Salty science . . .

THE AMERICAN COUNCIL ON SCIENCE AND HEALTH has a report, "Sodium restriction may hurt, not help, cardiac patients" that you should read. It turns out that a low-sodium diet is dangerous to your health — even if you're not a cardiac patient.

For instance, a study published last year in JAMA found that, among nearly 30,000 patients with cardiovascular disease or diabetes who were followed for over four years, those who consumed less than 3,000 mg of sodium per day were at a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events. Considering that the official U.S. dietary guidelines are even more restrictive than this — 2,300 mg of sodium per day for the average person, and only 1,500 mg per day for people over 51, African Americans, or those with other cardiovascular risk factors — this finding is cause for concern.

Check out the article, and the links within it, and enjoy those potato chips. Founded in 1978, ACSH is a consumer advocacy organization directed and advised by over 350 physicians, scientists and policy advisors. ACSH promotes the use of sound, peer-reviewed science in the formation of a full spectrum of public health policies, including those related to food, pharmaceuticals, environmental chemicals, lifestyle factors, consumer products and terrorism preparedness and response.

Kinky chemistry . . .

TRANS FATS ARE A NO-NO and kinks in the chemistry are good.  Keith Veronese, at io9, has a great explanation why trans fats are so dangerous with his article, "Trans fats and the chemistry of evil". If you care about what kind of chow you digest, do check it out as it shows how very, very small differences in molecules can have consequences.

Yummy . . .

FOOD FREEDOM is an interesting site, proclaiming that people should Decentralize, Grow Your Own and Buy Local — which makes great sense. There's a report by Miriam Reimer, originally posted on The Street, "15 Food Companies that Serve You ‘Wood’". Yep, wood, like pine trees.

Chief among those concerns is the use of cellulose (wood pulp), an extender whose use in a roster of food products, from crackers and ice creams to puddings and baked goods, is now being exposed. What you’re actually paying for – and consuming – may be surprising.

Cellulose is virgin wood pulp that has been processed and manufactured to different lengths for functionality, though use of it and its variant forms (cellulose gum, powdered cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, etc.) is deemed safe for human consumption, according to the FDA, which regulates most food industry products. The government agency sets no limit on the amount of cellulose that can be used in food products meant for human consumption.

“Most consumers would be shocked to find these types of filler products are used as substitutes for items that they believe are more pure,” Yoshikami said. “We would expect increased disclosure to follow increased use of cellulose and other filler products as the practice increases in frequency.”

Finger-lickin' good!

H/T to le grand chef Daniel

Blue Balls . . .

NATURAL NEWS is a site devoted to health and nutrition. They have a very interesting report on blueberries: "Blueberries faked in cereals, muffins, bagels and other food products". Apparently all those "blueberries" found in cereals and muffin mixes are artificial confections.

Where did the blueberries go?

They certainly didn't end up in Total Blueberry Pomegranate Cereal. This cereal, made by General Mills, contains neither blueberries nor pomegranates. They're nowhere to be found. But the cereal is made with red #40, blue #2 and other artificial colors. And it's even sweetened with sucralose, a chemical sweetener. And that's in addition to the sugar, corn syrup and brown sugar syrup that's already on the label.

A week's groceries . . .

GOT THIS E-MAIL last week that's interesting to ponder. The author notes, "Notice how cheap the American diet is compared to that of the Europeans. With all of their meat and junk food, the Yanks spend less than $100 more than the Sicilians. Wonder where an average Canadian diet would fit in? Probably somewhere between the American and German."

Italy: The Manzo family of Sicily.
Food expenditure for one week: 214.36 Euros or $260.11

Germany: The Melander family of Bargteheide.
Food expenditure for one week: 375.39 Euros or $500.07

United States: The Revis family of North Carolina (Sure hope most American families eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and less junk food than this family.)
Food expenditure for one week $341.98

Mexico: The Casales family of Cuernavaca.
Food expenditure for one week: 1,862.78 Mexican Pesos or $189.09

Poland: The Sobczynscy family of Konstancin-Jeziorna.
Food expenditure for one week: 582.48 Zlotys or $151.27

Egypt : The Ahmed family of Cairo.
Food expenditure for one week: 387.85 Egyptian Pounds or $68.53

Ecuador : The Ayme family of Tingo.
Food expenditure for one week: $31.55

Bhutan : The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village. Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03

Chad : The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp.
Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23