Many cancers avoidable with less drinking: study - Health - CBC News
Drinking too much alcohol is blamed for a "considerable proportion" of cancer cases, a large new European study suggests.
The study in this week's issue of the medical journal BMJ said current or former alcohol consumption could be blamed for as much as 10 per cent of cancer cases in men and three per cent in women.
The conclusions were based on following more than 100,000 men and 250,000 women aged 37 to 70 in Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark from 1992 to 2005.
"A considerable proportion of the most common and most lethal cancers is attributable to former and current alcohol consumption," wrote lead author Manuela Bergmann of the Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke in Nuthetal, Germany.
"This strongly underlines the necessity to continue and to increase efforts to reduce alcohol consumption in Europe, both on the individual and the population level."
Too much drinking was also blamed for seven per cent of breast cancers in German women and 28 per cent of colorectal cancers in Spanish men, the results show.
"The effect was greater for certain cancers which we already know there's a causal relationship between …like liver, mouth, throat, esophagus and breast cancer," said Dr. Karl Kabasele, CBC's medical commentator.
Standard drink labels
Canada has a national alcohol strategy that covers alcohol pricing and availability. But labelling alcohol bottles better with specific warnings about cancer risk would help reduce its adverse health effects, said Prof. Tim Stockwell of the University of Victoria's Centre for Addictions Research.
Low risk drinking guidelines
"It's a citizen's right-to-know issue," Stockwell said in an interview. "I think it's scandalous that vested interest groups have persuaded governments that it's not necessary to inform consumers about the risks of things like cancer from this product that most of use and love."
People are warned about the risks of tanning salons for example but alcohol's risks are not clearly spelled out, Stockwell.
The Canadian Cancer Society acknowledged that cancer risks of drinking have received little attention.
"I think there's a lot of misconception about the safety of alcohol, " said Gillian Bromfield, a policy analyst with the Canadian Cancer Society in Toronto. "A lot of people really don't understand the risk of cancer from alcohol intake."
Alcohol labels could also carry more useful information about how many standard drinks of alcohol are found in a bottle of wine or spirits, Stockwell suggested. That way, it would be easier for people to translate upcoming national guidelines on quantity and frequency of drinking that are considered low risk to their personal behaviour.
In the study, researchers used a mathematical model to take factors such as smoking, diet and exercise into account in calculating the number of cancers attributed to drinking more than recommended.
The research was funded by several European health authorities.With files from CBC's Vik Adhopia, Amina Zafar and The Associated Press
Friday, April 8, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Air polution
Air Pollution Rivals Exertion and Booze as a Trigger of Heart Attacks
By Matthew Heller on February 25, 2011
European researchers have concluded that air pollution directly leads to about as many heart attacks as better-known triggers such as physical exertion and excessive drinking.
In a study published in the journal The Lancet, researchers said that the main reason for the widespread impact of air pollution is its pervasiveness. Everyone is exposed to dirty air. So, even though air pollution poses a relatively low risk to any single person, it was estimated to be the trigger for 5 percent to 7 percent of all heart attacks.
Cocaine, by contrast, increases an individual’s immediate heart attack risk by an alarming 2,400 percent. Still, given the comparatively small numbers of people exposed to cocaine, the study found that it accounted for only 0.9 percent of heart attacks.
“The important message here is that while an individual’s risk from air pollution is moderate or small, each of us is exposed, making the amount of risk intolerable for the entire community,” Dr. Andrea Baccarelli of the Harvard School of Public Health, who wrote an editorial that accompanied the study, told The Boston Globe.
Baccarelli said air pollutants may trigger heart attacks by promoting inflammation and increasing blood clotting. Pollutants also appear to attach to lung cell receptors, sending a signal to the heart that the body is in trouble.
The researchers from Belgium and Switzerland who conducted the study reviewed 36 epidemiological assessments to assess the importance and relevance of “final straw” risk factors for heart attacks — as opposed to their longer-term causes.
Traffic exposure was judged to be the top factor, accounting for 7.4 percent of heart attacks. Researchers acknowledged that the traffic figure could be related to exposure to air pollutants, or to other commuting issues such as stress and noise, but said they lacked the data to clarify the possible connections.
Along with traffic exposure and air pollution, physical exertion, alcohol and coffee were rated among the leading triggers, all thought to account for 5 percent or more of heart attacks. As for sexual activity, it rated well behind, accounting for 2.2 percent.
The study was published Thursday, a day after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it was easing rules to crack down on air pollution from industrial boilers and incinerators
Source
By Matthew Heller on February 25, 2011
European researchers have concluded that air pollution directly leads to about as many heart attacks as better-known triggers such as physical exertion and excessive drinking.
In a study published in the journal The Lancet, researchers said that the main reason for the widespread impact of air pollution is its pervasiveness. Everyone is exposed to dirty air. So, even though air pollution poses a relatively low risk to any single person, it was estimated to be the trigger for 5 percent to 7 percent of all heart attacks.
Cocaine, by contrast, increases an individual’s immediate heart attack risk by an alarming 2,400 percent. Still, given the comparatively small numbers of people exposed to cocaine, the study found that it accounted for only 0.9 percent of heart attacks.
“The important message here is that while an individual’s risk from air pollution is moderate or small, each of us is exposed, making the amount of risk intolerable for the entire community,” Dr. Andrea Baccarelli of the Harvard School of Public Health, who wrote an editorial that accompanied the study, told The Boston Globe.
Baccarelli said air pollutants may trigger heart attacks by promoting inflammation and increasing blood clotting. Pollutants also appear to attach to lung cell receptors, sending a signal to the heart that the body is in trouble.
The researchers from Belgium and Switzerland who conducted the study reviewed 36 epidemiological assessments to assess the importance and relevance of “final straw” risk factors for heart attacks — as opposed to their longer-term causes.
Traffic exposure was judged to be the top factor, accounting for 7.4 percent of heart attacks. Researchers acknowledged that the traffic figure could be related to exposure to air pollutants, or to other commuting issues such as stress and noise, but said they lacked the data to clarify the possible connections.
Along with traffic exposure and air pollution, physical exertion, alcohol and coffee were rated among the leading triggers, all thought to account for 5 percent or more of heart attacks. As for sexual activity, it rated well behind, accounting for 2.2 percent.
The study was published Thursday, a day after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it was easing rules to crack down on air pollution from industrial boilers and incinerators
Source
Monday, February 14, 2011
How to wean your child off junk food - Parentcentral.ca
How to wean your child off junk food - Parentcentral.ca
Kids used to a steady diet of sugar and fat can change — and parents can help make the switch less painful. “It’s about balance,” says Babs Benson, R.N., director of the Healthy You weight management program at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Va. “Frequency and quantity are key.”
Emphasize moderation. Offer junk food occasionally — not daily — and keep portion sizes as small as possible.
Educate kids. Explain that you’re making a change not to punish them but to help them be stronger and smarter.
Continually introduce healthier snacks. Instead of Oreos, offer sweetness in the form of graham crackers or small boxes of raisins. Try fun shapes—like celery stalks with peanut butter and raisins, a.k.a. “ants-on-a-log”—and healthy dips such as hummus.
Make homemade versions of favourites. Create pizzas with whole-wheat muffins, tomato sauce and low-fat mozzarella cheese, or cook “fries” by spraying potato wedges with olive oil, sprinkling on salt and baking at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes per side.
Don’t cut out snacks. Kids need them to maintain energy. Just put out healthy choices when you know they’re hungry, perhaps with a small treat on the side.
Get rid of junk. If big bags of chips and candy aren’t in your pantry, no one can raid them.
Involve kids in food preparation. They’ll be more likely to try new foods if they have helped select recipes, pick out foods and cook.
Make family meals a priority. Serve plenty of lean protein, fruits and vegetables and whole grains. You’ll be setting a good example and reducing the temptation to grab junk on the fly.
Offer nonfood rewards. Stop using junk food as a prize for good behaviour.
McClatchy News Services
Kids used to a steady diet of sugar and fat can change — and parents can help make the switch less painful. “It’s about balance,” says Babs Benson, R.N., director of the Healthy You weight management program at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Va. “Frequency and quantity are key.”
Emphasize moderation. Offer junk food occasionally — not daily — and keep portion sizes as small as possible.
Educate kids. Explain that you’re making a change not to punish them but to help them be stronger and smarter.
Continually introduce healthier snacks. Instead of Oreos, offer sweetness in the form of graham crackers or small boxes of raisins. Try fun shapes—like celery stalks with peanut butter and raisins, a.k.a. “ants-on-a-log”—and healthy dips such as hummus.
Make homemade versions of favourites. Create pizzas with whole-wheat muffins, tomato sauce and low-fat mozzarella cheese, or cook “fries” by spraying potato wedges with olive oil, sprinkling on salt and baking at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes per side.
Don’t cut out snacks. Kids need them to maintain energy. Just put out healthy choices when you know they’re hungry, perhaps with a small treat on the side.
Get rid of junk. If big bags of chips and candy aren’t in your pantry, no one can raid them.
Involve kids in food preparation. They’ll be more likely to try new foods if they have helped select recipes, pick out foods and cook.
Make family meals a priority. Serve plenty of lean protein, fruits and vegetables and whole grains. You’ll be setting a good example and reducing the temptation to grab junk on the fly.
Offer nonfood rewards. Stop using junk food as a prize for good behaviour.
McClatchy News Services
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Alcohol claims 2.5 million lives a year: WHO
Alcohol claims 2.5 million lives a year: WHO
Alcohol claims 2.5 million lives a year: WHO |
GENEVA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The use of alcohol causes approximately 2.5 million deaths a year, and young people were especially vulnerable to its harms, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday in a report profiling 193 countries on alcohol controls. "One third of deaths (from alcohol) are among young people," said Dr. Shekhar Saxena, director of the WHO's Mental Health and Substance Abuse department, adding that alcohol is responsible for 9 percent of all deaths that occurred to people aged between 15 and 29. "Alcohol is also a causal factor in 60 types of diseases and injuries," the WHO expert stressed. Saxena said alcohol consumption may lead to liver cirrhosis, epilepsy, poisonings, and mental disturbance which very often causes road accident or violent behavior. Recent research even proved the links between alcohol abuse and cancers. Vladimir Poznyak, the head of WHO's substance abuse unit who collaborated the report, said: "Six or seven years ago we didn't have strong evidence of a causal relationship between drinking and breast cancer. Now we do." Restrictions on alcohol marketing and on drink-driving were tightened in some countries through the past few decades, but there are still many with weak alcohol policies and insufficient prevention programs. The Global Strategy to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, endorsed by WHO member states in May 2010, promotes a range of proven effective measures for reducing alcohol-related harm. These measures include taxation on alcohol to refrain from harmful drinking, restraining availability through reducing alcohol distribution, raising age limits for the buyers and imposing effective drink-driving prohibitions. |
Copyright 2010 Xinhua News Agency
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Drink Up: Booze Doesn’t Kill Brain Cells After All -- Grub Street New York
Drink Up: Booze Doesn’t Kill Brain Cells After All -- Grub Street New York
By: Alan Sytsm
Drink Up: Booze Doesn’t Kill Brain Cells After All
First, science tells us that drinking alcohol will make usbetter at working out. And now! The Atlantic tells us that alcohol won't kill any of our precious brain cells, despite what our parents may have told us. This great quote comes from a book called Buzz: The Science and Lore of Alcohol and Caffeine: " ... alcohol does many things to the brain, one thing it clearly doesn't do is wipe out neurons indiscriminately." The news is especially welcome today, because it is cold here in the northeast and we are looking forward to fortifying ourselves with a hot toddy (or two!) later. [Atlantic]
By: Alan Sytsm
Saturday, January 15, 2011
The 15 Worst Health & Diet Myths
The 15 Worst Health & Diet Myths
With those kinds of fears, it’s a wonder my “health-conscious” friend didn’t die of starvation: no
protein, and no fat, and no carbs? What’s left? Fortunately, as author of Eat This, Not That!, I was able
to calm her lunch plate panic, and explain that most of what we consider “bad for you” foods aren’t bad
for you at all—they’re just innocent victims of well-intentioned misinformation. A well-balanced diet,
combined with some smart choices, is all you need to lose pounds and keep most of our greatest health
worries at bay. But many food and nutrition “myths” persist, confusing our food choices and making
weight-loss harder and eating less enjoyable. So relax, and start enjoying food again: Here are 15 food
fallacies you can forget for good.
Myth #1: Too much protein hurts your kidneys
Reality: Protein helps burn fat, build muscle, and won’t harm your kidneys at all
Way back in 1983, researchers discovered that eating more protein increases the amount of blood your
kidneys filter per minute. Many scientists immediately made the leap that a high-protein diet places your
kidneys under greater stress. They were proven wrong. Over the past two decades, several studies have
found that while protein-rich meals do increase blood flow to the kidneys, this doesn't have an adverse
effect on overall kidney function.
Put the Truth to Work for You: Eat your target body weight in grams of protein daily. For example, if
you're a chubby 180-pound woman and want to be a lean 160, have 160 grams of protein a day. If you're a
160-pound guy hoping to pack on 20 pounds of muscle, aim for 180 grams each day.
Bonus Tip: Lose weight fast. Build muscle. Get out of debt. Whatever your resolution for 2011, here's
your plan.
Myth #2: Sweet potatoes are healthier than white potatoes
Reality: They’re both healthy!
Sweet potatoes have more fiber and vitamin A, but white potatoes are higher in essential minerals such as
iron, magnesium, and potassium. As for the glycemic index, sweet potatoes are lower on the scale, but
baked white potatoes typically aren't eaten without cheese, sour cream, or butter—all toppings that
contain fat, which lowers the glycemic index of a meal.
Put the Truth to Work for You: The form in which you consume a potato—for instance, a whole baked potato
versus a processed potato that's used to make chips—is more important than the type of spud.
Myth #3: Red meat causes cancer
Reality: Research says enjoy the steak!
In a 1986 study, Japanese researchers discovered cancer developing in rats that were fed "heterocyclic
amines," compounds that are generated from overcooking meat under high heat. Since then, some studies of
large populations have suggested a potential link between meat and cancer. Yet no study has ever found a
direct cause-and-effect relationship between red-meat consumption and cancer. The population studies are
far from conclusive. They relied on broad surveys of people's eating habits and health
afflictions—numbers that illuminate trends, not causes.
Put the Truth to Work for You: Don't stop grilling. Meat lovers who are worried about the supposed risks
of grilled meat don't need to avoid burgers and steak—just trim off the burned or overcooked sections of
the meat before eating.
Myth #4: High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is more fattening than regular sugar
Reality: They’re equally fattening. Beware!
Recent research has show that fructose may cause an increase in weight by interfering with leptin, the
hormone that tells us when we’re full. But both HFCS and sucrose—better known as table sugar—contain
similar amounts of fructose. There's no evidence to show any differences in these two types of sugar.
Both will cause weight gain when consumed in excess. The only particular evil regarding HFCS is that it’s
cheaper, and commonly shows up everywhere from bread to ketchup to soda.
Put the Truth to Work for You: HFCS and regular sugar are empty-calorie carbohydrates that should be
consumed in limited amounts. How? By keeping soft drinks, sweetened fruit juices, and prepackaged
desserts to a minimum.
Myth #5: Too much salt causes high blood pressure
Reality: Perhaps, but too little potassium causes high blood pressure too
Large-scale scientific reviews have determined there's no reason for people with normal blood pressure to
restrict their sodium intake. Now, if you already have high blood pressure, you may be "salt sensitive."
As a result, reducing the amount of salt you eat could be helpful. However, people with high blood
pressure who don't want to lower their salt intake can simply consume more potassium-containing
foods—it's really the balance of the two minerals that matters. In fact, Dutch researchers determined
that a low potassium intake has the same impact on your blood pressure as high salt consumption does. And
it turns out, the average person consumes 3,100 milligrams (mg) of potassium a day—1,600 mg less than
recommended.
Put the Truth to Work for You: Strive for a potassium-rich diet—which you can achieve by eating a wide
variety of fruits, vegetables, and legumes—and your salt intake won't matter as much. For instance,
spinach, broccoli, bananas, white potatoes, and most types of beans each contain more than 400 mg
potassium per serving.
Myth #6: Chocolate bars are empty calories
Reality: Dark chocolate is a health food
Cocoa is rich in flavonoids—the same heart-healthy compounds found in red wine and green tea. Its most
potent form is dark chocolate. In a recent study, Greek researchers found that consuming dark chocolate
containing 100 milligrams (mg) of flavonoids relaxes your blood vessels, improving bloodflow to your
heart. And remember: Milk chocolate isn't as rich in flavonoids as dark, so develop a taste for the
latter.
Put the Truth to Work for You: Now that you know which "bad" foods aren't actually so awful, you need to
know which deceptively dangerous diet-destroying foods to avoid. Check out our must-see slideshow of 25
"Healthy" Foods that Aren’t.
Myth #7: Gas station snacks are nutritional nightmares
Reality: Even at filling stations, you’ll find food that isn’t filling
Beef jerky is high in protein and doesn't raise your level of insulin—a hormone that signals your body to
store fat. That makes it an ideal between-meals snack, especially when you're trying to lose weight. And
while some beef-jerky brands are packed with high-sodium ingredients such as MSG and sodium nitrate,
chemical-free products are available.
Put the Truth to Work for You: Sometimes, the service station is a healthier rest stop than a fast food
joint. Heck, even pork rinds are better than you’d think: A 1-ounce serving contains zero carbohydrates,
17 grams (g) of protein, and 9 g fat. That's nine times the protein and less fat than you'll find in a
serving of carb-packed potato chips.
Myth #8: Restaurants comply with nutrition disclosure regulations
Reality: Most restaurants would rather load you up with additional cheap calories
Even though many restaurants offer healthy alternatives, you could still be at the whim of the kitchen's
cook. A recent E.W. Scripps lab investigation found that "responsible" menu items at chains ranging from
Chili's to Taco Bell may have up to twice the calories and eight times the fat published in the
restaurants' nutritional information.
Put the Truth to Work for You: Restaurants run from us, but they can't hide. Discover their secrets every
day by signing up for our free Eat This, Not That! newsletter or by following me right here on Twitter,
and you'll make 2011 the year of your flatter, toner belly!
Myth #9: Sports drinks are ideal after-workout refreshment
Reality: You need more than that to keep your muscles growing
Carb-loaded drinks like Vitaminwater and Gatorade are a great way to rehydrate and reenergize; they help
replenish glycogen, your body's stored energy. But they don't always supply the amino acids needed for
muscle repair. To maximize post-workout recovery, a protein-carb combination—which those drinks may not
offer—can help.
Put the Truth to Work for You: After you suck down that sports drink, eat a bowl of 100 percent
whole-grain cereal with nonfat milk, suggests a 2009 study in the Journal of the International Society of
Sports Nutrition. A glass of low-fat chocolate milk is a good choice as well.
Myth #10: You need 38 grams of fiber a day
Reality: More fiber is better, but 38 is nearly impossible
That's the recommendation from the Institute of Medicine. And it's a lot, equaling nine apples or more
than a half dozen bowls of instant oatmeal. (Most people eat about 15 grams of fiber daily.) The studies
found a correlation between high fiber intake and lower incidence of heart disease. But none of the
high-fiber-eating groups in those studies averaged as high as 38 grams, and, in fact, people saw maximum
benefits with a daily gram intake averaging from the high 20s to the low 30s.
Put the Truth to Work for You: Just eat sensibilty. Favor whole, unprocessed foods. Make sure the carbs
you eat are fiber-rich—that means produce, legumes, and whole grains—because they'll help slow the
aborption of sugar into your bloodstream.
Myth #11: Saturated fat will clog your heart
Reality: Fat has gotten a bum rap
Most people consider turkey, chicken, and fish healthy, yet think they should avoid red meat—or only
choose very lean cuts—since they've always been told that it's high in saturated fat. But a closer look
at beef reveals the truth: Almost half of its fat is a monounsaturated fat called oleic acid—the same
heart-healthy fat that's found in olive oil. Second, most of the saturated fat in beef actually decreases
your heart-disease risk—either by lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol, or by reducing your ratio of total
cholesterol to HDL (good) cholesterol.
Put the Truth to Work for You: We're not giving you permission to gorge on butter, bacon, and cheese. No,
our point is this: Don't freak out about saturated fat. There's no scientific reason that natural foods
containing saturated fat can't, or shouldn't, be part of a healthy diet.
Myth #12: Reduced-fat foods are healthier alternatives
Reality: Less fat often means more sugar
Peanut butter is a representative example for busting this myth. A tub of reduced-fat peanut butter
indeed comes with a fraction less fat than the full-fat variety—they’re not lying about that. But what
the food companies don’t tell you is that they’ve replaced that healthy fat with maltodextrin, a
carbohydrate used as a filler in many processed foods. This means you’re trading the healthy fat from
peanuts for empty carbs, double the sugar, and a savings of a meager 10 calories.
Put the Truth to Work for You: When you're shopping, don't just read the nutritional data. Look at the
ingredients list as well. Here's a guideline that never fails: The fewer ingredients, the healthier the
food.
Myth #13: Diet soda is better for you
Reality: It may lead to even greater weight gain
Just because diet soda is low in calories doesn’t mean it can’t lead to weight gain. It may have only 5
or fewer calories per serving, but emerging research suggests that consuming sugary-tasting
beverages—even if they’re artificially sweetened—may lead to a high preference for sweetness overall.
That means sweeter (and more caloric) cereal, bread, dessert—everything. In fact, new research found that
people who drink diet soda on a daily basis have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and
metabolic syndrome.
Put the Truth to Work for You: These days, the world of food is full of nasty surprises like this one,
and knowledge is power. Check out Eat This, Not That! 2011 and Cook This, Not That! for the best food,
nutrition and health secrets, and avoid shocking waistline expanders with our slideshow of 20 Salads
Worse Than a Whopper.
Myth #14: Skipping meals helps you lose weight
Reality: Skipping meals, especially breakfast, can make you fat
Not eating can mess with your body's ability to control your appetite. And it also destroys willpower,
which is just as damaging. If you skip breakfast or a healthy snack, your brain doesn't have the energy
to say no to the inevitable chowfest. The consequences can be heavy: In a 2005 study, breakfast eaters
were 30 percent less likely to be overweight or obese.
Put the Truth to Work for You: The perfect breakfast? Eggs, bacon, and toast. It's a nice balance of all
the nutritional building blocks—protein, fiber, carbs—that will jumpstart your day. The worst? Waffles or
pancakes with syrup. All those carbs and sugars are likely to put you into a food coma by 10 a.m.
Myth #15: You should eat three times a day
Reality: Three meals and two or three snacks is ideal
Most diet plans portray snacking as a failure. But by snacking on the right foods at strategic times,
you'll keep your energy levels stoked all day. Spreading six smaller meals across your day operates on
the simple principle of satisfaction: Frequent meals tame the slavering beast of hunger.
Put the Truth to Work for You: Make sure each mini meal blends protein and fiber-rich complex
carbohydrates, which will sustain the feeling of fullness. Check out our super-handy list of the best
snacks for weight loss.
------------
LOSE 15 POUNDS IN 6 WEEKS: Check out the Men's Health Diet!
EAT RIGHT RULE: If your food can go bad, it's good for you. If it can't go bad, it's bad for you. FOLLOW
DAVE ZINCZENKO RIGHT HERE ON TWITTER and get FREE health, nutrition and weight-loss secrets like this one
every day! You'll lose weight and get healthy faster than ever!
Check out these cutting-edge guides to fast and easy weight loss, the brand-new Men’s Health Big Book of
Exercises and Women’s Health Big Book of Exercises.
Get more nutrition, health, and fitness secrets from Men's Health: Subscribe today with this special
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News
Shine
Yahoo! Health is for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical or
health advice
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
CBC News - Health - Watch for hidden sugars, Canadians advised
CBC News - Health - Watch for hidden sugars, Canadians advised
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2011/01/05/sugar-surprise-canada-weighs-in-live-right-now.html#ixzz1AJO8CtKH
Ketchup can be a hidden source of sugar in our diet. Hot sauce or tomatoes are healthier options, dietitians say. (Larry Crowe/Associated Press)Sugar, especially the hidden kind, is an easy source of unwanted extra calories, nutritionists say.
Sugar is an ingredient in so many products, including some with healthy reputations, that most people may not realize how much they consume in a day.
Even fans of the Slurpee, the frozen drink whose sugar hit is expected, can be taken aback by the sugar content.
As she bought a small Slurpee recently, Winnipeg resident Tracy Man was surprised to learn an extra-large version of the drink contains up to 39 teaspoons of sugar.
"I think I will enjoy it, even though I know about the sugar consumption," Man said. "I'll just have to watch my sugar intake for the rest of the day."
A teaspoon of sugar has 15 calories, meaning that big Slurpee comes with 585.
But even products that aren't as aggressively sweet — like fruit drinks, fruit leather, or yogurt with added fruit — can be flavoured with enough sugar to take a toll, says Phyllis Reid-Jarvis a registered dietitian in Winnipeg.
"The research shows us that on average, we're taking in over 300 extra calories a day," Reid-Jarvis said of hidden sugars. "That is very significant because when you add that up, in a week, that's over 2,100 calories."
Reid-Jarvis suggests that Canadians:
- Eat fruit instead of nibbling fruit bars or drinking fruit juice.
- Watch for fructose, glucose, corn syrup and malt on ingredient lists as an indication of sugar content.
- Consider using hot sauce or tomatoes instead of sugary condiments such as ketchup. A two tablespoon serving of ketchup contains two teaspoons sugar.
People should watch for sugar disguised in foods like white rice, white flour and noodles, advised Suzanne Danner, a naturopathic doctor in Winnipeg.
"I kind of see those being close sisters to sugar," Danner said. "So when someone consumes simple carbohydrate food or foods with low glycemic index, meaning they raise blood sugars quickly, the body steps in and releases insulin to help get the blood sugars down."
If that cycle happens too often, some people may develop insulin resistance, a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, Danner said.
Type 2 diabetes doesn't develop overnight but having high amounts of sugar in the diet is a risk factor that Canadians can avoid by taking charge of their diet, Danner said.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2011/01/05/sugar-surprise-canada-weighs-in-live-right-now.html#ixzz1AJO8CtKH
Sunday, January 2, 2011
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