BBC NEWS | Health | Grapefruit 'may cut gum disease'

The BBC reports more reason to eat grapefruit! BTW if you have not tried grapefruit and tangerines together as juice, you are REALLY missing out!!!!

BBC NEWS | Health | Grapefruit 'may cut gum disease': "Eating grapefruit could help fight gum disease, a study suggests.
Researchers found people with gum disease who ate two grapefruits a day for a fortnight showed significantly less bleeding from the gums.
They believe this is due to an increase in blood levels of vitamin C, known to promote wound healing and cut damage by unstable free radical molecules.

The research, by Friedrich Schiller University in Germany, is published in the British Dental Journal. "

CBC News: Tea consumption may reduce ovarian cancer risk: study

Promising news on the tea front, although it is still preliminary:
CBC News: Tea consumption may reduce ovarian cancer risk: study

No Fiber Benefit Found for Colorectal Cancer - CME Teaching Brief - MedPage Today

You probably have seen the news story that fiber does not appear to reduce colon cancer, what you may have missed is that No Fiber Benefit Found for Colorectal Cancer - CME Teaching Brief - MedPage Today: "the researchers concluded, fiber from whole plants has been shown to be beneficial in other disorders, including heart disease and diabetes, so there's good reason to keep eating it."

BBC NEWS | Health | Olive oil's heart effect located

BBC NEWS | Health | Olive oil's heart effect located: "Scientists say they have pinpointed the micronutrients in olive oil that make it a good heart protector.

Mediterranean diets have long been hailed as cutting heart attack risk.

A team of Spanish researchers believes this is partly down to compounds called phenols that have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and clot-preventing powers.

Virgin or extra virgin olive oils are best because they have the highest phenol content, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reports."

Calcium from food better than from supplements - Yahoo! News

Calcium from food better than from supplements - Yahoo! News: "NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Young girls who get extra calcium from food tend to gain more bone mass than those who get it from tablet supplements, but children who already receive adequate amounts of calcium in their diets do not benefit from any form of extra calcium, a research team in Finland reports"

The Seattle Times: Health: Eating out linked to health risks in children

Now this is not surprising in the least!

The Seattle Times: Health: Eating out linked to health risks in children: "Children who often eat in restaurants are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, according to a novel study presented here.

The study is believed to be the first to link eating out and heart-disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, and diabetes risk factors, such as poor insulin sensitivity. It also adds to earlier research showing that children who eat out frequently are more likely to be overweight."

MyPyramid.gov - United States Department of Agriculture - For Kids

This is pretty cool. A video game that shows kids proper nutrition:

"An interactive computer game where kids can reach Planet Power by fueling their rocket with food and physical activity. “Fuel” tanks for each food group help students keep track of how their choices fit into MyPyramid. Launch Game"

From the USDA.

Which of These Foods Will Stop Cancer? (Not So Fast) - New York Times

This is defnitely not an attempt to tell people to eat worse, just that when it comes to cancer, stopping tobacco usage is much more important!

From the NY Times:
Which of These Foods Will Stop Cancer? (Not So Fast) - New York Times: "Dr. Barnett Kramer, deputy director in the office of disease prevention at the National Institutes of Health, said: 'Over time, the messages on diet and cancer have been ratcheted up until they are almost co-equal with the smoking messages. I think a lot of the public is completely unaware that the strength of the message is not matched by the strength of the evidence.'"

High Blood Pressure: Nightly Aspirin May Help

Mmm...I agree it needs more study. But I tend to think that the time of day for aspirin and other medications may matter more than we suspect.

From WebMD:

High Blood Pressure: Nightly Aspirin May Help: "Taking aspirin at night may help lower blood pressure more than taking aspirin in the morning, new research shows.

It's the first finding of its kind. More studies are needed to check the results before recommendations can be made.

The study was done in Spain. The researchers included Ram�n Hermida, PhD, of the University of Vigo. Their report appears in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology."

Green Tea May Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

I think I will have some tonight!

Green Tea May Prevent Alzheimer's Disease: "Recent research from the University of South Florida shows that green tea may offer protection against Alzheimer's. Green tea contains many antioxidants and has been studied extensively for its health benefits"

Archbishop Walsh Oktoberfest

Just a reminder, the Walsh Oktoberfest is today (Saturday) on the school grounds on West Street in Olean.

While I am biased (I went there and my mom teaches there), it is a great school and they can use your help, so why not swing by and buy a few things, or just donate. I sure they will be grateful.

APPLE CIDER!

This season's local apple cider is now available! In both gallons and half gallons. I bought some last night and it is excellent!

Pets affected by Katrina

UPDATE: Petsmart has reportedly delivered 1700 crates! SO you may want to donate other things.

Somewhat lost in all of the human tragedy happening in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama is the animal suffering. Thousands of animals were left (many involuntarily) as their owners were forced to evacuate. For much of the time, rescuers were not saving these pets who were left to fend for themselves in rising water.

Fortunately it seems that this inhumane treatment has ended and the authorities appear to be now letting pet rescue organizations into the affected areas.

However, there is another problem: how to care for these animals. Currently shelters around the country are housing these pets. However, the main areas are in Gonzales LA and in Baton Rouge LA.

A report from the Gonzales shelter shows just how bad it has become:

"Got there at 6:30 EDT. They were in tears. There were 1400 Animals in the Gonzales facility on South St. Landry street when they got there - they had been told there were just 1000, the staff is completely overwhelmed and with no rest, and 6 more trucks full of animals were on their way in to the facility. They said he has never seen so many animals in bad shape and in such horrible conditions. It was MUCH worse than expected. They called back at 8PM after meeting with HSUS officials. There are 2500-2700 dogs there!!!!!!!! This does not include cats and other animals. There are MAU's (Mobile Adoption Units) from all areas; CT, TX, MN, just lined up everywhere waiting to take animals out. No news on releasing animals until Saturday morning at 8AM as FEMA is taking over. But they have to be released because they will just die there. They reported that it is set up like a MASH unit outside of the shelter, all make shift, dogs crowded into horse stalls and stacked crates in tents in the heat with fans blowing on them. Everyone is trying their best. They grabbed all the medical supplies off the truck first. The items they demanded immediately were the bowls, leashes/collars and medical supplies and crates. They need crates badly!!!! They are set on food so the food was taken over to the smaller LSU facility. They are going to continue to take trips down to New Orleans…. So we'’re going to keep up this drive!!!!! They need our help BADLY!!! VERY BADLY!!!"

[note this is only slightly edited for spelling from the NOLA forum.

They need:
** Crates, cages, even portable cat carriers will work --• MEDICAL SUPPLIES (any old pet antibiotics you have, ointments, creams, neosporin, bandages, rehydration fluids, catheters, IV tubing, etc),• Leashes / Collars, • Bowls, Toys, Chew bones, etc.

The Allegany Park and Shop will help in this effort by collecting donated supplies and shipping them to the affected areas. (Specifically we will be shipping to the LSU shelter in Baton Rouge who will then allocate as necessary). They said that they do not need food as Purina has made several large donations.

Of course this is in addition to our still collecting for the Red Cross which is available at all registers.

Thank you for your assistance in this!

PS if you are willing to temporarily house these animals, please let us know and we will facilitate contact with the proper officials.

If you are not a local customer, I encourage you to make donations on your own by either
mailing directly to

Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry
5825 Florida Blvd
Baton Rouge, LA 70821

They are distributing to all the centers around them.

or by giving online to any of a number of good causes including

1. Lousiana Veterinary Medical Association
2. Pasado Safe Haven
3. Noah's Wish
   
4. The American SPCA.

Healthy Heart Helpers Get Buffeted at Cardiology Meeting - CME Teaching Brief - MedPage Today

New evidences suggests that Vitamin B does little (if anything) to prevent heart problems:
ECS: Healthy Heart Helpers Get Buffeted at Cardiology Meeting - CME Teaching Brief - MedPage Today:

"'The homocysteine hypothesis is dead,' declared Kaare Bonaa, M.D., of the University of Tromso in Trondheim, Norway. In terms of heart disease risk, ' homocysteine is an innocent bystander,' he said at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2005."

In the vitamin B-homocysteine arena, Dr. Bonna and colleagues enrolled 3,749 myocardial infarction patients in the Norwegian Vitamin Trial (NORVIT). Patients were randomized to high dose vitamin B, high dose folic acid, or placebo for up to three years.

As expected the high doses of vitamin B lowered circulating homocysteine by 30%, but rather than decreasing heart attack risk, "there was a 20% increase in risk of cardiovascular events," Dr. Bonaa said.""

Pre-schoolers mimic parents' smoking - Newindpress.com

Pre-schoolers mimic parents' smoking - Newindpress.com:

"Beware smokers. If your pre-school kid is watching you smoking, he may mimic the habit, says a study"

While it is really not much of a surprise, it is sad and scary that some continue to smoke around children.

"The researchers used dolls in a role-playing game from two to six years of age. The children were told to take the doll shopping, as there was no food in the dollhouse.

When the doll entered the doll grocery store, the researchers noted which products were "purchased".

The children purchased an average of 17 of the 73 products in the store. Of the 120 children participating in the study, 34 (28.3 percent) bought cigarettes and 74 (61.7 percent) bought alcohol.

Children were 3.9 times as likely to buy cigarettes if their parents smoked. Children were three times as likely to choose wine or beer if their parents drank alcohol at least once a month; children who viewed PG-13 or R-rated movies were five times as likely to choose wine or beer."

New Zealand Herald - Coffee a health drink, says study - Friday 02, September 2005 18:53.00 PM - World News

I am sure you probably saw this earlier this week, but with all of the world's attention rightly turned ot the aftermath of atrina, you may have missed it, so here you go:

New Zealand Herald - Coffee a health drink, says study - Friday 02, September 2005 18:53.00 PM - World News: "Not only does it clear the mind and perk up the energy, coffee also provides more antioxidants than any other food or beverage in the American diet, according to the study released this week. "

The Seattle Times: Health: Lawsuit filed over labeling potato chips and French fries

The story that has been brewing for sometime over whether snack foods shouold contain a warning due to the amount of a cancer causing agaent they contain picked up steam as the State of California sued "sued nine fast-food giants yesterday, saying the law requires them to tell the public their potato chips and French fries contain a toxic chemical."Seattle Times.

The toxic chemical is "Acrylamide — known to cause cancer in the reproductive organs of laboratory animals exposed to high levels — has been on the state's list of carcinogens since 1990. But it was not known to be present in food until 2002, when scientists in Sweden discovered it in starchy foods cooked at high temperatures."Seattle Times.

Those being sued include "Frito-Lay, KFC, McDonald's, Wendy's International and Procter & Gamble Distributing." Predictably they maintain innocence: "Lynn Markley, a spokeswoman for Frito-Lay, said, 'There is no scientific evidence that the presence of acrylamide in food causes illness, and our Frito-Lay snacks are absolutely safe.' " Seattle Times.

In layperson's terms what this is over is that the toxin (which has been a known cancer agent for some time) becomes more pronounced when certian foods (especially starchy foods) are heated at high temperatures (especially when fried). Health advocates want warnings on the foods.

Making matters worse is that no one really know how much of the toxin is in any given food as levels vary even for the same product. For instance the San Francisco Chronicle reports that:

"... Burger King fries, tested at three locations, contained 197, 220 and 369 parts per billion....Wendy's fries, tested at five locations, ranged form a low of 169 parts per billion to a high of 302, far lower than a sample of Popeyes french fries, which contained 1,030 parts per billion. Pringle Ridges Potato Crisps contained 1,286 parts per billion, but Pringles Sweet mesquite BBQ Flavored Crisps had 2,510. Pringles Original Crisps had 693."

Interestingly this is a problem as well for other foods from breads and crackers to even olives.

For more on the problems with Acrylamide, click here. Or for teh more techincal among you try this link for a collection of research papers on the topic.

My take? Is this a health threat? Yes. Is it a major health threat? Well to be honest no one really knows. However, I am willing to go out on a limb and suggest that the fat and largely empty calories found in many of the mentioned foods are more of a health threat than the cancer potential. What is also interesing is that this appears to be more of an attack on so-called "junk foods" than anything else since we know that many otherwise nutritious foods (breads, olives, some nuts) also have the chemical.

I doubt we've heard the end of this.

Grape Juice and Soy Milk

Since I have not shareed any of my "recipes" in a while, I figured I would give you one today.
Remember, for me to use a recipe it has to be good for you and fast! As in real fast!

Grape "smoothie"

• 1/2 glass of Grape Juice (purple is best, red will work)
• 1/2 glass of Vanilla Soy Milk

See, wasn't that easy!

I should warn you that the resulting mixture does not look great (they do not mix well), but taste wonderful and is a great post exercise drink that is high in anti-oxidants and has quite a bit of protein!

Try it! You will not be disappointed.

News 14 Carolina | 24 Hour Local News | HEALTH | Second-hand smoke may or may not lead to SIDS

Unbelieveable! I can not even imagine being forced to chnage the wording on a paper, and then quietly doing it!

Best advice, DO NOT SMOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

News 14 Carolina | 24 Hour Local News | HEALTH | Second-hand smoke may or may not lead to SIDS: "One question research has answered is that secondhand smoke increases a baby's risk for SIDS. But a recent review found no link between the two. That finding raised the suspicion of Stanton Glantz, Director of the Center of Tobacco Control. He says tobacco giant Philip Morris paid for the study, and author Frank Sullivan changed the wording of the final draft.

'We found the original draft of the scientific paper, which said, 'secondhand smoke increases the risk of sudden infant death,' in Phillip Morris's corporate files along with their suggestions to Sullivan to change it,' says Dr. Glantz."

Cocoa Is The New Red Wine: Shows Benefits For Coronary Heart Disease

It is not new, but rather joins the now building scientific evidence that cocoa may help reduce the risk of heart disease.

From ScienceDaily:
Cocoa Is The New Red Wine: Shows Benefits For Coronary Heart Disease: "A research team in Southampton in England, led by Dr Denise O'Shaugnessy, has shown that drinking a cup of cocoa can prevent potentially fatal blood clots. Dr O'Shaughnessy will present this data at the XXth Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis & Haemostasis in Sydney"

Rinse would dry clothes 20 percent faster | Science Blog

Looking into the future I would have to imagine laundry detergent manufacturers will want to put this in their products.

Rinse would dry clothes 20 percent faster | Science Blog: "University of Florida engineers have developed a compound that forces clothes in the washer to shed 20 percent more water during the spin cycle than in normal conditions"

This is great! It will save time and energy on drying! :)

Secondhand smoke costs nearly $10 bln in U.S.-study - Yahoo! News

Yet another reason to stop!!!!
Secondhand smoke costs nearly $10 bln in U.S.-study - Yahoo! News: "The Society of Actuaries said that the direct costs of secondhand smoke exposure are $4.98 billion, including expenses related to the treatment of heart disease, chronic pulmonary disease, lung cancer, asthma and other sicknesses"

New Study: NonSmokers' Net Worth 50% Higher Than Smokers [02/03/05]

Sure it is a tad dated, but the message can not be repeated enough: smoking is awful for both your physical and your financial health. Please do not smoke!

New Study: NonSmokers' Net Worth 50% Higher Than Smokers [02/03/05]: "A new study suggests that typical non-smokers' net worth is roughly 50 percent higher than that of light smokers and about twice the level of that of heavy smokers. And that wealth gap grows by about $410, or 4 percent, each year that a person continues to smoke, said Jay Zagorsky, author of the study and a research scientist at Ohio State University's Center for Human Resource Research. Federal statistics on cigarette spending suggest that the wealth reductions are roughly equal to how much smokers spend on their habit. "

Newsday.com: Painkillers linked to hypertension

Newsday.com: Painkillers linked to hypertension: "Women who rely on the popular painkillers acetaminophen and ibuprofen are more likely to develop high blood pressure than those who don't take the over-the-counter drugs, a team of doctors said"

Even a couple of drinks could harm an unborn baby

Simple version: DO not drink if you are (or even if you might be) pregnant!!!!


Even a couple of drinks could harm an unborn baby: "A new study is suggesting that mothers who drink even low levels of alcohol during pregnancy could permanently damage their children's intelligence.

The study, by scientists in Detroit, of seven-and-a-half-year-olds, found lower IQ scores, and memory and problem-solving difficulties among those who had had low-level exposure to alcohol during pregnancy."

BBC NEWS | Health | Folic acid 'cuts dementia risk'

BBC NEWS | Health | Folic acid 'cuts dementia risk': "Eating plenty of folic acid - found in oranges, lemons and green vegetables - can halve the risk of Alzheimer's disease, a study has suggested."

eat up!

Hold That Fat, New York Asks Its Restaurants - New York Times

I am really torn on this one. On one hand, I do not recommend anyone eat trans fat. I do think the evindence is pretty convincing that they are bad for you. (indeed I gave up some of my favorite breads (are you listening bakers?) because of even small amounts.

However, I wish that this would be customer driven and the restaurants would want to give up their trans fat.

Hold That Fat, New York Asks Its Restaurants - New York Times: "The New York City health department urged all city restaurants yesterday to stop serving food containing trans fats, chemically modified ingredients that health officials say significantly increase the risk of heart disease and should not be part of any healthy diet."

All in all, since the City is only asking, I guess I am ok with it.

Study: Diet May Help Fight Prostate Cancer - Yahoo! News

Good news! While the test is pretty early and more work needs to be done to be convincing, the results so far suggest that Low fat diets now may help fight prostate cancer. Remember recently we saw the same result for a study that used low fat diets to treat breast cancer.

Study: Diet May Help Fight Prostate Cancer - Yahoo! News: "Ornish's studies show that regimen can help heart disease, but why try it on prostate cancer? There is some evidence that diets high in fat increase the risk of prostate cancer, and that certain foods — such as broccoli, or the nutrient lycopene from cooked tomato products — are protective"

The Abbey of the Genesee Piffard NY Monks' Bread Cistercians Trappist Monk

The Abbey of the Genesee Piffard NY Monks' Bread Cistercians Trappist Monk

I just tried this new bread from Monks. It is very good. I nice dessert bread!

For $1.69 this week at our stores, you really can not go wrong!!!

Grizzlies And Salmon: Too Much Of A Good Thing?

There is growing evidence that mercury and other contaminants are in most fish that we eat. (Read this month's Reader's Digest for more on the topic). But now we see that it is even impacting the bears!

Grizzlies And Salmon: Too Much Of A Good Thing?: "It turns out that grizzlies that gorge themselves on salmon during the summer spawning season have much higher levels of contaminants in their bodies than their cousins who rely more on berries, plants and insects, according to Peter Ross of Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans"

Best advice? Moderate your fish intake.

White Bread Gets Whole-Grain Makeover - Yahoo! News

White Bread Gets Whole-Grain Makeover - Yahoo! News: "Looks like white bread. Tastes like it, too. But is it?"

ConAgra Foods Inc., one of the nation's largest food makers, spent at least eight years and several million dollars developing Ultragrain White Whole Wheat. The grain was bred for its properties and is not genetically modified, said Garth Neuffer, a spokesman for the Omaha, Neb.-based company."

We have this now and it is pretty good. I personally think it is too soft for most sandwiches, but I would imagine kids like it.

Blood Pressure Over Normal? Nip It in the Bud

fROM WebMD Blood Pressure Over Normal? Nip It in the Bud: "Prehypertension: Systolic blood pressure of 120-139 and/or diastolic blood pressure of 80-89"

'Those with "prehypertension" -- the zone between normal and high blood pressure -- also have higher-than-normal odds of having a heart attack or heart disease. The findings appear in Stroke."

Yet another reason to watch your fat consumption

Penn State Live: "according to a Penn State study.

'When we gave the rats doses of a 'stop eating' hormone, the rats on the low-fat diet significantly suppressed their intake of the snack but not the rats on the high-fat diet,' said Mihai Covasa, assistant professor of nutritional sciences and a member of the Penn State Neuroscience Institute who led the study. 'These results suggest that a long-term, high-fat diet may actually promote short-term overconsumption of highly palatable foods high in dietary fat by reducing sensitivity to at least one important feedback signal which would ordinarily limit eating.'"

icWales - We have known for years that smoking harms your baby

Absolutely awful. How any mother could do this is so beyond me that I can not even comrehend it. It is one thing to smoke (and harm your own health), but to smoke around others, or in the worst case while pregnant is repugnant.

icWales - We have known for years that smoking harms your baby: "The 'shocking' number of women who risk causing serious damage to their unborn children by smoking while pregnant has been branded 'a great worry for the health of the nation'.

The research has found that 29.1% of women smoke during pregnancy.

The study, funded by Cardiff University, was designed to explore the link between smoking and anti-social behaviour, but made the surprising discovery during the course of the investigation."

Buffalo News - Secondhand smoke tied to teen obesity malady

Buffalo News - Secondhand smoke tied to teen obesity malady: "'The bottom line to me is: As we gear up to take on this epidemic of obesity, we cannot abandon protecting our children from secondhand smoke and smoking,' said lead author Dr. Michael Weitzman, executive director of the American Academy of Pediatrics Center for Child Health Research in Rochester, N.Y.

For the study, metabolic syndrome was defined as having at least three of five characteristics: a big waist, high blood pressure, high levels of blood fats called triglycerides, low levels of good cholesterol, and evidence of insulin resistance, in which the body cannot efficiently use insulin"

Interesting, I confess have not read the article. That said, I would be a tad suscipicious of confounding variables. For instance, those who smoke (or even those who's parents smoke, may not take as good of care of themselves in other ways.

Vitamin E Fails to Deliver on Early Promise - New York Times

FWIW I have essentially stopped taking it. Vitamin E Fails to Deliver on Early Promise - New York Times: "'Based on what we've seen, we don't recommend vitamin E supplements for the prevention of heart disease or cancer,' said I-Min Lee, a Harvard Medical School epidemiologist and lead investigator of one of the most recent and weightiest studies to sully the supplement's reputation.

As part of Harvard's double-blind, placebo-controlled Women's Health Study, nearly 20,000 healthy, middle-aged women were given 600 international units of vitamin E every other day for roughly 10 years. Results reported in the July 6 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association found no overall protective benefit against those illnesses."

Organic Yellow Transparent available at Allegany Store

If you have never had applesauce made from Yellow Transparent apples, wow, you are in for a treat!!!

Definitely one of my favorites. I just picked them and they will be available at the Allegany Store starting Monday.

Donald Fruit & Mercantile Heritage Apple Trees - Wapato: "42 – Yellow Transparent: (White Transparent), Russia, (Europe 1870). Medium-to-large fruit with transparent pale yellow skin. Crisp, sweet and juicy, but has a very short life after ripe on or off the tree. Often picked in a greener stage for cooking. Excellent for sauce, pie and drying. "

Chicken WIng Contest

Be sure to catch the Chicken wing eating contest at our Portville Store! It should be fun! Call 933-8411 for more information.

In season fruits and vegetables

There are many things to love about the summer, but not least is the wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. I just had some excellent peaches (the first ones of the year that I thought were good enough to mention).

When looking for peaches, remember they should be soft to the touch when you eat them. If they are not ready yet when you buy them you can speed the ripening process by placing them in a small paper bag.

Great alone or in cereals!! And good for you too!

The Food Timeline--history notes: ambrosia to corn bread

The Food Timeline--history notes: ambrosia to corn bread

Corn bread is literally being brought to a new generation with the success of Thomas' Toasting Corn Bread. In the past week I have had two employees mention to me that they had never had corn bread prior to this.

One of the employees is a history major (well sort of), and his comments spurred this internet search.

The history of corn bread is really quite interesting. I did not realize that it was looked down upon so much (largely due to the hard nature of colonial and even Civil War Era breads.

Definitely worth your time to check it out!

And if you have not tried the bread, I would highly highly recommend it! Especially toasted with maple syrup on it. EXCELLENT!

Grapefruit seed can help ulcers

I am sort of surprised by this one. But I am happy as when I make grapefruit juice I often end up drinking many of the seeds and I have always been somewhat worried about it. I guess I can relax. ;)

Grapefruit seed can help ulcers: "The team from Jagiellonian University Medical College in Poland examined the effects of different doses of grapefruit seed extract on induced gastric ulcers in rats."

Grapefruit "seed extract actually possesses antibacterial and antioxidative properties that calm the gastric tract, according to researchers at the recent Digestive Disease Week conference in Chicago, USA"

Health and Nutrition: Dark Chocolate Isn't a Health Food, but . . . - New York Times

I still vote for fruits and vegetables, but...

Health and Nutrition: Dark Chocolate Isn't a Health Food, but . . . - New York Times: "eating dark chocolate appears to bring down blood pressure in people with hypertension, researchers said yesterday."

But be forewarned:

The "dark chocolate used in the study, conducted at the University of L'Aquila in Italy, is vastly different from most of that found on American shelves. Beyond that, the researchers said, high-fat, high-calorie foods like chocolate should be eaten in moderation"

BBC NEWS | Health | Quit smoking to save your teeth

Well if the first million reasons weren't enough, her eis another reason to quit!
BBC NEWS | Health | Quit smoking to save your teeth: "Smokers who give up are much less likely to lose their teeth prematurely than those who do not kick the habit, research shows"

FEATURE/California Bartlett Pears Perfect for the ''French Women Don't Get Fat'' Lifestyle, By Georgeanne Brennan

FEATURE/California Bartlett Pears Perfect for the ''French Women Don't Get Fat'' Lifestyle, By Georgeanne Brennan: "We've been hearing that French women don't get fat, yet they eat chocolate, drink Champagne, savor cheeses of all kinds, consume steak and French fries, not to mention ice cream and pastries. What's the secret? Well, part of the secret is eating fruit -- a lot of fruit. In fact, as explained in the current best selling book, French Women Don't Get Fat, by Mierelle Guilano"

The 29 Healthiest Foods on the Planet

Ok, so I am not sure on the exact numbering, but the list is impressive and interesting!

How many do you eat? How often?

The 29 Healthiest Foods on the Planet: "The following is a 'healthy food hot list' consisting of the 29 food that will give you the biggest nutritional bang for you caloric buck, as well as decrease your risk for deadly illnesses like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Along with each description is a suggestion as to how to incorporate these power-foods into your diet. "

'Self-Regulation' of Food Marketing is More Like Self-Preservation, Says CSPI ~ Newsroom ~ News from CSPI

Hey turn these people onto this blog! You definitely get the who picture here! In fact, some suppliers have not been very happy with critical remarks made about their products.

'Self-Regulation' of Food Marketing is More Like Self-Preservation, Says CSPI ~ Newsroom ~ News from CSPI: "The steps that Kraft, Nickelodeon and PepsiCo are beginning to take are encouraging, but the industry needs to do so much more. Responsible food marketing would support, rather than undermine, parental authority and responsibility. Parents are drowned out by sophisticated marketing for junk foods. "

BBC NEWS | Health | Sweetener 'linked' to leukaemias

Personally, I doubt I will change any behavior as a result of only one study (especially given the track record of medical studies), I will be watching for more evidence. Stay tuned.

BBC NEWS | Health | Sweetener 'linked' to leukaemias:

"Dr Morando Soffritti and colleagues at the Cancer Research Centre in Bologna fed eight-week-old rats varying concentrations of aspartame.

Compared with control rats given no sweetener, many of the female rats in the experiment developed lymphomas or leukaemias - the risk increasing with the dose of aspartame.

The researchers say their study raises concerns about the levels of aspartame to which humans can be exposed"

Pop warnings?

"Group Calls for Soft Drink Warnings - New York Times: "An organization that lobbies for increased regulation of the food and drug industries called on Wednesday for cigarette-style warnings on soft drinks to alert consumers that too much of the beverages can cause obesity and other health problems."

Well, we knew it would be coming. We all know too much sugar is not good for us. So I am not sure the warning is necessary, but I guess if not, the beverage firms are probably opening themselves up for lawsuits.

Virtual Tours of the Olean/Allegany area

OleanInfo.com has some pretty cool "virtual tours" of the local area. So if you are new to the area (or no longer in the area), or just want to see the area from a different perspective, try it out!

Virtual Tours in the Olean Area

Childhood pastimes are increasingly moving indoors - Yahoo! News

I have an idea. Rather than getting in the car and driving, walk or bike to the store! In fact, mention this to the store manager and tell him/her that you want a bike rack put in--I have been campaigning for one, but no one believes there is any demand.

Childhood pastimes are increasingly moving indoors - Yahoo! News: "The fundamental nature of American childhood has changed in a single generation. The unstructured outdoor childhood - days of pick-up baseball games, treehouses and 'be home for dinner' - has all but vanished.
Today, childhood is spent mostly indoors, watching television, playing video games and working the Internet. When children do go outside, it tends to be for scheduled events - soccer camp or a fishing derby - held under the watch of adults. In a typical week, 27% of kids ages 9 to 13 play organized baseball, but only 6% play on their own, a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.
The shift to an indoor childhood has accelerated in the past decade, with huge declines in spontaneous outdoor activities such as bike riding, swimming and touch football"

Fried Twinkies

Uh, don't try this at home!

Lebanon Daily Record: "For the second year in a row, the Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department brought a newly-popular delicacy to the midway fare at the Laclede County Fair: fried Twinkies and bananas.

'We just take the Twinkie and dip it in funnel cake batter and fry it up,' said Eldridge Volunteer Fire Department safety officer Bruce Pringle.
"

Yahoo! Sports - Cycling - Innovative diet keeps Armstrong lean and powerful

Yahoo! Sports - Cycling - Innovative diet keeps Armstrong lean and powerful: "To make positive adaptations to training, your body needs a slight surplus of energy. To lose weight, you need a slight energy deficit. Trying to lose significant amounts of weight while training hard can do more harm than good because it robs the body of its ability to recover, which in turn reduces the positive impact of workouts.

We have seen examples of this from Jan Ullrich. Earlier in his career, he would gain more than 20 pounds during the winter, slim down slightly in the spring, then lose the final dozen pounds within a month before the start of the Tour de France. The problem, however, was his power output suffered from the combination of caloric restriction and increased training. He arrived at the Tour de France lean and mean, but without the power to challenge Lance in the mountains."

I could not agree any more!!!

Study: Vitamin C fails to prevent colds

"Vitamin C does nothing to prevent the common cold but may shorten its duration, Australian and Finnish researchers say in their analysis of 55 studies."

Study: Vitamin C fails to prevent colds

This is news, why? Oh well...some of you may be interested. And it gives me the opportunity to ask: if the symptoms are gone, how does one know (s)he is still sick?

High iron and cholesterol equals high cancer risk - Yahoo! News

High iron and cholesterol equals high cancer risk - Yahoo! News: "he team reports that elevated iron increased the likelihood of developing cancer by 66 percent, and high VLDL cholesterol increased the risk by 54 percent. Combining elevated iron with elevated VLDL increased the risk of cancer by 168 percent."

Interesting, but I am a tad concerned that the high cholesterol is picking up diet related variables (example heavy meat eating, low vegetable eating). That said it is very interesting for the interaction.

Moreover, high iron levels have now been associated with heart problems as well as cancer.

Eating poorly? Some of blame may be due to evolution

Sweet tastes good, we crave salt, and love fat. Why? It might be because of how our ancestors evolved: bitter was seen as poison, sweet as calorie rich.

From NPR: Jonesing for Fries? Blame the Cave Men

I will concede this, but we all need more self-discipline if we can not give in that easily to our urges.

NPR : Health Experts Offer Tips for Grocery Shopping

NPR : Health Experts Offer Tips for Grocery Shopping

A very useful audio article on how to grocery shop.

Remember, it is more healthful to eat at home than to go out to eat! Something I have been saying forever!

5 Super Nutrients for Growing Kids

Calcium, Fiber, Protein, Antixodants, and Iron
5 Super Nutrients for Growing Kids

CBS 2 - New York News: National Wire

CBS 2 - New York News: National Wire: "`Physical activity isn't the be-all, end-all. It has to be accompanied by an improvement in diet.''"

Potatoes seem to be getting a raw deal. Sure they are not perfect, but they are much better than many food--candy, pop, sweetened fruit juices come to mind immediately.

Now fried potatoes may be another story...

Little research on effects of diet on young children

Interesting NY Times piece:
Bananas, Maybe. Peas and Kale? Dream On. - New York Times: "The research on the developmental and long-term health effects of poor diet in young children is scant.

'From 1 year of age to about adolescence, there's a dearth of research,' said Dr. Stephanie A. Atkinson, a member of a dietary panel at the Institute of Medicine, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences."

I would suggest that until the research becomes available, to presume roughly the same guidelines that we see for older children and adults: namely to eat fewer processed foods, to watch sodium and sugar intake, and to avoid trans-fat. But of course, that is common sense.

Study: Extra Folic Acid May Help Memory - Yahoo! News

Another good aspect of all of the fortification of cereals and breads with folic acid!

Study: Extra Folic Acid May Help Memory - Yahoo! News: "Taking 800 micrograms of folic acid a day slowed that brain drain, reported lead researcher Jane Durga of Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

In the study, 818 cognitively healthy people ages 50 to 75 swallowed either folic acid or a dummy pill for three years.

On memory tests, the supplement users had scores comparable to people 5.5 years younger, Durga said. On tests of cognitive speed, the folic acid helped users perform as well as people 1.9 years younger."

Children Often Confused About Which Foods Are Healthy, New Study Finds

And often kids (and I would venture many adults as well) cannot tell the difference between foods that claim to be good for you and foods that are in fact good for you.



From ScienceDaily:
TV Confuses Children About Which Foods Are Healthy, New Study Finds: "Foods marketed as aiding weight-loss were particularly problematical for the kids in the study. They equated the words 'diet' and 'fat-free' with being nutritious.

'When they were presented with choices like Diet Coke vs. orange juice and fat-free ice cream vs. cottage cheese, they were more likely to pick the wrong answer -- the diet and fat-free foods -- than when they were presented with choices without these labels, for example, spinach vs. lettuce."

Can straws cut tooth decay?

Might straws cut tooth decay? New research says it might. And it definitely makes sense!

From Science Daily:
Saved By A Straw? Sipping Soft Drinks And Other Beverages Reduces Risk Of Decay: "according to a report in the May/June 2005 issue of General Dentistry, the Academy of General Dentistry's (AGD) clinical, peer-reviewed journal, drinking soft drinks and other beverages through a properly positioned straw can help to minimize the risk of cavities"

other point:
"However, even when drinking through a straw, the teeth located in the back of the mouth are still bathed with sugary and acidic liquids. "Try rinsing your mouth with water after drinking and use toothpaste that contains fluoride," advises AGD spokesperson Paula Jones, DDS, FAGD. "Your teeth aren't thirsty, your throat is.""

CNN.com - Red meat fuels bowel cancer risk - Jun 15, 2005

CNN.com - Red meat fuels bowel cancer risk - Jun 15, 2005: "The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) concluded the risk of developing the disease for people who regularly ate more than two portions of red and processed meat a day was a third (35 percent) higher than for those who ate less than one portion a week.

The latest research, published Wednesday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, used data from a study of the diets of more than half a million people across Europe."

I guess this really is not very surprising.

Study Challenges Dairy's Weight Loss Claim

More reasons to doubt the validity of many marketing claims:

Study Challenges Dairy's Weight Loss Claim: "'Studies examining the relationship between milk and body fat have been very mixed, but the marketing messages directed at families are clear -- advertisements encourage dairy products such as milk to help promote weight loss, so it is critical we continue to study this area until we have solid answers,' Berkey says"

Raisins may fight cavities and gum disease - study - Yahoo! News

Well here is a surprise....Riasins may be good for your teeth afterall!

Raisins may fight cavities and gum disease - study - Yahoo! News: "They may be sweet and sticky but raisins contain compounds that suppress bacteria responsible for cavities and gum disease, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.

While the researchers have not shown that people who eat raisins have healthier mouths, they identified five compounds known as phytochemicals in raisins that can be beneficial for teeth and gums."

Everyday Apples Pack Antioxidant Punch - Yahoo! News

An Apple a day...

More evidence that apples are good for you!

From Yahoo:
Everyday Apples Pack Antioxidant Punch - Yahoo! News: "CONCORD, N.H. - America's most common apple also may be its most potent. Just don't skimp on the skin. A Canadian government study that measured the levels of antioxidants in eight varieties of apples found that Red Delicious contain the highest concentrations of the health enhancing chemicals.

And to get the most bang for your bite, be sure to eat the peel.

The skin of Red Delicious apples — the most common variety grown in the United States — contains over six times more antioxidant activity than the flesh, according to researchers at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada"


Later:

"The study, to be published in the June 29 issue of Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, compared apple varieties popular in Canada, some of which are available only regionally in the United States.

Red Delicious, which account for 27 percent of U.S. apple production, has more than six times the antioxidants as the bottom-ranked Empire variety. Northern Spy was No. 2, followed by Cortland, Ida Red, Golden Delicious, McIntosh and Mutsu.

And in every variety tested, the skins of the apples contained substantially higher levels of antioxidants than the flesh."

CDC: Smoking Rates Continue to Drop

Good news!!!!

Smoking rates continue to drop!!!

"Smoking continues to drop among U.S. adults, says the CDC. Still, the government wants to see a lot more people kick the cigarette habit -- and the sooner, the better.

A little more than one in five adults smoke, says the CDC. That's 21.6% of American adults, or 45.4 million people. Those numbers are down from 22.5% in 2002 and 22.8% in 2001. "

Interestingly, smoking is still most prevalent among the poor and less educated.

CDC: Smoking Rates Continue to Drop: "Current smoking was most common among adults aged 25-44 years (26%), those living below the poverty level (30%), and those whose highest educational level was a General Educational Development (GED) diploma (44%)."

Secondhand Smoke Hurts Heart Like Smoking

My long held fears are being confirmed by Joaquin Barnoya MD in the Journal Circulation:
Secondhand Smoke Hurts Heart Like Smoking: "On average, the heart effects of even brief secondhand smoke exposure are about 80% to 90% as large as that from chronic active smoking, they say."

I often wish we did not sell tobacco at all. It is not something that I am proud of.

You can teach your kids to eat right! :)

Good news!!!

- Forbes.com: "'You can raise a child to enjoy healthy eating and to be selective about food choices. Habits developed in childhood will hopefully last throughout their lives,' study lead author Linda Van Horn, professor of medicine at Northwestern University."

So stick with it...the effort is worth it!

Want to go for a bike ride? Or donate to a good cause?

I have registered to ride in the MS 150 series. It is a two day 150 mile (actually 169 mile in this case, but who is counting ;) ) bicycle ride to raise money for the MS society.

It is a good cause so if you would like to learn more about the ride (or a ride near you--it is a national series that I HIGHLY recommend!!!---or if you want to donate to them, why not do it through this link. :)

thanks in advance!!

jim

Best new Product!--THomas Corn Bread

I am reluctant to even tell anyone about this since we have had difficulty keeping it on the shelves, but it is so good I could not keep it to myself!

Thomas' Corn Bread. WOW! Sliced corn bread. Great plain or for toasting (it is a "Toasting" bread). I have not yet had it as a sandwich (too valuable to waste!).

It is so new that I could not google it! and it is not on the firm's web site, but wow is it good!

I have not been as excited about a new product since Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats Vanilla Creme!

Soyboy offers premium, all-natural organic tofu, organic tempeh, and soy products: Organic Tofu

I am have been very remiss for not mentioning this site sooner. It is the SoyBoy website.
For those of know me, I am a big fan of tofu and the best I have found (and the kind that we carry ;) ) is SoyBoy Organic Tofu. I have a package available at all times in the refrigerator.

Soyboy offers premium, all-natural organic tofu..../a>

They even have recipes! Although I like mine better! ;) Although I would like to try the vegan pumpkin pie!

Consumer Reports Rates Diet Plans

from WebMD and Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports Rates Diet Plans: " * Weight Watchers got the highest rating. On the 1 to 5 rating scale -- where 1 is best and 5 is worst -- Weight Watchers scored a 2.
* Slim-Fast came in second. It also scored a 2 on the rating scale.
* The Zone diet came in third, with a rating of 2.
* The Dean Ornish diet came in fourth, with a rating of 3.
* The Atkins Ongoing Weight Loss plan and the Atkins Induction plan came in last, both with a rating of 4.

Excerpted from Consumer Reports, June 2005"

Adding Color to Your Diet

The rainbow diet! Well sort of. This article from the Korea Times stresses the importance of eating a colorful diet. Short version? More nutrients in the form of phytonutrients!

Note: I am less willing than the article is to beleive some of these claims, but at the margin, the information is good.

The Korea Times : Adding Color to Your Diet: "Yoon Dong-hyuk writes in his recent book ``Let's Eat According to Color'' that the reason why the color of food has become the center of attention is because of the phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables."


Now where is that black sesame ;)

Elderly might not benefit from regular aspirin - Yahoo! News

A good reminder that there are dangers of too much aspirin!

Elderly might not benefit from regular aspirin - Yahoo! News:

"To further investigate the matter, the research team constructed a mathematical model based on clinical trial data and demographics to compare risks and benefits of low-dose aspirin in a theoretical cohort of 10,000 men and 10,000 women ages 70 to 74. The virtual participants were 'followed' until they died or reached 100 years of age.

The model suggested that, for men, routine low-dose aspirin therapy would prevent 389 heart attacks and 19 strokes; for women, the numbers were 321 heart attacks and 35 strokes.

However, this benefit was offset by an extra 499 episodes of gastric bleeding in men and 572 in women. On top of that, the team calculated that 76 more men and 54 more women would suffer bleeding in the brain.

'On balance, there was no indication of a net benefit or harm in terms of deaths, years of life saved, or years of healthy life saved,' the researchers report."

The study is by Dr. Mark R. Nelson.

BBC NEWS | Health | Vitamin E cuts Parkinson's risk

More good news on the healthy eating front!

Diets high in vitamin E appear to cut risk of Parkinsons.

BBC NEWS | Health | Vitamin E cuts Parkinson's risk: "A study in Lancet Neurology pooled available data and found people who ate plenty of [foods rich in vitamin E] were far less likely to develop Parkinson's."

"Dr Mayhar Etminan, from Queen's University in Canada, and colleagues scrutinised eight studies published between 1966 and 2005 looking at the effects of vitamins E and C, and the nutrient beta carotene.

Both moderate and high doses of vitamin E appeared to reduce the risk of Parkinson's.

Neither vitamin C or beta carotene had a similar effect, however. "

I have a friend/co-author who's mom has a severe case of Parkinson's and trust me, NO ONE wants it! So eat your spinach and peanut butter and improve your odds.

Oats and Cholesteral - How Oats Work

Oats and Cholesteral - How Oats Work
Yeah it is biased, but Quaker Oats has put together a pretty cool description of how oatmeal may reduce cholesterol.

Super Short version:
"Think of rolled oats as tiny sponges that soak up cholesterol and carry it out of the bloodstream."


As an aside, Oatmeal is really a staple in my diet. I have it virtually for all meals--as a cereal, mixed with mashed potatoes, mixed with frozen squash, or as a desert. Truly one of my favorite foods!

Experts Debate Study on Fat, Breast Cancer - Yahoo! News

you probbaly saw the study suggesting a low fat duet and aspirin can reduce the reoccurence of certain cancers. Maybe the study needs some more analysis.

Experts Debate Study on Fat, Breast Cancer - Yahoo! News

"However, the only women who benefited were those whose tumors were not helped to grow by estrogen. These women had 42 percent lower risk of recurrence if they ate low-fat diets, but they accounted for just 1 out of 5 women in the entire study — similar to breast cancer cases in the general population.

Results for the other 4 out of 5 women in the study did not reach statistical significance, meaning they could have occurred by chance alone — a point the
American Cancer Society noted in a statement posted on its Web site Monday."

Low-Fat Dairy Reduces Type 2 Diabetes Risk in Men - CME Teaching Brief - MedPage Today

Preliminary, but very interesting. I would warn you however, that the last time a big dairy study came out about weight loss, many questions later came up about the vailidity. However, I would argue, this one makes more sense to me (like that means anythig!)

Low-Fat Dairy Reduces Type 2 Diabetes Risk in Men - CME Teaching Brief - MedPage Today: "The more men consume low-fat dairy food the less their risk of type 2 diabetes, suggests a big prospective observational study.

Indeed, each additional serving per-day in total dairy intake was linked to a 9% drop in type 2 diabetes risk, Hyon K. Choi, M.D., of the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and colleagues reported in the May 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine."

More evidence that antioxidants are good for you!

Research out of the University of Washington suggests that free-radicals cause ageing.

"Free-radicals have been linked with heart disease, cancer and other age-related diseases. "

Study: Only Broiled, Baked Fish Help Heart - Yahoo! News

Aong similar lines to the story below that says all low fat diets are not the same, all fish is not the same according to a new Harvard study.

Study: Only Broiled, Baked Fish Help Heart - Yahoo! News: "'All fish meals may not be equal,' said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian of the Harvard Medical School."

Short version? Low fat fish probably do not have enough Omega-3 in them and frying is not good for you:

"people who regularly consumed broiled or baked fish were more likely to have a lower heart rate and blood pressure, and better blood flow to the heart.

In contrast, those who regularly consumed fried fish or fish sandwiches showed signs of hardening arteries and other cardiac problems."

So ask for the baked fish, not the fried :)

Veggie, low-fat diet lowers cholesterol more-study - Yahoo! News

As if you weren't convinced already!

More evidence that all low fat diets are not created equal and that it is best to eat your fruits and vegetables!

Veggie, low-fat diet lowers cholesterol more-study - Yahoo! News: "A low-fat diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans has twice the cholesterol-lowering power"

Christopher Gardner of Stanford University was lead author:

"Of the volunteers, 61 ate a conventional low-fat diet, which included frozen waffles, turkey bologna sandwiches, frozen pizza and similar foods. The other 59 ate a plant-based diet including whole-grain cereals, dark lettuces, bean burritos and vegetable soups....Both diets contained identical amounts of total and saturated fat, protein, carbohydrate and cholesterol. Calories were carefully controlled to keep each volunteers' weight constant....The plant-based diet lowered LDL by more than twice as much, by 9.4 percent, the researchers reported."

Fruits and Vegetables made easier

A giant trend in teh produce deptartment is to try to make the food easier to eat. For instance, few now buy heads of lettuce when they can buy premade salads. Similarly, fruit companies are now trying to get in on the act:

"Sunkist's Fun Fruits are sliced oranges, apples or pineapples, or red grapes with no stems, available in half-cup serving packages that have pictures of kids on them. The products will be in supermarkets this year; Sunkist is working on a version for grown-ups."

We have a long ways to go however, as few Americans are eating enough fruits and vegetables!

Stores Use Fresh Produce to Lure Shoppers - Yahoo! News: "Consumer research shows that the average person eats 1.8 cups of fruits and vegetables a day, according to the nonprofit Produce for Better Health Foundation. That total is less than half the amount recommended in the government's new food pyramid, which says the average person should consume about 5 cups of fruits and vegetables a day"

Need another reason to eat your vegetables?

New studies suggest that low levels of magnesium can lead to artery disease.

"In a study of 2,977 men and women, researchers used ultrafast computed tomography (CT scans) of the chest to assess the participants' coronary artery calcium levels. Measurements were taken at the start of the study -- when the participants were 18 to 30 years old -- and again 15 years later.

"The study concluded that dietary magnesium intake was inversely related to coronary artery calcium levels."

"Most dietary magnesium comes from dark green, leafy vegetables."

"The researchers from Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago were to present their study Saturday at the American Heart Association's annual conference on cardiovascular disease, epidemiology and prevention."

- Forbes.com

Eliminating enzyme dramatically reduces cardiovascular disease

VERY interesting! Maybe it is not cholesterol but "ACAT2, a cholesterol transforming enzyme"

Eliminating enzyme dramatically reduces cardiovascular disease: "How does cholesterol in our diets end up as artery-clogging plaque that can cause heart attacks and strokes? Research in animals suggests that a little-studied enzyme may play a major role - and that drugs to target it could dramatically reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. "

The good news is that new medicines will likely be made to target ACAT2.

The bad news? ACAT2 seems to also affect monounsaturated fats (at least in monkeys):

" Evidence suggests that a diet high in mono-unsaturated fats, which include olive oil, nuts and nut butters, avocado and sesame seeds, may stimulate transformation by ACAT2.

In a study of monkeys, those that were fed a diet high in monounsaturated fat got just as much heart disease as monkeys that were fed saturated fat, even though their levels of "bad" cholesterol decreased."

The New York Times > Health > Studies Cast Doubt on Use of Calcium in Some Cases

The New York Times > Health > Studies Cast Doubt on Use of Calcium in Some Cases: "
Studies Cast Doubt on Use of Calcium in Some Cases
By ANAHAD O'CONNOR

Published: April 28, 2005

Despite what doctors have long recommended, regularly taking calcium and vitamin D does not prevent fractures in older people who have broken a bone or who have osteoporosis, according to two large studies released yesterday."

interesting, and disappointing. But before you get too discouraged and throw away your calcium, consider this from later in teh article:

"experts called the findings important but cautioned that they did not apply to most people.

Just people older than 70, a majority of them women with previous bone injuries, were included in the studies.

Because vitamin D and calcium are widely considered early preventive measures, it is no surprise that the studies failed to find them effective in people who already had osteoporosis or signs of it, said Dr. Steven R. Goldstein, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the New York University medical center."

Best to Eat Like the Greeks After Heart Disease

Still more evidence suggesting that a Mediterranean diet is good for you!

Yahoo! News - Best to Eat Like the Greeks After Heart Disease: "People with heart disease who stick to a so-called Mediterranean diet -- heavy on fish and vegetables, and low on saturated fats -- tend to live longer than those who follow different diets, new research suggests."

"those who ate a more Mediterranean diet were nearly 30 percent less likely to die during follow up, which lasted close to four years."

"Based on these findings, lead author Dr. Antonia Trichopoulou at Athens Medical School and Harvard University in Boston told Reuters Health that she would "absolutely" recommend a Mediterranean diet for everybody diagnosed with heart disease.

A Mediterranean-style diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, grains and nuts. It includes few saturated fats like the ones in red meat but plenty of healthier fatty acids like those found in olive oil. It also features moderate amounts of red wine. "

BBC NEWS | Health | Processed meat cancer risk link

Yes we sell them, but....please do not eat too many hotdogs!

BBC NEWS | Health | Processed meat cancer risk link: "Dr Ute Nothlings, of the Cancer Research Center at the University of Hawaii, who led the research, said: 'The results suggest that carcinogenic substances related to meat preparation, rather than their inherent fat or cholesterol content, might be responsible for the association.'

Dr Nothlings said the increased cancer risk from processed meat could be due to the chemical reactions that occur during the preparation of processed meats.

They said such reactions could produce carcinogenic chemicals such as heterocyclic amines or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Professor Tim Key, Deputy Director of Cancer Research UK's Epidemiology Unit, said the study provided an 'interesting perspective' into a possible association between processed meat and pancreatic cancer.

But he added: 'The weight of research has yet to verify a definite link between the two."

MyPyramid.gov - United States Department of Agriculture - Home

The new Food PYRAMIDS are out. Short version? Eat your fruits and vegetables and get plenty of exercise.

MyPyramid.gov - United States Department of Agriculture - Home

Yahoo! News - Chili, Broccoli Help Prevent Cancer - Studies

Now do not get your hopes up too high, as the tests are still quite preliminary, but they are encouraging!

Yahoo! News - Chili, Broccoli Help Prevent Cancer - Studies: "In our studies, we decided to look at two particular cancers -- ovarian and pancreatic -- with low survival rates, to ascertain the contribution of diet and nutrition to the development of these cancers,' said Sanjay Srivastava, who led the study.

'We discovered that red chili pepper and broccoli appear to be effective inhibitors of the cancer process.'"

"Srivastava said he and colleagues tested capsaicin, which makes peppers hot, against pancreatic cancer cells in a lab dish."

What will come from this? In addition to more calls to eat well, it is likely that there will be new anti-cancer drugs:

" "Our results demonstrate that capsaicin is a potent anticancer agent, induces apoptosis in cancer cells and produces no significant damage to normal pancreatic cells, indicating its potential use as a novel chemotherapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer," Srivastava said."

Good stuff! and Good Luck!

Green Tea May Curb Prostate Cancer in Men at Risk

Wow, it was quite the day for teas!

Yahoo! News - Green Tea May Curb Prostate Cancer in Men at Risk: "The investigator performed a trial involving men with high-grade PIN, who were given an inactive placebo preparation or one containing 600 milligrams of GTCs daily, 'equivalent to 12-15 cups of green tea infusion, that is about two times the average intake in Asian countries.'

Bettuzzi reported that, after a year, only 1 man among 32 in the GTC group developed prostate cancer, a rate of only 3 percent. In contrast, 9 out of 30 men treated with placebo developed prostate cancer, for the expected rate of 30 percent."

Bettuzzi is Dr. Saverio Bettuzzi from the University of Parma in Italy. The story is from Reuters Health.

Tea May Help Prevent Diabetes And Cataracts

Tea May Help Prevent Diabetes And Cataracts: "Add another line to the list of benefits from drinking tea: New research in animals suggests that tea may be a simple, inexpensive means of preventing diabetes and its ensuing complications, including cataracts. The report, scheduled to appear in the May 4 print issue of the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, was published March 31 on the journal's Web site."

And to that, it is important to note that both Green and Black tea were shown to be beneficial!

""Most people, scientists included, believe that green tea has more health benefits than black tea," says Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a chemist at the University of Scranton (Penn.) and lead author of the paper. In combination with Vinson's earlier research showing that green tea and black tea equally inhibit atherosclerosis -- a major risk factor for heart disease -- the findings suggest that both drinks could play a part in curbing two of the most widespread maladies in the United States today."

Make mine chai! :)

Yahoo! News - First Week Critical in Childhood Obesity - U.S. Study

I am surprised by this one! The first week?!?! tied to adult obesity.

Yahoo! News - First Week Critical in Childhood Obesity - U.S. Study: "Writing in the American Heart Association journal

Circulation, they said each additional 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of weight gained during the first eight days of life increased a baby's risk of becoming an overweight adult by about 10 percent.

The study also helps reinforce recommendations that mothers breast-feed their babies.

'For a variety of health reasons, the American Association of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding during a baby's first six months of life,' Stettler said. Breast-fed babies are less likely to be overweight"

10-15 onions are here!

Yet another sign of spring! New crop 10-15 onions are here!

10-15 Onions are so named as traditionally they are planted on October 15 (that is 10/15). They have been bread to be extra sweet and to not cause as many tears.


FAQ About Onions - Via-Texas

Fish, Soy Oil Supplements May Cut Heart Death

It was a really small study, but the results are encouraging.
Fish, Soy Oil Supplements May Cut Heart Death: "researchers report in the April issue of Chest. Omega-3 fatty acids have been studied for their effects on heart health, depression, and arthritis.

This time, increased heart rate variability -- a marker of the changes in time intervals between heartbeats -- was noted in a small group of patients who tried fish oil or soy oil supplements for a brief time. Increased heart rate variability has been linked to a lower risk of sudden heart death."

Antioxidant-rich diets reduce brain damage from stroke in rats

More good news!!!! Eat your veggies!

Antioxidant-rich diets reduce brain damage from stroke in rats: "'I was amazed at the extent of neuroprotection these antioxidant-rich diets provided,' said Dr. Bickford, a researcher at the USF Center for Aging and Brain Repair and James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital. 'The size of the stroke was 50 to 75 percent less in rats treated with diets supplemented with blueberries, spinach or spirulina before the stroke.' "

"The clinical implication is that increasing fruit and vegetable consumption may make a difference in the severity of a stroke," Dr. Bickford said. "It could be a readily available, inexpensive and relatively safe way to benefit stroke patients."


The study was supported by grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Veterans Administration.

More proof that the Mediterrean Diet is good for you!

From Health Central:

"Older folks who follow a modified Mediterranean diet high in fish, fruit and vegetables tend to live longer.

That's the conclusion of a major study involving almost 75,000 seniors in nine countries. The findings, published online in the British Medical Journal, lend more support to a diet many experts consider one of the healthiest around."

Garlic may improve respiration---Larry King must be so proud!

HealthTalk CA reports that Garlic Does It Again: "Consuming garlic or even supplements, has long been asssociated with medicinal properties, such as reducing blood pressure and cholesterol to treating different types of cancer. The new study, by University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers suggests small daily doses of allicin, the active chemical ingredient in garlic, appears to improve blood circulation in the lungs of rats and assist breathing."

"Study co-author David Ku said garlic isn't toxic, so adding it to one's daily diet is a reasonable approach, especially for people with respiratory and pulmonary ailments. Humans would have to eat two cloves of raw garlic a day to obtain the equivalent amount of allicin given to rats in the study."

Want a good way to get garlic? Toast Monk's bread and then rub the garlic on the hard toast. Instant Garlic bread with virtually none of the fat!

Cranberries may be good for arteries

Forbes.com:: "In a study in pigs, cranberry juice helped relax blood vessels clogged with high blood cholesterol and narrowed by atherosclerosis, according to a study by researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine."

In an interview with MedicalNewsToday, co-author JEss Reed commented that while teh amount of cranberries needed to replicate the study would be high, the more important way to understand teh study is to look at total daily intake of polyphenols from all sources and that this level was more easily achievable.

"the equivalent consumption of dried cranberries would be 4-8 servings, or 10-20 servings of cranberry juice, in order to achieve the levels in the current study. However, the point to be emphasized is that total polyphenol intake is very low in western diets and a diet rich in polyphenols would in fact give a daily intake that is equivalent to the levels in our cranberry feeding experiments."

FWIW: I really do not like cranberry juice, but may have to start working it into my diet. I do like cranberry sauce (especially mixed with apple sauce).

Health Benefits Help Peanuts Shed Stigma

Yahoo! News - Health Benefits Help Peanuts Shed Stigma: "Peanuts, a dietary outcast during the fat-phobic 1990s, have made a comeback, with consumption soaring to its highest level in nearly two decades and more doctors recommending nuts as part of a heart-healthy diet"

A few quotes:
*"Mothers gave us peanuts and peanut butter. Now, we've figured out that Mom was right. But it took a lot of researchers and universities to figure that out," said Don Koehler, executive director of Georgia's Peanut Commission"
*""Now we know that the type of fat found in peanuts is actually good for us," said Lona Sandon with the American Dietetic Association. "It doesn't clog our arteries like saturated fat. It helps keep the arteries clean.""

The article points out that while peanuts are heart healthy, they are high in calories, so be careful! (Of course that could help explain why I am having some trouble getting back to racing weight, as I eat probably 2 peanut butter sandwiches a day--Smucker's Low Fat Natural peanut butter in case you are wondering! No transfat, a few fewer calories, and GREAT taste!).

Yahoo! News - Fruit, Veggies Tied to Lower Pancreatic Cancer Risk in men

Yahoo! News - Fruit, Veggies Tied to Lower Pancreatic Cancer Risk

Short version:

Better diet lowers pancreatic cancer risk in men. It is weird that it is only in men. Not sure why.


"The findings, based on a comparison of 585 pancreatic cancer patients and about 4,779 adults without the disease, suggest that the risk of the cancer declines as fruit and vegetable intake increases."

"For reasons that are unclear, the relationship was confined to men"

"In a separate newly published study of the same group, Ghadirian and his colleagues found that the antioxidant lycopene, specifically, appeared protective against pancreatic cancer -- again, only men"


SOURCE: International Journal of Cancer, May 1, 2005.

Talking Tuna - How much sushi and albacore is too much? Be careful who you ask. By Amanda Schaffer

Talking Tuna - How much sushi and albacore is too much? Be careful who you ask. By Amanda Schaffer

A very informative article on how much we should be worrying about the mercury in fish! SHort version? we really do not know how dangerous (or safe) it is.

"The FDA justifies these loosey-goosey guidelines by painting the EPA's traditional approach to exposure limits as overly cautious. In establishing the mercury reference dose in 2001, the EPA looked at studies of adverse effects of exposure in the Faroe Islands, the Seychelles Islands, and New Zealand, and applied some standard statistical calculations. Then the agency built in an uncertainty factor to account for the reality that information is incomplete, some people are more sensitive to mercury than others, and so forth. All this is customary practice. Still, David Acheson, head of the FDA's Office of Food Safety, says that the EPA's threshold should be treated not as a "bright line" but as a sort of general guide. (Translation: Forget the mercury calculator.)"

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Metro -- Mother sues over cereal nutrition

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Metro -- Mother sues over cereal nutrition


A follow up on the post that Low Sugar cereals were approximately the same nutritionally as regular sugar cereals.

Now a San Diego California mother (I would say something but do not want to be sued) is suing the national cereal manufacturers on grounds that "she bought the three cereals believing the low-sugar products were better for her children, according to her lawyer."


Wow. I am almost speechless.

Plant diet may not be bad for bones

While I am a vegetarian, I do eat dairy products. That said, I always find strict vegans interesting studies. Especially those who do not cook their foods.

Plant diet may not be bad for bones: "Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis studied 18 strict raw food vegans, aged from 33 to 85, and found that although their bones were light in weight, they may be healthy."

"They also had significantly lower bone mass in important skeletal regions such as the hip and lumbar spine, sites where low bone mass often means osteoporosis and fracture risk. But they did not have other biological markers that typically accompany osteoporosis, shows the study, published in the 28 March issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine (vol 165, pp 1-6)."

"We think it's possible these people don't have increased risk of fracture but that their low bone mass is related to the fact that they are lighter because they take in fewer calories."

Further study is needed to prove that raw food vegans have light-but-healthy bones."

St. Paul Pioneer Press | 03/27/2005 | For baby boomers, health after midlife can be improved

Spinach is on a Hot streak! Eyes, skin, and now brain!
St. Paul Pioneer Press | 03/27/2005 | For baby boomers, health after midlife can be improved: ": Among all the research on fruits and vegetables, the evidence appears to be greatest for the benefits of green, leafy vegetables. Even far fewer servings than the government recommends can make a difference.

Research suggests such vegetables can prevent age-related diseases and even preserve cognitive function. A Harvard Medical School study released last summer found women who ate eight servings or more a week of green, leafy vegetables like spinach and romaine lettuce had the cognitive function of someone 1.7 years younger than women who ate three servings or fewer of the vegetables a week."

Yahoo! News - Government Recommends Eating Whole Grains

Gee, you never would have guessed...lol...

Of course you would! Easting whole grains is good for you!!! and don't forget it :)

Yahoo! News - Government Recommends Eating Whole Grains: "Three servings of whole grains each day will reduce your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It doesn't have to be bread. Brown or wild rice, oatmeal, cold cereal flakes, popcorn "

SouthBendTribune.com: American diet is swimming in sodium

SouthBendTribune.com: American diet is swimming in sodium: "

The SouthBend Tribune provides a good reminder that too much salt is not good for us and provides ten useful tips to cut sodium intake.

Yahoo! News - Genetically Modified Foods Eaten Regularly

WHile we are all hearing frequent stories of the possible downside of genetically modiifed foods, it is worthwhile to also see the good things that GM brings.

Yahoo! News - Genetically Modified Foods Eaten Regularly: "Despite dire warnings about 'Frankenfoods,' there have been no reports of illness from these products of biotechnology."

" Experts say within several years there will be new GM foods with taste and nutrition improvements: cooking oils with less trans fat, tastier potatoes and peanuts that don't trigger allergies.

At North Carolina State University, one of the biggest U.S. plant breeding programs, scientists are developing drought-tolerant wheat and are a couple years from field testing GM peanuts that have no life-threatening allergens, said Steven Leath, associate dean for health research.

At Rutgers University's agricultural college, plant biology professor Nilgun Tumer and colleagues modified potatoes to better keep their flavor when processed as french fries and to limit browning when sliced, but she said farmers haven't adopted the new varieties."

Yahoo! News - Experts Question Reduced-Sugar Cereals

Let me say that we did sell these, but most varieties have been discountinued due to lack of sales. I had only tried the Reduced Sugar Cinnamon Toast Crunch. It tasted about the same.

Yahoo! News - Experts Question Reduced-Sugar Cereals: "'You're supposed to think it's healthy,' said Marion Nestle, a nutrition professor at New York University and author of a book critical of the food industry's influence on public health. 'This is about marketing. It is about nothing else. It is not about kids' health.'

Only one cereal, General Mills' Cinnamon Toast Crunch, saw a true calorie reduction, dropping from 130 calories to 120 per three-fourths cup serving."

Spurs decide you are what you eat / Skipping the junk food helps increase energy and stamina

Do you follow the NBA much? I don't nearly as much as the NFL or MLB, but when I do, the Spurs are by far my favorite team, so I was particularly happy to hear that they have adopted a new food and nutrition program.

Why it is included here is that the same ideas they use shuold be implemented around homes. For instance haivng fruits around rather than potato chips.

The Ferry in the article is Danny Ferry (former player himself and now assistant GM of the Spurs).

"What surprised Ferry was the type of food available to the players on the team's charter flights. In addition to the usual meal options, the Spurs typically had an overhead container filled with an assortment of potato chips. Flight attendants patrolled the aisle offering ice cream and chocolate-chip cookies"

Spurs decide you are what you eat / Skipping the junk food helps increase energy and stamina: "'The intention and goal is not to turn them into a bunch of granola- eating food whackos,' said Danny Ferry, who has helped oversee the program as the team's assistant general manager. 'If that's the direction they want to take, that's fine. We just want to put them in a situation where they have healthy options in front of them.'"

Obesity Epidemic Threatens To Cut Life Expectancy

Obesity Epidemic Threatens To Cut Life Expectancy: "Researchers report that the current obesity epidemic will have a negative impact on life expectancy in the United States.
University of Illinois at Chicago researchers report in the New England Journal of Medicine that obesity will cut between two to five years off life expectancy in the next 50 years."

While it is of course not a shock, 5 years is quite a bit to take off of life expectancy!

Good news, bad news on green tea

the Mail online | Mail - news, sport, showbiz, health and more | Green tea danger for pregnant mums

Good news and bad news on Green tea.

The good news is that researchers have identified how green tea helps fight cancer. "Scientists found that polyphenol EGCG binds to the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) which is already an established target for chemotherapy drugs...

The green tea compound stops DHFR promoting DNA synthesis in tumour cells. It appears to work in the same way as the cancer drug methotrexate, but in practice would probably have fewer side effects."

The bad news? The same DHFR is associated with increased birth defects if the pregnant mother drinks much green tea! :(


From news-medical.net:
The research was conducted by a team of scientists at the University of Murcia (UMU), Spain , in collaboration with the John Innes Centre (JIC) Norwich, UK .

Yahoo! News - Study Raises Doubts About Vitamin E Supplements

More evidence that vitamin pills, especially Vitamin E may not be the answer.

Yahoo! News - Study Raises Doubts About Vitamin E Supplements: "Daily vitamin E supplements do not prevent cancer, strokes or heart attacks in older people with vascular disease or diabetes, and may increase their risk of heart failure, a study said on Tuesday."

" The study's chief author, Dr. Eva Lonn, said: "In high risk people vitamin E does not prevent cardiovascular disease, namely heart attack and stroke, and it does not prevent cancer. Furthermore, we noticed an increased risk of heart failure, so there is a potential for harm in people receiving vitamin E."

Cornell researcher show food is better than pills

This one should come as no suprise to regular readers of this blog.

From WEB MD:

"Antioxidants in foods work together and their combined effect is greatest, they explain."No single antioxidant can replace the combination of natural phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables in achieving ultimate health benefits," write the researchers.

"The pure compounds either lose their bioactivities in isolation or may not behave the same way as the compound in complex whole foods.

"Our findings suggest that consumers may gain more significant health benefits from including whole foods in their balanced diet than from more expensive dietary supplements, which do not contain the same array of balanced, complex components."

The study looked at rats and the consumption of apples (Red Delicious). The finding? Apples helped fight cancer!

Again from Web MD:

The extracts "effectively inhibited" breast cancer in rats, write food science professor Rui Hai Liu, PhD, MD, MS, and colleagues. "Thus, consumption of apples may be an effective strategy for cancer protection," says their study.

The study will appear in the March 23 edition of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

BBC NEWS | Health | Oily fish helps cut inflammation

We now have the "why", not just the "what" :)

BBC NEWS | Health | Oily fish helps cut inflammation: "identified a new class of fats in the human body, called resolvins, which they showed can control inflammation.

They do this both by stopping the migration of inflammatory cells to sites of inflammation, and the turning on of other inflammatory cells.

Resolvins are made from the omega-3 fatty acids, found in high concentration in oily fish."

"They have found a key anti-inflammatory fat in humans is derived from a fatty acid found in fish oil."

So eat your fish!


Interestingly, the researchers may also have stumbled upon why COX-2 inhibitors have been shown to increase heart problems:
"The study also reveals a potential pitfall of COX-2 inhibitors, drugs designed to block inflammation, which have been shown to have negative cardiovascular side effects.

The enzyme COX-2 is involved in making resolvin E1, and the researchers suspect that taking the drugs may disrupt the body's ability to synthesise the fat.

Thus, while the drugs are designed to reduce inflammation, it is possible that they actually undermine one of the body's most important methods for achieving the same effect.

However, the researchers stress the experiment to prove this idea has yet to be done with humans."

MayoClinic.com - Recipe makeovers: 5 ways to make your recipes healthier

This is a great article!!!! From the Mayo Clinic. It suggests ways to make your recipes healthier. Many of the tips you probably knew (like using applesauce to replace some of the fat in recipes), but others may surprise you.

I would also add (pun intended) that you can add oatmeal, flaxseed, and wheat germ to most foods (in moderation) with improved taste and nutrition!

VERY good!!!!
MayoClinic.com - Recipe makeovers: 5 ways to make your recipes healthier

Vitamin B12 after stroke reduces risk of hip fracture

Vitamin B12 after stroke reduces risk of hip fracture

Not only may vitamin B reduce heart disease, now evidence suggests it may reduce the risk of broken bones (at least if we can infer that from a study of stroke patients).

"The researchers recorded six hip fractures in patients who received folic acid and B12, and 27 hip fractures in the placebo group. The difference in total number of fractures over the two-year follow up was significant, with eight fractures in the treatment group and 32 in the placebo group. Patients receiving folic acid and B12 experienced a 38 percent decrease in their plasma homocysteine levels, while levels increased by 31 percent in the placebo group."


from Healthtalk.ca

"The researchers believe stroke patients have a greater risk of hip fracture due to higher levels of the amino acid homocysteine, associated with osteoporosis and the risk of a hip fracture."

It should be noted that the hypothesis that vitamin B reduces heart risk has not been definitively proven.

BBC NEWS | Health | Green tea 'may protect the heart'

BBC NEWS | Health | Green tea 'may protect the heart': "team of researchers, led by Dr Anastasis Stephanou, carried out laboratory tests on heart cells which found that a major chemical component of green tea known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) can reduce cell death after a heart attack or stroke."

I really have to question how a single product (green tea) can be so amazing, but it is hard to argue with the success! So be sure to drink your green tea!!!

Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Childhood obesity fuelled by cartoons

Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Childhood obesity fuelled by cartoons


Miranda Watson, from Which?, said: "Parents feel they are being manipulated by the use of these cartoon characters on a wealth of unhealthy food products. The message we are getting is that they are finding it incredibly difficult and they need help." "Ms Watson said: "Our message today is that licensing companies are just as responsible as food manufacturers and they can't afford to turn a blind eye to childhood obesity any more.""

This is a tough one. BUt it is hardly the fault of the marketer. Yes (s)he deserves some blame for the obesity problem, but by no means all, or even much. I guess we need a cartoon character for Broccoli, Bananas, and Brussel Sprouts. lol