Community Forum - June 2002

July 4th, 2002, 11:20

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Join Date: 2001

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June 2002

Saturday, June 22, 2002

FOLIC ACID
This review article on folic acid and it's relationship with aging, depression, and dementia is a thorough summary of current knowledge in the field. [ article ] posted at 1:52 PM

Thursday, June 20, 2002

Young Adults at Risk for Vitamin D Deficiency
This study of 165 adults screened in March and April found that 30% were deficient in vitamin D. Even after summer, 11% of the 142 examined at that time were vitamin D deficient. The deficiency was especially severe in the young adult group (18 - 29 years old) were there was a deficiency rate of 36% at the end of winter. Comment: you can get vitamin D from sunlight, but not if you have a powerful sunscreen lotion on first. An interesting finding was that drinking 2 glasses of milk per day was not associated with higher vitamin D levels. A balanced multivitamin (I take a single Shaklee Vita-Lea a day), more fish in the diet, plus 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight exposure prior to putting on sunscreen is recommended according to the article. [ article ] posted at 1:42 PM

Tabletop Mexican Sauces Frequently Contaminated
These researchers looked at the amount of contamination in Mexican tabletop sauses in restaurants in Houston and Guadalajara. Of the 71 sauces examined from Guadalajara, 47 were contaminated (66%) and of the 25 examined in Houston, 10 were contaminated (40%). The contamination looked for was E. Coli bacteria, a common cause of multiple infections, including diarrhea. [ article ] posted at 1:30 PM

Wednesday, June 19, 2002

Americans Getting Fatter at Younger Ages
It is already known that overall, 61% of US adults are obese (as defined by a body mass index of at least 30). A new study has found that the obesity is occuring earlier in life-- that 27% of US adults become obese by their mid-30s. This is approximately twice the obesity rate in the 1960s. Women and ethnic minorities are the most likely groups to be obese. [ article ] posted at 9:27 AM

Sunday, June 16, 2002

Body Mass Index Calculator
The body mass index calculator from the National Institutes of Health. Comment: the body mass indicator (BMI) can be a useful tool to help measure your risk of significant health diseases, although it can be invalid in certain groups, such as weightlifters. [ article ] posted at 1:07 PM

TV Dining Linked to Childhood Obesity
A recent study recommends that children not eat their meals in front of the television. Excessive TV watching has been linked with childhood obesity. [ article ] posted at 12:48 PM

Saturday, June 15, 2002

The Lean Plate Club
Tips on how to eat healthy foods when you're on a budget, from the Washington Post. [ article ] posted at 7:35 PM

More Snacking - Less Family Meal Time
A third of all people in the UK are choosing to eat alone rather than with their families. Many people are snacking on high fat & high sugar meals because they have never learned basic cooking skills. [ article ] posted at 7:22 PM

Safety of Ephedra Questioned
Federal officials are ordering a safety review of the herbal stimulant ephedra, an over-the-counter medication used for alertness and weight-loss. Physician experts want the medication banned, stating that there is a clear link with heart attacks and stroke. Comment: the medication also does not work very well at achieving a permanent weight-loss. Stimulant medications are not the answer to obesity. [ article ] posted at 4:36 PM

Friday, June 14, 2002

Obesity in Canada Tripled Last 20 Years
The Canadian Institute for Health Information has released a report stating that childhood obesity rates have risen from 5% in 1981 to 15% in 1996. Comment: this obesity rate in Canadian children is nearly identical to the childhood obesity rate in the US, which is approximately 13% [ article ] posted at 2:25 PM

Lawyers Begining to Target Fast Food Industry
John Banzhaf, the first lawyer to sue the tobacco industry predicts that similar lawsuits will eventually be filed against the fast food industry. Obesity is estimated to cause 300 000 premature deaths annually in the US, as compared to the 400 000 annual premature deaths due to tobacco. About 2 out of 3 adults in the US are obese, with 1 out of 6 adolescents obese. [ article ] posted at 2:21 PM

Thursday, June 13, 2002

Diet High in Fiber Healthy for Young Girls
This study found that a diet high in fiber delayed the onset of menstruation in young girls. This delay in the onset of menstruation has been shown in other research to lessen the risk of breast cancer. Comment: another good reason to consume a diet high in vegetables, a primary source of dietary fiber. [ article ] posted at 9:31 PM

Fast-Food Restaurants Invade Hospitals
Over a third of the nation's leading hospitals have fast food restaurants on site according to a recent survey. Of the 16 hospitals surveyed, 6 had contracted with a fast-food franchise. Comment: this is sort of like the dentist giving kids some candy after their dental appointment. Clearly, the onslaught of fast-food restaurants has contributed to obesity worldwide. Hospitals should remain committed to good health-- and not promote high fat foods full of empty calories. [ article ] posted at 9:27 PM