How do French women eat?

USATODAY.com - The French diet connection: "'At the end of the day, we only have one body, and we need to respect, and we need to know what we put in, our body.'"



As "French Women Don't get fat" blasts into the no 10 bestseller list we ask "What do French Women eat" Apparently they are very careful what they put in their mouths. Very choosy, but not obscessed - it's a question of Quality rather than quantity. It's about a sensuous way of eating.



A survey conducted by the French government's Committee for Health Education (CFES) found that eating is still very closely linked to a national heritage of consuming good food for pleasure. In France, 76 per cent eat meals they have prepared at home; the favourite place to eat both lunch and dinner is in the home, with 75 per cent eating at the family table. In the UK, by contrast, we like to eat our meals (a) standing up, (b) in front of Coronation Street , (c) at a desk while catching up on emails or (d) by the side of the M40.



Whereas the French typically spend two hours over lunch, the British bolt down our food in the time it would take them to spread peanut butter on a petit pain. Nutritionist Dr Francoise L'Hermite believes that the French secret is to sit down with friends or family for a meal, and to eat three times a day at regular intervals. She points out that the French don't eat in front of the television, and they eat slowly, enjoying both the food and the company. How very civilised.



'For France, a meal is a very particular moment, in which you share pleasure, the food as well as the conversation,' says L'Hermite. 'From an Anglo-Saxon point of view, food is just fuel to give energy to your muscles. If you have no pleasure in it, you are breaking all the rules of eating.'



Dr Andrew Hill, senior lecturer in behavioural sciences at Leeds University, agrees. 'I suspect that the French paradox has something to do with our differing core attitudes to food and eating. French food is real food - prepared in the kitchen, with time taken to choose, buy and prepare meals. In other words, there's space for food in the daily routine.







"I couldn't see anyone eating with pleasure," says The author of the book, French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure, French-born Mireille Guiliano, 58, CEO of Clicquot Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Champagne Veuve Clicquot. "Food is one of the best pleasures in life. We should not eat like we're robots or on autopilot. It's not like eating. It's like stuffing yourself."



"French women eat with all five senses, We chew well. We stop between bites."



In fact, the French report that only about 11% of people there are obese. That compares with about 30% of people in the USA who are 30 or more pounds over a healthy weight, according to U.S. government surveys.



Apparently the skills French women use when eating are: Consume three good meals a day, watch portions, eat lots of fruits and vegetables, use seasonings, eat a variety of seasonal foods, drink plenty of water, savor wine, walk everywhere including up and down the stairs, indulge in a treat every once in a while.



Keith Ayoob, a nutritionist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York says "that the French do anything better than we do"



if you really want to kiss your ass goodbye, you should take a lesson from the French says The Observer Food Monthly (UK)





Anne Barone says it's all about knickers.



Bridgitte Bardot - 1st Vegetarian French Woman The Brigitte Bardot Foundation for Animals

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Muppets at 'Sesame Street' Take On Obesity, Healthy Diet issues.

Letter of the day is H for Health.

NPR : 'Sesame Street' Takes On Obesity, Healthy Diet: " When Sesame Street begins its 36th season on Public Television today, children who tune in will be getting lessons in exercise and healthy eating along with tips on spelling and maths.
Obesity in the United States has reached epidemic proportions among adults. For children, the news is even more startling. According the Centers for Disease Control, up to 30 percent of kids are overweight -- and childhood obesity has more than doubled since 1980. "

See Sesame Street

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SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Metro -- Mother sues over cereal nutrition

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Metro -- Mother sues over cereal nutrition: "Hal Hewell, a lawyer for Hardee, said the suit contends the companies replaced the sugar in the cereals with refined carbohydrates, which nutritionally makes them no different from the regular cereals.

'The net effect to children is the same,' he said. 'There really is no net health benefit, but it appears to the parents buying the cereal that there is.' "



Guide to Breakfast cereal marketing to kids

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Vegetarians Have Healthy Bones Despite Low Bone Mass

Vegetarians Have Healthy Bones Despite Low Bone Mass - CME Teaching Brief - MedPage Today: "ST. LOUIS-Vegans who subsist only on raw foods suffer from low bone mass, yet their bones may be healthy because they lack the other biological signs for osteoporosis.

That's the paradoxical conclusion from a small study published in the March 28 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. It found that while vegans had below-normal bone mass in critical areas like the hip and lumbar spine, they had sufficient vitamin D levels.

Researchers led by Luigi Fontana, M.D., Ph.D., of Washington University here looked at 18 men and women, ages 33 to 85, who had maintained a vegan lifestyle for an average of 3.6 years. They were compared with a matched group of 18 controls who ate a standard American diet containing animal fat and processed foods. "

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allergy news - delay dairy

World Vegetarian And Vegan News: "'Delaying the introduction of highly allergenic foods -- other than milk -- does not seem to be effective in preventing food allergies, according to research presented here Tuesday during the 61st annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology.



'It is probably not useful for children in families at high risk for [allergies] to delay the introduction of these foods.' However, additional studies are needed before definite conclusions and recommendations can be made, Dr. Berber J. Vlieg-Boerstra, who presented his team's work, told Reuters Health. "

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RAW FOOD proof - No need for dairy for healthy bones.

Top News Article | Reuters.co.uk: "ontana's team studied 18 strict raw food vegans aged 33 to 85. All ate a diet that included unprepared foods such vegetables, fruits, nuts, and sprouted grains. They had been on this diet for an average of 3.6 years.

The team compared them to 18 more average Americans. The raw food group had an average body mass index of 20.5, while the average group were slightly overweight with a BMI of 25.

BMI is an internationally accepted measurement of height to weight, and a BMI of 18.5 to 24 is considered the healthy range.

Fontana expected the vegans to have low vitamin D levels because they avoid all animal products including dairy. But in fact their vitamin D levels were 'markedly higher' than average.

Vitamin D is made by the skin when the body is exposed to sunlight and is key to keeping strong bones. It is added to milk and other foods because it is so important.

'These people are clever enough to expose themselves to sunlight to increase their concentrations of vitamin D,' Fontana said.

And the vegans had low levels of C-reactive protein, an inflammatory molecule that is becoming linked with the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other chronic disease.

Furthermore, they had lower levels of IGF-1, a growth factor linked to risk of breast and prostate cancer."

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GM Food Trials Fail To Prove Benefits

Natural Products Magazine: "In the most recent trial the herbicide used in conjunction with the herbicide-tolerant GM crop was so effective that there were one third fewer seeds for birds to eat at the end of the season than in a conventional crop. Two years later there were still 25% fewer seeds, even though the weedkiller had not been applied again.



Les Firbank, of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Lancaster, who led the study, said: These weeds are effectively the bottom of the food chain, so the seeds they produce are vital for farmland birds, which are already in decline. There were also fewer bees and butterflies in the GM crops.



The results of this latest study will make Tony Blairs pro-GM stance more difficult. The former environment minister Michael Meacher recently claimed that the prime minister and the environment secretary, Margaret Beckett, were the sole supporters of GM within the Government. "

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Missing breakfast causes cholesterol rise

Natural Products Magazine: "Missing breakfast causes cholesterol rise - March 23, 2005

Missing breakfast has been shown to raise cholesterol levels in a small study at the University of Nottingham. The study also found that women tend to eat more calories during the day if they had skipped breakfast, with implications for weight gain if they continued to skip breakfast as a long-term habit.



Ten healthy women of normal weight were asked to eat bran flakes with low fat milk before 8am for two weeks, followed by normal mealtimes. They were later asked to eat breakfast at midday for two weeks. Cholesterol levels were higher after skipping breakfast and insulin levels were lower, suggesting a risk to heart health if continued as an ongoing habit. "

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vegetarian children often do better - Times Online

vegetarian children often do better - Times Online



According to Rachel Cooke, an NHS community dietitian and spokeswoman for the BDA’s community nutrition group, vegetarian children often do better nutritionally than their meat-eating peers.



Dr Margaret Lawson, a senior lecturer in nutrition at Great Ormond Street Hospital Institute of Child Health, says that although it can be difficult to provide an adamant teenager with a special complete diet, variety is a parent’s best friend. “A varied diet that includes all four food groups (vegetables, wholegrains, fruit, beans) . . . will provide all the nutrients needed for a child,” she says.

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EU obesity taskforce to fight european fat kids epidemic

EU obesity taskforce to fight - expanding waistline - Healthypages news: "EU obesity taskforce to fight - expanding waistline

2005-03-15







Agri-food companies, consumer bodies and nutrition experts from the EU's executive Commission will all contribute to a new think-tank set up to study obesity and recommend remedies.



'Obesity is rising rapidly, and Europe's expanding waistline brings with it devastating consequences for public health and huge economic costs,' EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou said in a statement.



The number of overweight schoolchildren in the EU is rising by some 400,000 a year, the Commission says. The problem is worst in southern Europe as traditionally healthy Mediterranean diets give way to processed foods rich in fat, sugar and salt. "

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WHO said you need more Dairy for bones? Oh no they didn't!

Here are WHO's (World Health Organisation) reccommendations for better bone health and to fight osteoporosis.



* increase physical activity;

* reduce sodium intake;

* increase consumption of fruits and vegetables;

* maintain a healthy body weight;

* avoid smoking;

* limit alcohol intake.



Did they say drink more milk?? more cheese?? 3 a day??? Nope.



Osteoporosis is a disease affecting many millions of people around the

world. It is characterized by low bone mass and micro-architectural

deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and a consequent

increase in risk of fracture



The current consensus is that approximately 1.66 million hip fractures occur each year worldwide, that the incidence is set to increase four-fold by 2050 because of the

increasing numbers of older people, and that the age-adjusted incidence

rates are many times higher in affluent developed countries than in sub-

Saharan Africa and Asia.



The paradox that hip fracture rates are higher in developed countries where calcium intake is higher than in developing countries where calcium intake is lower clearly

calls for an explanation. To date, the accumulated data indicate that the

adverse effect of protein, in particular animal (but not vegetable) protein,

might outweigh the positive effect of calcium intake on calcium balance.



WHO | Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases
Report of the joint WHO/FAO expert consultation: "The WHO/FAO Expert Consultation on Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases met in Geneva from 28 January to 1 February 2002 to examine the science base of the relationship between diet and physical activity patterns, and the major nutrition-related chronic diseases. Recommendations were made to help prevent death and disability from major nutrition-related chronic diseases. These population nutrient intake and physical activity goals should contribute in the development of regional strategies and national guidelines to reduce the burden of disease related to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, several forms of cancer, osteoporosis and dental disease. They are based on the examination and analysis of the best available evidence and the collective judgement of a group of experts representing the global scope of WHOs and FAOs mandate. "



Down load report

World Health Organization - WHO

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Breakfast cereals - Are you better off eating the box.

Google Groups : Vegetarian & Vegan News & Products



Tim Campbell Mar 7, 11:13 am From: "Tim Campbell"



Subject: Those colorful boxes may be even more nutritious than the contents



The prettier the package, the more suspect is the food.

A biochemist at the University of Goergia chose one of the new,

attractive-to-the-kiddies cereals. He fed one group of rats the box and another group the cereal. The rats that ate the box fared better.





from "Psychodietetics," E. Cheraskin, M.D., D.M.D. and W.M. Ringsdorf, D.M.D., M.S. Page 162

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An Apple a Day Keeps Cancer Away

bmj.com -- UK health news 20050307: "Apples 'cut cancer risk'

Source: Daily Express

Date: 07/03/2005



The Daily Express reports that researchers at America's Cornell University have found that eating an apple a day could cut the risk of breast cancer by 17 per cent. The researchers found that eating one apple a day cut the risk by 17 per cent. Eating three a day cut the risk by 39 per cent, with the risk reduced by 44 per cent for those eating six apples a day. The study was partly funded by the US apple industry. "

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Best way to strengthen your children's bones? Not Milk says PCRM

There's no doubt that milk is nutritionally perfect for baby cows not baby humans - the question that fans of cow's milk fail to answer is "If cow's milk is the best source of calcium for humans then why do the countries with the highest dairy consumption have such high rates of osteoporosis and arthritis?"



Why do countries that don't use dairy do so well on bone health?



Is drinking milk really the best way to strengthen your children's bones?: "According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, USA, consuming milk may not be the best way to protect your children's bones. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) promotes the benefits of a vegan diet.



According to the PCRM, a cup of fortified orange juice contains as much calcium as a glass of milk. You can also get a good intake of calcium if you eat oats, kale, turnip greens, tofu or broccoli.



You can read about this report in the journal Pediatrics.



The PCRM looked at 37 studies, of which only ten supported drinking milk as the best source of calcium for children over 7 (27 did not).



Experts say children should consume up to 1,300 milligrams of calcium a day, as well as doing plenty of exercise if you want to make sure they have good bones. The most common way of trying to get children to consume calcium (in the Western world) is with dairy products.



Many say we should not be drinking milk after we are weaned (start eating solids). We are the only animals on this planet that consume milk after we are weaned.



http://www.pcrm.org"

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Britons ditch sugar - UK sugar sales down by 10%

Natural Products Magazine: "British lose their sweet tooth - March 2, 2005

A new report from Mintel has found that British consumers are losing their sweet tooth or turning to artificial sweeteners. Research has found that volume sales of sugar fell by 10% between 1999 and 2004, from around 431,000 tonnes in 1999 to 390,000 tonnes in 2004.



The rising concern about health and levels of obesity in Britain today are clearly encouraging consumers to cut back on their sugar intake,says David Bird, senior market analyst. What is more, recent diets such as Atkins and GI have also had a negative impact on sugar consumption, as sugar is a real no-go for anyone following these diets, he adds. "

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Green Tea Protects Heart

Natural Products Magazine: "Green tea protects the heart - March 2, 2005

A new study has found that green tea may help protect against the damage caused by heart attacks and strokes. Researchers from the Institute of Child Health in the UK carried out the study which was published in the journal of the Federation of Experimental Biology.



The scientists carried out tests on heart cells which found that a major chemical component of green tea known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) can reduce cell death after a heart attack or stroke. EGCG is also thought to speed up the recovery of heart cells, allowing the tissues to recover and alleviating damage to the organs. "

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