CC News Wrap: Food, Fitness, and Health
There have been interesting findings, news, and great tidbits of info as of late. Here is the latest health news important to calorie counters.
Stop Sitting
A new study led by University of Sydney researchers found too much sitting could take years off of your life. The study’s lead author, Dr. Hidde van der Ploeg had this to say about the results published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, “That morning walk or trip to the gym is still necessary, but it's also important to avoid prolonged sitting. Our results suggest the time people spend sitting at home, at work and in traffic should be reduced by standing or walking more.” The results highlight the importance of incorporating more physical activity throughout the day in addition to exercising regularly. A separate study points to brisk walking for cutting the genetic effect of obesity in half.
The Good and Bad: US Population’s Vitamin and Mineral Levels Exposed
The CDC’s Second National Report was recently released. CDC scientists measured these levels in the blood and urine of people who took part in CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during all or part of the four-year period from 2003 through 2006. The document reveals about 10% of Americans had nutrition deficiencies of Vitamin B6, Iron, and Vitamin D, while deficiencies were less than one percent for folate and vitamins A and E. Dr. Pfieffer, a research chemist with the Division of Laboratory Sciences at CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health had this to say about an alarming finding in the report, “The highest deficiencies we found were for vitamin D.” In addition to its role of preventing bone diseases, A separate CDC report points increased vitamin D intake may reduce the risk of various cancers, diabetes, and heart disease. Almost one-third of Blacks and 12% of Hispanics that took part in the study were found to have low levels of the vitamin as compared to just 3% of whites. Pfieffer explained the finding as “interesting” given that blacks have “better bone health and less fractures.”
Bugs in Your Cup: Cochineal Dye Exposed
A Starbucks employee exposed a new ingredient in the strawberry flavoring: cochineal extract. Her revelation prompted this response, “Cochineal extract is a commonly used ingredient and is a natural, FDA-approved colorant found in a wide variety of food and beverage products in the U.S.” Cochineal extract, also known as carmine, crimson lake, or Natural Red 4, is a pigment that comes from tiny white insects that turn red when crushed. The insects’ bodies are collected off cactus, dried and then ground into a powder. At Starbucks, other than the Strawberry Frappucino, the birthday cake pop, mini donut with pink icing, and red velvet whoppee pie has the coloring. While Starbucks is reconsidering its use, some regular products that use cochineal extract include candies, beauty products, juice drinks, baked goods, ice cream, fruit filling, puddings, and yogurt.
Fast Food Making You Sad?
A sample of almost 9,000 respondents were observed over six years. Those who ate junk food were 51 percent more likely to develop depression. The rate was directly related to fast food intake, that is the more fast food you eat, the more your susceptibility to depression. Their findings were published in the March issue of Public Health Nutrition. Fast food eaters were also more likely to smoke and work more than 45 hours a week. In other news, consumer research group BIGInsight reports McDonald's patrons are the unhappiest with their health at 24%. The other restaurant customers frequented Wendy’s, Subway, Burger King, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, Arby’s, and KFC. Add this to a separate report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that found that sugar-sweetened soft drinks and fast-food intake predicted weight gain independent of caloric intake, physical activity, and television viewing and the result of eating large amounts of fast food looks even sadder.
Your thoughts...
What health headlines caught your eye in the last couple months?
Comments
this is all really old news! Even the bugs in the starbucks. We have known that cochineal is part of what makes red food red and that it's crushed up bugs for YEARS.
Carmine has been in use for ages. Considering that that FD&C coloring that is in most foods is a purely chemical product (made from petroleum, if I'm remembering correctly) and can cause allergic reactions (Specially Red 40) I'd rather have the bug powder. Not sure why it's big news that food has artificial coloring in it anyway. Products like that have been dyed for years. It's just another form of advertising to make foods look better so that people will buy it.
Original Post by: frannyanCarmine has been in use for ages. Considering that that FD&C coloring that is in most foods is a purely chemical product (made from petroleum, if I'm remembering correctly) and can cause allergic reactions (Specially Red 40) I'd rather have the bug powder. Not sure why it's big news that food has artificial coloring in it anyway. Products like that have been dyed for years. It's just another form of advertising to make foods look better so that people will buy it.
I'm hearing from reading this "so what's the problem?" I'd rather have neither? Let's get all this !^%$ out of our, so called" foods". The fact they've been using them for years is no platform for "stop your complaining". I think the problem is the definition of "Food". It's not "Cheese Food Products" or other " ______ Food", it seems items which are really "Food" shouldn't need to be labled so unless it's not actually REAL cheese. It's called "Cheese Food" because... there's no actual cheese in it!! It just feels and tastes like Cheese... hence... "Cheese Food". I use cheese as one obvious example but their are many more.
This is our wonderful Gov't/FDA protecting us. "Truth in Labeling" should be called "some truth" within the labeling if you watch closely. Such as "Made with Whole Grain" meaning it only has a small amount (required by FDA) of "whole grains"... if you where expecting whole grains you need to look for "100% Whole Grains". It's a game played by "Food" manufacturers (not to be confused with growers) to gain your confidence you are doing something right. I used to believe that most people (cmon now) REALLY know what "good" "real" food is but I'm better understanding now why they are confused. Some truth in ingredients list if you're a chemist but even that uses deceptive language. I guess it's always going to be buyer REALLY beware... or become a raw foodist .. but wait... lookout for the small print of where it was grown and using what pesicides? For our protection of course. Damn.
Original Post by: tierney7Original Post by: frannyanCarmine has been in use for ages. Considering that that FD&C coloring that is in most foods is a purely chemical product (made from petroleum, if I'm remembering correctly) and can cause allergic reactions (Specially Red 40) I'd rather have the bug powder. Not sure why it's big news that food has artificial coloring in it anyway. Products like that have been dyed for years. It's just another form of advertising to make foods look better so that people will buy it.
I'm hearing from reading this "so what's the problem?" I'd rather have neither? Let's get all this !^%$ out of our, so called" foods". The fact they've been using them for years is no platform for "stop your complaining". I think the problem is the definition of "Food". It's not "Cheese Food Products" or other " ______ Food", it seems items which are really "Food" shouldn't need to be labled so unless it's not actually REAL cheese. It's called "Cheese Food" because... there's no actual cheese in it!! It just feels and tastes like Cheese... hence... "Cheese Food". I use cheese as one obvious example but their are many more.
This is our wonderful Gov't/FDA protecting us. "Truth in Labeling" should be called "some truth" within the labeling if you watch closely. Such as "Made with Whole Grain" meaning it only has a small amount (required by FDA) of "whole grains"... if you where expecting whole grains you need to look for "100% Whole Grains". It's a game played by "Food" manufacturers (not to be confused with growers) to gain your confidence you are doing something right. I used to believe that most people (cmon now) REALLY know what "good" "real" food is but I'm better understanding now why they are confused. Some truth in ingredients list if you're a chemist but even that uses deceptive language. I guess it's always going to be buyer REALLY beware... or become a raw foodist .. but wait... lookout for the small print of where it was grown and using what pesicides? For our protection of course. Damn.
I agree 100%...
Lets get back to real food and another thing... OK so we have
heard some of the information before, but not everyone has and some of us might need reminders!
Many of the nutritional recommendations that I learned growing
up have since been proven dead wrong, so I appriciate the information!
I find the reporting incredulous when there are simple errors in the reporting. Sorry, but it makes my mind wonder what else is misleading. Above in the article it reads.."National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during all or part of the four-year period from 2003 through 2006.""
I am sorry but 2006 - 2003 does not equal 4 it equal 3. So if they are so far off on basic math, what else is off?
Standing while in traffic, hmmm - only on a bus or while doing Chinese fire drills.
Please let us have more credible articles.
Original Post by: cecepredmondI find the reporting incredulous when there are simple errors in the reporting. Sorry, but it makes my mind wonder what else is misleading. Above in the article it reads.."National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during all or part of the four-year period from 2003 through 2006.""
I am sorry but 2006 - 2003 does not equal 4 it equal 3. So if they are so far off on basic math, what else is off?
Standing while in traffic, hmmm - only on a bus or while doing Chinese fire drills.
Please let us have more credible articles.
I understand it to be:
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 = 4 years (all or part of this perio THROUGH 2006)
Original Post by: cecepredmondI find the reporting incredulous when there are simple errors in the reporting. Sorry, but it makes my mind wonder what else is misleading. Above in the article it reads.."National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) during all or part of the four-year period from 2003 through 2006.""
I am sorry but 2006 - 2003 does not equal 4 it equal 3. So if they are so far off on basic math, what else is off?
Standing while in traffic, hmmm - only on a bus or while doing Chinese fire drills.
Please let us have more credible articles.
2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 is 4 years.
The standing in traffic is just poor wording .. perhaps a language barrier.
They mean that we spend so much time sitting in the office, sitting in the car, and sitting at home .. therefor, we need to counter all this sitting with more standing and walking throughout our day (when the time and place is appropriate).
Don't know what this is in reference to but I believe January of 2003 thru
December of 2006 would be 4-years......
Jan-Dec in 2003 is 12-months
Jan-Dec in 2004 is 12-months
Jan-Dec in 2005 is 12-months
Jan-Dec in 2006 is 12 months
I believe that's 48 months..... or.... 4 years?
Funny....
Yes, I understand that the author MEANT "offset the amount of time sitting in your car by getting up off your butt and moving more". However, not everyone who reads this will come away with the same message. Also, if the information provided for us on this site is slapped together for the sake of filling space, as opposed to being presented in a clear, concise and accurate manner, I feel a little bit let down. If it's important enough to share, it's worth saying well.
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Time people spend sitting in traffic should be reduced by standing? Uhhhh, okay. I won't even address some of the other "findings" in this piece.