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Publix GreenWise Market Magazine - October 2007
Sneak in more veggies
| To target poor eating habits in kids, try stealth veggies. In a study presented last May at the Experimental Biology Conference, researchers from The Pennsylvania State University cooked up two versions of a pasta entrée. One was made from a traditional recipe, and the other had puréed broccoli and cauliflower hidden in the sauce.
The researchers then served up their pasta creations along with carrots, applesauce, and milk to 61 preschoolers at a child care center. The kids liked both versions about the same. But when they ate the veggie pasta, they consumed more vegetables and 17% fewer calories at the meal.
Though this is a great way to slip kids some extra veggies, the researchers note that parents should still push not-so-hidden vegetables too. Ultimately, the goal is for kids not only to eat their veggies but also to like them.
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Turn east for headache relief
Tai chi may be gentle, but it's powerful. The ancient Chinese system of exercise combines gentle, flowing movements with meditation and controlled breathing. Now a study from the University of California, Los Angles (Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, March 2007) has found that practicing tai-chi may provide relief from tension headaches. This kind of headache - the most common type - feels like a constant, dull pain and is often accompanied by tension in the muscles of the head, neck, and shoulders.
The study included 42 tension headache sufferers. Half were randomly selected to take part in a tai chi class that met twice a week for 15 weeks, and half were put on a waiting list. The results showed that practicing tai chi not only reduced headache pain, but also led to other perceived improvements. Compared to people on the waiting list, those in the tai chi group reported increased energy and improved emotional, social, and mental well-being. According to the researchers, these benefits may be due to the relaxing effects of tai chi.
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Schedule your flu shot
Flu season begins as early as October, so it's not too soon to check the flu shot schedule at your neighborhood Publix. If you're unsure whether you or a family member should be vaccinated against the disease, you can read more at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at www.cdc.gov/flu.
But before you head in for your flu shot, a recent study (Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, February 2007) suggests you might just want to do a few bicep curls to tune up your response. The study included 60 healthy college students. Some were randomly selected to exercise their arms with weights for about 25 minutes, while the others rested for the same amount of time. Six hours later, all got a flu shot.
Blood tests over the next five months measured immune response in two ways: how vigorously immune cells reacted when re-exposed to flu virus particles and how much long-term protection had been developed against the flu. Weight lifting enhanced the first response in men and the latter in women.
More research is needed to determine whether these changes would make a practical difference in the real world. But study author Kate Edwards, Ph.D., says, "It may well help your response in some way.
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