Weekly News

• Hydration: Caffeine vs sugar. In listening to a Health Matters show from NPR recently, I learned that sugar in beverages can actually decrease the amount of hydration or water that is absorbed much more so than caffeine does. This news supported my own choice of using eletewater electrolyte replacement over Gatorade. Sugar is not helpful for hydration. This news story did not address energy needs. Caffeine does decrease absorption but not as much as we expect. For example, the story noted a 100 ml difference, say from 400 intake without caffeine and 300 with. That is not such a big loss. Sugar has to be metabolized and that depletes your water stores further.
• Drink Wars: Ironically, Pepsi Co is preparing for battle with Coca Cola which has bought the company that sells Vitamin Water. I used Vitamin Water before I found Elete because some of them have fewer calories than Gatorade. Pepsi is about to roll out G2 with 25 calories per eight ounces. Interestingly, they mean to target athletes when they are not working out. Again, it is the non carbonated drinks that have the biggest potential for growth in the beverage industry. Before you buy any of them, consider what you really need in terms of nutrients, hydration and calories and buy accordingly.
• Doctor... Is _____ right for me?: Here is a thought. Let's use the drug industry's very successful marketing strategy to address smoking. For kids, the anti tobacco groups use truth campaigns and empower youth to fight back against the lies and the glamorization of tobacco. For current, adult and long time smokers, how about a commercial that goes like this..."Do you find yourself smoking when no one else is? Are you forced to stand outside buildings as if you have the plague? Do you wake coughing, have tired old skin and stained fingers, but smoke anyway? You may have an addiction. We can help. Ask your doctor if quitting smoking is right for you. Side effects may include fresh smelling clothes, better taste and a longer life."
• Smoking and Weight: Let me say, cigarettes no more make you skinny then pills make you fat. Many people who smoker, 20 to 24 % of the US adult population, fear weight gain when they consider smoking cessation. They fear this weight gain more than they fear cancer. Some people do gain weight and contrary to what some will tell you, weight gain IS a health risk. Smoking and overweight are both detrimental. Two things to know then, 1) while preparing to quit, read up on Volumetrics (see link on right) so you can have low calorie high volume foods available and 2) a recent study noted on Medscape Public Health did NOT show a significant increase in obesity with smoking cessation. It will always be a matter of EIEO.......
• From my Brother In Law's Desk: My BIL left the Sarasota Herald open to a news story on food labeling and the FDA. (yes I am in Florida again) The story lamented and celebrated the food industry's current efforts to get nutrition info that you need on the package. One of the problems is that different benefits are being promoted and consistency does not exist. The FDA wants to change that. Some of the information is on this blog site already, regarding ingredient lists and label words. One item up for consideration is changing the way the package notes serving sizes so that the information offered is for the amount you are really eating. I always know this, even when it takes a little math. Here is my big question though. As the FDA is pondering this next big label change, possibly a regulation, are they going to take this one very important step and ASK US what we want?

Okay then, been a busy week of job hunting and apartment searching or job searching and apartment hunting........ anyways, I think I have both accomplished and fly back to NC Sunday..... until next time, I am always

Wishing You Wellness