Fish Oil: The Magic Pill

Let me tell you a little story about me, and fish oil.  About two weeks ago, after a seriously heavy squatting session, I walked back to my dorm with burning hot knees, feeling like they were on fire every single time the ligaments moved at all (which they were doing quite frequently while walking...surprise surprise.)  I knew it was every Olympic lifter's nightmare:  patellar tendinitis.  This is where the tendons across the front of the knee (the patellar tendon and surrounding tissue) become inflamed and swollen, and therefore are very resistant to sliding smoothly like they should.  The cause?  Overuse.  It's a quite common injury among lifters, as well as runner, jumpers, and any athlete who runs, jumps or squats day in and day out.  For an Olympic lifter, it can be extremely depressing, as it means that future squatting sessions will be full of pain and misery.  And taking time off from training unfortunately ISN'T an option.  Any time not spent under the bar is progress lost toward new PR's, podium placings and gold medals.  Patellar tendinitis isn't dangerous, just VERY uncomfortable and debilitating.

So what did I do?  At first, I started ice massage, which helped a little, but never seemed to make any progress in the grand scheme of things.  Every workout after that was pain and suffering just as bad as before.  So I did a little more research, and through countless hours of internet searching I found what I hoped to be a possible cure:  Fish oil.

I read that Olympic weightlifters, when faced with patellar tendinitis, often go on a mega dosing fish oil regimen.  That called for 5000 mg a day for the first week, and an additional 2500 mg a day ever week after that.  I read that the condition should improve noticably in 10 days, and be almost gone by day 30.  I figured it couldn't hurt, and so I picked myself up 300 caps of 1000 mg fish oil pills.  The very next day I started in on 5 pills, spread throughout the day.  Well my friends, it's been ten days, and I'm pleased to tell you that my knees feel SOOOO much better.

Sure, I kept icing, massaging, stretching, and foam rolling, but I have absolutely zero doubt in my mind that fish oil is a nearly "magic" cure for joint pain.  If you don't believe me, just read the countless testimonies by other happy consumers who have loosened up and feel tip top thanks to a pill filled with oil from a fish.  But after I started dosing, I did some reading on the pills.  Turns out fish oil is far more beneficial than I ever could have imagined.  Honestly, I would recommend EVERYONE get on fish oil pills, because what they do to your body is absolutely astounding.  Let's look at these magic capsules a little more closely, and really see what I mean about their truly remarkable power at improving your health and well being.

Omega-3:  A lot of the magic in fish oil pills comes from this substance right here, omega-3 fatty acids.  This stuff is like liquid gold.  It's probably some of the best cardiovascular support you could ever get, and will lower bad cholesterol considerably if regularly dosed.  It also acts as a strong anti-inflammatory, which helps bloodflow, joints, and pretty much everything else in your body work smoothly and pain free.  There are a few types of omega-3 fatty acids: EPA, DHA, and ALA.  The two most biologically available and important of these are EPA and DHA, and both are found in significant amounts in fish oil.  ALA isn't as important in our body, and can be found more often in flax oil.  These are called "essential" fatty acids because our body cannot produce them on its own and yet requires them to function.  That's why fish oil supplements are an extremely good choice, especially for those who don't get much fish in their normal diet.

On a side note, in order to achieve maximum health status, you need a good ratio of omega-3's to omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids.  The two latter are often found in other fatty foods such as nuts and seeds, and therefore we usually get plenty of them.  However omega-3 fatty acids are usually lacking in the average individual's diet, and therefore it's very important to supplement fish oil.

Decreased Stroke Risk:  Strokes are caused when plaque builds up in your veins to the point where it begins to break off and cause a clot in your brain's blood vessels.  That's NOT good.  Luckily, fish oil has been proven to break down the plaque in your veins, drastically decreasing the chance of suffering from a stroke.  I'll take that and run with it, thank you very much.

Improved Mental Health:  Fish oil has actually been shown to support proper levels of serotonin production in the brain, which will help treat/prevent conditions such as depression.  It has also been shown to aid in memory and overall cognitive ability.  I think that's awesome, don't you?

Healthy Skin:  Fish oil has been proven to improve the health of your skin, allowing for greater elasticity through optimum collagen production.  It'll keep you looking young and wrinkle free.  I'm not saying it works miracles, but hey, healthy skin is always a nice thing to have, don't you think?

Fat Loss:  Haha ok, I'll go into a little more depth on this one, as I can guarantee it'll peak the interest of a few more people.  Fish oil is an EXCELLENT tool for fat loss, and I'd say it's essential for anyone wanting to see real results as quickly as possible.  Fish oil increases the production of leptin, which both increases your metabolism and decreases your appetite.  A faster metabolism means more fat burning power, something many people would absolutely love.  Secondly, fish oil is able to increase insulin sensitivity, which allows your body to release less insulin when it senses ingested carbohydrates.  This ensures that you'll be less likely to store excess carbs as body fat.  Thirdly, fish oil actually helps build lean muscle mass, which will also increase your metabolism and cause your body to hold onto less body fat.  Fish oil, despite being 100% fat, actually is probably one of the most powerful fat loss tools you could ever have in your arsenal.  Cool huh?

Joint Health:  OK, I saved this one for last because I've already sort of discussed it.  Fish oil is one of the best tools out there for maintaining healthy, pain free joints.  Its anti-inflammatory properties keep things sliding smoothly, and hey, the slippery properties of oil don't hurt either.  Thousands upon thousands of people have obtained amazing pain reducing effects from dosing fish oil on a regular basis, and if you think it's too good to be true I IMPLORE you to give it a go for yourself.  You'll be very surprised at how effective this stuff is.

Fish oil has been touted as the only supplement worth taking.  While I don't completely agree with this, I do agree that it is almost 100% necessary for any serious gym-goer, casually active individual, or couch potato. Seriously, this stuff will do you nothing but good.  If you don't believe me, try it for yourself.  Pick up a bottle, start your dosage at 3 a day, and see what changes start to occur in your body.  I can almost guarantee you'll love this stuff as much as I do by the time you're done.

Love the fish, keep healthy and happy, and as always, GOOD LUCK!


References:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/315158-the-truth-about-fish-oil-fat-loss/
http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/patelladisorders/a/patellartendon.htm
http://fishoilbenefitshq.com/
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/omega-3-fatty-acids-fact-sheet

Our Daily Eats "Spicy Maple Pepitas" *Review*

I'm back with another fantastic snack that I've recently had the pleasure of stuffing my face with in every possible instance.  As you may or may not know by now, I like things with flavor, things that can kick you in the mouth a little bit with a spicy, sweet combination, yet keep your belly full and waist trim at the same time.  I don't come across store bought snacks that provide this unique feeling too often, yet today I'm pleased to say that a new food has graced my plate with its presence and given me something I truly enjoy.  They're made by a company called Our Daily Eats, and are named creatively "Spicy Maple Pepitas."

So what are these things exactly?  Well, they're pumpkin seeds to be exact.  Small ones, that are spiced up with cayenne pepper and maple syrup.  If that doesn't sound like a combination made in heaven, I don't know what does.  And as far as taste goes, these things really hit the spot.  They're exactly what you'd expect, spicy and interesting, yet deliciously sweet at the same time.  If you're not a huge spice fan, don't worry, these things don't burn, they just let you know they're there with a nice little twinge of flame.  And the maple syrup...well coming from Vermont you can already tell I'm a fan.  I love maple syrup, and I truly believe it is a PERFECT addition to these spicy little seeds.  Together they create a very unique taste that I believe you must taste ASAP.

But what about the actual nutritional profile of these seeds?  Well, as you know, I don't eat food that's not healthy/beneficial toward my body in some significant way, much less write a review on it.  And I'm pleased to announce that the nutritional profile on these pepitas is AWESOME!  Let's look a little closer, shall we?

Ingredients:  This is the first thing that caught my eye.  There aren't any chemical/artificial additives!  In fact, the only ingredients are: Pumpkin seeds, maple syrup, cayenne, and sea salt.  That's FANTASTIC!  Seriously, they don't even have any artificial sweeteners, or even added sugar (other than the maple syrup, which is considered a purely natural sweetener that is MUCH better for you than the granulated stuff).  Normally if you see salt on an ingredient list, you need to be wary of sodium content, but NOT THIS TIME!  We'll get more into that later.  But like I said, this list is short and sweet, and completely fulfills the claim "100% natural" that's boasted on the package.  PERFECT!  

Caloric content:  Now as we know, nuts and seeds tend to be very calorie dense, but they're also quite filling, so you're unlikely to go hog wild on such a product.  1/4 cup of this product has 125 calories, which is quite managable and is a PLENTY decent serving size if you're looking for a quick, midday snack.

Added Nutritional benefits:  As the package states, pumpkin seeds are quite rich with unsaturated fats and Omega-3 fatty acids, which you can pretty much always use more of.  They're extremely heart healthy, and lower your risk for heart disease or other cardiovascular health ailments if consumed on a regular basis.  They also help lubricate your joints and keep things sliding smoothly, keeping you mobile as age creeps onto all of us.  Pumpkin seeds are also very rich is minerals such as iron, zinc, and manganese, and have good helpings of vitamins C and E.

Sodium content:  Now usually you have to be wary of packaged nuts and seeds for their sky high sodium counts, but not this time.  In fact, per serving, there are only 85 mg of sodium, which is EXTREMELY low compared to most other similar products.  There's just enough salt there to support the delicious flavor, without causing that sodium level to skyrocket.  Awesome!

Entire Nutritional Information:

Serving Size: 1/4 Cup
Calories: 125
Total Fat: 5 g
   Saturated Fat: 1 g
   Trans Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 g
Sodium: 85 mg
Total Carbohydrate: 15 g
   Dietary Fiber: 0 g
   Sugars: 3 g
Protein: 1 g

So would I recommend this product?  ABSOLUTELY!  They're ridiculously delicious and are a great tool to either trim down or bulk up, or even just maintain your weight.  They're very healthy, and are a refreshingly powerful flavor compared to most other bland health food.  Just watch the serving size and you're golden.  Excuse me while I go and have another handful...

Eat healthy, stay creative, and as always, GOOD LUCK!

Steamers: Health Under The Waves!

As you probably all know by now, I'm a HUGE fan of seafood.  I would definitely consider myself more surf than turf, and for good reason.  Most fish and shellfish have more protein, more omega-3 fatty acids, and greater vitamin density than land meat counterparts.  "Steamers," or steamed clams, are no exception.  They are a fantastic diet choice for anyone looking for a large protein content with barely any saturated fat.  Those little shelled up tasty morsels are actually one of the best lean protein sources you can find, and your next trip to Red Lobster or Weathervane should definitely include them as an appetizer in your meal.

First, let's explore the background of the "steamer."  This name is a pretty common nickname for the soft shelled clam, which are harvested off the coast of New England and can usually be found being served in any little ocean town in that general area.  My favorite place for seafood?  Nothing beats the little family run crab-shacks of Maine, and I've had some of the best steamers EVER in a place called "Bob's Seafood," in a town called Windham, in the great state itself, of course.  Bottom line is, if you want great seafood, come to my home turf of New England.  You won't regret the trip.  Now, onto the health benefits of steamers:

Low Calorie:  Steamers are a very low calorie food, perfect for someone with a strict calorie count they're trying desperately to stick to.  How low calorie are they?  Well, 1 lb of littleneck steamers (in shell) are only about 55-70 calories.  That's LOW!  And if you like the bigger clams?  Well, you're still in for a low calorie treat.  Here's the nutritional sheet for 8 large clams, or 12 medium ones (again, steamers are generally much smaller):

Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving
Calories 137.6 Calories from Fat 16.2 Fat 1.8 g 3 % Saturated Fat 0.17 g 1 % Polyunsaturated Fat 0.52 g Monounsaturated Fat 0.15 g Cholesterol 63.2 mg 21 % Sodium 708.2 mg 30 % Potassium 525.6 mg 15 % Carbohydrate 4.8 g 2 % Dietary Fiber 0.0 g 0 % Protein 23.7 g 47 % Alcohol 0.0 g
Vitamin A 10 % Calcium 9 % Vitamin D 2 % Thiamin 9 % Niacin 15 % Vitamin B6 5 % Phosphorus 24 % Selenium 65 %	Vitamin C 32 % Iron 130 % Vitamin E 4 % Riboflavin 22 % Vitamin B12 1,379 % Manganese 0 % Copper 27 % Magnesium 4 % Zinc 17 %

High Protein:  Well, as you can see by the nutritional facts above, steamers are an incredible source of lean protein.  It really varies depending on clam size, but for one serving of steamed clams you can easily get between 10-25 grams of high quality, lean as HECK protein.  That's awesome, especially if you're a regular gym rat and need to build those muscles back up BIGTIME.  They're also a very low carb food, so they'll work beautifully as a protein source on ketogenic diets as well.  

Fat Content:  Not only are steamers low in fat, but the little bit of fat they do have is completely healthy for you.  Like most other fish and shellfish, steamers are very rich in monounsaturated fat and the essential fatty acid Omega-3.  O3 is extremely heart healthy, and lowers bad cholesterol quite effectively when consumed regularly in your diet.  It's also a great anti-inflammatory, which is very important for optimal bloodflow and bodily repair.  With steamers, fat is your friend.

Mercury:  The mercury scare with seafood has been a pretty big deal these days, and has caused quite an uproar in the health community, leading to all sorts of recommendations like limiting seafood intake to once or twice a week.  While I don't buy into the hype quite as much as some, and there's good proof that this mercury problem is overstated, you still want to be careful if you consume seafood a LOT (like me...).  Too much mercury isn't a good thing, that's for sure.  The good news is that steamers, compared to most other seafood, are VERY low in mercury.  So crack open a few and rest easy while you chew, because steamers, and clams in general, are definitely considered a low mercury seafood.

Vitamins/Minerals:  Well, I've posted a complete vitamin and mineral profile of steamers above, but I'll restate a few of the obvious ones just for the sake of completion.  Steamers are EXTREMELY high in vitamin B12, providing over 1300% of the daily value in one serving!  Vitamin B12 is water soluble, and is critical to proper brain and nervous system function.  B12 is very difficult to synthesize, so getting B12 in natural foods is very important.  

Steamers are also high in vitamin C, providing about 30% of the daily value per serving.  They are also packed with selenium, and the metals iron and copper.  

There it is, a health profile for steamers, which might just be one of the tastiest low calorie high protein foods on the market.  If you get a chance, ORDER SOME, you won't be sorry.  Just watch out for the sodium content, it can get pretty high, especially if you're dipping each little morsel in brine.  Also, watch out for that other dipping sauce, the delicious yet fat and calorie packed melted butter.  Appreciate the steamer for its remarkably savory flavors, and skip the butter.  Trust me, you'll be fine, and feel a lot better about yourself.  

I'm off to get some of these little suckers tonight.  CAN'T WAIT!

Good Luck!

Flatout! Multigrain Flatbread *Review*

It's not often you come across a food that's a remarkable step forward in terms of health, convenience, price, and taste.  However, I have to share with you a recent find of mine that I came across in my local Walmart when buying food to stock up my dorm room.  I was looking for whole wheat bagels, and instead came across a brightly colored flat plastic package proclaiming "Flatout!"  Intrigued, I picked it up.  And after reading the front, back, fine print, nutritional information, AND ingredients, I immediately tossed the package in my cart and have been thoroughly enjoying its contents for about a week now.

So what did the package contain?  Well, Flatout makes healthy flatbread/tortillas/wraps, and I've always been a HUGE fan of making wraps containing all sorts of delicious meats and veggies.  They taste amazing, and Flatout flatbreads are NO exception.  I bought their multigrain variety, which not only contains Flax seed and Omega-3 fatty acids, but is made from 100% whole wheat bread.  WOW!  Now that's some serious health horsepower.  But upon reading into the nutritional information and macro-nutrients a little more, the story just gets even better.

What else do these flatbreads have going for them?  Hmmm...where do I begin?

These things are packed with fiber!  Every flatbread has 17 grams of complex carbohydrates, 8 entire grams of which is fiber!  8 WHOLE GRAMS!  That's a LOT of fiber, and is a fantastic addition to any diet.

Not only are you getting a very manageable dose of some of the healthiest carbs you can find, but you'll also get a great dose of protein!  Each flatbread has 9 grams of protein!  Yet again, I say WOW!  That is quite a bit of protein for just one little wrap.  So far I'm loving it.

Also, Flatout flatbreads have only 1 g of sugar per serving, and 2.5 g of unsaturated fat (no saturated fat!  NICE!).  The flax seed adds a whole bunch of Omega-3 as well, which just about everyone needs in their diet. Put some tuna in one of these wraps and you'll be getting enough Omega-3 EFAs to keep your heart happy and healthy for quite some time.

But Flatout flatbreads don't only impress me with what they contain, they also cause great excitement for what they DON'T have.  What am I talking about?  Well in many 100% whole wheat products these days, you'll find that hidden killer, high fructose corn syrup.  That stuff is the devil, and will add fat to your bones quicker than you can get to the nearest dumbbell.  Flatout flatbreads though have none of this, as well as no other crazy, unpronounceable ingredients.  Only the good stuff goes into these breads, and that's just plain awesome.

And did I mention they're only 100 calories EACH!?!

Here are the nutritional facts for Flatout flatbreads:

 Needless to say, I love these things.  They're easy to make into all sorts of amazing culinary creations.  Some days, for a quick and healthy in-dorm breakfast, I make a simple wrap that contains:

1 Flatout! Multigrain flatbread wrap (100 calories)
1 cup of Southwestern style egg beaters (aproximately 110 calories)
3 White button mushrooms (sliced with mandolin) (15-20 calories)
Whatever other veggies I feel like throwing in (would love some diced onions or peppers!)

I basically slice the veggies into the egg whites, stir it up, add some cayenne pepper, and cook it for about two minutes.  I then scoop out the mix onto a Flatout! flatbread wrap, twirl it up nice and tight, and I've got a high protein, low carb breakfast for low calorie days.  Not to mention it's DELICIOUS!

But that recipe is ridiculously simple compared to some of the stuff they have on their site.  Check this out:

Arugula Mushroom Flatout Thin Crust Pizza

Posted in Grillin' Pizza

1 Flatout® Light Flatbread
1/2 cup fresh, sliced and steamed mushrooms – shiitake, button or portabella
2 Tbs onion, sliced
6 grape tomatoes
1 Tbs olive oil
1 1/2 tsp fat free balsamic vinegar
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
1/2 cup baby arugula
1 Tbs freshly grated Parmesan cheese

---

Preheat outdoor grill. While grill heats, toss mushrooms, onions and grape tomatoes with olive oil; season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper. Saute 6 to 8 minutes. Lightly oil both sides of Flatout. Cook Flatout on closed grill for 2 minutes. Remove from grill and top with arugula, sautéed vegetables, Parmesan cheese and drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Cut into slices and enjoy!
Alternate Cooking Options: Cook lightly oiled Flatout in 350°F oven directly on grate for 7 minutes. Remove, top with arugula, sautéed vegetables, Parmesan cheese and drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Cut into slices and enjoy!

---

View Printable Recipe

Does that look good or what?  Check out some other fantastic recipes right on their site:
http://www.flatoutbread.com/category/recipes/

All in all, these wraps are fantastic, a real slam dunk in the diet world.  They're made with quality ingredients, are extremely healthy, and taste absolutely fabulous.  They're moist, thick, and flavorful, and boy do they go great with almost anything.  My rating?  An easy 10/10.  PICK SOME UP TODAY!!!!

Oh, and tell them the Food Guru sent you.  Good Luck!

Food Worship #11: Brussels Sprouts

I know what you're thinking...I'm crazy.  Those nasty little cabbages you used to hate as a kid?  Why would those be a super food?  Well as you might have guessed, their green exterior and dense, veggie "aura" means that like your mother said, they're remarkably good for you.  And you know what?  I personally believe they're absolutely delicious.  They're packed with fiber, and when cooked right they're dense and provide an incredibly satisfying bite, requiring just the right amount of effort to really know you've got some substantial food in your mouth.  Yup, I love brussels sprouts.  Sue me.

So what makes these things so good for you?  Well, they're loaded with nutrients of all kinds, both macro and micro, and most definitely help your body out in all sorts of ways.  Not to mention they can really bulk up a meal (these little guys fill you up fast, they're quite substantial for sure.)  Also, when they're cooked just right, brussels sprouts are actually quite tender and delicious, and I bet if you haven't had them in a few years (due to painful childhood memories) that if you tried them again in your maturity you'd be surprised to find they're pretty darn tasty, especially compared to certain other veggies.  Let's explore a little more in detail about why you should do just that, and how exactly you'd be doing your body good.

Fiber:  As I alluded to earlier, brussels sprouts have quite a bit of fiber in them.  In today's world, the more fiber you can get, the healthier you'll be and the better you'll feel.  One cup of brussels sprouts has about 7 grams of fiber (THAT'S A LOT!), and one sprout has about 1 gram of fiber.  All this fiber supports digestive/colon health, and also can assist in slowing the digestion of food so that the body more effectively uses what it's given. This can also prevent, to a certain degree, rapid fat gain, because it gives your body a longer time to use the food you've eaten.  So get your fiber, and stay on track.

Heart Health:  Brussels sprouts are great for your heart in a couple different ways.  Firstly, they lower your LDL (bad) cholesterol.  That's awesome, because with all the processed food out there today you'll need a good cholesterol-lowering tool that's easy to cook up and munch on.  Brussels sprouts also help to create a substance in the blood called isothiocyanate (ITC) sulforaphane which has anti-inflammatory properties and may even be able to repair damaged blood vessels.  That's pretty awesome if I don't say so myself.

Omega-3:  Now I know what you're thinking, how could brussels sprouts have an essential fatty acid in them, after all there's only 0.6 grams of fat in an entire cup!  But you'll be happy to know that the little bit of fat brussels sprouts do have is ALL good for you, and also is anti-inflammatory.  Oh, and it'll support good cholesterol too, as an added bonus (as if there aren't enough bonuses to brussels sprouts already...)

Anti-Oxidants:  Brussels sprouts have so many of these it's astounding:  everything from vitamin C, E, beta-carotene, ferulic acid, and a special one called D3T (3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione) that's actually quite rare in food.  All these anti-oxidants help to prevent oxidation damage to your cells, which in turn can have effects on preventing several kinds of cancer.  Make brussels sprouts a lifetime habit and perhaps you'll have a better chance of warding off cancer throughout your entire life.  I'll take that kind of benefit any day.

Vitamins and Minerals:  Oh boy do brussels sprouts have a bunch of these.  Eating a serving of brussels sprouts is almost like taking a multi-vitamin.  In one cup of brussels sprouts you'll be getting nearly 200% of your daily value of vitamin K, and 120% of your daily vitamin C.  WOW!  That's impressive.  You'll also be getting a heaping helping of folate, manganese, and vitamin A.  But that's not even close to the whole story.  Here's the nutritional profile of brussels sprouts, courtesy of WHFoods.com:

Brussels Sprouts 1.00 cup, raw 88.00 grams 37.84 calories
Nutrient	Amount	DV (%)	Nutrient Density	World's Healthiest Foods Rating
vitamin K	155.76 mcg	194.7	92.6	excellent
vitamin C	74.80 mg	124.7	59.3	excellent
manganese	0.30 mg	15.0	7.1	very good
folate	53.68 mcg	13.4	6.4	very good
dietary fiber	3.34 g	13.4	6.4	very good
vitamin A	663.52 IU	13.3	6.3	very good
potassium	342.32 mg	9.8	4.7	very good
vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)	0.19 mg	9.5	4.5	very good
tryptophan	0.03 g	9.4	4.5	very good
vitamin B1 (thiamin)	0.12 mg	8.0	3.8	very good
iron	1.23 mg	6.8	3.3	good
phosphorus	60.72 mg	6.1	2.9	good
protein	2.97 g	5.9	2.8	good
molybdenum	4.40 mcg	5.9	2.8	good
magnesium	20.24 mg	5.1	2.4	good
vitamin B2 (riboflavin)	0.08 mg	4.7	2.2	good
choline	16.81 mg	4.0	1.9	good
vitamin E	0.77 mg	3.9	1.8	good
omega 3 fatty acids	0.09 g	3.8	1.8	good
calcium	36.96 mg	3.7	1.8	good
vitamin B3 (niacin)	0.66 mg	3.3	1.6	good

World's Healthiest Foods Rating	Rule
excellent	DV>=75% OR Density>=7.6 AND DV>=10%
very good	DV>=50% OR Density>=3.4 AND DV>=5%
good	DV>=25% OR Density>=1.5 AND DV>=2.5%

Also, at the top there you can see that one cup of brussels sprouts has only about 40 calories.  This WILL vary depending on how big the sprouts are, but never will brussels sprouts be considered a calorie dense food.  If you decide to munch on these babies you'll get full far before you do your figure any damage.

So...brussels sprouts!  They're FANTASTIC!  They taste great, are tender and juicy, go great with almost any lunch/dinner, and are packed with all the health benefits you could ever want.  Try them out ASAP, there are a lot of AMAZING recipes out there for them.  I like mine boiled/steamed, but you can add all sorts of things to them.  In fact, here's a fantastic yet simple recipe I found online that'll really spice up a plain dish of brussels sprouts:  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/danny-boome/sauteed-brussels-sprouts-and-red-cabbage-recipe/index.html

Give them a try, what do you have to lose except an unhealthy body?  GOOD LUCK!!


References:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=10