I have observe the diets of todays kids, parent's are more relax in observe their Food & drinks when they are in school or holiday.
95% of the parent's are giving the Kids Package Food, Fast food, Cola, Sweet Bottled drinks..etc.
Most of the saying, that is the High Blood pressure is due to the stress & the inheritance of gene. My research is that is due to the kids have not been drinking enough Water & also too much on the high sodium content food or soup. Then after drink high sugar content drinks.
My late mom only serve us Drinks such as:
Green Bean
Barley
Lotus Roots
Soy Bean
Herbs Tea
Green Tea
Winter Melon With Wild Sugar Cane
Chrysanthemum
Honey Sucker
Wheat Brane
...etc.
She also limit us from adding too much sugar into our drinks.
So please ensure that your loving kids have healthy drinks for their great health.
High Blood Pressure in Children
Children, even very young babies, can have high blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends that all children have yearly blood pressure measurements. Early detection of high blood pressure will improve the health care of children. Some diseases — usually heart or kidney disease — can cause high blood pressure in children. This is called secondary hypertension. If the disease is successfully treated, blood pressure usually returns to normal. Some medicines can cause high blood pressure, but when they're discontinued, blood pressure usually returns to normal.
At one time, doctors thought that most high blood pressure in children was secondary (that is, caused by other disease). Now they know this isn't so. Some children have higher blood pressures than others for unknown reasons. These children are said to have primary or essential hypertension.
Research scientists don't know why some children have higher blood pressure than others. Children who are overweight usually have higher blood pressure. Some children inherit the tendency toward higher blood pressure from one or both parents. High blood pressure is more frequent and more severe in families of African Americans than in whites. The reasons aren't fully understood.
A special diet and physical activity may be prescribed by the doctor to help lower high blood pressure in overweight children. The doctor may also prescribe medication if an appropriate diet and regular physical activity don't bring the high blood pressure under control.
Cigarette smoking isn't directly related to high blood pressure, but youngsters who smoke should stop for a variety of health reasons. Parents should set a good example by not smoking and educating their children about the hazards of smoking.
What are the classifications of high blood pressure in children?
In a recent report that analyzed the national childhood blood pressure data, the blood pressure percentiles were refined. Read More....
High Blood Pressure in Children
Monday, January 03, 2005
Sunday, January 02, 2005
Citrus Oils May Hold Key For Treatment of Asthma
With reference to the "Basic Herbs Directory", Citrus skin is dried & use as the herb for regulating the "Chi".
Whereas, Asthma is due to the illness of the Lung & Nasal system. In the healing drinks, there is not only using a single herb like Citrus skin or Almond.. each herb used is always mix with at least 3 herbs, the quantity of each is highly dependent on the individual health condition.
Therefore, please beware of what is offered, check the specifications & data before you buy & drink.
Citrus Oils May Hold Key For Treatment of Asthma
December 10, 2004 Kevin Hattori
A key to preventing asthma might be found in a lemon, a rose or a pine tree. According to a study at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, inhalation of limonene, the main component found in the essential oil of citrus, prevented asthma symptoms in animals. The findings are published in this week’s Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry.
Inspired by previous findings that show the incidence of asthma to be five times higher in urban areas than in rural and agricultural ones, lead researcher Professor Ehud Keinan studied the connection between ozone and asthma and other lung disorders. He believes this higher incidence of asthma is due in large part to the absence of natural "ozone scavengers" produced by plants.
"Ozone in the outer atmosphere is essential for life on earth because it absorbs the destructive ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun," he explained. "But on earth, it is a dangerous component of air pollution. Numerous studies have shown exposure to ozone, even at low levels, induces airway inflammation and lung injury in humans and animals."
Keinan’s team also found that ozone is produced in inflammatory tissues by antibodies as a defense against asthma. The presence of this ozone activates more antibodies, perpetuating a vicious cycle.
The research team says that "ozone-scavengers" – substances that devour ozone – could be used for preventing asthma. The inhalation of water-repellent ozone scavengers that accumulate in lung membranes could break the cycle of inflammation. Organic compounds called monoterpenes -- produced by all plants -- are ideal sources of such substances.
Limonene, an unsaturated monoterpene and the main component in the essential oil of citrus, functions extremely well as an ozone scavenger. Other ozone scavenging monoterpenes studied by the team came from roses, pine trees and citronella, but limonene was the most effective. Saturated monoterpenes, however -- such as those found in eucalyptol -- were found to have no ozone scavenging properties.
The experiments involved exposing rats with induced asthma-like symptoms to either limonene or eucalyptol for a couple of days. The lung function of the rats showed that limonene inhalation prevented the asthmatic symptoms. The anti-inflammatory effect of limonene was also supported by pathological evidence.
According to the American Lung Association Epidemiology & Statistics Unit Research and Scientific Affairs, more than 20 million Americans (6.1 million of them children) suffered from asthma in 2002. Read More....
Citrus Oils May Hold Key For Treatment of Asthma
Whereas, Asthma is due to the illness of the Lung & Nasal system. In the healing drinks, there is not only using a single herb like Citrus skin or Almond.. each herb used is always mix with at least 3 herbs, the quantity of each is highly dependent on the individual health condition.
Therefore, please beware of what is offered, check the specifications & data before you buy & drink.
Citrus Oils May Hold Key For Treatment of Asthma
December 10, 2004 Kevin Hattori
A key to preventing asthma might be found in a lemon, a rose or a pine tree. According to a study at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, inhalation of limonene, the main component found in the essential oil of citrus, prevented asthma symptoms in animals. The findings are published in this week’s Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry.
Inspired by previous findings that show the incidence of asthma to be five times higher in urban areas than in rural and agricultural ones, lead researcher Professor Ehud Keinan studied the connection between ozone and asthma and other lung disorders. He believes this higher incidence of asthma is due in large part to the absence of natural "ozone scavengers" produced by plants.
"Ozone in the outer atmosphere is essential for life on earth because it absorbs the destructive ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun," he explained. "But on earth, it is a dangerous component of air pollution. Numerous studies have shown exposure to ozone, even at low levels, induces airway inflammation and lung injury in humans and animals."
Keinan’s team also found that ozone is produced in inflammatory tissues by antibodies as a defense against asthma. The presence of this ozone activates more antibodies, perpetuating a vicious cycle.
The research team says that "ozone-scavengers" – substances that devour ozone – could be used for preventing asthma. The inhalation of water-repellent ozone scavengers that accumulate in lung membranes could break the cycle of inflammation. Organic compounds called monoterpenes -- produced by all plants -- are ideal sources of such substances.
Limonene, an unsaturated monoterpene and the main component in the essential oil of citrus, functions extremely well as an ozone scavenger. Other ozone scavenging monoterpenes studied by the team came from roses, pine trees and citronella, but limonene was the most effective. Saturated monoterpenes, however -- such as those found in eucalyptol -- were found to have no ozone scavenging properties.
The experiments involved exposing rats with induced asthma-like symptoms to either limonene or eucalyptol for a couple of days. The lung function of the rats showed that limonene inhalation prevented the asthmatic symptoms. The anti-inflammatory effect of limonene was also supported by pathological evidence.
According to the American Lung Association Epidemiology & Statistics Unit Research and Scientific Affairs, more than 20 million Americans (6.1 million of them children) suffered from asthma in 2002. Read More....
Citrus Oils May Hold Key For Treatment of Asthma
Vitamin D deficiency tied to host of dangers
My late grandma live up to 90 years old. she is a typical chinese woman with 3' of small feet. She hardly expose herself into sunlight.
She is a vegetarian since she was 30 years old. When my Late Grandpa passed away. She don't like to drink Milk, salmon in asia is very expensive. She don't take supplements. She die of Skin Cancer.
So these is the case study I have experienced. My friend grandpa also live till 98 years old & passed away with skin cancer. he is also another Chinese man that don't drink milk, expose to sunlight , don't eat vitamin D supplements.
I believe Vitamine D not only can be obtain through drinks like Milk, there are fruit juice & other herbs, vegetable that are rich in vitamin D.
The most important thing is to have a balance intake of food & drinks to achieve the balance of Vitamine.
Vitamin D deficiency tied to host of dangers
By Scott Allen, Globe Staff | December 30, 2004
A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that the widespread deficiency of vitamin D among Americans is more harmful than once believed, increasing their risk of fractures, muscle weakness, and even cancer as they age. In response, two key scientific panels are considering how to close the nutrition gap without compromising another important health campaign: the fight against skin cancer.
More than 40 percent of American adults have low blood levels of vitamin D, which people can get from foods such as milk and salmon as well as nutritional supplements. During nonwinter months, however, people can also get vitamin D from standing in the sun for a few minutes several times a week. That amount of exposure may seem trivial, but many dermatologists worry that any sun exposure may increase the risk of skin cancer and, more significantly, that encouraging some sun exposure will lead some people to overdo it.
Until recently, public health officials advised people to avoid sun exposure altogether and regarded vitamin D deficiency as far less important, believing that the danger of low vitamin D levels was mainly an increased risk of fractures among the elderly and a rare disease called rickets among children. But recent research has shown that older people with adequate vitamin D levels have better muscle control, lower blood pressure, and fewer ills such as multiple sclerosis and arthritis, compared with people with lower vitamin levels.
Now, a forthcoming Harvard School of Public Health study is expected to show that adequate vitamin D levels reduce cancer risk by 30 percent, increasing pressure on the US Department of Agriculture to raise the recommended daily consumption of the nutrient. The new data also are likely to add to the chorus of vitamin D advocates who say it is time to lighten up on the anti-sun message.
"We absolutely have a huge problem with vitamin D deficiency," said Dr. Bess Dawson-Hughes, director of the Bone Metabolism Laboratory at Tufts University, who argues for both more dietary vitamin D and sun exposure just long enough to trigger the body's vitamin D machinery. "It's hard for things to be so polarized because a little sunlight goes a very long way in producing vitamin D. . . . I don't think there's a villain here."
For most people, she said, 10 minutes a day of sun exposure to the face and arms without sunblock protection is enough to trigger vitamin D production in the skin during warm weather. However, from mid-October to mid-March, the sun's rays in northern cities such as Boston are too weak to generate vitamin D, causing a regionwide drop-off in blood levels through the winter.
Vitamin D researchers say the attention to the issue is overdue. Researchers such as Dr. Michael Holick of Boston University School of Medicine argue that the anti-skin cancer campaign actually made the vitamin D deficiency worse by keeping people out of the sun while not at the same time advocating increased vitamin D consumption in diets. Since vitamin D is not found in many foods, and many adults are lactose-intolerant, he believes the sun is the leading source of vitamin D for most people.
"There hasn't been a balanced conversation about what compromise we can reach for best protecting people for vitamin D and still protecting against skin cancer," said Connie Weaver, director of the Botanical Center for Age-Related Diseases at Purdue University. "Now [vitamin D] is getting a lot of attention. The science is driving it."
Work in Dawson-Hughes's lab, for example, showed that vitamin D is important for muscle performance in older people, and those who had higher levels could get up from a chair and walk better than those with lower levels. As a result, Dawson-Hughes suggests that vitamin D, which helps the body retain calcium, is important for preventing falls and fractures as people age.
Other studies have suggested that higher vitamin D levels help protect against colon, prostate, and breast cancer, but a long-term study of 50,000 men by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health suggests vitamin D may reduce the risk of all cancers. The study, which is still under review for publication, found that men who consumed higher levels of vitamin D reduced their overall cancer risk by at least 30 percent, according to lead author, Ed Giovannucci. The findings were statistically significant, he said, and a separate study of women is expected to produce similar results.
Giovannucci, who declined to discuss details of the study before publication, said cells in general use vitamin D to remain normal, making them less likely to grow out of control the way a tumor does. If everyone had adequate vitamin D levels in their bloodstreams, he said, "It would be equivalent to eliminating a big portion of cancer."
The American Academy of Dermatology, a leader in the anti-skin cancer crusade, held a conference last summer on how to respond to the findings about the risks of vitamin D deficiency. The group's conclusions have not yet been released, but it is expected to recommend increased vitamin D consumption, especially for the elderly, but only through food and vitamins.
Research has shown that sunburns, particularly during childhood, increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Though the evidence is less clear for shorter exposures to sunlight, the dermatology group advises sunscreen and clothing protection for anyone in the sun 20 minutes or longer. And they fear that any encouragement to go into the sun will cause people to be unprotected for much longer.
"The public would love to have the message that they should go to the tanning booths or go to the beach" without sunscreen, but that isn't safe, said Dr. Barbara Gilchrest, chairwoman of the dermatology department at Boston University School of Medicine. Gilchrest said people worried about low vitamin D levels should take a vitamin supplement.
Earlier this month, the scientific panel that advises the USDA on nutrition met on whether to recommend increasing the daily consumption of vitamin D. Current guidelines are based on 1997 science, when little was known about the nutrient's role in muscle strength or cancer protection. Read More...
Boston.com / News / Boston Globe / Health / Science / Vitamin D deficiency tied to host of dangers
She is a vegetarian since she was 30 years old. When my Late Grandpa passed away. She don't like to drink Milk, salmon in asia is very expensive. She don't take supplements. She die of Skin Cancer.
So these is the case study I have experienced. My friend grandpa also live till 98 years old & passed away with skin cancer. he is also another Chinese man that don't drink milk, expose to sunlight , don't eat vitamin D supplements.
I believe Vitamine D not only can be obtain through drinks like Milk, there are fruit juice & other herbs, vegetable that are rich in vitamin D.
The most important thing is to have a balance intake of food & drinks to achieve the balance of Vitamine.
Vitamin D deficiency tied to host of dangers
By Scott Allen, Globe Staff | December 30, 2004
A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that the widespread deficiency of vitamin D among Americans is more harmful than once believed, increasing their risk of fractures, muscle weakness, and even cancer as they age. In response, two key scientific panels are considering how to close the nutrition gap without compromising another important health campaign: the fight against skin cancer.
More than 40 percent of American adults have low blood levels of vitamin D, which people can get from foods such as milk and salmon as well as nutritional supplements. During nonwinter months, however, people can also get vitamin D from standing in the sun for a few minutes several times a week. That amount of exposure may seem trivial, but many dermatologists worry that any sun exposure may increase the risk of skin cancer and, more significantly, that encouraging some sun exposure will lead some people to overdo it.
Until recently, public health officials advised people to avoid sun exposure altogether and regarded vitamin D deficiency as far less important, believing that the danger of low vitamin D levels was mainly an increased risk of fractures among the elderly and a rare disease called rickets among children. But recent research has shown that older people with adequate vitamin D levels have better muscle control, lower blood pressure, and fewer ills such as multiple sclerosis and arthritis, compared with people with lower vitamin levels.
Now, a forthcoming Harvard School of Public Health study is expected to show that adequate vitamin D levels reduce cancer risk by 30 percent, increasing pressure on the US Department of Agriculture to raise the recommended daily consumption of the nutrient. The new data also are likely to add to the chorus of vitamin D advocates who say it is time to lighten up on the anti-sun message.
"We absolutely have a huge problem with vitamin D deficiency," said Dr. Bess Dawson-Hughes, director of the Bone Metabolism Laboratory at Tufts University, who argues for both more dietary vitamin D and sun exposure just long enough to trigger the body's vitamin D machinery. "It's hard for things to be so polarized because a little sunlight goes a very long way in producing vitamin D. . . . I don't think there's a villain here."
For most people, she said, 10 minutes a day of sun exposure to the face and arms without sunblock protection is enough to trigger vitamin D production in the skin during warm weather. However, from mid-October to mid-March, the sun's rays in northern cities such as Boston are too weak to generate vitamin D, causing a regionwide drop-off in blood levels through the winter.
Vitamin D researchers say the attention to the issue is overdue. Researchers such as Dr. Michael Holick of Boston University School of Medicine argue that the anti-skin cancer campaign actually made the vitamin D deficiency worse by keeping people out of the sun while not at the same time advocating increased vitamin D consumption in diets. Since vitamin D is not found in many foods, and many adults are lactose-intolerant, he believes the sun is the leading source of vitamin D for most people.
"There hasn't been a balanced conversation about what compromise we can reach for best protecting people for vitamin D and still protecting against skin cancer," said Connie Weaver, director of the Botanical Center for Age-Related Diseases at Purdue University. "Now [vitamin D] is getting a lot of attention. The science is driving it."
Work in Dawson-Hughes's lab, for example, showed that vitamin D is important for muscle performance in older people, and those who had higher levels could get up from a chair and walk better than those with lower levels. As a result, Dawson-Hughes suggests that vitamin D, which helps the body retain calcium, is important for preventing falls and fractures as people age.
Other studies have suggested that higher vitamin D levels help protect against colon, prostate, and breast cancer, but a long-term study of 50,000 men by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health suggests vitamin D may reduce the risk of all cancers. The study, which is still under review for publication, found that men who consumed higher levels of vitamin D reduced their overall cancer risk by at least 30 percent, according to lead author, Ed Giovannucci. The findings were statistically significant, he said, and a separate study of women is expected to produce similar results.
Giovannucci, who declined to discuss details of the study before publication, said cells in general use vitamin D to remain normal, making them less likely to grow out of control the way a tumor does. If everyone had adequate vitamin D levels in their bloodstreams, he said, "It would be equivalent to eliminating a big portion of cancer."
The American Academy of Dermatology, a leader in the anti-skin cancer crusade, held a conference last summer on how to respond to the findings about the risks of vitamin D deficiency. The group's conclusions have not yet been released, but it is expected to recommend increased vitamin D consumption, especially for the elderly, but only through food and vitamins.
Research has shown that sunburns, particularly during childhood, increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Though the evidence is less clear for shorter exposures to sunlight, the dermatology group advises sunscreen and clothing protection for anyone in the sun 20 minutes or longer. And they fear that any encouragement to go into the sun will cause people to be unprotected for much longer.
"The public would love to have the message that they should go to the tanning booths or go to the beach" without sunscreen, but that isn't safe, said Dr. Barbara Gilchrest, chairwoman of the dermatology department at Boston University School of Medicine. Gilchrest said people worried about low vitamin D levels should take a vitamin supplement.
Earlier this month, the scientific panel that advises the USDA on nutrition met on whether to recommend increasing the daily consumption of vitamin D. Current guidelines are based on 1997 science, when little was known about the nutrient's role in muscle strength or cancer protection. Read More...
Boston.com / News / Boston Globe / Health / Science / Vitamin D deficiency tied to host of dangers
Saturday, January 01, 2005
Tea - Another Way to Eat More Plant Food & As Many Flavonoids As Serving of Fruits
This is the article I found gives you some basic info of what herbs Tea can help for your great health.
From my finding, today drinking of Black Tea or Green Tea, Red Tea have difference impact after all, one cannot be over taking it. One also need to know exactly the
"Yin & Yang", "Cold or Hot" in one body before consumming it.
In the "I-Medicine Sutra" every Herbs have it Good & Bad, Hot or Cold, Toxic or Non-Toxic, also the conflict with certain food...etc.
i.e. If one heart is weak, one cannot drink Oolong & Ceylon Tea. As these teas are classified cold or cooling.
I would share more of my knowledge later.
"Think of tea as another way to eat more plant foods -- two cups of tea provide as many flavonoids as a serving of fruits or vegetables,"
Although tea has long been viewed as a revitalizing beverage, only recently has scientific research begun to substantiate the benefits of drinking tea. The results are promising: adding tea to your daily diet could be the edge you need to stay healthy from head to toe.
"New studies reveal how the powerful antioxidant phytonutrients (plant nutrients) in tea, called flavonoids, may help defend the body against a variety of ailments," says Jim Kinsinger, PhD, of Celestial Seasonings. Drinking tea regularly may help many tissues in the body, including:
Heart and Blood Vessels: a recent USDA study reports that tea reduces "bad" LDL cholesterol in the blood and increases the ability of blood vessels to respond to stress. Tea consumption has been linked with a reduced risk for heart disease and stroke in many studies.
Cancer: the flavonoids in tea can act to inhibit the development of precancerous lesions and cancers in many tissues, including bladder,
breast, intestine, liver, lung, mouth, pancreas, and skin, in animal studies and human cell lines.
Bones and Joints: tea consumption may help maintain bone mineral density during aging, reduce osteoporosis, and prevent fractures.
Some research indicates tea flavonoids have anti-inflammatory actions and may reduce the severity of rheumatoid arthritis.
Immune System: one new study from Harvard suggests that tea may help support a healthy immune system that can better defend against infectious diseases.
Liver: tea appears to help support the liver's function in detoxifying the blood, including the elimination of cancer-causing compounds.
Brain: tea may stimulate nerve cells to make more apo-A, a protein which may help delay the onset of dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Teeth: tea is a rich source of natural fluoride, and together with tea flavonoids, may help combat cavity-causing bacteria and plaque.
Weight: green tea flavonoids have been found to stimulate the body's ability to burn calories by increasing fat oxidation and thermogenesis (heat production).
Research also demonstrates how different teas can benefit your body. "The various forms of tea-white, green, oolong and black-contain different profiles of individual flavonoids, the antioxidant phytonutrients responsible for many of the health benefits attributed to tea," explains Professor Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. "Studies of large populations reveal a dose-response relationship, that is, the more tea people consume, the lower their risk for conditions like cancer and heart disease."
Tea is also a way to add beneficial phytonutrients to your diet. "Think of tea as another way to eat more plant foods -- two cups of tea provide as many flavonoids as a serving of fruits or vegetables," concludes Dr. Blumberg. "The flavonoid content of tea is highest in freshly brewed, high quality teas, while iced tea and bottled teas are much more dilute."
To get the most from your teacup, Dr. Kinsinger recommends the following:
Drink at least two 8-ounce cups daily of white, green, oolong or black tea.
Drink freshly brewed, high-quality teas like those offered by Celestial Seasonings (either hot or iced). This ensures the highest
concentration of antioxidant flavonoids, which are reduced in instant teas due to additional processing.
Eat a well-balanced diet. While tea contains high levels of healthful flavonoids, fruits and vegetables offer vital sources of vitamins,
minerals, fiber and antioxidants not found in other food groups.
Perhaps the most encouraging finding from all the emerging research is learning that just two cups of tea daily provides useful levels of tea's beneficial phytonutrients. Read More...
Gourmetindia.com : India's portal on food & drink
From my finding, today drinking of Black Tea or Green Tea, Red Tea have difference impact after all, one cannot be over taking it. One also need to know exactly the
"Yin & Yang", "Cold or Hot" in one body before consumming it.
In the "I-Medicine Sutra" every Herbs have it Good & Bad, Hot or Cold, Toxic or Non-Toxic, also the conflict with certain food...etc.
i.e. If one heart is weak, one cannot drink Oolong & Ceylon Tea. As these teas are classified cold or cooling.
I would share more of my knowledge later.
"Think of tea as another way to eat more plant foods -- two cups of tea provide as many flavonoids as a serving of fruits or vegetables,"
Although tea has long been viewed as a revitalizing beverage, only recently has scientific research begun to substantiate the benefits of drinking tea. The results are promising: adding tea to your daily diet could be the edge you need to stay healthy from head to toe.
"New studies reveal how the powerful antioxidant phytonutrients (plant nutrients) in tea, called flavonoids, may help defend the body against a variety of ailments," says Jim Kinsinger, PhD, of Celestial Seasonings. Drinking tea regularly may help many tissues in the body, including:
Heart and Blood Vessels: a recent USDA study reports that tea reduces "bad" LDL cholesterol in the blood and increases the ability of blood vessels to respond to stress. Tea consumption has been linked with a reduced risk for heart disease and stroke in many studies.
Cancer: the flavonoids in tea can act to inhibit the development of precancerous lesions and cancers in many tissues, including bladder,
breast, intestine, liver, lung, mouth, pancreas, and skin, in animal studies and human cell lines.
Bones and Joints: tea consumption may help maintain bone mineral density during aging, reduce osteoporosis, and prevent fractures.
Some research indicates tea flavonoids have anti-inflammatory actions and may reduce the severity of rheumatoid arthritis.
Immune System: one new study from Harvard suggests that tea may help support a healthy immune system that can better defend against infectious diseases.
Liver: tea appears to help support the liver's function in detoxifying the blood, including the elimination of cancer-causing compounds.
Brain: tea may stimulate nerve cells to make more apo-A, a protein which may help delay the onset of dementia associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Teeth: tea is a rich source of natural fluoride, and together with tea flavonoids, may help combat cavity-causing bacteria and plaque.
Weight: green tea flavonoids have been found to stimulate the body's ability to burn calories by increasing fat oxidation and thermogenesis (heat production).
Research also demonstrates how different teas can benefit your body. "The various forms of tea-white, green, oolong and black-contain different profiles of individual flavonoids, the antioxidant phytonutrients responsible for many of the health benefits attributed to tea," explains Professor Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. "Studies of large populations reveal a dose-response relationship, that is, the more tea people consume, the lower their risk for conditions like cancer and heart disease."
Tea is also a way to add beneficial phytonutrients to your diet. "Think of tea as another way to eat more plant foods -- two cups of tea provide as many flavonoids as a serving of fruits or vegetables," concludes Dr. Blumberg. "The flavonoid content of tea is highest in freshly brewed, high quality teas, while iced tea and bottled teas are much more dilute."
To get the most from your teacup, Dr. Kinsinger recommends the following:
Drink at least two 8-ounce cups daily of white, green, oolong or black tea.
Drink freshly brewed, high-quality teas like those offered by Celestial Seasonings (either hot or iced). This ensures the highest
concentration of antioxidant flavonoids, which are reduced in instant teas due to additional processing.
Eat a well-balanced diet. While tea contains high levels of healthful flavonoids, fruits and vegetables offer vital sources of vitamins,
minerals, fiber and antioxidants not found in other food groups.
Perhaps the most encouraging finding from all the emerging research is learning that just two cups of tea daily provides useful levels of tea's beneficial phytonutrients. Read More...
Gourmetindia.com : India's portal on food & drink
Friday, December 31, 2004
Thursday, December 30, 2004
Food-aceuticals: Drink - and Eat - to Your Health
From my research into the wine that have been used for the healing of illness in the "I-Medicine Sutra". Wine especially Rice Wine have been used as the agent to mix with herbs. But it have to be kept for atleast 1-3months dependant on the weather conditions, room temperature & humilities...
As the appended news explain Red Wine & Grape Juice helps to blunt the artery-clogging. because of the antioxidant rich compounds in seeds & skins of grapes.
However, I would like to advise that when drinking red wine or grape juice , kindly drink DRY or low sugar content for your great health.
Flavonoids: What Makes Chocolate and Wine Good for You
The discovery of flavonoids and the bevy of heart-healthy benefits they possess has been a boon to wine and chocolate lovers.
The antioxidant-rich compounds found in the seeds and skins of plants, such as grapes, cocoa beans, and citrus fruits, first gained the attention of researchers in the early 1990s as a means of explaining the so-called French Paradox. Researchers proposed then that French people had lower rates of heart attacks because they drank moderate amounts of red wine with their meals.
Since then, more than 300 studies on grape flavonoids have shown that drinking red wine or grape juice may help blunt the artery-clogging effects of a fatty meal and reduce the risk of heart disease over the long-run.
Many of the same flavonoids in grape products are also found in varying concentrations in green and black tea as well as chocolate, but the bulk of research so far has been focused on grape flavonoids.
"It is exciting that different investigators dealing with grape products, whether it be red wine, de-alcoholized red wine, grape juice, or grape seed and skin extracts, they are all seeing some significant, potentially beneficial things," says John D. Folts, PhD, professor of medicine and nutritional science at the University of Wisconsin Medical School.
Folts says animals with high cholesterol will develop atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries in about six to nine months, a process in humans that takes 20 to 30 years. But several recent studies have shown that when these animals are given grape products, the artery-clogging process slows down.
"The suggestion is that the same thing would work in humans," says Folts. He says the early studies on tea and chocolate flavonoids are promising, but it's still too early to draw any definitive conclusions from them.
Researchers say flavonoids may help promote heart health in several ways, such as:
* Helping to prevent blood clots, which may trigger a heart attack or stroke.
* Preventing cholesterol from entering and damaging blood vessel walls.
* Improving the health of arteries, making them expand and contract more readily, helping them carry blood more effectively.
* Stimulating the production of nitric oxide, which may stall hardening of the arteries.
The "Good" Fat (Fatty Acids)
Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, professor of nutritional science and policy at Tufts University, says although the research is reasonably good in showing that drinking a moderate amount of wine, defined as one or two glasses per day for men and no more than one glass per day for women, is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, it is also associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
"There is still some confusion over alcohol, and I think that's understandable because it has potentially good and bad effects," says Lichtenstein. "One should not start drinking if they don't already, and they have to really weigh the risks and benefits."
She says it's difficult to make a broad recommendation for drinking wine or other types of alcohol based on its potential health benefits because there are also some people who may be more likely to have substance abuse problems with alcohol.
Food-aceuticals: Drink - and Eat - to Your Health
As the appended news explain Red Wine & Grape Juice helps to blunt the artery-clogging. because of the antioxidant rich compounds in seeds & skins of grapes.
However, I would like to advise that when drinking red wine or grape juice , kindly drink DRY or low sugar content for your great health.
Flavonoids: What Makes Chocolate and Wine Good for You
The discovery of flavonoids and the bevy of heart-healthy benefits they possess has been a boon to wine and chocolate lovers.
The antioxidant-rich compounds found in the seeds and skins of plants, such as grapes, cocoa beans, and citrus fruits, first gained the attention of researchers in the early 1990s as a means of explaining the so-called French Paradox. Researchers proposed then that French people had lower rates of heart attacks because they drank moderate amounts of red wine with their meals.
Since then, more than 300 studies on grape flavonoids have shown that drinking red wine or grape juice may help blunt the artery-clogging effects of a fatty meal and reduce the risk of heart disease over the long-run.
Many of the same flavonoids in grape products are also found in varying concentrations in green and black tea as well as chocolate, but the bulk of research so far has been focused on grape flavonoids.
"It is exciting that different investigators dealing with grape products, whether it be red wine, de-alcoholized red wine, grape juice, or grape seed and skin extracts, they are all seeing some significant, potentially beneficial things," says John D. Folts, PhD, professor of medicine and nutritional science at the University of Wisconsin Medical School.
Folts says animals with high cholesterol will develop atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries in about six to nine months, a process in humans that takes 20 to 30 years. But several recent studies have shown that when these animals are given grape products, the artery-clogging process slows down.
"The suggestion is that the same thing would work in humans," says Folts. He says the early studies on tea and chocolate flavonoids are promising, but it's still too early to draw any definitive conclusions from them.
Researchers say flavonoids may help promote heart health in several ways, such as:
* Helping to prevent blood clots, which may trigger a heart attack or stroke.
* Preventing cholesterol from entering and damaging blood vessel walls.
* Improving the health of arteries, making them expand and contract more readily, helping them carry blood more effectively.
* Stimulating the production of nitric oxide, which may stall hardening of the arteries.
The "Good" Fat (Fatty Acids)
Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, professor of nutritional science and policy at Tufts University, says although the research is reasonably good in showing that drinking a moderate amount of wine, defined as one or two glasses per day for men and no more than one glass per day for women, is associated with a lower risk of heart disease, it is also associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.
"There is still some confusion over alcohol, and I think that's understandable because it has potentially good and bad effects," says Lichtenstein. "One should not start drinking if they don't already, and they have to really weigh the risks and benefits."
She says it's difficult to make a broad recommendation for drinking wine or other types of alcohol based on its potential health benefits because there are also some people who may be more likely to have substance abuse problems with alcohol.
Food-aceuticals: Drink - and Eat - to Your Health
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Pineapple extract could help asthma patients - Dole Nutrition Institute
Pineapple is know for it rich content of vitamin C, fiber as well as enzyme. According to the "I-Medicine Sutra" the Character of Pineapple is more on the "Yin", it is used to clear the toxin of the stomach & Intestine of the body.
It is recommend that the pineapple juice only drink in the morning or afternoon. It is also a juice to lower cholesterol.
Pineapple extract could help asthma patients
15/09/2004 - The enzyme bromelain, extracted from the juice and stem of the pineapple plant, appears to reduce inflammation associated with asthma.
A study on mice found that the common supplement significantly reduced markers for lung inflammation, researchers told a meeting of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians last weekend.
Dr Eric Secor, NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Connecticut Health Center, tested three groups of mice that were induced with acute asthma : a control group, and two groups treated with different doses of bromelain, either 2mg or 6mg per kg. The bromelain supplement was provided by US-based firm Vital Nutrients.
All mice were treated for eight days. The researcher found that bromelain significantly reduced the total white blood cell count, which increases with onset of asthma, compared to the control group.
The cell markers for inflammatory asthma – eosinophils – were reduced by more than 50 per cent following the supplement, which also appeared to more effective in a higher dose.
Other studies have demonstrated that bromelain significantly reduces inflammation and pain but Dr Secor said he was not aware of any human trials investigating bromelain’s action on asthma.
He also noted that he delivered the supplement to the mice by injection rather than orally but he has designed a pilot study for oral use in humans and will begin the submission process for IRB approval and funding early next year.
“We are hopeful that a well-designed, randomized, controlled clinical trial will be able to properly assess bromelain's efficacy in the management of asthma,” he told NutraIngredients.com.
It could offer a breakthrough for the millions of people currently suffering from asthma. Asthma is the most common long term condition in the UK today, according to the National Asthma Campaign, and incidence of the disease is rising in all developed countries, thought by some to be triggered by modern lifestyles, including pollution and hygiene. Read More....
Dole Nutrition Institute
It is recommend that the pineapple juice only drink in the morning or afternoon. It is also a juice to lower cholesterol.
Pineapple extract could help asthma patients
15/09/2004 - The enzyme bromelain, extracted from the juice and stem of the pineapple plant, appears to reduce inflammation associated with asthma.
A study on mice found that the common supplement significantly reduced markers for lung inflammation, researchers told a meeting of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians last weekend.
Dr Eric Secor, NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Connecticut Health Center, tested three groups of mice that were induced with acute asthma : a control group, and two groups treated with different doses of bromelain, either 2mg or 6mg per kg. The bromelain supplement was provided by US-based firm Vital Nutrients.
All mice were treated for eight days. The researcher found that bromelain significantly reduced the total white blood cell count, which increases with onset of asthma, compared to the control group.
The cell markers for inflammatory asthma – eosinophils – were reduced by more than 50 per cent following the supplement, which also appeared to more effective in a higher dose.
Other studies have demonstrated that bromelain significantly reduces inflammation and pain but Dr Secor said he was not aware of any human trials investigating bromelain’s action on asthma.
He also noted that he delivered the supplement to the mice by injection rather than orally but he has designed a pilot study for oral use in humans and will begin the submission process for IRB approval and funding early next year.
“We are hopeful that a well-designed, randomized, controlled clinical trial will be able to properly assess bromelain's efficacy in the management of asthma,” he told NutraIngredients.com.
It could offer a breakthrough for the millions of people currently suffering from asthma. Asthma is the most common long term condition in the UK today, according to the National Asthma Campaign, and incidence of the disease is rising in all developed countries, thought by some to be triggered by modern lifestyles, including pollution and hygiene. Read More....
Dole Nutrition Institute
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Over-the-counter cholesterol drug coming?
Although this is a good news for those who have high LDL (Bad) cholesterol. I don't encourage people to take any pills so as to prevent any long term side effect.
In reference to the chinese herbs sutra, the following Drinks would help to reduce the LDL cholesterol level:
Pamerlo Juice
Celery & carot Juice
Soy Drinks
Grapefruit Juice
Tomato Juice
Red Tea
Green Tea
Red Wine
Purple Grape Juice
Over-the-counter cholesterol drug coming?
By Julie Appleby, USA TODAY
Merck next month will make its second try for approval to sell cholesterol drug Mevacor without a prescription.
If the Food and Drug Administration approves, cholesterol drugs would become the third type of drug to switch from prescription to over-the counter status in the USA. Bristol-Myers Squibb said this month that it also intends to seek non-prescription status for cholesterol drug Pravachol.
Unlike the other two categories, allergy pills and stomach acid remedies, cholesterol-lowering drugs are aimed at a chronic condition that is without symptoms. Cholesterol drugs, the No. 1-selling category in the USA at $14 billion in sales last year, also raise the risk of liver, kidney and muscle problems.
The switch must be approved by the FDA. An advisory committee will consider Merck's application on Jan. 13-14. Nearly four years ago, an FDA advisory committee recommended against allowing Mevacor to be sold without a prescription. Members said then that they wanted more information about whether consumers would use the drug properly.
Merck says it now has a study showing that consumers can make those decisions. Mevacor, of a class of drugs called statins, went on the market in 1987 and is no longer under patent protection. Several companies sell a generic equivalent, known as lovastatin. Merck's other cholesterol drug, Zocor, whose patent expires in 2006, won the United Kingdom's approval in August for sales directly to consumers.
"For some people, it's a large shift in their thinking to having consumers treat themselves," says Ed Hemwall, vice president of Johnson & Johnson/Merck, a joint marketing venture.
But, he says, heart disease remains the nation's top killer — and many patients haven't sought treatment for cholesterol, one risk factor.
Still, some doctors are skeptical.
"I think it is a very bad idea," says Brian Strom, a medical doctor and professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Over-the-counter drugs are meant for short-term conditions that patients can diagnose themselves, he says. "High cholesterol has none of those things." Read More...
USATODAY.com - Over-the-counter cholesterol drug coming?
In reference to the chinese herbs sutra, the following Drinks would help to reduce the LDL cholesterol level:
Pamerlo Juice
Celery & carot Juice
Soy Drinks
Grapefruit Juice
Tomato Juice
Red Tea
Green Tea
Red Wine
Purple Grape Juice
Over-the-counter cholesterol drug coming?
By Julie Appleby, USA TODAY
Merck next month will make its second try for approval to sell cholesterol drug Mevacor without a prescription.
If the Food and Drug Administration approves, cholesterol drugs would become the third type of drug to switch from prescription to over-the counter status in the USA. Bristol-Myers Squibb said this month that it also intends to seek non-prescription status for cholesterol drug Pravachol.
Unlike the other two categories, allergy pills and stomach acid remedies, cholesterol-lowering drugs are aimed at a chronic condition that is without symptoms. Cholesterol drugs, the No. 1-selling category in the USA at $14 billion in sales last year, also raise the risk of liver, kidney and muscle problems.
The switch must be approved by the FDA. An advisory committee will consider Merck's application on Jan. 13-14. Nearly four years ago, an FDA advisory committee recommended against allowing Mevacor to be sold without a prescription. Members said then that they wanted more information about whether consumers would use the drug properly.
Merck says it now has a study showing that consumers can make those decisions. Mevacor, of a class of drugs called statins, went on the market in 1987 and is no longer under patent protection. Several companies sell a generic equivalent, known as lovastatin. Merck's other cholesterol drug, Zocor, whose patent expires in 2006, won the United Kingdom's approval in August for sales directly to consumers.
"For some people, it's a large shift in their thinking to having consumers treat themselves," says Ed Hemwall, vice president of Johnson & Johnson/Merck, a joint marketing venture.
But, he says, heart disease remains the nation's top killer — and many patients haven't sought treatment for cholesterol, one risk factor.
Still, some doctors are skeptical.
"I think it is a very bad idea," says Brian Strom, a medical doctor and professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Over-the-counter drugs are meant for short-term conditions that patients can diagnose themselves, he says. "High cholesterol has none of those things." Read More...
USATODAY.com - Over-the-counter cholesterol drug coming?
Melatonin - Study Casts Doubt On Its Effectiveness
My late father was a drinker till 73 years old, he usually drink XO then take sleeping pill for his insomnia problem. After he have the 4th time stroke in his life & heart attack, he have to gave up drinking & taking sleeping pill.
I did use Melatonin when I am doing about 6 round the world trips a year. Then later I found that it is not effective & my heart is weaken. Then I stop taking it there after. I am against of using pills to help to sleep.
Don't Drink
Alcohol or Spirits
Coffee
Strong Tea Especially those Tea with caffine
Don't Drink anything 1 hours before go to bed
Here is the advise for drinks that would help you to sleep
Pepper Mint
Tomato Juice
Warm Milk with Honey
Ginseng with Honey
I do have the Herbs tea that would help you to sleep better. You can write to me at my email address on this page.
Study Casts Doubt On Its Effectiveness
Remember back in the late 1990s, all the publicity about this new "wonder drug" called melatonin? It all started with the book "The Melatonin Miracle" by William Regelson, MD, and Walter Pierpaoli, MD.
At that time the claims were for everything from age reduction to increasing sexual prowess. It was said to be a sure cure for anything sleep related.
The truth? first, melatonin isn't a drug at all. It's a naturally occurring hormone produced by the pineal gland, a gland situated somewhere near the center of the brain. It does, to some extent, control our sleep patterns and there is a theory that it is related to anti-aging. Maybe because we age less if we're getting the proper rest. Sexual prowess? Very doubtful, unless it prevents us from dropping off to sleep at the wrong moment.
Melatonin can be purchased as a food supplement, and there is some evidence that it does help with certain sleep problems. However, according to a study test conducted by a University of Alberta research group, melatonin may not be as effective as once thought.
It may help people with primary sleep problems fall asleep a bit easier. This would include some types of insomnia. However, for secondary sleep disorders - those linked to underlying mental problems including psychoses, dementia, Parkinson's disease, etc., melatonin is of little or no help. Melatonin seemed to have little effect on those suffering from jet lag or on shift workers who had trouble sleeping.
Dr. Terry Klassen, who headed up the research group, said that further study would be needed to determine the effectiveness and safety of melatonin. Little is known about long serm side effects. However, he suggested, it might be more worthwhile to keep looking for other alternatives to treat sleep disorders. Read More...
Melatonin - Printer Friendly
I did use Melatonin when I am doing about 6 round the world trips a year. Then later I found that it is not effective & my heart is weaken. Then I stop taking it there after. I am against of using pills to help to sleep.
Don't Drink
Alcohol or Spirits
Coffee
Strong Tea Especially those Tea with caffine
Don't Drink anything 1 hours before go to bed
Here is the advise for drinks that would help you to sleep
Pepper Mint
Tomato Juice
Warm Milk with Honey
Ginseng with Honey
I do have the Herbs tea that would help you to sleep better. You can write to me at my email address on this page.
Study Casts Doubt On Its Effectiveness
Remember back in the late 1990s, all the publicity about this new "wonder drug" called melatonin? It all started with the book "The Melatonin Miracle" by William Regelson, MD, and Walter Pierpaoli, MD.
At that time the claims were for everything from age reduction to increasing sexual prowess. It was said to be a sure cure for anything sleep related.
The truth? first, melatonin isn't a drug at all. It's a naturally occurring hormone produced by the pineal gland, a gland situated somewhere near the center of the brain. It does, to some extent, control our sleep patterns and there is a theory that it is related to anti-aging. Maybe because we age less if we're getting the proper rest. Sexual prowess? Very doubtful, unless it prevents us from dropping off to sleep at the wrong moment.
Melatonin can be purchased as a food supplement, and there is some evidence that it does help with certain sleep problems. However, according to a study test conducted by a University of Alberta research group, melatonin may not be as effective as once thought.
It may help people with primary sleep problems fall asleep a bit easier. This would include some types of insomnia. However, for secondary sleep disorders - those linked to underlying mental problems including psychoses, dementia, Parkinson's disease, etc., melatonin is of little or no help. Melatonin seemed to have little effect on those suffering from jet lag or on shift workers who had trouble sleeping.
Dr. Terry Klassen, who headed up the research group, said that further study would be needed to determine the effectiveness and safety of melatonin. Little is known about long serm side effects. However, he suggested, it might be more worthwhile to keep looking for other alternatives to treat sleep disorders. Read More...
Melatonin - Printer Friendly
Monday, December 27, 2004
Diet Soda Could Soon Outsell Regular
My late Mom always stop us from drinking Cola & coloring drinks. She said that all these high sugar or sugar subsitute drinks would give rise not only Diabetics but also othe "Chi" related problem in the later age.
Now at the age of 50, I really understand her reason for her doing...I urge you all to restrain from drinking Cola or any type of Gassy drinks for your great health.
Diet Soda Could Soon Outsell Regular
Tue Dec 21,10:40 PM ET
By J.M. HIRSCH, Associated Press Writer
Still think the cola wars are about Coke vs. Pepsi? These days the carbonated beverage battleground is diet vs. regular, and it's looking increasingly as though the lightweight could flatten its full-calorie cousin.
Though the highly competitive $64 billion soft drink industry still is dominated by regular soda, sales of diet are surging and some industry analysts say low-cal eventually could take the lead.
That's because while regular soda sales have sagged, diet's share of the market has grown steadily since the mid-1990s. Bottled water, tea, sports and fruits drinks also are up, further siphoning regular soda sales.
In an obese nation obsessed with calories and carbs, it probably shouldn't come as a surprise that people are switching to diet, and beverage companies are rushing to give them more choices.
In many ways the soft drink industry is better prepared than most others to capitalize on America's perpetual diet.
"There's no such thing as a no-calorie hamburger. There's no such thing as a no-calorie doughnut," said John Sicher, editor of Beverage Digest. "But the soft drink industry already has these huge powerful brands" of diet drinks.
Last year, regular soda accounted for nearly 73 percent of sales, but that was down nearly 2 percent from the year before, Sicher said. Meanwhile, diet was up more than 6 percent from 2002.
Sicher thinks that trend will continue and even accelerate enough that in a decade diet could outsell regular. He also thinks diet sales will spur overall growth in the soda industry, which slumped at less than 1 percent last year.
In fact, John Craven, editor of online beverage industry newsletter Bevnet.com, says soft drink consumption was down nearly 3 percent last year. If not for the growth in diet soda, that would have been closer to 10 percent.
Coca-Cola Co. spokesman Scott Williamson said Sicher makes sense assuming sales trends continue as they have. And last week Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., the world's largest bottler, told analysts that the diet category is one of the company's best chances for growth.
So what's behind diet's strong performance?
Calorie consciousness is a huge — and obvious — part of it. Prompted by a growing awareness of their growing waistlines, more people want low- and no-calorie soft drinks, said Sicher, who has followed the industry for 10 years.
That awareness also extends to retailers, who hope to attract dieters' business by giving more — and more prominent — space to low-cal beverages, said Dan Dillon, vice president of marketing for Coke's diet sodas.
Innovation has helped, too. Soda companies are churning out a stunning variety of new diet flavors. PepsiCo Inc. alone offers nearly a dozen low-calorie sodas, which account for more than a quarter of the company's business.
New sweeteners also have broadened the appeal — and definition — of diet sodas. Coke and Pepsi now offer soft drinks with a blend of sugar and no-calorie sweetener, claiming the taste is similar to regular but with half the calories.
Growth and greater appeal or not, not everyone is convinced diets will surpass regular. Harry Balzer of consumer research firm NPD Group says the numbers simply don't support that sort of abrupt turnaround.
Craven was uncertain, but noted that, "At the end of the day, the recession (of regular soda) can only go so far."
But even if the growth of diet soda doesn't go as far as Sicher predicts, at the moment it's the only segment of the soda industry that is growing, and that has forced companies to rethink how they handle it.
At Coke, Dillon says it has meant treating the diet varieties as separate entities. Gone is the model of diet beverages as knockoffs of regular flavors. Care for a Diet Coke with Lime? That's fine, but don't look for a regular version.
And consumers can expect plenty of new choices in the coming year, including the arrival of more reduced-calorie sugar-sweetener blend beverages, such as Coke's C2 and Pepsi Edge, Craven said.
For nutritionists, who continue to issue dire warnings about the obesity epidemic, a diet soda surge is good news. Though the soda industry discounts the link, a growing body of studies suggests soft drinks promote weight gain.
Last year, Americans drank 837 servings of soda, up from 645 in 1985, Sicher said. And those drinks account for 7 percent of their daily calories, said Barry Popkin, a nutrition professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.Read More...
Yahoo! News - Diet Soda Could Soon Outsell Regular
Now at the age of 50, I really understand her reason for her doing...I urge you all to restrain from drinking Cola or any type of Gassy drinks for your great health.
Diet Soda Could Soon Outsell Regular
Tue Dec 21,10:40 PM ET
By J.M. HIRSCH, Associated Press Writer
Still think the cola wars are about Coke vs. Pepsi? These days the carbonated beverage battleground is diet vs. regular, and it's looking increasingly as though the lightweight could flatten its full-calorie cousin.
Though the highly competitive $64 billion soft drink industry still is dominated by regular soda, sales of diet are surging and some industry analysts say low-cal eventually could take the lead.
That's because while regular soda sales have sagged, diet's share of the market has grown steadily since the mid-1990s. Bottled water, tea, sports and fruits drinks also are up, further siphoning regular soda sales.
In an obese nation obsessed with calories and carbs, it probably shouldn't come as a surprise that people are switching to diet, and beverage companies are rushing to give them more choices.
In many ways the soft drink industry is better prepared than most others to capitalize on America's perpetual diet.
"There's no such thing as a no-calorie hamburger. There's no such thing as a no-calorie doughnut," said John Sicher, editor of Beverage Digest. "But the soft drink industry already has these huge powerful brands" of diet drinks.
Last year, regular soda accounted for nearly 73 percent of sales, but that was down nearly 2 percent from the year before, Sicher said. Meanwhile, diet was up more than 6 percent from 2002.
Sicher thinks that trend will continue and even accelerate enough that in a decade diet could outsell regular. He also thinks diet sales will spur overall growth in the soda industry, which slumped at less than 1 percent last year.
In fact, John Craven, editor of online beverage industry newsletter Bevnet.com, says soft drink consumption was down nearly 3 percent last year. If not for the growth in diet soda, that would have been closer to 10 percent.
Coca-Cola Co. spokesman Scott Williamson said Sicher makes sense assuming sales trends continue as they have. And last week Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc., the world's largest bottler, told analysts that the diet category is one of the company's best chances for growth.
So what's behind diet's strong performance?
Calorie consciousness is a huge — and obvious — part of it. Prompted by a growing awareness of their growing waistlines, more people want low- and no-calorie soft drinks, said Sicher, who has followed the industry for 10 years.
That awareness also extends to retailers, who hope to attract dieters' business by giving more — and more prominent — space to low-cal beverages, said Dan Dillon, vice president of marketing for Coke's diet sodas.
Innovation has helped, too. Soda companies are churning out a stunning variety of new diet flavors. PepsiCo Inc. alone offers nearly a dozen low-calorie sodas, which account for more than a quarter of the company's business.
New sweeteners also have broadened the appeal — and definition — of diet sodas. Coke and Pepsi now offer soft drinks with a blend of sugar and no-calorie sweetener, claiming the taste is similar to regular but with half the calories.
Growth and greater appeal or not, not everyone is convinced diets will surpass regular. Harry Balzer of consumer research firm NPD Group says the numbers simply don't support that sort of abrupt turnaround.
Craven was uncertain, but noted that, "At the end of the day, the recession (of regular soda) can only go so far."
But even if the growth of diet soda doesn't go as far as Sicher predicts, at the moment it's the only segment of the soda industry that is growing, and that has forced companies to rethink how they handle it.
At Coke, Dillon says it has meant treating the diet varieties as separate entities. Gone is the model of diet beverages as knockoffs of regular flavors. Care for a Diet Coke with Lime? That's fine, but don't look for a regular version.
And consumers can expect plenty of new choices in the coming year, including the arrival of more reduced-calorie sugar-sweetener blend beverages, such as Coke's C2 and Pepsi Edge, Craven said.
For nutritionists, who continue to issue dire warnings about the obesity epidemic, a diet soda surge is good news. Though the soda industry discounts the link, a growing body of studies suggests soft drinks promote weight gain.
Last year, Americans drank 837 servings of soda, up from 645 in 1985, Sicher said. And those drinks account for 7 percent of their daily calories, said Barry Popkin, a nutrition professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.Read More...
Yahoo! News - Diet Soda Could Soon Outsell Regular
A Nutty Way to Improve Cholesterol in Diabetes - Trustworthy, Physician-Reviewed Information from WebMD
According to "I-Medicine Sutra" Walnuts is good for the Brain; Kidney; Bladder in our body, it have been used as a herbs to heal the disease of these organs.
For over 6,000 years these knowledge have passed on. There are Walnuts paste or congee for breakfast, Walnuts Drinks for refreashing, Walnuts as condiments.
My experience is that when I was having the Bladder & Kidney weakness, frequent to pass urine, my late mom make the Walnuts Milk with ginger as a drink for me for 3 months . It works.
A Nutty Way to Improve Cholesterol in Diabetes
Eating a Healthy Diet Including Walnuts May Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risks By Jennifer Warner
Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
on Friday, December 03, 2004
WebMD Medical News
Dec. 3, 2004 -- Incorporating a handful of walnuts into a healthy diet may help people with type 2 diabetes improve their cholesterol levels and reduce their risk of heart disease, a new study suggests.
Researchers found including walnuts as part of a balanced, low-fat diet helped people with diabetes increase their "good" HDL cholesterol levels while lowering their "bad" LDL cholesterol levels.
But don't reach for the nut bowl just yet. Experts say merely adding walnuts to an already unhealthy diet won't necessarily undo the damage. Instead, they say it's important to substitute walnuts for other sources of fat in the diet in order to achieve the best results.
Walnuts contain an omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid or ALA, which is similar to the omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish, such as salmon. Previous studies have shown that alpha-linolenic acid has a number of heart-healthy effects, including improving cholesterol levels.
Researchers say this is one of the first studies to look at the effects of the fatty acids found in walnuts in people with type 2 diabetes.
Walnuts May Aid in Diabetes Management
In the study, which appears in the December issue of Diabetes Care, researchers looked at the effects of three different diets on cholesterol levels in older adults with type 2 diabetes.
Nearly 60 men and women were divided into three groups that followed three different diet plans: a low-fat diet, a modified-fat diet, or a modified-fat diet that included eight to 10 walnuts per day (30 grams). All of the diets were based on eating a variety of whole foods, such as cereals and breads, fruits and vegetables, lean meat, fish, and low-fat dairy products with no more than 30% of total calories from fat.
After six months of the diet, the results showed that the people who ate the modified-fat diet including walnuts experienced a bigger increase in "good" HDL cholesterol levels than those in the other two diets. People who ate walnuts as part of a balanced diet also experienced an average 10% reduction in "bad" LDL cholesterol levels.
Researchers say the study suggests that incorporating walnuts into a healthy diet may be an easy way for people with type 2 diabetes to get the right kinds of fats and fatty acids into their diet.
"Walnuts are an easy and convenient way of getting polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids into the diet. And they're particularly important for people with diabetes because they're a simple snack food, which is an integral component of managing the diet in diabetes," says researcher Linda Tapsell, PhD, of the University of Wollongong in Australia, in a news release. read More....
A Nutty Way to Improve Cholesterol in Diabetes - Trustworthy, Physician-Reviewed Information from WebMD
For over 6,000 years these knowledge have passed on. There are Walnuts paste or congee for breakfast, Walnuts Drinks for refreashing, Walnuts as condiments.
My experience is that when I was having the Bladder & Kidney weakness, frequent to pass urine, my late mom make the Walnuts Milk with ginger as a drink for me for 3 months . It works.
A Nutty Way to Improve Cholesterol in Diabetes
Eating a Healthy Diet Including Walnuts May Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risks By Jennifer Warner
Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
on Friday, December 03, 2004
WebMD Medical News
Dec. 3, 2004 -- Incorporating a handful of walnuts into a healthy diet may help people with type 2 diabetes improve their cholesterol levels and reduce their risk of heart disease, a new study suggests.
Researchers found including walnuts as part of a balanced, low-fat diet helped people with diabetes increase their "good" HDL cholesterol levels while lowering their "bad" LDL cholesterol levels.
But don't reach for the nut bowl just yet. Experts say merely adding walnuts to an already unhealthy diet won't necessarily undo the damage. Instead, they say it's important to substitute walnuts for other sources of fat in the diet in order to achieve the best results.
Walnuts contain an omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid or ALA, which is similar to the omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish, such as salmon. Previous studies have shown that alpha-linolenic acid has a number of heart-healthy effects, including improving cholesterol levels.
Researchers say this is one of the first studies to look at the effects of the fatty acids found in walnuts in people with type 2 diabetes.
Walnuts May Aid in Diabetes Management
In the study, which appears in the December issue of Diabetes Care, researchers looked at the effects of three different diets on cholesterol levels in older adults with type 2 diabetes.
Nearly 60 men and women were divided into three groups that followed three different diet plans: a low-fat diet, a modified-fat diet, or a modified-fat diet that included eight to 10 walnuts per day (30 grams). All of the diets were based on eating a variety of whole foods, such as cereals and breads, fruits and vegetables, lean meat, fish, and low-fat dairy products with no more than 30% of total calories from fat.
After six months of the diet, the results showed that the people who ate the modified-fat diet including walnuts experienced a bigger increase in "good" HDL cholesterol levels than those in the other two diets. People who ate walnuts as part of a balanced diet also experienced an average 10% reduction in "bad" LDL cholesterol levels.
Researchers say the study suggests that incorporating walnuts into a healthy diet may be an easy way for people with type 2 diabetes to get the right kinds of fats and fatty acids into their diet.
"Walnuts are an easy and convenient way of getting polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids into the diet. And they're particularly important for people with diabetes because they're a simple snack food, which is an integral component of managing the diet in diabetes," says researcher Linda Tapsell, PhD, of the University of Wollongong in Australia, in a news release. read More....
A Nutty Way to Improve Cholesterol in Diabetes - Trustworthy, Physician-Reviewed Information from WebMD
Sunday, December 26, 2004
Holidays spark heartburn and heart attacks
Yes, the Heart Burn & Heart Attacks is closely related to what we drink & what eat.
This is exactly true for the old saying "We are what we eat, We are what we Drink!!"
Drinking of alcohols & spirits would certainly increase the chances of heart attack.
Therfore, please be mindful of what you drink not only the Alcohols & spirits but also those soup with high sodium & acid content soup.
Holidays spark heartburn and heart attacks
The Associated Press
For the tens of millions of heartburn sufferers, navigating the gluttonous dinner table during the holiday season can be especially tricky.
Heartburn tends to occur more frequently during the holidays because people feast more than they normally would. And the types of food they eat are decked with more calories and fat, which can slow digestion.
Take eggnog, the rich, creamy, liquor-laced drink that is often a staple at every family gathering and office party. Couple it with well-marbled meats, side dishes drizzling with rich sauces and lots of alcohol and you have the recipe for heartburn.
That doesn't mean you should swear off your favorite foods on Christmas Eve.
"You can make trade-offs that let you have the best of both worlds," said Pat Baird, a registered dietitian in Greenwich, Conn.
If you know ahead of time the party you're attending will feature heartburn-triggering foods, snack beforehand and graze at the party, but avoid the fat platters. If there is a dessert buffet, choose a sliver of something sweet instead of trying them all.
Alcohol tends to worsen heartburn, so if you must drink, think about diluting your wine or beer with water or club soda, Baird said.
More than 60 million American adults suffer from heartburn at least once a month. An irritating chest pain that starts at the breastbone and charges up the throat, heartburn can cause people to accidentally inhale regurgitated stomach acid.
Severe heartburn symptoms are sometimes confused with heart attacks, another holiday risk.
A study published in the journal Circulation earlier this month found that heart attacks and heart disease-related deaths tend to peak on Christmas, the day after, and New Year's Day. Researchers at the University of California at San Diego attributed the increase of cardiac deaths to people delaying medical treatment during the holidays.
People should make sure they know the difference between heartburn and heart attack symptoms and not automatically assume their chest pain is from overindulgence from food, said Dr. David Peura, chairman of the National Heartburn Alliance, who was not connected with the study.
Heartburn usually occurs after a meal. A heart attack is often activity-related. But if patients are unsure and their chest pain lasts for more than a few minutes, they should seek immediate medical attention.
The most common heartburn treatments are over-the-counter and prescription heartburn drugs. Pharmacies report a spike in the number of customers buying acid-blocking medications around the holidays, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association, which represents 25,000 independent pharmacies.
Brian Pinga, a 22-year-old student at the University of Buffalo, has been suffering frequent heartburn for two years. His normal diet is "bland" — meaning no spicy foods and little alcohol, coffee or chocolate.
But Pinga admits it is tough staying true to his diet over the holidays when he is surrounded by family and friends indulging in all sorts of sinful foods. Last New Year's Eve, Pinga got carried away, drank too much and felt a "stabbing" feeling in his chest from heartburn. Rea More...
USATODAY.com - Holidays spark heartburn and heart attacks
This is exactly true for the old saying "We are what we eat, We are what we Drink!!"
Drinking of alcohols & spirits would certainly increase the chances of heart attack.
Therfore, please be mindful of what you drink not only the Alcohols & spirits but also those soup with high sodium & acid content soup.
Holidays spark heartburn and heart attacks
The Associated Press
For the tens of millions of heartburn sufferers, navigating the gluttonous dinner table during the holiday season can be especially tricky.
Heartburn tends to occur more frequently during the holidays because people feast more than they normally would. And the types of food they eat are decked with more calories and fat, which can slow digestion.
Take eggnog, the rich, creamy, liquor-laced drink that is often a staple at every family gathering and office party. Couple it with well-marbled meats, side dishes drizzling with rich sauces and lots of alcohol and you have the recipe for heartburn.
That doesn't mean you should swear off your favorite foods on Christmas Eve.
"You can make trade-offs that let you have the best of both worlds," said Pat Baird, a registered dietitian in Greenwich, Conn.
If you know ahead of time the party you're attending will feature heartburn-triggering foods, snack beforehand and graze at the party, but avoid the fat platters. If there is a dessert buffet, choose a sliver of something sweet instead of trying them all.
Alcohol tends to worsen heartburn, so if you must drink, think about diluting your wine or beer with water or club soda, Baird said.
More than 60 million American adults suffer from heartburn at least once a month. An irritating chest pain that starts at the breastbone and charges up the throat, heartburn can cause people to accidentally inhale regurgitated stomach acid.
Severe heartburn symptoms are sometimes confused with heart attacks, another holiday risk.
A study published in the journal Circulation earlier this month found that heart attacks and heart disease-related deaths tend to peak on Christmas, the day after, and New Year's Day. Researchers at the University of California at San Diego attributed the increase of cardiac deaths to people delaying medical treatment during the holidays.
People should make sure they know the difference between heartburn and heart attack symptoms and not automatically assume their chest pain is from overindulgence from food, said Dr. David Peura, chairman of the National Heartburn Alliance, who was not connected with the study.
Heartburn usually occurs after a meal. A heart attack is often activity-related. But if patients are unsure and their chest pain lasts for more than a few minutes, they should seek immediate medical attention.
The most common heartburn treatments are over-the-counter and prescription heartburn drugs. Pharmacies report a spike in the number of customers buying acid-blocking medications around the holidays, according to the National Community Pharmacists Association, which represents 25,000 independent pharmacies.
Brian Pinga, a 22-year-old student at the University of Buffalo, has been suffering frequent heartburn for two years. His normal diet is "bland" — meaning no spicy foods and little alcohol, coffee or chocolate.
But Pinga admits it is tough staying true to his diet over the holidays when he is surrounded by family and friends indulging in all sorts of sinful foods. Last New Year's Eve, Pinga got carried away, drank too much and felt a "stabbing" feeling in his chest from heartburn. Rea More...
USATODAY.com - Holidays spark heartburn and heart attacks
Saturday, December 25, 2004
SoyBean Isoflavones
SoyBean have been used as the mother's milk supplement in China for at least 5,000 years. Soy drinks have been very popular in Taiwan, Thailand, South East Asia & now in Amercia.
Soy food is rich in proteins, the appended is the short write up I found. Would keep you updates...
Soybean Isoflavones
Description
Soy is a unique dietary source of the isoflavones, such as genistein and daidzein. It has been part of the Southeast Asian diet for nearly five millennia, whereas consumption of soy in the Western World has been limited until the 20th century. Heavy consumption of soy in Southeast Asian people is associated with reduction in the rates of certain cancers and cardiovascular disease, and the troublesome side effects that may accompany with menopause. Recent experimental evidence suggests that isoflavones in soy, which has been scientifically analyzed since the 80’s, are responsible for the beneficial effects.
SoyBean Isoflavones
Soy food is rich in proteins, the appended is the short write up I found. Would keep you updates...
Soybean Isoflavones
Description
Soy is a unique dietary source of the isoflavones, such as genistein and daidzein. It has been part of the Southeast Asian diet for nearly five millennia, whereas consumption of soy in the Western World has been limited until the 20th century. Heavy consumption of soy in Southeast Asian people is associated with reduction in the rates of certain cancers and cardiovascular disease, and the troublesome side effects that may accompany with menopause. Recent experimental evidence suggests that isoflavones in soy, which has been scientifically analyzed since the 80’s, are responsible for the beneficial effects.
SoyBean Isoflavones
Water agency seeks state loan - The Sacramento Bee
Tax payer's money is used for the good cause for these kind of Water Treatment project. Action must be swift & prompt, so that time & money is not lost.
Water agency seeks state loan
By Art Campos -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, December 23, 2004
The Placer County Water Agency will seek a low-interest state loan of $9 million to help expand and upgrade its Auburn Water Treatment Plant.
Agency directors authorized the administrative staff members last week to apply for the loan from the California Safe Drinking Water Act revolving fund.
Brian Martin, PCWA director of technical services, said the loan, if approved, would pay for one-third of the estimated $26.3 million project.
The remainder would be financed by water-connection charges to developers and new customers and through water bill charges for state-and federally mandated programs, Martin said.
The treatment plant, which operates at a capacity of 6 million gallons of water a day, is on six acres next to the agency's business center on Ferguson Road.Read More...
Water agency seeks state loan - The Sacramento Bee
Water agency seeks state loan
By Art Campos -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Thursday, December 23, 2004
The Placer County Water Agency will seek a low-interest state loan of $9 million to help expand and upgrade its Auburn Water Treatment Plant.
Agency directors authorized the administrative staff members last week to apply for the loan from the California Safe Drinking Water Act revolving fund.
Brian Martin, PCWA director of technical services, said the loan, if approved, would pay for one-third of the estimated $26.3 million project.
The remainder would be financed by water-connection charges to developers and new customers and through water bill charges for state-and federally mandated programs, Martin said.
The treatment plant, which operates at a capacity of 6 million gallons of water a day, is on six acres next to the agency's business center on Ferguson Road.Read More...
Water agency seeks state loan - The Sacramento Bee
Friday, December 24, 2004
Asian Style Shrimp Soup recipe by AICR
Although the caption is sated as soup for Summer. But the Asian soup is good for any occassion. However, there are different soup for different season, that is highly depend on the herbs & vegetable that used.
My recommendation for this soup recipes is that add more Ginger & Onion, 1 can of Chicken broth is enough otherwise it would be too salty.
An Asian Soup for Summer
FROM THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH
Since at least the third century B.C., the Chinese have appreciated a bowl of soup at almost anytime of day, from breakfast to a late-night snack. Other Asian countries have followed suit. Many Asian soups are light and easy to prepare, and are therefore perfect in hot weather.
A hot, but light, summer soup can make a satisfying meal anywhere in the world. Using fresh basil, mint and cilantro from the summer garden makes it even easier to make and better to eat.
A clear broth enlivened with the flavors of fresh herbs, colorful carrots and a few simply-prepared shrimp makes a good summer meal.
Shrimp is America’s favorite shellfish. There are hundreds of species from both warm and cold water. They come in many colors and sizes but all change color - to pink or red - when cooked because of a heat-caused chemical reaction. Shrimp are sold according to size. When buying shrimp, keep in mind that they should smell like the sea, not like ammonia.
Deveining shrimp is usually a matter of personal preference. The bigger the shrimp, the more likely the intestinal vein will contain grit and need to be removed.
Shrimp are not as high in cholesterol as was once thought. More importantly, the amount of the total fat is extremely low in shellfish. Shrimp are low in total saturated fat (the kind of fat that raises blood cholesterol) and calories.
The following recipe calls for lemon grass, an important flavoring in Thai cooking and now commonly available at supermarkets. If you can’t find fresh lemongrass (do not use dried versions), use the zest of a lemon.
Asian-Style Shrimp Soup - Makes 6 servings. Read More...
Cooking: Meat & Seafood - Asian Style Shrimp Soup recipe by AICR - Pioneer Thinking
My recommendation for this soup recipes is that add more Ginger & Onion, 1 can of Chicken broth is enough otherwise it would be too salty.
An Asian Soup for Summer
FROM THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH
Since at least the third century B.C., the Chinese have appreciated a bowl of soup at almost anytime of day, from breakfast to a late-night snack. Other Asian countries have followed suit. Many Asian soups are light and easy to prepare, and are therefore perfect in hot weather.
A hot, but light, summer soup can make a satisfying meal anywhere in the world. Using fresh basil, mint and cilantro from the summer garden makes it even easier to make and better to eat.
A clear broth enlivened with the flavors of fresh herbs, colorful carrots and a few simply-prepared shrimp makes a good summer meal.
Shrimp is America’s favorite shellfish. There are hundreds of species from both warm and cold water. They come in many colors and sizes but all change color - to pink or red - when cooked because of a heat-caused chemical reaction. Shrimp are sold according to size. When buying shrimp, keep in mind that they should smell like the sea, not like ammonia.
Deveining shrimp is usually a matter of personal preference. The bigger the shrimp, the more likely the intestinal vein will contain grit and need to be removed.
Shrimp are not as high in cholesterol as was once thought. More importantly, the amount of the total fat is extremely low in shellfish. Shrimp are low in total saturated fat (the kind of fat that raises blood cholesterol) and calories.
The following recipe calls for lemon grass, an important flavoring in Thai cooking and now commonly available at supermarkets. If you can’t find fresh lemongrass (do not use dried versions), use the zest of a lemon.
Asian-Style Shrimp Soup - Makes 6 servings. Read More...
Cooking: Meat & Seafood - Asian Style Shrimp Soup recipe by AICR - Pioneer Thinking
Healthy Drinks
According to the Chinese Herbs Sutra, every herbs have 5 astract elements. that is metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth as well as the character of Ying & Yang.
Drinking of in-appropriate herbs drink's may cause sickness & upset. therefore, when drinking herbs drinks 1st consult the expert or check on the internet. You can also write to me for advise.
Healthy Drinks
BY KAREN COLLINS, M.S., R.D., C.D.N
AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH
Choosing a drink has never been so complicated. "New age" waters, teas and juices - with added vitamins, herbs, or other "healthy" ingredients - are now a billion-dollar business. Although some of these new beverages may be simply a flavorful way to increase consumption of liquids, others may not be appropriate for everyone. Some added ingredients may cause health problems, while others are in amounts so small they may have a negligible effect.
Many of these new beverages are simply water or tea with added flavorings like fruit essence, lemongrass, or ginger. They are promoted on the premise that most Americans don't drink enough water, and that people will drink more of flavored drinks than plain water. Studies suggest that this may often be true. If a flavored water or tea helps you drink more, it could be a great choice.
Before selecting any of these drinks, consider whether you want them to add or limit your calorie intake. If you're trying to control your weight, an extra 250 to 375 calories may be counter-productive. On the other hand, people who don't need to lose weight might benefit from extra calories shortly before, during, or after high-energy exercise.
Some drinks are fortified with vitamins or minerals. For example, juices with added calcium may help people who don't or can't consume dairy products and would benefit from this fortification. On the other hand, B vitamins don't need to be added to a drink since most of us consume adequate amounts. Added vitamins or minerals can help make up for what is lacking in some people's diets, but for those who meet recommended amounts through diet or supplements, significant additions to drinks may be useless or even harmful.
Many drinks contain herbals - like echinacea, guarana, ginkgo biloba, or kava - that supposedly help energize, calm, or promote well-being in other ways. But the effectiveness of many of these herbs is either questionable or still under study. For example, echinacea is currently thought to help the immune system fight some illnesses in the short term, but continued long-term use is believed to actually depress the immune system.
In some cases, herbal ingredients that seem likely to have possible health benefits are added in amounts too small to have any real effect. Drinks containing St. John's Wort usually provide 250 milligrams (mg) per 20-ounce bottle, but studies show that 900 to 1,500 mg a day are needed to create mood-enhancing effects. The low levels found in most drinks might reduce the chance of consuming too much of this herb, but it also means consumers are paying extra for something they aren't getting in any significant amount.
People assume that any new drink on the market must be safe. But some added ingredients, if present in significant amounts, may pose health dangers for certain people. Warnings have recently been issued about kava as a possible cause of liver damage. Kava should be avoided by anyone who drinks alcohol daily or takes medicines that could affect the liver. St. John's Wort and ginkgo biloba can interact with medications. Guarana and some kinds of ginseng can raise blood pressure.
Don't be misled by new marketing ploys. Before buying a pricey "health" beverage, check what and how much added ingredients it contains, and how it relates to your needs.
_______________________________________
Author:
The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) offers a Nutrition Hotline (1-800-843-8114) 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday-Friday. This free service allows you to ask questions about diet, nutrition and cancer. A registered dietitian will return your call, usually within 48 hours. AICR is the only major cancer charity focusing exclusively on the link between diet, nutrition and cancer. The Institute provides education programs that help millions of Americans learn to make changes for lower cancer risk. AICR also supports innovative research in cancer prevention and treatment at universities, hospitals and research centers across the U.S. The Institute has provided more than $62 million for research in diet, nutrition and cancer. AICR's Web address is www.aicr.org. AICR is a member of the World Cancer Research Fund International.
"This study, yet again, highlights the need for Congress to revisit the way dietary supplements are regulated in the U.S.," said co-author David Eisenberg, MD, the Bernard Osher Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the HMS Division of Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies. "Our first priority must be the safety of the public. Over-the-counter herbs and supplements with high levels of heavy metals are simply dangerous," he said.
Ayurvedic medicine originated in India more than 2,000 years ago and relies heavily on herbal medicine products. In India, an estimated 80% of the population uses Ayurveda. In the United States, Ayurvedic remedies have increased in popularity and are available from South Asian markets, Ayurvedic practitioners, health food stores, and on the Internet. Several recent reports of Ayurvedic medicine users developing life-threatening lead toxicity prompted the current study.
The researchers tested 70 HMPs at the New England Regional Environmental Protection Agency Laboratory and found 14 (20 percent) contained lead, mercury, and/or arsenic. Each of the 14, if taken as recommended by the manufacturers, could result in heavy metal intakes above regulatory standards. Several of the HMPs, such as Mahayograj Guggulu and Navratna Rasa, could result in lead and arsenic intakes of 1,000 - 10,000 times greater than the regulatory standards. Half of the HMPs containing potentially toxic heavy metals were recommended by the manufacturers for use in infants and children. Eleven different manufacturers produced one or more HMPs containing heavy metals. Eighty percent of the 30 stores sold at least one HMP which contained significant amounts of heavy metals.
"Users of Ayurvedic medicines manufactured in South Asia may be at risk for heavy metal toxicity," said Saper, the lead author of the study and Director of Integrative Medicine in the Family Medicine Department at BUSM. "While the exact extent of Ayurvedic HMP use in the U.S. and abroad is unknown, the numbers of individuals at potential risk are substantial. Domestic and international public health and community organizations should issue advisories to current or previous users of Ayurvedic HMPs manufactured in South Asia to consult their physicians about screening for heavy metal toxicity." Read More...
Researchers Find High Levels Of Potentially Toxic Heavy Metals In Herbal Medicine Products
Drinking of in-appropriate herbs drink's may cause sickness & upset. therefore, when drinking herbs drinks 1st consult the expert or check on the internet. You can also write to me for advise.
Healthy Drinks
BY KAREN COLLINS, M.S., R.D., C.D.N
AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RESEARCH
Choosing a drink has never been so complicated. "New age" waters, teas and juices - with added vitamins, herbs, or other "healthy" ingredients - are now a billion-dollar business. Although some of these new beverages may be simply a flavorful way to increase consumption of liquids, others may not be appropriate for everyone. Some added ingredients may cause health problems, while others are in amounts so small they may have a negligible effect.
Many of these new beverages are simply water or tea with added flavorings like fruit essence, lemongrass, or ginger. They are promoted on the premise that most Americans don't drink enough water, and that people will drink more of flavored drinks than plain water. Studies suggest that this may often be true. If a flavored water or tea helps you drink more, it could be a great choice.
Before selecting any of these drinks, consider whether you want them to add or limit your calorie intake. If you're trying to control your weight, an extra 250 to 375 calories may be counter-productive. On the other hand, people who don't need to lose weight might benefit from extra calories shortly before, during, or after high-energy exercise.
Some drinks are fortified with vitamins or minerals. For example, juices with added calcium may help people who don't or can't consume dairy products and would benefit from this fortification. On the other hand, B vitamins don't need to be added to a drink since most of us consume adequate amounts. Added vitamins or minerals can help make up for what is lacking in some people's diets, but for those who meet recommended amounts through diet or supplements, significant additions to drinks may be useless or even harmful.
Many drinks contain herbals - like echinacea, guarana, ginkgo biloba, or kava - that supposedly help energize, calm, or promote well-being in other ways. But the effectiveness of many of these herbs is either questionable or still under study. For example, echinacea is currently thought to help the immune system fight some illnesses in the short term, but continued long-term use is believed to actually depress the immune system.
In some cases, herbal ingredients that seem likely to have possible health benefits are added in amounts too small to have any real effect. Drinks containing St. John's Wort usually provide 250 milligrams (mg) per 20-ounce bottle, but studies show that 900 to 1,500 mg a day are needed to create mood-enhancing effects. The low levels found in most drinks might reduce the chance of consuming too much of this herb, but it also means consumers are paying extra for something they aren't getting in any significant amount.
People assume that any new drink on the market must be safe. But some added ingredients, if present in significant amounts, may pose health dangers for certain people. Warnings have recently been issued about kava as a possible cause of liver damage. Kava should be avoided by anyone who drinks alcohol daily or takes medicines that could affect the liver. St. John's Wort and ginkgo biloba can interact with medications. Guarana and some kinds of ginseng can raise blood pressure.
Don't be misled by new marketing ploys. Before buying a pricey "health" beverage, check what and how much added ingredients it contains, and how it relates to your needs.
_______________________________________
Author:
The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) offers a Nutrition Hotline (1-800-843-8114) 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday-Friday. This free service allows you to ask questions about diet, nutrition and cancer. A registered dietitian will return your call, usually within 48 hours. AICR is the only major cancer charity focusing exclusively on the link between diet, nutrition and cancer. The Institute provides education programs that help millions of Americans learn to make changes for lower cancer risk. AICR also supports innovative research in cancer prevention and treatment at universities, hospitals and research centers across the U.S. The Institute has provided more than $62 million for research in diet, nutrition and cancer. AICR's Web address is www.aicr.org. AICR is a member of the World Cancer Research Fund International.
"This study, yet again, highlights the need for Congress to revisit the way dietary supplements are regulated in the U.S.," said co-author David Eisenberg, MD, the Bernard Osher Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the HMS Division of Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies. "Our first priority must be the safety of the public. Over-the-counter herbs and supplements with high levels of heavy metals are simply dangerous," he said.
Ayurvedic medicine originated in India more than 2,000 years ago and relies heavily on herbal medicine products. In India, an estimated 80% of the population uses Ayurveda. In the United States, Ayurvedic remedies have increased in popularity and are available from South Asian markets, Ayurvedic practitioners, health food stores, and on the Internet. Several recent reports of Ayurvedic medicine users developing life-threatening lead toxicity prompted the current study.
The researchers tested 70 HMPs at the New England Regional Environmental Protection Agency Laboratory and found 14 (20 percent) contained lead, mercury, and/or arsenic. Each of the 14, if taken as recommended by the manufacturers, could result in heavy metal intakes above regulatory standards. Several of the HMPs, such as Mahayograj Guggulu and Navratna Rasa, could result in lead and arsenic intakes of 1,000 - 10,000 times greater than the regulatory standards. Half of the HMPs containing potentially toxic heavy metals were recommended by the manufacturers for use in infants and children. Eleven different manufacturers produced one or more HMPs containing heavy metals. Eighty percent of the 30 stores sold at least one HMP which contained significant amounts of heavy metals.
"Users of Ayurvedic medicines manufactured in South Asia may be at risk for heavy metal toxicity," said Saper, the lead author of the study and Director of Integrative Medicine in the Family Medicine Department at BUSM. "While the exact extent of Ayurvedic HMP use in the U.S. and abroad is unknown, the numbers of individuals at potential risk are substantial. Domestic and international public health and community organizations should issue advisories to current or previous users of Ayurvedic HMPs manufactured in South Asia to consult their physicians about screening for heavy metal toxicity." Read More...
Researchers Find High Levels Of Potentially Toxic Heavy Metals In Herbal Medicine Products
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Why heart attacks run in families: Genetics
My late mom 1st heart attack was at 45, my late sister Irene have her 1st heart attack at 45 too. According to my own research, heart attack is related to the family gene or DNA. It can happen at young age too, my friend Anna she is a princess of a country in Asia, she have her heart attack at 20th years old.
Before, the nano-tech can alter the formular of our DNA or Genes, the best things to do is to prevent it, on the issues of Drinks,
I would like to recommend that the do & don't.
Don't Drink
Coffee
Strong Red Tea
Alcohol
Cola
Drink
Filtered Water
Green Tea
Herbs Tea
One little glass of red wine before going to Bed
Why heart attacks run in families: Genetics
By Steve Sternberg, USA TODAY
For years, the Steffensen family of Buffalo Center, Iowa, blamed heaping helpings of what they call "good old Iowa farm cooking" for a more distressing family tradition: heart attacks.
Don Steffensen's heart nearly quit while he was duck hunting with friends when he was 62. When his doctors learned that he and eight of his 11 siblings had heart problems, they recruited the family for a landmark genetic analysis. Their two-year study shifted some of the blame for the family's misfortune from meat, potatoes and gravy to a faulty gene.
"They're hard-wired to have a heart attack," says Eric Topol of the Cleveland Clinic, who led the team that identified the abnormality.
The good news is that more healthful living can literally change a person's genetic destiny by staving off a gene's ill effects for years, maybe even decades.
"Everyone right now is pretty doggone glad we did it, I can tell you," Steffensen says of the family's participation in the research. "It enlightened us. It wasn't just the food."
The Cleveland Clinic study is just one of several worldwide devoted to teasing out why heart attacks run in families and how to prevent them. Geneticists at the Icelandic company deCode, for instance, have identified a different genetic cause of heart attacks that may be remedied with a drug now in human trials.
Unlike the Steffensen study, which aimed to identify a gene in one family that may be implicated in heart attacks in the general population, Icelandic researchers carried out a painstaking genetic analysis of a large population. They used hundreds of heart attack patients and family members in Iceland to look for any genes that might be related to heart attacks.
The analysis, made possible by the company's countrywide access to genetic information, identified the FLAP gene, which appears to double a person's heart disease risk.
"The genetic factors we're working on are dramatically different than the ones Eric Topol is working on," says deCode CEO Kari Stefansson. "We're working on heart attacks as a public health problem."
It would be a mistake to pin all the blame for heart disease on genetics, Topol cautions.
Unlike so-called single-gene disorders such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia, heart attacks result from a mix of genetic factors and behaviors. No medicine can counter the long-term cumulative effects of a sedentary lifestyle, smoking and a high-salt, high-fat diet. That's why doctors place so much emphasis on eliminating risk factors and controlling diabetes.
For the Steffensens and others like them, the benefit of knowing that they are vulnerable to heart attacks comes not from having a medicine that can lower their risk, but from a test result that permits them to be proactive and live a heart-healthy life.
"We might not be able to eliminate the risk, but we should be able to forestall it," Topol says. "We can change natural history."
For Steffensen's son, Mark, 38, who has a high-pressure job in New York's financial district and is the father of two young children, it's a comforting notion. He eats healthful food and exercises.
Knowing that his two children, Zoe, 4, and Ian, 1½, may share Dad's genetic susceptibility, Steffensen has all but eliminated visits to McDonald's —"Sure, we go once in a while. It's a treat for the kids" — and has begun to think about prevention.
"Will I have my kids tested?" he says. "The answer to that is yes."
Steffensens' genes studied
The Cleveland Clinic's foray into the heart disease genetics, a project called Gene Quest, began in the mid-'90s. Don Steffensen volunteered in 2002. During one of his routine visits for advanced cardiac care, his wife overheard doctors talking about their genetic research. "My wife said, 'You'd better talk to them about getting into this thing,' " Steffensen says. Read More....
USATODAY.com - Why heart attacks run in families: Genetics
Before, the nano-tech can alter the formular of our DNA or Genes, the best things to do is to prevent it, on the issues of Drinks,
I would like to recommend that the do & don't.
Don't Drink
Coffee
Strong Red Tea
Alcohol
Cola
Drink
Filtered Water
Green Tea
Herbs Tea
One little glass of red wine before going to Bed
Why heart attacks run in families: Genetics
By Steve Sternberg, USA TODAY
For years, the Steffensen family of Buffalo Center, Iowa, blamed heaping helpings of what they call "good old Iowa farm cooking" for a more distressing family tradition: heart attacks.
Don Steffensen's heart nearly quit while he was duck hunting with friends when he was 62. When his doctors learned that he and eight of his 11 siblings had heart problems, they recruited the family for a landmark genetic analysis. Their two-year study shifted some of the blame for the family's misfortune from meat, potatoes and gravy to a faulty gene.
"They're hard-wired to have a heart attack," says Eric Topol of the Cleveland Clinic, who led the team that identified the abnormality.
The good news is that more healthful living can literally change a person's genetic destiny by staving off a gene's ill effects for years, maybe even decades.
"Everyone right now is pretty doggone glad we did it, I can tell you," Steffensen says of the family's participation in the research. "It enlightened us. It wasn't just the food."
The Cleveland Clinic study is just one of several worldwide devoted to teasing out why heart attacks run in families and how to prevent them. Geneticists at the Icelandic company deCode, for instance, have identified a different genetic cause of heart attacks that may be remedied with a drug now in human trials.
Unlike the Steffensen study, which aimed to identify a gene in one family that may be implicated in heart attacks in the general population, Icelandic researchers carried out a painstaking genetic analysis of a large population. They used hundreds of heart attack patients and family members in Iceland to look for any genes that might be related to heart attacks.
The analysis, made possible by the company's countrywide access to genetic information, identified the FLAP gene, which appears to double a person's heart disease risk.
"The genetic factors we're working on are dramatically different than the ones Eric Topol is working on," says deCode CEO Kari Stefansson. "We're working on heart attacks as a public health problem."
It would be a mistake to pin all the blame for heart disease on genetics, Topol cautions.
Unlike so-called single-gene disorders such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia, heart attacks result from a mix of genetic factors and behaviors. No medicine can counter the long-term cumulative effects of a sedentary lifestyle, smoking and a high-salt, high-fat diet. That's why doctors place so much emphasis on eliminating risk factors and controlling diabetes.
For the Steffensens and others like them, the benefit of knowing that they are vulnerable to heart attacks comes not from having a medicine that can lower their risk, but from a test result that permits them to be proactive and live a heart-healthy life.
"We might not be able to eliminate the risk, but we should be able to forestall it," Topol says. "We can change natural history."
For Steffensen's son, Mark, 38, who has a high-pressure job in New York's financial district and is the father of two young children, it's a comforting notion. He eats healthful food and exercises.
Knowing that his two children, Zoe, 4, and Ian, 1½, may share Dad's genetic susceptibility, Steffensen has all but eliminated visits to McDonald's —"Sure, we go once in a while. It's a treat for the kids" — and has begun to think about prevention.
"Will I have my kids tested?" he says. "The answer to that is yes."
Steffensens' genes studied
The Cleveland Clinic's foray into the heart disease genetics, a project called Gene Quest, began in the mid-'90s. Don Steffensen volunteered in 2002. During one of his routine visits for advanced cardiac care, his wife overheard doctors talking about their genetic research. "My wife said, 'You'd better talk to them about getting into this thing,' " Steffensen says. Read More....
USATODAY.com - Why heart attacks run in families: Genetics
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Moderate drinking, without food, could impact blood pressure
MY research is based from the drinking habbits of my late father. He is a drinker, he can drink a bottle of XO a night. He always advise us that don't drink before meal, otherwise you can get drunk.
He can be very much emotional, when he drink before meal, this show that his blood pressure is up. at 45, he have his 1st stroke.
You see high blood & stroke are inter-related sickness. So please beware of indulge in Drinking.
Moderate drinking, without food, could impact blood pressure
21/12/2004 - Drinking alcohol, even only lightly, outside of mealtimes could be a significant risk factor in developing high blood pressure, claim US researchers.
Their findings casts new light on an increasing body of evidence that suggests moderate alcohol consumption, particularly red wine, could benefit heart health.
"The research points out that drinking without food may counteract any benefit to the cardiovascular system associated with moderate alcohol consumption," said lead researcher Saverio Stranges, at the University of Buffalo.
Nearly one in three annual global deaths, about 16.7 million, result from various forms of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure is believed to be a contributory factor.
A string of studies suggest that the powerful antioxidant resveratrol found in red wine, could protect against the blood clots and possibly high cholesterol levels, both associated with heart conditions.
Targeting a burgeoning market, the food industry continues to roll out food products designed to tackle heart health. Set to grow 7.6 per cent in the UK market alone, according to Datamonitor, these foods are slated to achieve sales of £145 million in the UK by 2007. This is second only to gut health in terms of purpose categories.
The latest findings from Buffalo University, say the researchers, confirmed results from a previous study conducted in Italy by some of the same investigators, as well as showing for the first time that even light to moderate alcohol intake outside of meals puts drinkers at risk for hypertension.
Hypertension was defined by systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or greater or diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or greater, or by the fact that an individual was taking medication for high blood pressure.
Findings were based on blood pressure readings and self-reported alcohol consumption patterns from a randomly selected sample of 2,609 white men and women between the ages of 35 and 80 - all participants were free of other cardiovascular diseases.
Participants provided data on their alcohol consumption during the past 30 days. Questions covered how often they drank during that time period, when they drank (weekdays versus weekends), how much they drank (drinks per day) and if they drank with meals, with snacks or without food. They also reported whether they drank mostly beer, wine or spirits. Read More....
Moderate drinking, without food, could impact blood pressure
He can be very much emotional, when he drink before meal, this show that his blood pressure is up. at 45, he have his 1st stroke.
You see high blood & stroke are inter-related sickness. So please beware of indulge in Drinking.
Moderate drinking, without food, could impact blood pressure
21/12/2004 - Drinking alcohol, even only lightly, outside of mealtimes could be a significant risk factor in developing high blood pressure, claim US researchers.
Their findings casts new light on an increasing body of evidence that suggests moderate alcohol consumption, particularly red wine, could benefit heart health.
"The research points out that drinking without food may counteract any benefit to the cardiovascular system associated with moderate alcohol consumption," said lead researcher Saverio Stranges, at the University of Buffalo.
Nearly one in three annual global deaths, about 16.7 million, result from various forms of cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure is believed to be a contributory factor.
A string of studies suggest that the powerful antioxidant resveratrol found in red wine, could protect against the blood clots and possibly high cholesterol levels, both associated with heart conditions.
Targeting a burgeoning market, the food industry continues to roll out food products designed to tackle heart health. Set to grow 7.6 per cent in the UK market alone, according to Datamonitor, these foods are slated to achieve sales of £145 million in the UK by 2007. This is second only to gut health in terms of purpose categories.
The latest findings from Buffalo University, say the researchers, confirmed results from a previous study conducted in Italy by some of the same investigators, as well as showing for the first time that even light to moderate alcohol intake outside of meals puts drinkers at risk for hypertension.
Hypertension was defined by systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or greater or diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or greater, or by the fact that an individual was taking medication for high blood pressure.
Findings were based on blood pressure readings and self-reported alcohol consumption patterns from a randomly selected sample of 2,609 white men and women between the ages of 35 and 80 - all participants were free of other cardiovascular diseases.
Participants provided data on their alcohol consumption during the past 30 days. Questions covered how often they drank during that time period, when they drank (weekdays versus weekends), how much they drank (drinks per day) and if they drank with meals, with snacks or without food. They also reported whether they drank mostly beer, wine or spirits. Read More....
Moderate drinking, without food, could impact blood pressure
Monday, December 20, 2004
Local Water Officials Say Policy Holds Desalination Hostage
A diffences between $253 per acre-foot & $97 per acre-foot deal is more than 2 times. I just wonder, why these people cannot sit down & do the maths, & think more for the people. After all it is the people money.
We need to be more compationate love to people. especially on the Drinking Water issue be more considerate.
Local water officials say policy holds desalination hostage
By: GIG CONAUGHTON - Staff Writer
San Diego County water officials say their dream of turning seawater into a critical supply of drinking water is being undermined by Southern California's main water supplier, which is threatening to cut off financial help over a long-standing rate dispute.
But the Metropolitan Water District says it's just protecting its financial stability ---- which, if jeopardized, would threaten the drinking-water supplies of all of Southern California.
Metropolitan board members, in a squeaky-close vote last week, approved a new policy that would ban water agencies from taking Metropolitan subsidies ---- including one San Diego County wants to cut the cost of a proposed desalination plant ---- unless the agencies promise never to challenge Metropolitan's rate system in court or the Legislature.
Meanwhile, leaders of the San Diego County Water Authority, the agency that supplies nearly all the water county residents use each year, say that any threat to local desalination plans endangers the county's future water supply.
Drought, environmental concerns and political disputes are putting caps on how much water Southern California can get from its traditional sources, the Colorado River and Northern California. Because of that, the Water Authority's board has said its main focus in coming years should be finding ways to tap the sea for drinking water.
But Water Authority officials have also said seawater desalination would be too expensive without the Metropolitan subsidy ---- money that would reduce the cost of every acre-foot of water a desalination plant produced by $250. An acre-foot is roughly enough water to sustain the household needs of eight people for a year. Water Authority officials expect the subsidy would reduce the cost of water the plant produced from $800 to $650 per acre-foot at a plant proposed to be built by a private company in Carlsbad.
Killing desalination plans?
After the Metropolitan vote last week, Water Authority board member Keith Lewinger said the new policy means Water Authority board members must decide quickly if they want to pursue desalination if they can't have Metropolitan's subsidy.
Bud Pocklington, one of the Water Authority's three delegates to the Metropolitan board, said that desalination was too important not to pursue.
"Desal has to go forward whether we get support or not," he said. "It's too critical for us to stop it."
But Lewinger wasn't as sure.
"Can we afford to pay an extra $250 per acre-foot for (what will amount) to one-sixth of our water supply?" he asked. "I don't know the answer to that."
Pursuing desalination without the subsidy could raise water rates. Not pursuing desalination could leave San Diego County with less water than it needs, officials say.
Last week's vote, meanwhile, left Water Authority leaders saying the subsidy policy was unconstitutional and hoping to derail it before it takes effect in April.
They also restated their belief that the policy change was a blatant ploy to hold the county's desalination hopes hostage over a continuing dispute related to renting Metropolitan pipelines for the Water Authority's historic Imperial Valley water transfer ---- an issue the Water Authority has taken to court before.
"I think this was aimed directly at San Diego (County)," Bud Pocklington, one of the Water Authority's three representatives to the Metropolitan board, said. "I think we're the only ones who have sued them over the last 10 years."
Metropolitan leaders, meanwhile, denied that the policy change was "all about" San Diego County. They said the move was simply about the financial stability of Southern California's main water supplier.
"We're telling you, you can't have your cake and eat it too," spokesman Adan Ortega said.
The conflict
The Water Authority desperately wants a Metropolitan subsidy for desalination, because desalinated water costs much more than the imported water that San Diego County has historically relied upon.
But just as desperately, the Water Authority wants to retain its legal right to challenge Metropolitan's rates.
That's because of the Water Authority's historic deal in 2003 to buy up to 65 billion of gallons of water a year from Imperial Valley farmers.
The Water Authority needs to rent Metropolitan pipelines to ship that water to San Diego County.
And the Water Authority has maintained for years that Metropolitan overcharges for that rental agreement.
The Water Authority has already unsuccessfully challenged the rates in court, but the agency has expressed interest in challenging them again.
In last-minute negotiations to complete the Imperial Valley transfer, the Water Authority agreed to pay Metropolitan's full rental rate of $253 per acre-foot of water rather than the $97 per acre-foot deal it wanted.
With the transfer deal set to run as long as 75 years, a successful challenge to Metropolitan's rate structure could save the Water Authority, and local ratepayers, nearly $2 billion.
Short-sighted
But Metropolitan's leaders say challenging the massive agency's rate structure would threaten its financial stability ---- which could destabilize Southern California's water supply.
Metropolitan was created by the state Legislature in 1928 to build and operate the Colorado River Aqueduct and bring water to desertlike Southern California. It supplies drinking water to more than 18 million Southern Californians by selling Colorado River and Northern California water to 26 cities and water districts in six counties. Its board is comprised of representatives from all those member agencies. Read More....
.: Print Version :.
We need to be more compationate love to people. especially on the Drinking Water issue be more considerate.
Local water officials say policy holds desalination hostage
By: GIG CONAUGHTON - Staff Writer
San Diego County water officials say their dream of turning seawater into a critical supply of drinking water is being undermined by Southern California's main water supplier, which is threatening to cut off financial help over a long-standing rate dispute.
But the Metropolitan Water District says it's just protecting its financial stability ---- which, if jeopardized, would threaten the drinking-water supplies of all of Southern California.
Metropolitan board members, in a squeaky-close vote last week, approved a new policy that would ban water agencies from taking Metropolitan subsidies ---- including one San Diego County wants to cut the cost of a proposed desalination plant ---- unless the agencies promise never to challenge Metropolitan's rate system in court or the Legislature.
Meanwhile, leaders of the San Diego County Water Authority, the agency that supplies nearly all the water county residents use each year, say that any threat to local desalination plans endangers the county's future water supply.
Drought, environmental concerns and political disputes are putting caps on how much water Southern California can get from its traditional sources, the Colorado River and Northern California. Because of that, the Water Authority's board has said its main focus in coming years should be finding ways to tap the sea for drinking water.
But Water Authority officials have also said seawater desalination would be too expensive without the Metropolitan subsidy ---- money that would reduce the cost of every acre-foot of water a desalination plant produced by $250. An acre-foot is roughly enough water to sustain the household needs of eight people for a year. Water Authority officials expect the subsidy would reduce the cost of water the plant produced from $800 to $650 per acre-foot at a plant proposed to be built by a private company in Carlsbad.
Killing desalination plans?
After the Metropolitan vote last week, Water Authority board member Keith Lewinger said the new policy means Water Authority board members must decide quickly if they want to pursue desalination if they can't have Metropolitan's subsidy.
Bud Pocklington, one of the Water Authority's three delegates to the Metropolitan board, said that desalination was too important not to pursue.
"Desal has to go forward whether we get support or not," he said. "It's too critical for us to stop it."
But Lewinger wasn't as sure.
"Can we afford to pay an extra $250 per acre-foot for (what will amount) to one-sixth of our water supply?" he asked. "I don't know the answer to that."
Pursuing desalination without the subsidy could raise water rates. Not pursuing desalination could leave San Diego County with less water than it needs, officials say.
Last week's vote, meanwhile, left Water Authority leaders saying the subsidy policy was unconstitutional and hoping to derail it before it takes effect in April.
They also restated their belief that the policy change was a blatant ploy to hold the county's desalination hopes hostage over a continuing dispute related to renting Metropolitan pipelines for the Water Authority's historic Imperial Valley water transfer ---- an issue the Water Authority has taken to court before.
"I think this was aimed directly at San Diego (County)," Bud Pocklington, one of the Water Authority's three representatives to the Metropolitan board, said. "I think we're the only ones who have sued them over the last 10 years."
Metropolitan leaders, meanwhile, denied that the policy change was "all about" San Diego County. They said the move was simply about the financial stability of Southern California's main water supplier.
"We're telling you, you can't have your cake and eat it too," spokesman Adan Ortega said.
The conflict
The Water Authority desperately wants a Metropolitan subsidy for desalination, because desalinated water costs much more than the imported water that San Diego County has historically relied upon.
But just as desperately, the Water Authority wants to retain its legal right to challenge Metropolitan's rates.
That's because of the Water Authority's historic deal in 2003 to buy up to 65 billion of gallons of water a year from Imperial Valley farmers.
The Water Authority needs to rent Metropolitan pipelines to ship that water to San Diego County.
And the Water Authority has maintained for years that Metropolitan overcharges for that rental agreement.
The Water Authority has already unsuccessfully challenged the rates in court, but the agency has expressed interest in challenging them again.
In last-minute negotiations to complete the Imperial Valley transfer, the Water Authority agreed to pay Metropolitan's full rental rate of $253 per acre-foot of water rather than the $97 per acre-foot deal it wanted.
With the transfer deal set to run as long as 75 years, a successful challenge to Metropolitan's rate structure could save the Water Authority, and local ratepayers, nearly $2 billion.
Short-sighted
But Metropolitan's leaders say challenging the massive agency's rate structure would threaten its financial stability ---- which could destabilize Southern California's water supply.
Metropolitan was created by the state Legislature in 1928 to build and operate the Colorado River Aqueduct and bring water to desertlike Southern California. It supplies drinking water to more than 18 million Southern Californians by selling Colorado River and Northern California water to 26 cities and water districts in six counties. Its board is comprised of representatives from all those member agencies. Read More....
.: Print Version :.
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 -- According to a study to appear in the Dec. 15, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), one of five Ayurvedic herbal medical products (HMPs), produced in South Asia and available in Boston area stores, contains potentially harmful levels of lead, mercury, and/or arsenic.
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