Monday, March 8, 2010
Does bottled-water cause cavities?
I was reading a publication from Merck.com about human physiology and nutrition today and came across a section on the flouridation of water. Flouride is a compound made up of flourine and is added to municipal water supplies to prevent tooth decay. The question that immediately came to my mind was, "How does the preponderance of bottled water affect our teeth? Have cavities in adults increased significantly since bottled water became so popular?" At the moment I don't have any answers but check back with the CanHealth Report in the coming weeks as I investigate these questions.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Banning junk foods in school
The topic of junk food in schools has been hotly debated over the past few years. Some schools in North America have moved to try and ban all junk food completely. But the reverse argument is that if a student really wants junk food then he will walk to a nearby convenience store anyways.
But banning junk food in school may assist in preventing childhood obesity according to a San Francisco State University study. The article, published in the March issue of Health Affairs was also presented on the website sciencedaily.com
The study examined eight years of data on body mass indexes from fifth and seventh grade students. Between 2003 and 2005, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law several bills banning junk food from schools. Before the law took effect obesity was on the rise in both groups in the study. The result of the new laws? The increase in the number of overweight boys in grade five and boys and girls in grade seven.
While childhood obesity in Canada isn't as major a topic of discussion as in the United States, Canadian school boards could learn a few things about choosing healthy foods for students to eat.
But banning junk food in school may assist in preventing childhood obesity according to a San Francisco State University study. The article, published in the March issue of Health Affairs was also presented on the website sciencedaily.com
The study examined eight years of data on body mass indexes from fifth and seventh grade students. Between 2003 and 2005, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law several bills banning junk food from schools. Before the law took effect obesity was on the rise in both groups in the study. The result of the new laws? The increase in the number of overweight boys in grade five and boys and girls in grade seven.
While childhood obesity in Canada isn't as major a topic of discussion as in the United States, Canadian school boards could learn a few things about choosing healthy foods for students to eat.
Ongoing research into Vitamin Water
I am currently compiling research and information about vitamin water products, including Glacéau's 'Vitamin Water,' Dasani's 'Plus' and Aquafina's 'Plus.' Preliminary research has revealed that there is a significant amount of sugar in each of these products and at least one of the products does not list the amount of daily recommended vitamins one consumes when drinking a bottle. Of you have a comment or more information about vitamin water please contact me at 'greg-sawisky@mytru.ca'
Where are your pills?
Where do you keep your vitamins? They're probably in your kitchen near the glasses so you remember to take them each morning with breakfast. Or perhaps they are in the bathroom above or near the sink? Is there anything wrong with that?
Yes there is according to a new study. According to an article by Jennifer Warner for medicine.net, researchers at Purdue University in Indiana concluded that humidity can affect the potency of vitamins.
The process is called deliquesence and occurs when humidity causes a water-soluble substance (e.g. a vitamin pill) to dissolve.
The study was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry .
According to the article, "The first signs of nutrient degradation are usually brown spots, especially on children's vitamins," and recommends discarding any vitamin that shows signs of spots or moisture inside the bottle.
Keeping your vitamins in an area of your home with as little humidity as possible is recommended.
Yes there is according to a new study. According to an article by Jennifer Warner for medicine.net, researchers at Purdue University in Indiana concluded that humidity can affect the potency of vitamins.
The process is called deliquesence and occurs when humidity causes a water-soluble substance (e.g. a vitamin pill) to dissolve.
The study was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry .
According to the article, "The first signs of nutrient degradation are usually brown spots, especially on children's vitamins," and recommends discarding any vitamin that shows signs of spots or moisture inside the bottle.
Keeping your vitamins in an area of your home with as little humidity as possible is recommended.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Microwaving Tupperware
Microwaves are great, aren't they? You can pop in last night's leftovers, zap them for a few minutes and have a hot lunch ready to go. But there is a huge potential that microwaving a tupperware container, even labeled 'microwave safe' may have health consequences.
A google search of 'microwaving tupperware' yields 341,000 results. At the top of the list are websites discussing the topic of whether or not there is danger in microwaving tupperware.
At the moment there is no conclusive evidence that microwaving tupperware is dangerous; however, studies are being conducted and there is also no evidence that they aren't having long-term health effects either.
One of the major concerns is that the microwave may cause the tupperware container to leech chemicals into the food product that is then consummed. As mentioned before, there is little evidence of this as of now. A report from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health states that no link is currently established between microwaving plastic and chemical leeching if the plastic is designed as microwave safe.
If you are concerned about the possibility of chemical leeching by microwaving tupperware products then the CanHealth Report recommends you invest 50 cents into a ceramic bowl or plate at your local discount or thirft store and have it on have to microwave your food.
A google search of 'microwaving tupperware' yields 341,000 results. At the top of the list are websites discussing the topic of whether or not there is danger in microwaving tupperware.
At the moment there is no conclusive evidence that microwaving tupperware is dangerous; however, studies are being conducted and there is also no evidence that they aren't having long-term health effects either.
One of the major concerns is that the microwave may cause the tupperware container to leech chemicals into the food product that is then consummed. As mentioned before, there is little evidence of this as of now. A report from the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health states that no link is currently established between microwaving plastic and chemical leeching if the plastic is designed as microwave safe.
If you are concerned about the possibility of chemical leeching by microwaving tupperware products then the CanHealth Report recommends you invest 50 cents into a ceramic bowl or plate at your local discount or thirft store and have it on have to microwave your food.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Effects of more screen time
A recent study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine and reviewed by ScienceDaily.com concludes that teenagers who spent more time in front of a screen playing video games reported feeling less attachement to their parents and friends.
The study surveyed 3,043 adolescents aged 14 and 15 in 2004.
"Overall, the more time teens spent watching television or playing on a computer, the more likely they were to report low attachment to parents (in other words, difficulty forming a relationship or emotional bond). The risk of having low attachment to parents increased 4 percent for every hour spent viewing television and 5 percent for every hour spent playing on a computer. Conversely, teens who spend more time reading and doing homework reported a higher level of attachment to parents," reported the press release on March 1, 2010.
The study surveyed 3,043 adolescents aged 14 and 15 in 2004.
"Overall, the more time teens spent watching television or playing on a computer, the more likely they were to report low attachment to parents (in other words, difficulty forming a relationship or emotional bond). The risk of having low attachment to parents increased 4 percent for every hour spent viewing television and 5 percent for every hour spent playing on a computer. Conversely, teens who spend more time reading and doing homework reported a higher level of attachment to parents," reported the press release on March 1, 2010.
Health Canada Issues massive warning
I received five (yes, five) warning e-mails from Health Canada warning Canadians about a variety of products to be wary of consuming. I've condensed the list here. If you have any of these products, you should follow the link for more information. The five products are 2H & 2D, STRO Emperor Capsules, Tian Yang Xu Huo Oral Ulcer Capsule, sexual
enhancement dietary supplements sold by Atlas Operations Inc. and 65 bodybuilding products
sold through Bodybuilding.com.
Product #1
"Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the unauthorized health
product 2H & 2D because it contains undeclared tadalafil. Tadalafil is a
prescription drug and should only be used under the supervision of a health
care practitioner."
Product #2
"Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the unauthorized health
product STRO Emperor Capsules because it contains undeclared tadalafil.
Tadalafil is a prescription drug and should only be used under the
supervision of a health care practitioner.[...][I]t may have been brought into the country by travellers or purchased over the Internet."
Product #3
"Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the unauthorized health
product Tian Yang Xu Huo Oral Ulcer Capsule because it contains undeclared
aristolochic acid, a naturally occurring toxic substance associated with
serious health risks such as kidney failure and cancer."
Product #4
"Health Canada is advising consumers not to use certain lots (Lot Numbers
494, 520, 520A, 520B, 520C, 521, 705, 706, 779 and 807) of sexual
enhancement dietary supplements sold by Atlas Operations Inc."
Prodcut#5
"Health Canada is advising consumers not to use 65 bodybuilding products
sold through Bodybuilding.com"
enhancement dietary supplements sold by Atlas Operations Inc. and 65 bodybuilding products
sold through Bodybuilding.com.
Product #1
"Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the unauthorized health
product 2H & 2D because it contains undeclared tadalafil. Tadalafil is a
prescription drug and should only be used under the supervision of a health
care practitioner."
Product #2
"Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the unauthorized health
product STRO Emperor Capsules because it contains undeclared tadalafil.
Tadalafil is a prescription drug and should only be used under the
supervision of a health care practitioner.[...][I]t may have been brought into the country by travellers or purchased over the Internet."
Product #3
"Health Canada is advising consumers not to use the unauthorized health
product Tian Yang Xu Huo Oral Ulcer Capsule because it contains undeclared
aristolochic acid, a naturally occurring toxic substance associated with
serious health risks such as kidney failure and cancer."
Product #4
"Health Canada is advising consumers not to use certain lots (Lot Numbers
494, 520, 520A, 520B, 520C, 521, 705, 706, 779 and 807) of sexual
enhancement dietary supplements sold by Atlas Operations Inc."
Prodcut#5
"Health Canada is advising consumers not to use 65 bodybuilding products
sold through Bodybuilding.com"
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