Archive for June, 2006
The Hilton Head Health Institute (our sponsor–click here) has long taught the importance of reading labels on processed foods. Now with the increased visibility and availability of organic foods, there’s another reason to read the label. One difference, however, is that on some foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables, there is no label — you have to know what the terms ‘organic’ and ‘100%’ organic mean.
Here’s an article (click here) from USNews.com that explains the USDA definitions of these terms. It also points out that the nutritional value of ‘organic’ vs. non-organic foods is still not fully understood. Take a look at the article to see for yourself.
June 19th, 2006
Interesting articles are appearing in the press about a Tufts University study linking diet to macular degeneration. Read through all of the linked articles to see how press reports can vary (and all of them are truthfully reporting what they see).
The summary version says (click here) that women who had a diet high in “certain carbohydrates” (french fries are mentioned) were more likely to develop macular degeneration than other women. This article says that researchers are uncertain about whether the diet causes the disease or is just the lifestyle associated with the diet that does.
The UPI report (click here) is somewhat clearer: women whose diets had a relatively high glycemic index were more likely to develop age-related macular degeneration. The point is that the high glycemic index may be a “marker” for a total lifestyle that leads to greater risk for macular degeneration.
Finally, to get the really clear picture, read the abstract of the research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (click here). The bottom line is that the “onset of macular degeneration may be postponed or prevented by long-term ingestion of diets with low glycemic index.”
June 15th, 2006
Here’s a quote from a piece in a European website:
Individuals have little choice for a healthy lifestyle if the environment in which the individual lives does not offer the choice.
See for yourself - click here.
Most Americans probably wouldn’t agree with this statement. We tend to believe that each person chooses his or her path in life, and should be willing to deal with the consequences. That doesn’t mean the healthy choice is always the easier one: we’ve seen lots of evidence that the environment we’re in puts some pretty bad choices in our faces all the time (those pesky huge food portions, for example).
So what do you think? Does the social environment make a healthy lifestyle too difficult for most people?
June 14th, 2006
According to an article (click here) in USA Today, seniors 65+ as a whole experienced decreasing numbers of disabilities since the 1980’s. Now, as a result of obesity, this good trend may be on the verge of reversing.
Author Nanci Hellmich uses case studies to show how obesity can lead to loss of independence and disability. As one of her interviewees put it, if she could do it over, “I would have lost weight a long time ago.”
June 7th, 2006
Seen any great big portions at restaurants lately? Sure. This obvious trend is confirmed by a report commissioned by the Food and Drug Administration, according to an article (click here) in MSN.com.
The article puts a little meat on these bones. The average person gets 1/3 of his or her calories from meals outside the home, and the most popular meal choices are hamburgers, french fries, and pizzas. The report sees an opportunity for restaurants to help in the war against weight gain with more healthy meals, more fruits and vegetables, and calorie information.
The problem with the calorie information is that most restaurants don’t give it. Their spokesmen claim it would cost thousands of dollars to analyze their meals and print this info. Usually, you need to know enough to do it yourself. Know of any restaurants that provide this helpful information?
June 2nd, 2006
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