That's Fit

Have your tried Wu Long Tea yet? Not me. But Fit Tip Daily says Oprah has, and Rachael Ray and fitness guru Bill Phillips have too. Apparently, it's a new miracle weight loss discovery, better than green tea and with a resume that includes these bullet points:

• Increases energy
• Decreases appetite
• Lowers blood pressure
• Relieves fatigue
• Cuts effects of carbs
• Helps with digestion
• Revitalizes skin
• Improves immunity
• Melts away fat

Hey, who needs anything else when a tea like this exists? Think this stuff could be too good to be true? I think so. But who am I? Oprah, now, she's someone. She likes her Wu Long Tea with some mulled spices (cinnamon, allspice, and cloves) and lemon and orange slices, and she drinks it every evening to avoid snacking after her strict 7:30 PM eating cut-off time. Maybe it works. But maybe it's just an aid to help folks like Oprah cut back on eating, which is the real cause of weight loss.

What do you think? Is this tea a true weight loss option a wacky diet dream?

Bubbly celebrity chef Rachael Ray is a kitchen rat, but not a gym rat. She looks pretty darn good for a gal who doesn't go to the gym and just blew out 40 candles on her birthday cake.

Fielding a few questions about her food and fitness habits over at Health, Ray shared:

• Like many Americans, she's got a gym card, but she doesn't use it. Though reaching mid-life may force her to reconsider.
• Ray is all about healthy volumes of food, nothing processed. To stay trim and still eat a bunch, she incorporates lean proteins and fresh vegetables. No Cheez-Its!
• I always love those what's-on-your-nightstand?-type questions posed to celebrities. When asked what was currently in her fridge, Ray revealed mustards and condiments for sauces, plenty of root veggies and fresh herbs. She keeps nuts, flour and dark chocolate (for hubby) in the freezer. I had no idea you could put flour in the freezer!
• She's partial to salty, not sweet.
• Buffalo Chicken Chili is her favorite recipe from her most recent cookbook -- Yum-o! The Family Cookbook -- encouraging healthy cooking with your kids.

Take the Rachael Ray challenge today and don't put one processed item of food in your mouth -- all day. Check out more pics of Rachael in the gallery of photos (Gettys).

Aaron Ferguson, a former accountant for Rachael Ray's TV cooking show, has filed a $1 million lawsuit after being fired. Ferguson has battled anorexia for about six years. While employed on Rachael Ray's show, Ferguson says others treated him with hostility because of his condition. He says that his supervisor made "vile, discriminatory, and hurtful comments."

Ferguson, who began working for CBS Television Distributions, Inc. in July 2007, says that he complained about the discriminatory language regarding people with anorexia, but the situation didn't improve. He was fired in October 2007. Ferguson feels he was terminated because he complained about wrongful treatment. Rachael Ray is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

If you know someone who is battling anorexia, bulimia, or other eating disorder, they need your support and understanding. HelpGuide has some information on eating disorders and how to best support loved ones who are battling the condition.

Dunkin' Donuts has a new spokesperson -- none other than celebrity chef Racheal Ray. The donut chain is re-vamping it's image and trying to get known for more than just donuts, and they're doing it with Rachael's help; In fact, she'll even be developing a beverage line.

Not everyone sees that as an ideal union, though. Anthony Bourdain, for one, thinks that Rachael's choice is a huge mistake and an irresponsible one at that: "I'm guessing she's not hurting for money," Bourdain has been quoted as saying. "She's hugely influential, particularly with children. And she's endorsing Dunkin' Donuts. It's like endorsing crack for kids."

What do you think? Will this move help bring about healthy changes at Dunkin' Donuts, or is she essentially lending her support to the obesity expidemic?