Pity the poor wine makers, tasters, and judges.

Researchers in Australia are finding that they are at a higher risk of tooth erosion.

Of course, tooth erosion can happen to anyone, but those who are constantly tasting wine are much more susceptible due wines acidic nature.

Acid dissolves the calcium and phosphate from teeth’s enamel surfaces, a process that is irreversible.

Researchers aren’t advocating that professional wine assessors give up their job but they are suggesting that they look at ways of protecting their teeth.

Ways they can do this include drinking plenty of water to increase saliva production which helps flush way and dilute the acids.

Another, more extreme idea, is for them not to brush their teeth on the mornings of a wine tasting session. Sounds gross, but the idea is that by not brushing, the plaque on the teeth will protect the enamel.

But what, you have to wonder,  will that do to the taste of the wine?

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A ‘Coffee’ Breath Mint ?

Sounds a little strange given that coffee, which has a dehydrating effect in the mouth, can make someone’s breath smell, to honest, not so good.

But new research from Israel has turned up a coffee extract that can inhibit the bacteria that lead to bad breath.

This surprised even the researchers. Expecting to find that coffee did indeed cause bad breath, they found instead some components in coffee that actually inhibit bad breath.

Prof. Mel Rosenberg, the lead researcher, now aims to isolate the bacterial-inhibiting molecule in coffee. If he’s successful, it could result in a whole new class of mouthwashes, breath mints, and chewing gum. 

Imagine the possibilities…

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Yes, it’s true if you eat more than you work off, you will gain weight.

But in the end, it’s not just food (ie calories) that will make you fat.

As this theDailyGreen shows, research done of the subject is also pointing the finger at a number of other variables that can also play havoc on your weight.

1. Stress - it’s a vicious circle. Stress can lead to weight gain. Weight gain can lead to stress.

2. Lack of Sleep - we live in a 24/7 world but being on the go around the clock and not getting enough restful sleep will, for reasons not yet determined, add numbers to the weight.

3. Baby Formula - seems that those who are, or were, breastfeed are less likely to become overweight. Again, for reason unknown, although it’s possibly due to the relationship of hormones in breast milk and the baby’s subsequent metabolic activity.

4. Obesogens - otherwise known as chemicals that mess with the hormones that regulate our metabolism. Also known as ‘endocrine-disrupting chemicals’, obesogens are mistaken for hormones by our bodies and yes, cause weight gain. Ranging from Bisphenol A to Phthalates and Dioxins, it’s list that’s getting longer and longer.

So, what to do.

Well, you can’t change your ‘breastfeed or not’ status, but you can try to avoid the obesogens as much as possible, aim to get into a regular and longer sleep pattern, and implement tactics to reduce stress.

Plus eat less and exercise more.

Sure sounds so simple and easy.

But is it?

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Marinades not only make grilled foods taste better, they may also make them safer. That’s the word from a number of studies that have been looking into the risk of grilling meats on the BBQ.

The latest study suggests that adding beneficial antioxidants such as rosemary extracts or Thai spices to the meat can significantly reduce the risk of ingesting heterocyclic amines (HCAs).

Last year, scientists at the University of Porto in Portugal examined the effects of beer and red wine marinades on grilled steak and discovered that simply marinating in beer or red wine for six hours reduced the levels of two types of HA by up to 90 per cent compared with unmarinated steak.

Mix all or some of these ingredients together and you’ll end up with healthy and hopefully tasty marinade recipe.

Other key ingredients for healthy, HAA reducing marinades include vinegar, citrus juices, herbs, spices and olive oil.

As for some recipes and marinade ideas, check out Marinade.com for the most comprehensive list around.

And remember, never marinate meat at room temperature. Mix, add, and then refrigerate until needed.

Happy Healthy and Safe Grilling!

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A recent article in the New York Times,  ‘A Slimmer You May Be a Whiff Away’, highlights some interesting niche products that have been marketed on the theory that manipulation of smell can lead to weight loss.

The idea is that by saturating the sensory system you won’t be as hungry.

It’s an interesting idea but I’m not sure how it would work.  To me, the smell of food always stimulates my taste buds. For example,  everytime I smell toast I suddenly get hungry and want to eat some. 

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Hey, we all know that being in a recession is the pits.

Fears of job and house losses, not to mention dwindling 401Ks (retirement funds) can make things like pretty gloomy.

But, believe it or not, the recession could actually be good for your health - well, at least your physical health.

Here‘s why - by suddenly looking at your life and starting to examine the way you live, how you spend, and what you do with your time, the recession could actually help you recreate a more healthy and even happier you.

Here’s how…
1. Pull out the saucepans and start cooking

Eating out is convenient but it’s not good on the wallet and it’s not good on the diet. So now’s the perfect time to get back into the kitchen and start cooking up good, healthy, and great tasting meals to be shared with the family.  This way, you know exactly what’s in the food and can regulate the amount of food you eat. A full plate at a restaurant is hard to resist. At home, serving up smaller portions will do wonders for the waistline.

For some it will sound more like a chore than having fun, but you might surprise yourself and discover your inner Julia Childs or Jamie Oliver. Make pouring over cookbooks and old recipe books a family affair and you might just find it becomes a family affair.

2. Grow Your Own Vegetables

Looking at all those recipes is going to give you at taste for fresh herbs and vegetables so why not get out and grow your own.

You don’t need a large patch of land. Container gardening is just as effective and will provide you with all the fresh vegetables and herbs needed to create tasty and nutritious meals.

3.  Walk more and drive less. 

Are you cringing every time you fill up the car with gas ? Then maybe it’s time to hit the pavements and use foot power or even pedal power to get around.  You know the old saying ‘running your errands’ - well, here’s a great chance to do just that, especially if you live in a pedestrian-friendly city. Walking, or even running, is not only good for your physical health, it’s actually good for you mental health as well.  And of course, there’s the added fact of the Vitamin D factor - ie sunshine - that is necessary for good bone health.

4. Re-discover the lunch box

Stop buying lunch at work and start brown bagging it. It will be cheaper and more nutritious if you plan and pack your lunch every day. 

5. Lose some bad habits

Been thinking about giving up smoking or cutting down on the drinks. Well, now might be the perfect time to give it a go. Sit down and work out how much these habits are costing you and think of what you could do with the money instead.

6. Stop and Smell the Roses

Less money means fewer nights on the town and more time at home. So aim to foster healthier family relationships with family dinners, movies at home, and game time - monopoly anyone?

7. Drink more…Tap Water

Cutting out sodas and bottled water will save you a heap of money and will do wonders for your weight, your skin, and energy levels.

8. Less Carnivore, More Vegetarian

Reducing red meat and eating more vegetables and fruit not only improves energy levels but also helps the pocketbook.

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Looking for somewhere different to eat?

Check out this restaurant in the Netherlands called Restaurant of the Future.

It looks like a restaurant. It acts like a restaurant. But it’s actually a living laboratory where scientists can monitor and study what and how people eat.

The scientists, thankfully, are not standing at the tables, clipboard in hand, watching the customers eat. Instead customer’s eating habits are monitored by cameras that are discretely in the ceiling.

In fact, the only way that customers even know that they are participating in an ongoing research project is because they are given a questionnaire and research waiver to sign when they arrive at the front door.

Unless they are looking closely, they probably won’t even notice the ceiling cameras or the black rubber scale at one of the cash registers that unobtrusively weighs each diners. Nor will they see how the staff weighs the food is thrown away to find out how much people are actually eating.

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Did you know that…

• The meat industry generates nearly 1/5 of the man-made greenhouse gases that are accelerating climate change worldwide, far more than transportation.
• About 40 calories of fossil fuel energy go into every calorie of feed lot beef in the U.S.(2) Compare this to the 2.2 calories of fossil fuel energy needed to produce one calorie of plant-based protein.
• The estimated 634 gallons of fresh water required to produce one 5.2 ounce hamburger would be enough for a four-hour shower. Compare this to the 143 gallons of water required to produce the same quantity of tofu.
• 2/3 of Americans are overweight or suffer from obesity. 6 Studies show that individuals on vegetarian or low-meat diets have significantly lower body weights and body mass indices.
• Chronic preventable conditions like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer kill 1.7 million Americans each year, 70% of all deaths in the U.S. Diets abundant in red and processed meats have been linked to increased cancer risk, especially of the digestive tract; while diets high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

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Given these facts, it’s not surprising that many experts are now suggesting that reducing meat consumption will not only lessen fossil fuel dependence but also help reduce chronic preventable conditions -cancer, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease - that are decreasing the life expectancy of people around the world.

In fact, there’s a campaign happening right now that’s urging President Obama to call on all American’s to go Meatless on Mondays.

Of course, national meatless days are nothing new. President’s Wilson, Truman, and Roosevelt all instituted them to alleviate worldwide food shortages and ensure food for troops overseas.

But this newest campaign, ‘Meatless Mondays’, envisions the White House issuing meatless menus and recipes every Monday to inspire Americans to cook and eat healthier meals.

Interesting concept but I can’t help but wonder what the meat industry lobby will make of it all.

Last month Dr Manny from Fox News enlisted the help of Chris Kilham (aka the Medicine Hunter) and went on a culinary quest to find some really strange health foods.

His first port of call was an ice cream factory in New York City’s Chinatown to sample dorian ice cream. Dorian, a fruit that’s has been cultivated in southeast Asia since prehistoric times, is loved by many Asian communities. It’s odd appearance (think football with spikes) and abhorent rotten garbage smell, though, has prevented the fruit from become popular in the western world. One look at Dr Manny’s face when he was trying this and it’s pretty obvious that the ice cream doesn’t kill the smell.

As for it’s health benefits, apparently it is thought to act as an aphrodisiac!!!

The next stop in Dr Manny’s culinary quest took him to a Japanese restaurant Morimoto to sample blowfish sperm (health benefits - a source of zinc and DHA which is good for the brain)

Personally I’d have stopped there but Dr Manny and the Medicine Hunter went on to try sea urchins (health benefit - rich in antioxident compounds, protein, and Vit B) and smelly Natto (health benefits - good for digestion, has compounds that inhibit tumors, and a source of Vit B).

It’s really worth checking out the videos of Dr Manny’s culinary quest just to watch the expressions on his face while tasting these strange health foods

In this case, a  picture paints a thousand words.

(image from flickr / soma-samui.com)

It’s a good month for coffee and chocolate.

First, there was news about a study that found that caffeine reduces muscle pain caused by exercise and now researchers in England seem to think that mental arithmetic becomes easier when chocolate is involved.

But before those of you trying to complete your tax returns go nuts on chocolate, you’d better have a good read of the study because it’s not as clear cut as us chocoholics would like it to be. Yes, it seems that the study participants, after partaking in large amounts of flavanols (the compounds found in chocolate), did do better when asked to count backwards in groups of three from a random number between 800 and 999. But when these same participants were asked to count backwards by sevens, the ingested chocolate was of no help.

According to the researchers, this is because this more complex task uses a different part of the brain. Huh?

Still, as tax day gets closer, I’m sure I’ll be eating a chocolate or two to help make the numbers look better.

(image from sxc.hu)