It’s been an enlightening but ultimately depressing week for food news. More proof that eating anything except real, clean food may be harming you. Follow me past the fold...
WHEE (Weight, Health, Eating and Exercise) is a community support diary for Kossacks who are currently or planning to start losing, gaining or maintaining their weight through diet and exercise or fitness. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are working on your weight or fitness, please -- join us! You can also click the WHEEtag to view all diary posts.
Where to start?
A report was just released showing a marked increase in the risks for heart disease and diabetes from eating processed meats. An article at FoodProductDesign.com reported on the Harvard School of Public Health study that appeared in the journal Circulation:
The results showed, on average, each 50 gram (1.8 ounce) daily serving of processed meat (about one to two slices of deli meats or one hot dog) was associated with a 42-percent higher risk of developing heart disease and a 19-percent higher risk of developing diabetes.
USA Today published an articlethat cited a recent study about bisphenol A (BPA) in canned foods and warned that pregnant women should avoid canned foods. The National Toxicology Program has "some concern" that BPA affects development of the brain, behavior and the prostate gland in children, before and after birth.
"Fresh fruits and vegetables may be more expensive, but I believe that the risk is too high not to spend the extra. The entire life of that individual may be altered by a few months of BPA exposure in pregnancy," says obstetrician Hugh Taylor who wasn't involved in the report but advises pregnant patients to avoid canned foods.
Julie Deardorff of the Chicago Tribune reported on a study recently published in the journal Pediatrics. The study showed a connection between common pesticides and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) in children.
"Because it’s an observational study, we can only talk about association; we can’t say it’s causal," said Maryse Bouchard, a researcher in the department of environmental and occupational health at the University of Montreal and at the Hospital Sainte-Justine for Children. "But at least it’s biologically plausible and the effect is strong. I would really like to see the findings duplicated."
Until then, Bouchard recommends buying more organic fruits and vegetables and purchasing at farmer’s markets, where you can talk to the farmer about pesticide use. Carefully washing fruits and vegetables can also reduce exposure, Bouchard said.
What's a Kossack to do?
We eat well in the 1864 House. I cook almost every night, using organic or locally sourced foods. The meat we eat is grass-fed or pastured, my eggs come straight from a friend’s farm (still have chicken poop on them when I get them). But sometimes, I want to eat junk. By junk, I mean things like chili dogs and onion rings from the local root beer stand. Or chorizo tacos from the little taqueria. Having grown up in Chicago in an ethnically diverse neighborhood, I love sausages of any kind. But I will be cutting down on the sausage.
How do you react when you read news like this? What changes have you made based on new information? Is there something you absolutely can’t give up?
May 20
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May 21
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May 23
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May 24
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May 26
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