Sugar IS addictive

From Discover magazine’s DiscoBlog:

Move Over, Heroin: “Sugar Addiction” May Be a Reality

What Health Stats Really Mean

Statistical illiteracy becomes a big problem when people make health decisions.  So why isn’t statistics taught to everyone early in school?  And more importantly, why isn’t it a requirement for doctors?

From Scientific American Mind,  April 8, 2009:

Knowing Your Chances: What Health Stats Really Mean

Learn how to put aside unjustified fears and hopes and how to weigh your real risk of illness–or likelihood of recovery

Salad or fries with that?

Do you want salad or fires with that? It seems a healthy option actually makes you more likely to pick the junk food.  Great for fast-food companies’ bottom lines.

From The National Post, April 30, 2009:

Thinking about eating healthy can fool brain into choosing fat: new study

Anne Harding, Reuters

Feel satisfied that you’re doing your body some good by merely looking at some leafy greens next to your burger? You may have just tricked yourself into ordering the greasy fries.

Price paid for big muscles

Sounds like there are some disadvantages to having a highly muscled body.  Good reminder that there are trade-offs for everything.

From The Economist, August 27, 2009:

Sexual selection in humans

Mr Muscle

The price and privilege of beefcake

Hormones can make it sweeter

Interesting…

From The Economist July 24th, 2008 print edition:

Appetite control

A sweet result

Hormones influence how sensitive taste buds are to sugar

Dose makes the poison

“All things are poison and nothing is without poison. It is the dose that makes a thing a poison.”  Which means more of a “good” thing (or less of a  “bad”) is not necessarily better.  The problem is figuring out what the right dosages are.

From Discover magazine, December 1, 2002:

Is Radiation Good For You?

The answer is yes but only in very small doses, says one of the country’s most respected toxicologists. If he’s right, environmental regulation will never be the same

Secrets of self-control

Whether it’s weight loss or anything else that requires self-control, the article below explains the key to success: avoidance, distraction and reframing.  A must read.

From the Globe and Mail, January 1, 2008:

Losing weight: the secrets of self-control

MICHAEL EVANS

Healthy living vs. cancer

It seems that healthy living can not only help prevent cancer, but may also help fight it.  From The Economist print edition, Jun 19th 2008:

Medicine

Better than cure

Healthy living switches off genes that promote cancer

Nutella = junk food, part 2

(If you haven’t already, read the original post on Nutella here.)

FAQ on a Nutella site  mentions this about modified palm oil:
“The modified palm oil is a mix of the liquid and solid oil naturally extracted from the fruit of the palm. The mix is adjusted to assure the best consistency for easy spreading. The process also reduces the level of saturated fat.”

Well, at least we know it is not hydrogenated — however, the phrase “mix is adjusted” could easily involve other questionable methods such as interesterification. The claim that it reduces saturated fats makes me even more suspicious of unnatural temperings.

Btw, the answers to all the FAQ’s are exquisitely worded to reassure us of it’s healthy nature.  For example, the very first question of “What is Nutella?” is answered by: “a deliciously unique spread made from the combination of roasted hazelnuts, skim milk and a hint of cocoa”. No mention of the two largest ingredients by weight (sugar and modified palm oil).  It continues: “Nutella® has no artificial colors or preservatives“, which is true, but again no mention of the artificiality of the modified palm oil.

Another example of the misleading wording: “Hazelnuts are a main ingredient in Nutella®. Each 13 OZ jar contains about 50 hazelnuts.” Well, I tried to look up what 50 hazelnuts must weigh — according to wolframalpha, on average 2kg.  Which makes me suspect they used an incredibly tiny hazelnut variety.

According to Wikipedia, the formulation of the spread varies by country, no doubt tweaked to comply with local regulations and for best marketing angle.  Unlike the US/Canada ingredient list, the actual percentages of the ingredients are specified in other countries.  Assuming that the ratios are approximately the same, the touted ingredients are:

13% hazelnuts + 7.4% cocoa + 6.6% skim milk

for a total of 27%, the unmentioned rest being sugar, oil, and a bit of emulsifier and flavouring.

Healthy indeed.

I have to admit, they have a very skillful marketing department.

Stress kills

Stress kills — and this article from Scientific American will tell you how. Followed by an article (same source) that tells you what to do about it.

Mind Matters – August 15, 2008

The Danger of Stress

Getting stressed isn’t just a state of mind. It can also seriously harm the body.