Photo: Quron.us

Whether you're a full-fledged vegetarian or just choose to observe Meatless Mondays, chances are good you've indulged in some sort of meat substitute before. Well, some frightening news has arisen regarding one brand-name meat substitute: Quorn. A class action lawsuit has been brought against the brand because it makes a significant portion of consumers ill; some, violently ill.

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, studies as early as 1977 showed adverse reactions, including nausea and vomiting, in about 10 percent of subjects who ate Quorn. A control group then, and another study in more recent years, found that number to be closer to 5 percent, but, CSPI says that's "still a higher percentage of people than that of those who reported allergies to shellfish, milk, peanuts or other common food allergens."

The product, which Quorn Foods markets as being related to mushrooms, is based on a fungus called Fusarium venenatum (venenatum is Latin for venomous). However, while the mushroom relation is true because they are both fungi, according to CSPI, the association is "as misleading as claiming that humans are related to jellyfish since they're both animals."

CSPI launched a website in 2002 called quorncomplaints.org, and over 1,400 British and American consumers have left criticisms.

The issue isn't so much that the product has been shown to cause allergic reactions -- it's that no warning is given on the package despite that knowledge that has CSPI up in arms. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is aware of the frequency of reactions, it still says the main Quorn ingredient is "generally recognized as safe." Well, if you're "generally" OK with a 5 percent chance of nausea or vomiting, that sounds about right.

It was scary last year when the study came out revealing that tea tree essential oil could act like estrogen in our bodies, and may even cause enlarged breasts in young boys. That's been debunked; the possibility is that other ingredients in the products are more likely to blame. With all of the toxic chemicals in our body care products, it seems the more likely culprit.

That said, it really is OK to use tea tree oil is a safe way: properly diluted in a carrier oil, never internally, and always moderately. In fact, it is one of the essential oils you should keep in the house, as it has many healthy uses:

• heals cold sores and warts
• calms coughs
• helps clear up breakouts
• combats nail fungus
• disinfects your house when added to cleaning products

There are more uses for tea tree oil in the original DIY Life post, so don't fear the natural goodness of tea tree oil and use it safely and wisely.

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answer. Our ThatsFit.com fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose two per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. I feel like a 'treat-aholic'. How do I cut out junk food forever? Mary-Kate

A. Hey Mary-Kate. Thanks for the question. Treats are tasty, but they take their toll. Don't they? I'm not an extreme kind of trainer. I normally recommend keeping the not-so-good for you snacks to under ten percent of your daily consumption. Can you do that? Would you be able to ensure that throughout the day you choose plenty of fruits, veggies, lean meats, whole grains, and non-caloric beverages? If so...just pick one favorite treat per day and enjoy the heck out of it.

If though, having one treat sends you on a binger...you may want to gradually cut them out almost completely. I imagine you have a specific list of 'treats' you prefer each day. Make a detailed list of them and then set your goal to delete one each week. For example. Your treats may tend to be: muffin in the morning, chips at lunch, 100 calorie snack pack of cookies in the afternoon, and frozen yogurt after dinner.

Start by ditching the morning muffin. Replace it with Light Wheat toast and sugar free preserves to let you start the day with something sweet yet healthy. Do the same for the rest of your treats weekly, and you'll slowly wean yourself away. And just FYI, I believe in having cake on your birthday. Cutting anything out 100% often leads to insanity. Don't do that to yourself. My best to you, Fitz.

Q. What's up Fitz! Do I really have to wear shoes in the gym shower? What are the odds I'll catch Athlete's Foot? Jackson

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By now, you're probably feasting away on fourth of July goodies and not too concerned about food safety, but I thought I'd post these fourth of July food safety tips anyway because, hey, food safety is an important issue 365 days of the year. Plus you don't want to spend the fifth of July hugging the toilet. Here are the top 5 food safety tips for July 4th and the rest of the summer:

1. Properly store food in the fridge for approrpriate periods of time
2. Keep raw meat at the bottom of the fridge. Just in case they leak, you don't want them leaking all over your veggies.
3. Wash hands and surfaces constantly
4. Don't leave food out for more than 2 hours
5. If there's mold or fungus on something, don't just cut it off. Get rid of the item.

How do you protect yourself from food-borne illnesses?

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Ever suffer from Athlete's Foot? Soaking those toes and feet in shoes, slippers and socks all day creates a nice, warm environment for the fungus that causes Athlete's Foot to grow and become a nuisance.

Most of us cover our feet more often than not. If you're a heavy sweater and your feet stay in a humid environment as well, that's a ripe and fertile ground to the Athlete's Foot fungus. Sharing shoes adds to the possibility that you'll attract the fungus as well.

Solutions? well, wash your feet often with soap and water, and be sure to dry them well after washing (especially the area between the toes). Wear shoes that promote air circulation (like sandals in the summer) and don't share footwear with others. Want more tips? See this.

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Personally, I hate feet. They're ugly, they usually smell bad, and they're highly prone to fungal infections. And unfortunately, since (in my opinion) feet and toenails are already ugly it can be difficult to recognize the signs of a fungal infection.

Here are the major things to look for, according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Orthopedics and Medicine: yellow or discolored toenails, extra thick toenails that are hard to cut, crumbling toenails, or (I would hope this problem is obvious!) nails that have separated from the nail bed.

Happy examining!

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