DOLE NUTRITION HANDBOOK IS A WINNER Recognized by Living Now Book Awards for Earth-Friendly Educational Excellence
On Earth Day each year, the Jenkins Group -- an organization dedicated to promoting books that enrich readers’ lives in earth-friendly ways -- presents the Living Now Book Awards to honor “books for better living.” Their highest accolade, the gold medal, was awarded to our very own Dole Nutrition Handbook: What to Eat and How to Live for a Longer, Healthier Life in the Nutrition & Diet category.
The Dole Nutrition Handbook is a comprehensive guide to the proper nutrition needed for optimal health and longevity. Created by David H. Murdock, the 87-year-old Chairman of Dole Food Company, the book contains a wealth of nutrition information, interviews with top nutrition experts from Murdock’s North Carolina Research Campus and even a two-week diet and health plan. It was written as an extension of the Dole Nutrition Institute’s ongoing mission to “feed the world with knowledge” and provide readers with easily-accessible nutrition information. We’re glad to know that the folks from Living Now Book Awards see it that way!
Haven’t ordered your copy of the book yet? Do it today by clicking here.
NEW VIDEO: EXERCISE FOR IMMUNITY Professor David Nieman on Quercetin, Colds & Exercise
Some of the most exciting research being done at the North Carolina Research Campus is happening in the Human Performance Lab of Dr. David Nieman, Professor of Health and Exercise Science at Appalachian State University. There, he hooks athletes up to sophisticated equipment and measures not just the impact of nutrition on sports performance, but how activity itself impacts immunity. Dr. Nieman's previous contributions to both this newsletter and the Dole Nutrition Handbook have been so enlightening and even surprising (like his linking obesity to the swine flu) that we decided to travel to his campus to interview him in person. Watch and listen to Dr. Nieman -- and see his lab in action -- by clicking here.
WORLD CUP HEARTACHE Calm Down Sports Fans! Don't Risk Your Life Over a Game
With the 2010 World Cup kicking off (literally) around the corner on June 11th, this might be an opportune time for soccer fans to take up heart-healthy habits -- like eating more fruit and vegetables, exercising and taking a deep breath! Why? Because the passions run so high for serious soccer devotees that the games actually spike heart attack rates among countrymen when their national teams are on the field.
That's what happened in 2006, back when the last World Cup was held in Germany. A study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine analyzed data on hospital admissions for heart attacks during the various time periods, including before, during and after the games (as well as in non-World Cup years). Turns out there were nearly three times more cardiovascular episodes on the days when the German national team played compared to other times. Not surprisingly, there was a gender split: Men were 3.3 times more likely to experience heart trouble on a day their national team played and women only 1.8 times more likely. What’s more, they also observed that the highest incidence of heart problems occurred in the first two hours after the start of the match!
The World Cup final is the most watched sporting event in history with this year's viewing figures expected to approach 6 billion -- with over 300 million viewers for the final event alone. That's about three times the number of people watching the final game compared to how many watch the Super Bowl. The World Cup audience in the United States is growing, with a nearly 40% increase since 2002. If the game's popularity inspires more fans to take up the sport, soccer could be a great weapon against obesity: Research shows soccer beats jogging when it comes to weight loss, muscle gain and cholesterol management.
ARTICHOKES vs. ALLERGIES Folate from Lentils, Greens & Beans to Fight Symptoms
Has this been a particularly rough allergy season, or is it just us?
Sneezing, coughing, itching all around. But there's good news on the
nutrition front: It's possible that increasing folate intake (from sources
like those listed below) could help alleviate allergy suffering.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine compared blood levels
of folate with antibodies that induce allergies among 8,083 study
subjects. They found that those with the highest folate levels were up to 40%
less likely to be plagued with the allergic antibodies or to suffer
allergic skin rashes.
An even more recent study from Danish
scientists confirmed that people with a genetically impaired ability to
metabolize folate were 37% more likely to suffer from asthma and 43%
more likely to experience shortness of breath -- so clearly,
insufficient folate, whether from low dietary intake or from genetic
dysfunction, predisposes people to more trouble breathing. The
takeaway for most folks is to load up on healthy folate sources like the
ones listed below:
Bonus:
Eating fish rich in omega-3 -- like salmon, sardines and black cod --
may protect against overproduction of certain antibodies that trigger allergies. For more anti-allergy eats, click here.
BROCCOLI & BREAST CANCER Cruciferous Compound Kills Cancer Stem Cells
More research pointing to possible chemo-protective effects of cruciferous vegetables, in particular, broccoli: A new study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research found that a compound derived from broccoli targets breast cancer stem cells -- or CSCs. Like sinister cousins to ordinary stem cells (which can develop into any useful type of cell in the body), CSCs only develop into cancer cells, seeding malignancy and driving cancer recurrence. However, this heartening lab experiment from the University of Michigan discovered that this broccoli compound, called sulforaphane, killed up to 80% of nasty CSCs.
Beyond breast cancer, broccoli compounds offer a range of benefits including reducing diabetic damage and protecting the brain in the event of injury. In addition to detoxifying "indirect" antioxidants, a cup of steamed broccoli also contains 170% vitamin C and 280% vitamin K, all for a mere 50 calories. For a healthy, delicious way to enjoy broccoli, try our featured Superfood recipe: Broccoli and Pea Potage with Tarragon.
Drum roll please...what landed as #2 on Prevention's list of "The Best Foods A Woman Can Buy"? Dole's frozen and sliced strawberries. The magazine's judge, Cheryl Forberg, RD, liked that the berries are unsweetened and that they're frozen at the peak of their freshness, locking in nutrients like 100% daily vitamin C and 30% manganese in one cup. Triple that to three cups of strawberries a day and you've got a delicious way to reduce your risk of heart disease, according to new research.
When University of Toronto researchers asked 28 patients with heart disease risk factors to add three cups of strawberries to their cholesterol-lowering diet, the result was a 13% drop in LDL (bad) cholesterol. Best of all, because everyone loves strawberries, patients were better able to stick with this diet than they might otherwise have been. In fact, patients rated the entire strawberry-enhanced diet an impressive 9 out of a possible 10 in terms of taste.
QUESTIONING COPPER No Benefit to Metal & Magnetic Bracelets
When you're in the grips of arthritis agony you'll try almost anything to relieve the pain -- and among the "alternative" remedies enjoying popularity is the use of copper and sometimes magnetic bracelets. Indeed, an estimated $4 billion is spent annually on various devices employing magnets therapeutically. While such devices may be good business are they good medicine? According to new research testing the efficacy of these bracelets, the answer is emphatically "No."
The University of York study assigned 45 people over 50 years of age with arthritis to wear various wrist treatments -- including a copper bracelet, a magnetic strip, and a placebo, nonmagnetic strip -- in random order, for four weeks at a time. Monitoring arthritis symptoms and medication over the course of the study, the study found zero differences in stiffness and pain attributable to copper or magnetic bracelets compared to the placebo wrist strip. So why does demand for such things persist? Lead researcher Stewart Richmond explains, "People tend to buy them when they are in a lot of pain, then when the pain eases over time they attribute this to the device."
But while copper may be useless around your wrist, it plays an important role in your diet. Your body needs copper to form connective tissue, which may be why one Chinese study found that mothers of premature babies were copper-deficient. Other animal research suggests copper deficiency during pregnancy could impair fetal brain development. Copper also helps prevent loss of bone calcium when dieting. Anemia can be a clue to copper deficiency. For top copper sources, consult the chart below:
Top Sources
Quantity
Daily Value
Oysters
3 oz
247%
Lobster
3 oz
183%
Shiitake Mushrooms
1 cup
144%
Alaskan King Crab
3 oz
111%
Roasted Chestnuts
1 cup
81%
Soybeans
1 cup
78%
Dry-Roasted Cashews
1 oz
70%
Sunflower Seeds
1/4 cup
66%
Clams
3 oz
66%
Baked Beans
1 cup
61%
Featured Recipe
Broccoli and Pea Potage with Tarragon
Ingredients 1/4 cup chopped chives
3 tablespoons minced shallots
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 lb DOLE® Broccoli, cut into florets
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
5-1/2 cups vegetable broth
1-1/2 cups frozen green peas, thawed
1-1/2 cups cooked green lentils
4 cups sliced kale, blanched
2/3 lb halibut, cut into 1/4" cubes, cooked
Directions SAUTE chives and shallots in oil in large stockpot over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, 3 to 5 minutes.
ADD broccoli, tarragon, salt and pepper; saute 5 minutes. Add broth and bring to a boil. Add peas and lentils. Cook an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Cool slightly.
PLACE soup in batches in blender or food processor. Cover; blend until smooth. Return to stockpot.
ADD blanched kale and fish; heat through.
Serves: 5
Cooking Time: 25 min
Preparation Time: 25 min
In our most recent newsletter, we reported on potential health benefits of nutrient-dense chia seeds -- a top source of fiber and omega-3s. Turns out that 60% of even cutting-edge readers of the Dole Nutrition News were in the dark on chia -- though 90% were more likely to give them a try after reading our article. Here's what you said in full: Did you ever have a "Chia Pet" or "Chia Head" to grow sprouts?
Yes 37% No 63%
Have you previously heard about the health benefits of chia seeds?
Yes 40% No 60%
Have you ever tried chia seeds?
Never 74% Once or twice 9% I eat them all the time 17% What sounds like the most appealing way to incorporate chia seeds into your diet?
After reading the article in this month's DNN are you more apt to try chia seeds?
Yes 90% No 10%
What other seeds do you incorporate in your diet?
Flax 39% Sesame 36% Pumpkin 25%
If you had a choice of chia or flaxseeds which would you choose?
Chia 57% Flax 43%
What would make you more likely to try chia seeds?
More details on the health benefits. 12% More details on the taste/flavor. 9% More ideas on how to use. 15% All of the above. 64%
Where would you prefer to purchase chia seeds?
Natural food stores like Whole Foods or Trader Joes. 34% Health food section of your local grocery store. 60% Online. 6%
This Issue:ASKING ALLERGIES
In this current newsletter, we report on research suggesting that higher folate -- from sources like lentils, spinach and beans -- might mitigate allergy symptoms. Given that allergy season is underway, we decided to survey our health conscious readers about how it affects them.
Do you suffer from allergies?
Have you been allergy-tested by a physician or allergist?
How intense are your allergies?
Do you take medication for your allergies?
Have you had allergies all your life -- or only developed them as an adult?
If you have children, do your children suffer from allergies?
What kind of allergy do you suffer from?
If you have a food allergy, what's the allergen?
What are your most frequent symptoms?
After reading this issue's article linking low folate levels to increased allergy symptoms, are you willing to add dietary changes to managing your symptoms?
If you're willing to try increasing folate to reduce allergy symptoms, which folate sources will you eat more of?
Since fish rich in omega-3s may also help with allergy symptoms, which of the following would you eat more of?
