Finding Coupons Online Has Increased to Stretch Grocery Budgets - WSJ.com

From the Wall Street Journal:

Finding Coupons Online Has Increased to Stretch Grocery Budgets - WSJ.com:

"Last month, Kroger Co. said it would go national with its free text-messaging coupon program, a service provided by Cellfire Inc.

Dan Keefe, who works for a technology firm in Cincinnati, signed up for Cellfire last fall. Now every Sunday, Mr. Keefe, 46 years old, checks his BlackBerry for deals, such as the 50-cent discount on a package of Kroger-brand cheddar cheese he recently received. Clicking on a link in the text message tells Kroger's computer system to add the discount when Mr. Keefe's loyalty card is scanned at check-out."

You can do the same. We use Twitter for this. Sign up for twitter, then "follow" us (click on follow), be sure to turn your device (your cell phone/blackberry etc) on (under settings) and stay tuned :)

Active Transportation keeps you thin

Findings: Walking or biking is a good means to keep you thin.

While the study was done on school age males, I would wager that the same conclusion would be true had it been done on walking to shop, church, or anywhere else.

Obesity - Active Transportation to School Over 2 Years in Relation to Weight Status and Physical Activity:

"Boys who actively commuted to school had lower BMI (p<0.01)>Discussion: Walking and cycling to school may contribute to preventing excessive weight gain, or leaner children may walk or cycle to school."

Take away: Exercise is valuable and even small amounts is probably worthwhile. Make the resolution to walk and bike more. You will be glad you did.

Tweet tweet--do you twitter?

Want an occasional coupon sent to your phone? Or want to know about in-store specials? Good deals? Recalls? You can now with our new account on Twitter. Sign up, its free, easy, and fun! (FEF!)

http://twitter.com/ParkandShop

Study: Proximity to fast-food restaurants linked to stroke risk - CNN.com

Obviously this is not conclusive, but assuming those near fast-food restaurants are more apt to eat at the fast food restaurants, well...you decide

Study: Proximity to fast-food restaurants linked to stroke risk - CNN.com:

"A person's risk of stroke is associated with the number of fast-food restaurants near their residence, according to a study presented Thursday at a stroke conference in San Diego, California....."The association suggested that the risk of stroke in a neighborhood increased by 1 percent for every fast-food restaurant," the authors wrote in a poster presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference."

Secondhand Smoke Bad for Brain?

Secondhand Smoke Bad for Brain?:

"People who are exposed to secondhand smoke may be more likely than their peers to have cognitive impairment, a new study shows.

The study, published in the advance online edition of BMJ (formerly called the British Medical Journal), doesn't prove that secondhand smoke exposure causes cognitive impairment. But it does show that cognitive impairment was more common among nonsmokers and former smokers with high levels of cotinine, a nicotine-related chemical, in their saliva samples."

(I was nice and deleted what I had originally put here...Short version, Please Don't Smoke!)

New Factor In Teen Obesity: Parents

New Factor In Teen Obesity: Parents:

"The new research is a reminder, however, that 'good dietary habits start at home,' according to center research scientist Susan H. Babey, a co-author of the policy brief. 'If parents are eating poorly, chances are their kids are too.'"

Additional Evidence That Potato Chips Should Be Eaten Only In Moderation

Additional Evidence That Potato Chips Should Be Eaten Only In Moderation:

"A new study published in the March 2009 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition by Marek Naruszewicz and colleagues from Poland suggests that acrylamide from foods may increase the risk of heart disease. Acrylamide has been linked previously to nervous system disorders and possibly to cancer."

Mediterranean Diet Aids the Aging Brain: Study

Mediterranean Diet Aids the Aging Brain: Study:

"Mediterranean diet: The eating regimen, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, fish and olive oil, may help the brain stay sharp into old age, a new study suggests.

Following the healthful diet reduced the risk of getting mild cognitive impairment -- marked by forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating. And it also cut the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease if cognitive impairment was already present, said study lead author Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas, an assistant professor of neurology at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City."

and later in the article

"You see what is called a dose response. The more stringently you follow the Mediterranean diet, the better the outcome," noted Dr. Gary Kennedy, director of geriatric psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City."

The Six Healthiest Staple Foods in Middle Eastern Cuisine

I really like Hummus and have it often, so I figured I better check to see if it is any good for me. Lo and behold, it is!

The Six Healthiest Staple Foods in Middle Eastern Cuisine:

"Chickpeas, with their subtle nutty flavor and buttery texture, are used as a main ingredient in hummus, a rich garlicky dip that's growing in popularity here in the United States....Chickpeas are also popular in soups, stews and side dishes.

Health Benefits: Chickpeas contain healthy nutrients including protein, manganese, folate, tryptophan, copper, phosphorus and iron. Plus, they're an excellent source of fiber, which is known to help lower cholesterol, fight heart disease and stabilize blood sugar levels"

Healthier Pizza -- Food Chemists Slice Up Healthier Pizza

Healthier Pizza -- Food Chemists Slice Up Healthier Pizza:

"Food chemists have shown that making a pizza crust with whole wheat flour and cooking it longer releases more antioxidants. These chronic disease-fighting compounds increased by 82 percent when baked at a higher temperature, by 60 percent when baked twice as long and doubled when the dough was left to rise an extra day."

Plums Poised To Give Blueberries Run For The Money

Plums Poised To Give Blueberries Run For The Money:

"“...blueberries have some stiff competition,” said Dr. Luis Cisneros, AgriLife Research food scientist.'Stone fruits are super fruits with plums as emerging stars.'

Far from fruit snobbery, the plum is being ushered in after Cisneros and Dr. David Byrne, AgriLife Research plant breeder, judged more than 100 varieties of plums, peaches and nectarines and found them to match or exceed the much-touted blueberries in antioxidants and phytonutrients associated with disease prevention."

BBC NEWS | Health | Alzheimer's 'is brain diabetes'

How exciting. Who knows watching diet may lessen Alzaheimer risks? wow.

BBC NEWS | Health | Alzheimer's 'is brain diabetes':

"His colleague, Professor Sergio Ferreira, from Rio de Janeiro, said: 'Recognising that Alzheimer's disease is a type of brain diabetes points the way to novel discoveries that may finally result in disease-modifying treatments for this devastating disease.'

A spokesman for the Alzheimer's Research Trust said that the study shed light on how insulin interacted with toxic proteins linked to the disease.

'People with diabetes are at higher risk of developing Alzheimer's. It is well known that insulin affects how the brain works, and this research adds more evidence to the possibility that Alzheimer's could be a type of brain diabetes."