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11/21/2008 09:00 PM
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Green Beans: The Fine Line Between Classic And Creative
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I'm planning a Thanksgiving menu at my house and cautiously negotiating that fine line between traditional must-haves and creative alternatives. At the risk of raising the ire of the fried onion-topped green bean casserole lovers out there, I'm on the prowl for green bean recipes other than that popular classic. I have to admit that I've never made Durkee's green bean recipe, and I'm not sure I've ever eaten it. Odd, I know. My son wandered through the kitchen while I was perusing cookbooks for green bean recipes and suggested the green bean casserole he saw featured in Sunday's Parade Magazine. That's right. The Durkee French Fried Onion Green Bean Casserole. Instead, I'm considering fresh green beans sauteed with mush...
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11/21/2008 09:00 PM
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Calcium Plus Vitamin D Supplementation Is Not Associated With A Reduced Breast Cancer Risk
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Taking calcium and vitamin D supplements does not reduce breast cancer incidence in postmenopausal women, according to data from a randomized, doubled-blind, placebo-controlled trial published online November 11 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Several observational and preclinical studies have suggested that vitamin D supplements may reduce breast cancer risk, but results have been inconsistent. To test this possibility, researchers evaluated breast cancer incidence as a secondary endpoint in the Women's Health Initiative study in 36,282 postmenopausal women who were randomly assigned to take 1,000 mg of calcium plus 400 IU of vitamin D daily or to daily placebo. (The primary endpoint of the study was effect of the su...
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11/13/2008 09:00 PM
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New Study Casts Doubt On Vitamin D's Role As A Breast Cancer Prevention Tool
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TORONTO -- Vitamin D may not have the cancer preventive powers proponents ascribe to it, at least in so far as breast cancer is concerned, a new study suggests. The work, published Tuesday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, showed women who took 400 international units of vitamin D along with 1,000 milligrams of calcium for seven years were no less likely than women who took placebo pills to develop breast cancer. The lead author, medical oncologist Dr. Rowan Chlebowski, said the results of the study may put "a little bit of the brakes on the bandwagon" promoting vitamin D as a cancer prevention tool. "What this does, it says you've got to step back and look at it in a different light," Chlebowski, who is with the Los...
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11/10/2008 09:00 PM
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Breakfast Improves Overall Diet Quality And May Help With Weight Management
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BOSTON -- A groundbreaking new study published in the November 2008 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition(1) shows that eaters of lower energy dense breakfast have improved diet quality, and may have a better ability to maintain a healthy weight. The study found that those who enjoy a less energy dense morning meal have diets that are richer in important vitamins and minerals and lower in saturated fat and cholesterol compared to those who consume a more energy dense meal. The study explored whether or not the energy density -- the number of calories in relation to the grams of foods and beverages -- consumed at breakfast predicted energy density and diet quality for the rest of the day, as well as weight...
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11/06/2008 09:00 PM
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Folic Acid, B Vitamins Offer No Cancer Protection, Study Reaffirms
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Researchers have more disappointing news for people who hope to protect their health with vitamins. In the longest-running trial of its kind, doctors found that folic acid and other B vitamins didn't prevent breast cancer or cancer in general, according to a seven-year study of 5,442 women in today's Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers randomly assigned some of the women to take the supplements -- folic acid, vitamin B-6 and vitamin B-12 -- and others to get placebos. Neither the women nor their doctors knew which pills they were taking -- a type of trial that is widely considered the "gold standard" for medical evidence. Despite the negative results, some women should still take folic acid, says author Shumin...
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11/03/2008 09:00 PM
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The Surprising Sweet Potato
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What could you do to reduce your risk of stroke, heart disease and cancer asks VeEtta Simmons, Crittenden County Extension agent with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Try eating more sweet potatoes. The Center for Science in the Public Interest rated sweet potatoes highest in nutritional value when compared to all other vegetables, says Simmons. Sweet potatoes supply plenty of antioxidants that are important in the prevention of heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants are also essential for good brain functioning and in delaying the effects of aging on the brain. Other nutrition facts about sweet potatoes: A medium sweet potato has about 118 calories and is virtually fat- and cholesterol-free and low in sodium....
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10/31/2008 10:00 PM
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Let The Vitamin D Shine: Experts Differ On The Dose, But Most Agree That When The Sun Goes Into Hiding, We Need A Supplement
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Soon, the sun will be merely a rumor for long stretches during waking hours, and darkness will dominate our senses and moods. As if that weren't depressing enough, here's another grim thought: You most likely will become significantly deficient in vitamin D. Vitamin D, the so-called "sunshine vitamin," can be absorbed either through the skin via ultraviolet-B rays -- by far the most efficient, plentiful source -- or through pills or fortified foods. Once thought only beneficial for preventing rickets and other bone-growth issues in children, vitamin D has been shown to help prevent heart disease, various forms of cancer, kidney disease, diabetes and a host of autoimmune conditions ranging from multiple sclerosis to arthritis. And,...
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