AAI Q and A: Fries, Fish Oil and Coffee

Dear AAI: I love French fries but know many restaurants still use trans fatty oils for frying. Do you have a healthier but just as tasty recipes?  

Dear Reader: You can deny the taste of French fries? But, with that trans fat content, we have to. You are in luck though, as I found a recipe in the new FITNESS magazine that has a healthier alternative for French fries. What you need is olive oil, baking potatoes, salt, pepper, and grated Parmesan. Coat the fries in olive oil and salt and pepper. Place on a pan and sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake in the oven for 12 minutes, and you have golden, crispy French fries homemade.

Dear AAI: I love coffee, but what is the difference between shade-grown, fair-trade, and organic coffee?  

Dear Reader: Coffee comes from all over and all the places it comes from are all a little different. Shade-grown beans aren’t cultivated at the forest’s expense, as they are picked by hand. Fair trade is ensured that growers receive fair wages and work under safe conditions. USDA organic means that beans are grown without pesticides. What the consumer usually choices depends on preference and price.


Dear AAI: I love cheese, but are there any full-fat varieties that are better for me than others?  

Dear Reader: Cheese makes everything (usually) taste a little better, but it does contain artery-clogging saturated fat. But, that doesn’t mean you have to avoid it. Here are a few strategies to pick the best but in moderation:  (1) Choose a hard cheese with strong flavor than grate into pasta or salad, (2) Go for goat cheese, which has 76 calories and six grams of fat per ounce.

Dear AAI: I’ve been told to take a fish oil pill. Should I worry about mercury in the capsule?  

Dear Reader: No, you do not have to worry. Over several studies have shown that no fish oil pills have been contaminated with mercury. Toxins generally accumulate in the muscles of fish, not the oils. And, supplements are usually made from species of fish that are lower in mercury, like sardines and anchovies.

Dear AAI: I run a lot on the pavement, am I setting myself up for an injury quickly?  

Dear Reader: It really depends on your mileage. If you run more than 24 miles/week you could expect some aches. Paved surfaces magnify impact as you strike, increasing your risk for joint pain. If you want a little more give, chose street over sidewalk. Asphalt has a little more give because it’s porous; concrete has zero resiliencies.