FOOD AND NUTRITION16

134. The “imitation crab meat” used increasingly in seafood salads and salad bars is a good 
food, rich in high­quality protein, and with 75% less cholesterol than most shellfish. But if
you’re looking for heart­healthy omega­3 fats, it’s a poor choice. Since it has very little fat, it has
virtually no omega­3s. And it is often high in sodium.
135. If you buy bottled spaghetti sauce, check the calorie, fat, and sodium content listed on the 
label. While most tomato­based varieties have 2 to 4 grams of fat per cup, some have 9 to 12 
grams (supplying lots of extra calories), plus more than 1,000 milligrams of sodium. The real 
whoppers, though, are the refrigerated sauces. Some of these cheese­based, pesto, or Alfredo 
sauces have 100 to 200 extra calories in just one serving.
136. It’s safe to eat the dark “vein” running down the back of shrimp. It is actually a tiny 
intestinal tube. In large shrimp, it can be a little gritty, and most cooks prefer to remove it. But if
the shrimp have been cooked, eating the vein won’t harm you. In fact, some Southern shrimp 
eaters believe it actually enhances flavor.
137. Never give honey to children less than a year old. About 10% of
honey contains dormant Clostridium botulinum spores, which can cause botulism in 
infants. Infant botulism is the most common form of botulism in this country, with honey the cause in approximately one­third of all cases. Honey is safe for
older children, however.
138. To reduce the risk of prostate cancer, eat fish, especially fatty fish.
In a Harvard study, men who ate the most fish were least likely to develop 
advanced prostate cancer. Fish oil supplements did not decrease the risk.
139. Don’t assume that light beers are “light” in alcohol: most brands
contain nearly as much alcohol as regular beer. The “light” in beer refers to 
calories, which must be reduced at least 25%. Light beers average about 100 in 
12 ounces, versus 140 to 200 in regular beers. The lower calorie content comes
from a reduction in carbohydrates, not alcohol. To avoid alcohol, try nonalcoholic 
beers, which contain just a trace—and, thanks to the lack of alcohol, only 50 to 95 calories per can. There’s very little difference between most “lowcarb” 
and “light” beers. 140. Even if an egg has been removed from its shell, it can still explode during 
or after microwaving if the yolk is left intact. The yolk’s outer membrane acts like 
the shell: after microwaving, the yolk is very hot and under pressure, and when 
pierced it can explode in a person’s face and cause serious burns. Always pierce
the yolk before microwaving—or scramble the egg.
141. Pack raw meat and poultry separately from fruits and vegetables
at the market. That way the meats’ juices (which may contain disease­causing 
bacteria) won’t drip on the produce. Such contamination can cause serious food 
poisoning if you don’t wash the produce well before eating it raw.