Monday, September 24, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
Arsenic in your Foods
Consumer Reports just released a new report on high arsenic levels found rice products such as organic rice baby cereals, rice breakfast cereals, brown rice, and white rice.
Arsenic not only is a potent human carcinogen but also can set up children for other health problems in later life.
The FDA will be doing a study on these levels and will be releasing a report hopefully by the end of the year.
The FDA will be doing a study on these levels and will be releasing a report hopefully by the end of the year.
In virtually every product tested by Consumer Reports (CR), they found measurable amounts of total arsenic in its two forms. They found significant levels of inorganic arsenic, which is a carcinogen, in almost every product category, along with organic arsenic, which is less toxic but still of concern. Moreover, the foods CR checked are popular staples, eaten by adults and children alike. See the chart summarizing results of our tests for arsenic in rice or rice products.
Kelly Devine Rickert MS RD CSSD LDN
St. James Outpatient Dietitian
708-679-2717
CR also discovered that some infant rice cereals, which are often a baby’s first solid food, had levels of inorganic arsenic at least five times more than has been found in alternatives such as oatmeal. Given our findings, we suggest limiting the consumption of rice products. Use CR recommendations.
Consumers Union believes a standard for arsenic should be set for rice, and industry should accelerate efforts to reduce arsenic levels in rice. They should also develop types of rice that take up less arsenic, and use rice with the lowest possible arsenic in products for young children, such as infant rice cereal.
CR scientists are also asking regulators to prohibit agricultural practices that may lead to increases in arsenic in rice:
- The EPA should phase out use of pesticides containing arsenic.
- The USDA and the EPA should end the use of arsenic-laden manure as fertilizer.
- The FDA should ban the feeding of arsenic-containing drugs and animal byproducts to animals.
To find out more about what Consumers Union is doing on the subject and to get involved, go to ConsumersUnion.org/arsenic. On the international stage, a group advising the World Health Organization is meeting in 2014 to consider proposed arsenic standards for rice. Limits of 200 ppb (inorganic) for white rice and 300 ppb (total or inorganic) for brown rice are under discussion.
After the concerns raised by our juice story, the FDA says it is confident in the overall safety of apple juice. “FDA has made significant progress in developing a proposed action level for arsenic in apple juice and is nearing completion of this work,” the agency says in a statement.
The FDA also says it is studying arsenic in rice and rice products to determine the level and types of arsenic typically found and to identify ways to reduce it.
“The need for a standard for arsenic in food is long overdue,” says Trudy Bialic, director of public affairs for PCC Natural Markets, a Seattle-area chain that is America’s largest food co-op. “Certainly there are excellent and committed people in FDA’s ranks, but it’s shameful the agency has not addressed this problem more systematically, leaving us to figure it out on our own to protect ourselves.”
To view entire Consumer Report article, click here
To view entire Consumer Report article, click here
Kelly Devine Rickert MS RD CSSD LDN
St. James Outpatient Dietitian
708-679-2717
Thursday, September 13, 2012
ENER=G Class Starting 10/11/12
Franciscan St. James Presents:
ENER=G
Education for Nutrition, Exercise and Reducing stress and fatigue = Good life
4 Month Weight Loss & Wellness Program
ž Fight Fatigue ž Lose weight
ž Gain Energy ž Burn fat/build muscle
ž Whole foods diet ž Combat Stress
ž Take charge of life ž Increase activity
ž Learn how personality affects weight and health
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ENER=G (“energy”) is a 16 week group class led by a certified Registered Dietitian and Personal Trainer. This program will help you learn your eating, personality and lifestyle patterns and how these patterns impact weight loss attempts and health. ENER=G will focus on the 4 pillars of health: nutrition, movement, stress management and self appreciation.
Start Date: 10/4/2012
When: Classes will meet weekly on Thursday from 6:30 – 7:30 pm
(see reverse for detailed schedule)
Location: St.
20201 S. Crawford Ave.
Olympia Fields, IL 60461
Cost: $312.00 (HMOs accepted with a referral,flexible spending eligible)
Registration: Kelly Devine Rickert MS RD CSSD LDN
(708) 679-2717 or Kelly.Devine@franciscanalliance.org
* A minimum of 12 participants is required, cash/check/credit card and payroll deduction are accepted, no refunds will be given after second class
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Education for Nutrition, Exercise and Reducing stress and fatigue = Good life
Date
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Topic
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Week 1
10/4/12
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Introduction: Creating a life vision, body fat testing, food journaling and individual assessment scheduled
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Week 2
10/11/2012
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Meal Planning: Individual meal plans with body fat test results, grocery shopping, portion sizes and meal planning
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Week 3
10/18/2012
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Exercise 1
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Week 4
10/25/2012
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Understanding Hunger I: hunger vs. cravings
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Week 5
11/1/2012
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Personality and Health Habits
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Week 6
11/8/2012
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Exercise II
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Week 7
11/15/2012
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Holiday Eating and midpoint testing: eating healthy through holidays
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Week 8
11/29/2012
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Eating Healthy While Dining Out
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Week 9
12/6/2012
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Understanding Hunger II: mindful eating, visual cues, food addiction
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Week 10
12/13/2012
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Whole Foods Diet II: calorie dilution, fiber, phytochemicals
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Week 11
12/20/2012
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Exercise III
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Week 12
1/3/2013
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Supplements and Meal Replacements
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Week 13
1/10/2013
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Lifestyle Patterns: eating, physical activity and coping
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Week 14
1/17/2013
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Stress Management I
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Week 15
1/24/2013
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Exercise IV : final body composition test
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Week 16
1/31/2013
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Preventing Relapse: final results, personal profile packet and party
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Tuesday, September 4, 2012
8 Ingredients You Never Want to See on Your Nutrition Label - Men's Health Article
From Men's Health
By David Zinczenko with Matt Goulding
Aug 23, 2012
Here is the full article
The year was 1950, and The Magic 8-Ball had just arrived in stores. It looked like a toy, but it wasn't. It was a future-telling device, powered by the unknown superpowers that lived inside its cheap plastic shell. Despite a bit of an attitude—"Don't count on it," "My reply is no"—it was a huge success. Americans, apparently, want to see their futures.
A few decades later, Congress passed the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act that, among other things, turned the 45,000 food products in the average supermarket into fortune-telling devices. Americans inexplicably yawned. I'm trying to change that. Why? The nutrition label can predict the future size of your pants and health care bills.
Unfortunately, these labels aren't as clear and direct as the Magic 8-Ball. Consider the list of ingredients: The Food and Drug Administration has approved more than 3,000 additives, most of which you've never heard of. But the truth is, you don't have to know them all. You just need to be able to parse out the bad stuff. Do that and you'll have a pretty good idea how your future will shape up—whether you'll end up overweight and unhealthy or turn out to be fit, happy, and energized.
While researching the new Eat This, Not That! 2013: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution, I identified 8 ingredients you never want to see on the nutrition label. Should you put down products that contain them? As the Magic 8-Ball would say: Signs point to yes.
Click Here to read the entire article and learn all 8 ingredients
By David Zinczenko with Matt Goulding
Aug 23, 2012
Here is the full article
The year was 1950, and The Magic 8-Ball had just arrived in stores. It looked like a toy, but it wasn't. It was a future-telling device, powered by the unknown superpowers that lived inside its cheap plastic shell. Despite a bit of an attitude—"Don't count on it," "My reply is no"—it was a huge success. Americans, apparently, want to see their futures.
A few decades later, Congress passed the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act that, among other things, turned the 45,000 food products in the average supermarket into fortune-telling devices. Americans inexplicably yawned. I'm trying to change that. Why? The nutrition label can predict the future size of your pants and health care bills.
Unfortunately, these labels aren't as clear and direct as the Magic 8-Ball. Consider the list of ingredients: The Food and Drug Administration has approved more than 3,000 additives, most of which you've never heard of. But the truth is, you don't have to know them all. You just need to be able to parse out the bad stuff. Do that and you'll have a pretty good idea how your future will shape up—whether you'll end up overweight and unhealthy or turn out to be fit, happy, and energized.
While researching the new Eat This, Not That! 2013: The No-Diet Weight Loss Solution, I identified 8 ingredients you never want to see on the nutrition label. Should you put down products that contain them? As the Magic 8-Ball would say: Signs point to yes.
Click Here to read the entire article and learn all 8 ingredients
Friday, August 31, 2012
Once in a Blue Moon
We have all heard the saying, it "happens once in a blue moon." Well tonight is your chance to experience a Blue Moon and just maybe, do something special. Believe it or not, the term Blue Moon has nothing to do with the moon's color. A Blue Moon is the second full moon of the month. The next one will not happen until 2015!
Make tonight memorable and do something special (and healthy).
- Take a moonlight stroll with your family or friend to bask in the moonlight and enjoy the time you spend together
- Add a little blue to your dinner: blue cheese, blueberries, eggplant (blue-ish), blueberry smoothie, blueberry Greek or regular yogurt
- Ride your bike by moonlight tonight
- Have Dessert! Get fresh or frozen blueberries, 1 tbs sugar, sugar free blue Jell-O, non-fat cool whip. Add a few teaspoons of the dry Jell-O powder to the cool whip. Heat the berries and sugar. Serve with blue topping!
- Walk a nature trail or around a pond at dusk to see the moon rise
- Have blueberry chicken salad (scroll down for recipe)
- Dance the night away at a Blues Club
- See if you can still snag some tickets to Blue Man Group tonight
- Throw a coin in a wishing well and make a wish/promise for your future
- Pack up your bike and take it downtown to bike the lake shore. It is quite beautiful at night. Walking the lake shore is also worth the trip down there.
Make tonight memorable and do something special (and healthy).
- Take a moonlight stroll with your family or friend to bask in the moonlight and enjoy the time you spend together
- Add a little blue to your dinner: blue cheese, blueberries, eggplant (blue-ish), blueberry smoothie, blueberry Greek or regular yogurt
- Ride your bike by moonlight tonight
- Have Dessert! Get fresh or frozen blueberries, 1 tbs sugar, sugar free blue Jell-O, non-fat cool whip. Add a few teaspoons of the dry Jell-O powder to the cool whip. Heat the berries and sugar. Serve with blue topping!
- Walk a nature trail or around a pond at dusk to see the moon rise
- Have blueberry chicken salad (scroll down for recipe)
- Dance the night away at a Blues Club
- See if you can still snag some tickets to Blue Man Group tonight
- Throw a coin in a wishing well and make a wish/promise for your future
- Pack up your bike and take it downtown to bike the lake shore. It is quite beautiful at night. Walking the lake shore is also worth the trip down there.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Fun Facts
This week, Sandy Dempsy a Dietetic Intern put together a list of fun facts about food, health and exercise. I hope this will help maintain your motivation and drive to reach your goals and maintain good health. Enjoy!
- Did you know that you get a new stomach lining every three to four days? If you didn't, the strong acids your stomach uses to digest food would also digest your stomach.
- The small intestine is about four times as long as the average adult is tall. If it weren't looped back and forth upon itself, its length of 18 to 23 feet wouldn't fit into the abdominal cavity, making things rather messy. It is your job to care for our gut by choosing fruits, vegetables, water and consuming at least 25 grams of fiber each day.
- Studies have shown that adults who exercise regularly have better memory, are better at going from one mental task to another, and can focus and concentrate better than those who are sedentary. In other words, exercise makes people smarter.
- Kids who exercise have fewer problems with attention deficit disorder and learn faster. Studies have shown that physical education in schools improves academic performance as well as physical fitness.
- When you take a step, you are using up to 200 muscles. Walking uses a great deal of muscle power-especially if you take your 10,000 steps, about 5 miles, each day.
- Overeating, poor memory, learning disorders, depression all have been linked to the over-consumption of sugar. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the average American consumes 156 pounds of added sugar per year; only 36 percent of it is taken directly. The rest is "hidden" in commercially sweetened and prepared foods like ketchup, baby food, canned fruits, and cereals. Children, it is estimated, consume 3 to 4 pounds of refined Sugar a week.
- On average, every minute you walk extends your life by one and a half to two minutes.
- If you are 25 pounds overweight, you have nearly 5,000 extra miles of blood vessels through which your heart must pump blood.
- Every day an adult body produces 300 billion new cells. Your body not only needs energy and nutrition to keep your organs up and running, but also to constantly repair and build. Over time insufficient nutrition intake can contribute to a decline in health and wellbeing.
- Fast food restaurants use yellow, red, and orange because those are the colors that stimulate hunger.
- If you are not a regular exerciser, by the time you are 65 yo umay experience as much as an 80% decrease in your muscle strenght
- Did you know that you get a new stomach lining every three to four days? If you didn't, the strong acids your stomach uses to digest food would also digest your stomach.
- The small intestine is about four times as long as the average adult is tall. If it weren't looped back and forth upon itself, its length of 18 to 23 feet wouldn't fit into the abdominal cavity, making things rather messy. It is your job to care for our gut by choosing fruits, vegetables, water and consuming at least 25 grams of fiber each day.
- Studies have shown that adults who exercise regularly have better memory, are better at going from one mental task to another, and can focus and concentrate better than those who are sedentary. In other words, exercise makes people smarter.
- Kids who exercise have fewer problems with attention deficit disorder and learn faster. Studies have shown that physical education in schools improves academic performance as well as physical fitness.
- When you take a step, you are using up to 200 muscles. Walking uses a great deal of muscle power-especially if you take your 10,000 steps, about 5 miles, each day.
- Overeating, poor memory, learning disorders, depression all have been linked to the over-consumption of sugar. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the average American consumes 156 pounds of added sugar per year; only 36 percent of it is taken directly. The rest is "hidden" in commercially sweetened and prepared foods like ketchup, baby food, canned fruits, and cereals. Children, it is estimated, consume 3 to 4 pounds of refined Sugar a week.
- On average, every minute you walk extends your life by one and a half to two minutes.
- If you are 25 pounds overweight, you have nearly 5,000 extra miles of blood vessels through which your heart must pump blood.
- Every day an adult body produces 300 billion new cells. Your body not only needs energy and nutrition to keep your organs up and running, but also to constantly repair and build. Over time insufficient nutrition intake can contribute to a decline in health and wellbeing.
- Fast food restaurants use yellow, red, and orange because those are the colors that stimulate hunger.
- If you are not a regular exerciser, by the time you are 65 yo umay experience as much as an 80% decrease in your muscle strenght
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Join the Omega 3's - 5k walk
Dear Prospective Team Members,
The Omega 3’s from Franciscan St. James Health Outpatient Nutrition and Center for Bariatric Surgery are participating in the American Heart Association's Heart Walk on Saturday September 22, 2012 to promote physical activity to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Imagine the impact if we reduce death and disability from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20% by 2020!
Please Join Our Team! Help us reach this lifesaving goal!
Healthy Regards,
Kelly Devine Rickert RD, PT
For more information contact Kelly at the Franciscan St. James Outpatient Nutrition and Center for Bariatric Surgery at 708-679-2717 or via e-mail Kelly.Devine@FranciscanAlliance.org
You don’t have to fundraise alone. If you decide to join The Omega 3’s, we will be in contact to help you with fundraising ideas and training tips!
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