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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 13, 2007

Diet Coke Passes The Acid Test

It's not just soda's sugar that harms your teeth. Acids in both regular and diet sodas erode tooth enamel, according to researchers at Southern Illinois University. They made the discovery after testing 20 commercial soft drinks.

Citrus-flavored sodas — think lemon-lime — were more harmful than colas. Even the diet versions of these fruity drinks caused significant enamel loss. The culprit: high levels of citric and phosphoric acids, which eat away at the outer layer of teeth.

Can't shake your soda habit? Go with Diet Coke. It contains such low amounts of acid that it has less impact on enamel than tap water.

menshealth.com

Organic Claims Bear Fruit

More proof that some organic foods may be better for you: Kiwifruit grown without pesticides end up with higher levels of heart-healthy polyphenols and vitamin C than conventionally grown fruits, food scientists at the University of California, Davis, recently found.

Polyphenols repel bugs, which find their taste bitter; when chemical pesticides (a no-no in organics regulation) aren't used, the plants produce more of these good-for-you substances to increase their chances of survival.

prevention.com

An Egg-Cellent Headache Cure

The next time your head starts throbbing, maybe you should try a hard-boiled egg. Eating protein can sometimes stop the pounding before it starts — or at least reduce its severity.

"It's important to eat protein, not carbs, because you don't want to raise your blood sugar too quickly," says Merle Diamond, M.D., associate director of the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago.

Carbs send your blood sugar soaring, then crashing, which can trigger headaches. Protein takes longer to digest, so it raises sugar levels slowly. Not an egg fan? Try nuts, string cheese or a protein bar. Avoid aged cheeses such as Camembert, which have been shown to cause headaches.

womenshealthmag.com

[Recipe of the week]

Mini Pita Burgers with Cucumber Mint Salad

Salad:

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/4 cup chopped mint

Kosher salt to taste

2 large cucumbers, peeled and thinly sliced

Burgers:

1 small onion, grated

1/4 cup chopped parsley

1 1/2 teaspoons cumin

1 teaspoon dried garlic

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon coriander

1 pinch salt (or more to taste)

1 pound lean ground beef (9 percent fat)

4 (6-inch) whole-wheat pitas, cut in half

Whisk mayonnaise, lemon juice, mint and salt in a medium bowl. Add cucumbers and toss. Set aside. Place onion, parsley, cumin, garlic, paprika, coriander and salt in a medium bowl, and stir until thoroughly combined. Add beef and blend mixture into meat with your hands. (Don't overhandle meat or burgers will get tough.)

Form beef into 16 mini patties and grill until cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. While burgers cook, lightly warm pita in toaster. To serve, stuff pita pocket with 4 or 5 cucumber slices and 2 burgers and drizzle with juices from salad. Serve remaining salad on side. Serves 4.

Per serving: 478 calories, 20 grams fat, 589 milligrams sodium, 44 grams carbs, 7 grams fiber, 35 grams protein

womenshealthmag.com

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