Recalls and Safety Issues

Canola Oil Can Save Mom’s Life.

admin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:41:56 +0000

Replacing corn oil with canola oil may lower cancer risk not only for women, but for their unborn babies, US researchers reported on Tuesday.

Diagnosis Can Miss ADHD Symptoms in Girls.

admin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:41:56 +0000

The majority of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) research has focused on boys. But recent research shows that many girls who have ADHD simply aren’t diagnosed.

FDA Panelists Back Safety of Antibiotic to Treat "superbugs," Despite Pregnancy Risks.

admin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:41:56 +0000

Federal health advisers on Wednesday said an antibiotic developed by Theravance appears safe and effective for fighting "superbug" bacteria, despite potential risks for pregnant women.

Attending Religious Services Lowers Death Risk 20 Percent

admin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:00:39 +0000

Aecom.yu.edu - A NIH-funded study of over 92,000 post-menopausal women strongly suggests that regular attendance at religious services reduces the risk of death by approximately 20 percent. The findings, published in Psychology and Health, were based on data drawn from participants who spanned numerous religious denominations. The research was conducted by Eliezer Schnall, Ph.D., clinical [...]

Weekly Weight Checks Might Help Overweight Teens with Weight Control

admin — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:57:13 +0000

HBNS.org - Overweight teens who weigh themselves at least once a week are more likely to engage in other healthy weight control measures than teens who step on the scale less frequently, according to a new small study.
Self-weighing can be a successful tool for adults, but some concern exists that recommending the behavior could backfire [...]

No Genetic Damage Found From ADHD Meds in Children

admin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:19:29 +0000

NIEHS.NIH.GOV - In contrast to some prior findings in pilot studies, two of the most common medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not appear to cause genetic damage in children who take them as prescribed, according to a new study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Duke [...]

Ginkgo Biloba Found Ineffective for Dementia Prevention in Elderly

admin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:16:18 +0000

JAMA - Use of the herb Ginkgo biloba, claimed to have beneficial effects on memory and cognition, was not effective in reducing the rate of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease among more than 1,500 elderly study participants after several years of use, according to a study in the November 19, 2008 issue of JAMA.
Dementia, especially Alzheimer’s [...]

Health Experts Demand Review Into Wrinkle Fillers As Patients Report Facial Paralysis And Severe Allergic Reactions.

admin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:37:33 +0000

Health experts last night ordered an urgent review into the use of injectable fillers amid reports of facial paralysis, disfigurement and severe allergic reactions.

Purple Tomatoes — Fooling Mother Nature?

admin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:36:18 +0000

Bio-engineers have created a purple tomato that has the food community buzzing. By inserting genes from a purple snapdragon flower into the tomatoes, they grow with a deep purple hue. The purple pigment is rich in powerful anti-inflammatory antioxidants known as anthocyanins. Anthocyanins from other foods that contain them naturally have been shown to slow the growth of colon cancer cells, protect against cardiovascular disease, boost eyesight, and stave off obesity and diabetes.

The development of the new tomato was announced in the October 2008 issue of Nature Biotechnology Journal, along with a pilot study in which the genetically modified purple tomatoes were fed as a powder in the diets of tumor-growing mice. Their lifespan was lengthened compared to other mice feeding on a standard diet or a diet supplemented with red tomato powder — so it seems purple tomatoes enhanced the ability of the mice to fight the disease.

Purple tomatoes seeds are not yet approved to be sold, planted, or harvested, but their anti-inflammatory disease-fighting benefits can be found right now at your neighborhood grocery store or farmers market in another fruit — berries! In fact, the shiny new purple tomatoes were developed to have anthocyanin levels comparable to blackberries and blueberries.¹

It seems unusual that companies would invest their time and the roughly ten to twenty million dollars that it takes to produce a genetically modified crop for a tomato with very similar health benefits to foods that already exist.

Besides blackberries and blueberries, high anthocyanin concentrations are found in elderberries, cranberries, chokeberries, grapes, and blue corn. The team of genetic scientists who created the tomatoes stated they were investigating ways to raise levels of anthocyanins in more commonly eaten fruits and vegetables.¹ Granted, not many people are regularly consuming chokeberries, but blackberries, blueberries and grapes aren’t exactly exotic foods.

My first thought was that it might be nice to get the anthocyanins in a lower carb form. Tomatoes are much lower in carbohydrates than berries, and anyone with insulin resistance issues must moderate their intake according to their individual tolerance levels. Instead of a diet full of higher sugar, higher carb foods such as berries, people could eat more purple tomatoes and better control their insulin resista — with the same health benefits. But as tempting a thought as that is, we have to remember that there is a natural balance and synergy that occurs in nature. Whenever an organism is genetically modified, it alters this harmony.

Some experts recommend using extreme caution before plunging into genetically modifying foods. They cite reasons such as the inability to prevent cross-pollination of genetically modified foods with genetically pure foods and the inability to foresee all the changes a modified food may cause in nature.² These experts also warn that we don’t know how inserting the genes of different plants or substances into a natural food will affect the food’s allergenicity.³

We can all enjoy the benefits of health-promoting plant compounds by eating lots of brightly colored organic fruits and vegetables. If you are eager to try a purple tomato, go to a specialty foods store or farm and ask to see their heirloom tomatoes. Mother Nature has already made a purple one.

References

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health.
actionbioscience.org/biotech/sakko.
Taylor SL. Env Toxic and Pharm. 4(1-2); Nov 1997: 121-126.

[Ed. Note: Laura B. LaValle, RD, LD is presently the director of dietetics nutrition at LaValle Metabolic Institute (formerly part of Living Longer Institute). She offers personal nutritional counseling at LMI for clients who need help with their diet in relation to illness or disease. Laura also provides educational services in the areas of health promotion, wellness, and disease prevention. To learn more click here.]

Lithium-Ion Batteries Used with Bicycle Lights Recalled By DiNotte Lighting

admin — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:21:14 +0000

Name of Product: DiNotte Lighting Lithium-Ion batteries used with bicycle lights

Units: About 1,700

Manufacturer: AA Portable Power Corp., of Richmond, Calif.

Distributor: DiNotte Lighting, of Hampton, NH

Hazard: A loose wiring connection and improper venting can cause the battery to overheat, posing a burn hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: DiNotte Lighting Lithium-Ion battery with nylon bags are used with DiNotte 5W Li-Ion bicycle lights and DiNotte 3 LED police lights. The DiNotte logo is printed on the battery cable connector.

Sold at: Bicycle and recreation stores nationwide and by Internet retailers from February 2006 through March 2007 for between $200 and $400.

Manufactured in: United States and China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the battery and contact the company to receive a free replacement battery.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact DiNotte Lighting at (866) 822-7694 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, visit the firm’s Web site at www.dinottelighting.com, or email the firm at service@dinottelighting.com

Source: CPSC

Recall Insider

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