Diet and Nutrition News

Cadbury Will Bury Chocolate

Cadbury is to bury 250 tons of chocolate at the centre of the salmonella scare.

The company said more than a million chocolate bars and Easter eggs recalled from shop shelves and warehouses will be buried at landfill sites across Britain. (dailymail.co.uk)

Cadbury Chocolate Recalled for Salmonella

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority has recalled seven Cadbury's chocolate milk product lines because of fears of salmonella.

In the UK and Ireland, Cadbury recalled the chocolates after finding traces of salmonella coming from a UK factory. (channelnewsasia.com)

KFC Sued Over Trans Fats

A nutrition advocacy group sued KFC yesterday to get it to stop using partially hydrogenated oils, a key ingredient of its fried chicken. The oils contain trans fats, which scientists consider the most unhealthful of all fats. (NYtimes.com)

Wendy's Will Use Healthier Oil

Wendy’s International Inc. said Thursday it will begin frying french fries and breaded chicken items with non-hydrogenated oil, continuing a shift to offer healthier menu choices. (MSNBC)

Saturated Fat Worse Than Thought

Now research suggests that too much saturated fat may be problematic, even if your cholesterol isn’t high, because of its possible effects on insulin functions, potentially raising the risk of diabetes, cancer, ovarian disorders and other health problems. (MSNBC)

Probiotic Yogurt for H. Pylori

The stomach bug Helicobacter pylori is the cause of most stomach ulcers, so doctors often try to eradicate the trouble-maker with antibiotic therapy. When this doesn't work, as is the case 10-23 percent of the time, a yogurt may help, according to a study conducted in Taiwan. (Reuters)

Benzine in Soda

The FDA announced that benzene, a carcinogenic chemical that has been linked to leukemia, has been found in soft drinks at unsafe levels.

The admission contradicted statements last week, when officials said FDA found insignificant levels of benzene.

In fact, a different study found benzene at four times the tap water limit, on average, in 19 of 24 samples of diet soda. (Washington Post)

Moderate Drinking May Not Be Good For You

Researchers poured cold water on the idea that moderate drinking helps prevent heart disease Friday, noting that many studies include teetotalers as a control group but don't ask why they did not drink. (MSNBC)

Tofu and Oatmeal Lower Cholesterol

David Jenkins, Canadian research chair in metabolism and nutrition at Toronto, and Dr. Cyril Kendall, also of the University of Toronto, studied 55 middle-aged men and women who had high cholesterol and were at risk for heart disease.

The participants were already on a heart-healthy diet. They were then prescribed a diet that included more specific foods, such as raw almonds, tofu and other soy foods, viscous fibers such as oatmeal, barley, okra and eggplant, and plant sterol-enriched margarine. (excite.com)

Red Wine for Gum Disease

Raising a glass to a new weapon against periodontal disease, researchers say red wine may help keep gums healthy and strong.

Though the results have so far only been borne out in the test tube, a team of Canadian scientists believe antioxidant components in red wine and grape seeds have anti-inflammatory effects that may ward off periodontal troubles. (excite.com)

Cocoa May Cut Risk of Dying

Scientists have produced more compelling evidence that cocoa is good for your heart.

Dutch scientists found elderly men who consumed cocoa had lower blood pressure levels, and were less likely to die from cardiovascular problems. (BBC News)

McDonald's Fries Have More Trans Fats Than Expected

McDonald's French fries contain one-third more trans fats than previously thought after the company used a new method to test for the harmful ingredient still widely used in many foods.

The disclosure comes as food companies are implementing new US government rules in force since last month requiring all packaged food labels to specify the level of trans fats in food products. (MSNBC)

Californians Found to Have High Mercury Levels

Californians who volunteered for a nationwide study of mercury contamination had among the worst levels, with nearly one-third of those tested having concentrations in their tissues that exceeded safe levels.

The study, organized by two national environmental groups, Greenpeace and the Sierra Club, does not provide information about Californians in general because the volunteers were not a random sample. (Los Angeles Times)

Low-fat Diets Do Not Protect Women

Low-fat diets do not protect women against heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer or colon cancer, a major study has found, contradicting what had once been promoted as one of the cornerstones of a healthy lifestyle.

The eight-year study of nearly 50,000 middle-age and elderly women -- by far the largest, most definitive test of cutting fat from the diet -- did not find any clear evidence that doing so reduced their risks, undermining more than a decade of advice from many doctors. (Washington Post)

Skip Coffee Before Exercising

Having a coffee fix just before a workout may not be the best idea, a new study suggests.

Researchers in Switzerland found that the amount of caffeine in just two cups of coffee limits the body's ability to increase blood flow to the heart during exercise. (excite.com)