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Got 1% milk?
While expensive organic supermarkets like Whole Foods continue to open new locations throughout Manhattan, where are lower-income residents to go to find some healthy groceries? Many outer borough denizens rely on local bodegas to stock up on staples such as milk, eggs, and bread where nutritional options may be lacking. So Gothamist Health supports the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's new plan to encourage select bodegas to add more 1% milk to their dairy section. Certain stores in Central Brooklyn, the South Bronx, and Harlem will also offer discounts on healthy food and educational information in addition to the low-fat milk. This may not seem like much, but given that healthy habits have to start somewhere, it’s a start.
Fish is brain food
Ever wonder why you're not smarter, more sociable, or more successful? Blame your mother. There's been a lot of buzz this past week about a new study that suggests that mothers who consumed less of the fatty acid Omega-3 while pregnant had children with verbal IQ points six points lower than average. Their children also had worse motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Omega-3 is abundant in fish and fish oils. This puts expecting mothers in an awkward place as advice also abounds to limit fish intake while pregnant to control mercury intake. But it may be that the benefits outweigh the risks. The study also found that Omega-3 might lower rates of violent behavior in alcoholics. And from what I saw at some of the bars I hit down in the East Village last night, some guys could definitely use it.
Keep up the chatter
Despite our recent annoyance with seeing them at the gym, we're at least glad to see that cell phones probably don't cause brain cancer. While long-term effects are still unknown (since the phones are a relatively new invention), they seem safe for now.
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Possible solution to increase access to healthier foods for low income residents is to allow food stamps to be used for vendors at farmer's market, and for local community supported agriculture (CSAs).
Although the cost of food is still more expensive, I think through educating the masses about what exactly is in their foods such as gmos, the cost of providing cheap food, ie a look at the affects of industrial agriculture, etc. could help drive a plan like this.
I've read somewhere that the food stamp/farmer's market idea was being used in Philly right now. And if nyc does have a program like that in place already, it just needs to educate and spread the word about it.
On the fish study - I was just reading this week about the sleazy fish industry PR campaign meant to counter findings of mercury content in fish. (Where WAS that?) So, at least, ya gotta balance this supposed omega-3 benefit with the merc warning.
I'm taking a class with Mark Crispin Miller at NYU, and he was discussing these findings to us. Not that every word he utters is golden, but an interesting sidenote at the very least: apparently the scientist who conducted these studies for the cell phone manufacturers found 2 findings. One: Extensive cell phone use does not cause brain cancer. Two: Extensive cell phone use CAN cause tumors on the outside of the skull.
He published a book with his findings because apparently the cell phone manufacturers did not adequately relate his findings to the public, or so he felt.
The book is here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0786708182/102-6852266-7833712?v=glance&n=283155
fish is not the only source of omega-3. flaxseeds, tofu, and walnuts are three sources, just to name a few.