For The Love of Food

Welcome to Friday’s For The Love of Food, Summer Tomato’s weekly link roundup.

I love Marion Nestle calling out the food industry on their ridiculous health claims, the emphasis on food culture in health and the launch of the new and awesome Gilt Taste.

Want to see all my favorite links? Be sure to follow me on on Digg. I also share links at Twitter (@summertomato) and the Summer Tomato Facebook fan page. I’m very active on all these sites and would love to connect with you.

Links of the week

• Foods With Benefits? Oh please. <<Excellent, must read article about the BS the food industry is trying to pull on you. (Food Politics)
• The Mediterranean Diet: It’s Not Just About Food <<It’s about culture. (Huffington Post)
• Localizing Fruit, Vegetable Consumption Doesn’t Necessarily Solve Environmental, Health Issues, Study Suggests <Once again, if you read this carefully you’ll see it’s a problem with food culture, not a problem with the definition of “local.” (ScienceDaily)
• Fine Food and Fat: Are Chefs to Blame for Obesity? <<BS of the week. People are clearly confused about the causes and effects of obesity. If we have any chance of coming out of this health crisis, we’re going to have to embrace the food movement and reinstate a food culture based on quality over quantity. (Time)
• Sitting is Killing You <<We just talked about sedentary behavior last week, but here it is in visual form. (Obesity Panacea)
• Dairy Consumption Does Not Elevate Heart-Attack Risk, Study Suggests <<Not even with all that “evil” saturated fat. Skeptics: this was funded by the NIH, not the Dairy Council. (ScienceDaily)
• Exploding watermelons put spotlight on Chinese farming practices <<Still need reasons to avoid Chinese food imports? Eek. (Guardian)
• Eat a Protein-Rich Breakfast to Reduce Food Cravings, Prevent Overeating Later, Researcher Finds <<My two favorite scientific fields (nutrition and neuroscience) united at last. (ScienceDaily)
• People with diabetes more likely to get cancer <<In case you didn’t know, there are many reasons to avoid metabolic syndrome. (Medline)
• Skillet Chicken with Green Onions and Ramps <<I’m totally inspired by the new Gilt Taste site, and I’m going to try this recipe ASAP. Check out their anti-mission statement for a dose of inspiration. (Gilt Taste)

What inspired you this week?

Tags: B.S. of the week, Breakfast, cancer, China, diabetes, food culture, food industry, metabolic syndrome, sedentary

Thanks to those of you who participated in this episode on the role of dairy in health and weight loss. Show notes are below.

Please note that the date for the probiotics episode (#6) has changed to Monday, April 25 @ 6:30p PST (previously Tuesday, April 26).

April 11, 2011 | Does milk really protect against osteoporosis? Will too much calcium give you prostate cancer? Can you reduce acne if you stop eating dairy? What’s the deal with raw milk?

The answers may surprise you.

Tune in tonight at 6:30pm PST to join our live discussion about the pros and cons of dairy.

Live participation is only available to subscribers of the newsletter Tomato Slice. You can sign up at any time, even during the show, and the password for participation will be emailed to you immediately.

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Show notes:

There is a huge amount of politics surrounding this science, because of the powerful influence of dairy industries around the world. This makes data difficult to interpret. The following review and its rebuttal regarding the role of milk in type 1 diabetes is a perfect example of what I mean:

Dairy & type 1 diabetes

• Literature review
  http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v59/n5/full/1602104a.html#bib11

• Critique of review based on funding influences
  http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/v60/n3/full/1602322a.html

Dairy and osteoporosis

• Recommended calcium intake = 1,000 mg for adults

• Osteoporosis is more common in Western countries than in Asia, Africa or So. America
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3004072/figure/F0001/
• Western and developed countries consume the most dairy, and as countries consume more osteoporosis becomes more common
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15775506
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18947030
  • http://www.foodscience.uoguelph.ca/dairyedu/intro.html
• Correlation between high calcium intake and hip fractures
  • Eat, Drink & Be Healthy, by Walter Willett

• Also, much of the world is lactose intolerant
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactose_intolerance
• Some evidence that dairy protects against osteoporosis
  • http://www.jacn.org/cgi/content/full/19/suppl_2/83S
• Calcium supplementation does not protect against fractures
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18286218?dopt=Abstract
  • but might with vitamin D http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17720017?dopt=Abstract
• Vitamin D, calcium, fruits and vegetables, protein important for bone health
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19968914
• Diet “acidity” (from protein & other sources) is not a factor in osteoporosis
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19754972

Dairy and acne

• Dairy consistently shown to promote acne, probably via hormonal mechanisms
  • http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-4632.2009.04002.x/full
• Treat acne with low GI foods (skip sugar & flour) and omega-3 fatty acids

Dairy/calcium and heart disease

• Calcium supplementation increases CVD risk
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20671013
  • http://www.bmj.com/content/341/bmj.c3856.long

Dairy/calcium and prostate cancer

• Calcium increases prostate cancer risk
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20516117
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21335998
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20843485
• Reduce risk with legumes, nuts, seafood
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20232354

Dairy/calcium and colon cancer

• Calcium decreases colorectal cancer risk
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21335998
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19423533
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19237724
• Though data is inconsistent
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8333412

Dairy & breast cancer

• Dairy and meat do not promote cancer in adult women
  • http://www.ajcn.org/content/90/3/455.long
• Some studies show reduced risk of cancer (both from China)
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21442197
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21128178
• Milk from cows given rBGH (hormone from Monsanto) increase cancer risk
  • http://www.preventcancer.com/press/releases/july8_98.htm

Dairy & weight loss (very tough to find studies not funded by dairy industry)

• Moderate weight loss from dairy (but rarely from intervention studies w/o caloric restriction)
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21320381
• Possible mechanisms include:
  • Ca++
  • protein
  • conjugated lineoleic acid (CLA)
  • medium-chain fatty acids
• My interpretation: dairy not likely to have big impact on body weight

Cheese protects against cancer and heart disease?

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20335553
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19179058
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21447660

Extras

• Raw Milk, A Potentially Risky Elixer, by Bill Marler

Tags: acne, Bill Marler, calcium, cancer, cheese, dairy, heart disease, lactose intolerance, milk, osteoporosis, prostate cancer, raw milk, vitamin D, Weight Loss

For The Love of Food

Welcome to Friday’s For The Love of Food, Summer Tomato’s weekly link roundup.

Lots of important food reading this week (and some from last week, since I skipped it). Learn why we should all be afraid of industrial meat production, how bananas are evil and why your dog may be your best friend and workout buddy. There are also a few lessons about how to read science in the news.

I read many more wonderful articles than I post here each week. If you’d like to see more or just don’t want to wait until Friday, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@summertomato) or the Summer Tomato Facebook fan page. For a complete list of my favorite stories check out my links on Digg. I’m very active on all these sites and would love to connect with you.

Links of the week

• When the WSJ reports on the overuse of antibiotics, we should all pay attention <<I like bacon as much as the next guy, but this should scare all of you. Industrial meat production is dangerous even if you don’t eat meat. (Marler Blog)
• The film that stood up to banana giant Dole over pesticide poisoning (and won) <<There are many reasons I don’t buy bananas (they aren’t at my farmers market, for one), but this is one of the better reasons I’ve heard to skip them. (Ecologist)
• Face of Heart Attack Grill Dies at Age 29, 572 Pounds <<This is just sad. According to the video it seems the guy really didn’t think he had a problem. (FoxNews)
• Forget the Treadmill. Get a Dog. <<As a newly minted puppy owner, I love this advice for getting more exercise. (New York Times)
• Does Selenium Prevent Cancer? It May Depend on Which Form People Take <<When you see conflicting science in the news it doesn’t mean it’s all hogwash, it more likely means the situation is more complicated than we know. (ScienceDaily)
• The perils of food and nutrition research <<How do you know what science to believe when you see it? Marion Nestle does a great job explaining. (Food Politics)
• Cooks, don’t buy the book — just wait for the packaging <<What I found interesting about this article is that cooking from scratch doesn’t take any more time than using processed, pre-packaged foods. (Los Angeles Times)
• Fat Alone, Not Where It Sits, May Be Key to Heart Problems <<If you were counting on your booty to protect you from heart disease, you might want to reconsider. (Medline)
• Roasted carrots <<How to make a tasty, healthy dish in less than 10 minutes. (Chez Us)
• Shaved Fennel Salad with Tuna, Cannellini Beans, and Red Onion <<This looks like perfect food to me. (Over The Hill And On A Roll)

What inspired you this week?

Tags: antibiotics, bananas, cancer, dogs, heart disease, selenium

For The Love of Food

Welcome to Friday’s For The Love of Food, Summer Tomato’s weekly link roundup.

The biggest news this week is that I defended my thesis on Tuesday and am now officially a PhD, but that didn’t stop the universe from producing a bunch of other important food and health stories. It might be time for a reality check on your pants size, as well as your understanding of fat and metabolic health. I also found a simple and delicious guide to cooking okra.

I read many more wonderful articles than I post here each week. If you’d like to see more or just don’t want to wait until Friday, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@summertomato) or the Summer Tomato Facebook fan page. For a complete reading list join me on Digg. I’m very active on all these sites and would love to connect with you.

Links of the week

• Why You Shouldn’t Rely on Clothing for Actual Waist Measurements <<I understand the value of having a healthy body image, but changing clothes sizes to distort reality isn’t the answer. Don’t kid yourself. (Lifehacker)
• Not enough, rather than too much fat, causes metabolic problems of obesity <<In science, few things are more important than questioning the status quo. There’s a good amount of data suggesting that the accumulation of body fat is a protective mechanism, which leads to interesting and slightly different treatments for metabolic diseases than doctors are currently recommending. (Obesity Panacea)
• Long-term weight loss may be harmful to health <<BS of the week. As the last article explains, we might very well be barking up the wrong tree on the obesity and health front, but this article doesn’t come close to proving that. A correlation based on flimsy data does not good science make. (Medline)
• THIS Is Why I Love the Mediterranean Diet <<Great review of the latest research on the advantages of following a Mediterranean diet. Makes me smile (Advanced Mediterranean Diet)
• High doses of B vitamins can reduce brain shrinkage, memory loss, study finds <<I’m not holding my breath, but this is still encouraging. (Los Angeles Times)
• Why are there no nuts in Honey Nut Cheerios? <<Why is this the first time I’ve ever heard anyone ask this question? (Weighty Matters)
• Working Overtime Adds to Heart Risk for Out-of-Shape Men <<Do you use your tough work schedule to justify being physically lazy? New data suggests you should be doing the opposite. (Medline)
• Eat Like a Greek to Avoid Skin Cancer <<Interesting findings about the impact of diet on melanoma, the most deadly skin cancer. (Dr. Weil Blog)
• Appetite Hormones May Predict Weight Regain After Dieting <<More data that we are all different in how we respond to diets. Find your own healthstyle rather than relying on nutritional dogma. (ScienceDaily)
• How To Cook Okra <<I’m not into slimy okra, but it is a vegetable I’ve learned to love. Preparing it properly is simple and is explained here by Michael Ruhlman. (Ruhlman)

What inspired you this week?

Tags: B.S. of the week, body fat, cancer, Mediterranean diet

For The Love of Food

Welcome to Friday’s For The Love of Food, Summer Tomato’s weekly link roundup.

Hard to avoid the topic of eggs and food safety these days, but the conversation is worth participating in. I also recommend Chef John’s recap of the IFBC conference (even if you don’t know what that is), and Foodiggity‘s Ketchup vs. Catsup post.

I read many more wonderful articles than I post here each week. If you’d like to see more or just don’t want to wait until Friday, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@summertomato) or the Summer Tomato Facebook fan page. For a complete reading list join me on the new Digg or StumbleUpon. I’m very active on all these sites and would love to connect with you.

Links of the week

• The High Cost of Eggs <<Personally I am willing to pay many times what grocery store eggs cost for the better taste and safety, but apparently it only costs a penny per egg to bring industrial eggs up to a minimal safety standard. Is it worth it? (New York Times)
• What if I had a food safety magic wand? <<If you care about the safety of your food, you should read this account of what someone who thinks about it day and night would do to fix it. (Marler Blog)
• Omega-3 margarines fail to help in heart study <<For the zillionth time science show that a fake food loaded with a supposedly healthy nutrient does nothing to help in real life. Why not just eat the original healthy foods?  (The Vancouver Sun)
• Beer’s not to blame for weight gain <<Um, yes it is. BS of the week. Just because it doesn’t contain fat or cholesterol doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a ton of extra calories and maltose. It’s not as fattening as food, but it could easily be blamed for your weight gain. (Telegraph)
• Eating mix of fruits, veggies may cut lung cancer risk <<What’s cool about this study is it shows that variety, not just quantity of fresh produce protects against cancer. Yum! (CNN)
• 2010 International Food Bloggers Conference Recap: The Unbearable Lightness of Being Influential <<I didn’t go to IFBC, but this recap is both hilarious and informative. If you happened to be busy last weekend preparing for your thesis defense and missed the IFBC conference, this is a must read. (Food Wishes)
• 3 Reasons New Yorkers Live Longer <<I love this short post by Dr. Weil about how easy it is to extend your life by taking a few lessons from NYC. (Dr. Weil Blog)
• Ketchup vs. Catsup <<It confused Springfield billionaire Mr. Burns, but Foodiggity has all the answers.
• FDA reports numerous violations at egg farms <<Video and details on why it isn’t surprising that this industrial farm poisoned thousands of Americans. (CNN)
• Farro Salad with Tomatoes, Mushrooms and Basil <<It’s hard to overstate how deeply I have fallen for farro this summer. Here’s a quintessential recipe I hope you try, I’m certain you’ll love it. (David Lebovitz)

What inspired you this week?

Tags: B.S. of the week, cancer, eggs, food safety, industrial food, margarine, recipe