Tag: Food

Inflammatory foods: the relationship between food and well-being – Italian Cuisine

Food and well-being have always gone hand in hand, even if in recent times it seems that this awareness has been a bit lost, thanks to a lot of misinformation, especially on the topic food intolerance. Food is not an enemy to be opposed and it is clear that the only two intolerances accepted by science are gluten and lactose. That said, there are some foods that affect, among other things, the regulation of inflammatory processes and can bring an increase in the blood of some cytokines, those proteins produced by different types of immune cells.

Inflammation from food
"Inflammation is perceived by everyone – explains the Dr. Attilio Speciani, allergist and immunologist, expert in food intolerances – and all have a fair sense of the existence of a relationship between what is eaten and the state of well-being". Numerous studies, in recent years, have allowed us to accurately assess the relationship between what we eat and the rise of cytokines very specific, a precise connection between food-related symptoms and increase of BAFF (important inflammatory substance) both in blood and intestinal.

"The inflammatory response is in many cases individual – Speciani continues – and must be carefully studied to help the nutritional resolution of many diseases. Typically, it depends on the systematic repetition of some foods. A 2014 Cai study showed that while in Europe "inflammatory" foods for people suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases are Milk, Gluten and Yeast, in China, for the same disorders the foods involved are Rice, Soy and Corn".

What is the Food Inflammation Test?
There is a very simple test, the Food Inflammation Test, able to assess the level of inflammation present in the body and its personal food profile. Two particular cytokines are dosed BAFF is PAF and the results become key tools to identify a personalized diet that aims to reduce the inflammatory state and therefore, the incidence of certain diseases such as some types of migraines, arthritis or colitis. The test consists of a small sample of capillary blood from the fingertip, performed in a subsidiary center Recaller or Biomarkers and analyzed in a specialized laboratory, with based in Rome at the University of Tor Vergata whose results are processed to obtain a final report.

Are anti-inflammatory foods available?
"The variety is already anti-inflammatory in itself – replies the dott. Attilio Speciani – then there are other aspects that help to define the inflammatory or anti-inflammatory value of a series of foods. Their richness in isoflavones, in phytofenols, in minerals and vitamins. The more a food is rich in raw and vital substances the more anti-inflammatory it is in general. For example, the tomato lycopene, which develops only when cooked, makes some exceptions. From recent studies it has also been seen that foods super-refined have a pro-inflammatory action. We use them only occasionally, giving preference to foods, even industrial ones, which have undergone few changes. And on the anti-inflammatory choice we remember that the sweetened products have a value that promotes inflammation and that since 2006 the Harvard School of Medicine has defined the correct distribution of carbohydrates and proteins in the same meal as one of the most important anti-inflammatory actions independently managed to feel better , lose weight, stimulate the metabolism and control the inflammatory levels of the whole organism".

The rotation diet
To reduce inflammation e promote food tolerance It is essential to set up a rotation diet. Within the week, some days are established in which one abstains from foods taken in excess or to which one has a reactivity, and of the days during which the same foods are progressively reintroduced. A way to discover valid food alternatives find a relationship of friendship with food. A little 'as happens with the technique that is put in place during child weaning. The test report indicates a personalized diet to be followed in total autonomy with the support of a free online MD4.me platform (Medical Doctor for Me) dedicated to patients.

To stay fit and regain general well-being it is clear that every choice should be studied on the individual subject, but the variety of daily nutrition, the dominance of fresh and rich in bioactive substances, together with the control of excess sugar and the balancing of proteins and carbohydrates in every meal, represent a good food practice to prevent food inflammation.

Mariacristina Coppeto
January 2019

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How many calories have fast food menus – Italian Cuisine

Mac Donald's, Burger King, KFC and Spontini. Here is the calorie count of all the most famous restaurant chain menus to consciously consume your next quick meal

Tear to the rule or habit? What is fast food for you? And when you give in to temptation do you know the calories you are about to ingest?

Let's face one issue at a time, trying to understand how fast food menus impact our monthly diet. It is no coincidence that Yazio (an app that offers an automatic count of the calories of the foods we choose for our meals) has included among the food objectives that we can also select to avoid consuming quick meals and calories for at least a month. A kind of foil with a lot of countdown comparable to the sacrifice of a smoker who commits to abandon the cigarettes for 30 days.
The example is particularly apt because it is shown that i sugars, fats and salt abundantly present in burgers, sweet and carbonated drinks, fried, and slices of pizza act on our brain as a kind of drug: the more we eat it, the more we want to eat it. Know the calories contained in each menu and the percentages of fats and sugars brought in a single meal will make easier to organize our routine food in a correct and balanced manner.
This means that eating fast food is not forbidden, but must necessarily represent an exception to the rule, an exception that must be lived as such. The no categorical instead to the identification of this type of food as comfort food to be indulged whenever we are sad, we are in a hurry or not enough budget to go to the restaurant.

Mac Donald's: the calories of the Big Mac menu

Mac Donald's is transparent about the energy of his meals. We can indeed read the specifications on each individual package of the elements that make up the menus. But how often do we do it? Influenced by the desire to bite our favorite sandwich or to eat the chips before they cool down, we forget to inform us. Let's do it together now.
We have chosen the Big Mac Menu, one of the most loved among all the fast food proposals to understand how many calories brings the classic meal with sandwich, chips and drink.

Let's start from sandwich: 509 calories a portion. The most interesting specific data concern 27 g of proteins (53% of the average daily needs of an adult), 36 g of fat, 10 of which are saturated, 42 g of carbohydrates (only 16% of our needs) and a good 2.3 g of salt (38% of the doses not to be exceeded in one day). A portion of potato chips instead brings 330 calories. Here we find mainly carbohydrates (41 g) and fats (17.5 g). Finally, let's think about the drinks. The classic glass of Coca Cola on tap offered with the menu contains 160 calories with 42 g of carbohydrates and as many sugars. By itself, it covers 47% of our daily sugar requirements.
Summing up, every time we consume one Big Mac Menu, we take about 1000 calories.
In the gallery below, the caloric intake of the other most famous Mac Donald's proposals.

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Burger King: the calories of the Whopper Menu

Even Burger King makes no secret of the energy values of his menus and, as in the case of Mac Donald's, we have obtained the information that we report below consulting the tables on the place Official. We took the measurement as a yardstick Whopper sandwich and its menu as it is a real classic of the chain proposed in different versions and dimensions.

The classic sandwich Whopper counts 683 kcal with 31 g of proteins, 57 of carbohydrates and 46 grams of fats of which 10 are saturated. The salt content is also this time around 2.3 g. The chips who accompany him instead have 202 kcal, 0.8 g of salt and 13 grams of 3.6 saturated fats. The glass of Coke expected in the menu, it counts 168 kcal. In total therefore, when we order a menu Whopper from Burger King, we take about 1053 calories.
In the gallery below, other calorie counts related to famous products offered by the chain menu:

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How many calories does Spontini's pizza have?

If once they said pizza, the mind immediately returned to the restaurant with a wood-burning oven under the house. But now times have changed so much that it can happen that a small pizzeria serving slices in the street Spontini in Milan turns into one a real chain present in the main shopping centers and identifiable in all respects as fast food. The basic menu is very simple: a normal or abundant slice of pizza and a drink choice. So, here's all we have to expect by ordering a slice of pizza margherita accompanied by a Coca Cola.

Since it is not a fast food like the ones mentioned above, we can not count on the precise calculation of the calories per portion. But if we consider the fact that a slice of pizza margherita contains about 250 calories, it is also simple to calculate the ration plentiful Spontini that will count more or less 375.
If we add then the 160 calories of Coca Cola, we arrive at 410 Kcal of the normal menu and at 535 of the abundant ration.

KFC: all the calories of fried chicken

The fried foods of the most famous colonel of the fast food chains have also conquered Italy between a bite and other chicken thighs, nibbles and fins. Although here too all the nutritional values of the main menus and products are specified, the calculation is more complicated due to the failure to calculate the calories contained in some of the complete menus most common. But do not panic, we thought about it. Here is how much energy contains the classic menu with the Bucket for 2 people.

Let's start from the piece, which is the classic combination of 4 pieces Origina Recipe and 4 Tenders for a total of 575 Kcal a portion. Which means that the entire Bucket contains 1150. But before summing up, add a portion of chips that we assume can add 200 calories to which we will also add 160 of the drink. So correctly dividing the Bucket into 2 servings, the relative menu contains about 960 calories per serving, for a total of 1920.
However, from KFC it is also possible to taste different sandwiches and menus. In the gallery above the calories of the most delicious proposals:

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Tips and tricks

Now that we have read all the calories that are counted in the fast food menus, we can deal with ourselves. How many times do we exceed? How many times do we consider them a complete meal to give us at the end of a stressful day? If we think that a nice plate of pasta with tomato contains about 350 calories and a considerable amount of fat less, perhaps it is appropriate to review our concept of gourmet cuddle.
Or if nothing else, think of some small trick to deal with the fast food situation with a pinch of cunning and foresight.
A recommended trick? Be content with sandwich and water. Saying no to fizzy and sugary chips and drinks means taking around 350 calories less in one meal. If instead it is precisely to these that we can not give up, we order a menu with chicken nuggets (the recommended amount is from 4 to 6) and choose light drinks avoiding to take too many calories with the sum of all the classic elements.
Fundamental then, avoid adding snacks and desserts to the menus, which are already very caloric. If you really can not resist the temptation, divide into two menus and dessert: reduce the calories taken in half without renouncing the pleasure of tasting.

STARS AND FOOD – AQUARIUM – WEEK FROM 28 TO 03 FEBRUARY – Italian Cuisine

Fortuborn from the 21 January al 19 February

Special ingredient: Dried dates that can excite your imaginative part with savory recipes.

The chef recommends: Dear #ACQUARIO best wishes and wishes of great energy, like the one that accompanies you but try to dose the words and the emphasis, a bit 'out of fatigue or because you defend your ideas excessively, tend to assume intransigent positions, "thorny", which certainly do not do well to the harmony of relationships. You need at the table some typical dishes of the season but with the addition of a special ingredient that can find space in every dish, trust in every dish, a bit like what you need to dispel some behavior, how to say, a little neurotic. Vitamin C dramatically!

Dish of the week: Noodles with Jerusalem artichokes with dried dates cut into strips or inspired by dishes like these

Magic fruit: Kiwi and citrus fruits and here are some ideas to consume the kiwis in an imaginative way!