This is a great article taken from cnn.com that explains that the food you enjoy in some ways can be good for you.  To read the article in full  follow the link at the bottom of the page.

If you’ve been avoiding burgers, ice cream, and pizza thinking you’re doing your waistline a favor, don’t. They can actually help you lose weight — and keep it off, too. Here are the hidden slim-down perks of five foods that get a bad rap and the best way to add each one back into your diet.

Even burgers and meatballs can be light fare if you make them with ground sirloin, says Bonnie Gluck, M.S., R.D., a clinical dietitian at New York Methodist Hospital in New York City. “Lean red meat — lean being the operative word — is a great choice for women who are trying to shed pounds,” she says. “It’s an excellent source of protein. And protein takes longer to digest, helping you feel full and cutting the likelihood that you’ll snack later on.”

A study of 100 women from Australian researchers found that overweight women who ate reduced-calorie diets rich in protein from red meat and dairy lost more weight than those whose reduced-calorie plans had little meat and more carbs. “Protein can reduce hunger,” says study author Manny Noakes, Ph.D., associate professor with the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization (Australia’s national science agency) in Adelaide. And being less hungry while you’re trying to lose weight can prevent overeating.

Best way to enjoy it:Choose ground beef labeled “97 percent lean” or “extralean,” which means it has less than five grams of fat per serving. Want steak? Get lower-fat cuts from the loin, like sirloin tip, T-bone, or strip steak, Gluck says.

Watch out for:Beef that’s labeled Prime. “It’s very high in fat,” Gluck says. Buy cuts graded Choice; the meat has less fat and still tastes good. And remember to limit your portion size, no matter how lean the meat. “Many restaurants will serve an eight-ounce steak or burger, which means you’re getting twice the amount you actually need,” says Dave Grotto, R.D., author of “101 Foods That Could Save Your Life.” Stick to a three-ounce serving (roughly the size of a deck of cards).

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/diet.fitness/01/02/healthmag.bad.foods/index.html

Growing up in a world now a days we are always striving to come up with the next quick fix to our body images.  We have products being pushed upon us in our daily lives from celebrities to the Joe next door. Have you ever just thought maybe eating oatmeal can be the quick fix that we search for in our quest for a better more health body.

”We are obsessed with our weight and the need to lose weight, and yet we follow means of dieting that just takes care of the symptom and not the problem, which is faulty eating habits,” she added.

Despite well-publicized risks involved in taking diet pills, consumers continue to buy in mass quantities. The latest fad in the appetite suppressant boom is Emagrece, known more simply as the Brazilian diet pill, sold mostly on the Internet.

“Most of the diet pills that are touted in infomercials are, at best, ineffective and, at worst, dangerous to your health,” said “Good Morning America” medical contributor Dr. David Katz.

Many diet pills have an amphetamine-like compound, he added, which can be dangerous to your heart.

Fifteen pounds from her target weight, Lerner says she has given up the idea of quick fix for a healthier solution.

“I think it will be an ongoing thing, but yes, I am happy with how I feel and the way I look,” she said.

Lerner and other dieters will be pleased to learn that some great foods have natural, built-in appetite suppressants. Here are some foods to work into your diet, said Katz.

Oatmeal: A concentrated source of soluble fiber, oatmeal seems to contribute to a lasting sense of fullness because it stays in the intestines for a while. Also, it slows the nutrients going into your bloodstream.

Lentils: They have the same effect as oatmeal. Try tossing lentils into your salad or eat them as a side dish to a meal.

Apples or soup: These foods both take up a lot of space because they have so much water, but they have relatively few calories. An apple is a much bulkier food than highly processed food.

Coffee: If you are healthy, you can drink up to four cups of coffee a day. The caffeine acts as an appetite suppressant. Some people get insomnia from caffeine, so have your last cup by 4 p.m.

Salmon steak:This is a good example of a healthy protein source. Calorie for calorie, protein is more filling than fat and carbs.

Article from ABC NEWS