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"