trans fats facts The United States Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) will require food labels to include a new nutritional tidbit, the amount of trans fats, beginning Jan.1, 2006. Julie Schrimpf, consumer safety officer at the F.D.A.’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition in College Park, Maryland, describes how trans fatty acids are made “by adding hydrogen to unsaturated fat, which makes foods last longer while maintaining flavor.” According to Alice Lichtenstein,a senior scientist and director of the cardiovascular nutrition laboratory at tufts University of Boston, the fats “behave like saturated fat in your body, raising levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and increasing your risk of heart disease.
The percent of trans fats that can safely be consumed is yet to be determined by the F.D.A., therefore the label will not include the daily value. Lichtenstein suggests that consumers reduce the amount of saturated and trans fats they consume to 10 percent or less of their total calories. She also suggests avoiding foods made with hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. For more information, visit www.fda.com.

more reasons to get your ZZZZs According to Dr. Michael Breus, a diplomate of the American Board of Sleep medicine, not getting a full night’s sleep may be more harmful than you realize. Sleep deprivation in the short term can lead to a decrease in alertness which can impair your ability to process information. Excessive sleeplessness can result in occupational injuries if left unchecked. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that approximately 100,000 automobile crashes are caused by driving while drowsy. Serious illnesses can occur due to sleep disorders left untreated, such as high blood pressure, depression and other mood disorders. For more information, call www.webmd.com.

fiber fights weight gain A recent study conducted by Harvard University over a 12-year period, and published by the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,” found that women between the ages of 38 and 63 who consumed more whole grains and avoided refined and processed grains put on fewer pounds as they got older. Oatmeal and high-fiber breakfast cereals proved to be the most effective in keeping weight gain to a minimum.

Simin Liu, who conducted the study for the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, reminds everyone that all carbohydrates are not alike. Liu explains, carbs containing whole grains are more hearty and filling than processed counterparts. For example, choosing brown rice instead of [white] rice or oatmeal instead of more sugary foods may satisfy hunger more and therefore lessen your caloric consumption. According to Liu, “whole grains contain enzyme inhibitors that may get in the way of metabolic efficiency. That means the body is forced to burn extra calories just to digest and absorb whole-grain foods.” For more information, visit www.ajcn.org.

medicating kids Pediatrics online magazine published a survey of pediatricians and treatment of children who suffer from sleep disturbances. The survey of 671 U.S. pediatricians revealed that 75 percent had recommended over-the-counter medication to treat the disturbance and more than 50 percent prescribed medication. According to the findings, antihistamines and clonidine, which is also used for behavioral problems, were both common medications used to treat sleep disorders. There are many causes for sleeplessness and other disorders such as depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, psychological complications or other illnesses. Be sure to talk to your doctor about all of your options before you decide on a course of action if your child has insomnia. For more information, visit www.pediatrics.com or www.chiroweb.com.

vacuuming hazards University of Nebraska researchers found that using a vacuum for household chores is hard on your heart. If using your vacuum causes you to feel tightness in your chest, loss of breath or discomfort, you may be seeing signs of heart disease. According to researchers, if you have been diagnosed with heart disease, certain models of vacuums have a power assist function to lessen the strain on your heart. For more information, visit www.healthletter.tufts.edu.