That's Fit

Keira Knightley has battled allegations that her slight build is due to an eating disorder, and though she has publicly denied having anorexia (if fact, she insists she eats like a horse), speculation has continued. Her mom is now speaking out, saying that Keira eats well and has her father's genes.

Jamie Lee Curtis once again proved to be a breath of fresh air in Hollywood. The actress is turning 50, and at this point in her life, she has come to some realizations about age, body perception, and life in general. Not only is she a class act and a role model -- she's wise, too!

Oprah Winfrey ended her 21-day vegan cleanse, and she says she got out of it exactly what she intended to get out of it -- enlightenment. She kept an online journal of her diet and talked about what she found difficult and what she found surprisingly easy. While the talk show host isn't making any commitments to going vegan, she did say, "I will forever be a more cautious and conscious eater. That's my commitment for now. To stay awakened."

Each week, we'll be naming a Super Food and offering unique ways to use those Super Foods that pack nutritional power. After all, you are what you eat -- make it count!

A self-confessed sushi addict, I love heading to my favourite Japanese restaurant when I'm hungry. Their sushi is fresh and fantastic, but that's not the only draw: The meals all come with a steaming bowl of Miso soup. Now, I've heard that Miso soup is a bit of an acquired taste, but I love it; salty, a bit tangy, satisfying and the best part? It's really low in calories. We're talking 80 calories or less in a cup of soup.

But Miso is more than soup. This Japanese ingredient is used in a number of delicious dishes. Now, don't be grossed out or anything, but Miso is actually a fermented soybean paste with the consistency of nut butter. It has a delicate, light taste that makes it a welcome addition to many dishes.

Woody Harrelson is no stranger to fasting -- he completed a 38-day green juice a couple of years ago (he tried to make it to 40 days, but was tempted away from it when some friends offered him homemade Indian food). He really enjoyed the experience, and "definitely felt my electro-magnetic field expanding." And so, he's doing it again, but bigger.

The actor plans to go to a remote island and drink only water for 40 days. It's not for weight loss for a movie role or anything like that -- he just wants to experience it. Woody said, "I've always wanted to do it. I know it's going to be really hard. But can you imagine it? Eating nothing for 40 days? Swimming and surfing every day in a remote place? Where does the mind go?"

I'm kind of wondering where the mind went, but that's just me. I recognize that there may be some benefits to fasting, but 40 days on nothing but water just can't be healthy for one's body.

Conscious eater -- these two words from Kathy Freston's new book Quantum Wellness piqued Oprah's curiosity and has her jumping into a 21-day vegan cleanse. If Oprah's on board, Preston is about to sell a whole lot of books. The Cattlemen and Dairymen must not be pleased.

Oprah describes in her blog how she always thought being a conscious eater meant not eating to ease an anxiety-ridden day, chewing slowly, picking a healthier alternative instead of a handful of chocolate-covered raisins. I know the unconscious eating Oprah is referring to -- if there's a box of Mike And Ikes lying around during a high-stress moment, I've been known to grab handfuls. But Freston's consciousness is framed differently -- it speaks to "spiritual integrity" -- she says eating most meat sold in this country means eating meat from animals that have been treated inhumanely. Also, raising animals for slaughter carries a serious environmental toll.

Veganism is a mysterious word to most people, but it shouldn't be and it won't be for millions after Oprah is through with her cleanse. Hanging out with vegans and vegetarians opens your palate to a host of new flavors and healthy, wholesome foods. Oprah fans will learn all about dishes 'those strange vegans' enjoy. More people will be trying chunky mushroom soup with wild rice and pecans -- Oprah had that for lunch last Sunday. In the spirit of Oprah's vegan cleanse, here is a gallery of vegan dishes to try, compliments of the popular vegan recipe section at VegWeb.

PETA is holding is third annual world's sexiest vegetarian contest. Past winners, including Kristen Bell, Carrie Underwood, Alicia Silverstone, and Tobey Maguire are all in the running again. You can cast your vote here.

According to PETA, each vegetarian saves the lives of more than 100 animals per year -- cutting down on the environmental impact of raising animals for food as well as, hopefully, reducing demand and the cruelty that is sometimes practiced in meat production.

PETA also states that, on average, vegetarians are 10 to 20 pounds lighter than those who eat meat. And, PETA's research indicates that many vegetarians state that they feel better, have clearer skin, and have more energy on a vegetarian diet. If you're considering a vegetarian diet, be sure to do your research. It can be a very healthy way of living but it requires taking steps to get enough protein and iron.

Finding shoes that are easy on the environment is getting easier -- whether you're looking for running shoes, dress shoes, or just some sandals for kicking around town, you've got options.

Well, if you're an adult, anyway. It's a little more difficult to find eco-friendly shoe options for kids, but it's not impossible (and it's getting easier). In fact, this article at Divine Caroline lists options for kids' shoes. Patagonian, Timberland, and other companies have joined the good fight and are offering kids' shoes made with environmentally friendly products and packaged in a responsible and sustainable way.

And what if you have an environmentally conscious little ballerina? You can even find a vegan alternative ballet slipper. It might take a little more hunting for you to find shoes for your little ones with all these qualities, but isn't it worth it to know that your child's footprint isn't leaving an environmental footprint, too?

I recently wrote about how much protein we need to get each day to eat a nutritious diet. And while getting our protein fix isn't difficult for those of us who eat some sort of meat with most of our meals, it's a bit harder for someone who doesn't eat meat -- or dairy either. Vegan protein sounds like an oxymoron to some people, but it's really not. Fitsugar recently compiled a list of the top 5 vegan proteins:

• Tempeh: (like tofu but different -- read more here). There's 22 g of protein in 4 oz of tempeh.
  
• Tofu: It has 19.9 g of protein per 1/2 cup.
  
• Seitan: (a form of wheat gluten.) There's 19.9 g of protein for each 3oz.
  
• Soy Milk: (the plain variety). It has 11 g of protein for each cup.
  
• Edamame: Eat half a cup and you'll get 10 g of protein.
  
  

Any vegans out there want to share their main sources of protein?

Veganism is hip and trendy, but can it be used to sell sex? A Portland, Oregon strip club owner recently tried. The Casa Diablo Gentlemen's Club featured pleather wearing dancers and a soy-based menu. Johnny Diablo is a long-time vegan, and many of his dancers were vegetarians themselves.

The club is up for sale, a sign that perhaps customers just don't care that much if their exotic dancers care about animal rights. (As my spouse pointed out matter-of-factly, "They're strippers. It's what they don't wear that matters.")

But this isn't the first time that the vegans and sexuality have met. In fact, sex is often used to sell the lifestyle, including PETA's naked celebrity ad campaigns and peta2's latest: Ink, Not Mink. It's causing a stir in the vegetarian/vegan world, where many are complaining that women's rights are being trampled on in the effort to support the rights of animals, and that though sex may sell, people become drawn to the lifestyle for the wrong reasons.

The NYT has an excellent article on the topic. Learn more here. What do you think?

Rheumatoid arthritis played a big role in my house growing up -- my dad suffered from it and when I say suffered, I mean suffered. Horribly. He struggled with everyday things--writing, chores, walking down the stairs--and just couldn't do many of the physical activities he used to. So if you have the disease, I really feel for you.

However, here's some potentially hopeful news: Recent studies are showing that adopting a vegan, non-gluten diet can help ease the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. It can also help prevent heart disease and strokes in those with arthritis. According to the findings, arthritis sufferers on a vegan diet had lower levels of C reactive protein, a compound that is related to levels of inflammation in the body.

The bad news is that a vegan, non-gluten diet involved cutting out all animal products (including meat and dairy) and many common grains. What can you eat? Lots of nuts, seeds, fruits and veggies.

Can differing dietary habits drive a wedge between relationships? This omnivore dated an ovo-lacto vegetarian for three years and then married him. Without kids it was pretty easy to accommodate our differences. At home we prepared vegetarian dinners, but meat was fine to have in the house -- I made turkey sandwiches for lunch and he'd pile on veggies/cheese. Dinners out were a celebration for me, I could order anything with meat. He had absolutely no issues about my meat intake. In a good-hearted effort I even jumped on the ovo-lacto veggie bandwagon for five months after our son was born. But I became devoid of energy, didn't feel myself and returned to chicken breasts, grilled fish, turkey burgers, turkey and the sporadic burger or steak.

Then I became pregnant again. As our son turned toddler and my littte bump grew, I knew there was a problem when as soon as my husband left town for a conference I immediately grilled up two giant, juicy steaks for dinner with a barely two-year-old. I was getting plain tired of veggie-only meals and didn't have the previous energy to cook a separate dish for myself at times. Raising children was also getting in the way of dinners out, we simply ate more at home. My husband eventually returned to the land of the omnivore. I have no idea why he one day announced, "Let's roast a chicken once a week like my grandmother did." I just nodded my head in secret amazement and roasted that chicken. Now we're almost-flexitarians, eating many vegetarian meals weekly. We still love veggie -- just not 100 percent of the time.

What about the vegetarian who cannot tolerate the smell of meat in the kitchen? Could they love an omnivore long-term? Or the 'vegangelical' -- first time I ever heard that label -- would pepperoni and cheese on half the pizza send them into relationship despair? According to this article, all sorts of people have ended relationships thanks to contradictory food preferences. A gluten-free woman shared one man liked bread too much to date her. Many vegetarians swear off omnivore-dating and some vegans (eat nothing animal) are seriously averse to smooching an omelette-lover. One psychiatrist weighed in that food has a strong subconscious link to love and a partner can feel rejected if their eating habits are under attack. Marital therapists agree tolerance and compromise are key to all healthy relationships, even those facing major food differences. Could you tolerate and accept a partner with a markedly different diet?

I'm amazed at how many people, upon learning that I don't eat meat or poultry, tell me that they tried to be a vegetarian, but it made them so tired, or gave them headaches, or they got sick of eating pasta, blah, blah, blah.

I can tell you why it didn't work for those people -- they did it wrong. I'm sure they had great intentions (whether it was for ethical or health reasons), but they didn't consume the nutrition their bodies desperately needed. As Fitz recently pointed out with a post on Tony Gonzalez, meat and dairy aren't necessary for peak athletic performance, but I will say from experience that it sometimes is a little tougher to get the right nutrition when you've restricted your diet. With a bit of research, though, athletes can be successful in their sport and at the dinner table.

I just returned from ESPN the Weekend, at Disney World's Hollywood Studios. One of the highlights for me was when I stumbled across an interesting conversation between football all-stars Donovan McNabb, Chris Carter, Tony Gonzalez and a few others. The men were on an open stage being interviewed my Mike Greenberg of the Mike and Mike Show. What caught my attention was the taunting of Tony Gonzalez with strange veggie jokes. Why were they poking fun at this "lettuce man"? Little Miss Fitzness had to stop and listen.

The taunting was followed by Kansas City Chief tight-end Tony defending his vegan lifestyle. I was both surprised and impressed. Tony was bragging about his ability to jump rope and hit the weight room while his teammates were stuck in the mud the day after a game. He's beaten lethargy, increased his energy, and found many more fascinating benefits since he changed his eating habits. The nearly 250 pound tight end is not someone anyone would guess to be a vegan, but I think that's why he's so neat.

I grew up in rancher's country, where the profiles of cows and cowboys dot the horizon and anyone who doesn't enjoy a good steak is considered a hippy. And that person was me -- even though we ate red meat at almost every dinner, I always filled up more on the side dishes than the main course, even as a kid. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that as an adult, I rarely buy, prepare or eat red meat -- or meat of any kind, except for fish. I'm not a vegetarian but I'm not a meat fiend either -- I'm somewhere in the middle, a 'flexitarian.' Meaning? I eat everything but i'm as comfortable around tofu as I am around a chicken breast.

Enough about me though - I want to know about you. Are you a meat eater? A vegan? Other? What are the reasons behind your decision?

Can a vegan diet (a no-meat, no-eggs, no dairy way of eating) be healthy? It can be, says American Dietetic Association spokesperson Keri Gans, but only if you're willing to do your homework.

You can't exist solely on salads and soy milk. And you can't eat too many carbohydrates or excess amounts of nuts and seeds. A poorly planned vegan diet can lead to unhealthy weight loss or weight gain and can fall short on key nutrients too. Here's what you don't want to miss out on.

Protein
Plant foods will work but you should eat a variety of foods, including whole grains, beans, and nuts to replace the proteins in meat, milk, and eggs.

Calcium
Milk and cheese contain a lot of calcuim so if you plan to give these items up, pump up the dark, leafy green vegetables, such as broccoli and add to your diet some figs, almonds, and soy foods. Most vegans need fortified foods (such as soy milk or orange juice) and a supplement to get enough calcium.

Vitamin D
When the main source of D -- that would be milk -- is cut out, the sun can come in handy, although it's nothing to bank on for those in winter climates and those who are dark-skinned. A supplement or fortified foods are essential for this one too.

Vitamin B-12
Break out the fortified foods and a supplement once again since this essential vitamin is available only in animal foods.

In sum, a basic multivitamin and a good variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and a few fortified products can cover the vegan bases. So, yes, a vegan diet can be healthy. It just takes commitment, research, and a lot of practice.

A new trend is hitting California, the home of all thing chic and urban when it comes to food. It has to do with marketing the food at restaurants. Entrees are boasting certain markings on the menu which claim they help boost immune systems for people consuming the food.

Many people in the region are flocking to do whatever they can to boost their immune systems. Ever heard of Jamba Juice? Those guys helped spur on the movement a while back. Now, restaurants are taking on the charge by marketing certain foods over others as being better for your immunity. Some establishments even take a crack at cancer by loading up dinners with minerals and phytochemicals.

Even certain alcoholic beverages boast healthy benefits (antioxidants from goji berries, for example). Does this make it a marketing fad? Perhaps not, but a professor at Harvard contests the claims by saying there's no proof that any single food can boost people's immune system. At least you'll know which items are healthier than the others on the menu!