The American Dental Association issued an alert on November 9 warning parents not to use fluoridated water when mixing baby formula. It seems that they just discovered that fluoride ingested during infancy is extremely dangerous.
"The dentists are worried that fluoride exposure at this age will permanently damage teeth, not protect them. A growing body of research also links fluoride to weakened bones, reduced thyroid activity, and possibly bone cancer in boys."
Despite this warning, Wal-Mart continues to sell a fluoridated water exactly designed for this purpose.
The Environmental Working Group is starting a letter writing campaign in order to pressure Wal-Mart to stop selling this dangerous substance.
You can join this campaign online.
Join Us: Sign Our Letter to Wal-Mart - Environmental Working Group
David Hermance, 59, died in an experimental plane crash in California on Saturday.
"He was an engineering wizard for Toyota with an environmentalist's heart — an executive who championed hybrid gasoline-electric cars years before global warming entered the popular conversation."
Man killed in plane crash called 'the American father of the Prius' - latimes.com (includes video report and requires free registration.)
This 8 minute documentary, (“Oil is Blood”), produced in the 1940’s and narrated by Harry Von Zell, tells the story of how oil “protects our freedom”. Sound familiar? Film plays thru Google Video. Original source is The Documentary Channel. Be prepared for informative (but slightly annoying) informational drop-ins. Link to film.
Here's a great idea for a franchise business. Remember when you sent your kid to that plaster party and they brought you home a plaster mermaid? How would you like them to bring you a Chateaubriand instead?
"Julie Fabing Burleson and Suzy Vinson Nettles, founders of YCA, believe this is the perfect recipe for showing children cooking is a lifelong skill that can be artistic, creative, and sometimes quite surprising. Suzy has commented, "this is the place where 'what if' collides with, 'look at this!'" Their kid-friendly classroom provides a "real" setting so that the students can use what they learn in their own homes."
Young Chefs Academy link here.
Happy Thanksgiving from your friends at American Feast!
Here a link to a video of a bunch of turkeys trying to have a happy Thanksgiving by getting out of town!
Turkeys wait for a NJ TRANSIT train - YouTube.com
New this month from YAHOO! is YAHOO Food aimed at the everyday cook.
Expect content (including video) from the likes of Martha Stewart, Rachel Ray and Wolfgang Puck.
And recipes, recipes, recipes!
YAHOO! Food link here.
A review study (of existing medical literature) conducted at the University of Sydney, finds that the omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA (such as are found in cold water fish), are linked to the alleviation of depression.
“A review of epidemiological data suggests that there is a link between depression and fish consumption, and although it is true that correlation is not causation, there is evidence that fish and fish oils may be protective against depression,” wrote lead author, Dianne Volker from the university's department of psychology."
No information about funding for this particular study.
The fishy link to low rates of depression - NUTRAingredients.com europe
And if you are looking to eat fish that have the lowest levels of contamination, see this previous post.
A Guide to Guilt-Free Fish - American Feast
If you're looking to celebrate a vegetarian Thanksgiving, you need a good tofu turkey recipe. I found one at allrecipes.com. I did not try it myself but under the recipe are comments from people who did and...Mikey likes it! Link here.
Was the recent big news story about red wine responsible journalism? The way most media outlets reported was that you could eat a high-fat diet but if you drink red wine, it will reverse any damage that the diet causes. Here's an example of the way the story started out on CNN.com.
"Study: Fat, boozing mice stay healthy
November 1, 2006
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Huge amounts of a red wine extract seemed to help obese mice eat a high-fat diet and still live a long and healthy life, suggests a new study that some experts are calling "landmark" research.
The big question is, can it work the same magic in humans?
Scientists say it's far too early to start swilling barrels of red wine. But they are calling the latest research promising and even "spectacular."
How many people read past this? I suspect not many. If they did, they would have discovered these additional facts:
"Astoundingly, the organs of the fat mice that got the wine extract looked normal when they shouldn't have, said study lead author Dr. David Sinclair of Harvard Medical School. And Sinclair said other preliminary work still being done in the lab shows the wine ingredient has promise in lengthening the life span of normal-sized mice, too."
And later:
"Sinclair has a financial stake in the research. He is co-founder of a pharmaceutical firm, Sirtris Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Cambridge, Mass., which is in the middle of a study testing the safety of using the extract on humans for treatment of diabetes."
Most media outlets, particularly television, did not report this at all. Not that this automatically means that the research is tainted but in the interest of fairness, full disclosure should always be up front.
Full article here.
I'm sure you saw all the news coverage yesterday regarding how men can almost guarantee extending their life to at least 85 if they follow these simple rules:
1. No Smoking
2. Lose Weight
3. Watch Blood Pressure
4. Don't Drink Too Much
5. Stay Married
Snore. You already knew this anyway, right? But another thing you thought you knew as well, was that men aged faster than women. Well, you're not just a little off. It's exactly the opposite of what you thought!
“While men may die earlier on average, much of the difference in mortality rates is due to factors other than physiological decline caused by the aging process,” [researcher] Graves said."
Women Age Faster but Live Longer - Is Testosterone the Cause? - SeniorJournal.com
Hey, Chefs!
This was originally put up as a Halloween idea but I think it can work anytime you want a festive party atmosphere. Particularly if you are serving Mexican food!
Chelsie Kenyon at About.com provides detailed instructions for this recipe.
Sugar Skulls - About.com
Bellotas, which were an integral part of American Indian diets, are also called Acorns. They are listed as an American food tradition and endorsed by the Slow Food organization. They are in retreat due to western drought.
Time, drought diminishing healthful, fun acorn tradition – Arizona Daily Star
Wikipedia Acorn Listing
Researchers report in the Journal of Food Biochemistry that Soy yogurt, especially with fruit in it, may help control both type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
With type 2 diabetes affecting more than 15 million Americans and up to 150 million world-wide, this may represent a simple way to help yourself.
"Cost-effective dietary changes are essential for fighting this disease, and traditional diets that have a higher content of these protective antioxidants are an important part of the solution," [researcher] Shetty said."
WARNING - I could not find any information on who funded this study.
Soy yogurt could help control diabetes - YAHOO! News
[thanks, Jeff!]
The Port Chester, NY School District now offers an after-school program in cooking. Any high school student can attend for free.
With obesity rates on the rise, programs like this could help stem the tide.
"We wanted to have an after-school program which was not just more school after school," Port Chester School district's, Frank Fenelli, said. "We wanted our kids to experience some real-life situations."
Maybe our kids will be smarter than us after all.
After-school cooking class - WABC-TV New York (includes video report)
Posilac is the genetically engineered bovine growth hormone, used in about one-third of the nation's dairy cows. This hormone, according to it's manufacturer, Monsanto, increases milk production by 10%. As a matter of fact, Monsanto has a web site for farmers with a calculator to demonstrate increased production. (The site can be found at www.make10.net.)
The FDA and Monsanto say that milk produced with this hormone (also known as recombinant bovine somatratropin (rBST)) is safe. Samuel Epstein, professor emeritus of environmental medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, strongly disagrees.
"In his new book "What’s in Your Milk" (Trafford Publishing, $24.95), he charges that rBGH milk can increase the risk of breast, colon and prostate cancer and is profitable to Monsanto while posing dangers with no benefits to consumers."
Got hormone-free milk? - Chicago Tribune
If I haven't mentioned it before, I love the Weekly World News. Beyond reporting the hard stories other media outlets don't dare to touch, it brings to our attention important issues our society faces everyday but get lost in our hectic work-a-day worlds. For example, watch this hard hitting video report about a problem I didn't even know existed when I woke this morning, the rise in obesity among telekinetics
Obesity on the Rise Among Telekinetics (Video Report) - Weekly World News
It's easy to find out if your new car has heated front seats, blue tooth capability or a plug for an iPod. But how does your choice stack up in terms of environmental performance and fuel efficiency? Not so east to figure out, right?
A new tool from YAHOO! and the nonprofit research and advocacy organization Environmental Defense will help.
"Consumers can think of the Yahoo! Green Rating as a yardstick that measures how well a given car cuts pollution," says John DeCicco, senior fellow for automotive strategies at Environmental Defense. "The Yahoo! Green Rating covers all of the major environmental impacts associated with a motor vehicle, from health-harming tailpipe pollution to greenhouse gases that cause global warming," he adds."
Environmental Defense Provides Green Ratings on Yahoo! Autos - emagazine.com
Family farms have been disappearing for a long time. Suburban sprawl brings increasing land values. Increasing land values bring developers who can only afford to build houses that will sell for half a million or more. This is what happened to Long Island. Sure, there are a few farmers out in Sagaponack that are holding out. But with values for development land rising, even in a declining real estate market, how long can these farmers resist the lotto size payouts for their land.
This has been happening in a steadfast manner since World War II. I remember my family bought a house in a small development that, at the time, seemed out in the middle of nowhere on Middlebelt Road near Detroit in 1962. This was a farmer that had sold out early. But out on 26 Mile Road, there's still a hold out.
"Fred doesn't feel threatened by Vince or Joe or big-time developers by any name because, well, it's just the way things go. "Ain't nothin' you can do about it," he says, shrugging, "because you know it's gonna happen."
Macomb farm lives as others fall - Detroit Free Press
A lot of food products make the claim that they are healthy for you but you would be surprised how many still have problems.
One supermarket has devised a system for helping consumers make good choices but it points up weaknesses in product manufacturers claims leading to consternation with suppliers and confusion for consumers.
"Hannaford’s nutritionists acknowledge that their system is more stringent than the guidelines used by the F.D.A. The food agency sets standards that food manufacturers must use when they define a product as, say, low in fat or high in fiber, and companies may use those designations even if the product is loaded with less desirable ingredients. Hannaford’s panelists said their formula was more balanced, taking into account all the positives and negatives."
While any help to the consumer is welcome, as long as foods are required to be labeled properly, you should learn to help yourself.
The Package May Say Healthy, but This Grocer Begs to Differ - New York Times (may require subscription)
[thanks, Jeff!]
Leslie Cole from The Oregonian's Internet component, OregonLive.com has produced an information packed series on organics in three parts.
Does the organic food industry deliver what it promises: a healthier plant; clean, nutritious food; and a boost for the small family farm?
Part 1 - Do You Have to Be Rich to be Organic - OregonLive.com
Part 2 - What the Labels Mean - OregonLive.com
Part 3 - How Green is Your Farm? - OregonLive.com
[via Boing Boing via Strange New Products]
As a pet owner, it's not only important to make sure your pet gets appropriate food (see PET HEALTH ALERT: HOLD THE GUACAMOLE, POR FAVOR) but I submit that you have a responsibility to make sure he's eating it in a way the prevents indigestion. If not for his sake, for your carpet's.
Feasts for your beast can now be served in a bowl that prevents your best friend from eating in his usual debauched way.
Demonstration video here.
Did you ever see that guy walking around Central Park who's an expert on plants and berries and knows which are edible and which are poisonous? It always seemed to me that you would need a degree in botany to really know what's safe and what's not. So I've played it safe by never eating anything in the park unless it was from a hot dog stand (which is scary sometimes as well). But did you know that some substances might be alright for you and I to ingest and dangerous for another species?
PET HEALTH ALERT: HOLD THE GUACAMOLE, POR FAVOR - ASPCA
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