Healthy Heart Program Updates
In this Issue
With the first of the year we saw the start of the requirement by the FDA to list trans fat on the nutrition facts panel. Until 1990 trans fat was considered as innocuous as other monounsaturated fats. Later research reported that trans fat increased blood cholesterol levels the same as saturated fats thereby increasing heart disease risk.
Further studies have stated that trans fat may be even more detrimental to heart health than saturated fat. The new labeling regulation has stimulated food companies to search for other fats to use in place of trans fat. Alas, some processors are going back to using tropical oils, a major source of saturated fats. Reading labels is thus key and points out how important it is to teach this topic to consumers. Adding a section to your programs on label reading is timely given the new regulation.
Another topic recently in the news is soy protein-a topic which is updated in this issue. As is the case with research and nutrition, stay tuned because this will not be the end of the story! This is certainly true when you consider recent media reports that low fat diets do not affect heart disease. Reports appeared last week in papers across the country and in England. The headline in one newspaper stated, 'Fruit, Vegetables and Low-Fat Diet Have Little Impact on Cancer Risk.' The news story was based on an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The study looked at 50,000 women and showed that fruit, vegetables and low fat diets did not reduce heart attacks, strokes, and breast and bowel cancer. As you address this question, remember that one report does not negate all the prior research and the study included only women. It is these types of studies that will be reviewed when the next Dietary Guidelines are published in 2010. In the meantime follow these guidelines and those of the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society whenever addressing dietary concerns.
Wellness Made Easy is a booklet that crossed our desks from the University of California, Berkeley, with 365 tips that have appeared in their monthly newsletters. There are 177 nutrition tips, 133 self-care tips, and 55 fitness tips. All of these speak to the work you do in providing research-based nutrition education. Eat foods rich in Vitamin C every day is tip #1, and it concludes with tip #365, "Do Pushups." The StrongWomen™ program is a great substitute in my mind! Periodically check the StrongWomen™ website (http://www.strongwomen.com) for upcoming workshops in Colorado.
We also have included a research update on increased risk of heart disease with those who are inactive. Staying or attaining fitness is a great goal for the New Year. Take advantage of the abundant resources we have noted in this issue. There are many educational resources for your programming efforts.
We wish each of you a healthy new year.
Jennifer Anderson, Ph.D., R.D.
Food and Nutrition Extension Specialist
Shirley Perryman, M.S., R.D.
Extension Specialist
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Updated Tuesday, September 25, 2007.
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