YOU: on a Diet ( 03/01/08 - 05/31/08 )

[jezzie]

[jezzie]

How does the Mediterranean Pyramid differ from USDA Food Guide Pyramid?

* Both pyramids recommend eating lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, but the Greeks ate very little red meat, and, they consumed far more plant foods - averaging nine servings a day of antioxidant-rich vegetables.
* The Greeks ate cold water fish several times a week - another heart-healthy investment since fish contain omega-3 oils that not only reduce heart disease risk but also boost immune system functioning.
* The USDA Food Guide Pyramid groups high protein foods together and does not separate out the red meat from the heart-healthy fish and nuts.
* The Greek diet contains little of the two kinds of fats known to raise blood cholesterol levels: saturated fat and trans fat (also called "hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil" in the ingredients section of food labels).

The USDA Food Guide Pyramid does not make the distinction between the healthy fats like monounsaturated oils and the unhealthy fats like saturated (found mostly in red meats and tropical oils) and trans fats (found mostly in margarines, snack foods, processed peanut butter and commercial baked goods). Both recommend limiting total fat if watching weight.

What we can learn from the Mediterranean diet about reading food labels?

Understanding the differences in kinds of fats and knowing how to read and interpret food labels can help one become a smarter food shopper.

Try natural peanut butter instead of the pasty, hydrogenated kind. Alter recipes whenever possible to replace unhealthy fats with healthy fats like olive, canola or peanut oil. Use butter very sparingly or use butter flavoring.

Don't believe "Fat Free" or "Cholesterol Free" labeling means that a the product is good for you. Many of these items are made with hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils and they have "empty calories" that can raise blood triglyceride levels.

[jezzie]

8 Diet Coke Claims You’ll Want to Know About

Diet Coke -- the best-selling sugar-free soft drink in the country -- has spawned a cult-like following among Americans. Some even swear they’re addicted to the stuff. But rumors abound about the drink’s health effects, some blatantly false and some surprisingly true. Can you separate fact from urban legend?

1. People have grown deathly ill from drinking cans of Diet Coke with dirty tops.

Myth. Legend has it that the lethal hantavirus spreads to humans when they drink soda contaminated by the droppings of warehouse rats or mice. True, humans can catch the hantavirus from rodent waste, but there are no known cases of a person getting it from unclean Diet Coke cans (or any food packaging). Still, it’s a good idea to wipe icky stuff off the top before popping it.

2. Diet Coke is 99% water.

Fact. One Diet Coke ad actually brags about this. The marketing strategy behind the ad hinges on the idea that anything that is mostly water can’t be bad for you. (Not true. Insecticides are often mostly water.) What’s important is what makes up that other 1%.

3. Diet Coke’s sweetener was developed as an ant poison and is therefore hazardous.

Myth. Aspartame, the artificial sweetener in Diet Coke, was created by a chemist working on an ulcer drug. The compound doesn’t kill ants or short-circuit their nervous systems, as legend has it. Even if those things were true, they wouldn’t prove that aspartame is dangerous to humans, since many products that aren’t toxic to us (like black pepper) do repel ants.

4. Diet Coke exacerbates arthritis.

Myth. In fact, the aspartame in Diet Coke may actually ease arthritis! Studies of people with osteoarthritis or a mix of rheumatoid and osteoarthritis found that aspartame relieved their pain and helped their joints move more fluidly. (Note: The studies weren’t done specifically with Diet Coke.)

5. Drinking Diet Coke while eating Mentos candies can create a mildly explosive reaction in your body.

Fact! Luckily, you can’t consume enough to cause a major internal eruption. Yet some very sticky people have had a wild and crazy time creating geysers that shoot over 10 feet high, including a mini version of the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas that involved hundreds of candies and 200 liters of Diet Coke (we’re not kidding). How does it work? Certain types of Mentos have a microscopically rough surface that, when combined with the carbon dioxide in Diet Coke (or any soda), seems to create an insane number of bubbles. Pressure builds FAST and -- boom! Watch it happen.

6. Drinking Diet Coke can cause or worsen multiple sclerosis symptoms.

Myth. The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation has debunked this falsehood, as have the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other organizations. The notion that Diet Coke can cause neurological disorders may be based on an observation years ago by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which found that, in some people, aspartame seemed linked to mild neurological problems, such as headaches and moodiness. However, the CDC found that these symptoms are mild and affect most people, not just diet soda drinkers.

7. Diet Coke isn’t 0 calorie.

Myth. Contrary to Web rumors, Diet Coke does not have 40 or more calories, and the company does not get to call its drink calorie-free in exchange for paying big ol’ fines to the FDA. Drinks can only be called “calorie-free” if they have fewer than 5 calories; Diet Coke has less than 1.

8. Diet Coke may cause cancer.

A big maybe. Arguments about an aspartame–cancer connection have flared for years. Recently, Italian researchers concluded that aspartame does increase certain cancers in rats, including breast cancer.

But the scientific truism applies: Rats aren't people. And more than 200 studies, including one conducted by the National Cancer Institute in 2006 that involved humans, have found no evidence of this. Still, suspicious groups remain, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, an ardent consumer-advocacy group. What to do?

Drink responsibly -- and we don't mean downing the FDA's "acceptable" max of 21 cans of aspartame-sweetened soda a day for a 165-pound adult. Inside all the research, there's an informal consensus that, for adults, a can a day is likely to do no harm.

Tons of cola drinkers have switched to diet formulas to slash their sugar intake. And avoiding foods that list simple sugars among the first five ingredients can make your RealAge 3.6 years younger. Sweet!

[jezzie]

The Trouble with Green Tea

Did you know that most of the free-radical fighters in green tea never make it to your bloodstream? But there's a solution.

To get a better grasp on the healthy catechins in your green tea, flavor your cuppa with a squeeze of citrus juice.

Green Tea Booster

Catechins -- the antioxidants in green tea famous for lowering your risk of chronic disease -- quickly lose their power in your intestine. In fact, as much as 80 percent of the catechins in green tea are never absorbed. The solution to boosting absorption, researchers recently found, is as simple as flavoring your tea with freshly squeezed and strained lemon, orange, lime, or grapefruit juice.

Taking Tea with C

The vitamin C in citrus may help with absorption by increasing the acidity in your small intestine. Other unidentified substances in the juice probably lend a hand, too. Researchers found a 50-50 mix had the greatest catechin-preserving effect, and lemon did it best, closely followed by orange, lime, and, in last place, grapefruit.

More Green Tea News

* It may help you lose weight.
* It may help keep your knees young and strong.
* It can help your skin look great.
* It can help you stay sharp.

RealAge Benefit: Getting the right amount of antioxidants through diet or supplements can make your RealAge 6 years younger.

[jezzie]

Want To Reap The Luck O' The Irish? Eat 'Green,' Dietitians Say

Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 09 Mar 2008 - 0:00 PST

Forget four leaf clovers, lucky charms and finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The best way to get the luck o' the Irish is to eat a well-balanced diet, with plenty of green fruits and vegetables, nutrition experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center say.

While Popeye's love of spinach catapulted that vegetable to stardom, there's a veritable cornucopia of green fruits and vegetables that pack many nutrients but hardly fly out of the produce section.

Here's a sampling of some green foods UT Southwestern dietitians recommend:

-- Avocado
Also known as an alligator pear, the avocado is a good source of monounsaturated fats, which help lower cholesterol, said Dr. Vickie Vaclavik, clinical assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern. Avocados also are good sources of both vitamin E and lutein, a natural antioxidant that may help maintain eye health.

-- Broccolini
A cross between broccoli and Chinese kale, broccolini is sometimes sold under the name asparation. It's packed with the cancer-fighting nutrients isothiocyanates, sulforaphane and indoles all linked with reducing the risk of breast, prostate, cervical, lung and other cancers and offers as much vitamin C as orange juice, said Dr. Jo Ann Carson, professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern.

-- Brussels sprouts
Part of the cabbage family, brussels sprouts are another cruciferous vegetable with cancer-fighting phytochemicals. "They're also high in vitamin C and are a good source of folate, vitamin A and potassium," said Lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern and a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "Look for small, compact, bright green sprouts for the best flavor." Ms. Sandon said the vegetable can be boiled, braised, steamed or microwaved. Just avoid overcooking, as they get mushy.

-- Kale
A good source of vitamins K, C and beta carotene, kale is a form of cabbage in which the central leaves don't form a head. A half-cup of cooked kale packs 1.3 grams of fiber but just 20 calories, said Cindy Cunningham, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern.

-- Nopales
Popular in the Mexican diet, nopales also known as nopalitos or cactus pads offer numerous nutritious advantages and are a great option for those managing diabetes or high blood pressure. "Not only is it low in calories at 22 calories per cup, the vegetable is also low in sodium and high in fiber," Dr. Carson said. "In addition, a cup contains more calcium that an ounce of cheese and about half the potassium of a banana."

-- Okra
This staple of Southern cuisine is naturally low in calories and a good source of soluble fiber. It also provides some vitamin A. "It can be cooked whole until tender, then marinate it for about three hours in a small amount of vinegar in the refrigerator," said Joyce Barnett, clinical assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern. "Top the drained okra with chopped onions and tomatoes for an out-of-the-ordinary salad."

-- Tomatillo
A common ingredient in Southwestern or Mexican cooking, the tomatillo looks like an unripe tomato covered in a paper-like leaf. The vegetable, which is a good source of vitamin C and potassium, is used in salsa verde and can be eaten raw. "But cooking brings out its flavor," Ms. Sandon said.

From: Medical News Today

[jezzie]

A Feast for Your Eyes

You know how to protect your eyes from the outside in: Wear shades to shield against UV rays, and cover your eyes whenever you see oncoming projectiles, be they bugs or baseballs.

Now here's how to protect them from the inside out: Get plenty of lutein, vitamin C, and glutathione. Read on for how much you need of each.

Vision Quest

Protecting your eyes from aging just got easier, thanks to these recommendations from RealAge experts Mehmet Oz, MD, and Michael Roizen, MD:

* Lutein: You can take it in supplement form at 6 to 30 milligrams daily. Or find it in corn and green leafy vegetables.
* Vitamin C: People who eat plenty of fruit and vegetables (which contain vitamin C and other bioflavonoids) are less likely to develop eye conditions.
* Glutathione: A daily 500-milligram supplement may help you avoid cataracts. Or find glutathione in eggs, garlic, avocados, asparagus, and onions.

A Clear-View Cocktail

The docs recommend this combo if you already have age-related macular degeneration: 500 milligrams of vitamin C, 400 international units of vitamin E, 15 milligrams of beta carotene, 30 milligrams of zinc, and 2 milligrams of copper -- every day, in divided doses.

RealAge Benefit: Patrolling your health can make your RealAge as much as 12 years younger.

[jezzie]

Happy as a Crab

Shell out. It's good for your heart.

Need an excuse to splurge on crab legs, crab salad, or a cold crab cocktail on a hot summer night? How about avoiding heart disease and cancer?

Crab meat in general, and crab legs in particular, are loaded with zinc, a powerful antioxidant that's just been found to help ward off both health threats.

Getting your daily dose of zinc -- up to 12 milligrams (mg) per day -- can help protect you from heart disease and cancer. In a recent study, these killers were linked not only to a lack of zinc but also to an excess of copper and a deficiency in magnesium.

And being low on zinc made any problems with the other two minerals much worse. Researchers are still trying to determine whether the minerals were the direct cause of the outcome, but while they sort out the science, aim for 12 mg of zinc daily from food. Can't hurt, could help, and -- if you've got a yen for crab -- it tastes terrific.

Of course, crab's not the only good source of zinc. Oysters can't be beat, and clams and lobster are high on the list, too.

On a more wallet-friendly level, you'll find beneficial amounts of zinc in nuts, peanut butter, beans, poultry, red meat, whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, and yogurt. And a multivitamin with minerals will fill in any gaps.

RealAge Benefit: Protecting your immune system can make your RealAge as much as 6 years younger.

[mjais]

Hey Jezzie:

I liked the article you posted on the other thread, so I came over to read some more.
Hope you don't mind.

[jezzie]

Nice to meet you. Always glad when company comes to call.

Understandably not many low carbers are interested in reading about higher carb plans.
I originally intended to post that article here ..... but IE seemed even more appropriate.

[jezzie]

Never Too Late for a Fresh Start

So you spent your youth smoking, eating doughnuts, or keeping the couch warm. Don't despair.

There are four simple steps middle-aged people can take to lower the risk of death in the ensuing four years by 40 percent -- even if they haven't been a health superstar to date.

Live the Good Life

Make these modest changes to start undoing all the unhealthy things you did before:

* Eat more than five servings of fruit and vegetables daily.
* Walk at least 2.5 hours a week.
* Shave your BMI to under 30; 24.9 is ideal.
* Quit smoking.

All Four Is Best

Try to take all four changes to heart -- it's your best shot at lowering your risk of heart disease. But tackling even one or two items will still have an impact on your longevity. Update your RealAge Test to see the impact!

RealAge Benefit: Developing a RealAge Plan can make your RealAge as much as 29 years younger.

[jezzie]

At the computer? Do this (it will only take 15 minutes, promise).

Abandon the mouse, stand up, and go for a WALK. Do not put this off any longer!
Do 15 minutes today, more tomorrow, but for now . . . take that first step. No book
to buy or supplements to take.

Come on, get up, go!!!!

[jezzie]

The Brightest Bulbs in the Pantry

Chopped, sautéed, roasted, or caramelized . . . onions liven up the flavor of your foods and boost your cancer-fighting defenses.

The bonus: Onions are a low-calorie veggie bursting with flavonoids, vitamin C, and chromium. Why not make an-onion-a-day a habit?

If teary eyes stop you, chill the onion before cutting. Stinky fingers a problem? Swipe your digits with a slice of lemon or a splash of vinegar. Bad breath? Nibble on parsley or apple slices. Or cook the onion first, to release some of the sulfur compounds.

To ancient Egyptians, the onion was a symbol of eternity, and that belief may not have been far from reality. Today, scientific evidence is showing that onions -- and garlic, another vegetable-like herb in the Allium family -- may promote longevity by keeping cancer from gaining a foothold.

Studies in China, France, and the U.S. have shown that onions protect against different cancers, and a large Italian and Swiss study has confirmed those results.

By comparing the onion and garlic habits of cancer-free people to those hospitalized with a malignancy, researchers found that the more often a person ate the bulbs in any form, the lower the cancer risk. And the benefit was good for many types of tumors, including those of the mouth, throat, esophagus, colon, kidney, breast, and prostate.

Take your onions full strength, or roast them up and toss into soups. Roasting releases some of the smelly but healthy sulfur compounds and makes the onions sweeter. Caramelized onions mix well with broccoli. For even more antioxidant protection, combine onions with garlic and tomatoes in a zesty salsa.

RealAge Benefit: Eating a diverse diet that includes 5 servings of vegetables per day can make your RealAge as much as 4 years younger.

[jezzie]

The New Wine Alternative

You don't have to pour red wine on your Cheerios to get the heart-healthy goodness of resveratrol in the morning.

Bring blueberries to your breakfast table instead. Blueberries are rich in the same potent anticancer and heart-protective resveratrol compound found in abundance in red wine. Just how healthful are blueberries?

Blueberries and other berries of the same species are known for their antioxidant prowess, thanks to the fact that they're brimming with phenols.

Some of the phenol compounds recently identified in different blueberry species include not only resveratrol but also piceatannol, a cancer-fighting phenol, and pterostilbene, a phenol credited with helping control blood sugar. Blueberries are loaded with fiber as well.

The latest research on blueberries suggests that the combination of health-promoting substances found in blueberries may work synergistically to dramatically slash disease risk. That's probably why studies link the berries to better brain function, lower cancer risk, and possibly even improved stroke outcomes.

So start your day with a berry healthy breakfast. If you can't find fresh berries, frozen are fine. Add them to cereal, pancakes, waffles, low-fat yogurts, or smoothies.

RealAge Benefit: Eating 5 servings of fruit a day can make your RealAge 1.4 years younger.

[mjais]

Nice to meet you too Jezzie.

You're probably right about not many low carbers being interested in reading about a higher carb plan, but you have a wealth of good, practical information here and some great recipes.

Since not all of my meals are low carb, I plan to drop by from time to time and check it out.

[jezzie]

For the Birds

Sliced chicken breast may be the sandwich filling of choice for warding off colon polyps.

In a recent study of people with a history of colon polyps, people who ate the highest amount of processed meats -- such as salami, bologna, or pressed ham -- had a 75 percent increased risk of developing new polyps during the study follow-up period.

However, the people who ate the most chicken had a 39 percent lower risk of developing a new polyp.

Processed meats are high in nitrites, which may promote the growth of colon cancer. Nitrites are preservatives in processed meats. Early research suggests they may increase the risk of not only colon cancer, but also breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. When eaten without the skin, whole chicken breast provides a healthier alternative to processed meats.

Fresh, whole chicken breast is typically nitrite-free. It also is high in protein and low in saturated fat. In addition to limiting processed meat and red meat, other ways to reduce your risk of colon cancer include exercising regularly, undergoing routine screenings as recommended by your healthcare provider, and eating a high-fiber diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

RealAge Benefit: Eating a diet low in saturated and trans fats can make your RealAge as much as 6 years younger.

[jezzie]

Thursdays Menu

Pre-Breakfast:
2 cups two thirds decaf with almnd and evap. milk
almnds

Breakfast:
1 fried egg
old fashioned oatmeal w/cinnamon, buckwheat honey
Cara Cara orange

Pre-Lunch:
walnuts, snflower, pmpkin seeds

Lunch:
Healthy Harvest rotini, summer squash, Italian zucchini in
Classico hot sauce w/parmesan

Pre-Dinner:
organic plain yogurt w/sliced banana added
Granny Smith apple

Dinner:
Quinoa and black beans, 5.5 oz. V-8 juice

[jezzie]

Fridays Menu

Pre-Breakfast:
2 cups two thirds decaf with soy and evap. milk
almnds

Breakfast:
1 fried egg
old fashioned oatmeal w/cinnamon, buckwheat honey
Mandarin tangerine

Pre-Lunch:
sunflower, pmpkin seeds mixed
5.5 oz. V-8 juice

Lunch:
Healthy Harvest rotini in Classico hot sauce w/parmesan
mixed leafy greens in ext virg olv oil & apple cider vingr

Pre-Dinner:
organic plain yogurt w/mashed banana
6 rosemary/olive oil whole grain crackers with hummus

Dinner:
baked salmon
brown rice w/Portobello mushrooms
broccoli sautéed in garlic and light olive oil

[jezzie]

Pre-Breakfast:
2 cups of two thirds decaf with soy and evap. milk
almnds, celery w/hummus

Breakfast:
1 fried egg
old fashioned oatmeal w/cinnamon, buckwheat honey
Mineola orange

Pre-Lunch:
walnuts, sunflower, pmpkin seeds mixed
5.5 oz. V-8 juice

Lunch:
Healthy Harvest rotini in Classico hot sauce w/parmesan
mixed leafy greens in ext virg olv oil & apple cider vingr

Pre-Dinner:
organic plain yogurt w/canned fruit cocktail
6 rosemary/olive oil whole grain crackers with 2% cheddar

Dinner:
crockpot: brown rice, dark red kidney and black beans
broccoli, zucchini and summer squash

[jezzie]

Dr. Mehmet Oz and Dr. Michael Roizen have answered your most embarrassing health questions and taken you inside the human body. Now they're here to help you with your "waist management."

In their new book, YOU: On a Diet, Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen explain the science behind lasting weight loss. "This is an operating system for understanding how your body works in the world around it," Dr. Oz says. "There are things we know biologically that have to happen for a diet to work for you."

Dr. Oz says one of the biggest mistakes dieters make is to dramatically decrease their calorie intake. Instead, Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen say you should only cut your calories by 100 a day.

Stepping on a scale is the primary way that people measure the success of their diet, Dr. Oz says, "because it's easy to do. But it's actually misleading in many ways."

For one thing, muscle weighs more than fat. By turning fat to muscle, you'll weigh more even though you'll be healthier. Also, weight doesn't tell you where the fat is. Fat around your legs and thighs is relatively harmless, but fat around your waist can lead to serious medical problems.

Instead of focusing on the number on the scale, Dr. Oz says to focus on the number around your waist.

The ideal waistline for women is 32 and a half inches and 35 inches for a man—a goal that is achievable by everyone, no matter your age, Dr. Oz says. In the Oprah Show audience 47 percent of women and 93 percent of men were over the ideal waist size.

"Mike and I are doctors," Dr. Oz says. "I want you guys to look beautiful out there…but I want you to be alive to enjoy it. And that's what this is all about."

From Oprah's website

[jezzie]

Dr. Oz says there's an organ inside all of us that plays a key role in making us fat—the omentum. "This organ literally pumps chemicals into your body and it holds the secrets … to los[ing] weight."

The omentum is the fat organ connected to your stomach that's only purpose is to catch and store fat. When the fat is stored in your stomach, your body has easy access to it. The fat then creates an inflammatory process that irritates your arteries and puts you at risk for blocked arteries.

A healthy omentum, like the one Oprah's holding, should be "lacy, like stockings," Dr. Oz says. "The omentum, you'll notice, is transparent and thin."

An unhealthy omentum, like the one Dr. Oz holds, is heavy with fat. While the omentum he's holding is thick and fatty, Dr. Oz says the person it once belonged to—who died of heart disease—was just 30 to 40 pounds overweight.

"When someone's beer bellied, you know how it gets that tense, big look? That's this," he says. "That's [the omentum] pushing up against your stomach, and it coils up in there."

Ever wonder how food turns to fat in your body? Dr. Oz describes the long journey!

Food in the stomach is first pushed slowly past the stomach lining into the small bowel. There the food is mixed, like soap, with bile. "It washes the fat," Dr. Oz explains. "It makes it so you can absorb it.

As that bile mixes with the food that you've taken in, it begins to get absorbed across the wall. As it gets absorbed, if it's healthy oils, for example, it makes your liver very happy. But if this is full of trans fats and hydrogenated fats and foods that aren't good for you, it's very toxic to the liver."

Next food moves through the small intestine and into the large bowel. A valve between the two can slow this movement.

"That [valve] is stimulated by fiber," Dr. Oz says. "The reason people who have breakfast lose weight is because they have fiber in their diet. Food doesn't come through quite as quickly so you don't feel hungry as quickly."

Fiber—from foods like whole grains and fruit—makes you need fewer calories in your meal while still making you feel full.

From Oprah's website

[jezzie]

Here's a surprise—the most powerful muscle in your body could be making you fat. Here's another—that muscle is your tongue!

"First of all, the tongue makes us incredibly good at eating," Dr. Oz says. "Human beings don't waste any calories. We put food in our mouth and we get the calories out because the tongue moves the food around a lot and our teeth embed against each other. … Now, because we're efficient like that, we extract all the calories. Our tongue also tells us what kinds of food to eat."

Dr. Oz says that you can learn a lot about your body by knowing if you're an "undertaster," a "supertaster," or someplace in the middle. To find out which you are, stir a packet of Sweet 'n Low into about four ounces of water. Taste it. Is it sweet or bitter?

"If it tastes bitter it means that saccharin overpowered your taste buds, which means you're a supertaster," he says. "Supertasters don't like vegetables and fruits. They taste too pungent, too strong, for them. They need to take a multivitamin because if you don't like to eat those foods, you need to get that nutrition somewhere else."

"If the mixture tastes sweet, you're an undertaster," Dr. Oz says. "It means that you're going to crave a lot of foods because you can never satisfy your palate."

"Our taste buds behave differently," he says. "About the only thing we can really alter is our craving of fat, which is acquired. The rest of our traits tend to be inherited."

The foods you crave, and when you crave them, might just depend on your mood. "Our bodies are designed to fulfill our needs," Dr. Oz says. "The gut and the brain are the two most closely related organs. So it makes perfect sense that the foods we eat change the way our brains function."

Dr. Oz says the following cravings could mean you are feeling these moods:

* Meat could mean you're angry
* Sweets might be a sign of depression
* Ice cream might mean you're anxious
* Salty snacks could mean you're stressed
* Pasta might signal loneliness or sexual frustration
* All of the above might mean you're just a little bit jealous

And the intersection of food and mood doesn't stop at cravings. It also involves how we can proactively affect our emotions. "If you're depressed, you should take omega-3 fatty acids, especially women who are having babies," Dr. Oz says. "That baby sucks all that healthy fat out of your body and you get depressed after you have this beautiful, brilliant wonderful baby."