An apple a day keeps cancer away? Study shows public confusion - Yahoo

It found that in high-income countries like the United States, Britain and Spain, 59 percent of people thought not eating enough fruit and vegetables was a cancer risk, while only 51 percent viewed alcohol intake in the same way.

"The scientific evidence for the protective effect of fruit and vegetables is weaker than the evidence that alcohol intake is harmful," the UICC said.

Moreover, 42 percent of people questioned in high-income countries said that drinking alcohol does not increase the risk of causing cancer -- a claim not borne out by statistics, according to the UICC.

"In fact, cancer risk rises as alcohol intake increases," it said....

Small packages trick some into eating more - MSNBC

If you think buying junk food in small packages will help you eat less, look out — marketers know the truth.

Two new marketing studies found that some people tend to consume more calories when junk food portions and packages are smaller. For some, it's because they perceive small packages to be — get this — diet food.

For others, it's just the temptation of small sins.......

Living Longer, in Good Health to the End - NYT

Dr. Richard S. Rivlin, an internist and director of the nutrition and cancer prevention career development program at Weill Cornell Medical College, said in an interview that it was never too late to adopt habits that predict a healthy old age.

“While measures started early in life are most likely to have the greatest health benefit,” he said, “older people should never feel that turning over a new leaf at their age is anything but highly effective.”

He said there was clear evidence that measures taken in one’s 70s could help prevent “several important categories of disease, such as hypertension, heart disease, osteoporosis and even cancer.”

Nutrition: MSG Use Is Linked to Obesity - NYT

Consumption of monosodium glutamate, or MSG, the widely used food additive, may increase the likelihood of being overweight, a new study says.

Researchers studied 752 men and women in three villages in northern and southern China where most people use little commercially processed food, but where about 80 percent of people add MSG in cooking.

After controlling for body mass index, smoking, physical activity and almost two dozen measures of daily nutrient intake, they found that the one-third of people who used the most MSG were almost three times as likely to be overweight — that is, to have a body mass index over 25 — as those who used none...

Eat your fluids to stay hydrated - CNN

If your water bottle travels with you everywhere, sip on this thought: Drinking water isn't the only way to stay hydrated.

Several factors influence your need for water, including climate, muscle mass, physical activity, and diet. (People who have more muscle need more water -- that's why men generally have higher fluid requirements than women.)

Food, often overlooked as a water source, can be a rich supply of fluid. On average, it provides 20 percent of the fluid we need -- and far more if you choose water-rich fare.

Health care company offers bike-sharing program - CNN

Story Highlights

• Humana Inc. allows workers to borrow bikes for commuting, errands or fun
• More than 2,500 employees are registered for the bike program
• The health care provider also offering bikes at both political party conventions
• The bikes have navigation systems and track mileage

Learning to say no crucial to survival - Mayo

With the bewildering pace of technology and with the globalization of commerce, events and circumstances around the world can impact each of us in a second. So what can we do from a practical perspective to keep us focused and on task? For many of us, it is the acknowledgment that yes, it is OK to take care of ourselves. Yes, it is OK to get a good night's sleep. Yes, it is OK to turn down that business luncheon or that early morning meeting and simply say, "Thank you, but this will not work with my schedule."

Chemical Used in Plastic Bottles Is Safe, F.D.A. Says - NYT

Despite safety concerns of parents, consumer groups and politicians, a chemical used in baby bottles, canned food and other items is not dangerous, federal regulators said Friday.

Scientists at the Food and Drug Administration said the trace amounts of bisphenol A that leach out of food containers were not a threat to infants or adults. The plastic-hardening chemical is used to seal canned food and make shatterproof bottles.

Better to Be Fat and Fit Than Skinny and Unfit - NYT

Last week a report in The Archives of Internal Medicine compared weight and cardiovascular risk factors among a representative sample of more than 5,400 adults. The data suggest that half of overweight people and one-third of obese people are “metabolically healthy.” That means that despite their excess pounds, many overweight and obese adults have healthy levels of “good” cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose and other risks for heart disease.

At the same time, about one out of four slim people — those who fall into the “healthy” weight range — actually have at least two cardiovascular risk factors typically associated with obesity, the study showed.

Getting Better With Age: Dive In - NYT

DARA TORRES, the 41-year-old Olympic swimmer with the impossibly chiseled abs who collected three silver medals in Beijing, has proved at the elite level that getting older doesn’t mean getting slower in the water. But put her aside for now.
Researchers at the Counsilman Center for the Science of Swimming at Indiana University found that the population of Masters swimmers (made up of 42,500 members ages 18 to 100-plus) has gotten faster over the last 20 years in age groups from 25 to 55, said Joel Stager, the center’s director.

F.D.A. Allows Irradiation of Some Produce - NYT

The government will allow food producers to zap fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce with enough radiation to kill micro-organisms like E. coli and salmonella that for decades have caused widespread illness among consumer

It is the first time the Food and Drug Administration has allowed any produce to be irradiated at levels needed to protect against illness.