Food Consumer

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Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:43:31 PST

Does Teaching Kids to Hunt Make Them Violent?

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:12:25 PST

March was a bloody month for the gun lobby starting with the Alabama, Illinois church and Germany shootings and ended with the Oakland police killings this week.

A possible risk group for statin use

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:34:46 PST

In a patient study of over 1,000 individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD), researchers have found that high levels of an enzyme called PLTP significantly increased the risk of heart attack in the subset of patients taking statins. While follow-up studies will be needed to tease out the exact connection between PLTP and statins, this connection does suggest levels of PLTP in the blood should be a consideration for potential statin treatment.

'Delicious' new grape debuts

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:17:48 PST

Researchers at the University of Florida have introduced 'Delicious', a new muscadine grape cultivar. 'Delicious' ripens early, produces high yields, and is disease-resistant. The black fruit features exceptional taste and texture with an edible skin, making it well-suited for fresh fruit consumption and the potential for wine production. The name 'Delicious' was selected based on the comments of vineyard visitors who sampled the fruit

Proteins from garden pea may help fight high blood pressure, kidney disease

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:16:35 PST

Researchers in Canada are reporting that proteins found in a common garden pea show promise as a natural food additive or new dietary supplement for fighting high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Those potentially life-threatening conditions affect millions of people worldwide.

Study shows how Salmonella survives in environment

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:14:54 PST

Scientists at the University of Liverpool have demonstrated how a single-celled organism, living freely in the environment, could be a source of Salmonella transmission to animals and humans.

Alcohol 'flush' signals increased cancer risk among East Asians

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:13:54 PST

Many people of East Asian descent possess an enzyme deficiency that causes their skin to redden, or flush, when they drink alcohol. Scientists from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and Japan's Kurihama Alcohol Center now caution that heavy alcohol consumption greatly increases the risk for esophageal cancer among such individuals, who comprise about 8 percent of the world's population.

Review of probiotic trial research finds only Bifantis able to claim efficacy for IBS symptoms

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:12:26 PST

Study adds to growing evidence of B. infantis 35624 efficacy in IBS population

Liking sweets makes sense for kids

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:36:09 PST

As any parent knows, children love sweet-tasting foods. Now, new research from the University of Washington and the Monell Center indicates that this heightened liking for sweetness has a biological basis and is related to children's high growth rate.

Mice stay lean with high-carb diet

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:34:11 PST

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have identified a gene that plays a critical regulatory role in the process of converting dietary carbohydrates to fat. In a new study, they disabled this gene in mice, which consequently had lower levels of body fat than their normal counterparts, despite being fed the equivalent of an all-you-can-eat pasta buffet.

Acetaldehyde in alcohol -- no longer just the chemical that causes a hangover

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 09:31:52 PST

New evidence by researchers at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and researchers in Germany shows that drinking alcohol is the greatest risk factor for acetaldehyde-related cancer. Heavy drinkers may be at increased risk due to exposure from multiple sources.

Mushrooms Protect Against Breast Cancer

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:35:32 PST

Mushrooms may reduce the risk of breast cancer, according to a case-control study conducted in southeast China. Researchers analyzed dietary records from more than 2,000 pre- and postmenopausal women with breast cancer and a group of matched healthy controls.

Nutrigenomics -- developing personalized diets for disease prevention

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:31:08 PST

The relationships between food, nutrition science, and health outcomes have been intensively analyzed over the past century. Genomic variation among individuals and populations is a new factor that enriches and challenges our understanding of these complex relationships

Fish consumption guidelines not environmentally sustainable

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:36:44 PST

Recommendations to increase fish consumption because of health benefits may not be environmentally sustainable and more research is needed to clarify the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, write Dr. David Jenkins of St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto and coauthors in an analysis in CMAJ http://www.cmaj.ca/press/pg633.pdf.

Low vitamin D levels associated with several risk factors in teenagers

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:59:47 PST

• Low levels of vitamin D were associated with increased risk of high blood pressure, high blood sugar and metabolic syndrome in teenagers.
• The highest levels of vitamin D were found in whites, the lowest levels in blacks and intermediate levels in Mexican-Americans.

Consuming a little less salt could mean fewer deaths

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:58:22 PST

• A moderate decrease in daily salt intake could benefit the U.S. population and reduce the rates of heart disease and deaths.
• All segments of the U.S. population would be expected to benefit, with the largest health benefits experienced by African Americans who are more likely to have hypertension and whose blood pressure may be more sensitive to salt.

Study finds folic acid supplements linked to higher risk of prostate cancer

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:53:46 PST

A study led by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) found that men who took a daily folic acid supplement of 1 mg daily had more than twice the risk of prostate cancer compared with men who took a placebo.

Teenage boys who eat fish at least once a week achieve higher intelligence scores

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:52:11 PST

Fifteen-year-old males who ate fish at least once a week displayed higher cognitive skills at the age of 18 than those who it ate it less frequently, according to a study of nearly 4,000 teenagers published in the March issue of Acta Paediatrica.

Vitamin C intake associated with lower risk of gout in men

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:50:43 PST

Men with higher vitamin C intake appear less likely to develop gout, a painful type of arthritis, according to a report in the March 9 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Diabetes and elevated levels of cholesterol linked to faster cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:49:14 PST

Heart disease and stroke linked to increased cognitive decline only in Alzheimer's patients who carry the APOE-e4 gene -- previously implicated in late-onset disease

Red wine vs. white? It makes no difference when it comes to breast-cancer risk

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:47:08 PST

The largest study of its kind to evaluate the effect of red versus white wine on breast-cancer risk concludes that both are equal offenders when it comes to increasing breast-cancer risk. The results of the study, led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, were published in the March issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

A diet rich in calcium aids weight loss

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:43:11 PST

Boosting calcium consumption spurs weight loss, according to a study published in the most recent issue of the British Journal of Nutrition, but only in people whose diets are calcium deficient.

Does Your Veterinarian Really Love Animals?

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 07:44:15 PST

You wouldn't think a veterinarian would have to say, "I love animals." After all, doctors don't say, "I love people." But in 200 email messages to the Daily O’Collegian, the Oklahoma State University (OSU) student newspaper, that's just what vets and vet students are saying to defend the vet school's live dog labs.

Supreme Court Decision in Wyeth v. Levine Victory for Consumers

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:28:04 PST

"Today's victory for Diana Levine is really a victory for all American consumers," said Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron. The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, rejected the premise that drug manufacturers who fail to warn consumers of the dangers associated with their products can evade responsibility for the harm they do to Americans.

Congress to Tackle Junk Food in Schools

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:56:27 PST

Buoyed by a President and Secretary of Agriculture who have voiced their support for healthier school foods , health groups say this is the year Congress should take action .

Is one diet as good as another?

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:22:00 PST

Any diet will do? Not if you want to lose fat instead of muscle. Not if you want to lower your triglyceride levels so you'll be less likely to develop diabetes and heart disease. Not if you want to avoid cravings that tempt you to cheat on your diet. And not if you want to keep the weight off long-term.

Pure fructose frequently confused with high fructose corn syrup

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 08:07:26 PST

As researchers continue to examine the role of sweeteners in the diet, it's important that people understand the differences among various ingredients used in scientific studies, according to the Corn Refiners Association (CRA). Interchanging two distinctly different ingredients, such as pure fructose and high fructose corn syrup, creates factually incorrect conclusions and misleads consumers

Garlic helps patients with diabetes or high blood pressure

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:14:47 PST

A new study suggests that eating garlic daily may help patients with diabetes and or high blood pressure.

Healthy Recipes: Lemon Dijon Salmon

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:32:01 PST

If you’re looking for a quick, nutritious and flavorful dinner tonight, you’ve come to the right place. Requiring only a handful of ingredients and taking less than 20 minutes to prepare, this lemon Dijon salmon is the perfect alternative to quick-fix frozen dinners.

Vitamin B and folic acid may reduce AMD risk

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 09:43:50 PST

Taking supplements with vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid helps reduce risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in women, according to a study reported in the Feb 23, 2009 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

Prenatal Vitamin B12 deficiency raises risk of birth defect

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:49:44 PST

A new study suggests that women should make sure they have enough vitamin B12 in their blood before getting pregnant because vitamin B12 deficiency dramatically increases risk of a birth defect of the brain and spinal cord in their babies.

Drinking wine may help prevent esophageal cancer

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:48:41 PST

Drinking some red wine from time to time may help reduce risk of developing esophageal cancer, a new study published n the March 2009 issue of Gastroenterology suggests.

Doctors endorse vegan and vegetarian diets for healthy pregnancies

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:47:08 PST

Well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets are healthful choices for pregnant women and their children, and vitamin B12 needs can be easily met with fortified foods or any common multivitamin, say doctors and dietitians with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)

Whole Foods Market Recalls Select Peanuts, Peanut Products

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:46:00 PST

Whole Foods Market of Bellevue, Washington is recalling seven peanut and peanut containing products, plus self-serve grind Peanut Butter due to potential salmonella contamination

FDA Can’t Protect Americans from Dangerous Dietary Supplements,

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:44:47 PST

Add dietary supplements to the growing list of products the beleaguered Food and Drug Administration is failing to regulate.

Broccoli compound may help prevent respiratory inflammation

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:43:32 PST

Eating high amounts of broccoli, Brussels sprouts and cabbage daily may reduce the risk of respiratory inflammation that causes conditions like asthma, allergic rhinitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, according to a new study.

Low Serum vitamin D level means high risk of prostate cancer death

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:41:50 PST

A new study published online January 20, 2009 in the British Journal of Cancer suggests that low vitamin D levels in the blood could increase risk of death from prostate cancer.

Vegetable-based drug could suppress melanoma

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 09:57:58 PST

Compounds extracted from green vegetables when used along with selenium could be a potent treatment for melanoma, a deadly skin cancer, according to a new study published in the March 2009 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.

Some dietary supplements may raise lung cancer risk

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 09:22:41 PST

Taking certain nutrient supplements like beta-carotene and some other carotenoids-containing dietary supplements may raise the risk of lung cancer, particularly in smokers, a study published in the Feb 2009 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests.

Vitamin D deficiency linked to influenza

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:55:17 PST

In December 2006 a psychiatrist at a state mental hospital in California, along with a number of co-authors, first theorized that daily supplementation with proper daily doses of vitamin D would prevent influenza and many varieties of the common cold.

US shiitake market mushrooming

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:39:36 PST

Shiitake mushrooms are the third most popular mushroom species in the U.S. In addition to taste, shiitake have a multitude of health benefits. Low in calories, glucose and sodium, shiitake are high in potassium, phosphorus, copper, and zinc.

Analysis of fresh strawberries reveals consumer preferences

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:19:47 PST

Fresh strawberries. Just the mention of this iconic spring and early summer fruit can elicit mouthwatering memories of shortcake, fruity drinks and sweet desserts.

Antioxidants in Midwestern black raspberries influenced by production site

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:18:01 PST

Black raspberries have been studied for decades by scientists and medical researchers interested in the fruits' apparent ability to limit the onset or severity of degenerative diseases, including cancer

New findings measure precise impact of fat on cancer spread

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:42:14 PST

Researchers at Purdue University have precisely measured the impact of a high-fat diet on the spread of cancer, finding that excessive dietary fat caused a 300 percent increase in metastasizing tumor cells in laboratory animals.

Diabetes a risk factor for postpartum depression

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:47:13 PST

Postpartum depression is a serious—and often undiagnosed—condition affecting about 10 to 12 percent of new mothers. Some of the causes might include personal history of depression, stressful life events, and lack of social, financial or emotional support.

Message to Obama: Please Fix the USDA’s Organic Mess

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:00:52 PST

President Obama and new USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack are being urged to take immediate action to repair the USDA’s increasingly dysfunctional National Organic Program (NOP).

Resistant Antibiotics Found at the Beach and in Seafood

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:58:46 PST

Global warming and our "absurd over-dependence on carbon-based fuels" is interconnected with the looming economic and national security crises said former US Vice President Al Gore to an overflow audience at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) annual meeting in Chicago in February.

Organic solvents raise risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in women

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:34:11 PST

A new study in the Jan 15, 2009 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that women exposed to organic solvents on the job are at higher risk of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Infectious Agent May Impact Lung Cancer

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:04:38 PST

A previously unknown effect of an infectious agent relevant to the prevention and/or treatment of lung cancer has been discovered by a UMDNJ research team led by Melissa Rogers, Ph.D., professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School

Green, black tea can reduce stroke risk

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:01:34 PST

Drinking at least three cups of green or black tea a day can significantly reduce the risk of stroke, a new UCLA study has found. And the more you drink, the better your odds of staving off a stroke.

Chili peppers help to unravel the mechanism of pain

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:59:42 PST

Capsaicin, the active ingredient in chili peppers, is most often experienced as an irritant, but it may also be used to reduce pain. A new work published by Drs. Feng Qin and Jing Yao in this week's PLoS Biology uses capsaicin to uncover novel insight into how pain-receptor systems can adapt to painful stimuli.

Vitamin D deficiency may increase risk of colds, flu

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:58:33 PST

Vitamin D may be an important way to arm the immune system against disorders like the common cold, report investigators from the University of Colorado Denver (UC Denver) School of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Children's Hospital Boston

Calcium associated with lower risk of cancer in women

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:56:54 PST

Women with higher intake of calcium appear to have a lower risk of cancer overall, and both men and women with high calcium intakes have lower risks of colorectal cancer and other cancers of the digestive system,

Vitamin B and folic acid may reduce risk of age-related vision loss

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:55:22 PST

Taking a combination of vitamins B6 and B12 and folic acid appears to decrease the risk of age-related macular degeneration in women, according to a report in the February 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Fast food linked to stroke risk

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:07:33 PST

A new study suggests that eating too much fast food may increase risk of stroke, the third largest killer in the United States, Reuters reported.

France ready to warn against drinking wine

Sat, 21 Feb 2009 10:12:43 PST

The French government is ready to warn its citizen not to drink wine as evidence suggests that drinking alcohol boosts risk of a number of cancers, Timesonline.co.uk reported on Feb 20.

Breastfeeding Reduces Multiple Sclerosis Relapses

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:27:08 PST

Women who have multiple sclerosis may reduce their risk of relapses after pregnancy if they breastfeed their babies, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 61st Annual Meeting in Seattle, April 25 to May 2, 2009.

High-Fat Diets Inflame Fat Tissue Around Blood Vessels, Contribute to Heart Disease

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:30:09 PST

A study by researchers at the University of Cincinnati shows that high-fat diets, even if consumed for a short amount of time, can inflame fat tissue surrounding blood vessels, possibly contributing to cardiovascular disease.

Phthalates in Prescription Drugs

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:48:46 PST

Until recently, most of the concern surrounding the health risks of phthalates has focused on the use of these plasticizers in toys, personal care products, food packaging, and medical equipment such as intravenous tubing.

Liver Cancer Incidence Has Tripled Since 1970s

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:15:55 PST

A new study examining data on incidence trends, mortality rates and survival rates from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registries indicates that the incidence of liver cancer in the United States tripled between 1975 and 2005