Food/Nutrition News Clips
- At one time, fish were gutted at sea, and their innards thrown overboard. Now, with
modern fishing practices, fish are gutted onshore. This change may be economically
efficient, but it also allows a parasitic nematode worm, Anisakis simplex, enough time to
pass from the fish guts into the portion of the fish that we eat. Scientists are now
documenting serious allergic reactions in people who eat fish infected with this worm,
even if the fish is well cooked. Experts believe that the number of allergic attacks in
the U.S. due to A. simplex is grossly underestimated because few doctors recognize the
condition.
- One hundred and sixty patients with a history of chemical sensitivity were asked to
consume a macrobiotic diet, and those who responded to a questionnaire reported an average
decrease of 76% in their chemical sensitivity. There were other components to their
treatment plans, such as environmental control and desensitization, but the patients
attributed a large portion of their improvement to the diet.
- Researchers at Maimonides Medical Center in New York recommend not giving fruit juices
to young children, at least until they're a year old, because too much juice may stunt
their growth. Babies can't efficiently absorb the sugar in many juices, especially those
high in sorbitol, such as pear and apple juice.
- Genistein, the isoflavone found in soy products, may help prevent cancer, and the low
incidence of breast cancer in Japanese women is thought to be due to their high
consumption of soy products. Fermented soy products, such as miso and natto, contain up to
20 times more genistein than unfermented soy products such as tofu or soy milk.
- David Green, McDonald's senior vice president for marketing, testified in court that
Coca-Cola is nutritious because it is "providing water, and I think that is part of a
balanced diet."
Based on information in: New Scientist, 3-15-97; Townsend Letter for Doctors, June
1997; Science News, 5-3-97; Townsend Letter for Doctors, May 1997; The Progressive, May
1997 |