Nutrition News

January 2003

In this issue:

• NutritionWorks Open House was a great success!
• The Verdict on Metabolife
• Selenium may activate cancer suppressor gene
• Book of the month: Calciyum! Delicious Calcium-Rich Dairy-Free Vegetarian Recipes
• Recipes of the Month: Broccoli with Basil
• Favorite Product of the Month – Lundberg Wild Rice Blend
• NutritionWorks upcoming events and happenings

Hello and Happy New Year!
We hope that 2003 is off to a good start for each of you!

We have some travel plans for the beginning part of the year – Sandi is off to Israel on January 22nd for 10 days for her nephew’s barmitzvah. Kathleen is off to Spain for a well-deserved vacation on February 6th. That’s just one of the reasons that we love our partnership – it allows us to indulge our passion for travel while still making sure that NutritionWorks is able to be there for our clients without disruption!

We have some great classes coming up in February – we hope to see you there. We are also teaching a very informative class called “Carbohydrate Confusion” at three PCC stores in March. You can register for one of those by calling (206) 545 7112. Or you can visit their website at www.pccnaturalmarkets.com and click on the Foodworks section on the left hand side of the home page to see their full schedule of classes.

Have a great month!
Kathleen and Sandi

NutritionWorks Open House – a great success!
Thank you to all of you who attended our recent Open House. It was a really fun event and we felt so supported and encouraged by the many people who stopped by to see the new offices.
For those of you who could not make it to the Open House, feel free to visit at another time. We look forward to showing you around!

The verdict on Metabolife
At NutritionWorks, we believe there is no magic pill to deal with weight loss. We believe in long-term lifestyle change. We often get asked questions about the “weight loss pills” available and this article highlights the dangers of one of those many pills.

A jury has awarded just over 4 million dollars to four individuals who alleged that Metabolife 356 had caused three of them to suffer strokes and other health problems and one to have a heart attack. The plaintiffs alleged that the product was unreasonably dangerous and that the company had negligently and intentionally misrepresenting material facts. The jury concluded that each plaintiff was negligent in using the product but ruled that Metabolife International, Inc., was liable for various amounts of compensatory and punitive damage. [Ephedra diet drug caused heart attacks, strokes. VerdictSearch, Nov 19, 2002] http://verdictsearch.com/news/docs/1204nws-attack.jsp.

This is the first of many lawsuits filed against different makers of ephedra-containing products to go to trial. Several dozen have been settled out-of-court. [Gugliotta GR. Woman wins $13.3 million against dietary company. Washington Post, Feb 8, 2001] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40923-2001Feb7.html
Ephedra poses danger because it can raise blood pressure.

Source: www.ftc.gov

Selenium may activate cancer suppressor gene
The mineral selenium has been shown to lower the risk of certain cancers, but until now, its exact mechanism of action has been unclear.

In a new study, researchers reveal that selenomethionine, a component of selenium, activates a tumor-suppressing gene, p53. This gene prevents tumors from developing by causing abnormal cells to "commit suicide," or preventing them from replicating. The p53 gene is mutated or inactive in many types of cancer.

The results underscore the importance of good nutrition for cancer prevention. While selenium is found in foods such as nuts, vegetables and enriched grains, most people probably fall short of the recommendation to consume about 50 micrograms (mcg) daily.

Selenium content in food is dependent on the selenium content of the soil in which the food is grown. The selenium content varies widely in different geographical areas, and can vary based on farming practices as well.

So how do you get enough selenium?
Eat plenty of nuts and seeds (especially brazil nuts and sunflower seeds), vegetables and whole grains (most of the selenium in the grain is lost during the refining process). Snapper and halibut are also good sources of selenium. A multivitamin is also a good idea as an insurance policy. At NutritionWorks, we can help you to assess a level of supplementation that is appropriate for your needs. According to the study, the recommendation for selenium for cancer prevention is about 200 mcg daily.

Antioxidants such as selenium neutralize free radicals in the body. Free radicals are the natural byproducts of normal body processes, but can damage cells and lead to disease.

Adapted from Reuters Health (Sept 2002)

Book of the Month
Calciyum! Delicious Calcium-Rich Dairy-Free Vegetarian Recipes by David Bronfman

This book is a wonderful resource for people who are lactose intolerant, people avoiding dairy for whatever reason, as well as people who are concerned about their calcium intake (a valid concern for most of us!)

The recipes are delicious and the instructions are easy to follow. The book has a resource table that lists the amount of calcium in each of the ingredients, as well as in the whole recipe. This way, you can even boost the calcium in the recipes by experimenting with the amounts of various ingredients. With a nutritional analysis for every recipe, an ingredient cooking guide, and tasty recipes, we wholeheartedly recommend this book. You can order this book through NutritionWorks Online Bookstore.

Recipe of the Month – Broccoli with Basil
This side dish is the perfect way to add vegetables to any meal. Even the family members who aren’t crazy about broccoli will like this one!

1 3/4 pounds broccoli, cut into florets, with stems peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick (you can use frozen broccoli too)
1 1/2 cups firmly packed fresh basil
1 clove garlic
1 tablespoon pine nuts or chopped walnuts
1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
2 teaspoons lemon juice.

In a large saucepan, bring an inch of unsalted water to a boil; add the broccoli and cook uncovered, for 4 minutes or until just tender. Drain well and transfer to a medium size bowl.

In an electric blender or food processor, whirl the basil, garlic, pine nuts, cheese and broth for 20 seconds. Stir in the lemon juice, pour over the broccoli, and toss. Makes 4 servings.

Nutritional analysis per serving: 62 calories; 2 g total fat; 0 g saturated fat;
10 g carbohydrate; 5 g protein; 53 mg sodium.

Source: Reader's Digest Great Recipes For Good Health.

Product of the Month – Lundberg’s Wild Rice Blend
Our product for this month is Lundberg’s Wild Rice Blend. You can buy this product pre-packaged or in bulk at many grocery stores (look for it in the natural foods section).
The Wild Rice Blend is a perfect way to introduce whole grains to a family that prefers white rice! It contains brown rice, a variety of wild rices, as well as basmati rice. It has a nutty, delicious flavor!

You use 2 cups of water for each 1 cup of rice – just as you would with white rice. It takes a little longer than white rice to cook – so we make a big pot of it on the weekend and use it for lunches and/or dinners during the week.
The rice is organically grown and is much higher in fiber, vitamins and minerals than refined white rice.

Give it a try and let us know what you think!

NutritionWorks Happenings
Here are some of our happenings for the rest of January and February 2003. See the complete list by clicking on Upcoming Events.

• January 28 from 6-8. Evergreen sponsored talk on Eating Disorders. This class is an informational discussion on eating disorders. To register please call (425) 899-2660.
• February 19 from 6-7:30pm. Know your numbers – Managing Cholesterol with Nutrition, Swedish Hospital in Ballard Cafeteria Conference Room. To register, please call (206) 386 2502
• February 27th from 6:30-8:30pm. Mediterranean Lifestyle Class, Swedish Hospital in Ballard. To register, please call (206) 386 2502

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