From Men's Fitness in my e-mail box
FOOD RATING KEY
A = Eat as often as you like
B = Eat every day, in moderation
C = Eat once a week
D = Limit your intake
F = Public health hazard--be afraid, be very afraid
BREAKFAST
JUICE
In large amounts, your body OD's on the natural and added sugar in juice, storing it as fat instead of burning it as energy (as it would normally when you eat whole fruit). Rating: D
BAGELS
There are two sides to every bagel, and each of them represents one portion. Keep that in mind, and it's OK to indulge your carb cravings. Unless you work out in the morning. In that case, eat both halves to refill depleted energy stores. Rating: B
MARGARINE
It's packed with trans-fatty acids that can raise cholesterol levels. Stick with butter or a trans-fat-free option such as Smart Beat instead. Rating: D
BANANAS
Call it the morning-after fruit: Bananas help to restore the potassium that drunken, dehydrated cells need to fight a hangover. Rating: A
CITRUS FRUITS
Eat oranges and grapefruits, and someday your knees and elbows will thank you. Vitamin C-rich diets appear to lower the risk of some degenerative joint conditions. Rating: A
EGGS
Research shows you need about 6 grams of essential amino acids before or after your workout to maximize muscle growth. Which is perfect since that's about the amount you'll find in two large eggs. Rating: B
WHEAT GERM
Toss a scoop in yogurt, smoothies, or cereal: Because it's loaded with vitamin E, wheat germ helps to repair the damage to your muscle cells caused by intense exercise, allowing your body to recover faster. Rating: B
BACON
Leave regular bacon to the diner crowd. Pick Canadian instead; it has twice the protein and half the fat. Make the switch and you can bump bacon's grade up to a B. Rating: C
COFFEE
Go ahead, pour yourself a cup. The latest data shows that plain coffee may reduce diabetes risk and enhance power and endurance in well-trained athletes. Rating: B
HIGH FIBER CEREALS
Studies show that guys who eat bran cereal frequently are happier, more alert, and have greater energy levels than guys who don't. Oatmeal is just as powerful, drastically increasing the supply of fuel to working muscles.
Rating for both: A
KIDS' CEREALS
Some brands are made up of nearly 45% sugar. If your favorite box has a comic on the back, check the nutrition label stat! If there are 8 g of sugar or fewer per serving, you're fine. Otherwise, it's time to terminate that tiger. Rating: C
LUNCH
FAST-FOOD BURGERS
When a whopping 64% of calories come from fat, even a low-carb marketing makeover can't turn this cash cow into healthy food. Cruise home and grill your own. Rating: F
COTTAGE CHEESE
Yes, it's calcium- and protein-pumped, but this lumpy cheese isn't quite as wholesome as you may think. A cup of the curd packs 918 mg of sodium--more than 35% of a healthy daily salt intake--so if you have high blood pressure, limit your intake. Rating: B
TOMATOES
With just 35 calories and 40 percent of your daily vitamin C apiece--plus a bounty of cancer fighting lycopene in every bite--tomatoes are one of the best vegetables you can eat, even if you have to resort to getting them as sauce on your slice. Rating: A
PIZZA
Italian docs recently found that guys who ate a small 6-inch pizza once a week had a 22% lower chance of suffering a coronary than patients who rarely touched the stuff. Rating: C
CHILI
Drive-up chili is a good source of protein and slow-release carbs. It's also an excellent source of fiber, with a single-cup serving packing nearly 10 grams or artery-clearing, appetite controlling fiber. Rating: B
SUBS
Keep the meats lean, the vegetables plentiful, avoid mayonnaise-laden toppings, and this ship's a go. Rating: B
CHICKEN
At 27 g of protein per skin-and-boneless 3-oz breast, chicken is one of the best muscle foods on legs. Rating: A
FRENCH FRIES
Are they the new "cancer sticks"? Possibly, thanks to the combination of frying and a cancer-causer called acrylamide in every fry. Rating: F
SPINACH
The iron in spinach is spackle for your sinew, helping to rebuild the muscle-tissue that strength training tears down. Rating: A
APPLES
An apple a day could keep a hacking cough away. Studies show that apples help to counteract damage from inhaled cigarette smoke. Rating: A
ONIONS
Quercetin-rich onions help battle cataracts, cancer and heart disease. (But be careful! They don't do much for your social life.) Rating: B
NACHOS
Swap regular chips for baked, lowfat cheese for full, add some salsa, refried beans and guac, and the angry clash of chips and cheese redeems itself big time. Rating: C
SUSHI
Want to appear smarter? Order sushi. Types of fat called EPA and DHA in fatty fish like salmon are important components of brain and sperm cells. So you're covered no matter which body part you think with. Rating: B
TUNA
Studies shows that increasing protein intake to 1.4 g per kilogram of body weight helps to trigger muscle growth. A 3-oz can of tuna packs 20 g--providing a whole lot of bang toward bigger guns. Rating: A
DARK CHOCOLATE
The high-quality antioxidants in the cocoa justify this indulgence, helping to delay aging and prevent the buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. Just stick to small servings. Rating: B
TURKEY
Barflies, beware: All that alcohol may leave you peeing your zinc stores down the pub urinal, causing your testosterone levels to plunge. Gobbling turkey will help cover your losses. Light meat is a good source and has less fat than dark.
Rating: A
SNACKS
BUTTERED POPCORN
A perfectly healthy whole-grain snack gone horribly wrong when drenched in butter or sugar. Eat it plain and it rates a B. Rating: F
CHOCOLATE MILK
Chocolate milk may be one of the best post-workout recovery drinks around, thanks to its high quality combo of protein and carbs--two nutrients in short supply after a hard bout of exercise. Rating: B
MUFFINS
Sounds virtuous, but a bakery-sized "Honey Bran Raisin" packs nearly 500 calories and 25% of the day's fat and carb grams. Rating: D
ANCHOVIES
Your pizza could do worse: These small, silvery fish are packed with the essential amino acids your body needs for muscle growth but can't produce on its own. Rating: B
BERRIES
Compounds in fresh berries work like Drano, inhibiting the buildup of "bad" LDL cholesterol in your pipes. Rating: A
PEANUT BUTTER
Don't fear the fat factor. A 2,700-calorie diet (average for an active guy) permits more than 90 g daily. So spoon it from the jar--just stick to golf ball size servings. Rating: B
BRAZIL NUTS
Crunching a few of these selenium-rich Amazons may help south of your equator, reducing their risk of advanced prostate cancer by 50% a Harvard study reports. Rating: B
PRETZELS
A large, soft pretzel can set you back nearly 500 calories. Ten twisty hard types will do half that damage but are still high in salt. Rating: D
DINNER
STEAK
You know lean cuts are good for building brawn. But studies suggest beef may also benefit your brains. It's a prime source of good quality iron and zinc, nutrients key to perception, memory, and reasoning. Rating: B
CORN
Corn's a bit of a nutritional underachiever compared with many of its produce-aisle shelf-mates. At about 40 g per cup, it's also one of the most carb-heavy cups of vegetables you can eat. Rating: C
FISH
Make it your goal to eat broiled or baked fish at least once weekly. Compared to once-monthly fish eaters, you'll be 28% less likely to suffer an irregular heartbeat, according to a recent study in the journal Circulation. Rating: A
CHILI PEPPERS
A compound called capsaicin which gives chilies their bite can also torch your appetite and increases your calorie burn. It works by boosting activity within your nervous system. (Keep milk or yogurt on hand to reduce any excess burn.) Rating: B
PASTA
So you're not a marathoner. Hard-earned muscle still needs insulin (an anabolic hormone) to supply the fuel that builds mass. Carb for complex carb, whole-wheat and white pasta are essentially equal--choose whole-wheat for triple the fiber. Rating: B
BROCCOLI
Every stalk of crunchy green broccoli contains hundreds of compounds called indoles and isothiocyanates--the nutritional equivalent of Teflon against illness and disease. Rating: A
BOOZE
Good news: Alcohol plus a steak dinner works like lighter fluid on your metabolism. Bad news: it's also a known enabler of belly fat. Compromise: stick with wine or limit yourself to no more than two single-shot drinks, minus the fruit juice and sugary soda mixers. Rating: C
OLIVE OIL
Olive oil is good for you for a thousand reasons. Here's one more: it'll keep you lean. Research shows that guys who dip their bread in olive oil eat 25% less on average than guys who choose butter. Rating: B
GRAPES
Arguably the hardest-working, disease-fighting fruit you can eat. Not only do grapes contain resveratrol to help cancer-proof your cells, studies show they also contain a compound called pterostilbene that may help battle diabetes. Rating: B
BEANS
They're the Rodney Dangerfields of food--getting no respect, despite a rich supply of antioxidants that help to keep your aging body from rusting like a junkyard car. Although all beans are good, black beans are the most potent antioxidant source. Rating: A
LAMB
Olympic hopefuls, take note: A 3-oz lean cut of lamb packs a powerful shot-put of isoleucine, leucine, and valine, branched-chain amino acids that may delay fatigue in athletes. Souvlaki, anyone? Rating: B
FISH STICKS
Fish masquerading as "healthy." Don't be fooled: That mild white meat is most likely breaded in a trans-fat-soaked crust. Rating: F
WILD RICE
Technically, it's not rice at all. But so what? Wild rice is crammed with intense nutty taste. It's also full of appetite-stomping fiber that forces your gut to burn more calories. Not bad for what is actually the seeds for long-grain marsh grass. Rating: A
FOOD RATING KEY
A = Eat as often as you like
B = Eat every day, in moderation
C = Eat once a week
D = Limit your intake
F = Public health hazard--be afraid, be very afraid
BREAKFAST
JUICE
In large amounts, your body OD's on the natural and added sugar in juice, storing it as fat instead of burning it as energy (as it would normally when you eat whole fruit). Rating: D
BAGELS
There are two sides to every bagel, and each of them represents one portion. Keep that in mind, and it's OK to indulge your carb cravings. Unless you work out in the morning. In that case, eat both halves to refill depleted energy stores. Rating: B
MARGARINE
It's packed with trans-fatty acids that can raise cholesterol levels. Stick with butter or a trans-fat-free option such as Smart Beat instead. Rating: D
BANANAS
Call it the morning-after fruit: Bananas help to restore the potassium that drunken, dehydrated cells need to fight a hangover. Rating: A
CITRUS FRUITS
Eat oranges and grapefruits, and someday your knees and elbows will thank you. Vitamin C-rich diets appear to lower the risk of some degenerative joint conditions. Rating: A
EGGS
Research shows you need about 6 grams of essential amino acids before or after your workout to maximize muscle growth. Which is perfect since that's about the amount you'll find in two large eggs. Rating: B
WHEAT GERM
Toss a scoop in yogurt, smoothies, or cereal: Because it's loaded with vitamin E, wheat germ helps to repair the damage to your muscle cells caused by intense exercise, allowing your body to recover faster. Rating: B
BACON
Leave regular bacon to the diner crowd. Pick Canadian instead; it has twice the protein and half the fat. Make the switch and you can bump bacon's grade up to a B. Rating: C
COFFEE
Go ahead, pour yourself a cup. The latest data shows that plain coffee may reduce diabetes risk and enhance power and endurance in well-trained athletes. Rating: B
HIGH FIBER CEREALS
Studies show that guys who eat bran cereal frequently are happier, more alert, and have greater energy levels than guys who don't. Oatmeal is just as powerful, drastically increasing the supply of fuel to working muscles.
Rating for both: A
KIDS' CEREALS
Some brands are made up of nearly 45% sugar. If your favorite box has a comic on the back, check the nutrition label stat! If there are 8 g of sugar or fewer per serving, you're fine. Otherwise, it's time to terminate that tiger. Rating: C
LUNCH
FAST-FOOD BURGERS
When a whopping 64% of calories come from fat, even a low-carb marketing makeover can't turn this cash cow into healthy food. Cruise home and grill your own. Rating: F
COTTAGE CHEESE
Yes, it's calcium- and protein-pumped, but this lumpy cheese isn't quite as wholesome as you may think. A cup of the curd packs 918 mg of sodium--more than 35% of a healthy daily salt intake--so if you have high blood pressure, limit your intake. Rating: B
TOMATOES
With just 35 calories and 40 percent of your daily vitamin C apiece--plus a bounty of cancer fighting lycopene in every bite--tomatoes are one of the best vegetables you can eat, even if you have to resort to getting them as sauce on your slice. Rating: A
PIZZA
Italian docs recently found that guys who ate a small 6-inch pizza once a week had a 22% lower chance of suffering a coronary than patients who rarely touched the stuff. Rating: C
CHILI
Drive-up chili is a good source of protein and slow-release carbs. It's also an excellent source of fiber, with a single-cup serving packing nearly 10 grams or artery-clearing, appetite controlling fiber. Rating: B
SUBS
Keep the meats lean, the vegetables plentiful, avoid mayonnaise-laden toppings, and this ship's a go. Rating: B
CHICKEN
At 27 g of protein per skin-and-boneless 3-oz breast, chicken is one of the best muscle foods on legs. Rating: A
FRENCH FRIES
Are they the new "cancer sticks"? Possibly, thanks to the combination of frying and a cancer-causer called acrylamide in every fry. Rating: F
SPINACH
The iron in spinach is spackle for your sinew, helping to rebuild the muscle-tissue that strength training tears down. Rating: A
APPLES
An apple a day could keep a hacking cough away. Studies show that apples help to counteract damage from inhaled cigarette smoke. Rating: A
ONIONS
Quercetin-rich onions help battle cataracts, cancer and heart disease. (But be careful! They don't do much for your social life.) Rating: B
NACHOS
Swap regular chips for baked, lowfat cheese for full, add some salsa, refried beans and guac, and the angry clash of chips and cheese redeems itself big time. Rating: C
SUSHI
Want to appear smarter? Order sushi. Types of fat called EPA and DHA in fatty fish like salmon are important components of brain and sperm cells. So you're covered no matter which body part you think with. Rating: B
TUNA
Studies shows that increasing protein intake to 1.4 g per kilogram of body weight helps to trigger muscle growth. A 3-oz can of tuna packs 20 g--providing a whole lot of bang toward bigger guns. Rating: A
DARK CHOCOLATE
The high-quality antioxidants in the cocoa justify this indulgence, helping to delay aging and prevent the buildup of cholesterol in your arteries. Just stick to small servings. Rating: B
TURKEY
Barflies, beware: All that alcohol may leave you peeing your zinc stores down the pub urinal, causing your testosterone levels to plunge. Gobbling turkey will help cover your losses. Light meat is a good source and has less fat than dark.
Rating: A
SNACKS
BUTTERED POPCORN
A perfectly healthy whole-grain snack gone horribly wrong when drenched in butter or sugar. Eat it plain and it rates a B. Rating: F
CHOCOLATE MILK
Chocolate milk may be one of the best post-workout recovery drinks around, thanks to its high quality combo of protein and carbs--two nutrients in short supply after a hard bout of exercise. Rating: B
MUFFINS
Sounds virtuous, but a bakery-sized "Honey Bran Raisin" packs nearly 500 calories and 25% of the day's fat and carb grams. Rating: D
ANCHOVIES
Your pizza could do worse: These small, silvery fish are packed with the essential amino acids your body needs for muscle growth but can't produce on its own. Rating: B
BERRIES
Compounds in fresh berries work like Drano, inhibiting the buildup of "bad" LDL cholesterol in your pipes. Rating: A
PEANUT BUTTER
Don't fear the fat factor. A 2,700-calorie diet (average for an active guy) permits more than 90 g daily. So spoon it from the jar--just stick to golf ball size servings. Rating: B
BRAZIL NUTS
Crunching a few of these selenium-rich Amazons may help south of your equator, reducing their risk of advanced prostate cancer by 50% a Harvard study reports. Rating: B
PRETZELS
A large, soft pretzel can set you back nearly 500 calories. Ten twisty hard types will do half that damage but are still high in salt. Rating: D
DINNER
STEAK
You know lean cuts are good for building brawn. But studies suggest beef may also benefit your brains. It's a prime source of good quality iron and zinc, nutrients key to perception, memory, and reasoning. Rating: B
CORN
Corn's a bit of a nutritional underachiever compared with many of its produce-aisle shelf-mates. At about 40 g per cup, it's also one of the most carb-heavy cups of vegetables you can eat. Rating: C
FISH
Make it your goal to eat broiled or baked fish at least once weekly. Compared to once-monthly fish eaters, you'll be 28% less likely to suffer an irregular heartbeat, according to a recent study in the journal Circulation. Rating: A
CHILI PEPPERS
A compound called capsaicin which gives chilies their bite can also torch your appetite and increases your calorie burn. It works by boosting activity within your nervous system. (Keep milk or yogurt on hand to reduce any excess burn.) Rating: B
PASTA
So you're not a marathoner. Hard-earned muscle still needs insulin (an anabolic hormone) to supply the fuel that builds mass. Carb for complex carb, whole-wheat and white pasta are essentially equal--choose whole-wheat for triple the fiber. Rating: B
BROCCOLI
Every stalk of crunchy green broccoli contains hundreds of compounds called indoles and isothiocyanates--the nutritional equivalent of Teflon against illness and disease. Rating: A
BOOZE
Good news: Alcohol plus a steak dinner works like lighter fluid on your metabolism. Bad news: it's also a known enabler of belly fat. Compromise: stick with wine or limit yourself to no more than two single-shot drinks, minus the fruit juice and sugary soda mixers. Rating: C
OLIVE OIL
Olive oil is good for you for a thousand reasons. Here's one more: it'll keep you lean. Research shows that guys who dip their bread in olive oil eat 25% less on average than guys who choose butter. Rating: B
GRAPES
Arguably the hardest-working, disease-fighting fruit you can eat. Not only do grapes contain resveratrol to help cancer-proof your cells, studies show they also contain a compound called pterostilbene that may help battle diabetes. Rating: B
BEANS
They're the Rodney Dangerfields of food--getting no respect, despite a rich supply of antioxidants that help to keep your aging body from rusting like a junkyard car. Although all beans are good, black beans are the most potent antioxidant source. Rating: A
LAMB
Olympic hopefuls, take note: A 3-oz lean cut of lamb packs a powerful shot-put of isoleucine, leucine, and valine, branched-chain amino acids that may delay fatigue in athletes. Souvlaki, anyone? Rating: B
FISH STICKS
Fish masquerading as "healthy." Don't be fooled: That mild white meat is most likely breaded in a trans-fat-soaked crust. Rating: F
WILD RICE
Technically, it's not rice at all. But so what? Wild rice is crammed with intense nutty taste. It's also full of appetite-stomping fiber that forces your gut to burn more calories. Not bad for what is actually the seeds for long-grain marsh grass. Rating: A
