People who had a lot of omega-3 fatty acids in their diets tended to have lower plasma levels of beta-amyloid proteins, possibly reducing their risk of Alzheimer’s disease, researchers said.
In a cross-sectional study of more than 1,200 cognitively normal individuals older than 65, omega-3 fatty acid intake was significantly predictive of plasma levels of the 40- and 42-residue forms of beta-amyloid protein (AB40 and AB42, respectively), according to Nikolaos Scarmeas, MD, of Columbia University in New York City, and colleagues.
Diet
Berry Good News
In the current analysis, Elizabeth Devore, an instructor in medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and her colleagues addressed the gap in the research by reviewing the eating habits of a single cohort of 16,000 women participating in the Nurses Health Study. During their 50s and 60s, every four years the women answered questions by phone about what they ate. And in their 70s, they came into the lab for six different cognitive function tests. Devore and her team also had information on the women’s education, income and other socioeconomic factors that can affect cognitive function.
She and her colleagues focused their attention on berries because rodent studies showed that the key compound in berries, a flavonoid called anthocyanidin, could seep through the blood and into brain tissues — specifically concentrating in the hippocampus, which is responsible for learning and memory. As an antioxidant, flavonoids also fight inflammation and oxidation, both processes that affect aging brain cells.
Pink Slime – You Want Fries With That?
Similar to a previous dissection they had performed on hot dogs, the researchers discovered waste and by-products including connective tissue, nerve tissue, cartilage, bone, and in a quarter of the samples, Sarcocystis parasites. But surely these “fillers” were the minority, right? Unfortunately not. After crunching the numbers, the researchers found that the amount of actual meat (muscle flesh) in the burgers ranged from 2.1 percent to 14.8 percent.
DM Risk – White Rice Bad
Eating more white rice may up the risk of type 2 diabetes, especially for Asian populations, researchers said.Patients who ate the greatest amounts of the grain had a 27% greater risk of developing the disease than those who ate the least, and the relative risk was higher among Asian patients, Qi Sun, PhD, of Harvard, and colleagues, reported in BMJ.
This is very bad news for Chinese take out businesses.
Where do Gorillas Get Their Protein?
Where do Gorillas Get Their Protein?.
I love this website and blog.
No Age Limit on Benefits of Eating Well
Older people who eat properly are likely to live longer.
That’s the implication of a study looking at mortality and eating habits among a cohort of nearly 4,000 people 65 and older, according to Luis Afonso, MD, of Wayne State University in Detroit, and colleagues.
After an average follow-up of 13 years, participants with a good diet had lower rates of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, compared with those who had a poor diet, Afonso and colleagues reported in the Feb. 13 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.
I’ll take fries with that.
Norwegian Butter Crisis – Update 12.16.11
If Norway can’t make enough butter for everyone to slather on their eller mørkt rugbrød, shouldn’t they just import butter from abroad? The supermarket downstairs from my apartment has plenty of butter. Surely we could ship some to Oslo. The problem is that the Norwegian dairy cooperative Tine has a de facto monopoly on the domestic market and is deliberately sheltered from foreign competition (PDF) as a matter of public policy.
via Pension Pulse: The Norwegian Butter Crisis?.
As I have in the past, I will credit the source for my links. Please note this link itself links to the original article in Slate from which the quote above originates.
Always look for the story behind the story.
Butter Crisis – Norway Has Run Out of Butter
Butter Crisis In Norway : Planet Money : NPR.
This is not a joke.
FDA – DO NOT EAT Loyd Grossman Korma Sauce
Press Announcements > FDA warns consumers not to eat one batch of Loyd Grossman Korma Sauce.
My public service announcement of the month.
You’re welcome.
Red Meat Consumption May Increase DM2 Risk
Conclusion: Our results suggest that red meat consumption, particularly processed red meat, is associated with an increased risk of T2D.

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