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Worker Bees’ Daily Bites
It’s a tasty catch.
Eve Was Smart; Go Fish
When pregnant women make it a point to consume apples and fish, their babies display a reduced risk of asthma and fungal infections. We’re thrilled about the apple news, naturally, but want to offer a word of caution on fish. Fish is healthy for a number of reasons – namely, it provides essential fatty acids that are lacking in the standard American diet. That said, some fish contain high levels of metal contaminants such as mercury, which is linked to autism and birth defects. The type of fish a pregnant woman chooses is very important. Wild Alaskan salmon, mackerel, sardines, Arctic cod and fish oil pills are good choices for Omega-3’s. Pregnant women should avoid shark, mahi mahi, Chilean sea bass, red snapper and other warm-water fishes.
Don’t these apples look delicious?
Avandia Loses Its Luster
The type-2 diabetes drug Avandia causes a worrisome increase in heart attacks. Though GlaxoSmithKline has recently published a spate of rosy ads touting their commitment to prevention of diabetes through community programs and lifestyle changes, we’re willing to bet that they’re not excited about their blockbuster drug (generic name rosiglitazone) making the headlines for causing a spike in heart attacks. Check out what this doctor says about it (and wouldn’t it have been clever if the headline had read “Not So Rosi”?)
Oh, dear. Maybe someday we’ll figure out what causes type 2. Until then, follow Uncle Sam’s advice and make half your grains whole. That way, you’ll still have room in your daily diet for appeasing the food processing and soda lobbies the tasty products you love.
We Don’t Have an Opinion (We Know…Strange)
Okay, apples, we need your help with this one. Tropicana is releasing a new product in June: Omega-3-enhanced orange juice. On the one hand, orange juice is a high-sugar, fiberless beta cell battle waiting to happen. On the other, Americans guzzle OJ like it’s Christmas and they are sorely lacking in Omega-3’s. But, again, orange juice is brimming with pesticides. However, the omega-3’s that Tropicana is using are really, really high quality (filtered fish origin, DHA and EPA). But, like many foods enhanced with flaxseed or fish oil, we wonder if the flavor will fly. What do you think? Is this progress, or pandering?
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[tags] avandia, diabetes, apples, fish, autism, tropicana, omega-3’s, dietary advice, GlaxoSmithKline [/tags]
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Ⓒ 2021 Mark's Daily Apple
I think the OJ/Omega-3 idea is ludicrous, as is putting omega-3s in cereal. These polyunsaturated fats are long and very susceptible to oxidative damage (rancidity). That’s why you can’t cook with them (unless you’re baking a whole fish, which is a bit different). Finely emulsifying them into an acidic environment like OJ sounds like a fast track to oxidation.
In nature, omega-3s are closely guarded. In flax seeds, they’re inside a tough outer coating and soaked in antioxidants. Grind up the seeds and leave them on the counter, and they’ll go rancid shortly. In animals, omega-3s are inside membrane-bound vacuoles, inside membrane-bound fat cells, guarded by an array of antioxidant enzymes. Leave fish oil in the sun on your back porch and see what it smells like in a week. Leave a more saturated fat like coconut oil out in the sun and it will still taste good in 6 months.
These are fragile oils and they don’t tolerate being exposed to harsh environments. The best way to get them is from where they occur in nature: fish, freshly ground flax, walnuts etc. I think taking good quality fish oil is OK, but even that you have to be very careful with.