There are steps you can take at home to reduce the risk of food poisoning from pet food:
You know this step but if you’re like me…have probably skipped it. Wash your hands or your children’s hands after you touch pet food and pet dishes. I can’t tell you how many times I have reached in the dry cat food bag for a few nibbles, given them to my cat and not thought about it.
Clean pet food bowls and their eating area routinely.
Avoid bathing infants in the kitchen sink and avoid cleaning pet dishes in the bathtub. This cuts down on cross contamination or bacteria from food that may stay in the bathtub or the kitchen sink and end up on the baby.
Have you noticed that food recalls have become much more frequent? Recently you may have heard about dry pet food being linked to salmonella, bacteria common in food poisoning. This particular outbreak affected about 80 people in the eastern US, 11 of whom were put in the hospital. Almost half of those who got sick were ages 2 and younger…yes…you read that right.
The children didn’t get sick from eating the dog and cat food but rather from touching it or the pet food dishes and then putting their hands in their mouths. The bacteria were cross-contaminated or transferred from the food or dish to the hands and to the mouth.
Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that heating during food processing typically kills salmonella germs and that contamination may have occurred during a later process where food was sprayed with flavor enhancers.
Wash reusable bags regularly…toss them in the washer or hand wash if you prefer.
Designate certain reusable bags for meat only and wash them regularly.
Wash fruit and veggies when you bring them home BEFORE they go in the refrigerator, pantry, or fruit bowl. Remember that salmonella and other bacteria can be on the outside of your cantaloupe or kiwi and will contaminate the fruit when you cut it up.
Keep separate reusable bags for other uses such as snacks, gym clothes, books, and shopping.
Think about this…reusable bags that are never washed are a breeding ground for bacteria. If you put raw meat and veggies in the same bag, cross contamination can occur.
Bacteria from the raw meat can get on the fruit and veggies that then take up residence in your refrigerator, fruit bowl, etc. As bacteria grow in the bags, your risk for potential food poisoning goes up.
I just returned from the Florida Dietetic Association annual meeting where the latest evidence-based nutrition research is presented. I have so much to share with you so today I’ll start with a few items I think you’ll find interesting and helpful.
Grape juice…the original super juice. I’m talking about the dark purple Concord grape juice…yes, like Welch’s.
Benefits:
Heart health: Clinical studies have found that Concord grape juice works in a similar fashion to red wine to promote healthy artery function.Concord grape juice stimulates the production of nitric oxide in cells which promotes the relaxation of arteries and then contributes to a healthier blood pressure.
Beneficial against age-related brain decline: Grape juice contains naturally occurring phytonutrients or plant nutrients called polyphenols which may be beneficial against age-related brain decline. You’ve probably heard of polyphenols in wine and chocolate as well.
Nutrition buzzword: Naturally Nutrient-Rich
What does naturally nutrient-rich mean to you and the way you eat? Think about some of the products that you buy. Much of the time the food label promotes only one item such as low in fat, low calorie, 100-calorie pack, or zero trans fat.
Let’s say your item is a 100-calorie pack of your favorite cookies. Beside the 100 calories, what else does the product provide your body in the way of nutrition? Is it packed with vitamins and minerals, fiber or protein making it naturally nutrient-rich? Or, is the 100 calories you’re about to munch on just that…100 calories and nothing else? Simply empty calories.
So, when you shop, think about the buzzword …naturally nutrient-rich. Reach for whole foods versus processed foods particularly whole grains and intensely colored fruit and veggies.
Liz Applegate PhD, from UC-Davis is concerned that coconut water contains fewer carbs than commercial sports drinks as well as lacks the sodium level.
Coconut water is a good source of the needed nutrient potassium but when you sweat, you lose sodium and after a strenuous workout of an hour or more, coconut water is not going to provide the needed carbs and sodium to replenish adequately.
Bottom line…if you enjoy the flavor of coconut water, it’s fine to drink. But rethink your drink when it comes to sports nutrition and recovery after a hard workout.
It’s time to announce the winner of the $60 gift basket of award-winning Cabot cheese. Congratulations Luanne from Elizabethton TN! Watch the mail for your gift is on the way.
If food calls your name when you’re emotionally upset and you turn to food for comfort, it’s time to put on the brakes and stop stress-eating.
Try these three stress-less strategies.
Recognize emotional eating for what it is. Pay attention to your emotions this week. Every time you eat something, ask yourself if you are hungry or eating because of stress.Even better, keep a journal or notes on your blackberry or iphone for a few days. Why? When you write down what you eat, how much you eat and why you eat, stress-eating patterns become clear very quickly.
Decide what actions you can take to help deal with your stress besides turning to food. Find a substitute to replace food … walk around the block, read one chapter in a good book, or chew sugarless gum.Seek professional counseling if you feel it’s needed or confide in friends or family members and come up with some strategies to deal with the stressful situation.
Start one new healthy eating strategy. Here are two to choose from:
If you don’t eat breakfast, start. Research shows that people who eat breakfast eat less during the day so it’s easier to control your food intake when you’re stressed and your emotions feel out of control.
Eat more frequently. If you are an emotional eater and go more than four hours without food, you already know that it’s easy to eat and eat a lot. When you eat more frequently, you have less low blood sugar moments and feel less compelled to eat in response to your stress.
Good Morning Americaninterviewed Andrew Shue, co-founder of CafeMom.com. You may remember him as an actor on the Melrose Place series. CafeMom.com connects mothers and mothers-to-be on all aspects of life for conversation and support.
CafeMom polled 2,000 of their moms in the MomIndex and found that a whopping 61% indicate they do not have enough time for themselves. Guess what the biggest source of anxiety is for moms? Money! One in five moms said that their family income has been affected by job loss.
Did the results of this poll sound like you? Do you eat because you are stressed, depressed, sad, lonely, or angry? Are you eating because you’ve lost your job or someone in the family has and you’re concerned about paying bills?
Has food become your new BFF, your best friend? You’re comforter? Really think about your relationship to food. Try these strategies and email me or post comments on the blog.Let me know how you are doing.
The gluten-free diet has become a popular diet de jour. Oprah pushed its popularity a couple of years ago when she went on a cleanse that was free of several items, gluten included.
The vast majority of you who are following a gluten-free diet are doing so because you’ve been diagnosed with celiac disease and there’s a war going on between your gastrointestinal tract and your immune system. A gluten-free diet wins the war.
The bottom-line basics of the gluten-free diet:
The grain group is most affected.
Dairy, fruits, vegetables and protein foods have minimal changes (and typically don’t contain gluten) especially in their most natural form.
Put your emphasis on whole foods versus processed foods or those modified in some way. Processed and modified foods are most likely to contain gluten.
Remember there are many naturally gluten-free foods such as fruit and vegetables and many grains (see list below). Reach for whole grains such as brown rice over white rice.
This is really important if you think you might have celiac disease. A gluten-free diet can interfere with obtaining an accurate diagnosis so never start on the diet until you’ve had the blood test and biopsy.
For this week’s more in-depth podcast on gluten-free click here.
Next week I’ll post an updated list of gluten-free and celiac resources at the Nutrition & Health Center. Just go to WDBO.com and click on the Nutrition & Health Center. You’ll see the link to the resources at the top of the page.
With Celiac disease, the tiniest bread crumb containing gluten can set some people off, make them sick and harm their intestines. Gluten is so ubiquitous that at times it can make managing celiac disease difficult.
The dangerous grains include:
barley
rye
wheat
spelt
kamut
Some of the safe grains include:
rice
corn
potato
amaranth
quinoa
buckwheat
millet
chickpea flour
oats
Remember wheat free is NOT gluten free. Wheat free can contain barley, bulgur or other grains with gluten.
In the past, oats were included on the dangerous list of grains because of cross-contamination. Oats were usually contaminated with wheat, barley or rye during harvesting and processing. More recent studies suggest that for most people eating oats in moderate amounts, meaning about ½ cup of dried oats is safe.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that attacks your small intestine and persists for a lifetime. Autoimmune basically means that your body turns on itself. Specifically your intestine is damaged by the protein you eat found in wheat, rye and barley…collectively this protein is referred to as gluten.
Any food item which contains gluten is like poison to your small intestine particularly to the little fingerlike projections called villi and makes it difficult to absorb the nutrients from food such as vitamins and minerals.
If you have questions that need answers now and want a personalized gluten-free diet, consider making an appointment with the nutrition expert, a registered dietitian. You can search for an RD in your area at the American Dietetic Association homepage.
You’ve asked me questions such as how do I know where my fish is from and is it farmed or wild-caught?
Here’s your quick A-Z guide to purchase fish.
Sources for fish information fast:
Monterey Bay Aquarium in California has a Seafood Watch Program. Check out their Seafood Guide App that you can download to your iphone or ipad to help you make sustainable seafood choices quickly and easily, whether you’re eating out or shopping at your local supermarket. The app features regional guides so you can see what seafood is best in each area of the country and a sushi guide.
You can send a text while you stand in front of the fish counter and make sure the fish you plan to purchase is eco-friendly and without a health advisory. This very cool tech tip is courtesy of blueocean.org.
Send a text to 30644 with the message FISH followed by the name of the fish you want to buy…for example, FISH SCALLOPS or FISH SALMON. I sent a text for FISH SALMON and received two texts within a few seconds.. The Blue Ocean Institute tracks 90+ fish species and regularly updates their database.
Other good sources for information on seafood choices that protect marine life and/or the environment and support well-managed fisheries are seafoodwatch.org and nmfs.noaa.gov/fishwatch, part of the government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
How do you know where your fish is coming from?
The Country of Origin Labeling called COOL, which was developed by the USDA, requires all large retailers (supermarkets) to disclose the country of origin of fresh or frozen fish and whether it is farm-raised or wild-caught.
What about sustainable seafood?
The Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) certification program and seafood ecolabel recognizes and rewards sustainable fishing. They are a global organization working with fisheries, seafood companies, scientists, conservation groups and the public to promote the best environmental choice in seafood. Look for their label on fish products.
Do farmed fish provide the same health benefits as wild?
There’s a lot of controversy about farmed-fish versus wild-fish in regards to nutrition content, environmental safety and toxins. Farmed fish can be a healthy and delicious alternative to more expensive wild-caught fish but, there is potential for higher amounts of toxins and poor nutrition content. The key is ‘farmed responsibly’ resulting in fish that is an affordable and perfectly recommendable source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
Does the herb guarana pack the same caffeine punch as coffee? Guarana, pronounced gwa-rah-na, is an herb from South America and is very popular as a stimulant in energy drinks with names such as Pit bull, Pimp juice,Rip It, Venom and Cocaine Energy Drink whose website says ‘it tastes like a fireball, a carbonated atomic fireball!’.
When I say caffeine, what’s the first thing you think about? Coffee? Maybe tea or chocolate? Like tea, coffee, and chocolate, guarana contains compounds in the caffeine family including theobromine and theophylline.
Caffeine is known to:
help treat migraine headaches
fight fatigue
help improve mental function
Most of the proposed uses of guarana fall into line with these effects of caffeine although some scientists suggest there are other compounds in guarana that may have similar effects but the research currently doesn’t exist.
If you take a look at the majority of energy drinks and other products with caffeine, you may find guarana added along with stimulants like ginseng. When a caffeine containing product is enhanced with the herbal guarana you have a potential caffeine double whammy…that may or may not be fine for your body.
For someone who is caffeine sensitive or not use to caffeine, the effects of guarana by itself or added to the caffeine in coffee, energy drinks or other products may not be pleasant and could be dangerous:
The heart rate and blood pressure jump up
Feelings of panic and anxiety can set in at any age
It’s hard to sleep
Heartburn, gastritis
Disturbances in heart rhythm
A typical dose of guarana supplies 50 mg of caffeine about half the amount in a cup of coffee. However, take a look at the label of most products containing guarana and the amount will not be listed. If you want to find out, check the website of the company who makes the product and look for the ingredient disclosure.
Young children, pregnant or nursing women, or people with heart disease or taking the medications we just discussed should not use guarana. So Moms, be aware of what your children drink, especially if they play sports of any type. Energy drinks are handed out like water but the effects are nowhere near the same.
Do you buy organic items? Would you like to buy organic if you thought the price wouldn’t bust your budget? I would. Do you think pesticide levels in all produce are the same? Actually they’re not. Even when you wash fruit and vegetables, some still have higher levels of pesticides than others. The Environmental Working Group labeled these as the ‘dirty dozen’…the fruit and vegetables where it’s smart to buy organic. These include apples, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, bell peppers, celery, potatoes and spinach.
You can then save money and buy conventional produce that has very low or no pesticide residue. Reach for bananas, pineapples, kiwi and mango as well as broccoli, cauliflower, corn, peas, onions and asparagus. Remember that all products labeled organic must go through the same process to become certified. How does this save you money? You can opt for the less expensive store brand. For example, I consult as Target’s nutrition and health expert. The Archer Farms premium brand, which is exclusive to Target, has over 100 organic products in its line including organic waffles and organic maple syrup at affordable prices. Affordable is the key word here and that’s why shopping for the store brands is a savvy move.
This week, Margit Ragland, Health Director at Family Circle joins me on my podcast with more idea to go organic on a budget. You will find the full article in the April 17th issue but a few of her noteworthy tips include:
Buy a share in a community-supported agriculture program (CSA). You pay part of a local farm’s operating expenses, and in return you receive a box of fruits and vegetables weekly for the duration of the growing season, which usually lasts 24 to 26 weeks. Don’t forget to ask if your CSA is certified organic. Checkout: localharvest.org.
Join a food co-op. All you have to do is sign up and pay modest dues, although some co-ops require volunteering. Go to coopdirectory.org/
Each month Margit shares a recipe from the Family Circle kitchens and this month it’s a 20-minute Three-Bean Veggie Chili. You can find the recipe at the WDBO.com Nutrition & Health Center.
Do you enjoy a good green salad? I do. Is your salad mainly leafy greens or do you go overboard and create a nutritional nightmare? Not hard to do at a lot of salad bars, is it? Everything seems to call your name and tempt you. How do you build a healthy salad with a nutritional profile that’s powerful for your body?
Try these three easy tips:
1. Start with a base of leafy greens. Red leaf, green leaf, arugula, spinach, or a mixture…whatever you like. Try different greens. I rotate them depending on what’s available and what looks good that week. I’m often asked this question and you may wonder as well “Do I need to rinse the prewashed bagged salads?” Most bags of greens say triple-washed so you would think there’s no need to rinse again.
Don’t miss this….tests on salad greens performed by the Consumers Union and reported in the March 2010 issue of Consumer Report found bacteria that are common indicators of poor sanitation and fecal contamination in their samples. They tested baby greens, organic greens, bagged greens and clamshells. Nothing made a difference. Their conclusions were to buy packages as far from the use-by-date as possible, rinse the greens even if the bag says prewashed or triple-washed and prevent cross contamination in your kitchen by keeping greens away from raw meats. My suggestion is to make sure to clean your salad spinner or colander after each use just in case bacteria adhere to the surfaces.
2. Kick up your veggie intake for the day. Add chopped carrots, green peppers, sliced tomatoes or cucumbers, yellow or zucchini squash, broccoli…basically take a look and see what vegetables you have on hand and toss them in. They add flavor, crunch and a boot load of nutrition. I also like fruit in my salad so I’ll add apple slices, strawberries, dried blueberries and cherries, even watermelon. What do you add to your salad that makes it healthy and delicious?
3. Add lean protein. My girlfriends always say they’re only going to have a salad for lunch. They order one with greens and a few veggies. In an hour or so, they’re hungry again. Sound familiar? Protein has many important roles in your body from helping you to feel full and satisfied longer to maintaining your muscle mass…no matter what your age. Add sliced chicken, turkey, fish or lean beef, low fat cheese or a hard-boiled egg. If you’re vegetarian or eating some meatless meals, try cubes of tofu or chickpeas or a chopped veggie burger.
The buzzwords ‘inflammation’ and ‘anti-inflammation diet’ continue to garner a lot of attention in the nutrition world so it’s time to give you an update on the latest information that may affect your health. Inflammation can be good or bad. It’s good if it’s acute or short term such as when cut yourself. Your immune system kicks in sending white blood cells along with other substances to jump start the healing process. Inflammation is not so good when it becomes chronic or longer term inflammation in your body. This invisible type of inflammation gets all the attention because it’s been implicated in the etiology or cause of many common diseases from heart disease and auto immune illness like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis to some cancers, diabetes, and even stroke.
Here’s what scientists think is happening in the body with this low-grade chronic inflammation. This on-going inflammation damages your blood vessels thus increasing your risk for heart problems. In the case of cancer, inflammation could damage your genes or increase the development of blood vessels that let cancer cells spread and grow. In your body, inflammation raises the level of what’s called C-reactive protein or CRP for short. The liver produces this CRP during periods of inflammation so if the body has chronic inflammation going on, the CRP level will be elevated. Now doctors can measure this level of general inflammation in the body with a blood test called the hs-CRP which stands for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.
What can you do about inflammation in the body? Does what you eat potentially make inflammation worse in your body or can it help fight inflammation? Is there an ‘anti-inflammation diet’? Yes there is. It’s called the Mediterranean Diet. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association looked at the effect of a Mediterranean diet on inflammation in the body, particularly in people with metabolic syndrome.
Think of metabolic syndrome as a group or cluster of medical issues that includes excess weight around your belly, elevated total cholesterol and LDL levels, high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels. In fact, metabolic syndrome affects about 25% of our population. Why do I mention metabolic syndrome? Because it’s a syndrome that is tied to a pro-inflammatory state in your body…in other words…this chronic inflammation we’ve been talking about.
This study and others have found that a Mediterranean diet which includes healthy oils, nuts, fish and lots of fruits, veggies and grains decreased the level of CRP in the blood and reduced the level of inflammation in the body. Following a Mediterranean diet often results in weight loss which lowers markers of inflammation in the body…a very good thing.
1. Switch your type of fat: as much as possible use healthy oils such as olive, peanut and canola. These are rich in monounsaturated fats, the more heart healthy type of fat. Cut out as much trans fat and saturated fat as you can. These unhealthy fats not only raise the lousy cholesterol level (LDL) but also promote inflammation. Remember trans fat is the same as partially hydrogenated fat on a food label and saturated fat includes fatty meats, bacon, sausage, butter, full fat dairy, etc….opt for the low fat and lean meat versions.
2. Eat more whole grains and other high fiber foods such as beans, peas, lentils, oatmeal, etc. Consume fewer sweeteners such as sugar and corn syrup and other refined carbs including chips, cookies, pastries, and sweets. Why? They can make your blood sugar level spike which has also been tied to inflammation.
3. Consume more fish: especially fatty fish which contain omega-3 fats. Omega-3 fats are found in fish such as salmon and tuna.
4. Add nuts and avocados to the diet: these are good sources of the healthy fat, monounsaturated which appear to be anti-inflammatory.
5. Increase the number of fruits and vegetables that you eat each day. The antioxidants they contain such as vitamins A, C and E along with all the naturally occurring healthy compounds called phytonutrients seem to ramp down the inflammation process in the body.
Give the Mediterranean way of eating a try. The synergistic effect of these foods eaten together over time can have beneficial effects for your health.
This may come as a shock but did you know that children as young as six suffer from body dissatisfaction coupled with eating disorders? Eating orders have emerged beyond anorexia and bulimia. Even during pregnancy, women may need to be screened for disordered eating. Joining me on this week’s podcast to explain more about these emerging trends is eating disorder expert Karen Beerbower.
Karen is a licensed and registered dietitian with a Masters degree in Medical Science from Indiana University School of Medicine. She is the Clinical Director of Blue Horizons Eating Disorder Services. As president of Nutritional Guidance based in Orlando, she has worked in private practice for over 20 years.
During the podcast Karen explains pregorexia and who needs to be screened plus symptoms, habits and lifestyle traits to watch for. She shares what is being done in the area of treatment to address these concerns.
I was very surprised to hear that eating disorders in children can start as young as six. Karen’s insight into where these trends are coming from and what you need to know are invaluable.
Also, be sure and check out our Cyber Weight Loss Club. Share your story and photos and we’ll enter you in a drawing at the end of January to win a copy of the book by TV’s The Biggest Loser, Ali Vincent called Believe It, Be It.
There are steps you can take at home to reduce the risk of food poisoning from pet food:
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