ParkandShopBlog

Caloric Restriction Extends Life in Monkeys, Study Finds - US News and World Report

2009-07-09T17:21:00.000-04:00

The evidence continues to build. The best exercise may be to push yourself away from the table while still hungry.

Caloric Restriction Extends Life in Monkeys, Study Finds - US News and World Report:

"A 20-year study found that Rhesus monkeys fed a nutritious, low-calorie diet have fewer age-related diseases than counterparts on a normal diet, researchers report July 10 in Science. Also, MRIs reveal less shrinking with age in areas important for decision-making and controlling movement in the brains of calorie-restricted animals, report Ricki Colman and Richard Weindruch, both of the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and colleagues.

These results show that calorie restriction helps preserve primates’ bodies and brains, says Luigi Fontana, of Washington University in St. Louis and the Italian National Health Service in Rome. Calorie restriction has already been shown to extend the lifespan of mice and dogs, as well as yeast, fruit flies and worms."

Ten simple things that can be done to combat obesity

2009-07-08T14:25:00.000-04:00

As grocers we see the obesity problem every day as people walk by the produce and instead pick up potato chips. When they pass on the vegetable soups and get chicken wings. It saddens us. It really does.

So here is out unasked for Top Ten simple things we can do to combat obesity.

Eat more vegetables. Probably the most important thing. Eat more vegetables. Eat more vegetables, Eat more vegetables. You probably can not eat too many: Salads, Broccoli, Peas, Cucumbers, mushrooms, tofu, spinach, tomatoes (yeah I know a fruit, who cares), cabbage, the list goes on and on. Make sure they make up the bulk of your shopping list.
Eat more fruit. So many choices and all are so good. In most cases more calories than vegetables, but still much better than that fatty desert that has been tempting you. (hint: buy a Magic Bullet. Make smoothies instead of empty calories from pop, make fruit sorbets instead of fatty ice creams).
Exercise every day. We are not talking about becoming an Olympic athlete. But get out and do something. Walk, run, swim, lift, bike, take a hike, fly a kite, but get out and do something. And make sure your children do too! Not only does it burn calories, it also takes you away from the all too easy food sources. (Hint: walk instead of driving to the store--not only that, walking will limit how much you buy!)
Cut back on "eating out". Study after study shows that fast food restaurants are tied to greater levels of obesity. Try to eat the vast majority of your dinners at home. And set an example for your children (lots of fruits and vegetables, less meat, very very little fats and empty calories).
Eat as a family whenever possible. You will eat less and eat better than if you "just catch something" at a local restaurant/fast food place.
Try to eat the least processed food you can: fresh produce is best, frozen is good, canned fruits and vegetables are not bad, but after that so much gets added you have to watch what you eat.
Use smaller plates and chew sugarless gum. Yeah I know they are silly, but they are both really easy and fast steps that do seem to help.
Get so-called "good fats" via nuts and/or fish.
Eat more oatmeal. Not only is it a great way to get soluble fiber, but it is also is an easy fast way to get nuts and fruit into your diet. Added benefit: keeps you full for a long time (see next one).
Increase fiber. Beans and other legumes add fiber which keeps you full, and are generally quite low in calories. They also are a good source of protein. (Hint get a crock pot, and make your own beans. No salt and no added sugar.)

There you have it. Our top ten ways to combat obesity. Simple, easy, and cheap. No books or special diets needed.

Obesity in the US

2009-07-08T12:23:00.004-04:00

We all know that obesity is a problem. In the US it is now estimated that about a third of all people are obese and even if the rate of growth has slowed, it is still amazingly sad.

How much it has grown is staggering. Click through on this map from the CDC to see how many more are obese now than were back in 1985.

We are doing it to ourselves.

One step to check (yeah bad pun) this trend locally is that schools will be tracking the problem. Which is good if something is done about it, but if not, then just wasted time and money.

From the Olean Times Herald: Fat Checking Now Required.

"By mandate from New York State’s Department of Education, members of the district’s Health Office will be collecting the body mass index of the student body.

“Obesity is a problem, but at the same time, we take on more and more responsibility for it,” district Superintendent Dr. Colleen Taggerty said. “We educate on obesity, but we also educate on eating disorders, there is a dichotomy.”

“Obesity is certainly a societal issue that we need to tackle together,” Portville Superintendent Timothy Simon said. “Like many similar issues, public schools have been asked to intervene on behalf of children to address this problem"

Face The Fats

2009-07-08T11:23:00.000-04:00

Face The Fats:

"It's time to meet the Fats - some are bad and some are better.
According to a consumer survey conducted for the American Heart Association, fewer than half of Americans know that the 'better' fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) can help reduce their risk of heart disease"

Mice Run Faster On High-grade Oil

2009-07-07T20:15:00.000-04:00

Mice Run Faster On High-grade Oil:

"...research, to be presented on the 29th of June 2009 at the Society for Experimental Biology Annual Meeting, has shown that mice fed for two weeks on a diet high in sunflower oil, which contains n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, ran on average 0.19m/s faster than mice fed a diet rich in linseed oil, which is high in n-3 fatty acids.

This means that, over a 2 second sprint, a mouse fed on a high n-6 fatty acid diet would have a 0.4m advantage. This represents a 6.3% improvement which equals that achieved in the 100m world records over more than 75 years"

cross-posted on ParkandShop, RandomTopics2 and OleanCyclingClub

New Evidence That Vinegar May Be Natural Fat-fighter

2009-07-07T16:10:00.000-04:00

Is it the salad or the dressing? Might want to hedge your bets ask for vinaigrette dressing! A win-win!

New Evidence That Vinegar May Be Natural Fat-fighter:(from Science Daily)

"Tomoo Kondo and colleagues note in the new study that vinegar has also been used as a folk medicine since ancient times. People have used it for a range of ills. Modern scientific research suggests that acetic acid, the main component of vinegar, may help control blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and fat accumulation.

Their new study showed that laboratory mice fed a high-fat diet and given acetic acid developed significantly less body fat (up to 10 percent less) than other mice.

Importantly, the new research adds evidence to the belief that acetic acid fights fat by turning on genes for fatty acid oxidation enzymes. The genes churn out proteins involved in breaking down fats, thus suppressing body fat accumulation in the body."

Healthy Begins Here: 8 Great Family-Friendly Foods that Help Fight Cancer

2009-07-07T12:52:00.001-04:00

From WebMD. By Sheryl Crow.

Healthy Begins Here: 8 Great Family-Friendly Foods that Help Fight Cancer:

"I learned how to eat 'defensively.' I had never understood before how vital food was for protecting the body from sickness and disease. In fact, according to the National Cancer Institute, serious diseases that are linked to what we eat are the culprits in three out of four American deaths each year. And, recent research estimates that 35% of cancer deaths could be prevented through improved nutrition.

We truly are what we eat and what we put in our bodies matters to our long-term health."

She goes on to list 8 foods (or more realistically 8 categories of food) that might help you fight (or prevent?) cancer.

BBC NEWS | Health | Vegetarians 'avoid more cancers'

2009-07-02T02:50:00.000-04:00

Yes lower rates of some cancers, but not across the board.

BBC NEWS | Health | Vegetarians 'avoid more cancers':

"researchers said they found marked differences between meat-eaters and vegetarians in the propensity to cancers of the lymph and the blood, with vegetarians just over half as likely to develop these forms of the disease.

In the case of multiple myeloma, a relatively rare cancer of the bone marrow, vegetarians were 75% less likely to develop the disease than meat-eaters....The reduction was less notable for fish-eaters with these cancers. The reasons, researchers said, were unclear, but potential mechanisms could include viruses and mutation-causing compounds in meat - or alternatively that vegetables confer special protection."

BUT

"...reduction for vegetarians was not found with cancers of the bowel, one of the most common forms of the disease. The vegetarians in the group in fact had a slightly higher rate of cancers of the colon and the rectum, although not significantly so. But the relative risk for fish-eaters and vegetarians of cervical cancer was twice that of meat-eaters."

Panel Recommends Ban on 2 Popular Painkillers - NYTimes.com

2009-07-01T02:57:00.000-04:00

If you take acetaminophen, you better read this:

Panel Recommends Ban on 2 Popular Painkillers - NYTimes.com:

"...the committee voted 24 to 13 to recommend that the F.D.A. reduce the highest allowed dose of acetaminophen in over-the-counter pills like Tylenol to 325 milligrams, from 500. And members voted 21 to 16 to reduce the maximum daily dosage to less than 4,000 milligrams."

Why A Low-Calorie Diet Extends Lifespans: Critical Enzyme Pair Identified

2009-06-29T12:41:00.000-04:00

Exciting finding. COuld open many doors.

Why A Low-Calorie Diet Extends Lifespans: Critical Enzyme Pair Identified:

"Identifying the receptor may allow researchers to design drugs that mimic the signal and could lead to new treatments for age-related diseases. This could enable us to reap the health benefits of calorie restriction without adhering to extreme diets in which the satisfying feel of a full stomach is strictly off limits"

Follow-up on our time study

2009-06-29T09:30:00.000-04:00

I have gotten some comments on our time study we released on Saturday. So I did some checking on line and lest you think our study was biased and poorly done (hey I want you to be skeptical), check out the following old article from the Wall St. Journal.

It turns out our estimate of it taking over three times as long to shop at Wal Mart as at Park and Shop fits their findings pretty well:

Wal-Mart Sales Decline Is Worst in 28 Years - WSJ.com:

"The average Wal-Mart customer spends 21 minutes in the store per visit, but that customer finds only seven of the 10 items on his or her list, according to Chief Marketing Officer Stephen Quinn. ..

It isn't working for Julia Russ, though. The 42-year-old federal contract administrator in Grand Prairie, Texas, visited a Wal-Mart in her city four times last month for groceries, pet supplies, toiletries and paper goods. But she often finds the store crowded and hectic. 'The wait at checkout is getting longer all the time,' Ms. Russ said. 'I may lose patience and pay the difference for my time' to go elsewhere."

Oh and by the way, Stephen Quinn is the marketing officer for Wal-Mart. It is he who is saying 30% of time what you are looking for at Wal Mart is not there.

Time is Money!

2009-06-27T18:50:00.001-04:00

We are all rushed. Time is your most valuable resource. Time is Money. We all know it. We have all heard the all true cliches. But sometime we forget.

How does this come up? Recently we conducted a study of how long it takes to shop our stores vs other stores in the area. The findings? Customers can get in and out of our stores MUCH faster than at our competition.

Consider the following:

Average time of shopping trip

Park and Shops
6 min 45 sec

Wal-Mart (Olean)
23 min 14 Sec

Tops (Olean)
19 min 40 Sec

Based on a study done by April-May 2009 N=25 or more for each store. Each was done at similar time of day for comparison purposes.

And remember this does not count the driving time nor the time walking to and from the car across large parking lots. So if that were included we'd be even faster!

Now I know what you are thinking. You are probably thinking something like:

"I can get in and out of the Park and Shops faster than that. They have short lines, I don't need to walk a mile through their parking lots, and everything is right there so I don't need to wade through tons of things I don't want to get what I do want." How can it take so long?"

So how was it so high? It turns out that 2 of the customers (remember we had this done and did not do it ourselves so they checked every customer) happened also to work for us and they spent a longer time in the store since they were talking to their co-workers. They each were in the store for well over fifteen minutes each. Throw them out at the average is closer to six minutes!

So the next time you find yourself thinking if only I had a little more time to spend with my family, or to watch your child's sporting event, or to garden, sleep, or anything else you want to do, remember that we can give you more time!

Dietary Fat Linked To Pancreatic Cancer

2009-06-27T00:59:00.000-04:00

More reason to eat your veggies and watch your meat and dairy consumption.

Dietary Fat Linked To Pancreatic Cancer:

"High intake of dietary fats from red meat and dairy products was associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, according to a new study published online June 26 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

This study was undertaken because research relating fat intake to pancreatic cancer was inconclusive...."

Longer Life Linked To Specific Foods In Mediterranean Diet

2009-06-25T01:59:00.000-04:00

An important look inside the so-called Mediterranean Diet.

The key take-away? Seems like it is the vegetable consumption driving the large benefits found in previous studies!

Longer Life Linked To Specific Foods In Mediterranean Diet:

"Some food groups in the Mediterranean diet are more important than others in promoting health and longer life according to new research published on the British Medical Journal website."

and later:

"The authors maintain that when high intake of vegetables, low intake of meat or moderate alcohol intake were excluded from the rating system, the benefits of following a Mediterranean diet were substantially reduced. They also note that there are clear benefits in combining several of the key components, for example high consumption of vegetables and olive oil.
Professor Trichopoulou, lead author of the study, concludes that the main reasons why the Mediterranean diet can lead to living longer are moderate consumption of ethanol (mostly in the form of wine during meals, as traditionally done in the Mediterranean countries), low consumption of meat and meat products, and high consumption of vegetables, fruits and nuts, olive oil and legumes.

H-E-B beats Wal-Mart in court on claim of big savings | Business | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

2009-06-24T23:05:00.000-04:00

Mmm...HEB is one of the best grocery stores I have ever seen. They are mainly in Texas. This is from teh Houston Chronicle.

H-E-B beats Wal-Mart in court on claim of big savings | Business | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle:

"Wal-Mart Stores has pulled a national advertisement that says consumers can save $700 a year shopping at its stores after H-E-B challenged the ad and filed its objections with an industry group.

The National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus recommended that Wal-Mart stop making the claim."

and later:

"H-E-B also challenged a separate ad in which Wal-Mart claimed it had “unbeatable prices,”....The group recommended that Wal-Mart make the terms of how it matches prices more clear."

Eat well, live longer!

2009-06-24T10:25:00.000-04:00

HealthDay:

"If you eat a healthy diet, you're likely to live longer.

It might be trite advice, but a new study offers proof that it can make a difference in your longevity.

Those with the best diets reduced their risk of death by up to 25 percent over a 10-year follow-up, said study author Ashima Kant, a professor of nutrition at Queens College of the City University of New York....The study is published in the July issue of The Journal of Nutrition."

and later in the same article:

"Good dietary habits may also help delay the progression of hardening of the arteries, according to a separate study published in the July issue of the The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers from Tufts University and Wake Forest University evaluated the effect of a good diet on the progression of coronary artery disease in 224 postmenopausal women who had the disease when they enrolled in the Estrogen Replacement and Atherosclerosis Study. The better the diet, the slower the progression of disease, they found.
"Both studies are finding similar things," said Penny Kris-Etherton, a distinguished professor of nutrition at Penn State University, who wrote an editorial to accompany the atherosclerosis study.

"We're getting more and more evidence that diet [when poor] can play a key role in chronic disease development, progression and all-cause mortality," she said."

GoodGuide | Issues | High Fructose Corn Syrup

2009-06-24T10:06:00.000-04:00

Have you checked out GoodGuide? It is "Good Stuff!" Definitely recommended!

For instance, take the following article on High Fructose Corn Syrup:

GoodGuide | Issues | High Fructose Corn Syrup:

"High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a liquid sweetener made from corn starch. It is an ingredient commonly found in snack foods, breakfast cereals, salad dressings, sweetened beverages and the tomato sauce on your pasta dinner. HFCS is controversial, however there is research and evidence that suggest diets high in fructose may cause metabolic changes that lead to increased triglyceride levels and elevated uric acid levels.

.....Over time, this can contribute to weight gain, and excess weight is associated with heart disease and diabetes.

HFCS accounts for 10% of all calories in the overall U.S. diet, according to the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, and closer to 20% in specific segments of the population including children."

Local History Article from the OTH

2009-06-23T23:32:00.000-04:00

The Olean Times Herald has an interesting piece on Hinsdale. BE sure to check it out

"In the mid-1800s, Hinsdale was bigger than Olean,” Mrs. Dutton said.

According to the 1850 census, Hinsdale had a population of 1,302, a total of 403 more people than Olean.....The 1860 census indicated Hinsdale had a population of 1,708 people, a town still on the rise, Mrs. Dutton said."

and later:

"DUTCH HILL WAR: In June 1844, the only agrarian war to be fought in the history of Cattaraugus County was waged within the borders of Hinsdale, Mrs. Dutton said.

Agents of Holland Land Co. were looking to evict Jacob and George Learns, brothers who lived in Hinsdale, for defaulting on land payments, an undated news article from the time reported.

“The sheriff (George W. White) and six deputies began to remove the brothers’ belongings,” Mrs. Dutton said.

The seven men were surrounded by a mob of 150 farmers, some dressed as Indians, the article reads. The sheriff and his men retreated and Mr. White was beaten by the mob."

Cross-posted on ParkandShop.Blogspot.com and RandomTopics2.blogspot.com

6 Essential Flat-Belly Foods on Yahoo! Health

2009-06-23T22:16:00.000-04:00

6 Essential Flat-Belly Foods on Yahoo! Health:

"Penn State researchers found that dieters who ate whole-grains lost twice as much belly fat as those who stuck to white-flour products—even though they'd consumed the same number of calories."

BTW here is the Penn State study. (I THINK)

Nutrition facts, calories in food, labels, nutritional information and analysis – NutritionData.com

2009-06-22T19:07:00.000-04:00

If you are what you eat, shouldn't you know what you are eating? Check out NutritionData.com Very useful site, even if it is not the easiest to use.

For thousands of products it tells you the nutritional breakdown plus Glycemic Index rating and more.

Nutrition facts, calories in food, labels, nutritional information and analysis – NutritionData.com:

"On Nutrition Data, you'll find detailed nutrition information, plus unique analysis tools that tell you more about how foods affect your health and make it easier to choose healthy foods."

Recall: FDA: Some Zicam Cold Remedies May Affect Sense of Smell

2009-06-18T11:02:00.000-04:00

FDA: Some Zicam Cold Remedies May Affect Sense of Smell:

"The FDA's warning only applies to the following Zicam products:

* Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel
* Zicam Cold Remedy Gel Swabs
* Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size

'Consumers should stop using these products immediately and should discard or return them,' Deborah Autor, director of the FDA's Office of Compliance, said at a news conference. Autor notes that Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size is no longer on the market, but consumers shouldn't use the product if they still have it at home.

Zicam's maker -- Matrixx Initiatives, Inc. -- has voluntarily withdrawn Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs and Zicam Cold Remedy Gel from the market, telling consumers to discard any of the affected products or request a refund by calling 877-942-2626 or visiting Zicam's web site"

Gout, the Ailment of Kings, Now Afflicts the Middle Class - NYTimes.com

2009-06-17T14:34:00.000-04:00

More reason to watch what (and how much) you eat!

Gout, the Ailment of Kings, Now Afflicts the Middle Class - NYTimes.com: "

"Often called the “disease of kings” because of its association with the rich foods and copious alcohol once available only to aristocrats, gout is staging a middle-class comeback as American society grows older and heavier."

and later"

"Gout is caused by the buildup of a chemical called uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is formed by the breakdown of purines, which are components of DNA, RNA and some other important molecules in the body.

Some types of meat and fish, as well as beer, are particularly rich in purines and can raise the risk of gout. There is also evidence that sugary soft drinks raise the risk.

When uric acid levels get too high, the chemical can form needlelike crystals that accumulate in joints."

Don't cut your carrots too soon

2009-06-17T13:53:00.000-04:00

mmm...moral? "Don't cut your carrots until they are cooked."

BBC NEWS | Health | Cancer boost from whole carrots:

"...anti-cancer properties of carrots are more potent if the vegetable is not cut up before cooking, research shows.

Scientists found 'boiled before cut' carrots contained 25% more of the anti-cancer compound falcarinol than those chopped up first."

Why?

"Lead researcher Dr Kirsten Brandt, from Newcastle University's School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, said: "Chopping up your carrots increases the surface area so more of the nutrients leach out into the water while they are cooked.
"By keeping them whole and chopping them up afterwards you are locking in nutrients and the taste, so the carrot is better for you all round.""

Alcohol’s Good for You? Some Scientists Doubt It - NYTimes.com

2009-06-17T13:47:00.000-04:00

I have wondered about this a great deal. Glad to see it finally get some press:

Alcohol’s Good for You? Some Scientists Doubt It - NYTimes.com:

"...some scientists, the question will not go away. No study, these critics say, has ever proved a causal relationship between moderate drinking and lower risk of death — only that the two often go together. It may be that moderate drinking is just something healthy people tend to do, not something that makes people healthy.

“The moderate drinkers tend to do everything right — they exercise, they don’t smoke, they eat right and they drink moderately,” said Kaye Middleton Fillmore, a retired sociologist from the University of California, San Francisco, who has criticized the research. “It’s very hard to disentangle all of that, and that’s a real problem.”"

fightbac.org: Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE) - Fight Bac! Safe Food Handling and Food Safety Information

2009-06-17T12:54:00.000-04:00

Good advice!
fightbac.org: Partnership for Food Safety Education (PFSE) - Fight Bac! Safe Food Handling and Food Safety Information:

"Grillmasters: Do you have the right tools?

Keep your friends and family safe this grilling season by making sure food is cooked to a high enough internal temperature to kill harmful bacteria that cause foodborne illness.

You cannot determine if food is fully cooked just by looking at it. The only way to make sure food has reached a safe minimum internal temperature is to use a food thermometer.

Refer to the Heat it Up Chart for safe minimum internal temperatures"