All posts by william-davis

In 1994, the Lyon Heart Study demonstrated a 50-70% reduction in coronary events in participants who followed a diet rich in vegetables, olive oil, fish, nuts, red wine, and enjoyed meals as a family activity. Various other studies have documented similar phenomena with less metabolic syndrome, better lipid patterns, less obesity with the Mediterranean lifestyle.

There are two fundamental differences between the Mediterranean diet and the diet advocated by the American Heart Association (AHA) for people with heart disease: the Mediterranean diet uses olive oil more liberally, such that fat calories can reach 40% of total; and, unlike the AHA diet, processed foods are not a part of the Mediterranean diet. Greeks, for instance, are far less likely to eat Count Chocula cereal for breakfast, or snack on Healthy Choice Premium Caramel Swirl Sandwich (ice cream sandwiches) or Malt-O-Meal Honey Nut Scooters. All three of these foods on listed on the AHA Heart-Check Mark heart-healthy program.

In other words, remove all the processed foods, and the AHA diet pretty closely resembles the Mediterranean diet. There are differences but they tend to be relatively small. If the only major difference is the presence of processed foods, wouldn't you therefore expect the AHA to embrace the Mediterranean diet?

Here's what their official stand on the Mediterranean diet states:

Does a Mediterranean-style diet follow American Heart Association dietary recommendations?

Mediterranean-style diets are often close to our dietary recommendations, but they don’t follow them exactly. In general, the diets of Mediterranean peoples contain a relatively high percentage of calories from fat. This is thought to contribute to the increasing obesity in these countries, which is becoming a concern.

The AHA is actually lukewarm towards the diet that was the first to show a dramatic decrease in heart attack and death. Why?

The answer is obvious, once cast in this light. To wholeheartedly endorse the Mediterranean diet might be seen as an indirect rejection of American processed foods. You know, the foods that have caused an extraordinary and unprecedented epidemic of obesity in the U.S., the foods that are manufactured by ConAgra, General Mills, Kelloggs--all also major financial contributors to the AHA, according to the AHA Annual Report.

I tell my patients: If you want heart disease, follow the American Heart Association diet. In my view, it is a diet founded on politics and money, not on health. How else could Cocoa Puffs be regarded as heart healthy?

Imagine we could send you back in a time machine to 50,000 BC.

However, our agreement: no modern tools or equipment. Just your brain, hands, and legs. And your landing spot will be tropical or semi-tropical, the same climate that humans spent much of their evolutionary time in.

Not only might you rub elbows with contemporaries like homo erectus and neanderthalensis, you'd also have to fend for your life and survival.

To eat, you will have to chase and kill wild game, all with your bare hands or crude tools crafted from sticks and stones. You will have to learn what wild berries, roots, and plants are edible and distingusih them from those that make you retch, make your bowels run, or kill you. You won't be able to cultivate grain, at least for a good long time, since you don't have a community that makes such an undertaking easier.

Instead, you are constantly on the run, from the moment you awake until you finally settle back as the sun sets, hopefully with a full stomach, but often empty and growling, anticipating the hunt and forage of tomorrow.

You are outdoors all day, except for the period when you hide in your cave or self-made shelter. You wear what little clothing you can make yourself from your kills, a skin or two. Your skin becomes a dark brown, a 5 foot 10 inch male will weigh 140 lbs, a 5 foot 5 inch woman 95 lbs. There are obvious downsides: your teeth will rot, you will be prone to infections, and predators view you as fair game.

But the result will be that many chronic diseases of modern life will no longer be worries for you. Heart disease? Highly unlikely. Do you need vitamin D? No, because you are outdoors virtually all day with most of your body surface area exposed to sun. Omega-3 fatty acids? You get those from the wild game you eat, since they have higher omega-3 content feeding in the wild, not eating corn like modern livestock. Since your body fat is minimal, just enough for survival, you don't need niacin.

In other words, many of the strategies of the Track Your Plaque program are modern necessities, responses to the "deficiencies" of modern life. Of course, I don't really have a time machine. I also doubt that you wish to hunt wild game every day, forage for plants and roots, run nearly-naked in the sun. You probably also have become accustomed to brushing your teeth and not viewing every animal as a potential threat to your life.

Nonetheless, I find this an interesting exercise for understanding the role of all the tools we use in the Track Your Plaque program for plaque control.

When I first met Hank, I immediately sensed it: anger, hostility, fear. His heart scan score of 685 just made it worse.

He didn't want to be there talking to me. His wife was giving him a hard time. Work was a constant source of irritation. The receptionist at the front desk screwed up his paperwork. Our office charges were too much.

In short, Hank was a pessimist. A bad one.

All the nutrition information out there is bunk. Only he knew how he should eat right. It's stupid to take a lot of fish oil. "You want me to grow gills?"

Among the parameters we use in the Track Your Plaque program is blood pressure during exercise, which provides a surrogate measure of blood pressure during emotional stress, anxiety, etc. "No, I don't need that. I already exercise." No amount of justification could change his mind. "A guy at work had a stress test. They said everything was fine, then Bang! He drops dead. What good is that?"

Hank did go along with a few pieces of advice.

A repeat heart scan 12 months after the first: 870, a 27% per year rate of increase. That's about what would happen if Hank had done nothing, had taken no action to try and stop or reduce his heart scan score.

I don't know if Hank will ever succeed in dropping his score. In fact, I suspect that he will fail, meaning that plaque will grow and he will eventually, perhaps in a year, two or three, require several stents, heart bypass, or have a heart attack. In other words, Hank's pessimism is a self-fulfilling phenomenon: If he believes he will fail, he will. If he believes the world is a rotten place, it is.

Is it possible to "cure" someone like Hank of his deeply-rooted pessimistic attitudes? I don't know of any easy solutions for someone with attitudes as deeply-ingrained as Hank's. (See my prior post, "Cure for pessimism?" at http://heartscanblog.blogspot.com/2007_05_01_archive.html.)

I believe it does help to make someone aware of their attitudes and that it does indeed exert ill health-effects--if they will believe it. But this is a very tough nut to crack.

A review of the effects of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on the muscle aches and weakness (myopathy) of statin drug therapy was just published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

(Marcoff L, Thompson PD. The role of coenzyme Q10 in statin-associated myopathy. J Amer Coll Cardiol 2007;49(23):2231-2237.)

This is not a study, but a review of the existing scientific and clinical data available on this topic. The study authors conclude with a lukewarm statement:

". . .there is insufficient evidence to prove the etiologic [causal] role of CoQ10 deficiency in statin-associated myopathy and that large, well-designed clinical trials are required to address this issue. The routine use of CoQ10 cannot be recommended in statin-treated patients. Nevertheless, there are no known risks to this supplement and there is some anecdotal and preliminary trial evidence of its effectiveness. Consequently, CoQ10 can be tested in patients requiring statin treatment, who develop statin myalgia, and who cannot besatisfactorily treated with other agents. Some patients may respond, if only via placebo effect."

Should the media get hold of this report, be prepared for the usual "Nutritional supplement no help for drug toxicity" headlines, or "Yet another nutritional supplement shows no benefit" with parallels drawn to vitamin C or E.

There are several issue that need to be factored into the discussion:

1) This is not a study, just a review. Thus, any biases of the authors are more likely to exert themselves.

2) The understanding of CoQ10 absorption among different preparations may be an issue. I just received a mailing from Life Extension that made extravagant claims about the superior absorption of ubiquinol, to be distinguished from ubiquinone, the more common form. They claim that eight-fold increased absorption and blood levels of CoQ10 are achievable with ubiquinol. Unfortunately, virtually all the supportive data are unpublished, proprietary observations, i.e., generated by companies who make or sell it. This is as reliable as drug manufacturers who publish glowing reports on their own drugs--perhaps it's true, but it requires unbiased corroboration.

3) Despite the lack of a large, well-funded clinical trial (all are small), the issue continues to live and breathe because of the powerful anecdotal experience.

In our experience, CoQ10 does work. It doesn't work all of the time, perhaps just 80-90% of the time. It does generally require higher doses (100 mg per day, occasionally more). It very clearly must be an oil-based gelcap (just like vitamin D) to work; capsules containing powder do not work.

It's difficult to doubt when someone starts a statin drug, develops the muscle aches and weakness, begins CoQ10 and obtains distinct relief, stops CoQ10 and aches and weakness return, then only to go away again with resumption of CoQ10 . I've seen this countless times.

We do need better information on CoQ10. There's no doubt about it. For people who obtain benefit from statin therapy, I think CoQ10 remains a useful solution. A better solution would be to get rid of the offending drug. But that's not always possible--e.g., LDL cholesterol 190 mg/dl despite the best diet and "adjunctive" food effort. Then CoQ10 can be very useful.

Take a look at the list of foods on the American Heart Association's (AHA) Check Mark endorsement program (below). After I saw the list, I was convinced either that the people who designed the program are either startlingly ignorant, or the AHA simply does this for money.

Many of these foods have nothing to do with health, heart or otherwise. In fact, many of these foods are prominent culprits that contribute to the American epidemic of obesity. There are cured meats with sodium nitrite (a potent cause of colon cancer). Some of these companies have been accused of unhealthy food manufacturing practices. Tyson Foods, for instance, has been in court many times defending their brutal factory farm practices and were the focus of a federal investigation for paying bribe money to USDA Secretary, Mike Espy. (Espy was acquitted but two Tyson executives were convicted, only to be later pardoned by then President Bill Clinton.)

This is a smarmy list to be included on. Though there are some rare healthy exceptions on the list, from the Track Your Plaque viewpoint, this is a list of shame, foods that have no place in a genuinely heart healthy nutrition program.

8th Continent, LLC
8th Continent Fat Free Premium Original Soymilk
8th Continent Fat Free Premium Vanilla Soymilk
8th Continent Light Chocolate Soymilk
8th Continent Light Original Soymilk
8th Continent Light Vanilla Soymilk
8th Continent Premium Chocolate Soymilk
8th Continent Premium Original Soymilk
8th Continent Premium Vanilla Soymilk

American Italian Pasta Company
Golden Grain Mission Whole Grain Penne Rigate
Golden Grain Mission Whole Grain Rotini
Golden Grain Mission Whole Grain Spaghetti
Heartland Whole Grain Penne
Heartland Whole Grain Rotini
Heartland Whole Grain Spaghetti
Heartland Whole Wheat Angel Hair
Heartland Whole Wheat Elbow Macaroni
Heartland Whole Wheat Penne
Heartland Whole Wheat Rotini
Heartland Whole Wheat Spaghetti
Mueller's Whole Grain Penne
Mueller's Whole Grain Rotini
Mueller's Whole Grain Spaghetti

Atalanta Corporation
Celebrity 99% Fat Free Premium Imported Healthy Ham

Beefmaster Cattlemen, L.P.
Nolan Ryan's All Natural Ground Beef Round 96/4, 4% Fat

Bimbo Bakeries USA
Bimbo's 100% Integral/Bimbo 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Mrs. Baird's 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Oroweat 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Oroweat Country 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Oroweat Double Fiber Bread
Oroweat Original Health Nut Bread
Boar's Head Provisions Company, Inc.
Boar's Head Aroastica Seasoned Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
Boar's Head Blazing Buffalo Style Boneless Skinless Roasted Chicken Breast
Boar's Head Branded Deluxe 42% Lower Sodium Ham
Boar's Head Cracked Pepper Mill Smoked Turkey Breast
Boar's Head Golden Classic Oven Roasted Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
Boar's Head Hickory Smoked Black Forest Turkey Breast - 43% Lower Sodium
Boar's Head Hickory Smoked Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
Boar's Head Italian Style Oven Roasted Seasoned Beef with Classic Braciole Seasoning
Boar's Head Lemon Pepper Boneless Skinless Roasted Chicken Breast
Boar's Head Londonport Top Round Seasoned Roast Beef
Boar's Head Maple Glazed Honey Coat Cured Turkey Breast
Boar's Head Mesquite Wood Smoked Skinless Roasted Breast of Turkey
Boar's Head Our Deluxe Low Sodium Low Fat Oven Roasted Choice Beef Cap Off Top Round
Boar's Head Our Premium Oven Roasted 47% Lower Sodium Turkey Breast - Skinless
Boar's Head Our Premium Oven Roasted 50% Lower Sodium Turkey Breast
Boar's Head Ovengold Roast Breast of Turkey
Boar's Head Ovengold Roast Breast of Turkey - Skinless
Boar's Head Pastrami Seasoned Turkey Breast
Boar's Head Salsalito Roasted Breast of Turkey
Bryan Foods, Inc.
Bryan 97% Fat Free Butcher Fresh Pork Tenderloin

Bumble Bee Foods LLC
Kirkland Signature Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water
Member's Mark Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water

California Giant
California Giant Strawberries
California Strawberry Commission
California Fresh Strawberries
California Frozen Strawberries

Campbell Soup Company
Calcium Enriched V8 100% Vegetable Juice
Campbell's Chunky Healthy Request Chicken Noodle
Campbell's Chunky Healthy Request Classic Chicken Noodle Microwaveable Bowl
Campbell's Chunky Healthy Request Grilled Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
Campbell's Chunky Healthy Request Grilled Chicken and Sausage Gumbo Microwaveable Bowl
Campbell's Chunky Healthy Request Hearty Beef Barley
Campbell's Chunky Healthy Request New Englad Clam Chowder
Campbell's Chunky Healthy Request Old Fashioned Vegetable Beef
Campbell's Chunky Healthy Request Vegetable
Campbell's Healthy Request Condensed Chicken Noodle Soup
Campbell's Healthy Request Condensed Chicken Noodle Soup (Food Service)
Campbell's Healthy Request Condensed Chicken Rice Soup
Campbell's Healthy Request Condensed Cream of Celery Soup
Campbell's Healthy Request Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
Campbell's Healthy Request Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
Campbell's Healthy Request Condensed Homestyle Chicken Noodle
Campbell's Healthy Request Condensed Minestrone Soup
Campbell's Healthy Request Condensed Tomato Soup
Campbell's Healthy Request Condensed Vegetable Beef Soup
Campbell's Healthy Request Condensed Vegetable Soup
Campbell's Healthy Request Tomato Juice
Campbell's Low Sodium Tomato Juice
Campbell's Select Healthy Request Chicken and Egg Noodles
Campbell's Select Healthy Request Italian Style Wedding Microwaveable Bowl
Campbell's Select Healthy Request Italian-Style Wedding
Campbell's Select Healthy Request Mexican Style Chicken Tortilla
Campbell's Select Healthy Request Mexican Style Chicken Tortilla Microwaveable Bowl
Campbell's Select Healthy Request Savory Chicken and Long Grain Rice
Campbell's V8 Fusion Strawberry Banana
Campbell's V8 Fusion Tropical Orange
Campbell's V8 Regular Vegetable Juice
Campbell's V8 V.Fusion Light Peach Mango
Campbell's V8 V.Fusion Light Strawberry Banana
Campbell's V8 V.Fusion Pomegranate Blueberry
Essential Antioxidants V8 100% Vegetable Juice
Low Sodium V8 100% Vegetable Juice
Prego Heart Smart Mushroom Italian Sauce
Prego Heart Smart Traditional Italian Sauce

Cargill Meat Solutions
96/4 All Natural Extra Lean Ground Beef
Excel's Tender Choice 97% Fat Free Pork Tenderloins
Excel's Tender Choice Extra Lean Boneless Pork Loin
Our Certified 100% Pure All Natural Ground Beef 96/4
Sterling Silver Extra Lean Pork Tenderloins - 12% Marination
Sterling Silver Lean Boneless Pork Loin - 12% Marination

Chiquita Brands Company, N.A.
Chiquita Bananas

Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership
Clearwater Frozen Arctic Surf Clams

Cliffstar Corporation
Deerfield Farms No Sugar Added 100% Grape Juice (Purple)
Safeway 100% Grape Juice (Purple)
Sam's Choice 100% Grape Juice (Purple)
Walgreens 100% Grape Juice (Purple)

Clougherty Packing Company
Farmer John® California Natural® 4% Fat Extra Lean Ground Pork
Farmer John® California Natural® Premium Extra Lean Boneless Pork Tenderloins

Minute Maid Premium Blends - Orange Passion Calcium Juice-Frozen
Minute Maid Premium Blends - Orange Tangerine Calcium Juice - Frozen
Minute Maid Premium Country Style Orange Juice
Minute Maid Premium Country Style Orange Juice - Frozen
Minute Maid Premium Extra Vitamins C and E Plus Zinc Orange Juice - Frozen
Minute Maid Premium Home Squeezed Style Calcium + Vitamin D Orange Juice
Minute Maid Premium Low Acid Orange Juice
Minute Maid Premium Low Acid Orange Juice - Frozen
Minute Maid Premium Original Calcium + Vitamin D Orange Juice
Minute Maid Premium Original Calcium Orange Juice - Frozen
Minute Maid Premium Original Orange Juice
Minute Maid Premium Original Orange Juice - Frozen
Minute Maid Premium Pulp Free Calcium + Vitamin D Orange Juice
Minute Maid Premium Pulp Free Orange Juice
Minute Maid Premium Pulp Free Orange Juice - Frozen
Simply Orange Calcium Pulp Free 100% Orange Juice
Simply Orange Country Stand Calcium Medium Pulp 100% Orange Juice
Simply Orange Grove Made High Pulp 100% Orange Juice
Simply Orange Original Pulp Free 100% Orange Juice

Colleen Strawberries, Inc. / EKT Farms
Colleen Strawberries

ConAgra Dairy Foods
Egg Beaters 99% Real Eggs-Frozen
Egg Beaters 99% Real Eggs-Refrigerated
Egg Beaters Cheese & Chive
Egg Beaters Egg Whites
Egg Beaters Garden Vegetable
Egg Beaters Ham & Cheese
Egg Beaters Southwestern

ConAgra Food Service
Lamb Weston Sweet Things Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Frozen

ConAgra Frozen Foods
Healthy Choice Café Selections Apple Glazed Pork Medallions
Healthy Choice Café Selections Beef Merlot
Healthy Choice Café Selections Cajun Style Chicken & Shrimp
Healthy Choice Café Selections Chicken Fried Rice
Healthy Choice Café Selections Chicken Margherita
Healthy Choice Café Selections Chicken Tuscany
Healthy Choice Café Selections Creamy Dill Salmon
Healthy Choice Café Selections Four Cheese Pizza
Healthy Choice Café Selections General Tso's Spicy Chicken
Healthy Choice Café Selections Gourmet Supreme Pizza
Healthy Choice Café Selections Grilled Basil Chicken
Healthy Choice Café Selections Grilled Chicken & Roasted Red Pepper Alfredo
Healthy Choice Café Selections Grilled Chicken Baja
Healthy Choice Café Selections Grilled Chicken Caesar
Healthy Choice Café Selections Grilled Chicken Marinara
Healthy Choice Café Selections Grilled Whiskey Steak
Healthy Choice Café Selections Italian Style Pepperoni Pizza
Healthy Choice Café Selections Roasted Chicken Chardonnay
Healthy Choice Café Selections Roasted Chicken Marsala
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Asiago Chicken Portabello
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Beef Pot Roast
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Beef Stroganoff
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Beef Tips Portabello
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Beef with Classic BBQ Sauce
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Blackened Chicken
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Chicken Parmigiana
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Chicken Teriyaki
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Classic Grilled Chicken BBQ
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Country Breaded Chicken
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Country Herb Chicken
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Creamy Garlic Shrimp
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Fiesta Chicken
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Four Cheese Manicotti
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Glazed Chicken
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Grilled Chicken Monterey
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Grilled Turkey Breast
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Grilled White Meat Chicken with Smokehouse BBQ Sauce
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Honey Balsamic Chicken
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Lemon Pepper Fish
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Meatloaf
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Mushroom Roasted Beef
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Roasted Chicken
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Salisbury Steak
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Sweet Bourbon Steak
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Sweet and Sour Chicken
Healthy Choice Complete Selections Traditional Turkey Breast
Healthy Choice Low Fat Premium Sorbet & Cream Bars-Orange or Strawberry
Healthy Choice Premium Caramel Swirl Sandwich
Healthy Choice Premium Fudge Sandwich
Healthy Choice Premium Fudge Swirl Sandwich
Healthy Choice Premium Low Fat Ice Cream Bar
Healthy Choice Premium Vanilla Sandwich
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Breaded Chicken Breast Strips with Gravy
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Cheese French Bread Pizza
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Cheesy Chicken and Rice
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Chicken Enchilada
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Chicken Fettuccini Alfredo
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Chicken Rigatoni
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Four Cheese Manicotti
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Glazed Chicken
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Grilled Chicken White Meat Chicken & Pasta
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Grilled White Meat Chicken & Gravy
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Lasagna Bake
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Macaroni & Cheese
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Mandarin Chicken
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Pepperoni French Bread Pizza
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Roast Turkey Breastin Savory Sauce with Mushrooms
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Salisbury Steak
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Sesame Chicken
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Slow Roasted Turkey Breast with Gravy
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Spaghetti
Healthy Choice Simple Selections Supreme French Bread Pizza

ConAgra Grocery Foods
ACT II 94% Fat Free Butter Microwave Popcorn
ACT II 94% Fat Free Butter Mini Bags Microwave Popcorn
ACT II 94% Fat Free Kettle Corn Microwave Popcorn
Healthy Choice Bean & Ham Soup
Healthy Choice Beef Pot Roast Microwavable Bowl Soup
Healthy Choice Chicken & Dumplings Soup
Healthy Choice Chicken Tortilla Soup
Healthy Choice Chicken with Rice Microwavable Bowl Soup
Healthy Choice Chicken with Rice Soup
Healthy Choice Country Vegetable Microwavable Bowl Soup
Healthy Choice Country Vegetable Soup
Healthy Choice Fiesta Chicken Soup
Healthy Choice Garden Vegetable Soup
Healthy Choice Garlic & Herb Pasta Sauce
Healthy Choice Hearty Chicken Soup
Healthy Choice New England Clam Chowder Soup
Healthy Choice Old Fashioned Chicken Noodle Microwavable Bowl Soup
Healthy Choice Old Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup
Healthy Choice Split Pea & Ham Soup
Healthy Choice Traditional Pasta Sauce
Healthy Choice Vegetable Beef Soup
Healthy Choice Zesty Gumbo with Chicken & Sausage Soup
Hunt's Family Favorites Seasoned Tomato Sauce for Lasagna
Hunt's Organic Crushed Tomatoes
Hunt's Organic Diced Tomatoes
Hunt's Organic Pasta Sauce Roasted Garlic
Hunt's Organic Whole Tomatoes
Hunt's Tomatoes Crushed in Thick Tomato Puree
Hunt's Tomatoes Diced
Hunt's Tomatoes Diced in Sauce
Hunt's Tomatoes Diced with Mild Green Chilies
Hunt's Tomatoes Diced-Green Pepper, Celery & Onions
Hunt's Tomatoes Petite Diced
Hunt's Tomatoes Stewed-No Salt Added
Hunt's Tomatoes Whole
Hunt's Tomatoes Whole-No Salt Added
Orville Redenbacher's Mini Bags Smart Pop Butter Microwave Popcorn
Orville Redenbacher's Mini Bags Smart Pop Butter/Kettle Corn Microwave Popcorn Variety Pack
Orville Redenbacher's Mini Bags Smart Pop Kettle Corn Microwave Popcorn
Orville Redenbacher's Organic Kernal Jar
Orville Redenbacher's Organic Smart Pop Butter Microwave Popcorn
Orville Redenbacher's Original Kernal Jar
Orville Redenbacher's Original Kernal Jug
Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop Butter Microwave Popcorn
Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop Kettle Corn Microwave Popcorn
Orville Redenbacher's Smart Pop Movie Theater Butter Microwave Popcorn
Orville Redenbacher's White Kernal Jar
Rosarita Diced Green Chilies
Rosarita Green Chilies Strips
Rosarita Whole Green Chilies

ConAgra Refrigerated Foods
Healthy Choice Deli Thin Baked Cooked Ham
Healthy Choice Deli Thin Honey Ham
Healthy Choice Deli Thin Honey Ham & Honey Roasted & Smoked Turkey Breast Variety Pack
Healthy Choice Deli Thin Honey Roasted & Smoked Turkey Breast
Healthy Choice Deli Thin Mesquite Turkey Breast
Healthy Choice Deli Thin Oven Roasted Chicken Breast
Healthy Choice Deli Thin Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
Healthy Choice Deli Thin Pastrami
Healthy Choice Deli Thin Smoked Ham
Healthy Choice Deli Thin Smoked Turkey Breast
Healthy Choice Deli-97% Fat Free Honey Ham
Healthy Choice Deli-97% Fat Free Honey Maple Ham
Healthy Choice Deli-97% Fat Free Medium Cooked Roast Beef-20% Marination
Healthy Choice Deli-97% Fat Free Mesquite Smoked Honey Ham
Healthy Choice Deli-97% Fat Free Roast Beef-20% Marination
Healthy Choice Deli-97% Fat Free Smoked Ham
Healthy Choice Deli-97% Fat Free Virginia Brand Ham
Healthy Choice Deli-98% Fat Free Browned Chicken Breast
Healthy Choice Deli-98% Fat Free Chicken Breast
Healthy Choice Deli-98% Fat Free Golden Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
Healthy Choice Deli-98% Fat Free Honey Roasted & Smoked Turkey Breast with Broth
Healthy Choice Deli-98% Fat Free Mesquite Smoked Chicken Breast
Healthy Choice Deli-98% Fat Free Mesquite Smoked Turkey Breast
Healthy Choice Deli-98% Fat Free Smoked Turkey Breast
Healthy Choice Deli-98% Fat Free Southwest Grill Turkey Breast
Healthy Choice Deli-Honey Cured Ham
Healthy Choice Deli-Honey Roasted & Smoked Turkey Breast
Healthy Choice Deli-Oven Roasted Chicken Breast
Healthy Choice Deli-Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
Healthy Choice Deli-Roast Beef-20% Marination
Healthy Choice Deli-Virginia Brand Cooked Ham
Healthy Choice Deluxe Thin-Sliced Baked Cooked Ham
Healthy Choice Deluxe Thin-Sliced Honey Ham
Healthy Choice Deluxe Thin-Sliced Honey Ham/Oven Roasted Turkey Breast Variety Pack
Healthy Choice Deluxe Thin-Sliced Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
Healthy Choice Honey Ham
Healthy Choice Low Fat Smoked Sausage
Healthy Choice Pre-Sliced Sandwich Solutions Roast Beef
Healthy Choice Pre-Sliced Sandwich Solutions Skinless Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
Healthy Choice Pre-Sliced Sandwich Solutions Skinless Smoked Turkey Breast
Healthy Choice Pre-Sliced Sandwich Solutions Virginia Brand Ham
Healthy Choice Virginia Brand Ham
Healthy Choice Zip Pack Cooked Ham
Healthy Choice Zip Pack Honey Ham
Healthy Choice Zip Pack Oven Roasted Chicken Breast
Healthy Choice Zip Pack Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
Hebrew National 97% Fat Free Beef Franks

ConAgra Retail Foods
Healthy Choice Hearty 100% Whole Grain Bread
Healthy Choice Hearty 7-Grain Bread

Coolham Holdings, Inc. DBA SunMilk Dairy Co.
SunMilk-Fat Free Milk with Sunflower Oil (The Taste of 1%)
SunMilk-Fat Free Milk with Sunflower Oil (The Taste of 2%)

Cooper Farms
Cooper Farms All Natural Turkey Breast Fillet

Crider, Inc.
Kirkland Signature Premium 99% Fat Free Chunk Chicken Breast

Dare Foods Incorporated
Breton Reduced Fat & Sodium Wheat Crackers

El Aguila Food Products, Inc.
El Aguila Stoneground Corn Tortillas

Eurofresh Inc.
Eurofresh Campari Tomatoes

FPL Foods, LLC
96/4 All Natural Extra Lean Ground Beef

Farmland Foods
Farmland 97% Fat Free Fresh Ground Pork
Farmland Nutrition Wise 97% Fat Free Boneless Center Cut Pork Loin Filet
Farmland Nutrition Wise Boneless Butterfly Cut Pork Loin Chops
Farmland Nutrition Wise Boneless Center Cut Pork Loin
Farmland Nutrition Wise Boneless Center Cut Pork Loin Chops
Farmland Nutrition Wise Boneless Center Cut Pork Loin Roast
Farmland Nutrition Wise Boneless Pork Chops - America's Cut
Farmland Nutrition Wise Boneless Pork Tenderloin
Farmland Nutrition Wise Boneless Pork Top Round Roast
Farmland Nutrition Wise Boneless Pork Top Round Steak
Farmland Nutrition Wise Boneless Sirloin Tip Pork Roast
Farmland Nutrition Wise Pork Cube Steak
Farmland Nutrition Wise Pork Cubes
Farmland Nutrition Wise Pork Scallopini
Farmland Nutrition Wise Pork Strips

Fieldale Farms Corporation
Jewel All Natural 99% Fat Free Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat
Jewel All Natural 99% Fat Free Chicken Breast Tenders
Our Premium 98% Fat Free Boneless Skinless Breast with Rib Meat - 15% Marination
Springer Mountain Farms All Natural 98% Fat Free Boneless Skinless Breasts

Florida's Natural Growers
Florida's Natural Calcium & Vitamin D No Pulp Orange Juice
Florida's Natural Growers Style Most Pulp Orange Juice
Florida's Natural Home Squeezed Calcium & Vitamin D with Pulp Orange Juice
Florida's Natural Home Squeezed with Pulp Orange Juice
Florida's Natural Original No Pulp Orange Juice

FoodTech International
Veggie Patch California Veggie Burgers

Foster Poultry Farms
Foster Farms 98% Fat Free Honey Roasted & Smoked Breast of Turkey
Foster Farms 98% Fat Free Oven Roasted Breast of Turkey
Foster Farms 98% Fat Free Oven Roasted Chicken Breast
Foster Farms 99% Fat Free 100% Natural Boneless & Skinless Breast Fillets
Foster Farms 99% Fat Free 100% Natural Boneless & Skinless Breast Steaks
Foster Farms 99% Fat Free 100% Natural Boneless & Skinless Breast Tenders
Foster Farms 99% Fat Free Honey Roasted & Smoked Turkey Breast
Foster Farms 99% Fat Free Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
Foster Farms All Natural 99% Fat Free Boneless & Skinless Chicken Breast Tenders (8% Marination)
Foster Farms Fresh & Easy 99% Fat Free 100% Natural Boneless & Skinless Breast Fillets
Kirkland Signature/Foster Farms 99% Fat Free 100% Natural Boneless & Skinless Breasts
Kirkland Signature/Foster Farms All Natural 99% Fat Free Boneless & Skinless Chicken Breasts (8% Marination)

Fresh Express Incorporated
Chiquita Apple Bites
Fresh Express American Salad
Fresh Express Hearts of Romaine Salad
Fresh Express Italian Salad
Fresh Express Triple Hearts Salad

GFA Brands, Inc.
Smart Balance Smart 'N Healthy Deluxe Microwave Popcorn
Smart Beat Healthy Fat Free Non-Dairy Slices - American Flavor
Smart Beat Healthy Fat Free Non-Dairy Slices - Lactose Free
Smart Beat Smart Squeeze Nonfat Margarine Spread

General Mills, Inc.
Apple Cinnamon Cheerios
Berry Berry Kix
Berry Burst Cheerios-Strawberry Banana
Berry Burst Cheerios-Triple Berry
Berry Lucky Charms
Cheerios
Cheerios Crunch
Chocolate Lucky Charms
Cocoa Puffs
Cookie Crisp
Count Chocula
Dora The Explorer
Frosted Cheerios
Fruity Cheerios
Heart Smart Bisquick
Honey Nut Cheerios
Kix
Lucky Charms
Multi-Grain Cheerios
Oatmeal Crisp Crunchy Almond
Oatmeal Crisp Hearty Raisin
Oatmeal Crisp Maple Brown Sugar
Pillsbury Oven-Baked Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls
Progresso Healthy Favorites Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
Progresso Healthy Favorites Chicken Gumbo Soup
Progresso Healthy Favorites Chicken Noodle Soup
Progresso Healthy Favorites Garden Vegetable Soup
Progresso Healthy Favorites Italian-Style Wedding Soup
Progresso Healthy Favorites Minestrone Soup
Total Cranberry Crunch
Total Honey Clusters
Total Raisin Bran
Total with Strawberries
Trix
Whole Grain Total
Yogurt Burst Cheerios Strawberry
Yogurt Burst Cheerios Vanilla

Hain Celestial Group, Inc., The
DeBoles Organic Ancient Grain Penne
Health Valley Empower Cereal
Hodgson Mill, Inc.
Hodgson Mill Oat Bran All Natural Hot Cereal
Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Angel Hair
Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Fettuccine
Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Lasagna
Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Penne
Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Spinach Spaghetti
Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Whole Grain Elbows
Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Whole Grain Spaghetti

Indiana Packers Corp.
Indiana Kitchen All Natural Boneless Pork Sirloin Roast
Indiana Kitchen All Natural Pork Tenderloin

Interstate Brands Corporation
Home Pride Whole Grains 100% Honey Whole Wheat Bread
Home Pride Whole Grains 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Merita Country Whole Grains 100% Whole Wheat Bread

KFP International, Ltd.
Kedem 100% Pure Concord Grape Juice-No Sugar Added

Kansas City Steak Company
Kansas City Seasoned Beef Chuck Tender Steak
Kansas City Seasoned Beef Medallions

Kashi Company
Kashi Heart to Heart Honey Oat Waffles
Kashi Heart to Heart Honey Toasted Cereal
Kashi Heart to Heart Instant Oatmeal - Apple Cinnamon
Kashi Heart to Heart Instant Oatmeal - Golden Brown Maple
Kashi Heart to Heart Instant Oatmeal - Raisin Spice
Kashi Heart to Heart Oat Flakes & Wild Blueberry Clusters

Kellogg USA, Inc.
Kellogg's All-Bran Bran Buds
Kellogg's All-Bran Extra Fiber
Kellogg's All-Bran Original
Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats - Strawberry Delight
Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats - Vanilla Creme
Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats Big Bite
Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats Bite Size
Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats Maple & Brown Sugar
Kellogg's Smart Start Antioxidants - Original
Kellogg's Smart Start Healthy Heart - Maple & Brown Sugar
Kellogg's Smart Start Healthy Heart - Original
Kellogg's Smart Start Healthy Heart Cinnamon Raisin

King Soopers
Ground Beef 96/4 Extra Lean

Kroger Company, The
Kroger Moist & Tender Silver Platter Pork Tenderloin

Laura's Lean Beef Company
Laura's Lean Beef - Beef Pot Roast Au Jus
Laura's Lean Beef - Shredded Beef with Barbecue Sauce
Laura's Lean Beef 4% Fat Ground Round
Laura's Lean Beef 4% Ground Sirloin
Laura's Lean Beef Sirloin Steak

LiDestri Foods, Inc.
Francesco Rinaldi No Salt Added Traditional Pasta Sauce

Lido Veal & Lamb Inc.
Veal USA Boneless Veal Shoulder Roast from Lido Veal
Veal USA Low Fat Ground Veal from Lido Veal
Veal USA Veal Leg Cutlets from Lido Veal
Veal USA Veal Stew from Lido Veal

M & I Seafood Manufacturing Inc.
Chesapeake Bay Gourmet Crab Cakes

MW Polar Foods
Polar All Natural Chunk Light Tuna in Water
Polar All Natural Solid White Albacore in Water
Polar Chunk Light Tuna in Water
Polar Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water

Malt-O-Meal Company
Malt-O-Meal Balance
Malt-O-Meal Crispy Rice
Malt-O-Meal Frosted Mini Spooners
Malt-O-Meal Honey & Oat Blenders
Malt-O-Meal Honey Nut Scooters
Malt-O-Meal Hot Wheat Cereal - Chocolate
Malt-O-Meal Hot Wheat Cereal - Maple & Brown Sugar
Malt-O-Meal Hot Wheat Cereal - Original
Malt-O-Meal Maple & Brown Sugar Mini Spooners
Malt-O-Meal Mom's Best 100% Natural Quick Oats
Malt-O-Meal Mom's Best Instant Oatmeal - Apples & Cinnamon
Malt-O-Meal Mom's Best Instant Oatmeal - Maple & Brown Sugar
Malt-O-Meal Mom's Best Instant Oatmeal Variety Pack - Maple & Brown Sugar/Apples & Cinnamon/Cinnamon & Spice
Malt-O-Meal Raisin Bran
Malt-O-Meal Scooters

Maple Leaf Consumer Foods
Maple Leaf Sodium Reduced 98% Fat Free Cooked Ham with Natural Juices

Maverick Ranch Association
Maverick Ranch 96/4 Extra Lean Grass Fed Organic Ground Beef
Maverick Ranch 96/4 Extra Lean Natural Ground Buffalo
Maverick Ranch 96/4 Extra Lean Natural Ground Pork Sirloin
Maverick Ranch Free-Range Chicken-All Natural Air Chilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
Maverick Ranch NaturaLite 96/4 Extra Lean Ground Beef Round
Maverick Ranch NaturaLite Beef - 96/4 Extra Lean Ground Beef Chuck
Maverick Ranch NaturaLite Beef - 96/4 Extra Lean Ground Beef Sirloin
Maverick Ranch Natural Beef Cubed Steak
Maverick Ranch Natural Beef Top Sirloin Steak
Maverick Ranch Natural Buffalo Top Sirloin Steak
Maverick Ranch Natural Center Cut Pork Loin Chops
Maverick Ranch Natural Lite 96/4 Extra Lean Natural Ground Beef
Maverick Ranch Natural Pork 4% Fat Extra Lean Pork Tenderloin
Maverick Ranch Natural Skinless Chicken Drumsticks
Maverick Ranch Natural Skinless Chicken Thighs
Maverick Ranch Organic Air-Chilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

Mayoli Inc.
Mayoli All Natural Reduced Fat Mayonnaise Dressing with Pure Olive Oil

McNeil Nutritionals, LLC
LACTAID® Calcium-Fortified Fat Free Milk
LACTAID® Fat Free Milk

Meijer Distribution, Inc.
Meijer Purple Grape Juice

Michael Foods, Inc.
All Whites Egg Whites - White Cheddar
Better 'n Eggs Ham & Cheese
Better 'n Eggs Plus
Better 'n Eggs Three Cheese
Kirkland Signature Egg Starts
Kroger Break-Free 100% Liquid Egg Whites
Kroger Break-Free Real Egg Product
Papetti Foods All Whites - 100% Liquid Egg Whites
Papetti Foods Better 'n Eggs

Mills Family Farms
Mills Family Farms Green Cascade Mix-Baby Romaine & Baby Green Leaf
Mills Family Farms Wholeaves Sandwich & Salad Lettuce - Green Leaf
Mills Family Farms Wholeaves Sandwich & Salad Lettuce - Red Leaf
Mills Family Farms Wholeaves Sandwich & Salad Lettuce - Romaine
Milton's Baking Company
Milton's Baking Classics Cinnamon Raisin Wheat Bread
Milton's Baking Classics Corn Bread
Milton's Baking Classics Oat Bran Bread
Milton's Baking Classics Wheat Bread
Milton's Healthy Multi-Grain Plus Bread
Milton's Healthy Whole Grain Plus Bread
Milton's Original Healthy Multi-Grain Bread
Milton's Whole Grains 100% Whole Wheat Bread

Motts LLP
Yoo-hoo Lite Chocolate Drink

Murray's Free Roaming Chicken, Inc.
Murray's Extra Lean 99% Fat Free Boneless & Skinless Chicken

New World Pasta Company
Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Multi-Grain Pasta-Fusilli
Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Multigrain Pasta - Spaghetti Style
Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Blend Extra Wide Noodle - Style
Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Blend Pasta - Linguine
Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Blend Pasta - Penne Rigate
Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Blend Pasta - Rotini
Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Blend Pasta - Spaghetti Style
Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Blend Pasta - Thin Spaghetti
Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Blend Pasta-Lasagna
Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Blend Wide Noodle - Style

Nonna's Kitchen, Inc.
Columbus Reduced Sodium Turkey Breast

North American Beverage Company
Chocolate Moose - All Natural Premium Milk Chocolate Drink
Chocolate Moose - Cookies & Cream Premium Milk Chocolate Drink
Mega Moose Energy Drink-Strawberry Blast

Nulaid Foods Inc.
Nulaid ReddiEgg Real Egg Product

Oberto Sausage Company
Kirkland Signature Premium Brisket Roast Beef

Old Orchard Brands LLC
Old Orchard 100% Grape Juice
Old Orchard 100% Grape Juice - Frozen Concentrate

POM Wonderful, LLC
POM Wonderful Fresh Pomegranate Arils
POM Wonderful Frozen Pomegranate Arils
POM Wonderful Pomegranates

Packerland Processing Co., Inc.
Meijer Extra Lean Ground Beef 96/4

Peco Foods, Inc.
Member's Mark All Natural Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat
Member's Mark All Natural Boneless Skinless Chicken Tenderloins

Pepperidge Farm, Inc.
Pepperidge Farm 100% Natural 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Pepperidge Farm 100% Natural 9 Grain Bread
Pepperidge Farm 100% Natural German Dark Wheat Bread
Pepperidge Farm 100% Natural Honey Flax Bread
Pepperidge Farm 100% Whole Wheat Bagels
Pepperidge Farm 100% Whole Wheat English Muffins
Pepperidge Farm 100% Whole Wheat Hearty Texture Whole Grain Bread
Pepperidge Farm 100% Whole Wheat Mini Bagels
Pepperidge Farm 15 Grain Hearty Texture Whole Grain Bread
Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse Soft 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Pepperidge Farm Golden Harvest Grains Hearty Texture Whole Grain Bread
Pepperidge Farm Light Style 7 Grain Bread
Pepperidge Farm Light Style Soft Wheat Bread
Pepperidge Farm Oatmeal Hearty Texture Whole Grain Bread
Pepperidge Farm Soft Honey Oat Smooth Texture Whole Grain Bread
Pepperidge Farm Soft Honey Whole Wheat Smooth Texture Whole Grain Bread
Pepperidge Farm Very Thin Soft 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Multi-Grain Bagels
Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Swirl Bread - Cinnamon
Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Swirl Bread - Cinnamon with Raisins

Perdue Farms, Inc.
Perdue Individually Frozen All Natural 99% Fat Free Chicken Tenderloins
Perdue Tender & Tasty 99% Fat Free Individually Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
Perdue Tender & Tasty 99% Fat Free Individually Wrapped Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
Perdue/Kirkland Signature Individually Frozen All Natural 99% Fat Free Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
Eat Well Stay Healthy Chicken Breast Salad
Eat Well Stay Healthy Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat (15% Chicken Broth)
Eat Well Stay Healthy Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Thin Sliced Breasts with Rib Meat (15% Chicken Broth)
Eat Well Stay Healthy Fresh Chicken Breast Tenderloins (15% Chicken Broth)
Eat Well Stay Healthy Fully Cooked Rotisserie Skinless Chicken Split Breasts - Garden Herb
Gold Kist Farms 100% Natural 99% Fat Free Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
Gold Kist Farms All Natural 99% Fat Free Boneless Skinless Breasts
Gold Kist Farms/Kirkland Signature All Natural 99% Fat Free Boneless Skinless Breasts
HyVee/Country Pride 97% Fat Free Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets with Rib Meat (15% Chicken Broth)
HyVee/Country Pride 97% Fat Free Skinless Split Chicken Breasts with Ribs (12% Chicken Broth)
HyVee/Country Pride 99% Fat Free Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Tenderloins (15% Chicken Broth)
Meijer Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Tenderloins (15% Marination)
Meijer Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat (15% Marination)
Pilgrim's Pride Eat Well Stay Healthy Grilled Chicken Breast Fillets
Pilgrim's Pride Eat Well Stay Healthy Grilled Chicken Breast Strips
Pilgrim's Pride Eat Well Stay Healthy Italian Style Grilled Chicken Breast Fillets
Pilgrim's Pride Eat Well Stay Healthy Key Lime Flavor Chicken Breast Fillets
Pilgrim's Pride Eat Well Stay Healthy Kids Fully Cooked Breaded Chicken Nuggets
Pilgrim's Pride Eat Well Stay Healthy Kids Fully Cooked Breaded Popcorn Chicken
Pilgrim's Pride Eat Well Stay Healthy Lemon Herb Chicken Breast Fillets
Pilgrim's Pride Eat Well Stay Healthy Savory Chicken Breast Fillets
Pilgrim's Pride Eat Well Stay Healthy Szechwan Chicken Breast Tenderloins
Pilgrim's Pride Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat Individually Wrapped (15% Chicken Broth)
Pilgrim's Pride Fresh Chicken 100% Natural Boneless Skinless Breasts with Rib Meat
Pilgrim's Pride Fresh Chicken 100% Natural Boneless Skinless Breasts with Rib Meat (15% Chicken Broth)
Pilgrim's Pride Fresh Chicken 100% Natural Breast Tenderloins
Pilgrim's Pride Fresh Chicken 100% Natural Breast Tenderloins (15% Chicken Broth)
Pilgrim's Pride Fresh Chicken 100% Natural Skinless Split Breasts with Ribs
Pilgrim's Pride Fresh Chicken 100% Natural Skinless Split Breasts with Ribs (12% Chicken Broth)
Pilgrim's Pride Fresh Chicken Breast Tenderloins Individually Wrapped (15% Chicken Broth)
Pilgrim's Pride Individually Frozen Fully Trimmed 99% Fat Free All Natural Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (15% Chicken Broth)
Schnucks 99% Fat Free Chicken Breast Tenderloins
Schnucks 99% Fat Free Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets
Schnucks 99% Fat Free Thin Sliced Skinless Chicken Breast Fillets

Quaker Oats Company/Tropicana Products, Inc., The
Crystal Wedding Oats
Old-Fashioned Quaker Oats
Quaker Cinnamon Life
Quaker Essentials Oat Bran
Quaker Essentials Oatmeal Squares - Brown Sugar
Quaker Essentials Oatmeal Squares - Cinnamon
Quaker Essentials Toasted Oatmeal - Brown Sugar
Quaker Essentials Toasted Oatmeal - Honey Nut
Quaker Honey Graham Life
Quaker Instant Oatmeal - Apple Crisp
Quaker Instant Oatmeal - Apples & Cinnamon
Quaker Instant Oatmeal - Cinnamon & Spice
Quaker Instant Oatmeal - Cinnamon Roll
Quaker Instant Oatmeal - Flavor Variety
Quaker Instant Oatmeal - Maple & Brown Sugar
Quaker Instant Oatmeal - Raisins & Spice
Quaker Instant Oatmeal - Regular Flavor
Quaker Instant Oatmeal Bakery Favorites Variety Pack (Apple Crisp/Cinnamon Roll/Banana Bread)
Quaker Instant Oatmeal Crunch - Apples & Cinnamon
Quaker Instant Oatmeal Crunch - Magicolor Cinnamon
Quaker Instant Oatmeal Crunch - Maple & Brown Sugar
Quaker Instant Oatmeal Crunch - Mixed Berry
Quaker Instant Oatmeal Lower Sugar - Apples & Cinnamon
Quaker Life
Quaker Life Chocolate Oat Crunch
Quaker MultiGrain Hot Cereal
Quaker Oat Bran Hot Cereal
Quaker Take Heart Instant Oatmeal - Blueberry
Quaker Take Heart Instant Oatmeal - Golden Maple
Quick 1 Minute Quaker Oats
Tropicana Pure Premium Calcium + Vitamin D No Pulp Orange Juice
Tropicana Pure Premium Fiber Some Pulp Orange Juice
Tropicana Pure Premium Golden No Pulp Grapefruit Juice
Tropicana Pure Premium Grovestand Calcium + Vitamin D Lots of Pulp Orange Juice
Tropicana Pure Premium Grovestand Lots of Pulp Orange Juice
Tropicana Pure Premium Healthy Heart No Pulp Orange Juice with Omega 3
Tropicana Pure Premium Homestyle Some Pulp Orange Juice
Tropicana Pure Premium Light 'n Healthy Calcium No Pulp Orange Juice
Tropicana Pure Premium Light 'n Healthy Calcium No Pulp Orange Juice
Tropicana Pure Premium Low Acid No Pulp Orange Juice
Tropicana Pure Premium Original No Pulp Orange Juice
Tropicana Pure Premium Ruby Red Some Pulp Grapefruit Juice

R.A.B. Food Group LLC
Manischewitz Premium 100% Grape Juice

Rader Farms, Inc.
Rader Farms Nature's Three Berries

Red Gold, LLC
Sacramento Tomato Juice from Concentrate with Enhanced Tomato Flavor

Ruprecht Company
Sommers 100% Organic Extra Lean Beef Burgers

Sal & Judy's Products, LLC
Sal & Judy's Heart Smart Italian Sauce

Sealord North America, Inc.
Sealord Deep Sea Dory Fillets
Sealord Orange Roughy Fillets

Setton International Foods, Inc.
Setton Farms Heart Healthy Mix

Simmons Foods, Inc.
Member's Mark All Natural 99% Fat Free Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast

Smithfield Lean Generation Cuts
SLG: All Natural Pork Tenderloin
SLG: Marinated Hickory Sweet Center Cut Boneless Pork Loin
SLG: Marinated Hickory Sweet Pork Chops
SLG: Marinated Hickory Sweet Pork Loin Filet
SLG: Marinated Hickory Sweet Pork Tenderloin
SLG: Marinated Peppercorn & Garlic Pork Tenderloin
SLG: Marinated Pork Loin Fillet - Peppercorn & Garlic
SLG: Self-Basting Boneless Pork Loin Center Cut Chops
SLG: Self-Basting Boneless Whole Pork Loin
SLG: Self-Basting Pork Tenderloin

Smithfield Lean Generation Deli
SLG Deli: 98% Fat Free Canadian Brand Maple Ham
SLG Deli: 98% Fat Free Cooked Ham
SLG Deli: 98% Fat Free Honey Cured Ham
SLG Deli: 98% Fat Free Tavern Ham
SLG Deli: 98% Fat Free Virginia Brand Ham

Smithfield Premium Cuts
Smithfield: Self-Basting Pork Tenderloin

Solis Brands, Inc.
ZOIC Belgian Chocolate Nutrition Drink
ZOIC French Vanilla Nutrition Drink

Springerhill Ranch Meat Products
Springerhill Ranch Brand All Natural 98% Fat Free Beef Tenderloin Steaks
Springerhill Ranch Brand All Natural Ground Beef-98% Lean 2% Fat

StarKist Seafood Company
StarKist Chunk Light Tuna in Water
StarKist Chunk White Albacore Tuna in Water
StarKist Gourmet Choice Albacore Tuna Fillet in Water
StarKist Gourmet Choice Chunk Light Tuna in Water
StarKist Gourmet Choice Solid Light Tuna Fillet in Water
StarKist Low Sodium Chunk Light Tuna in Water
StarKist Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water
StarKist Very Low Sodium Chunk White Albacore Tuna in Water

Sunrise Growers, Inc.
Sunrise Growers California Strawberries

Swift Foods dba Swift & Company
Extra Lean Ground Pork
Swift Boneless Pork Sirloin Cutlets
Swift Natural Fresh Pork-Boneless Pork Center Cut Loin Chops
Swift Natural Fresh Pork-Boneless Pork Leg for London Broil
Swift Natural Fresh Pork-Boneless Pork Top Loin Roast
Swift Natural Fresh Pork-Pork Strips for Barbecue
Swift Pork Center Cut Loin
Swift Pork Sirloin Tip Roast
Swift Pork Tenderloin
Swift Premium Guaranteed Tender Pork-Boneless Bottom Round
Swift Premium Guaranteed Tender Pork-Boneless Center Cut Loin Chops
Swift Premium Guaranteed Tender Pork-Boneless Pork Loin Filet
Swift Premium Guaranteed Tender Pork-Boneless Pork Tenderloin
Swift Premium Guaranteed Tender Pork-Boneless Sirloin Cutlets
Swift Premium Guaranteed Tender Pork-Boneless Strips for Barbecue
Swift Premium Guaranteed Tender Pork-Pork Top Round
Swift/Kirkland Signature Pork Sirloin Tip Roast
Trader Joe's Butcher Shop - Pork Sirloin Tri Tip
Trader Joe's Butcher Shop Boneless Center Cut Pork Loin Cutlets
Trader Joe's Butcher Shop Natural Pork-Boneless Pork Loin Chops
Trader Joe's Butcher Shop Natural Pork-Pork Shoulder Boneless Strips
Trader Joe's Butcher Shop-Pork Tenderloin

T. J. Kraft, Ltd.
Hawaiian Pacific Ahi Tuna Steaks

Taylor Packing Co., Inc.
Century Farm 96/4 Extra Lean Ground Beef

The Baker
The Baker 7-Grain Sourdough Whole Wheat Bread

Thumann's Inc
Thumann's All Natural Black Forest Brand Ham
Thumann's All Natural Capless Roast Beef
Thumann's All Natural Oven Roasted Gourmet Chicken Breast
Thumann's All Natural Oven Roasted Gourmet Turkey Breast
Thumann's Buffalo Style Oven Roasted Chicken Breast
Thumann's Capless Roast Beef
Thumann's Golden Roasted Filet of Turkey - Rotisserie Flavor
Thumann's Golden Roasted Gourmet Turkey
Thumann's Our Short Cut Deluxe Cooked Ham - Lower Sodium
Thumann's Oven Roasted Premium Chicken Breast

Tony Downs Foods Company
Member's Mark 98% Fat Free Premium Chunk Chicken Breast in Water

Topco Associates, LLC
Food Club Individually Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts-15% Seasoned Chicken Broth
Food Club Individually Frozen Chicken Tenderloins-15% Seasoned Chicken Broth

Tumaro's Inc.
Tumaro's Chipotle Chili & Peppers Healthy Flour Tortillas
Tumaro's Garden Spinach & Vegetables Healthy Flour Tortillas
Tumaro's Honey Wheat Healthy Flour Tortillas
Tumaro's Jalapeno & Cilantro Healthy Flour Tortillas
Tumaro's Pesto & Garlic Healthy Flour Tortillas
Tumaro's Premium White Healthy Flour Tortillas
Tumaro's Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Healthy Flour Tortillas

Tyson Foods, Inc.
Tastybird Individually Frozen Chicken-Boneless, Skinless Breast Portions with Rib Meat
Tastybird Individually Quick Frozen Chicken-Boneless, Skinless Tenderloins
Tyson 100% All Natural Thin 'N Fancy Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat (<3% Water)
Tyson 100% All Natural Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat (<1%/,2% Water)
Tyson 100% All Natural Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (15% Natural Chicken Broth)
Tyson 100% All Natural Chicken Breast Tenderloins (15% Natural Chicken Broth)
Tyson 100% All Natural Chicken Breast Tenderloins (<1% Water)
Tyson 100% All Natural Premium Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat (15% Natural Chicken Broth)
Tyson 100% All Natural Skinless Split Chicken Breasts with Ribs (12% Natural Chicken Broth)
Tyson 100% All Natural Skinless Split Chicken Breasts with Ribs (>3% Water)
Tyson 100% All Natural Thin 'N Fancy Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat (15% Natural Chicken Broth)
Tyson Ice Glazed Chicken Individually Frozen 99% Fat Free Boneless, Skinless Breast Tenderloins (8% Seasoned Chicken Broth)
Tyson Individually Fresh Frozen All Natural 99% Fat Free Boneless Skinless Chicken Tenderloins (8% Water & Kosher Salt)
Tyson Individually Fresh Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat (15% Chicken Broth)
Tyson Individually Fresh Frozen Chicken Tenderloins (15% Chicken Broth)
Tyson Individually Frozen 100% All Natural Individually Wrapped Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (15% Natural Chicken Broth)
Tyson Individually Frozen All Natural 99% Fat Free Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Tenderloins (8% Chicken Broth)
Tyson Individually Frozen All Natural Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat (8% Broth Glaze & 15% Seasoned Chicken Broth)
Tyson Individually Frozen All Natural Extra Lean Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast with Rib Meat (8% Chicken Broth)
Tyson Individually Frozen Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat (15% Chicken Broth)
Tyson/Kirkland Signature All Natural 99% Fat Free Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (8% Water & Kosher Salt)
Tyson/Tastybird Individually Frozen Boneless Skinless Breasts with Rib Meat (10% Seasoned Chicken Broth)
Tyson/Tastybird Individually Frozen Chicken-Boneless Skinless Breasts with Rib Meat (10% Natural Chicken Broth)

Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc.
100% Pure Extra Lean Ground Beef 96/4
96/4 All Natural Extra Lean Ground Beef

United Food Group, LLC
Miller's 100% Pure Ground Beef - 4% Fat
Moran's All Natural 4% Fat 100% Ground Beef Hamburger Patties
Moran's All Natural 4% Fat Ground Beef
Trader Joe's Butcher Shop 4% Fat Ground Beef

Welch Foods, Inc.
Welch's 100% Grape Juice (Purple)
Welch's 100% Grape Juice (Purple) - Frozen Concentrate
Welch's 100% Grape Juice (Purple) - Pourable Concentrate
Welch's 100% Grape Juice Calcium (Purple)
Welch's 100% Grape Juice with Fiber
Welch's Organic 100% Concord Grape Juice
Welch's Organic 100% Concord Grape Juice - Frozen Concentrate

West Liberty Foods, LLC
Honey Roasted & Smoked Breast of Turkey - 98% Fat Free
Kirkland Signature All Natural Fully Cooked Sliced Turkey Breast
Oven Roasted Breast of Turkey Browned in Soybean Oil - 98% Fat Free

I'm very troubled by the American Heart Association's (AHA) willingness to lend its logo and stamp of approval to a multitude of garbage foods like Cocoa Puffs and Berry Kix cereals.

So I contacted the AHA and spoke to the manager of the Food Certification Program, Ms. Linda Rupp. Ms. Rupp proved very helpful in helping me to understand.

I originally called her to find out just how many products were turned down. In view of 768 products on the approved list, I wondered how many had been rejected to generate this "select" group.

Unfortunately, she said that the number of products rejected was not tracked, though she did intimate that it was not a lot. Sometimes, she added, a rejected product will undergo a few "improvements" to help it achieve the criteria necessary for AHA approval.

What exactly is considered in an application for the Food Certification Program?

A food must have 1)total fat 3.0 grams or less, 2) saturated fat 1.0 gram or less, 3) 20 grams or less cholesterol, 4) 480 mg or less sodium, all per serving.

She also pointed out that, given the fact that a food as useless and lacking in health qualitites as jelly beans could meet this criteria, the AHA employs a special "Jelly Bean Rule" that stipulates that 10% of the Daily Value of 6 nutrients (e.g., fiber, vitamins A and C, etc.) must also be contained in a serving.

So those are the startlingly lax requirements to gain the privilege of affixing the AHA Heart Check Mark on your product and informing the public that your box of Cocoa Puffs, Cookie Crisp cereal, or Berry Kix is "heart healthy."

There is an epidemic of obesity in the U.S. I don't believe that the AHA endorsement helps. In fact, I believe that it has been a contributor to obesity.

Pardon me while I eat this bag of M&M's for my heart.

Here is detailed comment from a reader who figured out the wheat (and dairy) issue on her own with impressive results.

Though it seems an unpardonable over-simplification of diet, this concept of eliminating wheat-based products (along with obvious unhealthy foods like candy and soda) yields unexpectedly large results, as our reader relates.

Hi Dr. Davis,

Several years ago, chronic untreated asthma infections hospitalized me. I thought it was recurring bronchitis as I'd never had asthma in my life. Killed much of the alveoli... took awhile to de-crap the lungs and regrow the alveoli. Got assigned a cardiologist sort-of by accident while in the hospital for that (couple days of constant heated steroid, stress, a pain + situation combined, elevated my heart rate to 298 for a brief time). When I went to see him, he wrote me a prescription for the Eades' PPLP [Protein Power LifePlan] book.

It's taken awhile, since it's required radical gradual changes in most aspects of my overly Type-A life, but I'm now about 140 lbs lighter, and hopefully much more in the future.

Miraculously, after 10 days on a hard meat-eggs-cheese-veggie-berry approach (which I sadly confess was mostly pepperoni & mozz nuked... I was busy! ;-)), all my medical symptoms disappeared too. Acid reflux, acne, brain-fog, rashes, 'severe asthma', allergies, etc. etc. By trial and error I realized I wrongly attributed that to lowcarbing when it was getting off gluten that actually did it for me. Which since I'm lowcarb also means all the crap my celiac boyfriend can eat, I can't. Lowcarb does many great things for me (just dropping all the bloating and increasing the energy level are awesome), but getting off wheat was critical.

I've since found that a single tablespoon of "milk" in the morning, or something with wheat (say a tortilla), will make me ravenous *specifically for milk and wheat* all day. Conversely, I can be eating lowcarb and then eat total junk--but something without gluten--and not have it bother me much at all. But one pumpernickel slice at Outback and I am DOOMED. It doesn't always happen that instant; will-power has some sway; but the odds of my making a 'poor decision that leads to cascade failure and totally abandoning my eating plan' in the next 48 hours is astronomically higher if milk or wheat were involved. Oddly, cheese does not seem to affect me this way.

When I was younger (I'm 42 now) I had to stop drinking milk. If I drank some I wanted more. If I drank more I needed more. If I drank more, that was it: I'd be stumbling to the kitchen in the dark at 3am, drinking out of the carton, falling gasping against the refrigerator after several long gulps, like a heroin addict who just got a fix. I finally realized that since I'd lived on a ton of milk my whole life, maybe this was a milk problem; so I usually stayed away from it. So then it turned out wheat/gluten were an issue too. Which made me realize how much of my life was filled with not-eating most of the time (very busy, workaholic, but very sedentary), but when I did eat, ingesting amazing amounts of wheat products. I'm astounded that my whole life I mostly ate things I am apparently intolerant to "or something." Sometimes I wonder how much different even my brain would be if it'd been different.

This might contribute to my ending up weighing 500# at one point. The only amazing thing is that I didn't get a disease. (Well I did--obesity--but I mean any others.) I'm from a family of people who are mostly fat, mostly alcoholic, and mostly dead of cancer. I'm just fat, worse than the others but otherwise seemingly ok. Now I'm starting to think that maybe my whole family may have some 'issue' with the primary foods of our culture.

I tell friends that my horrible chronic acid reflux was solved merely by getting off gluten. They nearly all say, "I could never give up bread!" (Isn't it funny, you never hear people say, "Oh man, I could never give up broccoli!") I tried to convince one young friend to try it; her doctor told her eating more protein and fat was unhealthy, and gave her a prescription (this is lifetime--it doesn't cure it, merely treats the symptom) to a drug to help with acid reflux. I said you're kidding me, you think taking a drug the rest of your life is healthier than trading your pasta for a steak?? Go figure.

I still haven't figured out the milk connection (or why I seem ok with cheese for some reason; maybe there is a dosage-difference, or the sugar combined with it has some effect), but I think it's pretty clear that dropping milk and wheat has very radically changed my life for the better. I may actually live, which being a single mom to an awesome 11 year old girl, is a good thing.

Best,
P.

Given the confusion over what constitutes the "ideal" diet, a discussion that has been hotly debated for decades, some people become very angry that we still don't agree on what is truly healthy.

"Why should I even try if the experts don't agree? They say something is bad one day, then say it's okay the next!"

But that's a short-sighted half-truth born of frustration. We have certainly zigzagged in our understanding of diet over the years. The grand national experiment in low-fat eating, for instance, clearly failed to improve our health. In fact, the opposite occurred: The largest epidemic of obesity and diabetes in world history. You could get angry from this failed experiment . . . or you could learn from it, take what lessons we can and improve on it.

Step back for a moment and consider: In what other age could we even have this discussion?

If we lived in a world where you were hungry, your children were hungry, and you didn't know where the day's food was to be found, we would have no need whatsoever for this conversation: You would take whatever you could find, kill, or steal.

Say you woke up this morning and your cabinets and refrigerator were empty. The stores were far away or non-existent. You and your family would have to improvise, to forage or hunt your day's food. It would require hours. You wouldn't fuss about glycemic index, or saturated fat, or whether or not sugar or wheat was present. You would just eat whatever you could get your hands on. When caloric deprivation threatens, we take what is available.

But we live in a world of plenty--of enormous excess--that allows us choices. It is a world that encourages eating more than is required for existence, a world tailored more to indulgence than to simple satiety or sustenance. That's when distinctions among food types and quality make a difference. But it is a dilemma born of riches.

Starvation and caloric deprivation would settle the argument for us very quickly. It doesn't mean that we shouldn't continue to debate the finer points of diet. But don't do it with anger or frustration. Do it GRATEFULLY, recognizing that we are lucky to be able to have such a conversation in the first place.

Image courtesy Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

I frequently peruse conventional health websites to keep track of their message. One painfully conventional (read "drug company-supported") website that echoes the standard advice on heart disease and heart health is Everyday Health .

Since I subscribe to the newsletters for many conventional sites, I received an e-mail that took me to this Q & A about HDL cholesterol:

Q: I'm 36 years old and my good cholesterol is too low. What can I do?
– Nilsa, Florida

Dr. Lori Mosca of New York-Presbyterian Hospital responds:

A: A woman's HDL goal should be greater than 50 mg/dL (greater than 40 mg/dL in men). You can raise your HDL levels by eating a diet low in saturated fat and trans fat but high in monounsaturated fats. Lose weight if you need to and get at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise on a minimum of four days per week. If you smoke, quit. Despite positive lifestyle changes, though, some individuals may still be candidates for HDL-raising drug therapy because they are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Discuss your options with your health care provider.

Are you satisified with that answer? I certainly am not.

First of all, is this something you've never heard before? "Eat right, exercise, cut your unhealthy fats." Then why do people who follow this sort of conventional advice often still fail? Is the next step always medication?

Here's the part that Dr. Mosca and other conventional, drug-minded "authorities" have left out:

To raise HDL powerfully--not to 40 mg/dl for males or 50 mg/dl for females, but to 60, 70 or 80 mg/dl--think about the following strategies:

--Eliminate wheat and cornstarch products. I have droned on endlessly about this concept, but it is enormously effective. While the weight loss that inevitably follows elimination of these foods adds to the HDL-raising effect, there is also an independent effect, as well.

--Fish oil--The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil reduce triglycerides. Triglycerides accelerate the destruction of HDL. Remove triglycerides, HDL goes up. (Though krill oil may share, even surpass this effect, we need more data than the single manufacturer-sponsored study.) Of course, this requires real doses, not the namby-pamby doses you often read about.

--Vitamin D--Achieving normal levels of 25(OH) vitamin D raises HDL with power I have never witnessed from any other strategy before, barring weight loss of 30+ lbs. Readers of the Heart Scan Blog know that just taking vitamin D is not enough. Verification with blood levels is an absolute necessity, particularly if raising HDL maximally is among your goals.

--Adding back saturated fat. I say "adding back" since most of us (including myself) went too far down the "saturated fat is bad" path over the past few years. While I do not advocate a carte blanche approach to saturated fat, I believe that adding back eggs (preferably free-range and/or omega-3 rich), lean meats, and hard cheeses is a good idea. The saturated fat in these foods raise HDL 5 or more mg/dl.

--Dark chocolate--Or other cocoa prepartions. What a cool way to raise HDL! Reach for the lowest-sugar, highest cocoa preparations.

--Alcoholic beverages--I am partial to the red wine/flavonoid-rich concept, being a wine drinker. Although all alcoholic beverages raise HDL due to the ethanol content, for benefits beyond alcohol (as well as to avoid wheat-based drinks like beer), I do believe that the bulk of data argue for flavonoid-rich red wines from southern France, Italy, and California.

--Achieve ideal weight--The toughest of all. But eliminating wheat and cornstarch makes it far easier.

Follow the conventional advice of those like Dr. Lori Mosca, and the majority of people will fail. ("It just so happens that I have a prescription drug just for that purpose!")

Buck the conventional advice, adopt strategies that won't be found in the drug ads, nor be provided by the conventionally-thinking, and you can succeed to heights you never thought possible.

Copyright 2008 William Davis, MD

Let me tell you a story, a tale of a woman who gained 30 lbs by eating one cracker.

At age 50, Claire's health was a disaster. Her initial lipoprotein patterns were a mess, including HDL 36 mg/dl, triglycerides 297 mg/dl, blood sugar 122 mg/dl (pre-diabetic range), blood pressure 155/99. Small LDL comprised over 90% of all LDL particles.

At 5 feet 3 inches, she weighed 210 lbs--90 lbs over her ideal weight. Her face was flushed and red, her eyes swollen and weighted down with bags, her eyes dull. While interested in hearing about how to improve her health, I would hardly call her enthusiastic.

We talked about how removing wheat products entirely from her diet could result in weight loss--enormous weight loss--yet with reduced appetite, increased energy, less daytime sleepiness and fogginess, improved sleep quality. Removing wheat would also allow substantial correction of her lipoprotein patterns with minimal medication.

At first, she seemed confused by this advice. After all, it ran directly opposite to what she'd been told by her family doctor, not to mention the advice from TV, food ads, and food packages.

To my surprise, Claire did it. She didn't return to the office for another 5 months. But she came in, a big beaming smile on her face.

Even at 167 lbs--still overweight--Claire looked great. She glowed. She'd already dropped nearly 2 1/2 inches from her waist. She felt lighter on her feet, discovered energy she thought she'd lost 10 years earlier. Her blood results matched, with dramatic shifts in each and every pattern.

I quizzed Claire on her diet, and she had indeed made substantial changes. In addition to eliminating all foods made of wheat flour, she also eliminated foods made with cornstarch, rice flour, snacks, and other sweets. She ate her fill of vegetables, fruits, raw nuts, lean meats, and healthy oils. She was less hungry while eating less. Even her husband, skeptical at first, joined Claire after the first two months and her initial 20 lbs of weight loss. He, too, was well on his way to dropping to ideal weight.

But a dinner party invitation came. In the few that Claire and her husband had gone to over the few months, she had religiously stuck to her program, choosing cheese, pickles, olives, vegetables that she dipped, but avoided the pretzels, breads, Doritos, potato chips, and others.

This time, a tray of whole wheat crackers was laid on the buffet table, covered with some sort of sweetened cheese. She had just one. She savored the taste that she'd missed. "Maybe one more. I'll be extra good this weekend,'" she told herself.

Now Claire was hungry. The bruschetta covered with tomatoes and mozzarella looked awfully good. "It's got some good things on it, too!" she thought. She had three.

The floodgates opened. I saw Claire three months later, weighing just shy of 200 lbs. "I almost cancelled this appointment," she whispered quietly, tears at the corner of her eyes. "I don't know what happened. I just lost control. After losing all that weight and feeling so good, I blew it!"

I've seen it before: Fabulous success eliminating the foods that created the situation--the insatiable appetite, the endless cycle of hunger, brief satiety, the rolling, rumbling hunger--followed by temptation, then disaster. The weight lost comes right back.

It's experiences like Claire's that have absolutely, positively convinced me: Wheat products are addictive. It's not true for everybody, but it's true for many people, certainly most people who have weight struggles. It triggers some sort of appetite button, a signal to eat more . . . and more, and more. Keep it up long enough, and you have drops in HDL, increases in triglycerides, upward jumps in blood sugar and blood pressure, diabetes, etc. It doesn't matter if it's whole grain, 7-grain, or 12-grain. Yes, the whole grains contain more fiber and more B vitamins. But they all share one characteristic: They trigger a desire for more.

So that's the story of how one whole wheat cracker caused one woman to gain 30 lbs.

Next week's story:

California woman claims: My children are aliens!

Just kidding.

Copyright 2008 William Davis, MD

Eliminate wheat from your diet and wonderful things happen:

--Lose 15-20 lbs, sometimes in the first 1-3 months. (More or less, depending on your prior dietary habits, weight, age, etc.)
--HDL cholesterol goes up, triglycerides go down
--Blood sugar drops
--Small LDL is reduced
--C-reactive protein is reduced
--Pre-diabetics often convert to non-diabetics
--Diabetics gain far better control over blood glucose. Some even become non-diabetic (as long as they maintain the wheat-free, low-glycemic index diet and weight control).
--You feel better: Less mental fogginess, more energy, better sleep.
--Appetite shrinks dramatically.

(Many diet programs makes lots of money promising similar results. Prescription medications like the pre-diabetes drugs, Actos and Avandia, and the fibrates, Tricor and Lopid, nearly--nearly--reproduce the effects of eliminating wheat. Of course, these medications do not lead to weight loss or make you feel better. In fact, Actos and Avandia usually trigger a weight gain of 8 lbs in the first year of use.)

All of these wonderful effects develop with elimination of wheat. . . unless you confuse wheat-free with gluten-free. There's a difference.

Remove wheat from your diet, but discover the world of gluten-free products made for people with celiac disease, or gluten enteropathy, and you can regain the weight and recreate many of the phenomena associated with wheat. I've talked about this in past, but it trips up so many people that it's worth talking about again.

The concept that I am advocating is really low-glycemic index (or low glycemic load, actually). Foods that trigger a substantial rise in blood sugar, whether immediate (like whole wheat crackers) or delayed (like whole wheat pasta) are the culprits. The same effects develop with candy, cookies, fruit drinks, pizza, chips, table sugar, and other junk foods.

However, I pick on wheat specifically because it so dominates the American diet. It has grown to fill so many processed food products. It is also a food ingredient that is falsely advertised as healthy. In reality, pretzels, whole wheat crackers, whole grain bread, high-fiber cereals, etc. exert the same effect on blood sugar as candy or white table sugar. They also generate all the "downstream" phenomena listed above.

But wheat is hardly the only food that makes us fat, diabetic, and unhealthy. This is true for foods made with cornstarch (taco shells, cornbread, tortillas, chips, breakfast cereals); rice flour, puffed rice, and polished rice; and potatoes, particularly pulverized potato starch (potato chips). There are others.

These are the gluten-free products that are marketed to the gluten enteropathy (celiac disease) market. Yes, you can make muffins with cornstarch and no wheat gluten, but is it good for you?

No. It is nearly as bad as wheat. It can still skyrocket blood sugar, drop HDL, raise triglycerides, create small LDL, heighten inflammation, etc.

Ground flaxseed, oat bran, barley, quinoa, are some of the alternatives that do not create these effects. But not the majority of gluten-free products on the market.

Ingredients: Potato starch, rice flour, modified corn starch, olive oil, yeast, vegetable protein(lupine), corn syrup, sugar, salt, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate, diacetyltataric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides of edible fats, natural flavor.

". . . only naturally gluten-free and wheat-free ingredients and adhere to the strictest quality processes, testing every batch for gluten using the ELISA assay."

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size 7 bread sticks (31g)
Servings per container 5

Calories 120 Calories from fat 25
Amount per serving
Total Fat 2.5g
Saturated Fat 0.5g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 310mg
Total Carb 24g
Dietary Fiber 1g
Sugars less than 1g
Protein less than 1g

Does chelation work?

It's a question I get asked fairly frequently. Although I have never performed chelation, IV or oral, and therefore have no direct experience, my concerns for this purported therapy have included:

1) The concept of extracting calcium from atherosclerotic plaque by removing it first from the blood is absurd. Early chelationists believed that this was the means by which EDTA might reverse coronary atherosclerosis. However, removing calcium from blood would more likely lead to osteoporosis or calcium extraction from bone, since bone is a more ready repository for calcium. Blood calcium levels are also tightly and narrowly controlled; any significant reduction in calcium ("hypocalcemia") can be life-threatening. And, indeed, there have been deaths from hypocalcemia in people receiving chelation.

More recently, chelationists have argued that removal of heavy metals like lead and mercury are responsible for the purported benefits of chelation. And, indeed, blood levels of these heavy metals can be reduced by chelation. That alone may be a benefit. But to then make the leap to say that it also regresses atherosclerotic plaque by the same mechanism has no basis in science.

2) Practitioners associated with chelation tend to be shady. I have seen homeopathic therapies (among THE most ridiculous of concepts), "energy balance" therapies, desiccated organ extracts ("applied kinesiology"), and a variety of other fringe treatments offered by practitioners offering chelation. This doesn't necessarily mean, of course, that chelation is also fringe or suspect, but it tends to be offered by practitioners who engage in generally unscientific, unfounded practices.

The few people I've seen go through multiple courses of chelation (usually 30 or so infusions) have shown no impact on heart scan scores or any other measure of heart disease.

In response to the many questions I receive on chelation, I had been answering that, if we would simply wait for the publication of the NIH-sponsored trial of IV chelation therapy, perhaps we'd know once and for all.

However, in a lengthy criticism, four expert authors argue that the TACT trial to assess chelation study is doomed to failure for an entire list of reasons and should therefore be abandoned. The discussion is available on Medscape Cardiology. (Free sign-in required.)

Why the NIH Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT) Should Be Abandoned
We investigated the social and the scientific histories of chelation therapy beginning in the 1950s. We examined TACT protocols and consent forms, which, in response to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, the NIH provided to us with curious redactions. We examined the existing RCTs and the numerous case series cited by the TACT protocols. We examined evidence for risks, including information that is not in the standard medical literature. We examined various hypotheses that advocates have offered to explain how chelation "works."

We present our findings in 4 parts. First, we provide a brief history of the use of disodium EDTA as a treatment for CAD. Next, we describe the origin and nature of the TACT. Next, we discuss the evidence for chelation as a treatment for CAD and for atherosclerosis in general, and place it in the context of other proposed treatments that have been ineffective after an initial period of enthusiasm. Finally, we discuss the risks. For each topic, we contrast our findings with relevant statements in the TACT literature, to the extent that such statements exist.

Among the highlights:

--Since the mid-1970s, court documents and newspapers have reported at least 30 deaths associated with IV disodium EDTA, most of it administered by ACAM members.

--Early chelation investigators had chosen the disodium salt of EDTA, reasoning that if it could remove calcium from atherosclerotic plaques, it might shrink them. That notion was soon demonstrated to be invalid. It has largely been replaced by a "toxic heavy metals" antioxidant hypothesis, which is based on the potential for metal ions to produce free radical damage. Chelationists now cite "removing heavy metals" as the basis for their claim that chelation is effective for approximately 70 conditions, ranging from schizophrenia and autism to cancer. This provides them with numerous reasons to ignore any trial that finds chelation ineffective for CAD.

--Biochemical literature, either not cited or misrepresented in the TACT protocols, has demonstrated that the heavy metals hypothesis is implausible. Antithetically, it also demonstrates that the chelation mixture used in the TACT has pro-oxidant effects in vitro.

--In our opinion, TACT literature -- including 2 versions of the protocol, the consent form, information posted on the NCCAM Web site, and 2 editorials co-authored by the PI -- has misrepresented chelation, its risks, and the facts of the study. It has exaggerated the value of supportive case series, not only by ignoring evidence of bias and incompetence, but by misrepresenting citations and reporting erroneous data. It has minimized the dangers, both by understatements and by omissions of specific, published complications. It has not acknowledged the deaths mentioned above. It has repeatedly conflated disodium EDTA and a different drug, calcium-sodium EDTA.

--The TACT includes nearly 100 "chelation site" co-investigators who, in our opinion, are unsuitable to care for human subjects or to report trial data. Most espouse implausible health claims while denigrating proven methods; several have been disciplined, for substandard practices, by state medical boards; several have been involved in insurance fraud; at least 3 are convicted felons. Several were members of the ACAM or GLACM IRBs mentioned above. Few appear to have real expertise, required by TACT literature, in treating patients with CAD or in conducting clinical trials. Most continue to promote chelation while the TACT is in progress, contrary to good science, to human studies ethics, and to US Federal Code.

While the criticism itself does not prove the point one way or another, as a clinical trial should, anyone contemplating chelation therapy would be well-advised to read the document first. Another reference: EDTA chelation therapy for cardiovascular disease: a systematic review.

The authors of the exhaustive discussion are:
Kimball C. Atwood IV, MD, Anesthesiologist, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, Massachusetts; Assistant Clinical Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Associate Editor, Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine
Author's email: katwood@partners.org

Elizabeth Woeckner, AB, MA, President, CIRCARE (Citizens for Responsible Care and Research), Columbia, Maryland

Robert S. Baratz, MD, DDS, PhD, Medical Director, South Shore Health Center, Inc., Braintree, Massachusetts; Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; President, National Council Against Health Fraud, Inc.

Wallace I. Sampson, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine (Emeritus), Stanford University, Stanford, California; Senior Attending Physician and formerly Chief of Medical Oncology, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, California; Editor-in-Chief, Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine

The authors provided the following disclosures:

Disclosure: Kimball C. Atwood IV, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships in addition to his employment.

Disclosure: Elizabeth Woeckner, AB, MA, has disclosed that she has received compensation for consulting in civil litigation and professional disciplinary actions.

Disclosure: Robert S. Baratz, MD, DDS, PhD, has disclosed that he has been retained by state licensing boards, the Office of the US Attorney, and plaintiff counsel as an expert in disciplinary proceedings and litigation with regard to chelation therapy and associated matters. He is compensated only for his time and has no commercial interest in the outcome of the proceedings or litigation.

Disclosure: Wallace I. Sampson, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships in addition to his employment.

These are actual quotes from the American Diabetes Association website:

Myth #2 (from list of Diabetes Myths): People with diabetes can't eat sweets or chocolate.
If eaten as part of a healthy meal plan, or combined with exercise, sweets and desserts can be eaten by people with diabetes. They are no more “off limits” to people with diabetes, than they are to people without diabetes.

Myth #5: If you have diabetes, you should only eat small amounts of starchy foods, such as bread, potatoes and pasta.
Starchy foods are part of a healthy meal plan. What is important is the portion size. Whole grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice and starchy vegetables like potatoes, yams, peas and corn can be included in your meals and snacks. The key is portions. For most people with diabetes, having 3-4 servings of carbohydrate-containing foods is about right. Whole grain starchy foods are also a good source of fiber, which helps keep your gut healthy.

How can I have sweets and still keep my blood glucose on target?
The key to keeping your blood glucose on target is to substitute small portions of sweets for other carb-containing foods in your meals and snacks. Carb-containing foods include bread, tortillas, rice, crackers, cereal, fruit, juice, milk, yogurt, potatoes, corn, and peas. For many people, having about 45 to 60 grams at meals is about right. Serving sizes make a difference. To include sweets in your meal, you can cut back on the other carb foods at the same meal.

For example, you’d like to have cookies with your lunch. Your lunch is a turkey sandwich with two slices of bread. Your first step is to identify the carb foods in your meal. Bread is a carb. You decide to swap two slices of bread for two slices of low-calorie bread and have the cookies -- it’s an even trade. Your total amount of carbohydrate remains the same for the meal.

Can I eat foods with sugar in them?
For almost every person with diabetes, the answer is yes! Eating a piece of cake made with sugar will raise your blood glucose level. So will eating corn on the cob, a tomato sandwich, or lima beans. The truth is that sugar has gotten a bad reputation. People with diabetes can and do eat sugar. In your body, it becomes glucose, but so do the other foods mentioned above. With sugary foods, the rule is moderation. Eat too much, and 1) you'll send your blood glucose level up higher than you expected; 2) you'll fill up but without the nutrients that come with vegetables and grains; and 3) you'll gain weight. So, don't pass up a slice of birthday cake. Instead, eat a little less bread or potato, and replace it with the cake. Taking a brisk walk to burn some calories is also always helpful.

Or take a look at the recipes for breads, muffins, cakes, pies, cookies, and pizza.

My point? As I often say, while the "official" organizations like the American Diabetes Association, the American heart Association, and the USDA dominate the message provided to mainstream Americans, to those of us who know better, they have become irrelevant. You can see how obviously boneheaded their advice is. I'd go so far as to say that, if you want diabetes, follow the American Diabetes Association diet. If you have diabetes, and you'd like to accelerate complications like kidney disease, heart disease, and neuropathy, then follow the American Diabetes Association diet.

I'm going to bet that American Diabetes Association sponsors like Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Merck, Pfizer, Abbott ($1 million or more annual contributions) and Cadbury Schweppes (3-year, multi-million dollar support for Weight Loss Matters program) will continue to charge full-speed ahead to maintain the status quo. Cadbury Schweppes are the proud makers of Dr. Pepper, Hawaiian Punch, Snapple, Motts' Apple Juice, and Hires Root Beer--you know, the foods and drinks that you can have as long as you adjust your insulin dose or talk to your doctor about adjusting your diabetes medications. And if you gain, say, 30 or 40 lbs eating these foods. . . well, we've got a treatment for that. Merck's Januvia , for instance, can help you out for only about $200 a month!

Looking at the facts this way, and it seems like some cheap conspiracy theory: They're all out to get us. Dispense information that virtually guarantees propagation of the disease, and all your friends and cronies profit. I don't know if it is or it isn't, but it sure smells like it sometimes.

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