If your Mom had read the headline above, do you think she would've let you eat that second or third hamburger lovingly appointed with heaps of lard-soaked French fries back in the day? Don't think so...

Having been overweight for most of my entire life, this Swedish study about the long-term effects of obesity for kids beyond childhood -- one of an alarming handful that have hit the media recently -- really hit home with me.

After studying the health of nearly 5,000 American Indian children over some 40 years for links, researchers learned adults who had been obese kids with the highest body mass index more than doubled their risk of premature death before their 55th birthday. In addition to obesity, high blood sugar levels elevated a patient's early mortality risks by an alarming 73 percent.

Don't be too quick to dismiss these numbers as unique either, because, scientists say, previous studies of American Indian patients tend to predict the future health of Americans accurately by 10-20 years.

Just a reminder, obesity also contributes in a major way to cancer, at a rate of 100,000 new cases every year.

New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 362, No. 6, pp. 485-493, February 11, 2010 Free Full Text Study

BusinessWeek February 10, 2010

New York Times February 10, 2010

Although pancreatic cancer is rare, its touch is almost always fatal, a heart-breaking fact I learned first-hand during the summer of 2005. All the more reason to do whatever you can to lessen your odds, no matter how small they are.

Being an unapologetic lover of soft drinks for too many years, however, even I was surprised and a bit worried to learn how consuming more than two sugary, fizzy drinks a week nearly doubled a person's risk of PanCan.

Of the 61,000 middle-aged or older patients who participated in the Singapore Chinese Health Study over a 14-year span, only 140 cases of pancreatic cancer were reported, all things considered a very low number. Here's the kicker and, potentially, a huge problem for more of us than we'd care to admit: Patients who consumed two or more carbonated sodas a week -- the actual average was five -- increased their pancreatic cancer risk by 87 percent versus those who drank none.

The problem: Too many soft drinks -- filled to the brim with high fructose sweeteners -- may be increasing insulin levels in the body and contributing to pancreatic cancer cell growth.

But that's not all. Drinking sugary, sweet sodas regularly was generally an indicator of a riskier health profile overall, scientists say, making me wonder when I should start tapering off for good.

Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, Vol. 19, No. 2, pp. 447-455, February 2010

EurekAlert February 8, 2010

Yahoo News February 8, 2010

It's hard to imagine cutting out anything as small as a half-teaspoon of anything in your daily diet would make an impact on your health as great as reducing your risk of heart attack or even death. As we've observed time and again in this space, however, making the simplest changes -- like eating foods more slowly -- can have a huge impact on your health for the positive.

That's why we're far less skeptical than some of you may be about the impact of reducing your salt intake by just a half-teaspoon, based on the results culled from the Coronary Heart Disease Policy Model, a digital simulation of heart disease among adults used by scientists to predict the benefits derived from making changes to the collective diets of Americans.

Saving the lives of some 92,000 Americans and preventing nearly 100,000 heart attacks, merely by reducing one's salt intake by 3 grams isn't just the healthy thing to do (although it's comparable to the effect of quitting smoking). The projected savings to the nation's spiraling-out-of-control health care tab by reducing salt alone may save as much as $24 BILLION.

If you like to add salt liberally to your foods, this single change should be a fairly easy one to make. Making this change may be a bit tricky for some folks, however, who don't add salt to anything (that's me). For example, an average 14-ounce can of green beans contains nearly 1,300 mg of salt.

All the more reason for me and you to pay closer attention to nutritional labels, particularly the salt that hides in processed foods.

New England Journal of Medicine January 20, 2010 Free Full Text Study

EurekAlert January 20, 2010

You know the value of fish oil is finally hitting home with the mainstream when the U.S. Department of Defense is considering using its components -- DHA omega-3 fatty acids and EPA -- to fortify the meals of all active military personnel.

To accomplish this, however, would require U.S. military officials to rescind a standing directive prohibiting the military from providing a supplement or a drug through its food supply chain.

"Increasing omega-3 consumption amongst U.S. troops has incredible potential to improve health and reduce health care costs for U.S. troops," says Douglas MacKay of the Council for Responsible Nutrition. "There is evidence that higher levels of omega-3 fats have multiple health benefits, some of which are important to soldiers."

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NutraIngredients-USA.com February 2, 2010

Cancer isn't the only serious health problem worsened by the presence of obesity. The more pounds you pack on, the more you elevate your risk of stroke, a problem that occurs across race and gender lines, and regardless what unit of measure (waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio or BMI) is used, according to a new study.

Over the course of the 19-year study, researchers tracked the health of some 13,500 middle-aged patients living in four American cities who were cancer-free and had no cardiovascular problems at the outset.

At first, the numbers seem a bit misleading, because the rate of risk varied greatly by ethnic group and gender, with black men and women experiencing a greater incidence of stroke overall. For example, the rate of stroke among black women in the lowest and highest BMI categories was more than three times greater than that of white women.

What didn't change, however, was the correlation between the increased incidence of stroke and bigger waistlines. Generally, the risk of stroke among men and women in the highest obesity category nearly doubled in comparison to those in the lowest BMI group.

Stroke January 21, 2010

Medline Plus January 21, 2010

EurekAlert January 21, 2010

We've taken great pains in this space to warn you often about the many dirty foods you should avoid buying at your local grocery store or farmers market at all costs. No surprise, the most recent issue of Consumer Reports has fingered one of those risky foods: Leafy greens.

A surprising 39 percent out of more than 200 samples from 16 producers of packaged greens -- yep, those prewashed packages you count on to save time at the dinner table -- purchased in the Northeastern U.S. exceeded an unacceptable level of total coliforms, one indicator of poor fecal contamination used by industry experts. A second marker for contamination, enterococcus, was discovered in 23 percent of the samples tested.

Although bacteria counts varied greatly among products, even in the same brand, there were some uncomfortable similarities among samples with higher levels of contaminants:

1. There was no difference in cleanliness among organic and non-organic products, nor how they were sold at the grocery store (in plastic bags or containers).

2. More samples of spinach were tainted and were anywhere from 1-5 days away from their expiration dates.

3. At least one brand of packaged salad among the companies represented by more than four samples -- including national, regional and store brands -- tested positive for enterococcus or coliforms.

These results certainly explain why the Consumers Union supports the Food Safety Modernization Act that would allow the FDA to develop and enforce stronger produce standards.

Consumer Reports March 2010

Civil Eats February 2, 2010

With the coming of this New Year, you just can't help seeing tons of top 10 lists, detailing the best and worst of everything that came and went during the past decade. And, we tend to fall for them like many of you do -- hook, line and sinker -- especially those digested on this broadband party line experts call the Internet.

That said, we enjoyed reading interviews from a number of health experts about the generally positive future of cancer research. Interestingly, some of the responses collected by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the BBC share some common themes we discuss quite often in this space:

* A far greater understanding of the link between obesity and cancer.

* The importance of nutrition.

* Mapping the human genome, thus creating new avenues for more effectively treating cancer with gene therapy.

* Cancer prevention, an integral part of living a healthier lifestyle.

American Institute for Cancer Research, No. 33, December 30, 2009

BBC News January 4, 2010

Choosing fruits and vegetables from organic sources over those grown conventionally (often tainted with health-harming pesticides) isn't the only way to ensure you're enjoying the most nutrients from your whole foods.

Because cooking in high temperatures and boiling water can remove as much as 50 percent of the nutrients in vegetables, knowing how to prepare whole foods the best way possible in order to preserve as much of their nutritional content is just as important to your health as selecting between organic and conventional.

Some smarter ways to protect the nutrient content in the fruits and vegetables you eat every day:

* Turn down the heat and stir-fry your vegetables in a small amount of oil.

* Turn up the heat a bit on your whole foods more gently by steaming them in boiling water.

* Regulate the heat electronically by preparing whole foods in your microwave, in a specially made container and with a minimum amount of water to prevent them from becoming overcooked or burned.

* Consider mixing fruits and vegetables in a blender with some juice or low-fat yogurt.

For more information about whole food nutrition, I urge you to read The Declining Nutrition of Fruits and Vegetables in this month's CNCA Newsletter.

ConsumerReports.org November 18, 2009 Free Podcast

In addition to dual lists unveiled last fall by the Environmental Working Group and the Center for Science in the Public Interest of the dirtiest and cleanest whole foods you'll find any day of the week in your neighborhood grocery store, be sure to take a few minutes to review this great addendum developed by the editors of Prevention of six more health-harming foods to avoid when you're shopping.

Apart from apples and potatoes, the Prevention list sets its sights in a different direction -- processed foods -- no doubt a serious and justified reaction to all the recent food safety problems in the news.

What follows is the remainder of the list, including links to recent reports about the debatable safety of each member of the Prevention list.

1. Farmed salmon

2. Conventional processed milk containing artificial hormones

3. Canned tomatoes

4. Corn-fed beef

5. Microwave popcorn

Organic Consumers Association December 10, 2009

Shine November 24, 2009

Earlier this year, we learned how the Baby Boomer generation may be harming their health for the long term by reducing the amount of food and vital nutrients they consume every day. Unfortunately, these very same problems may plague the elderly, even those living in nursing homes, according to a recent study.

Based on statistics compiled on more than 6,000 patients from global data pooling, the pervasiveness of malnutrition among the elderly is rampant in rehabilitation settings -- a startling 91 percent -- and hospitals (86 percent). Even nursing home residents aren't immune to malnutrition, with some two-thirds of seniors at risk.

In hopes of correcting this nutritional problem, an expert in geriatric medicine has developed a shorter version of the Mini Nutritional Assessment tool that identifies patients in one of three categories (malnourished, at risk and well-nourished) and takes just four minutes to be completed by a health professional.

Data from the global pool demonstrated how measuring an elderly patient's calf circumference can be a valid alternative when other vital health statistics -- specifically their body mass index -- is unavailable.

European Hospital November 22, 2009

If you enjoyed our recent tip list for making healthier choices during the holiday season, consider these top notch suggestions from Jennifer Ventrelle, a nutritionist and certified personal trainer at Chicago's Rush (University Medical Center) Nutrition and Wellness Center.

To be sure, taking the necessary steps to improve your health requires a lot of effort and even greater patience. So, if you've been trying to lose weight without success since Thanksgiving, your efforts may be better spent maintaining your current weight. Because most Americans gain between 1-4 pounds between Thanksgiving and the New Year, rather than launch a diet that's doomed to fail, maintaining your current weight may be a more realistic goal.

And, it's achievable if you pay attention to the numbers, as in calories, that can add on the pounds bit-by-bit. There's nothing easier than adding pounds in "stealth mode" via liquid calories, like the average artery-clogging cup of eggnog that amounts to 350 calories and 20 grams of fat, or that 6-ounce glass of your favorite dessert wine weighing in at 280 calories.

Another common-sense reminder as you navigate the many and varied food troughs at work and elsewhere during the holiday season: The real number of days spent celebrating -- as little as three and no more than eight -- are way fewer than the entirety of the season... about six weeks. Extending your food cravings beyond those special days makes it even more tempting to postpone any New Years resolutions about improving your health for the long haul.

Rush University Medical Center News Blog December 8, 2009

Seems European researchers have been paying closer attention to all the benefits associated with chocolate than their American counterparts lately. And we're pleased on the blog when we can report about new perks, like protecting your DNA by eating dark chocolate.

Spanish researchers assigned 20 young and healthy patients a balanced diet to follow for four weeks. Midway through the study, scientists divided patients into two groups. One ate white chocolate while the other consumed dark chocolate.

Patients in the dark chocolate group experienced increased levels of catechin in their blood just two hours after consuming it, and decreased levels of DNA damage in mononuclear blood cells based on tests taken at regular intervals.

The benefits of consuming dark chocolate in the short-term were obvious, however, not for the long haul. Some 22 hours after eating dark chocolate, no signs of those recent benefits were detected.

British Journal of Nutrition November 5, 2009

NutraIngredients-USA.com December 4, 2009

As the old saying goes, knowledge is power, but only if you actually use it to improve, let's say, the state of your own health. Nothing illustrates this conundrum better than this interesting study about possessing nutritional information but doing next to nothing with that knowledge.

Researchers conducted interviews with some 400 Spanish patients to analyze their perceptions of the average, high-fat breakfast biscuit, including price, branding, descriptions of the product and nutritional labeling. Slightly more than two-thirds of respondents claimed they made a conscious effort to control their daily intake of calories, and almost a third reported health-related problems dealing with food.

Roughly half of the patients believed their weight was normal for their age and height, while nearly 33 percent felt that their health vitals were only slightly above recommended levels.

The real problem: Only 10 percent of the participants admitted they were overweight, a statistically dubious finding considering a five-year-old study from the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development reported 48 percent of the Spanish residents to be overweight.

A simple way to improve your health and avoid hurting your eyes from reading the tiny type that hides a food's real nutritional content: Take a detour past the grocery store and consider by buying whole foods, that are often grown organically, at a farmers market near you.

Food Quality and Preference, Vol. 20, No. 7, pp. 463-471, October 2009

ScienceDaily November 9, 2009

Are folks being "scared straight" into better health habits? A report we discussed during our first month in this space argued people were doing more talking than taking action, and that declining health statistics appeared to support it. Despite the presence of such gloomy numbers, a new study from HealthFocus International suggests a growing shift toward better nutrition, specifically, more interest in functional foods and beverages along with a growing interest in purity, freshness and simpler foods.

Seems folks may finally be playing closer attention to the ingredients that make up the foods they eat, in addition to the perilous paths these foods traveled to get to their dinner tables.

Among the buzzword ingredients of high interest to shoppers, according to the report:

1. Antioxidants

2. Calcium

3. Fiber

4. Whole grain

5. Omega-3

NutraIngredients-USA.com November 30, 2009

Image source: CDC/James Gathany

With drugs, food safety and supplements already on their radar, the FDA has given 30 beverage makers 30 days to answer questions about the safety and legality of selling alcoholic energy drinks laced with caffeine.

The primary concern, according to the agency: Manufacturers haven't proven that caffeine added to alcoholic drinks is safe. Previous research estimates close to 30 percent of college students have consumed these energy drinks. That's just the tip of the problem, however.

A 2007 study by the Wake Forest University School of Medicine found student patients who consumed energy beverages mixed with alcohol were at least twice as likely to be hurt or injured, require medical aid and ride with an intoxicated driver compared to those who didn't drink them. Additionally, young adults who drank alcohol-laced energy drinks were more than twice as likely to take advantage of a fellow student sexually.

Citing these very same risks of injury and intoxication, a petition signed by 100 physicians and scientists more than a year ago urged the FDA to strengthen their regulation of all energy drinks, asking the agency to require manufacturers to list the amount of caffeine in their drinks along with information about potential side effects.

Probably the best known name producer in this group: Diageo North America, makers of Smirnoff Raw Tea Malt Beverage. Hit this link, for a full list of companies that produce caffeinated alcoholic beverages and brand names.

AboutLawsuits.com November 16, 2009

Winston-Salem Journal November 14, 2009

healthfinder.gov November 13, 2009