You Can Make a Difference
Over the last few months, I’ve been complaining about the state of conventional grapes in the local grocery stores. Grapes are one of the foods that are most widely found with pesticide traces.
My family loves grapes. My husband and children have been known to go through 2-3 bunches of grapes a day. I would buy them organic grapes all the time but 1) they’re hard to find, and 2) when I do find them, they’re awfully expensive.
When I bravely suggested saving grapes as an occasional treat, I was shot down pretty quickly. So finally, a month ago, I headed to my local Kroger and wrote a note to the produce manager. In it I brought up how conventional grapes are loaded with pesticides, and I felt that we as customers deserved better, so would he please try to provide us with organic grapes at an affordable price? (I stressed the affordable part.)
I went home and forgot about the note. Honestly? I didn’t think much would come of it, since I have *never* seen affordable organic grapes anywhere.
Last Sunday, I ran to Kroger for some groceries, and lo and behold, what do I see but a whole section of organic grapes, priced at 30 cents/lb cheaper than the conventional ones right next to them! I could have hugged the Kroger produce manager. Instead, I proceeded to buy 6 bags of those organic grapes, and then I wrote him a thank you note.
So next time you’re at your friendly neighborhood grocery store, make the effort to write the manager a note… you may be surprised at the results!
Pass the Salt
The American Medical Association (AMA) has recommended that the FDA revoke the “generally recognized as safe” status of salt. According to this recent AMA press release:
“Cardiovascular disease remains the number one killer of Americans. People who reduce dietary sodium intake are taking an important step in preventing future health problems,” said AMA Board Member and practicing cardiologist J. James Rohack, MD. “We hope these recommendations will encourage food manufacturers and restaurants to modify their current practices of adding unhealthy amounts of sodium to their products.”
The FDA is also called upon to impose new limits on sodium in both processed and restaurant food. The AMA is recommending a 50% reduction in allowable sodium, as well as a program to help educate the public about the health benefits of long-term sodium reduction.
Last year the consumer advocacy group, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), filed a lawsuit with similar demands. But the FDA has been dragging its feet, citing technological barriers and poor sales as the causes. For more information, check out the CSPI’s report, “Salt: The Forgotten Killer [pdf].”
Don't Try This at Home… or Anywhere Else
A new record was set this year in Nathan’s Famous July Fourth International Hot Dog Eating contest. A Japanese man named Takeru “Koby” Kobayashi managed to cram 53.75 hot dogs down his gullet in 12 minutes. That’s 4.5 dogs per minute! And, if you were wondering, yes, that includes the buns!
CalorieLab was kind enough to figure out the Nutrition Facts for this massive meal (short by a quarter dog, for reasons unknown):
16,532 calories and 2.3 pounds of fat. Mmmmm.
If that’s not enough to make your head spin (and stomach turn), consider this: Koby weighs in at a mere 144 pounds, and this was his sixth consecutive world championship. How does he do it? Moreover, why? There is no cash prize, just a huge trophy and gawdy belt. The official Nathan’s Famous website describes their contest participants “among the finest athletes in the world.†I don’t know about that, but it is a tremendous physical feat / freak show, and Koby is certainly getting more than his 15 minutes of fame.
Back in the 1960’s the world record was “only†18.5 hot dogs. In 1996, it was set at 24.5 dogs. This year’s winner ate more than double that amount. I really don’t understand how these competitive eaters are capable of this kind of [dare I say] evolution.
Kobayashi says he trains by eating cabbage and drinking a lot of water. Even with extensive preparation, wouldn’t the sheer weight of the contest food rupture any stomach? Remember, we’re taking about 12 pounds of meat in 12 minutes! How are their digestive systems able to handle that much food at once? How do they avoid gaining significant weight? Or do these competitors –you know– throw it all up afterward? Either way, it just seems so incredibly dangerous.
Now, you’ll have to excuse me. I’m late for my skydiving session. *Kidding*