Is aspartame safe? You decide.

Is aspartame safe? You decide.

Public Policy: Good News!

Four bills that have been awaiting final review, were signed into law this month by CA Governor Jerry Brown.
These include:

1. CalWORKS and CalFresh Program
2. CalFresh Senior Nutrition
3. Tax Credits to Farmers Donating Fresh Produce to Food Banks
4. Fresh Food Financing

Please show support for CCPHA in their offer to push the Healthy Beverage Bill into CA legislation.


http://www.publichealthadvocacy.org/healthy_bev.html

Does moderate alcohol consumption increase body weight?

Does moderate alcohol consumption increase body weight?
"Forum members also reviewed some of the distinctive mechanisms by which alcohol is metabolized in the body (it provides calories that are rapidly absorbed and are not stored in fat) that could explain differences in the effects of calories from alcohol and from other foods."


Interesting article, the study showed more favorable results for wine drinkers. 

Connecting WIC participants with farm-fresh produce

Connecting WIC participants with farm-fresh produce

Sample seven snacks that will fire up your energy - USATODAY.com

Sample seven snacks that will fire up your energy - USATODAY.com

I thought this was a nice little article. Short and sweet. The dietitian that recommended this snacks is well known for her book Food Cures. I found her suggestions easy to follow, and some of those combinations sound really tasty.

As I finished reading the article, I got to the comments section and I couldn't help but feel the veins in my head begin to pop! Are people really becoming this derisive about food?

HRT.Cmdr

7:09 AM on August 1, 2011

A Giant Slim Jim chased by a Mountain Dew Code Red will do the trick. You'll be ready to take on the world.

Sigh...I can only hope, for everyone's sake, that people will, sooner or later, find resources and information to understand that there are very difficult times ahead of us, if we don't address the obesity epidemic now.

- Obesity currently kills around 500 thousand people per year, in the U.S only.

- 1 in 10 children are very likely to develop diabetes type II before they turn 12, these are people whose lifespan will be shortened by up to 30 years. This statistic keeps going up.

- We are currently spending 150 billion per year on healthcare because of weight-related problems ( it is expected to double in the next ten years).

This problem will not go away on its own, it is our responsibility to help others become aware of the potential dangers of the obesity epidemic, and encourage our friends and family to make healthier choices.

On A Green Growth Track - Institute of Food Technologists article

This is a great article that summarizes the efforts of some of the largest food manufacturers, as well as new ones, to implement newer, greener packaging practices. We must remember that we, as consumers have a great amount of power collectively mainly by supporting those companies that carry the values that are important to us.
Some of the companies mentioned in the article are Coca-Cola, Heinz and Earth Island (makers or Vegenaise).

http://www.ift.org/food-technology/past-issues/2011/july/features/on-a-green-growth-track.aspx?page=viewall

Food Day is near! Mark your calendar October 24th '11

Finally... A day for food.
Food is a very important part of our lives, yet how often do we stop to think about where it comes from?
Not that many people consider how food is produced in this country, or what or who are we supporting by buying a particular food product.
Food day was created to make us stop for once and ask ourselves these questions. After all, our relationship with food is extremely important and intimate, as food becomes us and we become what we eat.
Please visit http://foodday.org/why-eat-real/six-principles.php to find out more and support.

6 FOOD DAY PRINCIPLES

• 1Reduce diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods
• 2Support sustainable farms & limit subsidies to big agribusiness
• 3Expand access to food and alleviate hunger
• 4Protect the environment & animals by reforming factory farms
• 5
Promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids
• 6Support fair conditions for food and farm workers

Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food | Video on TED.com

I just finished watching Jamie Oliver's TED speech and I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to collaborate with his Food Revolution program in South Pasadena. I believe in the power of education and I share his love for real food, so I am sharing this link and hopefully some inspiration as well.

Jamie Oliver's TED Prize wish: Teach every child about food | Video on TED.com

Also, getting involved takes only a few seconds of your time, please visit this website http://www.jamieoliver.com/us/foundation/jamies-food-revolution/home and sign the petition for better school lunch food for our children.

Typical maximum nutrition losses for common food processing methods

Most of us have heard on the news of studies that show that food processing can lower the nutritional value of foods. But exactly how much?
NutritionData.com has a good summary. http://nutritiondata.self.com/topics/processing

Also here is the USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors (2003).

About NutritionBytes

Nutrition_Bytes 1.1

NutritionBytes was created for anyone and everyone who cares about food, our planet, and the relationship between nutrition, body, and mind. I will bring you important and up-to-date information on everything from Nutrition and Exercise to Agriculture and Health Care.

Approximately sixty years ago, we witnessed the "Green Revolution" - a profound change in the way that we as a society have been producing and consuming food. Now, we are living through the "Organic Revolution" - one that presents us every day with more options, more decisions, and above all, more confusion. It is important for each and every one of us to be aware of the changes that are taking place and to be able to make conscious decisions that affect our health, our families, and our future.

I hope you enjoy the articles and opinions that will be shared on this blog and most of all, I look forward to your comments, opinions and ideas.

Welcome to this blog - please comment and share!

Live consciously,

Evelyn