QUESTION: I know ketchup is high in lycopene. What other condiments are good for me?
ANSWER: Chutneys are also made from antioxidant-packed fruits like apricots and cranberries, hummus offers low-fat protein and fiber, and mustard contains immune-boosting zeaxanthin.
"However, try to limit yourself to just a tablespoon or two of each of these, since they do still have calories,'' says Elisa Zied, R.D., author of So What Can I Eat?! (Wiley, 2006).
As for ketchup, we had high hopes during that whole "it's a vegetable" debate back in the '80s, but "unfortunately, while it does contain lycopene, ketchup isn't the best source, since it's also full of sugar," says Lisa Young, R.D., Ph.D., author of The Portion Teller (Broadway Books, 2005). A healthier choice? Salsa.
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QUESTION: I work out five days a week and eat less than 1,400 calories a day, but I'm not losing weight. What gives?
ANSWER: Are you sure about that calorie count? "You'd be surprised how common it is to underestimate how much you're really eating," says Young. Write down everything that goes in your mouth for a week, then calculate the calories using a standardized nutritional database like ars.usda.gov/foodsearch.
If you really are getting fewer than 1,400 calories per day, you may actually need to increase your intake. "Skimping can slow your metabolism," says Zied. Based on your high level of activity, you may require as many as 2,200 calories a day (so eat up, girlfriend!).
"To safely lose a pound a week, subtract 500 from that for a total intake of 1,700 per day," recommends Zied.
