Is It Ethical For Vegan Restaurateurs To Kill Cockroaches?

Some vegan restaurant owners committed to humane animal treatment stretch their principles to include the obnoxious pests that plague their facilities. But it’s quite a dilemma. How, after all, do you keep your eatery compliant with public health rules without killing rats, cockroaches, and spiders? Die-hard animal rights restaurateurs can follow the guidance of PETA, which suggests using orange peels to ward off flies, bay leaves to discourage roaches, and peppermint oil-soaked rags to discourage rodents. Faced with the impracticality of those solutions, however, some end up compromising their principles – i.e., calling the exterminator – for the higher good: staying in business “as a way to put a dent in the dominance of the factory farm system.”

"Trapped! Vegan restaurants struggle with humane pest control", Associated Press, April 25, 2016

Egg Marketers Need To Get The Health Message Across To American Consumers

Sales of eggs in the year ended in February declined by 3.6 percent, the fourth year of declines in a row, according to Nielsen. This despite solid scientific evidence that eggs are an extremely healthful, and economical, addition to the diet. Nielsen suggests that to reduce sagging sales trends, egg farmers and retailers need to make obesity-conscious Americans aware of the benefits of eggs: high-quality proteins, vitamins, minerals, healthful fats and beneficial trace nutrients. If they can do that, “they may just see their sales spike in the future.”

"Cracked up – the latest on U.S. Egg sales", News release, Nielsen, April 27, 2016

Study Finds A Ray Of Hope For Brain Cancer Patients

The low-carb/high-fat “ketogenic” diet has been used for 90 years to control seizures in epileptic patients. But a new U.S. study in mice shows that the diet also slows the growth of an extremely aggressive type of brain tumor. There is no effective treatment for glioblastoma, and patients live only 12 to 15 months after diagnosis. A glioblastoma tumor needs huge amounts of energy to grow. The diet works by drastically reducing the amount of glucose available for tumor growth. The researchers are encouraged enough to continue testing in humans, though they caution it has not been shown to be a cure.

"A Supplemented High-Fat Low-Carbohydrate Diet for the Treatment of Glioblastoma. ", Clinical Cancer Research, May 03, 2016

Compound In Dark Chocolate Boosts Athletic Endurance

British researchers found that cyclists who substituted dark chocolate for their regular energy snack used less oxygen when cycling at a moderate pace and also covered more distance in a two-minute flat-out time trial. Dark chocolate contains a compound known as epicatechin, which acts on the circulatory system by converting nitrates to nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels and reduces oxygen consumption. The effect is similar to that provided by beet juice, which is rich in nitrates. Nine amateur cyclists participated in the experiments, which compared the benefits of dark chocolate to white chocolate on athletic endurance.

"Dark chocolate supplementation reduces the oxygen cost of moderate intensity cycling. ", Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, May 03, 2016

Fast Food Fans Are Highly Exposed To Dangerous Chemicals

A study that looked into whether eating fast food exposes people to harmful chemicals found fast foodies had 40 percent more harmful phthalates in their bloodstream. Phthalates are industrial chemicals used in making food packaging, tubing for dairy products, and other items used in the production of fast food. Grain and meat items were the biggest contributors to phthalate exposure. Studies have suggested that phthalates – also found in personal care products, toys, and perfume – can damage the reproductive system and may lead to infertility. The findings were based on U.S. data from 8,877 people who completed questionnaires about their diet in the previous 24 hours.

"Recent Fast Food Consumption and Bisphenol A and Phthalates Exposures among the U.S. Population in NHANES, 2003–2010. ", Environmental Health Perspectives, May 04, 2016

Higher Levels Of Vitamin D Correlate With Lower Cancer Risk

Studies have shown that people with higher levels of “sunshine” vitamin D tend to be less at risk for a variety of cancers. A new U.S. study reports that reduced cancer risk becomes measurable at 40 ng/ml (1,200 IU daily) of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, with additional benefit at higher levels. The researchers combined data from two earlier studies: a randomized clinical trial of 1,169 women and a prospective cohort study of 1,135 women, providing a larger sample size and a greater range of blood serum levels of vitamin D. It didn’t matter whether the vitamin came from sun exposure, diet or supplements.

"Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations ≥40 ng/ml Are Associated with >65% Lower Cancer Risk: Pooled Analysis of Randomized Trial and Prospective Cohort Study. ", PLOS ONE, May 04, 2016