Friday, November 17, 2006
Cold Cash for Hot Juice
Pomegranate juice was not even on the radar screen in the US until three years ago, when a successful LA business couple began applying their considerable marketing savvy to selling it as a chic, healthy drink.
Lynda and Stewart Resnick own Fiji Water, the second largest imported bottled water brand in the country; Teleflora, the largest floral wire service; the Franklin Mint, which sells collectibles; and Paramount Agribusiness, the world's largest farming operation of tree crops like oranges, pistachios, and almonds.
In the late 1980's as part of a large real estate deal, the Resnicks happened to acquire a pomegranate orchard in central California.
In 2003, they introduced POM Wonderful pomegranate juice in 16 oz designer bottles - at some $5 a pop - and began promoting it to Hollywood celebrities. POM now accounts for an estimated 80 percent of pomegranate juice sales in the US.
"Cheat Death . . . 8 oz a day is all you need." "This incredible juice has more naturally occurring antioxidants than any other drink." "Drink 8 oz a day and you might even save a life. Yours!" Those are some of the claims being made by POM ads. They did not sound so wonderful to the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus last April. The claims are misleading, concluded NAD because they do not "clearly disclose the limitations of the scientific findings about pomegranate juice."
POM refused to change its ads. Consumers are able "to appreciate the humorous and 'over the top' context in which the claims are presented... " it argued.
If you drink pomegranate juice, keep in mind that an 8 oz glass of POM will set you back 160 calories - 50 calories more than a glass of orange juice and 70 calories more than a glass of cola.
Lynda and Stewart Resnick own Fiji Water, the second largest imported bottled water brand in the country; Teleflora, the largest floral wire service; the Franklin Mint, which sells collectibles; and Paramount Agribusiness, the world's largest farming operation of tree crops like oranges, pistachios, and almonds.
In the late 1980's as part of a large real estate deal, the Resnicks happened to acquire a pomegranate orchard in central California.
In 2003, they introduced POM Wonderful pomegranate juice in 16 oz designer bottles - at some $5 a pop - and began promoting it to Hollywood celebrities. POM now accounts for an estimated 80 percent of pomegranate juice sales in the US.
"Cheat Death . . . 8 oz a day is all you need." "This incredible juice has more naturally occurring antioxidants than any other drink." "Drink 8 oz a day and you might even save a life. Yours!" Those are some of the claims being made by POM ads. They did not sound so wonderful to the National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus last April. The claims are misleading, concluded NAD because they do not "clearly disclose the limitations of the scientific findings about pomegranate juice."
POM refused to change its ads. Consumers are able "to appreciate the humorous and 'over the top' context in which the claims are presented... " it argued.
If you drink pomegranate juice, keep in mind that an 8 oz glass of POM will set you back 160 calories - 50 calories more than a glass of orange juice and 70 calories more than a glass of cola.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Cold Cash for Hot Juice
Noni is a lime green fruit the size of a small potato that grows in tropical Asia and on islands in the Pacific, including Hawaii. It was unknown in the US until 1996 when a Utah company, Morinda, Inc. (now called Tahitian Noni International) started selling it as a dietary supplement.
Noni's taste and price take some getting used to. To make noni juice more palatable, it is mixed with grape and blueberry juices. Tahitian Noni sells the leading brand for $42. That buys a 32 oz bottle enough to last a month if you drink 1 oz a day but the label recommends 3 oz . In 10 yrs the company has sold more than #2 billion worth of noni juice through its multi level marketing network.
"I love the taste of the noni now, one distributor told a training session for new salespeople. "To me, it tastes kind of just like money." The session was caaught on videotape by a CBS affiliate in LA.
John Wadsworth, co founder of Tahitian Noni has been vague about noni's benefits ever since 1998 when the company paid $100K to settle a lawsuit filed by the states of CA, TX, NJ and AZ. Tahitian Noni agreed to stop making claims that noni could prevent, treat or cure anything. So, now the company relies on the old standard "structure or function" claims so they do not require any evidence.
Only one tiny pilot study has tested noni in people. In 2004 researchers at the U of Illinois College of Medicine did a stuy on 5 women but the study was too small and too short to draw any conclusions.
Cold Cash from Hot Juice
Can drinking fruit juice boost your energy and physical performance? Make your cancer disappear? Help you cheat death? Hundreds of thousands of people would like you to believe that . . . so you will pay $35 or $40 a bottle for the noni or mangosteen juice they sell over the Internet or to their friends. Are these juices "super", or just a super opportunity for a lot of people to make a lot of money?
Mangosteen:
For hundreds of years, people in Singapore, Malaysia, India, and China have been using the fruit and the bark of the mangosteen free to treat diarrhea and eczema. These days, mangosteen juice is as likely to turn up in New York or LA as in Kuala Lumpur.
Why all the interest in an obscure tropical fruit? You can thank (or blame) a group of marketers who had already successfully hellped flog the juice of another little known tropical fruit, noni, to American consumers
Mangosteen is sold through an aggressive worldwide multi level marketing network in which 350,000 sellers recruit other sellers and collect commissions from them.
At the top of the pyramid is a Utah company called XanGo, which started marketing mangosteen juice mixed with 9 other fruit juices in 2002. At $35 for a 25oz bottle, it is easy to see why sales have soared from $40 million in 2002 to $200 million in 2005.
Mangosteens contain xanthones, which are antioxidants "that may help maintain intestianl health, strengthen the immune system, neutralize free radicals, help support cartilage and joint function, and promote a healthy season respiratory system" according to XanGo. All are "structure or function" claims. Since theyt do not mention a disease, they are legal even though they may be no evidence.
Local mangosteen juice sellers further down the commission chain are not so modest. They claim mangosteen can cure cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's migraine headaches, depression and a host of other diseases.
The scientific advisor to XanGo is a University of Utah anatomist. He just happens to be brother to the two who started the company.
There has only been one study in humans. It was done in a Singapore hospital in 1932 to treat dysentery. Mangosteen mixed with a drug was slightly more effective than the drug alone.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Sweet Potatoes
Despite the name, sweet potatoes are not necessarily sweet and are not potatoes at all. They are actually the starch tuber (part of the root) of a vine in the morning glory family. Moreover, many people think sweet potatoes and yams are different names for the same vegetable - NOT!
True yams are actually hard to come by in the US and they are not orange at all. Sweet potatoes are the familiar veggie often served at Thanksgiving, typically overly sweetened with brown sugar and sometimes covered in marshmallow goo. They come in many varieties and are available year round, though fall and winter are the main seasons. Sweet potatoes are nutritional gold mines. Rich in vit. C, potassium and fiber, they are esceptional sources of beta carotene (which gives them their orange color) and vit. A, courtesy of the beta carotene.
Unlike white potatoes, sweet potatoes post a low glycemic score, so your blood sugar rises only half as much after eating a sweet potato as it does when you eat a white potato.
Despite their tough looking exterior, sweet potatoes are prone to bruising and can spoil quickly. Look for firm, dark, smooth potatoes without bruises, sprouts or areas of decay. If you store them in a dry, cool place they will keep for a month; at room temperature, they will last just a week. Do not keep them in the frig or they will become too starchy and absorb flavors from other foods. Wait to wash sweet potatoes till just before cooking, as moisture will hasten spoilage.
Kiwi Season
Hear "kiwi" and you think New Zealnd but the fresh kiwifruits you are seeing in markets now have, most likely, been picked in California or Italy, the world's largest producer. First cultivated in China, they were known as Chinese gooseberries until New Zealnd began exporting them in the 1960s and they were renamed after New Zealand's national bird. One tangy sweet kiwi supplies a full day's dose of vitamin C, plus good amounts of potassium, a mineral linked with healthy blood pressure, and vitamin E, an antioxidant - for only 50 calories.
Enjoy a kiwi unadorned: simply cut it in half and scoop with a spoon - no peeling needed!
Beer is Good
While recently on vacation in my very favorite place (Maui) I did some fun research on my very favorite beverage. So, I thought I would share some of the fun facts with you.
1. Scientists at the Research Institute of Brewing and Malting in Prague recently announced that they have created a new non alcoholic beer that may reduce hot flashes in menopausal women. It has long been known hops naturally contain low levels of the same plant estrogens found in soy; the Czech researchers used new technology to boost the concentration.
2. Wine snags a lot of credit for its heart healthy effects; truth is, moderate consumption of beer provides the same benefits. Research suggests that it is the alcohol itself that lowers cardiovascular risk by reducing inflammation, "thinning" the blood and improving insulin sensitivity.
3. In a Tufts University study of 2900 men and women, people who drank a beer or two a day had higher bone mineral densities than nondrinkers. Scientists say silicon, a mineral in beer that promotes healthy bones, may be to thank.
4. An Austrian study published earlier this year suggests that antioxidants in hops, called humulones, may help to soothe chronic inflammation that is the result of an immune system in overdrive. In recent years, scientists have linked inflammation with a variety of chronic ills, including cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's and arthritis.
5. Dark colored beers do not contain more antioxidants than light colored brews. A deeper hue just means that the malt (sugars extracted from the grain) has been roasted longer.
6. 20% of people in a UC Davis study said they knew that beer, like wine, contains antioxidants. Beer also contains some B vitamins and certain varieties even have a bit of soluble fiber, which has been linked with reduced cholesterol.
7."Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." Dave Barry
Holidays are Coming
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, kicking off the holiday season. If your are facing a time crunch at this busy time of year, shortcuts for supplementing your annual home cooked feasts are probably welcome. Most supermarkets offer refrigerated and frozen bakery style biscuits, rolls and the like that you can heat and eat, without all the rolling, kneading, shaping, cutting and cooking.
You pay for all that convenience, however, with a hefty calorie, fat and sodium price tag. Be especially wary of biscuits, among those with the biggest calorie and fat. Biscuits can be so big that they pack in as much as 280 calories and 123 gms of fat each.
What is worse, biscuits are often loaded with unhealthy sat and trans fats. Fresh baked breads are naturally low in sodium.
Here are some suggestions for shopping:
Look for whole wheat options and stick to plain flavors; sprinkle on your own seeds or herbs before baking.
Avoid products that offer big portions. Stick with those that do not exceed a 30 - 50 gram serving ( some rolls weight as much as 90 grams).
Steer clear of cheesy flavors, which usually mean added calories, fat, sat fat and sodium.
Read labels. Many baked goods contain trans fats, which are now listed on the label. But also scan the ingredient list for hydrogenated oils.
Choose wisely . . . live well.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Beer is Good
While recently on vacation in my very favorite place (Maui), I did some fun research on my very favorite beverage. So, I thought I would share some of the fun facts with you.
1. Scientists at the Research Institute of Brewing and Malting in Prague recently announced that they have created a new non-alcoholic beer that may reduce hot flashes in menopausal women. It has long been known hops naturally contain low levels of the same plant estrogens found in soy; the Czech researchers used new technology to boost the concentration.
2. Wine snags a lot of credit for its heart healthy effects; truth is, moderate consumption of beer provides the same benefits. Research suggests that it is the alcohol itself that lowers cardiovascular risk by reducing inflammation, "thinning" the blood and improving insulin sensitivity.
3. In a Tufts University study of 2900 men and women, people who drank a beer or two a day had higher bone mineral densities than nondrinkers. Scientists say silicon, a mineral in beer that promotes healthy bones, may be to thank.
4. An Austrian study published earlier this year suggests that antioxidants in hops, called humulones, may help to soothe chronic inflammation that is the result of an immune system in overdrive. In recent years, scientists have linked inflammation with a variety of chronic ills, including cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's and arthritis.
5. Dark colored beers do not contain more antioxidants than light colored brews. A deeper hue just means that the malt (sugars extracted from the grain) has been roasted longer.
6. 20% of people in a UC Davis study said they knew that beer, like wine, contains antioxidants. Beer also contains some B vitamins and certain varieties even have a bit of soluble fiber, which has been linked with reduced cholesterol.
7."Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." Dave Barry
1. Scientists at the Research Institute of Brewing and Malting in Prague recently announced that they have created a new non-alcoholic beer that may reduce hot flashes in menopausal women. It has long been known hops naturally contain low levels of the same plant estrogens found in soy; the Czech researchers used new technology to boost the concentration.
2. Wine snags a lot of credit for its heart healthy effects; truth is, moderate consumption of beer provides the same benefits. Research suggests that it is the alcohol itself that lowers cardiovascular risk by reducing inflammation, "thinning" the blood and improving insulin sensitivity.
3. In a Tufts University study of 2900 men and women, people who drank a beer or two a day had higher bone mineral densities than nondrinkers. Scientists say silicon, a mineral in beer that promotes healthy bones, may be to thank.
4. An Austrian study published earlier this year suggests that antioxidants in hops, called humulones, may help to soothe chronic inflammation that is the result of an immune system in overdrive. In recent years, scientists have linked inflammation with a variety of chronic ills, including cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's and arthritis.
5. Dark colored beers do not contain more antioxidants than light colored brews. A deeper hue just means that the malt (sugars extracted from the grain) has been roasted longer.
6. 20% of people in a UC Davis study said they knew that beer, like wine, contains antioxidants. Beer also contains some B vitamins and certain varieties even have a bit of soluble fiber, which has been linked with reduced cholesterol.
7."Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." Dave Barry
Holidays are Coming
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, kicking off the holiday season. If you are facing a time crunch at this busy time of year, shortcuts for supplementing your annual home cooked feasts are probably welcome. Most supermarkets offer refrigerated and frozen bakery-style biscuits, rolls and the like that you can heat and eat, without all the rolling, kneading, shaping, cutting and cooking.
You pay for all that convenience, however, with a hefty calorie, fat and sodium price tag. Be especially wary of biscuits, among those with the biggest calorie and fat. Biscuits can be so big that they pack in as much as 280 calories and 123 grams of fat each.
What is worse, biscuits are often loaded with unhealthy sat and trans fats. Fresh baked breads are naturally low in sodium. Here are some suggestions for shopping:
Look for whole wheat options and stick to plain flavors; sprinkle on your own seeds or herbs before baking.
Avoid products that offer big portions. Stick with those that do not exceed a 30 - 50 gram serving (some rolls weight as much as 90 grams).
Steer clear of cheesy flavors, which usually mean added calories, fat, sat fat and sodium.
Read labels. Many baked goods contain trans fats, which are now listed on the label. But also scan the ingredient list for hydrogenated oils.
Choose wisely . . . live well.
You pay for all that convenience, however, with a hefty calorie, fat and sodium price tag. Be especially wary of biscuits, among those with the biggest calorie and fat. Biscuits can be so big that they pack in as much as 280 calories and 123 grams of fat each.
What is worse, biscuits are often loaded with unhealthy sat and trans fats. Fresh baked breads are naturally low in sodium. Here are some suggestions for shopping:
Look for whole wheat options and stick to plain flavors; sprinkle on your own seeds or herbs before baking.
Avoid products that offer big portions. Stick with those that do not exceed a 30 - 50 gram serving (some rolls weight as much as 90 grams).
Steer clear of cheesy flavors, which usually mean added calories, fat, sat fat and sodium.
Read labels. Many baked goods contain trans fats, which are now listed on the label. But also scan the ingredient list for hydrogenated oils.
Choose wisely . . . live well.
Tiny, Tart Cranberry= Health Benefits
Long before the first Thanksgiving, Native Americans are said to have enjoyed cooked cranberries sweetened with honey or maple syrup - probably the first version of cranberry sauce.
One cup of whole berries provides 13 mg of vitamin C and four grams of fiber, mostly as pectin, a cholesterol lowering soluble fiber. Antioxidants are the superstars in cranberries, which like their cousins, blueberries, are among the richest sources of proanthocyanidins (PACs). These antioxidants are credited with preventing E coli bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall and multiplying to cause bladder infections.
Fresh cranberries are available only from September to December. However, thanks to a natural preservative, benzoic acid, they have a long shelf life - 2 to 4 weeks in the frig or 9 - 12 months in the freezer if frozen in their original bag. When ready to use, just rinse, no need to thaw.
Chopped cranberries add a burst of flavor to breads, muffins and cookies. Cranberries and chocolate make an unexpected flavor duo; toss dried cranberries into low fat brownies for a health boost.
Dried cranberries and cranberry juice can be enjoyed year round. But steer clear of juice cocktails; many contain high fructose corn syrup. Some products blend cranberry juice with other fruit juices for a 100% juice product, though apple or grape juice predominate if first in the ingredient list. Northland, cranberry juices and blends are all 100% juice and all contain 27% cranberry juice, the amount research has shown to protect the urinary tract. Other brands may contain less than that, especially blends.
READ labels carefully!
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Safe Holiday Leftovers
I received an email question asking how long will Thanksgiving leftovers stay safe to eat?
Most of our holiday fixings are safe to snack on for at least 3 to 4 days after Thanksgiving, with these caveats - IF you refrigerated everything within 2 hours of removal from the oven, stove or frig and IF you placed leftovers in shallow containers to allow for quick cooling ( the faster food cools, the less chance there is for bacteria to multiply). If you do not freeze leftover gravy, toss it after 2 days. Cranberry sauce, will last for a week in the fridge.
The USDA estimates that improperly handled turkey leftovers cause more than half a million cases of food poisoning each year.
