This chicken dish offers a fresh, satisfying meal that keeps within a low-fat definition (only 8 grams of fat per serving). It’s perfect when you’re short on time and lower in calories than anything you’ll find on your Chinese takeout menu. A typical almond cashew chicken dish from your local Chinese restaurant can pack as many as 850 calories and 33 grams of fat! What a difference!  For variety, feel free to substitute green beans for the asparagus, and pistachio nuts for the cashews.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
1 ¼ pounds fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pound chicken tenders, cut into bite size pieces
3 scallions, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tbsp minced fresh ginger
1 tbsp oyster sauce
¼ cup cashews, coarsely chopped

Directions:

1. Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. Add asparagus and cook, stirring for 2 minutes.
2. Add the chicken, and cook for 4 minutes, or until the chicken is browned and cooked through.
3. Stir in the scallions, ginger, and oyster sauce; cook for another 2 minutes.
4. Stir in the cashews and serve immediately.

Serves 4

Nutritional Content: 208 calories ∙ 7 g carbohydrates ∙ 3 g fiber ∙ 30 g protein ∙ 8 g total fat ∙ 1 g sat fat ∙ 175 g sodium

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.

Plasma Portrait™ is a laser technology that delivers noticeable results by reducing pigmentation, improving fine lines and wrinkles, and perfecting skin’s tone and texture. In addition to leaving skin looking younger and refreshed, Plasma Portrait can also be an effective treatment when used to correct acne scars.

This industry-leading technology is used in a similar fashion to other ablative lasers (which destroy layers of the skin) such as the CO2 and erbium lasers, and new generation fractional technologies (which provide deep heating of the skin) to correct wrinkling, pigmentation, skin smoothing and acne scarring. 

Based on a principle similar to plasma televisions in that it converts plasma into activated nitrogen which acts to gently heat the skin, Plasma Portrait technology has been used in medicine for many years. The advantage of Plasma Portrait over other laser technologies is that it allows the skin to repair itself in a shorter time frame. This leads to less side effects and shorter healing time than experienced with more invasive laser technologies.

Employed under local anesthesia, such as topical anesthetic creams, Plasma Portrait technology can also be used in various treatment modes including a single, high-energy treatment for more significant wrinkling skin pigmentation, skin surface irregularities and skin cancers. Plasma Portrait can also be used at lower settings where up to three treatment sessions can be performed. Under this modality, some patients experience almost no downtime or just a day of mild redness. The high-energy treatment, however, may have three to five days of a minimal sunburn-like reaction, as this technology leaves a layer of skin on the surface intact which acts as a natural wound dressing.

Plasma Portrait is playing a major role in the dermatologic, plastic and cosmetic surgeons’ therapeutic regimens. Associated with significant clinical efficacy and more reliability than many of the non-ablative technologies utilized in the past, Plasma Portrait has become quite popular with patients looking to reduce pigmentation, improve fine lines and wrinkles, enhance tone and texture, and correct acne scars.  With this treatment, skin looks younger and refreshed. 

Dr. Neil Sadick is one of the most renowned dermatologists and researchers whose multiple discoveries have strongly influenced and transformed the future of dermatology. He is a Professor of Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College and President of the Cosmetic Surgery Foundation. Dr. Sadick is author, or co-author, of more than 500 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has contributed more than 75 chapters of medical books. Read more at www.sadickdermatology.com.

  Take positive action.  Change does not come without action.

Step Seven should leave you with desires and plans: I want a new job.  I want a better relationship.  I want genuine love in my life. I want to start a foundation to improve the environment.  I want to become physically fit.  I want to stop abusing alcohol.          

Do not let the magnitude of your challenge keep you from moving forward to meet the challenge. Start slowly. Trying to do everything at once and failing fast is a classic way to wrongly convince yourself it was foolish to try. Take small steps forward.  But be sure to take them.

 Imagine you were asked to write a 300-page book on a subject you know little about. It sounds like an impossible task. But what about writing the first sentence? You could do that. A paragraph, without worrying whether it’s perfect.  Paragraphs turn into pages.  A chapter takes form.  The 300-page book that once seemed impossible to write starts to take shape.

      Dreams become reality by increments. Beginning is the key. Here is a list of reasonable, do-able actions you might take in initial pursuit of a larger goal.

·        If you’re making a career change, plan to meet with one person who works in that field.

·        If you want to lose weight, decide you’re going to walk up the three flights to your office instead of taking the elevator. If you work on the 30^th floor,  take the elevator to 27.  Or, schedule one appointment with a trainer at the gym.

·        If you want to revitalize your marriage, tell yourself you won’t leave the house tomorrow morning without paying one sincere compliment to your spouse.

·        If you’re going to invest in your vision of yourself as an artist, buy a set of paints and a canvas.

·        If you’re intent on ending your addiction to tobacco, immediately throw away three cigarettes from the package you bought today.

·        If you want to go back to school, buy the book you need to study for the entrance exam, or call up a nearby college to make an appointment with an admissions counselor.

      These may seem like small actions.  That’s good. Long-term goals are just a series of successful moments, of showing up and doing the right thing for yourself, again and again.

As you let yourself look at your life history, the past will yield its insights, and these will give way to true revelations.  You will be unearthing your buried treasure.  Myths that no longer serve you will be exploded, and dreams that can empower you will be revealed.

The future you want for yourself won’t happen overnight, but you will see progress, and people who have the information and experience to assist you in realizing your dreams will respond to your passion and authenticity.   They will want to be a part of your success—your truth.  Where you used to find walls, you will see open doors. Relationships that were once a source of conflict will be replaced by others that yield encouragement and support.

The truth has its own momentum.  As you finally do what your heart and mind know to be the right things for you, forces will align to make your dreams reality. Your job now is to let those forces draw you forward, step by step.

 Dr. Keith Ablow is a psychiatry correspondent for FOX News Channel and a New York Times bestselling author. His newest book, “Living the Truth: Transform Your Life through the Power of Insight and Honesty” has launched a new self-help movement. Check out Dr. Ablow’s website at livingthetruth.com.

Dear Yvonne,
What causes “blue balls”? And can it do any damage not to get sexual relief?
- Mathieu

Dear Mathieu, 
Both males and females experience “blue balls,” a more common term for vasocongestion. Vasocongestion is the accumulation of blood in the blood vessels of a region of the body, especially the genitals. While vasocongestion can be uncomfortable and frustrating if one does not experience sexual release when sexually aroused, it’s not going to harm anyone’s health. If sexually frustrated from “blue balls,” one can always take matters into their own hands (wink, wink).

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

Q: Is yogurt really that good for me—and if so, which do you recommend?

A:  Yogurt can make for a great breakfast or post-workout snack. However, I’m sure you know that there are so many to choose from and they are NOT all created equally! Although many people think of yogurt as a diet food, a typical yogurt parfait can contain as many as 350 calories, 50 grams of carbs, 10 grams protein and 30 grams of sugar—that is definitely not diet friendly.

Recently, Greek yogurt has made a comeback and become very popular. My top three favorites are: 0% Fage Yogurt, Chobani, and Oikos Organic by StonyField Farms. These all have about half the calories, 1/5 the carbs, and 3 times the protein making them a much healthier choice. One 6 oz container of Greek yogurt has only 90 calories, 6 grams of carbs, 16 grams protein and 6 grams of sugar—you can see the difference!

Compared to a typical bagel and cream cheese breakfast that can have as many as 650 calories and only 3 grams of fiber, my yogurt parfait (see recipe below) has less than 200 calories and 14 g fiber!
Think your low fat donut from Dunkin Donuts is a better choice than your bagel breakfast? Think again! A typical muffin packs around 500-600 calories and only 2 grams of fiber. It might taste good, but you will be feeling hungry soon after and you’ll be on your way to a diet disaster!

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.

This morning as I was leaving the house to come to work at FOX, my 12-year-old son asked me a question that stopped me dead in my tracks.

“Hey dad, is America in a depression?” he said.

And I said “No, why do you ask?”

“Because I hear everybody talking about the economy and all this trouble that I don’t understand,” he said.

“What do you know about the Great Depression of the 1920s,” I asked.

“Well,” he said, “I know there was no money and I think people were jumping out of buildings in New York.”

I tried to reassure him that things were okay and that nobody was jumping out of windows…yet.

But as I left, I started thinking about our conversation, and I asked myself: Why do innocent people suffer? How is all this anxiety and stress over the current economic crisis going to be remembered by the next generation in America?

Yes, every mental health professional will tell us that there are multiple studies that correlate severe financial debt and depression – even suicide.

I remember reading a recent report of two college student that killed themselves after being overwhelmed by credit card debt.

In India, an estimated 150,000 debt-ridden farmers have committed suicide since 1997.

Yes, we all know that suicide is not the solution, but again I asked myself, why do innocent people suffer?

And as I stopped to ponder the answer to my burning question, I began to evaluate some of the things that many of us have forgotten – the things that are truly important.

Love and respect for ourselves and others – that’s what’s important. You can’t buy happiness. The integrity of our lives and the way we love and respect the people we are so fortunate to have in them is far more important than any economic indicator on Wall Street.

So I thought long and hard, and I decided to tell my son the biblical story of Job – a story I think many people should read in these times of financial crisis.

Job was a happy man, a wealthy man who lived a prosperous life filled with family and good fortune. But one day, Job was tested by God. He was stripped of his fortune, his family and his health. Job began to complain of God’s indifference, he wondered why God did not punish the wicked instead of him. But after all of his analysis, he understood that what was important to God was the love that should never be questioned — the love that he has for his children. And, in the end, Job’s prosperity was restored.

Why do innocent people suffer? Because perhaps they forget that love, compassion and respect settles all debt.

Is spicy food to blame for the death of a British newlywed? Not so fast, doc!

A recent story about a 24-year-old woman who died from an asthma attack  still lacks many facts. Her doctor believes it was triggered by the spicy foods she had eaten three days earlier – but we still don’t know the exact cause of death.

First, we need to have a postmortem report, which we don’t have yet. And second, to say that spicy food was a possible contributing factor in this woman’s death gives these popular foods a bad rap.

There are many foods – and not necessarily spicy ones – which contain food allergens that can trigger a histamine release in the body, ultimately leading to an asthma attack.

There are also medical reports that have documented things like food additives, excessive sweets, and fried or oily foods as poor nutritional choices for asthmatic patients. However, there are many asthmatic patients that feel just great after eating jalapenos in a salad.

So before you throw out your Tabasco sauce, consult your doctor to see which diet is best for you.

Dear Yvonne,
You had an article on cohabitation and it mentioned that some states have common-law marriages. Which states recognize them and what are the major benefits of such domestic partnerships?
-Bart

Dear Bart,
Common-law “marriage” is recognized in these states: Alabama, Colorado, Washington, DC, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas and Utah.

In such partnerships, assets may be mutually owned, which means that if a couple splits up, they may have to fight for money, for example, trust funds, a 401(k), or savings accounts.

Among the benefits of a domestic partnership are:

- Health, dental and vision insurance
- Sick and bereavement leave
- Death benefits
- Accident and life insurance
- Parental leave
- Housing rights and tuition reduction
- Use of recreational facilities 
 
If you’re considering a domestic partnership/common-law “marriage,” it would be wise to read up on the latest laws in your state before taking this big step.

Dr. Yvonne Kristín Fulbright is a sex educator, relationship expert, columnist and founder of Sexuality Source Inc. She is the author of several books including, “Touch Me There! A Hands-On Guide to Your Orgasmic Hot Spots.”

If you’re a serious lover of Indian food, you will adore this dish! Traditional Tandoori Chicken can have up to 600 calories and 35 grams of fat because of the high fat content in yogurt and all the oil that is used. But this dish has less than 250 calories and only 4 grams of fat! Not only is it mouth-watering, but you won’t have to feel guilty about having it for dinner. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tsp ground cumin
½ tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp turmeric
1 tbsp chopped fresh ginger
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
½ tsp salt
8 ounces Fage Total 0% yogurt
4 4-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except chicken and mix well.
2. Add chicken and marinade in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Remove the chicken and discard the marinade.
3. Preheat the broiler or a grill pan on the stovetop.
4. Broil or grill the chicken 5 minutes per side.

Serves 4

Nutritional Content: 220 calories ∙ 3 g carbohydrates ∙ 0 g fiber ∙ 40 g protein ∙ 4 g total fat ∙ 1 g sat fat ∙ 636 g sodium

Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD is a nutritionist and the creator of The F-Factor Diet™, an innovative nutritional program she has used for more than ten years to provide hundreds of her clients with all the tools they need to achieve easy weight loss and maintenance, improved health and well-being.  For more information log onto www.FFactorDiet.com.

In early September, the Food and Drug Administration said it would release its first list of 20 drugs that are being investigated for possible side effects. The agency’s new policy of regular quarterly releases of drugs under investigation is the result of 2007 mandatory congressional legislation. There are potential pros as well as cons:

Pros:
* Public awareness may grow about drugs that are commonly misused. Oxycontin, a narcotic with a very high potential for overdose and addiction, was listed as being under investigation.
* The FDA is being held to a higher standard of disclosure, and this way the public can track its thinking and investigative processes rather than just being shocked by news reports of unpredicted black box warnings.
* Physicians may be more cautious to prescribe new treatments without considering potential side effects.

Cons:
* Patients may abruptly stop treatments that are working without checking with their physicians.
* The lists are cursory – they don’t include all drugs under investigation or complete information of the drugs being investigated. Statistics on deaths, hospitalizations,  or even numbers of reported side effects are not included.
* Knowing that a drug is being reviewed may create fear, and a public perception that is out of proportion to the actual risk. Tysabri is a very effective drug for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis that is now being investigated for association with skin cancer. Cymbalta is a powerful anti-depressant that is being investigated for urinary complications. Public awareness of these ongoing investigations may severely limit patient willingness to take very effective treatments.

Suspicion of prescription drugs is the prevailing trend, despite the fact that many of these treatments are lifesaving. A case in point is Byetta, a diabetes drug that has been on the market since 2005 with close to a million patients benefitting from its biochemistry. Byetta is an incretin mimetic, which means it is a synthetic hormone which stimulates insuin secretion in response to meals. Not only is this often a smart treatment, and a good arrow to add to the medical quiver, but it also can cause weight loss, which in itself can help to improve glucose control in diabetics.   

But news reports of a rare death from pancreatitis (the rate of pancreatitis associated with Byetta is only one in 10,000 cases, and has not been proven as due to the Byetta) has led to public fears of the drug. The drugmaker, Amylin, has seen its stock drop 43 percent in the month since the FDA announced that it was considering a stern warning in response to the potential risk of pancreatitis.  

Warnings can be helpful. But fear of essential treatments can also be harmful.

Dr. Marc Siegel is an internist and associate professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine. He is a FOX News Medical Contributor and writes a health column for LA Times, where he examines TV and movies for medical accuracy. Dr. Siegel is the author of “False Alarm: the Truth About the Epidemic of Fear” and “Bird Flu: Everything You Need to Know About the Next Pandemic”. Read more at www.doctorsiegel.com