Dec
12
2011
DON’T EAT WHEN YOU ARE NOT HUNGRY!
We are all guilty of eating when we are not really hungry. Some call it stress, while others say they just need to have something to keep them busy. Others say they don’t know why they are eating-they just eat and eat and eat. Is it due to the TV commercial for that juicy burger or oven hot pizza? How about just sitting and watching television. Have you worn out the path to the kitchen?Whatever the reason is, it's not hunger that is stimulating this “extra” eating. And this “extra” eating piles on the calories, lots of them! In between snacks and non hunger related snacking made up of carbs and fats are responsible for a large amount of the overweight and obesity we are seeing. So how do we change this persistent habit? A new study by a group of researchers at the University of Minnesota led by Kerri Boutelle, Ph.D. and published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, demonstrates that by improving the responses to the clues of truly being hungry and decreasing the responses to non hunger related eating, children can be trained to respond better to hunger and less to other stimuli (e.g. television commercials focusing on food). Boutelle and her group were also able to train children to understand body clues better and to respond better to being satiated ...
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Oct
30
2011
STAY AWAY FROM BLACK LICORICE
As a kid, I loved licorice. The red swirly sticks were always a big hit in my group of friends. And once in a while we would eat the black licorice and even the chocolate ones. But ever since finding out that black licorice has a chemical that can cause high blood pressure, I have been advising my friends and family to stay away. Yes, the chemical is called “glycyrrhizin” and according to the FDA, if it is consumed in a large enough quantity-more than 2 ounces a day for two weeks, or more, glycyrrhizin has the potential to cause high blood pressure and irregular heartbeats. How does it do this? Well, first of all it can cause your kidneys to lose more potassium than usual and as a result, this imbalance (when the potassium is lower than it should be) may make the conditions in your heart vulnerable to set up an irregular heart rhythm. Secondly, the glycyrrhizin may cause your body to retain more salt and water-which can result in the body having a higher blood pressure and even a set up for heart failure (too much salt and water for the heart to handle). Thirdly, eating black licorice can interfere with other medicine that you may be taking including digoxin (a medicine used to control heart rhythms), laxatives and diuretics (a medicine that ...
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Oct
16
2011
This year’s Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has been labeled as the “deadliest in ten years,” according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials. As of October 11, 2011, a total of 116 people from 25 states have been infected. Twenty three people have died. Rocky Ford Cantaloupes shipped from July 29 through September 10, 2011, from Jensen Farms (www.jensenfarms.com; Colorado), to over 25 states have been recalled. Romaine lettuce from California has also been implicated. Illness from Listeria may take up to two months to show up and cause symptoms.
A recap of information from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC about Listeria:
What are the Symptoms of Listeriosis?
Listeriosis is a rare and serious illness caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria called Listeria. Persons who think they might have become ill should consult their doctor. A person with listeriosis usually has fever and muscle aches(but also may present with neck stiffness, confusion and vomiting).
Who is at Risk?
Listeriosis can be fatal, especially in certain high-risk groups. These groups include older adults, people with compromised immune systems and certain chronic medical conditions (such as cancer), and unborn babies and newborns. In pregnant women, listeriosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and serious illness or death in newborn babies, though the mother herself rarely becomes seriously ill.
What Do Consumers Need To Do?
Consumers should not eat Rocky Ford Cantaloupe shipped by Jensen ...
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Jun
27
2010
Here we go again, fresh off the SpaghettiOs recall, the Kellogg Company of Battle Creek- Michigan, (working with the FDA) voluntarily has recalled selected packages of several popular breakfast cereals due to “ an uncharacteristic off-flavor and smell coming from the liner of the package.” The products affected have the letters “KN” following the Better If Used Before Date.
Products in Canada are not affected and those products with the “KM” designation are not affected.
Here are the exact product numbers and specifications:
Kellogg's® Apple Jacks®
UPC 3800039136 1: 17 ounce package with Better if Used Before Dates between APR 10 2011 and JUN 22 2011
UPC 3800039132 3: 8.7 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between JUN 03 2011 and JUN 22 2011
Kellogg's® Corn Pops®
UPC 3800039109 5: 12.5 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011
UPC 3800039111 8: 17.2 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN 22 2011
UPC 3800039116 3: 9.2 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between APR 05 2011 and JUN 22 2011
Kellogg's® Froot Loops®
UPC 3800039118 7: 12.2 ounce packages with Better if Used Before Dates between MAR 26 2011 and JUN ...
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Jun
16
2010
Yes, it’s that time of season again, my friends-summer is upon us and I know that you must be ready for my barbecue series! The weather is getting hotter and you know what that means-it’s time to clean the barbecue grill-make sure your gas, wood or charcoal supply is adequate and safely stored and there are several other safety tips that you should be aware of (courtesy of the FDA and the USDA):
Wash your hands.
It seems basic, but not everyone does it. Wash hands well and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before cooking or eating. If you're in an outdoor setting with no bathroom, use a water jug, some soap, and paper towels. Consider carrying moist disposable towelettes for cleaning your hands.
Keep Everything Clean
Be sure there are plenty of clean utensils and platters. To prevent foodborne illness, don't use the same platter and utensils for raw and cooked meat and poultry. Harmful bacteria present in raw meat and poultry and their juices can contaminate safely cooked food.
If you're eating away from home, find out if there's a source of clean water. If not, bring water for preparation and cleaning. Or pack clean cloths, and wet towelettes for cleaning surfaces and hands.
Thaw Safely
Completely thaw meat and poultry ...
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Feb
23
2010
Okay, let’s review: what do we know so far? A. We know that obesity is an extra accumulation of fat. B. We know that the problem is coming from an imbalance-more energy in the form of calories (food) coming into the body-our children are eating more and not enough energy (calories) being burned off-not enough exercise. C. We know that a pediatrician and researcher uses the Body Mass Index (BMI) as a way to identify weight problems in children-a way to measure your child’s weight against other children of the same age and sex and tell us whether he or she is at risk; D. We know that there are lots of consequences from being obese-heart disease, arthritis, sleep apnea and psychological problems and finally, E. We know that President Obama said that 30 percent of our children are either overweight or obese .So what’s next? Are we all sure we know whether our children are obese or just overweight? And what do we do to solve this problem? Class, let’s continue our journey-now Part two:
Overweight vs. Obese: (CDC) These are terms used to classify kids and adults and based on Body Mass Index (BMI-height and weight). BMI for kids and teens takes into account growth changes, differences in body fat between boys and girls. BMI calculator for Child and Teen. So go to your pediatrician’s (or primary ...
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Feb
07
2010
Here we go again. Now the nutritional experts are taking away my salt. How dare they! Don’t touch my salt. It’s getting harder and harder to eat foods the way I want to. Someone is always watching out for me. Who asked them to? I didn’t vote for low salt. Senator John McCain’s name and Senator Barack Obama’s name were both there. Governor Palin and Senator Biden also. Local judges running for office, a state law or two, a state Supreme Court Justice wanting to stay put. No salt. In fact there was no mention of sugar, fat, transfats, or high fructose corn syrup either. But that didn’t stop “them.” You know “them.” The ones who take away all the good stuff. Yea ,I know what the medical experts say about Transfat. The cause of obesity. Could cause heart disease. That means heart attacks. Could cause peripheral vascular disease-clogging of the arteries of the legs and neck. That’s not good. There has even been mention of transfats being associated with cancers. Who needs them? Well my friends, they are almost gone! Mayor Bloomberg of New York City banned them fro the City’s restaurants and public eateries. Most companies have eliminated them or have disguised them. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has allowed minute amounts of these bad fats to still exist in our foods. Is that good? I ...
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Sep
03
2009
On June 22nd, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. In his speech, the President made note that over 400,000 Americans die of tobacco-related illnesses each year and more than 8 million Americans suffer from at least one serious illness caused by smoking. The cost to all of us from this smoking related health problem is over $100 billion a year. The President also discussed the effects of smoking on children:
What's even worse are the effects on our children. One out of every five children in our country are now current smokers by the time they leave high school. Think about that statistic: One out of every five children in our country are now current smokers by the time they leave high school. Each day, 1,000 young people under the age of 18 become new, regular, daily smokers. And almost 90 percent of all smokers began at or before their 18th birthday.
In addition, the President went on to describe a personal story about his smoking, “I know -- I was one of these teenagers, and so I know how difficult it can be to break this habit when it's been with you for a long time. And I also know that kids today don't just start smoking for no reason. They're aggressively targeted as customers by the tobacco industry. They're exposed to a constant ...
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