A Canadian Researcher is going to look at soy’s impact on chronic pain. Apparently, earlier studies showed that increased consumption of soy reduced pain in rats, so a new three year double blind study for humans is starting at McGill University Health Centre.
http://www.vancouversun.com/health/Researcher+hopes+prevent+chronic+pain+from+developing/3521844/story.html
As a follow-up to our post saying that the FDA would be reviewing Abbott Lab’s Meridia after a European ban on the product, turns out the review panel split on a market removal.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-15/abbott-s-diet-pill-meridia-splits-fda-advisers-on-withdrawal-decision.html
But the FDA did recommend against approving Arena Pharmaceuticals’ lorcaserin because of potential problems with heart disease, tumors. Depression and memory loss.
http://www.drugwatch.com/news/2010/09/17/fda-votes-no-lorcaserin-weight-loss-pill/
A new study at Washington State University backs the idea that if you read your food labels, you are more likely to successfully lose weight.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-09/wsu-apt091410.php
Give adzuki beans a try as a vegetarian alternative to lentils, black or navy beans. See this article about the bean:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gZNc-nQMq_LFWDMfRRmETEls5uzA
Monday, September 20, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Protein Bars--Good and Not So Good Choices at the Grocery Store
If you are using protein bars as one of your snack foods during the day, you must be mindful to read the nutritional label on the bars you buy at the grocery store. Many bars have more carbs and sugar than protein, so the bulk of the calories are going to burn off quickly and you will be hungry again in no time.
Your goal is to find a bar that has 140 to 180 calories and 10 or more grams of protein. Some of the grocery brands that meet these targets are: South Beach Living Breakfast Bars, Special K Protein MEAL Bars, Slim Fast Diet High Protein Meal Bars or HALF of a Snickers Marathon Protein Sports Bar.
Protein bars that I would look to avoid at the store, because they don't have enough protein relative to their caloric content are: Special K Protein SNACK Bars, Odwalla Super Protein Bars, Quaker Chewy Granola with Protein Bars.
Just remember, that reading the labels for nutritional content is very important. Just because a product says that it is a protein bar, doesn't mean you will get the best protein bang for the caloric buck!
Your goal is to find a bar that has 140 to 180 calories and 10 or more grams of protein. Some of the grocery brands that meet these targets are: South Beach Living Breakfast Bars, Special K Protein MEAL Bars, Slim Fast Diet High Protein Meal Bars or HALF of a Snickers Marathon Protein Sports Bar.
Protein bars that I would look to avoid at the store, because they don't have enough protein relative to their caloric content are: Special K Protein SNACK Bars, Odwalla Super Protein Bars, Quaker Chewy Granola with Protein Bars.
Just remember, that reading the labels for nutritional content is very important. Just because a product says that it is a protein bar, doesn't mean you will get the best protein bang for the caloric buck!
Monday, September 13, 2010
POPs, the FDA and Dr. Oz
I have discussed Kathy Freston's book, Quantum Wellness, in my classes when we review food fasts and cleanses. I have also written about this book on my Review page on this website. A critical element of her thesis on food fasting is that it gives the body a break from processed foods that contain artificial chemicals and from meats and dairy that have hormones and antibiotics, which all embed in your fat tissue. Her point is that regular food cleanses allow these toxins to be released from your system.
Now a new study from South Korea says that people who lost weight over 10 years seemed to have more of these persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in their blood stream on an ongoing basis than obese people who store toxins in their fat tissue. So the greater issue would be the amount of chemically processed foods, pesticides, hormones and antibiotics thin and heavy people are consuming that results in the presence of these toxins in their bodies. The article on the study seems to imply that it is better to stay fat and keep these toxins in your fat molecules than get rid of them. The article also notes that there are no long term studies of the impacts of getting rid of these pollutants or holding on to them.
Personally, I would rather minimize my exposure to these chemicals and hormones through eating more organic foods, cooking my meals from scratch at home, where I can control the salt and additives, and avoiding fast food and packaged convenience foods entirely,
Weight Loss May Cause Industrial Pollutant Release http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6861XV20100907
The FDA is at it again, with new warnings to soft drink manufacturers who are advertising false claims on the benefits of green tea in their products. I thought it was interesting that the article mentions that companies which received FDA warnings in March still had not revised their labels, so it seems the FDA may have more bark than bite if warnings are not enforced.
The FDA Warns Green Tea Drink Makers Against Health Claims http://www.latimes.com/health/la-na-fda-tea-20100908,0,6545244.story
Today, Dr Oz is starting a new weight loss focus called Just 10 Pounds. He will be highlighting the program on his TV show, radio program, syndicated newspaper column and in the O Magazine. The attached article talks more about the program in an interview with Dr. Oz.
Dr. Oz to Start New Weight Loss Campaign, “Just 10” Pounds Today on his TV Show http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/mindbody/2681848,FIT-News-Oz08.article
Now a new study from South Korea says that people who lost weight over 10 years seemed to have more of these persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in their blood stream on an ongoing basis than obese people who store toxins in their fat tissue. So the greater issue would be the amount of chemically processed foods, pesticides, hormones and antibiotics thin and heavy people are consuming that results in the presence of these toxins in their bodies. The article on the study seems to imply that it is better to stay fat and keep these toxins in your fat molecules than get rid of them. The article also notes that there are no long term studies of the impacts of getting rid of these pollutants or holding on to them.
Personally, I would rather minimize my exposure to these chemicals and hormones through eating more organic foods, cooking my meals from scratch at home, where I can control the salt and additives, and avoiding fast food and packaged convenience foods entirely,
Weight Loss May Cause Industrial Pollutant Release http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6861XV20100907
The FDA is at it again, with new warnings to soft drink manufacturers who are advertising false claims on the benefits of green tea in their products. I thought it was interesting that the article mentions that companies which received FDA warnings in March still had not revised their labels, so it seems the FDA may have more bark than bite if warnings are not enforced.
The FDA Warns Green Tea Drink Makers Against Health Claims http://www.latimes.com/health/la-na-fda-tea-20100908,0,6545244.story
Today, Dr Oz is starting a new weight loss focus called Just 10 Pounds. He will be highlighting the program on his TV show, radio program, syndicated newspaper column and in the O Magazine. The attached article talks more about the program in an interview with Dr. Oz.
Dr. Oz to Start New Weight Loss Campaign, “Just 10” Pounds Today on his TV Show http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/mindbody/2681848,FIT-News-Oz08.article
Friday, September 10, 2010
Late Summer Salads-Healthy and Nutritious Eating
Since hard frosts are upon us in Teton County, Wyoming, I am working to use up all the rest of my garden greens and veggies before they die off. I made this yummy salad out of my salad greens, two organic tomatoes and an organic peach. I used some light Caesar salad dressing. This was filling enough for a dinner meal but contains only 175 calories. I got the benefits of all the vitamins and antioxidants in the salad, as well. Yum!
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Commentary on a Youtube video by Dr. Lisa Hark
I found Dr. Lisa Hark's video on youtube, and while I think she gives some terrific advice, I would add as a tip, eat breakfast every day and make sure you are eating something made with protein in that meal. Whether it is a protein shake, peanut butter with an apple, an egg white omelet or even a hard boiled egg, protein will take longer to digest than that bowl of cereal or toast and will have you feel fuller longer. You may make it all the way to lunch without needing a snack if you have a more nutritious breakfast. See my comments below for more details.
How Far We Are from a Healthy Lifestyle...
I read an article today that shocked me. It cited a 2005 study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, that examined the top five healthy behaviors--not smoking, exercise, healthy diet, managing stress and preventative health care like mammograms and colonoscopies. The study indicated that of the 153,000 people surveyed in 2000, only 2-4% of Americans do all of these things!
With the rising cost of health care--Obamacare or not--I guess I figured more people were living like me, trying to do everything to stay healthy and out of the doctor's office. I guess that study only justifies why I should continue to write this blog and maintain this website!
Please comment on which of the five healthy behaviors you are doing, and which you are not.
With the rising cost of health care--Obamacare or not--I guess I figured more people were living like me, trying to do everything to stay healthy and out of the doctor's office. I guess that study only justifies why I should continue to write this blog and maintain this website!
Please comment on which of the five healthy behaviors you are doing, and which you are not.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Green Tea--Why you should drink more of it.
I found this terrific article on the benefits of green tea on www.about.com. I have been feeling under the weather, and decided to drink lots and lots of green tea for a few days. It seems to be helping to ward off whatever beginnings of a cold I was experiencing.
The Miracle of Green Tea
"Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one." (Ancient Chinese Proverb)
Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. In her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years.
Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.
To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:
* cancer
* rheumatoid arthritis
* high cholesterol levels
* cariovascular disease
* infection
* impaired immune function
What makes green tea so special?
The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.
Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.
Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.
Other Benefits
New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.
Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.
Harmful Effects?
To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.
http://chinesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa011400a.htm
The Miracle of Green Tea
"Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one." (Ancient Chinese Proverb)
Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. In her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years.
Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.
To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:
* cancer
* rheumatoid arthritis
* high cholesterol levels
* cariovascular disease
* infection
* impaired immune function
What makes green tea so special?
The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.
Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.
Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.
Other Benefits
New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo.
Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market.
Harmful Effects?
To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee.
http://chinesefood.about.com/library/weekly/aa011400a.htm
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