Nutrition & Wellness – Biology 50

Understanding the Differences Between Science and Humanities Papers

In order to help students better understand the differences between writing a paper for an English or humanities class and writing a paper for a science course, I have finished up a series of articles in the Academic Writing section on Suite 101.

The series takes a look at the differences between science and humanities papers read “Science and Humanities Papers the Differences.”

It also offers students help on writing scientific papers in “How to Write a Scientific Research Paper” as well as explaining the different required sections in “Identifying Parts of a Scientific Research Paper.” Finally the different types of styles used in formatting science and humanities papers are reviewed in  MLA, APA or URM? Different Research Paper Styles. All of the articles are listed in the right sidebar of the blog under “Science vs. English Papers.”

Add comment October 25th, 2009

For More Potassium and Less Sodium – Eat more Fruits and Veggies

A new study published in January’s Issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine is demonstrating that the ratio of sodium to potassium may be more important than the amount of sodium or potassium alone.

Senior author Dr. Paul Whelton from Loyloa University Health System was quoted as saying:

There isn’t as much focus on potassium, but potassium seems to be effective in lowering blood pressure and the combination of a higher intake of potassium and lower consumption of sodium seems to be more effective than either on its own in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Potassium Rich Foods

In general, the more processed a food is, the more sodium and less potassium a food has. The diagram from the textbook Understanding Nutrition shows the differences in how much sodium vs. potassium are in food that has been processed or food that has not been processed.

One way of getting plenty of potassium is to be sure to eat a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables. Some examples of Potassium Rich foods:

One Banana – 400 mg Potassium

One Potato – 900 mg Potassium

One cup Spinach – 950 mg Potassium

1/2 cup Raisins – 600 mg Potassium

8 ounces (one cup) Orange Juice – 500 mg Potassium

Sources

Sohn E. February 23, 2009. Potassium to sodium ratio affects the heart: Consuming twice as much potassium as sodium might halve your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Los Angeles Times.

DocGuide. January 26, 2009. Low-Sodium, High Potassium is Effective in Lowering Blood Pressure. Loyola University Health System.

Cook NR, Obarzanek E, et. al. 2009. Joint Effects of Sodium Potassium Intake on Subsequent Cardiovascular Disease:The Trials of Hypertension Prevention Follow-up Study. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(1):32-40.

Add comment February 24th, 2009

World AIDS Day – Keep the Promise. Stop AIDS

World AIDS Day is 20

December 1, 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of celebrating World AIDS Day, a day set aside to recognize the disease that has killed over 25 million since it was identified in 1981.

The focus on this 20th anniversary is how the response to AIDS has greatly changed, some for the positive, but an anniversary provides an opportunity to highlight how much more still needs to be done.

Take the Test. Take Control.

A unique campaign has been developed using text messaging to promote HIV testing.

Mobile phone users can send a text message with their zip code to “KNOWIT” (566948). Within seconds, they will receive a text message identifying an HIV testing site near them.

This mobile phone service connects users with CDC’s testing database found at www.HIVtest.org.

Find out more about World AIDS Day at 20, 1988 – 2000.

Add comment December 1st, 2008

Television Ads are Contributing to Childhood Obesity

A study published in the The Journal of Law and Economics by researchers at the City University of New York is showing what many parents and teachers already knew to be true, that television ads are contributing to childhood obesity.

In a research study supported by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases researchers Chou, Rashad and Grossman estimated that the effects of television fast-food restaurant advertising on children and adolescents are playing a role with children being overweight.

These researches predict that a ban on fast-food restaurant advertising would reduce the number of overweight children ages 3–11 in a fixed population by 18 percent and would reduce the number of overweight adolescents ages 12–18 by 14 percent.

In addition, eliminating the tax deductibility of junk food advertising would produce more declines of between 5 and 7 percent in these outcomes.

With estimates that children see over 30,000 television commercials a year and a third of them are for junk food, it is likely that eliminating junk food ads would go a long way in helping manage the advertising world’s contribution to promoting childhood obesity.

These findings go along with earlier ones conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation which found that “The vast majority of the foods that kids see advertised on television today are for products that nutritionists would tell us they need to be eating less of, not more of, if we’re going to get a handle on childhood obesity.”

Sources:

Image Source: Game boy. Royalty Free Use.

Add comment November 22nd, 2008

Fast Food = Lots of Corn Isotopes in that Hamburger

A news item update from a colleague on a new article published in the PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Science) looking at the prevalence of corn isotopes in fast foods.

This new study researchers from the University of Hawaii sampled food from McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s chains and then used stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis to trace the input materials from these large fast food chains.

From these findings they were able to infer the source of feed to meat animals, the source of fat within fries, and the extent of fertilization and confinement inherent to production.

What they discovered was the overwhelming majority of American fast food is based on a single source – corn. This study highlights the overwhelming importance of corn agriculture within virtually every aspect of fast food manufacturing. The presence of corn in so much of the food has some pretty striking implications.

The Implications

Science Blogger Ed Yong offers these insights in his blog post from November 11, Corn is everywhere in American fast food:

…the fact that so much of said food can be traced back to corn has environmental implications. Corn feed is relatively cheap and provides farmers with a way of maximising the calories that their animals are eating for minimum cost.

But corn agriculture in the US is encouraged by heavy government subsidies, but has been criticised for being environmentally unsustainable. It encourages heavy use of both fertiliser (as revealed by the nitrogen isotope analysis) and pesticides.

Science blogger Revere, points out in the blog post on November 12, Fast food = corn, corn and more corn:

if we eat just one hamburger, one chicken sandwich and one small order of fries we will be getting 50% of our recommended calories for the day, 80% of our carbs and 75% of our protein (90% for women). We would also be getting a full day’s worth of saturated fat. And all for just about $3.

This is a pretty remarkable nutritional bargain, but of course there are hidden costs (beyond the heart attack on a plate aspect). Corn as a feedstock is not only wasteful but highly subsidized. Our cheap meal is being paid for in other ways (taxes).

Bottom Line

While fast food may be tempting, because it is cheap and inexpensive, you may ultimately be paying for it in several ways, not only through poor nutrition, high calories and high fat intake, but also by supporting corn as a wasteful, subsidized and environmentally unsustainable food source.

Sources:

A. H. Jahren, R. A. Kraft (2008). Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in fast food: Signatures of corn and confinement Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0809870105 http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2008/11/10/0809870105

Yong E. November 11, 2008. Corn is everywhere in American fast food. Not Exactly Rocket Science.

Revere. Nobember 12, 2008. Fast food = corn, corn and more corn. Effect Measure.

Image Sources: Robert Owen-Wahl. Hamburger. Royalty Free Use. Maja. Corn. Royalty Free Use.

Add comment November 14th, 2008

Terms to use with Children – Overweight or Obese

There has been some debate going on in regards to the terms that should be used to indicate a child’s weight status.

For adults the categories are Underweight, Overweight and Obese, but these terms have been avoided in children.

Some doctors have avoided the blunt terms in particular “obese.” Instead, they refer to children many would consider too fat as being “at risk for overweight,” and “overweight” for those others would consider obese. These fuzzier labels let pediatricians “off the hook” when counseling patients who  need to lose weight.

Dr. Reginald Washington, a committee spokesman and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics stated that the reason for not using the actual terms has been of “fear that we’re going to stigmatize children, we’re going to take away their self-esteem, we’re going to label them.”

Recommendations

A committee of medical experts American Medical Association and funded by federal health officials including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that the terms overweight or obese be applied to children.

The recommended terms are more accurate, but don’t mean that doctors need to be insensitive about using the terms.

The recommendations were endorsed by most of the organizations on the committee, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Dietetic Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the American College of Preventive Medicine.

The CDC will consider whether to adopt the recommendations.

Reason for Concern – More Obese and Overweight Children

About 17% of U.S. children are obese and one-third are overweight, using the committee’s recommended definitions. Those numbers are rising, putting children at risk for diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol problems and other ailments more commonly found in adults.

Source:

Associated Press. June 12, 2007. Expert panel says to call kids ‘obese.’ USA Today.

Add comment November 10th, 2008

What Cereals Can I Feed my Child? Healthy WIC Approved Cereals

This week’s release of the report by Consumer Reports may have parents wondering what cereals they should be feeding their child/children.  One way is to see what cereals are recommended by the WIC program.

WIC is a federally-funded health and nutrition program for women, infants, and children.  WIC helps families by providing checks for buying healthy supplemental foods from WIC-authorized vendors, nutrition education, and help finding healthcare and other community services.

What makes a cereal a WIC Approved Cereal?

WIC-approved cereals are ones that are low in sugar and have a lot of nutrients, vitamins and minerals in them. Two of the vitamins included in many of the cereals:

• Iron
• Folic Acid

List of WIC Approved Cereals in California for Children

All of these cereal are low in sugar and high in nutrients like iron and folic acid. Any cereal specified on the food instrument Box or bags – 12 oz. package or larger except for brand Instant Oatmeal which may be an 11.8 or 12 oz. box General Mills

• Cheerios (plain)
• Kix (plain)

Kellogg’s

• Corn Flakes (plain)
• Frosted or Unfrosted Mini- Wheats (Big Bite or Bite Size)

B&G Foods

• Cream of Wheat (1 minute, 2-1/2 Minute, 10 minute)

Post

• Honey Bunches of Oats (Honey Roast)

Quaker

• Life (plain)
• Crunchy Corn Bran Store Brands (See list of authorized labels)
• Crisp(y) Rice
• Instant Oatmeal (Regular unflavored, in 11.8 oz or 12 oz. box of individual serving packets)

Cereals that Can not be Bought on WIC Programs

• Brands or labels not specifically listed on WIC Authorized Food List and California Shopping Guide WIC Authorized Foods
• Individual serving packets, except for store brand Instant Oatmeal – Packages smaller than 12 oz., except for store brand Instant Oatmeal
• Honey (except for Honey Bunches of Oats, Honey Roast), frosted, cinnamon, or fruit flavored
• Cereals with chocolate, fruit, nuts, marshmallows, or yogurt clusters/pieces

California WIC Sources

PDF File of California WIC Authorized Food List.

California WIC Program Website.

Additional Sources:

Minnesota Department of Health. WIC-Allowed Cereal.

Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Maine WIC Program Approved Foods List.

Image Source: Annette Gulick. Cheerios. Royalty Free Use.

Add comment October 4th, 2008

Watch Out for High Sugar and Poor Nutrient Content in Many Children’s Cereals

Results from a study released this week by Consumer Reports found that only four of the 27 cereals tested rank as “very good.” Those that were judged to be “very good” are Cheerios, Kix, Life and Honey Nut Cheerios.

The majority of the cereals (23 of the top 27 cereals marketed to children) reviewed were classified as “good” or “fair.”

Rice Krispies only ended up with a “fair” rating. Although low in sugar it is also low in fiber. Cocoa Puffs and Frosted Flakes ended up in the “good” category because they had some fiber (1 gm) and were a good source of iron. Fruit Loops ended up with a “fair” rating, with a low fiber amount and 12 grams of sugar.

Two childrens’ cereals Honey Smacks (15 gms) and Golden Crisp (14 gms) classified as “fair” are more than 50 percent sugar by weight; this is as much sugar per serving as a glazed donut from Dunkin’ Donuts. This amount of sugar is less than the amount of sugar in a serving of yogurt.

The Classifications

• Very Good – Relatively low in sugars, with some fiber; high in iron and a good source of calcium.
• Good – Room for improvement in sugars and/or figer; high in or a good source of iron.
• Fair – Eat only occasionally; most have a lot of sugar and too little figer; most are high in or a good source of iron, but not calcium.

The Good Cereals
Cheerios topped the list with only 1 gram of sugar and 3 grams of fiber per serving.

• Cheerios
• Kix
• Honey Nut Cheerios
• Life (Quaker Oats)

These four cereals earned points for relatively lower sugar and higher dietary fiber, the two categories weighed as most important.

Cereal Not Just for Children Anymore

While sugary cereals are heavily marketed to children ($229 million advertising dollars per year) an estimated 58 percent of children’s cereals are consumed by those over 18 a strong indication that childrens cereals are not just for children anymore.

Watch Serving Sizes

Another issue when eating cereals is to watch the serving size. Most children and many adults serve themselves 50 to 65 percent more than the serving size on the package or have a second serving which ultimately increases the number of calories eaten.

One student several years ago in my nutrition course admitted to eating a very large bowl of cereal, one that would hold three to four servings.

Paid subscribers can view the entire list of cereals reviewed at the Consumer Reports Website or for free at My Fox Twin Cities.

Sources:

MyFox 9. October 1, 2008. Report Rates Cereal Nutrition, with Surprising Results Is your kid getting too much sugar, enough fiber? My Fox Twin Cities.

Rob Stein. October 1, 2008. Kids’ Cereals Rated. The Washington Post.

Image Source: Carolyn Coles. Fruit Loops Donut. Some rights Reserved.

Add comment October 2nd, 2008

“May Contain Traces of Nuts” – FDA to Redefine Ambiguous Labeling

he Food and Drug Administration is finally looking at ways to force food makers to use a standard label system for allergens. They have agreed to host a public hearing in order to decide what the best course of action would be.

At issue is the statement “May Contain Traces of Nuts.” Many believe this statement is too ambiguous to prevent deadly reactions. Instead labels should list what they certainly contain. Clearer labels would be helpful for the 12 million Americans living with food allergies.

Under the current system food companies are required by the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA) to place labels on packaged foods containing most common food allergens, such as milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts and soybeans, or any other ingredient that contains protein derived from one of these foods or food groups.

One popular choice would be for the FDA to have a standard number of descriptions that are clear and concise and require manufacturers to cite statistics to correctly define what “trace amount” means like “one part per million.”

According to The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network there are more than 12 million Americans currently living with food allergies. In addition there are around 30,000 emergency room visits every year triggered by allergic reactions.

Joseph Brownstein et. al. September 16, 2008. FDA to Take a Close Look at Food Labels: Critics Say ‘May Contain’ Labels Don’t Do Enough to Protect People With Allergies. ABCNews.com

May contain nuts. September 16, 2008. JusticeNewsFlash.com

Alice Turner September 16, 2008 FDA Pushes Food Industry to Clarify Allergen Labels. eFluxMedia.

1 comment September 16th, 2008

Safe Seafoods to Eat on the West Coast

Seafood Watch from the Monterey Bay Aquarium

Still looking to answer the question about what are safe seafoods to eat, the pocket guide from the Monterey Bay Aquarium will help you figure out the right seafood options for your region. Carry one with you to help you choose ocean-friendly seafood wherever you live or travel.

Choose the guide for your region. The different guides include the National Guide, West Coast Guide, Southwest Guide, Hawaii Guide, Central U.S. Guide, Southeast Guide and Northeast Guide.

Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program has been recognized for its influential role in transforming seafood buying habits across the United States.

The information below comes from the West Coast Guide. For concerns about Mercury levels in fish, look for those fish with * next to the name.

Best Choices are abundant, well-managed and caught or farmed in environmentally friendly ways.

Good Alternatives are an option, but there are concerns with how they’re caught or farmed—or with the health of their habitat due to other human impacts.

Avoid for now as these items are caught or farmed in ways that harm other marine life or the environment.

Key
BC = British Columbia CA = California OR = Oregon WA = Washington

* Limit consumption due to concerns about mercury or other contaminants. Visit www.edf.org/seafood

+ Some or all of this fishery is certified as sustainable to the Marine Stewardship Council standard. Visit www.msc.org

The Seafood Watch Information can also be downloaded to a cell phone. Use your phone to log on to mobile.seafoodwatch.org

Source of Information: Sea Watch, Monterey Bay Aquarium, West Coast Guide.

Add comment September 14th, 2008