Diet Dangers, Organic Labels, and Shoe Reports
Crash diets harm your health (shocker!), organics raise questions, and shoes that make the grade.
Healthy Heart
Credit: D Sharon Pruitt
We know we sound like a broken record when we preach moderation and healthy eating. And while I’m sure you believe us and are chowing down on spinach and oatmeal (not together!) to get your proper number of calories, I’m sure it doesn’t hurt when we pull out the articles that say Crash Diets = Bad News. While depriving yourself can lead to future weight gain, slow the metabolism and weaken the immune system (bad, bad, BAD!), repeated crash diets can increase the risk of heart attacks. Calorie cutting over the long term can even cause the loss of heart muscle. Do we really need to say more? This contradicts some previous research and we’re super happy about that!
Pure, Organic
Credit: John Steven Fernandez
If you shell out your hard-earned cash to buy organic products, take note. Products dubbed as organic can contain certain non-organic ingredients, and as demand grows and federal standards regarding organics relax, consumers may not always be getting the pesticide—and chemical-free products they expect.
The question is now being raised whether the federal program should be governed by a strict interpretation of “organic” or broadened to include more products by allowing trace elements of non-organic substances, according to the Washington Post. Investigations by the USDA are being conducted to make sure that products carrying the label actually meet national standards. Currently, the organic label is only good if it actually stands for something, so carry on, investigators!
Fit Counts
Credit: gardnernewf
It’s never fun to buy a new pair of sneakers only to find that they’re extremely uncomfortable during a workout or that they fall off your feet when jogging. Lucky for you, we got an inside peak at a Consumer Reports review of 10 athletic shoes. The best overall performers for men and women were Asics, which were commended for their excellent fit and cushioning. (I concur; I loved my pair.) Ryka scored well across the board, as did Avia’s women’s shoe, except in the breathability category. And new shoes with Velcro may look cool, but beware: Consumer Reports said that the bands were too loose—so loose that they couldn’t effectively keep the kicks on testers’ feet! Our advice: See what shoes fit your feet best when you try them on, and don’t be afraid to take a jog in the store!