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U.S. Government Poster from World War II (courtesy of Library of Congress)
Are Victory Gardens an idea whose time has come back? Could a quick history lesson lead to a better future?
During World War II Americans lived with rations of such necessities as tires, gasoline, sugar, and other foodstuffs. The US government encouraged ordinary people to create Victory Gardens; small plots of fruits and vegetables to stave off food shortages so more mass-produced food could be sent to feed the troops.
The people responded. Two million Americans created Victory Gardens in their backyards or communities. According to author Michael Pollan, "...during World War II, Victory Gardens supplied as much as 40% of the produce Americans ate."
Victory Gardens were more than a war time activity, they were a social phenomenon. Schools and families planted Victory Gardens together, often on communal land. Families caught up on news as they planted and harvested. Nutrition information was widely disseminated to help home cooks create balanced meals for their families. Today’s obesity epidemic must have been unimaginable to those gardeners.
Today there are many gardens that are very much like the Victory Gardens of old. In backyards across America folks are growing their own produce, spices and herbs. They harvest fruits and vegetables that have been raised without pesticides and enjoy them when they are at the peak of their freshness and nutritional value. Adding home-grown fare to the fresh produce from a local farm stand or a farmers market gives gardeners the best of both worlds.
If you’d like to try your hand at growing some food of your own but don’t have your own backyard, you can join a community garden. In 2004, the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) estimated that there were already 18,000 community gardens across the USA and Canada. Urban community gardens can be found from South Central Los Angeles to the Bronx in New York City. If there’s no community garden near your home, think about organizing your neighbors to get one started.
Funded by federal grants, GreenThumb has been a program of the NYC Parks Department since 1995. The nonprofit organization has over 600 member gardens serving 20,000 city residents. New York University released a study of the effect of community gardens on nearby property values. The study of 636 community gardens in NYC showed a positive effect on sales prices of residential properties within a 1,000-foot radius of a community garden when compared to properties outside the 1,000-foot ring, but still in the same neighborhood. The effect was significant and increasing over time. The tax benefit to the city over a 20-year period was estimated at $647 million dollars or $1 million per garden. Who knows how much might be saved on medical costs by the healthier diet the gardens make possible.
Not all benefits are measured in dollars. Here’s what Karen Washington from the Garden of Hope in the Bronx had to say about her experience:
To grow your own food gives you a sort of power and it gives people dignity. You know exactly what you’re eating because you grew it. It’s good, it’s nourishing and you did this for yourself, your family and your community.
We could help reduce America’s reliance on oil simply by keeping vegetable gardens and cutting down on the amount of food that has to be transported by truck. It would reduce the need for petroleum-based fertilizers on giant corporate farms. If you’re unhappy about where all the money Americans spend on oil and gasoline is going, than spread the word: Bring Back Victory Gardens!
If you'd like to start a garden in your community or your backyard here's some info that should help:
American Community Gardening Association
Funding & Other Support for Community Gardens
Cooking from the Heart of the Garden
U.S. Government Poster from World War II (courtesy of Library of Congress)
Are Victory Gardens an idea whose time has come back? Could a quick history lesson lead to a better future?
During World War II Americans lived with rations of such necessities as tires, gasoline, sugar, and other foodstuffs. The US government encouraged ordinary people to create Victory Gardens; small plots of fruits and vegetables to stave off food shortages so more mass-produced food could be sent to feed the troops.
The people responded. Two million Americans created Victory Gardens in their backyards or communities. According to author Michael Pollan, "...during World War II, Victory Gardens supplied as much as 40% of the produce Americans ate."
Victory Gardens were more than a war time activity, they were a social phenomenon. Schools and families planted Victory Gardens together, often on communal land. Families caught up on news as they planted and harvested. Nutrition information was widely disseminated to help home cooks create balanced meals for their families. Today’s obesity epidemic must have been unimaginable to those gardeners.
Today there are many gardens that are very much like the Victory Gardens of old. In backyards across America folks are growing their own produce, spices and herbs. They harvest fruits and vegetables that have been raised without pesticides and enjoy them when they are at the peak of their freshness and nutritional value. Adding home-grown fare to the fresh produce from a local farm stand or a farmers market gives gardeners the best of both worlds.
If you’d like to try your hand at growing some food of your own but don’t have your own backyard, you can join a community garden. In 2004, the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) estimated that there were already 18,000 community gardens across the USA and Canada. Urban community gardens can be found from South Central Los Angeles to the Bronx in New York City. If there’s no community garden near your home, think about organizing your neighbors to get one started.
Funded by federal grants, GreenThumb has been a program of the NYC Parks Department since 1995. The nonprofit organization has over 600 member gardens serving 20,000 city residents. New York University released a study of the effect of community gardens on nearby property values. The study of 636 community gardens in NYC showed a positive effect on sales prices of residential properties within a 1,000-foot radius of a community garden when compared to properties outside the 1,000-foot ring, but still in the same neighborhood. The effect was significant and increasing over time. The tax benefit to the city over a 20-year period was estimated at $647 million dollars or $1 million per garden. Who knows how much might be saved on medical costs by the healthier diet the gardens make possible.
Not all benefits are measured in dollars. Here’s what Karen Washington from the Garden of Hope in the Bronx had to say about her experience:
To grow your own food gives you a sort of power and it gives people dignity. You know exactly what you’re eating because you grew it. It’s good, it’s nourishing and you did this for yourself, your family and your community.
We could help reduce America’s reliance on oil simply by keeping vegetable gardens and cutting down on the amount of food that has to be transported by truck. It would reduce the need for petroleum-based fertilizers on giant corporate farms. If you’re unhappy about where all the money Americans spend on oil and gasoline is going, than spread the word: Bring Back Victory Gardens!
If you'd like to start a garden in your community or your backyard here's some info that should help:
American Community Gardening Association
Funding & Other Support for Community Gardens
Cooking from the Heart of the Garden
Fresh Food & Fine Design (photo by Mary R. Vogt, courtesy of morguefile.com)
Some time back we asked if local was the new organic when it came to the preferences of American consumers. A survey recently released by the Food Marketing Institute and Prevention magazine, "Shopping for Health 2008," indicates that health conscious consumers are choosing locally grown produce over organic alternatives.
The researchers wanted to know how healthy eaters succeed when it comes to shopping for food. They found that nearly everyone (80%) tries to eat healthily. Among those who try a lot, 10% say they are “always successful.” The survey profiled the one in 10 who succeeds.
When presenting the results of the survey, Cary Silvers, director of consumer insights for the company that publishes Prevention said, “Shoppers’ new interest in locally grown food reflects their strong desire to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables…The battle between organic and locally grown represents who shoppers believe can deliver the freshest produce.”
There are plenty of reasons to choose local produce. It is when it is fresh that food is at its most nutritious and most flavorful. Buying local is a choice that supports a community's farmers. Buying it limits the environmental harm done when foods are transported over great distances.
Many foodies buy local produce to savor the singular flavors of seasonal offerings that are part of their regional food heritage. The chance to talk to the farmers who produce the fresh fruit and veggies and learn from them makes shopping at a farmers market a pleasure for those concerned about personal health and the health of the environment.
To read the press release on which this item was based go to: Shopping for Health 2008: Setting Specific Goals and Plans Key to Healthy Eating
Children Playing on the Beach (© Chris Johnson | Dreamstime.com)
The breakfast cereals that are marketed specifically to children are not as healthy as those developed for adults. That is the conclusion of a new study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
The researchers looked at 161 cereals between January and February of 2006. They classified 46% of those cereals as being marketed to children. For example, if the packaging contained a licensed character or contained an activity directed at children, the cereal was deemed to be marketed to children.
The authors of the study wrote that, “Compared to nonchildren’s cereals, children’s cereals were denser in energy, sugar, and sodium, but were less dense in fiber and protein.” They also found that, “The majority of children’s cereals (66%) failed to meet national nutrition standards, particularly with respect to sugar content.”
If you’d like to read the study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association cited above go to: Examining the Nutritional Quality of Breakfast Cereals Marketed to Children
Pasta Ingredients (photo by Scott Liddell, courtesy of morguefile.com)
There are now 7.3 million Americans who maintain a vegetarian-based diet according to a study published by Vegetarian Times. About 1 million of those people are vegans who refrain from eating animal products altogether. It may be surprising that 22.8 million people say they largely follow a vegetarian-inclined diet.
The rising mountain of evidence that a plant-based diet, rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains is far more healthy than a diet heavily laden with animal fats has probably had a significant effect on the country’s eating habits. Environmental and food safety concerns, and horrific reports on the suffering of animals caught in the processes of industrial farming have certainly had their effects as well.
The pursuit of good health, a clean environment, and humane reactions to the mistreatment of animals are undoubtedly strong motivators, but we can’t help thinking that the development of vegetarian cooking as ever more flavorful is also part of the story. Millions of Americans have savored well-seasoned dishes made of thoughtfully combined vegetarian ingredients that have been cooked with care.
More than once we’ve heard a dinner companion who has just swooned over such a dish indicate that they’re ready to eat vegetarian if they can continue eating such delicious meals. Though the vast majority of Americans have not made a full conversion to a plant-based diet, we’re noticing a growing number of meat-eaters are increasingly working vegetarian fare into their diets.
If you’d like to view the publication that published the study cited above go to: Vegetarian Times
Fresh Fruit (photo by Jeltovski, courtesy of morguefile.com)
The Chicago Sun-Times has reported on a study undertaken at the University of Kuopio in Finland where researchers have found that people who have high cholesterol while in their 40s are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease in their 70s.
The Sun-Times article quotes Dr. Alina Solomon, the author of the study as saying, "High mid-life cholesterol increased the risk of Alzheimer's disease regardless of mid-life diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking and late-life stroke."
There has been an emerging body of evidence that what is good for keeping a healthy heart is also good for keeping a healthy mind and avoiding dementia. In both pursuits, people who maintain a sensible, low-fat diet and engage in rigorous physical activity are those most likely to stay physically healthy and mentally sharp as they age.
In less than startling news, the researchers at the University of Kuopio found that heavy drinking and smoking also increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
If you’d like to read the article in the Chicago Sun-Times cited above go to: Study: Cholesterol raises Alzheimer's risk
Wild Salmon Leaping Upstream (photo by Matthew G. Hull, courtesy of morguefile.com)
There have been some alarming reports regarding the safety of farm-raised salmon over the years. One sample of farmed salmon studied by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found levels of PCB's so high that it advised eating it no more than once every two months. PCBs have long been known to cause cancer.
Now Safeway, one of the largest supermarket chains in the U.S., has restricted the purchase of farmed salmon from Chile over concerns about a virus that is killing millions of fish there. According to an article in the New York Times,
Safeway made its decision to restrict some purchases of Chilean salmon after an article on March 27 in The New York Times reported the spread of the virus and detailed concerns by biologists and environmentalists about the elevated use of antibiotics in the country’s salmon industry. The article also reported researchers’ claims that salmon farms were contaminating fishing waters and creating stresses that could be spawning illnesses in the fish.
Past reports were enough to get us to stick to wild salmon and this new report makes us happy we did. Though it means we pay more for fresh salmon and there are times when no wild salmon is available, we feel it’s worth the sacrifice. And when there’s no wild and fresh salmon around we’re quite happy making due with our favorite smoked salmon caught wild in Alaska!
If you’d like to read the article in the New York Times cited above go to: Safeway Restricts Purchases of Chilean Salmon, Citing Fish Virus
To purchase Alaskan Wild Sockeye Salmon smoked over alder wood fires go to: Smoked Wild Sockeye Salmon
Fresh Lettuce (photo by César Porto Vence, courtesy of moreguefile.com)
If we’ve got it right, the conventional wisdom on prostate cancer offers older American men some bad news and some not-so-bad news. The bad news is that you’re very likely to develop prostate cancer in your senior years. The not-so-bad news is that it develops very slowly and early detection makes complete recovery a near certainty.
New research results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) suggest that preventing it altogether is more likely if your diet contains a healthy amount of leafy green vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli, and spinach because they are especially rich in vitamin K2.
An article in Food Production Daily says the findings are based on data from 11,319 men taking part in the EPIC. One highlight of the study perfomed by Katharina Nimptsch, Sabine Rohrmann and Jakob Linseisen of the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg is that the beneficial effect occurs at nutritional doses.
The article quotes Cees Vermeer, PhD as commenting, "The anti-tumor effect of K2 vitamins has been suggested in several other (mainly Japanese) papers; in most cases these papers were based on smaller numbers, however.”
The new study adds to a growing body of science supporting the potential health benefits of vitamin K, most notably for bone and blood health, but also linked to improved skin health.
If you’d like to read the article in Food Production Daily cited above go to: Vitamin K2 linked to lower prostate cancer risk
Photo by Rick Tango
That cup of coffee you crave each morning may be good for more than helping you get started on the day's tasks, it may be protecting you from Alzheimer's disease as well.
A study published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation has found that caffeine can prevent the disruptions of the blood brain barrier (BBB) inflicted by bad cholesterol in the diet. Disruptions of the BBB have been implicated as underlying mechanisms in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. The researchers found that chronic ingestion of caffeine offered protection against the disruptions. A daily cup of coffee is presumed to provide the healthful benefit.
As coffee lovers, this revelation comes under the heading of “Health News We Like to Hear.” Other news we really enjoyed hearing was that a glass or two of red wine everyday is good for cardiovascular health, eating dark chocolate will also help keep the heart healthy, and three midday naps a week can lead to less heart disease.
Thank you to the dedicated scientists who delivered the good news!
If you’d like to read the research findings in the Journal of Neuroinflammation go to: Caffeine blocks disruption of blood brain barrier in a rabbit model of Alzheimer's disease
If you'd like a taste of America's ultimate coffee, 100% pure Hawaiian Kona, go to: Hawaiian Kona Coffee
If you 'd like to taste of a uniquely American coffee from New Orleans' world famous Cafe Du Monde go to: Cafe Du Monde Coffee & Chicory
Playground Fun (photo by Dawn, courtesy of morguefile.com)
A study by Ameena Batada, DrPH, and colleagues at the Center for Science in the Public Interest found that an overwhelming majority of Saturday morning television ads aimed at children were pitching unhealthy foods.
A report on the study by CBS News said, “Ninety-one percent (91%) of food advertisements were for foods or beverages high in fat, sodium, or added sugars or were low in nutrients. Cartoon characters were used in 74% of food advertisements, and toy or other giveaways were used in 26% of food advertisements.”
The scientists at the Center for Science in the Public Interest were not impressed by health-message programs launched by food companies and trade organizations. They wrote, "When coupled with foods of poor nutritional quality, health/nutrition and physical activity messages are likely to be misleading and perhaps do more to promote unhealthful eating than to promote health."
Busy parents could use some help from government and industry when it comes to protecting kids from unhealthy messages. But if no help is forthcoming from those quarters, than maybe it’s time for parents to turn off the TV sets and find healthier activities for kids.
If you’d like to read the report from CBS News cited above go to: Kids Fed Lots Of Junk-Food Ads On Saturday
Organic Lemon Crop (© photo by Lisa Solonynko, courtesy of morguefile.com)
By our count there have now been at least 6 studies establishing a link between pesticides and Parkinson disease. We just read about the latest study from an article published by BBC News. Scientists from Duke University, Miami University and the Udall Parkinson's Disease Research Center of Excellence “found those exposed to pesticides had a 1.6 times higher risk” of suffering from the debilitating disease.
Providing American families with the option of enjoying food raised without pesticides has been one the great achievements of the organic farmers movement. The great demand for organic foods by consumers is a wonderfully promising trend for the American food system. Along with quests for more flavor and better nutritional value, the desire to avoid pesticides has been a key driver of the demand for organics.
Still, there’s a long way to go to overcome decades of unhealthy practices driven by the industrial food system. We can all play a part in creating a healthier and more sustainable food system by demanding that our food be raised without toxic pesticides. Our bodies, our planet, and our children will be the beneficiaries.
If you’d like to read the BBC News article cited above go to: Pesticide Parkinson's link strong
Child & Apple (© Thomas Perkins | Dreamstime.com)
Thanks to Farm to School programs across the nation, kids are learning what foodies have known all along; fresh fruits are sweeter and more flavorful than produce shipped from many miles away. Fresher also means more nutritious. Buying fresh supports local farmers and their families, and helps preserve the community’s farmland for future generations.
The Farm to School programs connect schools with local farms to ensure that healthy meals are served in school cafeterias. The goal is to provide health and nutrition education that will last a lifetime, while building lasting support for local small farmers.
The National Farm to School Program is a collaboration of the Center for Food & Justice and the Community Food Security Coalition. Since its founding in 2000, it has been successfully assisting organizations in starting up and sustaining farm to school efforts, fundraising, and providing informational resources, education and training for farm to school stakeholders.
According to the organization’s web site:
Schools buy and feature farm fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables, eggs, honey, meat, and beans on their menus; incorporate nutrition-based curriculum; and provide students experiential learning opportunities through farm visits, gardening and recycling programs. Farmers have access to a new market through schools and connect to their community through participation in programs designed to educate kids about local food and sustainable agriculture.
To learn more about the programs that are making a difference to kids' health go to: The National Farm to School Program
Teen Having a Healthy Breakfast (© Abimages | Dreamstime.com)
You’ve probably heard it many times, maybe from your mom, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” Well, mom was right and there’s scientific evidence to back her up. Unfortunately, breakfast-eating frequency declines through adolescence when developing bodies and minds really need the benefits of healthy eating.
Teens should know that besides causing them to miss out on important nutrients, skipping breakfast can lead to getting fat. Project EAT (Eating Among Teens) was a 5-year study of eating patterns and weight concerns among adolescents conducted by the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota. The scientists performing the study found that adolescents who ate breakfast daily had lower Body Mass Indexes than those who never or occasionally ate breakfast. Their findings were published in Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
There is speculation that after having no breakfast, many teens more than make up for those calories later in the day by snacking and binging, often on junk foods loaded with unhealthy fats.
If you’d like to read the article in Pediatrics cited above go to: Breakfast Eating and Weight Change in a 5-Year Prospective Analysis of Adolescents: Project EAT (Eating Among Teens)
To view a previous post on the topic of teens & healthy eating go to: Keeping It Healthy
Happy & Healthy (photo by Mary R. Vogt, courtesy of morguefile.com)
Researchers from the United Kingdom’s University of Nottingham and the Washington University School of Medicine in the U.S. are recommending that women over the age of 65 eat plenty of protein.
A BBC News report says the scientists have found that as they enter senior years, it is much more difficult for women’s bodies to replace muscle loss due to aging than it is for men’s bodies. Lack of muscle leads to the loss of mobility and puts exposes a person to a high risk of serious fall.
To maintain a healthy amount of muscle senior women should combine a high intake of protein-rich foods, including fish, chicken, and beans, with resistance exercise like lifting weights.
If you’d like to read the BBC News report cited above go to: Staying in shape 'hard for women'
Sarah Alexander of Food & Water Watch, a nonprofit organization, has sent us the following message:
The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a rule that would let factory farms get out of reporting their releases of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and other toxic air pollutants caused by the breakdown of animal manure in massive lagoons. We have a right to know what toxic chemicals we're being exposed to.
In her message Sarah included this quote from a recent article in the Washington Post:
Under pressure from agriculture industry lobbyists and lawmakers from agricultural states, the Environmental Protection Agency wants to drop requirements that factory farms report their emissions of toxic gases, despite findings by the agency's scientists that the gases pose a health threat.
She also included the following to illustrate the folly of the EPA’s proposal:
One giant dairy in Oregon, home to more than 50,000 cows, reported that it releases more than 15,000 pounds of toxic ammonia into the air every day. Often these reports offer the only information neighbors of these facilities get about what they are being exposed to.
Food & Water Watch is urging concerned citizens to tell the EPA that factory farms shouldn't be above the law. If you’d like to make your voice heard at the EPA go to: Food & Water Watch: Take Action
If you’d like to read the Washington Post article cited above go to: Farms May Be Exempted From Emission Rules
Healthy Roaming Cows (photo by Alex, courtesy of morguefile.com)
The president of the meat packing company responsible for the largest recall in U.S. history admitted before Congress that sick cows were slaughtered and entered the meat supply as hamburger. The hamburger meat subsequently made its way to the tables of American families and the meals of schoolchildren.
Steve Mendell, CEO of California’s Westland/Hallmark Meat Company, first denied that sick cows were slaughtered at his company’s facility. Then he was shown a video of a "downer" cow being “shocked and abused by workers trying to move it to the ‘kill box,’ then finally shot with a bolt gun and dragged by a chain to the processing area,” according to an article in the New York Times.
A downer cow is one that is unable to stand. It is forbidden to process such cows for food unless a government veterinarian determines that the animal is fit for human consumption. This is due to the risk that they might be infected with the brain sickness commonly referred to as mad cow disease. No such determination was made by a veterinarian at the Westland/Hallmark facility.
To view the New York Times article cited above go to: Meat Packer Admits Slaughter of Sick Cows
To view a previous post on the topic go to: Best to Stick to Organic Beef
If you’d like to purchase the safest & finest Red Angus Organic Beef we’ve been able to find click on any of the following:
Organic Red Angus New York Strip Steaks
Organic Red Angus Rib Eye Steaks
Organic Red Angus Tenderloin Steaks
Fresh Strawberries (© Image courtesy of USDA)
The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service is reporting some impressive work from molecular biologist Susan J. Zunino and her colleagues on the ability of natural chemicals found in foods and seasonings to kill leukemia cells in a test tube.
According to the article published in the March 2008 issue of Agricultural Research magazine:
Zunino’s investigations provide some new clues about how phytochemicals attack cancer cells. She has studied carnosol from rosemary, curcumin from turmeric, resveratrol from grapes, and ellagic acid, kaempferol, and quercetin in strawberries. The work demonstrated the ability of these phytochemicals to kill the acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells and also suggested ways in which the compounds might do that.
There is a great deal that scientists don’t understand about why certain compounds found in plant foods are able to protect healthy cells and destroy harmful ones. Dr. Zunino is continuing her work with David H. Storms, and Charles B. Stephensen at the USDA-ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center to provide more answers.
While we’re waiting for more specific answers from the scientists a daily diet that includes lots of fresh fruits and vegetables is a pretty smart choice for staying healthy.
If you’d like to read the article from Agricultural Research cited above go to: How Plants Protect Us:Unmasking the Secret Power of Phytochemicals
Harbor in Wales (photo by King of Coleslaw, courtesy of morguefile.com)
The Sustainable Development Commission has found that too many supermarket practices are “unhealthy, unjust and unsustainable” according to an article published by icWales. The Commission is the independent watchdog on sustainable development for the Government of the United Kingdom.
The article says the Commission has declared that the Welsh Assembly Government “must harness the supermarkets’ power if it is to tackle obesity, climate change and the nation’s growing rubbish mountain.”
Professor Tim Lang of the Sustainable Development Commission is quoted as saying, "Today in the era of climate change, oil dependency, looming global water shortage, fish-stock crises, biodiversity and public health challenges, to aim purely for quantity of supply or cheapness at all costs is hopelessly inadequate."
The icWales article says the Commission “calls on the Government to develop an enforceable definition of 'local' food, to promote fair trade standard systems and to work with industry to develop a system of universal sustainability standards.”
If you’d like to read the icWales article cited above go to: Supermarkets must tackle obesity and waste - report
Flower of Tea Camellia (photo by D. McAbee, courtesy of morguefile.com)
Researchers from Singapore's National Neuroscience Institute have concluded that drinking 23 cups of black tea per month, about ¾ of a cup a day, will lower the risk of developing Parkinson disease by 71%.
An article from Food Navigator states, “Ingredients of black tea other than caffeine appear to be responsible.” The study included 63,257 Chinese men and women. It was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Parkinson disease is a brain disorder that occurs when certain nerve cells die or become impaired. In the United States, it is estimated that 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. There are currently 1.5 million Americans who have Parkinson disease. While the condition usually develops after the age of 65, 15% of those diagnosed are under 50, according to the National Parkinson Foundation.
Green, oolong and black teas all use the same leaves of the same plant, but are subjected to varied lengths of oxidation. Black tea is oxidized for the longest period of time, producing the darkest of the teas.
If you’d like to read the Food Navigator article cited above go to: Black tea may slash Parkinson's disease risk
For more information on the treatment and research of the disease go to: National Parkinson Foundation
Salty Snacks (© Photographer: Igor Dutina | Agency: Dreamstime.com)
A study undertaken by scientists at St. George’s, University of London, has concluded that there is a link between salt and sugar-sweetened soft drink consumption in children and adolescents. A link between soft drinks and obesity in children is widely accepted. Even soft drinks with artificial sweeteners have been linked to weight gain.
According to an article published in Hypertension, a publication of the American Heart Association, the researchers stated:
If salt intake in children in the United Kingdom was reduced by half, there would be an average reduction of 2.3 sugar-sweetened soft drinks per week per child. A reduction in salt intake could, therefore, play a role in helping to reduce childhood obesity through its effect on sugar-sweetened soft drink consumption. This would have a beneficial effect on preventing cardiovascular disease independent of and additive to the effect of salt reduction on blood pressure.
It would be a fine start to eliminate salty snacks and soft drinks from all public schools as a helping hand to concerned parents. Parents might also set a good example by eliminating salty snacks and soft drinks from their homes, a small sacrifice to protect children from obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
If you’d like to read the article in Hypertension go to: Salt Intake Is Related to Soft Drink Consumption in Children and Adolescents
The Great Wall (photo by pperrypembo, courtesy of morguefile.com)
Safety concerns about food from China have made regular news for some time and now the U.S. Olympic Committee is planning to bring much of its own food to Beijing this summer, according to an Associated Press report posted by the Houston Chronicle.
There are over 600 athletes on the U.S. team and more than 400 support personnel. The team says it is not concerned about the safety of the food in the Athletes Village, but support personnel are not eligible to eat there. Tons of food will be transported to a training center and support personnel will eat most of their meals there. Some local foods will be purchased and served at the training center.
The Associated Press report quotes Kang Yi, the head of the Food Division for the Beijing organizing committee, as saying, "I feel it's a pity that they (Americans) decided to take their own food."
If you’d like to read the AP report cited above go to: U.S. to bring its own food to Beijing Olympics
Wheat Crop (photo by Anne-Mette Jørsfeldt, courtesy of morguefile.com)
If you haven’t yet worked whole grains into your regular diet it’s time you did. In just the latest news about the health benefits of whole grain, Yahoo! News has posted a report from Reuters Health indicating that losing weight by filling up on whole grains can lead to a healthier heart.
In a study of obese adults, researchers from the Pennsylvania State University found that those who increased their whole-grain intake shed more belly fat and reduced inflammation in the blood vessels. Both abdominal fat and blood vessel inflammation are linked to heart attack and stroke.
The Reuters Health story quotes Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton, the senior researcher on the study, as stating, "This is the first clinical study to prove that a diet rich in whole grains can lead to weight loss and reduce the risk of several chronic diseases."
Whole grains retain valuable nutrients and fibers that get stripped out of the white flour baked into white bread. The rich flavor texture of whole wheat gets eliminated as well. Similarly, brown rice is a whole grain choice, while white rice is not.
The really good news is that whole grain foods can be delicious. Try oatmeal with fresh fruit, cinnamon, and a teaspoon of honey. Fresh-baked, whole grain semolina bread is a wonderful accompaniment to a favorite salad. Mushroom & barley soup is a tasty way to get some whole grains without any animal fat. Whole grain pasta with a tomato sauce seasoned (garlic, oregano, basil, etc.) to your taste and served with steamed broccoli, spinach, or green beans is a terrific meal. Squeeze a little fresh lemon and grind some black pepper on those veggies.
A lot of people are delighted to learn that popcorn is a whole grain!
If you’d like to read the Reuters Health article cited above go to: Whole grains may curb belly fat, inflammation
To view previous posts on the topic go to:
1. Whole Grains Battle Heart Disease & Stroke
2. Whole Grains for a Healthy Heart
Dinner Plate (photo by Bert Glibbery, courtesy of morguefile.com)
Skipping meals may help you lose weight, but you’ll increase your risk of cardiovascular disease in the process. A study has found that people getting all their calories in a single meal rather than in three meals a day had significant increases in "bad" cholesterol and raised blood pressure.
Though they did lose slight amounts of weight and fat, they also saw their blood sugar rise and experienced a delayed response to the body’s insulin. Like high blood pressure, high blood sugar is a risk factor for heart problems.
The study analyses were authored by scientists at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville, Md., and colleagues at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Intramural Research Program in Baltimore, Md.
If you’d like to read an article on the topic from The Agricultural Research Service go to: Researchers Look at How Frequency of Meals May Affect Health
Free Roaming Red Angus (© Photographer: Caroline Klapper | Agency: Dreamstime.com)
If you needed another reason to only eat organically raised beef, a California meat company has issued the largest beef recall in history, 143 million pounds. Much of the suspect meat has already made its way into school lunch programs and been consumed by children.
Reports indicate that cows at the Westland/Hallmark Meat Company were so sick they could not walk, which can be an indicator of mad cow disease. The Humane Society of the United States has distributed undercover footage of workers at the factory farm kicking sick cows and using forklifts to force them to walk. Federal law bans cows that can’t walk from the food supply.
Government officials have said this is an isolated incident and mad cow disease is extremely rare, but there were 21 recalls of beef related to potentially deadly E. coli last year, compared with 8 in 2006 and 5 in 2005. The recall on Sunday by Westland/Hallmark was more than four times bigger than the previous record.
Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, has stated:
Long term, however, the federal government must step up and meet its responsibility for assuring both the integrity of food and the humane treatment of animals at all slaughter plants. A recall of this staggering scal | |
