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January, 2008

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Good Fats and Bad Fats and Macular Degeneration

In a recent study called the POLANUT study, the results showed a 60% decrease in the occurrence of macular degeneration for those that included fatty fish in their diets more than once a month versus less than one time per month.

Saturated and monounsaturated fat intake were associated with increased risk for age-related macular degeneration. Total polyunsaturated fatty acid was not significantly associated with age-related macular degeneration. Total and white fish intake was not significantly associated with age-related macular degeneration.

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2007 Feb 14; Inserm, Research Unit U593 for Epidemiology, Public Health and Development, Bordeaux, France, Universite Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France.

Editor's Note1: What is a saturated fat? Saturated fat is found in poultry skin, whole-milk dairy products, lard, and some vegetable oils, including coconut, palm kernel, and palm oils. This fat is often associated with increased cholesterol (LDL in particular), and is solid at room temperature. Because saturated fatty acids have no double bonds between the carbon atoms comprising the fatty acid chain and are fully saturated with hydrogen atoms, they are the most stable oils to cook with.

What is a monosaturated fat? Monosaturated fats are fatty acids that have a single bond in the fatty acid chain. They are found in olive oil (a big component of the Mediterranean diet), canola oil (57%-60%), nuts and avocado. Other sources include grapeseed oil, ground nut oil, peanut oil, flaxseed oil, sesame oil, corn oil, popcorn, whole grain wheat, cereal, oatmeal, safflower oil, sunflower oil, tea-oil Camellia. Often used for cooking, this type of oil has a medium threshold for heat and should not be heated for too long or at too high a temperature.

What is a polyunsaturated fat? Polyunsaturated fat is a fatty acid in which more than one double bond exists in a representative molecule. Polyunsaturated fat can be found mostly in grain products, fish and sea food (herring, salmon, mackerel, halibut), soybeans, and fish oil. One should avoid cooking with these oils as they have the lowest stability and heat threshold, and can quickly become an unhealthy fat when heated.

Editor's Note2: This study supports a number of other studies showing omega-3 fatty acids as an essential nutrient in one's diet, both helping to prevent macular degeneration and supporting healthy heart and brain function.

Statin Drugs and Macular Degeneration

Contrary to the expectations of some scientists, cholesterol-lowering 'statin' drugs (such as Lipitor or Zocor) do not appear to stave off age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the eye. In fact, a review of data from the Cardiovascular Health Study suggests that taking a statin may slightly increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration. SOURCE: Archives of Ophthalmology, January 2006.

Framingham researchers find heart disease linked to vitamin D deficiency

A report published in the January 8, 2007 issue of Circulation: A Journal of the American Heart Association revealed the discovery of Framingham Heart Study researchers that having deficient levels of vitamin D is associated with double the risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event, including heart attack, heart failure or stroke, within a five year period compared to individuals with normal levels.

For the current study, Harvard Medical School assistant professor of medicine Thomas J. Wang, MD and colleagues evaluated data from 1,739 offspring of Framingham Heart Study participants. The subjects, whose average age was 59 and who had no evidence of cardiovascular disease upon enrollment, were tested for serum vitamin D levels and followed for an average of 5.4 years, during which they received periodic physical examinations and lab assessments of cardiovascular risk factors.

Evaluation of vitamin D concentrations found that only 10 percent of the participants had optimal levels of over 30 nanograms per milliliter.

For full article, go to www.lef.org.

Recycling for a Better and Cleaner World

Co-op America provides an excellent list of ways dispose of a wide variety of items that should not be just thrown in the trash including:

- Appliances: Goodwill accepts working appliances, www.goodwill.org, or you can contact the Steel Recycling Institute to recycle them. 800/YES-1-CAN, www.recycle-steel.org.

-Batteries: Rechargeables and single-use: Battery Solutions, 734/467-9110, www.batteryrecycling.com.

- CDs/DVDs/Game Disks: Send scratched music or computer CDs, DVDs, and PlayStation or Nintendo video game disks to AuralTech for refinishing, and they'll work like new: 888/454-3223, www.auraltech.com.

- Compact fluorescent bulbs: Take them to your local IKEA store for recycling: www.ikea.com.

- Computers and electronics: Find the most responsible recyclers, local and national, at www.ban.org/pledge/Locations.html.

- Exercise videos: Swap them with others at www.videofitness.com

Eyeglasses: Your local Lions Club or eye care chain may collect these. Lenses are reground and given to people in need.

- "Technotrash": Project KOPEG offers an e-waste recycling program that can help you raise funds for your organization. Use Project KOPEG to recycle iPods, MP3 players, cell phones and chargers, digital cameras, PDAs, palm pilots, and more. Also, easily recycle all of your CDs, jewel cases, DVDs, audio and video tapes, pagers, rechargeable and single-use batteries, PDAs, and ink/toner cartridges with GreenDisks Technotrash program. For $30, GreenDisk will send you a cardboard box in which you can ship them up to 70 pounds of any of the above. Your fee covers the box as well as shipping and recycling fees. 800/305-GREENDISK, www.greendisk.com

- Tennis shoes: Nike's Reuse-a-Shoe program turns old shoes into playground and athletic flooring. www.nikereuseashoe.com. One World Running will send still-wearable shoes to athletes in need in Africa, Latin America, and Haiti. www.oneworldrunning.com

- Toothbrushes and razors: Buy a recycled plastic toothbrush or razor from Recycline, and the company will take it back to be recycled again into plastic lumber. Recycline products are made from used Stonyfield Farms' yogurt cups. 888/354-7296, www.recycline.com.

- Ink/toner cartridges: Recycleplace.com pays $1/each

- Oil: Find Used Motor Oil Hotlines for each state: 202/682-8000, www.recycleoil.org.

Fenugreek and Diabetes

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is a plant product that has been used for a variety of medicinal and other purposes, and may be used in the treatment of diabetes.

Fenugreek may work by helping to delay gastric emptying, slow carbohydrate absorption and inhibit glucose transport. It also contains the amino acid 4- hydroxyisoleucine which may also directly stimulate insulin secretion.

There are only a few published studies on fenugreek. In one study, published in a 1990 issue of the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 10 patients on insulin therapy for type 1 diabetes were assigned to either placebo or 50 grams of defatted fenugreek-seed powder twice daily in addition to their insulin therapy.

Fasting glucose decreased from an average of 272 mg/dl at baseline to 196 mg/dl. There was also a decrease in total cholesterol, LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglycerides.

A larger study, published in a 1996 issue of Nutrition Research, involved a six-month trial of fenugreek in 60 patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes. Twenty-five grams of powdered fenugreek seed was given twice daily at lunch and dinner in addition to the current diabetes therapy.

The average fasting glucose decreased from 151 mg/dl to 112 mg/dl after 6 months. Glucose values one and two hours after meals also declined. Average A1C decreased from 9.6% to 8.4% after eight weeks.

Fenugreek has been shown also to lower a person's cholesterol and triglycerides, making it a great herb for a person who has Syndrome X, the condition that includes high blood sugar and high cholesterol or heart disease.

Gymnema Sylvestre and Diabetes Study

The Journal of Ethnopharmacology recently published a small study out of India that examined the effects of an extract of the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre on high blood sugar. Twenty-two people with type 2 diabetes were given 400 milligrams of the extract for 18 to 20 months as a supplement to their regular medical regimen of oral anti-hyperglycemic agents.

During that period, an unspecified number of the patients apparently showed significant reductions in blood glucose and A1c's. Five of them were reportedly able to discontinue their conventional anti-hyperglycemic drug and manage their blood glucose levels with the extract alone. Moreover, raised insulin levels were apparently found in the blood of the patients.

The authors, who published related research in 1990 in the same journal, believe that beta cell regeneration is the source of the improvement; however, members of the scientific community have previously questioned both their findings and their conclusions.

Sources: Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Article from www.diabeteshealth.com.

Solar Energy Soon to be Cheaper Than Coal

The Nanosolar company is working to build the world's largest solar cell factory in California (slated to be in full production in 2008), and the world's largest panel-assembly factory in Germany.

Their mission: to deliver cost-efficient solar electricity. The Nanosolar company was founded in 2002 and is working to build the world's largest solar cell factory in California and the world's largest panel-assembly factory in Germany. They have successfully created a solar coating that is the most cost-efficient solar energy source ever. Their PowerSheet cells contrast the current solar technology systems by reducing the cost of production from $3 a watt to a mere 30 cents per watt. This makes, for the first time in history, solar power cheaper than burning coal.

These coatings are as thin as a layer of paint and can transfer sunlight to power at amazing efficiency. Although the underlying technology has been around for years, Nanosolar has created the actual technology to manufacture and mass produce the solar sheets. The Nanosolar plant in San Jose, once in full production in 2008, will be capable of producing 430 megawatts per year. This is more than the combined total of every other solar manufacturer in the U.S.

Editor's Note: Let's tell our politicians not so fast on insisting we fund new coal plants, oil exploration in the Artic and new nuclear plants. Let's fund the research and installation of truly renewable energy to save our planet and provide all our energy needs at affordable prices.

Check Those Hotel Glasses Before Using

Excellent expose on how some hotels skimp on the proper washing of their drinking glasses in the hotel rooms.

For the video, go to http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22250/39039

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

Green Vegetable Cutlets

2 medium size boiled and mashed potatoes
1/2 cup of fresh vegetables (corn kernels, finely chopped cauliflower florets, a few shelled peas and a few chopped spinach leaves
1/2 tsp. fresh grated ginger
1/2 chopped green chili (optional)
salt to taste
1/2 tsp. garam masala powder (available at Asian grocery store)
pinch red chili powder
1 tsp dry mango powder of 2 tbsp. juice of fresh lemon juice
3 T. corn flour powder
4-5 T. water
2 cups bread crumbs
1 cup oil to shallow fry

1. Heat 1 tsp. oil and fry ginger paste for few seconds. Add all the vegetables and saute for a minute or so until soft and liquid has dried.
2. Mash boiled potatoes and add to the vegetables. Add all the dry spices and mix well. Bind and make small kebab size balls and keep aside.
3. Make a thick corn flour paste in a flat dish by mixing 3T. corn flour in few tsps. water.
4. Flatten kebabs with your hands a little and dip them in corn flour paste. Roll in breadcrumbs and shallow fry in hot oil until golden brown in color.
5. Serve hot with tomato ketchup.

You can add any vegetable of your choice to the mashed potatoes like chopped broccoli, cabbage or green beans. This sure is a healthy kebab. For more mouth watering recipes or to order Gitika's book, please visit - http://www.flavorstosavor.com