Pulp Fiction

Photograph by: Christopher Griffith

Trendy Exotic Juices Exposed

America has become addicted to exotic juices -- supposed miracle potions that offer health and happiness by the pint. But with the newest natural wonder shaping up to be the biggest seller yet, it may finally be time for us to kick the habit

Reported by: Bryan Smith

They arrive early and join a line that stretches out like a Sunday morning communion queue: flip-flopped tourists in madras-print vestments, joggers ashine from their early-morning canters, locals burning off the fog of a few too many. One after another, they belly up to the counter at the Rum Jungle Cafe in San Diego and plunk down $4.50 for an acai (ah-sigh-EE) smoothie or $6.50 for the house special: a bowl of chilled, mushy, raw acai topped with a handful of the purple berries, some granola and banana, and a drizzle of honey. Why acai? I ask Bobby Hawke, a lean, tanned 27-year-old pharmaceutical sales rep with a sun-streaked brush of stylishly mussed hair. He thinks for a moment, glances at his girlfriend, and shrugs. "From what I hear, it's one of the best antioxidants you can buy." Hawke pauses, and then starts to grin. "I guess I don't really know all that much about it, other than it's refreshing, it's good for you, and it tastes good." Jay Swain, a 22-year-old Web developer, says a buddy turned him on to acai as a hangover cure. Beyond that, he's heard something about healthy properties -- antioxidants, too -- though he's not sure where. Oprah maybe. Oh, wait. "I think they gave me the lowdown when I came by and asked what it was," he says. "They told me it's good for you," he says. Like Hawke, he smiles, a little uncertainly. "It's a berry from the Amazon," Swain finally adds. "It's kind of like a gem; you have this fruit imported from a different country, it only grows on the Amazon river. It's special."

Men's Health

Paint by numbers … why not eat by numbers?

Top Three Health: Eat right to sculpt the body you want

July 27, 2009

Here's a plan from the editors of Men's Health magazine to finally finish off your gut for good and make every muscle pop.

1. CALCULATE CALORIES: When it comes to calories, there's one simple rule -- to eat your target body weight. Let's say you weigh 220 pounds but would like to tip the scale at 180. You'll adopt the calorie intake of a 180 pound man.

2. EAT BY THE NUMBERS: Eating the right amounts of the right nutrients will speed your results without feeling like you're on a diet. Protein is the raw material for muscle growth, as well as helping to extinguish your appetite and aid in fat loss. Some fat actually may keep you from overeating because it makes you full and carb-containing foods also can be rich in vitamins and minerals.

3. CREATE YOUR MENU: Build your diet around foods you'd find in nature. You should choose mainly meats, eggs, dairy, fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, plus grain products that are made with 100 percent whole-wheat flour. Note that typical junk foods -- candy, baked goods and sugary drinks -- don't make the list.

Top Three Health

No-Fry Zone

It's not the fat we love - it's the crispy edges. The good news is, you can get that crunch in the oven, without adding all the calories and risk of heart disease. Potato wedges, tortillas, chicken wings and egg rolls can all get brown and crispy in the oven. Plus, there's less mess and fewer greasy fingerprints to clean up. Remember, a 6-ounce baked potato has about 160 calories. Slice it up and fry it, and you're looking about 500 calories. Need we say more?

Make Your Kitchen A No-Fry Zone

Worst Swimsuit Foods

Run from them!

The six absolute worst foods for the beach or pool—and what you should go for instead for a glorious day in surf and sun.

Wouldn't it be great if you could eat something before hitting the beach that would make you look and feel slimmer—instantly?

Well, there's no miracle food yet—but there are foods that can make you look and feel fatter in almost no time. And those are the foods you want to avoid right before you don your swimsuit. In fact, in a UCLA survey of 50,000 people, 64 percent of women and 50 percent of men said they were self-conscious about their weight. (There's nothing more embarrassing than doing a cannonball off the diving board and then having to refill the pool because you emptied it.)

We're talking about foods that are calorie-rich, cause bloating and water retention, and can quickly slow you down. The authors of Eat This, Not That! identified the six absolute worst foods for the beach or pool—and what you should go for instead for a glorious day in surf and sun.

Eat This, Not That

8 Ways to Cut Fat Without Realizing It

1. Slice Fat from Pizza
2. Order the Steak Fries
3. Juice a Stir-Fry
4. Soften Your Spread
5. Cool Your Cans
6. Dilute Your Fruit Juice

7. Oil Your Potato
8. Say Goodbye to Rubbery Cheese

Men's Health Lists

Male Model Says He Diets, Too

Say What? Male Model Says He Diets, Too Crazy tactics for runway looks are not just for the ladies anymore. Male models are going to extremes to fit into pants fashioned out of neoprene. He says, "I lost 30 pounds for this." Learn why.

Source: Getty

FitSugar - Fitness, Health & Well-being

Get a Tight(er) Stomach by THIS WEEKEND

 

Since we are already in the 2^nd week of June , some may consider it “crunch time;” And that’s NOT  another ridiculous pun used to drive home a point (alright fine, it IS.)

Though I am 100 percent officially against quick fixes when it comes to looking good, there are certainly a few trade secrets that you can use for some “last minute cramming.” I have perfected these tricks from 10 years time-tested practice with clients and through endless hobnobbing with trainers of the top Hollywood movie stars.

If you have been taking the lazy route all spring and staying clear of the gym – you may find yourself desperately trying to drop 5 lbs before, oh say this weekend. You know what I am talking about – you suddenly realize you have to be: half naked in Fire Island/shirtless in a club/    (insert your 911 emergency here.    )

Without further delay, here are the top 5 no-fail tricks to successfully look better naked  (BY SATURDAY.) Follow them strictly for 5 days (or more) to seriously reduce the “bulge” in your stomach:

Gay Mens Boot Camp

10 Ways to Make Fast Food Healthy

Learn these fat-proof tricks so you can eat your fave foods in good conscience

• Make a Breakfast Sandwich Healthy
• Make a Burger Healthy
• Make a Burrito Healthy
• Make a Chicken Dinner Healthy
• Make a Coffee Drink Healthy
• Make a Salad Healthy
• Make a Sandwich Healthy
• Make a Sweet Drink Healthy
• Make Pizza Healthy
• Make Tuna Salad Healthy

By Abby Lerner

Not all fast food is created equal. Okay, but can you eat hamburgers, pizzas, and burritos without gaining a gut? Yes. You. Can! Even though these on-the-go meals wouldn't normally make the top of any nutritionist's food list, we tracked down some exceptions to the fast-equals-fat rule. Good thing, too, because the average American is consuming 100 drive-thru dishes a year. Here are the worst items at popular food franchises and simple fast food fixes that won't super-size your waistline.

Eat This, Not That

Why Ryan Reynolds Is The Gold Standard Of Men’s Fitness

With a homerun performance in the movie VAN WILDER, Ryan Reynolds burst onto the Hollywood scene overnight.

Although his acting ability is quite underrated, no one would dare to say that Ryan Reynold’s fitness is anything but the gold standard in Hollywood. But attaining that type of status does not come easy. His diet while training for his role in BLADE TRINITY was impeccable, check it out (Men’s Health):

Breakfast:  2 eggs, some “good” fat like a spoon of almond butter or slice of avocado, and 1 cup of oatmeal with applesauce

Midmorning snack: protein bar

Lunch: albacore tuna wrap or chicken and salad

Midafternoon snack: protein shake (whey and water), protein bar, or apple and almonds

Dinner: broiled fish or chicken, brown rice, vegetables, and salad

Evening Snack: protein shake”

GO HEALTHY GO FIT