Monday, September 17, 2012

Fear of Food



Despite the fact that America’s food safety infrastructure is the most efficient and effective in the world, the International Food Information Council Foundation’s 2012 Food and Health Survey found that only 20 percent of Americans are “very confident” in food supply safety. At the same time, one in six U.S. consumers has stopped buying a particular food or beverage brand because of safety concerns in the last twelve months.
~ Richard S. Levick, Fast Company

Fast Company
Fear of Food
Artwork: Salmonella bacteria

Monday, September 3, 2012

More Legumes = Lower Blood Pressure


A new study published in Archives of Iranian Medicine suggests that eating a Mediterranean diet with large amounts of legumes can help prevent metabolic syndrome.

The study showed that individuals with metabolic syndrome consumed only 1.4 servings per week of legumes, compared to 2.3 servings per week for controls.

Eighty men and women with diagnosed metabolic syndrome and 160 age and gender-matched healthy controls were enlisted for the study. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profiles were measured by standard methods.

Men and women with the highest legume intake had decreased mean systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and increased HDL cholesterol levels, compared to those whose intake of legume was lowest.