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Pack a green meal for your kids' lunch
Healthy lunch alternatives for children as the new school year begins
By Priya Shah
For many parents, their number one priority is to make sure that their children eat a healthy and nutritious meal while they're at school. But the convenience of fast food, packaged and frozen food items is still a temptation.
So as the new school year begins, it's time to think about nutritious lunches for kids at school because unhealthy food choices can lead to obesity, obesity-related illnesses, poor school attendance, poor school performance, and a lifetime risk for health and social problems, urges Anne Weber, the co-founder of Green Bag Lunch.
"Without substantive changes, at least one-third of children will continue to spiral out of control [health wise]," says Weber, who insists that parents need to know what is being served at their children's schools and to know that they have options. "Parental demand is what we need. Most parents are extremely frustrated by what's offered [in schools]. Now they have a choice."
Click here to learn more about how to send your kids to school with healthier, greener lunches.
info@afreshsqueeze.com1030 W. Chicago Ave, Ste 300 Chicago IL 60607
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
High-fat diets can make us stupid
Source Times of India
Sent by: Professor Mukund Apte, Pune
mdapte@gmail.com
(4 Sep 2009 - IANSS)
Rats fed a high-fat diet exhibit stark reduction in their physical endurance and cognitive ability after just nine days, says a new study.
The research, funded by the British Heart Foundation, may have implications not only for high-fat addicts, but also athletes looking for the optimal diet for training and patients with metabolic disorders. "We found that rats, when switched to a high-fat diet from their standard low-fat feed, showed a surprisingly quick reduction in their physical performance," says Andrew Murray, who led the study at Oxford University and is now with the University of Cambridge. "After just nine days, they were only able to run 50 percent as far on a treadmill as those that remained on the low-fat feed," adds Murray. High-fat diets, prevalent in western countries, are known to be harmful in the long term and can lead to obesity, diabetes and heart failure.
The Oxford team set out to investigate whether rats fed a high-fat diet for just a few days showed any change in their physical and cognitive abilities.
All 42 rats were initially fed a standard feed with a low fat content of 7.5 percent. Their physical endurance was measured by how long they could run on a treadmill and their short-term or 'working' memory was measured in a maze task. Half of the rats were then switched to a high-fat diet where 55 percent of the calories came from fat. After four days of getting used to the new diet, the endurance and cognitive performance of the rats on the low- and high-fat diets were compared for another five days. "With the standard feed, 7.5 percent of the calories come from fat. That's a pretty low-fat diet, much like humans eating nothing but muesli," says Murray.
"The high-fat diet, in which 55 percent of the calories came from fat, sounds high but it's actually not extraordinarily high by human standards. A junk food diet would come close to that," Murrray adds. On the fifth day of the high-fat diet (the first day back on the treadmill), the rats were already running 30 percent less far than those remaining on the low-fat diet. By the ninth day, the last of the experiment, they were running 50 percent less far, says a Cambridge release. The rats on the high-fat diet were also making mistakes sooner in the maze task, suggesting that their cognitive abilities were also being affected by their diet.
These findings were published in the FASEB journal.
Sent by: Professor Mukund Apte, Pune
mdapte@gmail.com
(4 Sep 2009 - IANSS)
Rats fed a high-fat diet exhibit stark reduction in their physical endurance and cognitive ability after just nine days, says a new study.
The research, funded by the British Heart Foundation, may have implications not only for high-fat addicts, but also athletes looking for the optimal diet for training and patients with metabolic disorders. "We found that rats, when switched to a high-fat diet from their standard low-fat feed, showed a surprisingly quick reduction in their physical performance," says Andrew Murray, who led the study at Oxford University and is now with the University of Cambridge. "After just nine days, they were only able to run 50 percent as far on a treadmill as those that remained on the low-fat feed," adds Murray. High-fat diets, prevalent in western countries, are known to be harmful in the long term and can lead to obesity, diabetes and heart failure.
The Oxford team set out to investigate whether rats fed a high-fat diet for just a few days showed any change in their physical and cognitive abilities.
All 42 rats were initially fed a standard feed with a low fat content of 7.5 percent. Their physical endurance was measured by how long they could run on a treadmill and their short-term or 'working' memory was measured in a maze task. Half of the rats were then switched to a high-fat diet where 55 percent of the calories came from fat. After four days of getting used to the new diet, the endurance and cognitive performance of the rats on the low- and high-fat diets were compared for another five days. "With the standard feed, 7.5 percent of the calories come from fat. That's a pretty low-fat diet, much like humans eating nothing but muesli," says Murray.
"The high-fat diet, in which 55 percent of the calories came from fat, sounds high but it's actually not extraordinarily high by human standards. A junk food diet would come close to that," Murrray adds. On the fifth day of the high-fat diet (the first day back on the treadmill), the rats were already running 30 percent less far than those remaining on the low-fat diet. By the ninth day, the last of the experiment, they were running 50 percent less far, says a Cambridge release. The rats on the high-fat diet were also making mistakes sooner in the maze task, suggesting that their cognitive abilities were also being affected by their diet.
These findings were published in the FASEB journal.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Why Chinese Women Do not Get Breast Cancer
By Prof. Jane Plant, PhD, CBE
" Why I believe that giving up milk is the key to beating breast cancer..."
Extracted from Your Life in Your Hands, by Professor Jane Plant.
I had no alternative but to die or to try to find a cure for myself.
I am a scientist - surely there was a rational explanation
for this cruel illness that affects one in 12 women in the UK ?
I had suffered the loss of one breast, and undergone radiotherapy.
I was now receiving painful chemotherapy, and had been seen by some of the
country's most eminent specialists. But, deep down, I felt certain I was facing death.
I had a loving husband, a beautiful home and two young children to care for.
I desperately wanted to live.
Fortunately, this desire drove me to unearth the facts,
some of which were known only to a handful of scientists at the time.
Anyone who has come into contact with breast cancer will know that certain risk factors -
such as increasing age, early onset of womanhood, late onset of menopause
and a family history of breast cancer - are completely out of our control.
But there are many risk factors, which we can control easily.
These "controllable" risk factors readily translate into simple changes
that we can all make in our day-to-day lives to help prevent or treat breast cancer.
My message is that even advanced breast cancer can be
overcome because I have done it.
The first clue to understanding what was promoting my breast cancer came
when my husband Peter, who was also a scientist,
arrived back from working in China while I was being
plugged in for a chemotherapy session.
He had brought with him cards and letters, as well as some
amazing herbal suppositories,
sent by my friends and science colleagues in China .
when my husband Peter, who was also a scientist,
arrived back from working in China while I was being
plugged in for a chemotherapy session.
He had brought with him cards and letters, as well as some
amazing herbal suppositories,
sent by my friends and science colleagues in China .
The suppositories were sent to me as a cure for breast cancer.
Despite the awfulness of the situation, we both had a good belly laugh,
and I remember saying that this was the treatment for breast cancer in China ,
then it was little wonder that Chinese women avoided getting the disease.
Those words echoed in my mind. Why didn't Chinese women in China get breast cancer?
I had collaborated once with Chinese colleagues on a study of links between
soil chemistry and disease, and I remembered some of the statistics.
Despite the awfulness of the situation, we both had a good belly laugh,
and I remember saying that this was the treatment for breast cancer in China ,
then it was little wonder that Chinese women avoided getting the disease.
Those words echoed in my mind. Why didn't Chinese women in China get breast cancer?
I had collaborated once with Chinese colleagues on a study of links between
soil chemistry and disease, and I remembered some of the statistics.
The disease was virtually non-existent throughout the whole country.
Only one in 10,000 women in China will die from it,
compared to that terrible figure of one in 12 in Britain and
the even grimmer average of one in 10 across most Western countries.
It is not just a matter of China being a more rural country,
with less urban pollution. In highly urbanized Hong Kong ,
the rate rises to 34 women in every 10,000 but still puts the West to shame.
Only one in 10,000 women in China will die from it,
compared to that terrible figure of one in 12 in Britain and
the even grimmer average of one in 10 across most Western countries.
It is not just a matter of China being a more rural country,
with less urban pollution. In highly urbanized Hong Kong ,
the rate rises to 34 women in every 10,000 but still puts the West to shame.
The Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have similar rates.
And remember, both cities were attacked with nuclear weapons,
so in addition to the usual pollution-related cancers,
one would also expect to find some radiation-related cases, too.
The conclusion we can draw from these statistics strikes you
with some force. If a Western woman were to move to industrialized,
irradiated Hiroshima , she would slash her risk of contracting breast cancer by half.
And remember, both cities were attacked with nuclear weapons,
so in addition to the usual pollution-related cancers,
one would also expect to find some radiation-related cases, too.
The conclusion we can draw from these statistics strikes you
with some force. If a Western woman were to move to industrialized,
irradiated Hiroshima , she would slash her risk of contracting breast cancer by half.
Obviously this is absurd. It seemed obvious to me that some lifestyle factor
not related to pollution, urbanization or the environment is seriously increasing
the Western woman's chance of contracting breast cancer.
I then discovered that whatever causes the huge differences in breast cancer
rates between oriental and Western countries, it isn't genetic.
Scientific research showed that when Chinese or Japanese people move
to the West, within one or two generations their rates of breast cancer
approach those of their host community.
not related to pollution, urbanization or the environment is seriously increasing
the Western woman's chance of contracting breast cancer.
I then discovered that whatever causes the huge differences in breast cancer
rates between oriental and Western countries, it isn't genetic.
Scientific research showed that when Chinese or Japanese people move
to the West, within one or two generations their rates of breast cancer
approach those of their host community.
The same thing happens when oriental people adopt a completely
Western lifestyle in Hong Kong . In fact, the slang name for breast cancer in China
translates as 'Rich Woman's Disease'. This is because, in China , only the better
off can afford to eat what is termed ' Hong Kong food'.
Western lifestyle in Hong Kong . In fact, the slang name for breast cancer in China
translates as 'Rich Woman's Disease'. This is because, in China , only the better
off can afford to eat what is termed ' Hong Kong food'.
The Chinese describe all Western food, including everything from ice cream
and chocolate bars to spaghetti and feta cheese, as " Hong Kong food",
because of its availability in the former British colony and its scarcity,
in the past, in mainland China .
and chocolate bars to spaghetti and feta cheese, as " Hong Kong food",
because of its availability in the former British colony and its scarcity,
in the past, in mainland China .
So it made perfect sense to me that whatever was causing my breast cancer
and the shockingly high incidence in this country generally,
it was almost certainly something to do with our
better-off, middle-class, Western lifestyle.
and the shockingly high incidence in this country generally,
it was almost certainly something to do with our
better-off, middle-class, Western lifestyle.
There is an important point for men here, too.
I have observed in my research that much of the data about prostate
cancer leads to similar conclusions.
I have observed in my research that much of the data about prostate
cancer leads to similar conclusions.
According to figures from the World Health Organization,
the number of men contracting prostate cancer in rural China is negligible,
only 0.5 men in every 100,000.
In England , Scotland and Wales , however, this figure is 70 times higher.
Like breast cancer, it is a middle-class disease that primarily attacks
the wealthier and higher socio-economic groups ¨C those that can afford to eat rich foods.
I remember saying to my husband,
"Come on Peter, you have just come back from China .
What is it about the Chinese way of life that is so different?"
Why don't they get breast cancer?'
We decided to utilize our joint scientific backgrounds and approach it logically.
We examined scientific data that pointed us in the general direction of fats in diets.
Researchers had discovered in the 1980s that only l4% of calories
in the average Chinese diet were from fat, compared to almost 36% in the West.
But the diet I had been living on for years before I contracted breast cancer
was very low in fat and high in fibre.
Why don't they get breast cancer?'
We decided to utilize our joint scientific backgrounds and approach it logically.
We examined scientific data that pointed us in the general direction of fats in diets.
Researchers had discovered in the 1980s that only l4% of calories
in the average Chinese diet were from fat, compared to almost 36% in the West.
But the diet I had been living on for years before I contracted breast cancer
was very low in fat and high in fibre.
Besides, I knew as a scientist that fat intake in adults has not been shown to increase risk
for breast cancer in most investigations that have followed large groups
of women for up to a dozen years.
Then one day something rather special happened.
Peter and I have worked together so closely over the years that I am
not sure which one of us first said:
"The Chinese don't eat dairy produce!"
for breast cancer in most investigations that have followed large groups
of women for up to a dozen years.
Then one day something rather special happened.
Peter and I have worked together so closely over the years that I am
not sure which one of us first said:
"The Chinese don't eat dairy produce!"
It is hard to explain to a non-scientist the sudden mental and emotional 'buzz'
you get when you know you have had an important insight.
It's as if you have had a lot of pieces of a jigsaw in your mind, and suddenly,
in a few seconds, they all fall into place and the whole picture is clear.
Suddenly I recalled how many Chinese people were physically unable to tolerate milk,
how the Chinese people I had worked with had always said that milk was only for babies,
and how one of my close friends, who is of Chinese origin,
always politely turned down the cheese course at dinner parties.
I knew of no Chinese people who lived a traditional Chinese life who ever
used cow or other dairy food to feed their babies.
you get when you know you have had an important insight.
It's as if you have had a lot of pieces of a jigsaw in your mind, and suddenly,
in a few seconds, they all fall into place and the whole picture is clear.
Suddenly I recalled how many Chinese people were physically unable to tolerate milk,
how the Chinese people I had worked with had always said that milk was only for babies,
and how one of my close friends, who is of Chinese origin,
always politely turned down the cheese course at dinner parties.
I knew of no Chinese people who lived a traditional Chinese life who ever
used cow or other dairy food to feed their babies.
The tradition was to use a wet nurse but never, ever, dairy products.
Culturally, the Chinese find our Western preoccupation with
milk and milk products very strange.
Culturally, the Chinese find our Western preoccupation with
milk and milk products very strange.
I remember entertaining a large delegation of Chinese scientists
shortly after the ending of the Cultural Revolution in the 1980s.
On advice from the Foreign Office,
we had asked the caterer to provide a pudding that contained a lot of ice cream.
shortly after the ending of the Cultural Revolution in the 1980s.
On advice from the Foreign Office,
we had asked the caterer to provide a pudding that contained a lot of ice cream.
After inquiring what the pudding consisted of, all of the Chinese,
including their interpreter, politely but firmly refused to eat it,
and they could not be persuaded to change their minds.
At the time we were all delighted and ate extra portions!
Milk, I discovered, is one of the most common causes of food allergies .
including their interpreter, politely but firmly refused to eat it,
and they could not be persuaded to change their minds.
At the time we were all delighted and ate extra portions!
Milk, I discovered, is one of the most common causes of food allergies .
Over 70% of the world's population are unable to digest the milk sugar, lactose,
which has led nutritionists to believe that this is the normal condition for adults,
not some sort of deficiency. Perhaps nature is trying to tell us that we are eating the wrong food.
which has led nutritionists to believe that this is the normal condition for adults,
not some sort of deficiency. Perhaps nature is trying to tell us that we are eating the wrong food.
Before I had breast cancer for the first time, I had eaten a lot of dairy produce, such as skimmed milk,
low-fat cheese and yoghurt. I had used it as my main source of protein. I also ate cheap but lean minced beef, which I now realized was probably often ground-up dairy cow.
low-fat cheese and yoghurt. I had used it as my main source of protein. I also ate cheap but lean minced beef, which I now realized was probably often ground-up dairy cow.
In order to cope with the chemotherapy I received for my fifth case of cancer,
I had been eating organic yoghurts as a way of helping my digestive
tract to recover and repopulate my gut with 'good' bacteria.
I had been eating organic yoghurts as a way of helping my digestive
tract to recover and repopulate my gut with 'good' bacteria.
Recently, I discovered that way back in 1989 yoghurt had been implicated
in ovarian cancer . Dr Daniel Cramer of Harvard University studied hundreds
of women with ovarian cancer, and had them record in detail what they normally ate.
wish I'd been made aware of his findings when he had first discovered them.
in ovarian cancer . Dr Daniel Cramer of Harvard University studied hundreds
of women with ovarian cancer, and had them record in detail what they normally ate.
wish I'd been made aware of his findings when he had first discovered them.
Following Peter's and my insight into the Chinese diet,
I decided to give up not just yoghurt but all dairy produce immediately.
Cheese, butter, milk and yoghurt and anything else that contained dairy produce -
it went down the sink or in the rubbish.
I decided to give up not just yoghurt but all dairy produce immediately.
Cheese, butter, milk and yoghurt and anything else that contained dairy produce -
it went down the sink or in the rubbish.
It is surprising how many products, including commercial soups, biscuits and cakes,
contain some form of dairy produce. Even many proprietary brands of margarine marketed as soya,
sunflower or olive oil spreads can contain dairy produce
.
I therefore became an avid reader of the small print on food labels.
Up to this point, I had been steadfastly measuring the progress of my fifth
cancerous lump with callipers and plotting the results.
Despite all the encouraging comments and positive feedback from my
doctors and nurses, my own precise observations told me the bitter truth.
My first chemotherapy sessions had produced no effect -
the lump was still the same size. Then I eliminated dairy products.
Within days, the lump started to shrink
.
About two weeks after my second chemotherapy session and one week
after giving up dairy produce, the lump in my neck started to itch.
Then it began to soften and to reduce in size. The line on the graph,
which had shown no change, was now pointing downwards
as the tumour got smaller and smaller.
And, very significantly, I noted that instead of declining exponentially
(a graceful curve) as cancer is meant to do,
the tumour's decrease in size was plotted on a straight line heading off
the bottom of the graph, indicating a cure,
not suppression (or remission) of the tumour.
One Saturday afternoon after about six weeks of excluding all dairy produce
from my diet, I practised an hour of meditation then felt for what was left
of the lump. I couldn't find it. Yet I was very experienced at detecting cancerous lumps
- I had discovered all five cancers on my own. I went downstairs and asked my
husband to feel my neck. He could not find any trace of the lump either.
On the following Thursday I was due to be seen by my cancer specialist at
Charing Cross Hospital in London . He examined me thoroughly, especially my neck
where the tumour had been. He was initially bemused and then delighted as he said,
"I cannot find it."
None of my doctors, it appeared, had expected someone with my type
and stage of cancer (which had clearly spread to the lymph system)
to survive, let alone be so hale and hearty.
My specialist was as overjoyed as I was. When I first discussed my ideas with him
he was understandably sceptical. But I understand that he now uses maps showing
cancer portality in China in his lectures, and recommends a non-dairy diet to his cancer patients.
I now believe that the link between dairy produce and breast cancer is similar
to the link between smoking and lung cancer. I believe that identifying the link between
breast cancer and dairy produce, and then developing a diet specifically targeted
at maintaining the health of my breast and hormone system, cured me.
It was difficult for me, as it may be for you, to accept that a substance as
'natural' as milk might have such ominous health implications.
But I am a living proof that it works and, starting from tomorrow,
I shall reveal the secrets of my revolutionary action plan.
Extracted from Your Life in Your Hands, by Professor Jane Plant
contain some form of dairy produce. Even many proprietary brands of margarine marketed as soya,
sunflower or olive oil spreads can contain dairy produce
.
I therefore became an avid reader of the small print on food labels.
Up to this point, I had been steadfastly measuring the progress of my fifth
cancerous lump with callipers and plotting the results.
Despite all the encouraging comments and positive feedback from my
doctors and nurses, my own precise observations told me the bitter truth.
My first chemotherapy sessions had produced no effect -
the lump was still the same size. Then I eliminated dairy products.
Within days, the lump started to shrink
.
About two weeks after my second chemotherapy session and one week
after giving up dairy produce, the lump in my neck started to itch.
Then it began to soften and to reduce in size. The line on the graph,
which had shown no change, was now pointing downwards
as the tumour got smaller and smaller.
And, very significantly, I noted that instead of declining exponentially
(a graceful curve) as cancer is meant to do,
the tumour's decrease in size was plotted on a straight line heading off
the bottom of the graph, indicating a cure,
not suppression (or remission) of the tumour.
One Saturday afternoon after about six weeks of excluding all dairy produce
from my diet, I practised an hour of meditation then felt for what was left
of the lump. I couldn't find it. Yet I was very experienced at detecting cancerous lumps
- I had discovered all five cancers on my own. I went downstairs and asked my
husband to feel my neck. He could not find any trace of the lump either.
On the following Thursday I was due to be seen by my cancer specialist at
Charing Cross Hospital in London . He examined me thoroughly, especially my neck
where the tumour had been. He was initially bemused and then delighted as he said,
"I cannot find it."
None of my doctors, it appeared, had expected someone with my type
and stage of cancer (which had clearly spread to the lymph system)
to survive, let alone be so hale and hearty.
My specialist was as overjoyed as I was. When I first discussed my ideas with him
he was understandably sceptical. But I understand that he now uses maps showing
cancer portality in China in his lectures, and recommends a non-dairy diet to his cancer patients.
I now believe that the link between dairy produce and breast cancer is similar
to the link between smoking and lung cancer. I believe that identifying the link between
breast cancer and dairy produce, and then developing a diet specifically targeted
at maintaining the health of my breast and hormone system, cured me.
It was difficult for me, as it may be for you, to accept that a substance as
'natural' as milk might have such ominous health implications.
But I am a living proof that it works and, starting from tomorrow,
I shall reveal the secrets of my revolutionary action plan.
Extracted from Your Life in Your Hands, by Professor Jane Plant
Artice Shared by:
Comments by:
F. J. Dalal
Dear jasvant and Asmita Mehta, Edmonton, Canada:
Thank you for sending a very interesting article by Prof.. Jane Plant, PhD, CBE. Some research Scientists have started finding out that consuming Dairy Products do harm to Humans. Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM),www.pcrm.org has research publications recommending Vegan Diet. There are a number of Publications by experienced writers/professors, The New Shastras/Scriptures are All leading towards Plant-Based Diet and Life Style, i.e. Veganism. The Human Being is the Only Animal drinking Milk of Other Animals for the life time. Is this unusual? YES. The mis-directed Intelligence of Human Being has established its Control over the entire Universal Life System, for Better or Worse. It appears now that it is heading towards the disaster, for Worse. Globalization is proving it. Global Warming and the resultant Natural Disasters are the every day Experiences. Is Human Mind A Devil's Workshop? Not Yet. Some among them are trying to Reverse The Course of Wrong Path, Leading to Right-Virtuous Path. Can A Religious Group Lead? For Sure, those who Believe and Practice Non-Violence CAN DO. It is a Rare Human Life. For its Physical, Mental and Spiritual Weell-Being, there is No Other Way Around. The eternal Optimists for The Future can persevere and LEAD. The TIME to CHANGE is NOW. This is The Food For Thought. Please Spare a Few Moments and READ.
Sincerely,
Fakirchand J. Dalal
Thank you for sending a very interesting article by Prof.. Jane Plant, PhD, CBE. Some research Scientists have started finding out that consuming Dairy Products do harm to Humans. Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM),www.pcrm.org has research publications recommending Vegan Diet. There are a number of Publications by experienced writers/professors, The New Shastras/Scriptures are All leading towards Plant-Based Diet and Life Style, i.e. Veganism. The Human Being is the Only Animal drinking Milk of Other Animals for the life time. Is this unusual? YES. The mis-directed Intelligence of Human Being has established its Control over the entire Universal Life System, for Better or Worse. It appears now that it is heading towards the disaster, for Worse. Globalization is proving it. Global Warming and the resultant Natural Disasters are the every day Experiences. Is Human Mind A Devil's Workshop? Not Yet. Some among them are trying to Reverse The Course of Wrong Path, Leading to Right-Virtuous Path. Can A Religious Group Lead? For Sure, those who Believe and Practice Non-Violence CAN DO. It is a Rare Human Life. For its Physical, Mental and Spiritual Weell-Being, there is No Other Way Around. The eternal Optimists for The Future can persevere and LEAD. The TIME to CHANGE is NOW. This is The Food For Thought. Please Spare a Few Moments and READ.
Sincerely,
Fakirchand J. Dalal
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