 | |  SLIM WAIST, FAT WALLET
Can Weight Loss Lead to Wealth Gain?
If better health and vanity are not enough to spur you to lose weight, how about a cash incentive? Recent research from Ohio State University found that overweight Americans who shed pounds tended to get richer. The researchers tracked about 7,300 people (ages 21 to 28 at the start of the study) for 15 years and found that when a person lost enough weight to go from the middle of the overweight category (body mass index, or BMI, of 27.5) to the middle of the normal category (BMI of 21.7), net worth increased by an average of $4,085. That amount varied by gender and ethnicity, but in all cases it took a significant weight change to "pay off." For example, white women gained nearly $12,000 for a ten point drop in BMI, but a typical young person who lowered his or her BMI by one point only upped affluence by a couple hundred dollars. "If you really want to impact your wealth, you have to move from overweight or obese into the normal range," said study author Jay Zagorsky. While the data doesn't prove that there is a causal relationship between weight loss and wealth gain, Zagorsky believes there's a definite connection. Some researchers speculate that workplace discrimination may play a role, while other studies have linked healthy weight to improved productivity. Either way, it's well established that excess weight increases your risk for a variety of illnesses, which will ultimately take a financial toll in higher health care costs.  | | NEW! MIKE MILKEN VIDEO
Financier/Philanthropist on Overcoming Prostate Cancer Mike Milken is no stranger to magazine and newspaper headlines that have chronicled his transformation from financial innovator to one of our time's greatest supporters of science and education through organizations he founded - such as Faster Cures, the Milken Institute, and the Prostate Cancer Foundation. This latest chapter in his epic career was captured when Fortune Magazine put him on their cover as "The Man Who Changed Medicine," describing how he "spent a year beating prostate cancer," and then "the next decade shaking up cancer research. Now thousands of men are living longer - and leaders everywhere are taking notice." So did we at the Dole Nutrition Institute - especially as Milken credits much of his recovery to radically changing his diet to reduce fat and increase fruit and vegetable consumption. We've also been impressed by the research he's funded into the role of nutrition in preventing illness and prolonging life. Milken was magnanimous enough to sit down with us for an exclusive interview in which he talks not only about his own experience, but how it motivated him to help others. Co-author of two cookbooks, Milken talks about how he's "looking forward to the pharmacy of the 21st century [becoming] the produce section of the grocery store." To learn more click here. | | MOVEABLE FEAST
Exercise Before Indulging to Curb Cardiac Damage Even the most disciplined dieter may allow themself the occasional indulgence - whether it's a fall holiday feast or a splurge on a favorite treat. In order to compensate, many weight watchers opt for harder or longer workouts post-binge. Now there's new evidence suggesting that lacing up before chowing down may also offer protective benefits. University of Glasgow researchers have found that a 90-minute walk before a fatty meal can reduce triglyceride levels and improve blood vessel function. The study published in the December 21, 2004 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that pre-meal walking reduced triglyceride concentrations by 25 percent both before and after a fat and calorie blowout - compared to what happens without exercise. "The differences observed in blood fat levels and in blood vessel function following just one workout are remarkable, particularly as these were evident for at least 24 hours after completion of exercise," said study author, Jason M. R. Gill, PhD. Similar results were seen in both lean and obese subjects - and while this study examined effects of 90 minutes of mild to moderate exertion, previous research has demonstrated similar benefits after as little as half an hour of exercise. Don't look to a good workout as a free pass to pig out, however: while walking helped curb damage, triglycerides still rose significantly after the fatty meal and blood vessel function still declined. Fortunately, some research has suggested that exercise can help suppress appetite for at least a little while - and as reported in previous DNNs, working up a sweat can dull your sweet tooth. Need more reasons to move those feet? Check out our recent DNN story, "Step by Step." | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |  ARUGULA: SUPERFOOD FOR BONES
Spicy Green with Unique Nutrient Combo
While Ancient Egyptians and Romans considered arugula to be an aphrodisiac, modern nutrition science suggests it may have benefits for your bones. Nutrient-rich and low in calories - just 20 calories in about three cups (85g) – arugula provides an excellent source of folate, vitamins A and C, and over 100% of your daily vitamin K needs. This same serving supplies a good source of calcium, magnesium and manganese. The fact that this leafy green, unlike spinach, is lower in oxalates (which as discussed in previous DNNs can inhibit mineral absorption) gives a "green" light to arugula’s calcium availability. Researchers now believe that the nutrients needed for bone building go beyond calcium. For example, vitamin K has been linked to a reduced risk of bone fractures. The Framingham Heart Study found that people who consumed approximately 250mcg/day of vitamin K had a 35% lower risk of hip fractures compared to those who consumed just 50mcg/day. Research also shows potassium and magnesium may boost bone mineral density. Vitamin C has been linked with greater forearm bone mineral content in post-menopausal women and helps promote collagen formation (collagen is needed to build strong bones). In addition, manganese is a cofactor for enzymes involved in the formation of healthy cartilage and bone, while folate lowers levels of homocysteine, an amino acid linked to increased risk of fractures. This unique combination of nutrients make arugula a Superfood for your bones. Arugula also has significant quantities of the phytonutrients beta-carotene (promotes healthy eyes, skin and immune function), lutein and zeaxanthin (promote eye health) and glucosinolates (promote the body’s natural detoxification systems). Besides its health benefits, arugula, or "rocket," is peppery and aromatic, with a pungent, somewhat bitter flavor that adds zest to any meal. Want a delicious way to harvest the health benefits of this superfood? Try our featured Superfood Recipe: Asparagus and Arugula Salad with Mandarin Oranges. | | FRENCH FRIES, BREAST CANCER LINKED
Childhood Diet Affects Disease Risk Later in Life New research suggests that feeding French fries to your small fry could increase her breast cancer risk later in life. The Harvard study published in the August 2005 issue of the International Journal of Cancer found that preschool girls who consumed French fries on a weekly basis raised future breast cancer risk by more than a quarter. Researchers analyzed health data for over 2,000 women, including information collected from their mothers regarding how frequently they had eaten 30 different foods as preschoolers. "Only one food so distinctly stood out as being associated with breast cancer risk and that was French fries," said Dr. Karin Michels, lead author and associate professor at Harvard Medical School. This was rather striking as consumption data included things like ground beef, hot dogs, cookies and ice cream - hardly a healthy foods hit parade. So why fries? Possibly because they are prepared with harmful trans-fatty acids and saturated fat. The association was not found with potatoes prepared in other ways, which can be quite nutritious, as described in previous DNNs. "This study provides additional evidence that breast cancer may originate during the early phases of a woman's life and that eating habits during that phase may be particularly important to reduce future risk of breast cancer," says Dr. Michels. However, the researchers caution that the finding is the first of its kind and must be confirmed by other studies. Meanwhile there are plenty of other reasons why you should substitute healthier alternatives for fries. As reported previously, fast-food French fries have one of the highest levels of acrylamide - a cancer-causing chemical. A jumbo order of fast-food French fries also has nearly 600 calories and may contain as much as 7 grams of trans fat and 6 grams of saturated fat, both associated with increased risk of heart disease. The American Cancer Society estimates that over 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. Some foods we have reported that may reduce breast cancer risk include pineapple, garlic, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. As avid DNN readers also know, exercising has also been associated with a reduced risk of developing and dying from breast cancer. For fries fans, there's no need to break your heart to save your breasts. Try this trick: peel and slice a sweet potato, toss in olive oil and cumin, then oven roast till edges brown. | | GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER BANS JUNK FOOD
Dole Honored for Donating Salad Bars to Schools On September 15th at the Governor's Summit on Health Nutrition and Obesity in Sacramento California, "Governator" Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law the most progressive school nutrition reforms in the nation. The legislation - long championed by state Senator Martha Escuita - will take junk food and sodas off school campuses, and put more fruits and vegetables into school meals. "Today we are taking some first steps in crafting a healthy future for California," said Schwarzenegger "It is important that everyone - business leaders, community groups, health care providers, the public health community, parents and government - rise to the challenge and join in the crucial fight." Rising to that challenge is David H. Murdock, Chairman of Dole Food Company and one of the members of the Summit's Advisory Committee. His Dole Nutrition Institute will launch a pilot program to provide salad bars and nutrition information to an initial 50 California public schools. Called "School Salad Days," this pilot program is a natural extension of Dole's long-standing commitment to childhood nutrition through the award-winning Dole 5-A-Day, which provides educational materials to thousands of schools across the nation. Other components of "School Salad Days" will include working with schools to develop fruit baskets as a healthy alternative to the traditional fund-raising bake-sales as well as helping schools plant on-site "edible gardens." We applaud the Governor and California State Legislature for having the courage to say, "Hasta la vista, baby" to junk food in schools, while increasing access to healthy fruits and vegetables. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | |  "THE MAN WHO CHANGED MEDICINE"
In-depth Interview with Cancer Survivor and Philanthropist Mike Milken Over thirty years ago Mike Milken's wife told him her mother had been diagnosed with breast-cancer. This fearful news launched him on a search for medical solutions that would take on new dimensions as he later fought and won his own battle with prostate cancer. These experiences sparked a lifelong commitment to promoting medical and nutrition research which has earned him as much renown as his storied innovations in finance. When Fortune Magazine put Milken on their cover as "The Man Who Changed Medicine" they were recognizing the extraordinary philanthropic empire he's built, consisting of several organizations such as Faster Cures, the Milken Institute, the Milken Family Foundation and the Prostate Cancer Foundation. His commitment to spreading the word about proper nutrition and lifestyle changes extended to a crack-of-dawn interview he granted the DNI at his Santa Monica based Milken Institute. While we provide the video version of the interview above (accessible at www.dolenutrition.com) we thought his insights worth sharing at greater length in this issue's Director's Corner. DNI: You have achieved tremendous success in your career and always overcome a lot of adversity. People in your position would be justified to simply step back and rest. What has motivated your involvement in medical and nutrition research? MM: My personal passion for speeding the cure of diseases stems from the fact that I have lost 10 relatives to cancer and I was previously diagnosed with cancer as well. In 1993, after my prostate cancer diagnosis, I was only given 12 to 18 months to live. After the diagnosis I tried to figure out what my relatives did not do. One of the things they did not do was change their diet. So, I began a personal journey to study nutrition, to change my diet, and see if that could help my treatment. I think it did. DNI: How is your diet different now than from before you were diagnosed with cancer? MM: I used to eat more hot dogs than probably anyone on the planet, but after the diagnosis I studied nutrition and it has totally changed my life. Today I eat a lot more fruits and vegetables such as oranges, apples, strawberries, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Research has found that if you eat broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts regularly you substantially reduce your chance of getting certain types of cancers. So I changed my diet based on what I have learned about nutrition. Now I would say that I am a firm believer that the produce section of the grocery store is the pharmacy of the 21st Century. DNI: You recently founded Faster Cures. What is the goal of this organization? MM: Faster Cures is an organization that is dedicated to changing regulation, making it easier to do research, and science that results in solving the problems of life-threatening diseases. This organization does not do medical research, what it does is it tries to figure out what we can do to make science move faster. One of the main things we study is nutrition. DNI: You have touched on cruciferous vegetables, but what other types of foods are your researchers finding are best when it comes to disease treatment and prevention? MM: You know it's amazing what you find when you study nutrition. We continue to find, for example, that pomegranate juice seems to reverse the blockage of the arteries and may even slow and prevent the progression of prostate cancer. More and more research has also found that for a large percentage of men, if they raised their level of lycopene, which comes from tomatoes -- cooked tomatoes being better – can substantially reduce the growth rate of prostate cancer and maybe prevent it. DNI: If there was one thing that you want the readers to remember about nutrition, what would that be? MM: That it has a tremendous effect on your life. You are what you eat. Also, you cannot only increase the length of your life, but the quality of your life by adjusting the foods that you eat. DNI: Is there anything else you would like to discuss that we haven’t covered? MM: Yes, about 60 percent of all people in America lose their quality of life or pass away from either heart disease or cancer. Now the most diagnosed cancer in America is prostate cancer and one in six men will be diagnosed with this disease. This is why I advocate that every man be tested early and often. It's just a simple blood test and in fact, I wouldn't be with you today if it wasn't for that test. I would really encourage everyone to take advantage of the diagnostic tests available, not just for prostate cancer, but for many other diseases as well. With early diagnosis and good treatment, we have substantially increased the survival rate from cancers such as testicular cancer, which is about 90 to 95 percent and leukemia in children which is 80 percent. So there is a lot we can do to prevent cancer. Faster Cures, the Prostate Cancer Foundation, and the National Cancer Institute have all pledged to eliminate cancer as a cause of death and suffering by 2015. It's an aggressive goal, but we are very optimistic. DNI: Thank you. To learn more about Mike Milken’s work click here . | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | ASPARAGUS AND ARUGULA SALAD WITH MANDARIN ORANGES Prep: 20 min.
Makes: 6 to 8 servings 1 pound DOLE Asparagus, trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces and blanched
6 cups (about 6 oz.) arugula, washed and stemmed
1 can (15 oz.) cannelloni beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (11 oz.) DOLE Mandarin Oranges, drained
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup fat free raspberry dressing Combine asparagus, arugula, beans, oranges and onions in medium salad bowl. Pour dressing over and toss to coat. Per Serving: 183 calories, 0g fat (0g sat.), 0mg cholesterol, 289mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate (7g dietary fiber, 17g sugars), 9g protein, 21% Vit A, 13% Vit C, 12% calcium, 25% iron, 18% potassium, 29% folate
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | OH, JOJOBA! Jojoba oil is a light, silky, all-natural oil derived from the jojoba bean, cultivated in the American Southwest. While early settlers prized the oil as a cure-all for everything from warts to the common cold, modern cosmetic science has fastened on this natural scent-free oil which will almost never break down or go rancid. "Jojoba actually has some very interesting properties - it is non-greasy, smooths and moisturizes the skin without clogging pores and has antibacterial activity," observes Roger Matthews, PhD, Vice President of Research and Development at the Dole Food Company. Jojoba oil is great for babies' skin and aging skin alike. It's hypoallergenic and mimics the protective properties of the skin's own oil or sebum. Some studies even suggest that jojoba oil can increase skin softness and reduce fine lines. Jojoba oil can usually be found in natural food stores. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | CHILDHOOD OBESITY | | Last Issue:
CHILDHOOD OBESITY In our most recent issue of the DNN we asked our readers who is to blame for the childhood obesity epidemic afflicting America. Nearly 300 of you responded with half saying a variety of factors contributed to the problem. 37% said parents are the main culprits when it comes to making kids fat - far fewer blamed fast food and television (roughly 5% each). Schools and government received a smaller slice of the blame (about 3% each), and as mentioned, 49% said "all of the above." This Issue:
SOLVING THE PROBLEM With so many depressing statistics about the rise of obesity among our young, it's a rare treat to report positive developments - like the news of Governor Schwarzenegger banning junk food and increasing fruits and vegetables in schools (featured in Nutrition News). Do you think that this will help? What other measures might be effective in preventing childhood obesity? Since we asked you what might be part of the problem in the previous DNN, in this issue we want to know what you think could be part of the solution. |  | 
If you could wave a wand to change one thing to help prevent childhood obesity, what would it be? | |
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