July 8, 2009 at 2:57 pm (General)
Tags: Consumer Health, FDA, food safety
Food and drug safety has been in the news a lot lately. Warnings about acetaminophen, salmonella poisoning, energy products, nasal sprays, pistachios; the list seems to go on and on. But, did you know there is a quick and easy way to keep up with the latest news from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA)? The FDA issues warnings and alerts via email and RSS feeds. To sign up for either, go to the FDA’s For Consumers page and look for the “Resources for You” box on the left side.
January 23, 2009 at 11:15 am (General)
Tags: Consumer Health, FDA, food pyramid, nutrition
A recent article in the New York Times about nutritious eating in harsh climates like the Arctic got me thinking about just how much I know about what constitutes healthy eating. The Times article answers a question posed by a reader wondering if fresh produce is needed to ensure nutritious eating, how do people who live in harsh climates avoid malnutrition?
Most of us take for granted going to a local store and selecting from a wide variety of fruits and vegetables all year round. These foods provide a wide range of nutrients, vitamins and minerals, with vitamin C being one of the most important. We’ve all heard about the USDA food pyramid and know about the need to avoid overly processed foods and unhealthy fats, and to include whole grains, milk, and fruits in our daily diet. So how do they survive?
The answer to the reader’s question is found in studies that have been done of the Inuit diet by Canadian researchers. Their studies show that while the Inuit are consuming small amounts of local plants and berries, the raw, fresh animal foods like seal, whale, and polar bear “…provided them with surprisingly high levels of Vitamin C.” A “primitive diet” or just food for thought?
