny you coverage for pre-existing conditions—including a previous C-section or injuries caused by domestic abuse.
• All insurance carriers will be required to cover maternity care.
• New moms can rest easier because providers will be required to cover newborn care and pediatric services, as well as screening for postpartum depression.

Hike Your Way to a Better Body

Treadmill, schmeadmill. Why coop yourself up? Head out into the fresh air and hike yourself slim, toning your legs and butt in the process. No need to spend the entire weekend wandering through the woods, either—just one hour of hiking torches more than 400 calories. Here’s what you need to know before you go.

Pick a Trail
Find one near you at Trails.com. Be sure to factor in more time when tackling steep terrain—hiking uphill takes about twice as long. To stay safe, bring a friend.

Gear Up
Trade in your sneaks for a lightweight yet sturdy trail shoe, like Merrell Siren Sync ($90; Merrell.com)—you need those thick rubber soles that grip the ground to help prevent nasty spills and guard feet against sharp roots and jagged rocks.

Other essentials: water, light snack (like granola), cell phone, ID, trail map, mini first-aid kit, hat, sunscreen, and a light jacket in case of rain or a drop in temp. A bonus pick: trekking poles (try WalkingPoles.com). They boost your burn by up to 40 percent by working your upper body and helping you move more quickly.

Help your Bod
Post hike, do a few minutes of down-dog (start in push-up position and press your body up into an inverted V) to loosen calves, hamstrings, hips, and shoulders, and help stay ache-free.

Focus In AIDS Prevention At XVIII International AIDS Conference Vienna, Austria

Between July 18th and 23rd the biennial International AIDS Conference will bring together approximately 25,000 researchers, experts, governments representatives, health care professionals, activists, business leaders and HIV/AIDS patients, with the theme Rights here, right now. The thrust of the message being that promiting and protecting human rights is needed for a successful response to HIV.

The enormous costs of treating millions of HIV/AIDS patients is forcing health authorities, donors and decision-makers into a new phase of prevention - expected to be a contentious issue. The Vienna summit will impact significantly on AIDS planning policy over the next few years.

The US government alone has spent a sizeable part of $32.3 billion aimed at having a record number of AIDS patients on medications to extend life expectancy. However, due to budget constraints, the present Obama administration is being forced to tame down increases in AIDS spending and have another look at President George W. Bush's President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

According to UNAIDS, 2.7 million people are known to have become HIV positive in 2008, over 5 million patients are receiving medications, while another 10 million need therapies but are not getting it.

ACS Issues New Prostate Guidelines

The American Cancer Society has issued new prostate guidelines. Dr. Jennifer Ashton discusses the guidelines on the Early Show. Discussions with your doctor should start at age 50 for those with average risk but higher risk groups should start discussion at age 40 to 45. The new guidelines say men with low PSA numbers can go for longer intervals between getting new tests. You can read the ACS's article about early detection of prostate cancer here.

The Lancet Retracts Study Linking Autism to MMR Vaccine

The Lancet, a highly respect British medical journal, has retracted a study that showed a connection between autism and the childhood MMR vaccine. However, clearing up the confusion the study has created in the public may take a long time. Richard Roth reports for CBS on the controversy the study generated. Roth says many parents took the study very seriously. Roth also says 25 other studies have shown that there is no link between the MMR vaccine and autism. Take a look:

Study Finds Chili Pepper Ingredient Helps Fight Fat

Scientists are reporting new evidence that capsaicin, the stuff that makes chili peppers hot, may cause weight loss and fight fat buildup. The scientists believe the capsaicin triggers certain beneficial protein changes in the body. The new study appears here in the ACS' monthly Journal of Proteome Research.

Laboratory studies have hinted that capsaicin may help fight obesity by decreasing calorie intake, shrinking fat tissue, and lowering fat levels in the blood. Nobody, however, yet knows exactly how capsaicin might trigger such beneficial effects.

In an effort to find out, the scientists fed high-fat diets with or without capsaicin to lab rats used to study obesity. The capsaicin-treated rats lost 8 percent of their body weight and showed changes in levels of at least 20 key proteins found in fat. The altered proteins work to break down fats.

"These changes provide valuable new molecular insights into the mechanism of the antiobesity effects of capsaicin," the scientists say.

Capsaicin is already used in capsaicin creams, which help fight arthritis pain. The latest research could potentially lead to new drugs to fight obesity.

Photo: Stephen Ausmus/USDA

FDA Warns Against Using Qualaquin to Treat Leg Cramps

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned against using the malaria drug Qualaquin (quinine sulfate) to treat night time leg cramps. The FDA says the use of the drug in this manner has resulted in serious side effects and prompted the manufacturer to develop a risk management plan aimed at educating health care professionals and patients about the potential risks.

A review of reports submitted to the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) between April 2005 and Oct. 1, 2008, found 38 U.S. cases of serious side effects associated with the use of quinine, the active drug in Qualaquin. Quinine use resulted in serious and life-threatening reactions in 24 cases, including low level of platelets in the blood (thrombocytopenia), and hemolytic uremic syndrome/thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a blood disorder that results in clots in small blood vessels around the body that can be accompanied by kidney impairment. Two patients died. Most of those reporting serious side effects took the drug to prevent or treat leg cramps or restless leg syndrome.

"Health care professionals and patients should be aware that FDA has not approved the use of Qualaquin for the treatment or prevention of night time leg cramps," said Edward Cox, M.D., M.P.H., director, Office of Antimicrobial Products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "FDA has received reports that some patients have developed serious side effects when taking quinine for night time leg cramps."

Qualaquin was approved by the FDA in August 2005 to treat uncomplicated malaria caused by the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, an infection that can be life-threatening if untreated. About 1,500 cases of malaria are diagnosed in the United States each year, primarily resulting from travel abroad. Qualaquin is marketed by Philadelphia-based AR Scientific.

Bethenny Frankel’s Berry-Good Smoothie

1 cup berries (raspberries, strawberries, or blueberries)
+ ¼ cup pomegranate juice
+ ¼ cup water
+ half of a banana
+ 1 cup ice
= my pomegranate smoothie

On-the-go smoothies are often loaded with sugar and so many calories—you might as well have a milkshake. But my version saves you about 140 calories, plus it’s loaded with antioxidants. Just combine the ingredients in a blender, and process until smooth.

Calories: 161

6 Ways to Have a Healthier Barbecue

Everyone loves a good barbecue, but research has shown that grilling meats at high heat can cause the carcinogens heterocyclic amine (HCA) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to form.

And it’s not an insignificant amount. One study found that people who consume well-done meat—grilled, barbecued, pan fried, or broiled—on a regular basis were 60% more likely to get pancreatic cancer. Longer cooking times might also increase the risk of stomach, lung, and breast cancer.

But you don’t have to give up your burgers just yet. Read how to make grilling safer and follow our 6 tips to making safe grilled fare.

How to Make Your Lunch Less Fattening

Salads seem like a great option, but this one is a calorie-and-fat bomb. It comes with chicken or turkey, bacon, avocado, cheese, and dressing. Yikes! Not only is it much higher in calories and fat than you’d want in a lunch (nearly two meals’ worth), but it contains almost 80% of your daily sodium limit.

The fix: To cut 350 calories (not to mention 26 grams of fat and 1,260 milligrams of sodium), Jackie should order her Cobb without bacon and cheese. If she leaves off half the dressing (she won’t miss it, we promise), she’ll trim another 65 calories and 7.5 grams of fat.

Joseph DeLeo
Jackie should also ask for some extra yummies—another half-cup of tomatoes, cucumber slices, broccoli, or cauliflower, plus an extra half-cup of apple slices or grapes; all are low-cal bites with lots of satisfying bulk. What about all that creamy avocado? She should keep it: the heart-healthy “good” fats are worth the calories.

10 Healthy Calcium-Packed Recipes

Meals for your bones

Calcium is essential in building strong teeth and bones, and it may even keep you thin. Get your daily dose with these 10 figure-friendly meals that pack plenty of calcium.

Wilted Escarole Salad With Figs, Bacon, and Blue Cheese

With more than 20% of your daily dose of calcium, this Mediterranean salad has plenty of this important mineral.

Ingredients: Bacon, escarole, extra-virgin olive oil, shallots, balsamic vinegar, orange juice, dried figs, sugar, blue cheese

Calories: 208

Breast Cancer Gene May Raise Men’s Risk, Too

TUESDAY, July 6 (HealthDay News) — A faulty gene that greatly increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer also boosts a man’s risk for the disease, a new study finds.

While most people think of breast cancer as a woman’s illness, in rare cases men can develop breast tumors as well.


The new study found that men with a faulty BRCA2 gene, long tied to female breast tumors, have a one in 12 chance of developing breast cancer before they’re 80.

British researchers analyzed data from 321 families with a faulty BRCA2 gene. They found that 20 men in the families had developed breast cancer between the ages of 29 and 79.

Of the 905 first-degree male relatives (parent or sibling) of known BRCA2 carriers, 16 men (2 percent) had developed the disease. Eight other cases of breast cancer occurred in second-degree male relatives, two of whom were also BRCA carriers.

Based on this data, the researchers calculated that men with a faulty BRCA2 have a 7.1 percent (one in 15) chance of developing breast cancer by age 70, and a 8.4 percent (one in 12) chance of developing the disease by age 80. The overall lifetime risk is between 6 percent and 9 percent.

“These risks are sufficient to increase awareness of breast cancer among men in BRCA2 families and to stress the importance of early presentation with breast symptoms,” researchers led by Gareth Evans, of St. Mary’s Hospital, Manchester, concluded.

The Problem: Stress Overload

Sex-drive reset: So you’ve got so many things going on (work, kids, book club) that sex is last on your list? The solution is simply to slow down, so you can tune into your sensual side.

Carving out 10 minutes at night to relax in the bath is far more likely to get you in the mood than doing chores. The irony is that sex is a natural stress reliever, so the more you have, the less frazzled you'll feel.

Make Over Your Sex Drive

Get hotter-than-ever bedroom romps

By Lori Buckley

Ok, moment of truth: you know all the advice out there for having hot, amazing sex?

Well, for any of it to work, you need to first start with a burning desire to do the deed. But the biggest complaint I get from the smart, successful women I counsel is they’re not always up for it. Daily stresses and distractions can really zap your sex drive. Read on for the solutions I’ve found that really work.

20 Things That Can Ruin Your Smile

Healthy teeth, healthy smile?

By Kristin Koch

Your smile is one of your best assets, so, of course, you want to keep it sparkling.

But even if you brush, use white strips, and visit your dentist twice a year, it may not be enough.

Here are some factors that can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums, and put a serious damper on your smile.

8 Steps to Healthy Skin at Every Age

Great skin year after year

By Susannah Felts

Your skin can reveal the stories of your life, from the fabled glow of pregnancy to the less-welcome spots that surface from sun damage. You hear a lot about how to protect your skin from the sun’s rays, but there are many other simple health moves that can keep your exterior in fabulous shape, decade after decade.

9 Skinny Chicken Salad Recipes

Simple salads

These crisp and cool salads have a refreshing combination of ingredients to satisfy your taste buds while giving you the nutrition you need. Dig your fork into one of these 9 low-cal, main dish salads.

Curried Chicken Salad

Turn leftover chicken into a zesty part of the simple salad. Combining curry powder and fat-free yogurt upgrades a boring salad to a spicy, tangy bowl of greens.

Ingredients: Fat-free yogurt, grapes, curry powder, salt, walnuts, lettuce, chicken

Calories: 238 (approximate