I’ve written a little bit about farmed salmon before. A few days ago, the news came out that tens of thousands of farmed Atlantic salmon escaped from their pen. There were 30,000 salmon in that pen, and they may have all gotten out. This happened off the coast of British Columbia. A spokesman for the fish farming company says what happened is “really unusual”. Small comfort. All it has to do is happen once to seriously screw up the native salmon, which are already dwindling in number.

Besides the fact that these Atlantic salmon, which are not indigenous to the area, will compete with the wild salmon for food, they could also be carrying diseases, antibiotics, pesticides, or sea lice.

The company representative, apparently in all seriousness, said if anybody were to catch one of the escaped fish, they should clean it and bake it with ginger and green onion in a 400 degree oven and serve it with fresh lemon slices. Really. Seeing that this escape will cost his company about $500,000, it’s nice that he’s so chipper about the whole thing. I like to think I have a pretty good sense of humor, but I’m not laughing.

Technorati Tags: farmed salmon, wild salmon, sea lice, farmed salmon escape, health, environment

Water fluoridation is a subject that excites at least as much passion as mercury fillings. And it’s another area where science seems to be slowly backing up what those who have been trying to stop the activity have been saying. But most people pay scant attention and probably consider the anti-fluoridation people to be extremists or wackos. However, if you take a look at what they’re saying, it makes a lot of sense. To start with, why do we add fluoride to water? Do we swallow our toothpaste? So why is it now ok to ingest something that’s only supposedly good for our teeth? I say supposedly because it’s never been proven to actually reduce the incidence of cavities.

And I don’t know about you, but I don’t chew my water. I wonder how much of the fluoride actually touches my teeth. I guess it does because over thirty percent of the kids in the US have fluorosis. Did you know that the fluoride that’s added to water is a waste product of phosphate plants? Worst of all, if you’d rather not drink water with this stuff in it, you need to spend big bucks on a water distiller or reverse osmosis purifier, because the typical carbon block filter most people have won’t remove fluoride.

Earlier I stated that there’s no proof that fluoride actually prevents cavities. This is where the fluoride proponents alway whip out the charts showing the downward trend in cavities that’s occurred since water fluoridation began. The thing that their charts don’t show, however, is that the incidence of cavities has declined everywhere at that same rate, not just in places where the water is fluoridated. You can compare cities or states in the USA, or even countries, and the rate of dental caries declines similarly everywhere regardless of whether the water was fluoridated.

So it seems to me that the prudent thing to do would be to stop pumping this poison (read what your toothpaste tube says about the fluoride it contains) into our water supply. Some people think it’s an economic justice issue because poor people who can’t afford professional tooth care can get the benefits of fluoride. Well, if local governments are convinced that said benefits actually exist, then they can spend the money they now spend on water fluoridation to distribute fluoride mouthwash based on financial need. But stop forcing a medication/poison (choose your definition, either way it’s at the very least unethical) on the rest of us.

Here’s a video that shows how a former proponent of fluoridation came to change his views:

Technorati Tags: water fluoridation, fluoride, pure water, water purification, poison, dental cavities, fluorosis, anti-fluoridation, dental care

Hypnosis can be effective at helping one to lose weight. It seems to work especially well with people who’ve tried a number of different types of diets and haven’t succeeded. However, there are also people for whom hypnosis for weight loss has been a failure. Similar to using hypnosis for smoking, I guess. Some people attend a hypnotherapy class for smoking cessation and say they feel nothing different afterwards, while others are finally able to kick the habit after many failed attempts. Just goes to show that while we’re all built basically the same, we’re all wildly different. Anyway, there’s a new article up on the Health and Fitness Guide about using hypnosis for weight loss. Check it out!

Technorati Tags: hypnosis, weight loss, lose weight, quit smoking

For years, health and fitness experts have been telling us that we should be drinking more water. That we shouldn’t be waiting until we’re thirsty, because by then we’re already dehydrated - so we should be sipping water all day long, regardless of thirst. Stuff like this always seems to go in cycles, so predictably, lately we’ve had some individuals saying that drinking water in excess of that required to quench our thirsts is a waste of time. As with all these things, the truth probably falls somewhere in the middle. We probably should try to drink somewhat more water than our thirst requires, but avoid becoming anal about it. What’s anal? Well, your definition may vary, but mine is when people go out for a casual stroll (not a brisk walk) in sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit for a half hour and take a water bottle along. Because they’re ‘exercising’ and you always have to drink water when exercising, right? Anyway, I’ve posted an article at The Health and Fitness Guide site about 6 legitimate reasons you might wanna drink water, and why you should just say no to water in little plastic bottles.

Technorati Tags: water, hydrate, drink water, drink too much water, exercise, water bottles

A number of individuals have been promoting twice-daily eating of salmon as a way to make one’s skin appear more youthful. As far as I can tell, the advice initially appeared in a book by Dr Nicholas Perricone, and has been mentioned by a number of other health and fitness experts since then. Supposedly the healthy fats in salmon tend to tighten the skin and eliminate puffiness. A number of celebrities swear by the effectiveness of the tactic. The recommended period of eating salmon two times a day ranges from three days to one month. Wow, I dunno. I like salmon, and eat it once or twice a week, but I don’t think I could eat it twice a day for a month - or even for a week.

Anyway, the type of salmon that’s recommended is wild Alaskan salmon. If the salmon you find at the store isn’t labeled as either wild or Alaskan, it’s probably farm-raised. Farm raised salmon doesn’t have the same nutritional makeup as the wild fish, and whether you’re eating salmon to improve the looks of your skin, because it has Omega-3 fats, or just because you like it, I recommend you always avoid the farm-raised stuff. Which is what the salmon in your supermarket’s fish case is, unless it specifically says otherwise.

The problems with farm-raised salmon are myriad, and are similar to the problems that exist at all high-volume livestock raising operations, such as with cattle, pigs and chickens, today. The fish are crowded into pens, causing them to swim in their own poop, which causes diseases to spread, and that means antibiotics on a routine basis. Farmed salmon actually get more antibiotics on a per-pound basis than any other type of livestock! Also, the fish don’t get wild salmon’s natural diet, but are fed pellets. Therefore they don’t develop the traditional pinkish flesh - so they’re fed synthetic chemicals to give them that color. And because of the crowded conditions, sea lice are a large problem, not only for the farmed fish, but because the occasional farm fish will escape and bring some sea lice with it to possibly infest wild salmon living in the general area. Finally, farmed fish have been shown to have significantly higher levels of cancer-causing substances like dioxins and PCB’s than wild.

So if you decide to start eating salmon on a regular basis (and I recommend you do) go for wild Alaskan. It’s more expensive, but well worth the cost. To save money, you can buy the canned version (check the label to make sure it’s wild Alaskan, as there are a number of varieties that come in cans. Buy the 15 oz. can and it’s cheaper than canned tuna. I’d recommend rinsing it before eating to reduce the sodium content, but otherwise you have a really healthy source of protein and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Technorati Tags: salmon, wild salmon, Alaska salmon, wild Alaska salmon, farm-raised fish, farm-raised salmon, healthy fats, omega-3

While aerobic machines like treadmills and ellipticals surely have their place, lack of access to one doesn’t mean one can’t train effectively. Besides old standbys like jogging, swimming, walking uphill or in loose sand, and bike riding, there’s always the good old jump rope. For a couple of bucks, you can have access to one of the best aerobic/anaerobic workouts going. You don’t have to get as good as this guy to get a great workout, but he certainly is impressive to watch. And if you’re the competitive type, well, now you have a goal

Technorati Tags: jump rope, jumping rope, rope jumping, aerobic, anaerobic workout, intervals, lose weight, get in shape, get fit, cheap workout

Most people are afraid they’ll gain weight if they quit smoking, but that doesn’t have to happen to you - just follow these simple tips and you can double your health benefits by quitting smoking and avoiding weight gain at the same time.

The majority of quitting smokers feel the need to have something in their mouth. Don’t succumb to the urge to just grab some fast food or junk food snacks. Instead, choose healthy foods like low-fat protein sources or fruits and vegetables. Occasionally some sugar-free candy or gum is ok.

If you feel the need to have something in your hands, play around with something like a paper clip or pencil rather than resorting to snacks like chips or chocolate bars.

Drinking lots of water can be a great solution to the need to put something in your mouth.

Exercise will make you feel better, keep you busy, and reduce stress. You don’t have to limit yourself to activities like jogging or strength training. Take up a new sport!

You can also keep yourself occupied with hobbies like crossword puzzles or knitting, or you can read a book or magazine.

One final tip that works great for people trying to quit smoking AND people who want to eat less - brush your teeth frequently. If you have a clean, fresh taste in your mouth, you’ll probably hesitate to ruin it by eating or smoking.

Quitting smoking is probably the best thing you can do for your helath. Don’t let the fear of putting on a few pounds hold you back from doing it.

Technorati Tags: smoking, quit smoking, weight gain, weight loss, health, stop smoking

We all know sugar’s bad for us. Makes you fat, causes dental problems and diabetes. You may or may not know that it could be more of a villain than saturated fat when it comes to heart disease. But I bet you didn’t know it can ruin your love life!

A recent study indicates that excessive levels of glucose and fructose (forms of sugar) in the blood can disable the gene that controls your sex hormones. The research, reported in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, shows that the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) gene gets deactivated when the liver processes glucose and fructose.

So, no SHBG, no (or low) sex hormones - which can cause low libido or impotence in men and a myriad of problems, including uterine cancer, in women. Which gives us all one more reason to avoid sugar. If you’re thinking that you’ll just replace it with artificial sweeteners, I urge you to think again. There’s really not enough room here to go into specifics regarding the various artificial sweeteners, so just pop the name of your sweetener of choice into your favorite search engine and you’ll see why.

And avoiding sugar means also avoiding high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which has pretty much replaced sugar in processed foods because it’s cheaper, but is implicated in a host of health problems including obesity, as it appears to turn off the satiety signal, causing people to eat more and more.

Two sweeteners that appear to be ok in moderation are the herb stevia and the sugar alcohol xylitol. Both have less of an effect on the body’s blood sugar level than regular sugar, and according to research, xylitol actually combats tooth decay. Not just doesn’t cause it, but actually fights it! Still, use these in moderation if at all.

Basically, if you want a sweet treat that’s healthy, I’d advise sticking to fruit. Just don’t go crazy, because fructose is what makes fruit sweet, and as we saw earlier, too much of that is just as bad as too much glucose, which is table sugar. Luckily, fiber in fruit usually serves to slow the rate of blood sugar rise that occurs after eating it, as long as you eat small to moderate amounts - enough to satisfy your sweet tooth, not enough to put you to sleep or get you bouncing off the walls.

Technorati Tags: sugar, glucose, fructose, diabetes, obesity, sex, sex hormones, libido, stevia, xylitol, diabetes, heart disease, sex hormone

Back in December, I made a couple of posts (here and here) about how the USDA had ignored the public’s opinion and approved a genetically engineered strain of rice that had previously somehow escaped from test plots run by Bayer CropScience and contaminated the US rice supply.

Well, on Oct 5, the USDA released their conclusions regarding how the genetically engineered rice had escaped. Or should I say, their lack of conclusions. They ended the investigation, which took over 8500 staff hours and visits to 45 locations in 11 states and Puerto Rico with the admission that they don’t know what happened.

Supposedly “missing records” are the culprit here. But the USDA will take no action against Bayer. It’s obvious that the USDA feels their job is to accomodate the companies who experiment with these genetically engineered organisms, rather than to protect the public, farmers, and the food supply from errors and accidents. This is just a sampling of what’s going to happen if the USDA doesn’t come up with and enforce some strict new guidelines for GE crops.

This time, the price was “merely” a tremendous economic loss for rice growers and exporters, because other nations closed their borders when what had happened became known. Next time an experimental GE crop contaminates our food supply, we may not be so lucky. They don’t call them “Frankenfoods” for nothing.

Technorati Tags: gentically engineered crop, GE crop, GE contamination, USDA, GMO, genetically engineered rice, genetically engineered contamination, Bayer CropScience rice, frankenfoods

Resveratrol is a substance found in red wine and the skin of red grapes. You have probably heard of some of the prior research which has indicated that it has anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and life extension benefits. Now to that list we can add the possibillity that resveratrol is beginning to look like a promising weapon against type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes was formerly referred to as “adult-onset” diabetes. It causes cells to become less sensitive to the effects of insulin, as opposed to type 1 diabetes (formerly called juvenile diabetes), where the body just does not produce enough insulin.

Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that in animal studies, resveratrol improves insulin sensitivity by activating an enzyme which in turn supresses a molecule that tends to decrease insulin activity.

Of course, further testing is required to confirm that the findings will translate to different animals and humans. One encouraging finding was that much lower doses of resveratrol were required than in previous studies.

In addition to grapes, grape juice and wine, resveratrol is found in varying amounts in a number of types of berries, plums and peanuts, and nutritional supplements are widely available. An interesting sidenote is that resveratrol in many ways seems to duplicate the biochemical effects of caloric restriction, so far the only reliable way that researchers have found to extend lifespan.

Technorati Tags: resveratrol, wine, grapes, diabetes research, benefits of drinking wine, extend lifespan, insulin, caloric restriction

A new study published in the May issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds that reducing the ‘energy density’ of your diet will help with weight loss. Energy density refers to the caloric content of foods. Items that contain a lot of bulk but relatively fewer calories per serving are foods considered to have a low energy density.

Barbara Rolls, a professor of nutritional science at Pennsylvania State University, said the take home message of the study is “Increase the water content of the foods you eat and decrease the fat content”. The study participants who ate the diet lowest in energy density lost the most weight and also got to eat 300 grams (10.5 ounces) more of food per day. Additionally, the nutritional value of the lower energy density diet was higher.

Excuse me, but do we really need a study to prove this? It is common sense (and should be common knowledge) that stuffing yourself with broccoli and celery would result in a lower calorie intake than a big meal of steak and potatoes. Of course, a broccoli and celery diet wouldn’t last long for most people, but it’s not about diets. It’s about a healthy lifestyle which will enable the attainment of a healthy weight. Lose the potatoes and have the steak and the broccoli. Make the steak organic or grass-fed beef and a reasonable serving size (not one of the humungous things you get in some restaurants), and you’ve got a healthy meal. Seems like we shouldn’t need a professor, or a study, to tell us that.

Technorati Tags: health, fitness, nutrition, diet, weight loss study, weight loss research, energy density, volumetrics

We’re not talking about whether or not your health can afford a heart attack. Not too many people would say yes to that one. This is about the financial price. Heart attack costs have skyrocketed in recent years. Let’s get up close and personal with the various charges one would have to pay. First, general ambulance service. $800-$1500, sometimes even more depending on your location.

Your second heart attack cost will be an additional $100+ for ambulance medical support.

Third, emergency room services at your local hospital. That’s at least $750. Then there are emergency room professional fees, another $250 or so. Then we have $500 for laboratory tests, about $300 for EKG, X-ray drugs, etc. Plan on about $2500 for your emergency room visit.

Your fourth cost will probably be your stay in the hospital CU while they figure out what to do next. That’s around $850 a day, and you’ll probably be there one day.

If you don’t live near a major medical facility with a heart specialist on staff, you are going for a ride in a plane or helicopter. $5000-$6000.

Up to here, you’ve spent about $10,000 or so. The rest of the costs will make that seem like chump change.

Read the rest of the article about heart attack costs 

Technorati Tags: heart attack costs, health, hospital costs

You’ve probably seen the media coverage of the recent government report that found that most Americans are still not eating the recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables.

The researchers said that even though most people are aware that fruits and vegetables can lower the risk of many diseases, consumption is still a long way from reaching the government goals set in Healthy People 2010. Their research appears in a recent issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a publication of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Only 32.6 percent of adults are eating fruit two or more times per day, and only 27.2 percent are eating vegetables three or more times a day,” said researcher Dr. Larry Cohen, an epidemic intelligence officer at the CDC. These findings fall far short of the national goal of getting 75 percent of the population to eat fruit two or more times a day and 50 percent to eat vegetables three or more times per day by 2010.

Most Americans are aware of the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables, according to Cohen. “However, translating that awareness to actually doing it is lacking…..It could be due to lack of access, or that some people don’t like fruits and vegetables. There could also be cultural reasons,”

Dr. David Katz, director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine says “The problem is compounded by price incentives and disincentives that encourage people to eat highly processed foods,” Katz said. “It may also be compounded by the popularity of low-carb diets that discourage people from eating fruit.”

I’m just wondering if the researchers counted french fries and ketchup as vegetables. If so, then this study is really bad news.

Technorati Tags: healthy diet, nutrition research, fruit, vegetables, health, nutrition, Center for Disease Control, American diet

It doesn’t matter whether you are trying to take off a few pounds or fifty, you must still eat regularly to provide fuel for your body’s processes. Forget about skipping meals, because that will just defeat your purpose, and make you miserable to boot. Eating small meals throughout the day helps maintain your metabolism “furnace” and allows your body to use fat as fuel. If you need an example, think of the old coal furnaces that had to be constantly tended by adding fuel in order to keep a continual fire going. If the furnace went out, then it took a long time to get the temperature back up to a comfortable level. Fueling your body is similar. You want to supply a constant supply of the right kind of fuel.

How do you keep your body continuously fueled? You snack. Snacking can be very healthy if you eat the proper foods. The proper food list, however, does not contain the foods typically thought of as ’snacks’ - chips, candy bars and other sugary and high simple carbohydrate foods. What the list does include are foods that add some interest, some energy, and some protein to your diet.

Read the whole article about 5 healthy snacks

Technorati Tags: health, nutrition, healthy snacks, lose weight, five meals a day, six meals a day, fitness

Everybody probably knows that too much fat in our diets is bad for our health. However, not all fats are created equal. In fact, certain fats are actually good for us in moderate quantities, and required by our body for proper function. Some of the reasons we need some fat in our diet include:

1) Provides a source of energy

2) Helps with hormone production

3) Lowers the risk of heart disease and certain cancers

4) Insulates and cushions the internal organs

5) Can help alleviate symptoms of PMS and Menopause

6) Promotes skin and hair health

7) Regulates blood pressure

8) Helps to improve brain function - especially in children

Read more about good fats and bad fats

Technorati Tags: healthy fat, unhealthy fat, diet, nutrition, health

As most people know, the health benefits of moderate red wine drinking have been extensively studied. However, some recent studies on beer suggest that it may be as healthy as wine. Once again, the caveat ‘if consumed in moderation’ applies.

Of course, both beer and wine contain alcohol, and there is good evidence showing beneficial effects from that alone. Moderate alcohol consumption has been associated with higher levels of ‘good’, or HDL, cholesterol. Drinkers also had lower levels of fibrinogen, a protein that promotes blood clots that can lead to stroke and thrombosis.

Alcohol also lowers insulin levels, which aids in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.

Overall, several studies (like one undertaken at the Institute of Epidemiology at the University of Muenster), suggest moderate drinking of beer helps reduce the risk of coronary disease.

But the benefits appear to be derived from more than just the alcohol. A Dutch study from the TNO Nutrition and Food Research Institute found a 30% increase in vitamin B6 among beer drinkers, double the increase present in red wine and gin drinkers.

More on healthy beer drinking

Technorati Tags: beer drinking, alcohol healthy, healthy beer, health, nutrition, lower insulin, healthy cholesterol

Whether you just want to lose some of that excess holiday weight, or you’re planning on entering a fitness contest and need to drop those last couple of pounds, the more methods you employ, the faster you’ll get to where you want to be. If you only have one or two tactics in your arsenal, you may eventually reach your goal, but the battle will be long and uphill. So take advantage of our list of 5 simple, time-tested ways to shed more fat in less time.

1. Eat five to six small meals a day

This will keep your digestion running efficiently. Eating a smaller meal every 3 to 4 hours will help speed up your metabolism so that it burns calories quicker.

Eating one or two larger meals each day can cause metabolism to slow down. If your body’s not presented with food often, it doesn’t utilize it as quickly.

Skipping meals completely will cause your body to go into defense mode and hold onto stored fat. Because your body now becomes unsure when it’s going to get its next meal, it will conserve stored fat for future calorie needs.

Each meal should consist of protein (for muscle building), low to moderate carbohydrates (to provide energy), and some healthy fat (for energy and organ protection).

Foods like turkey, chicken, fish, eggs and milk are good sources of protein. For carbohydrates, eat quality complex sources like whole grains, vegetables, beans, and occasional fruit. Added fats should be kept to a minimum and they should come from sources like fish oil, olive oil, nuts and seeds.

Full fat loss tips article

Technorati Tags: fat loss tips, lose fat, weight loss tips, lose weight, health, fitness

A recent study which was published in the November issue of the Archives of Neurology found that people who consume larger quantities of fish have a significantly lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

It appears that the deciding factor is the blood level of DHA (docosanhexaenoic acid), an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid which is important to proper central nervous system functioning.

High levels of DHA appeared to cut risk of dementia by half in the study. Lead researcher Dr. Ernst J. Schaefer stated “Just as fish is good for your heart, it’s probably good for your brain as well”. The study used data from 899 men and women collected over nine years.

The researchers found that the study participants with the highest DHA levels had a 39 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s and a 47 percent lower risk of dementia, when compared with those with lower levels.

DHA is highest in fatty fish like mackerel, sardines, salmon and albacore tuna. The study participants with the highest levels of DHA averaged two to three servings of fish a week. However, if you don’t like fish, you’ll be pleased to know that Dr. Schaefer feels that the same benefits can be attained by taking fish oil supplements. He says “either eat more fish, or use one or two fish oil capsules a day”.

While experts agree that more research is needed to confirm that DHA protects against Alzheimer’s, since we already know that the omega-3 fatty acids protect the heart and circulatory system, eating more fatty fish or taking fish oil capsules seems to be a safe dietary modification for most people.

Technorati Tags: fish, fatty fish, health, alzheimer’s, dementia, DHA, fish oil, omega 3, salmon

Following up on yesterday’s post regarding the contamination of the US rice supply by an unapproved genetically engineered rice, here’s a quote from ‘Food Safety Now!’, the Autumn 2006 newsletter of The Center for Food Safety.

‘The rice contamination is but one in a string of incidents putting USDA’s ability to regulate and properly oversee GE crops under scrutiny. In December of 2005, the USDA’s own Inspector General issued a scathing report detailing numerous violations of agency rules in regulating genetically engineered crop field trials. USDA officials did not know the locations of many field trials it was charged with regulating, and did not conduct required inspections of others. As recently as August, a federal district judge in Hawaii ruled that USDA violated two federal laws in granting permits to grow experimental drug-producing genetically engineered crops in Hawaii. In his decision, the judge said USDA acted in “utter disregard” of the Endangered Species Act.’

US food safety authorities have taken no action to protect consumers or farmers from the boitech industry’s contamination threats. To read more from The Center for Food Safety, head on over to their website.

Technorati Tags: health, nutrition, food safety, food contamination, frankenfoods, genetically engineered crops, pharma crops, USDA

A strain of genetically engineered rice which contaminated the US rice supply this summer has just been approved by the US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA). The GE rice apparently escaped from Bayer CropScience’s test plots after the company decided to abandon the project in 2001.

Once the contamination became known, countries around the world closed their borders to rice imports from the US, sending rice prices plummeting. Farmers have filed a class action lawsuit against Bayer.

The USDA disregarded 15,000 comments from the public opposing the approval. Only 350 comments in favor were received. While most critics agree the rice is safe to eat, the ad-hoc approval sends a message from the USDA to the biotechnology industry - ‘Should you happen to break the rules and contaminate the food supply with your untested GE crops, don’t worry about it - we’ll fix it for you’.

With an regulatory attitude like that, it’s only a matter of time before one of these crops (sometimes referred to as ‘Frankenfoods’) contaminates our food supply with serious consequences. While nobody can predict what would happen with any certainty (which is the VERY best reason to increase regulation) some experts have suggested that engineered crops might contaminate the food supply with drugs, kill beneficial insects, or jeopardize valuable natural resources like Bt toxins. Steps have to be taken to provide stronger federal oversight to prevent our food supply from contamination. Once these crops get out, there’s no putting them back in the box.

Technorati Tags: health, nutrition, safe food, frankenfoods, genetically engineered crops, ge crops, pharma crops, USDA, GE rice contamination

It shouldn’t be news to anybody that quitting smoking is just about the best thing anyone can do for their health. However, if you’re male and just haven’t been able to quit yet, you might want to make sure you ingest decent amounts of Vitamin E every day.

Recently, researchers found that Vitamin E appears to offer male smokers some protection from cancer. It seems to prevent the DNA damage that precedes the disease. Dr Frederica P. Perera of Columbia University School of Public Healthcollaborated with researchers from New York Universite School of Medicine to measure both plasma vitamin E levels and a substance that is a marker of oxidative DNA damage on 280 males and female smokers (at least ten cigarettes per day). They found that, in men, lower levels of DNA damage were associated with higher vitamin E levels. The association was not seen in women, however. The greatest benefit was found in men who posessed a gene variant which produces enzymes that serve to detoxify tobacco smoke carcinogens.

Dr Perera said “There was a dose-response relationship, in that the more vitamin E we found in the blood of the men, the less there was of this cancer-related biomarker. This suggests that while working toward the goal of quitting smoking, which is the very best way to prevent development of smoking-related cancers, it could be helpful to eat a diet rich in vitamin E.” While there’s still a lot of research to be done, eating a natural foods diet rich in vitamin E can’t be a mistake, regardless of whether you smoke or not.

Technorati Tags: smoking and cancer, lung cancer prevention, cancer and vitamin E, nutrition, health, quit smoking, prevent cancer, vitamin E

A new study to be published in the December issue of the Archive of Neurology indicates that eating a Mediterranean diet may lower the likelihood of getting Alzheimer’s disease. The Mediterranean diet is made up of liberal amounts of olive oil, lots of fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals and fish, and smaller amounts of red meat and dairy products. Previously, research studies have indicated that this type of diet seems to reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

The study was done at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, and included 1,984 adults with an average age of 76. 194 had Alzheimer’s disease. After allowing for possible other risk factors, the researchers found that the subjects whose diets over the previous year most closely resembled the Mediterranean diet were 68 percent less likely to have Alzheimer’s than the subjects whose diets least resembled the Mediterranean diet.

The study, by Nicolaos Scarmeas and colleagues, suggested that the mechanism for the observed benefits may be the reduction of oxidation and inflammation in the body.

Technorati Tags: alzheimer’s disease, Mediterrnean diet, health, nutrition, healthy diet

Being fat makes you stupid.

Ok, that’s an exaggeration. But researchers at Toulouse University Hospital and the National Institute of Health and Medical Research in France recently reported the results of a study that indicates that heavier individuals score lower on cognitive tests, even after allowing for mitigating factors like education, age, gender and more.

People with higher BMIs (Body Mass Index-a ratio of weight to height) scored lower on tests that appraised memory, attention and thought processing. Thinner people (BMI of 20) remembered an average of nine of 16 words in a memory test, compared to those with a BMI of 30, who remembered an average of seven words.

The researchers analyzed 2,223 salaried French workers in 1996 and 2001. The workers were between 32 and 62 years old at the beginning of the study. The study was intended to see if previous studies that found a link between weight and congnition applied to middle aged healthy people.

The study author, Dr. Maxime Cournot, said that the study results need to be confirmed by further research, but they still support the current recommendations that people avoid obesity by eating right and exercising.

Technorati Tags: healthy weight, cognition, health research, obesity, eating right, exercising, health, fitness, nutrition

There have been some stories in the news lately regarding how the entry of corporate giants like Kraft and Wal-Mart into the organic food business, and the demand they will create, might lead to compromises in organic standards. This can only happen if we, as consumers, allow it to. The USDA has already withdrawn a couple of proposed alterations to organic rules because the public overwhelmed them with negative comments. If we want to keep organic products true to the original ideals, we need to remain vigilant, and make sure organic doesn’t turn into just another form of corporate agribusiness. Sorry for the rant, and we now return you to our regularly scheduled blog post…..

If you’re a health-conscious consumer, you probably don’t like the idea of ingesting pesticides, herbicides, petroleum or sewage sluge-based fertilizers, let alone growth hormones and unnecessary antibiotics. Since all these ingredients are used in the production of our conventionally grown food supply, anyone interested in a healthy lifestyle would probably favor organic food when possible.

But how do we know this stuff is really organically grown? Are we just taking their word for it? Well, kinda. But anyone found breaking the rules is subject to a $10,000 fine for each infraction. And there are a LOT of rules. So, while it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that someone would try to pull a fast one, it’s very unlikely.

Is organically grown really healthier? Or is that just wishful thinking? There was a study done a year or so ago. It lasted 15 days, run by a team of environmental health scientists from the University of Washington, Emory University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, using a group of 23 elementary school students in the Seattle area.

During the first three days and last seven days, the children ate their normal foods. But during the middle five days, organic items, including fruits, vegetables, juices and processed foods like cereal and pasta were substituted.

Average levels of pesticides in the children…

Continue reading to see if organically grown really means healthy

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Vitamin C is a very important antioxidant for anyone with CHD (Coronary Heart Disease). It is a water-soluble vitamin which means that any unused quantity will be excreted from the body through urination. Therefore, it must be consumed each day. Taking vitamin C after a high-fat meal has been shown to reverse vasoconstriction, or narrowing of blood vessels, after the meal. Sources for vitamin C include all citrus fruits, tomatoes, cabbage and all green leafy vegetables. Cooking can destroy vitamin C, so it is best if the body takes in this vitamin through raw foods or in the form of vitamin supplements. The recommended daily allowance for vitamin C is 60 mg but many experts advise taking in quite a bit more, which is definitely recommended for women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, smokers, or someone with an injury that is healing. Vitamin C is usually nontoxic but excessive quantities can cause stomach-bloating, diarrhea, and possibly an increase in kidney stone problems. Another important antioxidant for good heart health is vitamin E.

Read the full article about antioxidants and Coronary Heart Disease

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A meta-analysis published in the Oct. 2006 issue of the Journal of Nutrition found that the risk of coronary heart disease declined with increased consumption of fruit and vegetables.

A meta-analysis is an analysis of multiple studies performed previously. This particular meta-analysis evaluated nine previous studies which included over 90,000 men and 129,000 women.

The review found a reduced risk of coronary heart disease associated with fruit and vegetable intake. The decrease was found to be 4 percent for each additional fruit and vegetable portion consumed per day. When fruit alone was studied, the reduction in risk increased to 7 percent.

While it’s possible that the subjects eating larger quantities of fruit and vegetables had an overall healthier lifestyle, which could be responsible for part or all of the observed effects, the authors still concluded that “this analysis presents evidence of a beneficial association between fruit and vegetable consumption and CHD risk, supporting the recommendation to eat a sufficient amount of fruit and vegetables to lower CHD risk.”

You can read the meta-analysis abstract here.

With all the press coverage of studies showing the benefits of a glass of wine or beer lately, one can be excused for wondering, “Could it be that drinking alcohol is actually a healthy habit?”

Before we get to the possible health benefits of alcohol, let’s begin by saying something no one can dispute - drinking too much is a bad thing. That’s because alcohol is basically a poison, and if you ingest too much, either at one time or over the years, it will damage most of the organs in your body. So what’s “too much?”. Well, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s more than an average of one drink a day for women, and more than an average of two drinks a day for men. A “drink” is defined as 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.

Here’s a list of just some of the physical problems that excessive drinking can cause:

Heart Disease

Cancer

Stroke

Alcoholic cirrhosis

Brain Damage

High Blood Pressure

Osteoporosis

Now for the good news. Moderate drinking (less than the one drink/two drink levels stated previously) can be beneficial to one’s health. While heavy drinking increases the risk for a number of types of heart disease, moderate drinking appears to lessen the possibility of coronary heart disease and heart attack, raise levels of good cholesterol, and reduce the risk of a number of types of dementia, including Alhzeimer’s.

More about how healthy alcohol is

You’d expect that by the time people reach the “golden years” they would understand the importance of eating nutritionally balanced meals. Unfortunately, being older frequently doesn’t equate to being wiser when it comes to diet. The truth is that seniors often do not get the vitamins and minerals their bodies need to fight the onset of the degenerative issues that can accompany aging.

As we age, our bodies naturally become less efficient at using the nutrients we do ingest. Making things worse is the fact that seniors tend to take more medications than other age groups. Many of these medications negatively affect the body’s usage of nutrients.

Many seniors live alone and don’t feel like preparing nutritionally balanced meals for themselves. Add to that the fact that many of these same seniors don’t exercise on a regular basis and it’s no wonder they frequently show symptoms of various vitamin deficiencies.

Sufficient intake of Vitamin D is extremely important to seniors. It plays a large role in the body’s ability to absorb calcium, which is required to keep bones healthy. Lacking calcium, bones become brittle and lose mass, which leads to osteoporosis. Many seniors do not consume enough dairy products or receive enough …..

The full article about seniors and vitamins

Boneless skinless chicken breasts. Turkeyburgers. Lean ground beef. Many people consider these healthy foods - and if they’re orgainically raised, they probably are. However, if you’re eating any food coming from animals that have been raised on factory farms, also known as animal factories, you might be real surprised at the food these animals are fed.

“Factory farms? Animal factories? My supermarket doesn’t sell any of that stuff!” Wanna bet? Almost all the beef, turkey, chicken and ham sold in supermarkets comes from these types of operations. while there still are Farmer Browns raising their animals one by one using traditional methods, it’s not likely you’ll find their products on your supermarket shelves.

These factory farms can be massive in size. As you might imagine, the animals they harbor can create immense quantities of waste, which are stored in what the farms refer to as “lagoons”. Hmmm. I think we used to call those cesspools. Anyway, these lagoons are vulnerable to leaking or actual breakage of the walls. You can imagine the health threat this poses to surrounding communities if the leakage makes it into local waterways. Not to mention the smell, even if nothing breaks.

Well, ok, these places are not very healthy for the people who live around them, but what’s that got to do whether or not the food they produce is healthy? The same production line mindset that leads the operators of these farms to cram all the animals into pens or cages and create massive poop lagoons also allows them to feed the animals:

• Same species meat (think Mad Cow)
• Diseased animals
• Feathers
• Hair
• Skin
• Hooves
• Blood
• Manure
• Plastics (What the? Oh wait - it’s for “roughage”. Of course!)
• Drugs and Chemicals
• Excessive amounts of grains

That last one may surprise you. What’s unhealthy about feeding grains to farm animals? In moderation, nothing. However, the animals digestive systems cannot handle the large amounts of grains (mostly corn and soybeans) they’re fed, which creates health problems, which causes the animals to need more drugs - and feeding these drugs to animals in large quantities causes the drugs to be less effective in humans.

If you eat animal foods, try to buy organic or from a local family farmer whenever possible. To read more about the reality of feed at animal factories, check out UCS.