Health Food Talk

New Study Says Use Cash to Avoid Purchasing Junk Food

When going to the grocery shop, leave the credit card at home.

We all know that junk food is bad for us. It causes weight gain, clogs arteries, and is usually empty calories. And if you reading this blog, you're probably interested in eating a more healthy diet. But junk food can be difficult for many to resist -- for some people junk food, like potato chips and cookies, may be practically impossible to resist.
Read more about New Study Says Use Cash to Avoid Purchasing Junk Food

Organic Milk Shortage Threatens Cookies Everywhere

The long-range implications are probably good news, actually!

In a weird way, the news of a nationwide organic milk shortage actually warms my heart. It means that there is such a strong market for organic milk that not only is it possible to create a shortage, but that shortage even makes the national news! Considering how hard it has been to convince the average American of the benefits of organic food and agriculture, this milk shortage is kind of a win, if you think about it.

In a nutshell, demand has outstripped the national supply of organic milk, and things are looking a little rough in 2012 for organic milk fans. Part of the problem is the length of time it takes to be certified organic. It takes a lot of time, money, and paperwork to be certified organic.

Health Foods on the Cheap

There still are a few healthy foods that you can get for under a buck.

You may have noticed that the price of food at your grocery store has been creeping up and up. Not only has the price per item been increasing, but in some cases the package size has been decreasing. With being hit on both sides, you may be thinking it's harder to eat healthy with the shrinking dollar. Well, think again. There still are a few foods that you can get for under a buck.

1) Spinach. Spinach is chock-full of vitamins, and even more dense in antioxidants. Look for fresh spinach in the keep fresh bags when grocery stores run have a $1 a bag special. Since manufacturers now flash freeze vegetables to preserve their nutrients, frozen spinach can be just as healthy as fresh. And frozen spinach is often less expensive than fresh.
Read more about Health Foods on the Cheap

Foods You Should Eat in 2012

Make at Least One a Part of Your Resolution, it's Still Early

Since 2012 has just begun, why not make a resolution to start incorporating the 5 healthiest foods into your diet?

Black rice

Black rice is now being considered one of the new superfoods. It contains very high levels of health-boosting antioxidants, which are also found in blueberries called anthocyanins. To compare the two, if you took a spoonful of black rice bran and a spoonful of blueberries, the bran would have more antioxidants. Antioxidants are important for neutralizing any free radicals in the body that can cause damage to the cells and also cause chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Dear Amazon: Special K is Not Health Food

Online superstore pitches unhealthy diet products for the new year

I have an Amazon student account not because I need good rates on textbooks anymore, but because sometimes it's nice to get free two-day shipping on that Doctor Who DVD I can't seem to find at my local record store. In theory, Amazon is one of those companies I really should hate, but can't help using; they've probably killed many a good local business in their wake, but they're also a great tool for getting almost anything cheaply delivered to your house. They're like one of those swords with two sides and both are sharp.

Because I'm an active customer, Amazon likes to email me. A lot. I guess they figure I appreciate the topical updates on their latest reduced prices. I do enjoy when they tell me when they're selling very inexpensive mp3 albums that I've been meaning to pick up anyway, but sometimes their product guides leave me a little baffled. For example, they just sent me a cheery little new year's note reminding me that I probably made a resolution to be less of a disgusting, unhealthy American this year. And they have just the products to help me realize my goal.

While I can't really argue too much with the "healthier habits" list they've put together--a book on the paleo diet? Right on! P90X kit? Sure, probably should!--their "healthier diet" section seems misguided to the point of dangerous misinformation. You'd think that someone preparing to eat healthier in the new year would want to stock up on fruits, veggies, and other fresh plant matter. Trouble is, Amazon doesn't sell that stuff. They can't actually profit off of people eating things that are actually better for them, so they're trying to swindle us by faking it. Their "diet store" new year's special includes a 20% discount off of all things Special K--that Kellogg's line of products that advocates a weight loss strategy of consuming daily amounts of sugar and other empty calories.

Iceberg Lettuce Recall

In more than seven states, iceberg lettuce is being pulled from the grocery store shelves amid concerns over a possible salmonella contamination.

The latest food recall is iceberg lettuce. In more than seven states, iceberg lettuce is being pulled from the grocery store shelves amid concerns over a possible salmonella contamination. States that have pulled the affected lettuce include North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, and Montana. Both Kroger and Smith's grocery stores are the establishments that are pulling the iceberg lettuce.

Both Kroger and Smith have posted the recall information on their websites (See source below for link).

Representatives are reporting that the salmonella bacteria was found in an adjacent field to where the affected lettuce was grown. Growers Express grew the lettuces and notified retailers of a possible contamination.

The good news is that there has been no evidence of contamination found on the lettuce tested.
Read more about Iceberg Lettuce Recall

Instead of Turning to Healthier Diets, Some Decide to Avoid Eating in General

How Eating Disorders can Carry into Middle-age

It is often thought that eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are things that occur at a younger age, however, these demons still come out to play later in life, lingering into adulthood.

There are increasing amounts of middle-aged and older people who are coming forward to receive treatment for eating disorders that began in their youth and have been reignited by adult stresses and personal crises.

A lot of the individuals who are coming forward now previously had eating disorders that weren’t fully treated in their youth. This is leading to something happening later in life that stresses them to the point where the eating disorder then becomes reengaged.

Ever Think of Health in the Form of Insurance?

New Law in Debate

According to an article in the New York Times, the Obama administration recently stated that in the new health care law, that they would not define a single uniform set of “essential health benefits” that must be provided by insurers for millions of Americans. Each state will instead be able to specify benefits within broad categories.

This means that there can be significant variations in benefits from state to state, which is the case currently with a lot of Medicaid programs and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

New Weight Loss Drug

Having Trouble Getting Through the FDA

Researchers have recently reported that an experimental diet drug has the ability to help some obese people shed pounds and keep them off for two years. The drug will be called Qnexa if it reaches the market and is a combination of the appetite suppressant phentermine and the anti-seizure drug topiramate.

This drug however, has seen some road blocks in approval though. Last year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected Qnexa, citing that there are some safety concerns, mainly elevated heart rate in some users and the potential for birth defects if pregnant women were to use the drug. However, last month, the FDA accepted a new application from Qnexa maker, Vivus Inc., which is seeking approval now for the drug to be marketed with a warning that women shouldn’t use it in the childbearing age. Read more about New Weight Loss Drug

Why Coconut Water?

It's this year's pomegranate juice

The rise of coconut water is somewhat puzzling to me. I tried it once, didn't like it, moved on. But it seems that every day it's a bigger thing than it was before. Coconut water is this year's pomegranate juice. And I had to wonder, "Why?"

For most people, it seems that coconut water is an alternative to Gatorade. I never drink Gatorade, so this was somewhat puzzling to me. When I get thirsty, I drink water. It works pretty well. I know a lot of people feel that they need to "hydrate properly after a workout." But rest assured that water will properly hydrate you.

Read more about Why Coconut Water?