| FDA issues ANPRM to revise mandatory nutrients
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) in the Federal Register, Docket No. 2006N-0168, titled Food Labeling: Revision of Reference Values and Mandatory Nutrients. The ANPRM requests comments on what new reference values the agency should use to calculate the percent daily value (DV) in the Nutrition Facts and Supplement Facts labels and what factors the agency should consider in establishing such new reference values. In addition, FDA requests comments on whether it should require that certain nutrients be added or removed from the Nutrition Facts and Supplemental Facts labels. Current rules concerning DV have been in effect since 1993. Those rules were developed on diet and health information that was current at the time.
How to Be Heart Smart at the Supermarket
SUNDAY, Feb. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Taking the time to investigate food labels not only can improve your heart health, but also your overall wellness. "Reading the labels is a great way to be guided toward healthier choices for your heart, and for general reduction of all chronic diseases today," Cathy Fitzgerald, registered dietitian with MFit, the University of Michigan Health System's health promotion division, said in a prepared statement. "So think about using the front of the package as well as the nutrition facts on the back when you are out shopping." Start by educating yourself on what food label language truly means. Fitzgerald offered these tips: The claim, "May reduce the risk of heart disease." A company can only put this statement on a food if scientific evidence exists that the U.S.
Rather than sweating glycemic index, stick to the basics
If you pick up a box of Lean Cuisine Chicken Pomodoro in Australia, you'll find a small symbol on the label that lists the product's glycemic index in addition to the usual facts about calories, carbohydrates, fat, protein and sodium. About 150 other products carry the symbol, too. Developed nearly 30 years ago at the University of Toronto, the glycemic index, or GI, is becoming part of the nutritional landscape Down Under. And it's attracted attention in the U.S. and Canada, too. The GI tries to gauge how much your blood sugar is likely to rise after eating a particular food. The higher the number, the more likely your blood sugar will be elevated after eating – something people need to avoid. Foods with scores of 70 to 100 are considered high-glycemic; 55 and lower are low-glycemic.
Political background to the CPE protests
We are reposting the following series of articles on the revolt of the French working class in November-December 1995 in the hope that it will help to clarify the political background to the present upheaval in that country. The ongoing revolt by millions of youth and workers is a further response to the effort by the French ruling class to slash or eliminate entirely the social gains made in decades of struggle. In November-December 1995, the working class revolted against efforts by the right-wing regime of Prime Minister Alain Juppé to reform the social security system, just as today the government of Dominique de Villepin is reforming Frances labor laws. In 1995 millions of workers, led by the transport workers in particular, rejected the claims made by the government and the media and recognized the maneuver for what it wasan attempt to shift the burden of the social costs on to the back of the working population.
Make My Day
It's sort of how Western Civilization felt when the calendar year changed to 2000 (although the millennium didn't officially begin until 2001!). We had reached a major milestone, but we didn't know how to feel. I was born exactly at midnight on June 27th, so on the night of the 26th, I watched the second hands march slowly toward 12:00 on my bedroom clock until they reached their target. "I'm 40 now," I mumbled to my wife, wondering how much longer I would be able to stay up so late. "Happy birthday, old man." She kissed me on the cheek. We watched a "Scrubs" rerun, and I fell asleep before it was half over. Dangit. I thought old people didn't need as much sleep. My older friends and family scoffed at my worries. "Forty is nothing," they would say. "Wait until you hit your fifties." On the other hand, Oldest Daughter would remind me 12 times a day for three weeks, "Wow, 40 years old.
New start is within our grasp
It means we can now get on with the vital job of closing the gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. We know that the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians remain dramatically worse than those of other Australians. The 17-year-life expectancy gap between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians is one of the starkest indicators of inequality in our society. We know health services are often inadequate, housing is substandard and overcrowded, access to education is poor and there are barriers to getting a job. We know alcohol and drugs are crippling indigenous communities. The Government fully comprehends the enormous effort required to close this gap and we know it can be done only in a mutually responsible partnership with indigenous Australians.
UPI NewsTrack TopNews
KABUL, Afghanistan, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged his country's military support against terrorism during a surprise visit to Afghanistan Saturday.
"Here there is a war against terrorism, against fanaticism, that we cannot and must not lose," Sarkozy said. "That is why it is important that we help with the emergence of an Afghan state that is legitimate, democratic and modern."
Sarkozy spoke with reporters after meeting with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, near where many of France's 1,300 soldiers are based, the BBC reported.
Sarkozy was to spend the day in Afghanistan visiting with French troops.
Poland to pull troops from Iraq
WARSAW, Poland, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- Poland plans to withdraw its 900 troops from Iraq by the end of October 2008.
Setting limits for caffeine, cholesterol, sodium, sugar
Dear F.S.: I take it you've managed to get 84 years under your belt without any great health problem. Whatever you're doing, keep doing it. However, since you asked, I'll answer. Caffeine: two to four cups of coffee a day are acceptable. .
YOUR COMMUNITY
If you want to learn more about your drinking water well and septic system to protect your family's and animals' health, your property investments and the safety of the groundwater resource, plan to attend an upcoming Rural Living Basics class.Melissa Fery, an instructor with Oregon State University Extension, will teach two classes on Wednesday. The first will be from 1 to 3 p.m. at Coburg City Hall, followed by a duplicate event from 6 to 8 p.m. at Harrisburg City Hall.The class is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is appreciated to ensure adequate supplies. To register, call Chrissy at (541) 766-3556 or send an e-mail to well.water@oregonstate.edu.For a free nitrate screening of your drinking water, bring about a cup of well water in a clean container.Sponsors are the OSU Extension Service and the South Willamette Valley Groundwater Management Area.Democrat-Herald .
Spotlight: Malaysia's rural health service second to none
Malaysia has one of the best rural health services in the world, according to the International Health Organisation. The services being offered, including through embracing such new technologies as telemedicine, have helped rural folk enjoy the latest treatments, writes ANNIE FREEDA CRUEZ, JASWINDER KAUR and ALINA SIMON. .
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