One Small Step for Transparency in Nutritional Labeling.

Great news! The House Committee on Agriculture has passed the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. The bill aimed at establishing federal uniform labeling standards for foods made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and also for GMO free foods is gaining momentum and gathering support. 

The House Committee of Agriculture is hearing accolades from Pamela G. Bailey, president and CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), Calling the committee's vote "further evidence of the growing support and momentum in Congress for this bill." And Claire Parker, spokeswoman for the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food (CFSAF), who states, "Today’s committee approval of this legislation is a strong sign of the support for national food labeling legislation that gives consumers the information they want in a truthful, consistent manner." 

This is great news for all of us, consumers and producers, as we move forward. transparency is a must when it comes to our nutrition, health and well being. Bravo House AG Committee. Bravo. One step in the right direction lets keep this ball rolling. 

Stay posted and stay informed. For more news on NonGMOs and why they are so important check out the NonGMO Project. 

Its time to RECONSIDER - Some Old Health Trends - Debunked

This article by By Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD Posted at The Cleveland Clinic caught our eye. Times are changing and with it, health trends. Check out the new science behind some old thinking:

Eggs

Old thinking: Eggs will raise cholesterol and your chances of developing heart disease.

New thinking: Eggs are loaded with antioxidants, protein and nutrients vital to good health. For example, a 2011 study found that regular egg consumption helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancerdue to their high antioxidant content. Additional studies have found that eggs may help reduce blood pressure. Further, new research out of Yale University has found that eggs can be incorporated into a heart healthy diet without negative effects on cholesterol, weight or endothelial function. As with all good things, though, just be sure to eat eggs, and particularly egg yolks, in moderation.

Nuts

Old thinking: Nuts are too fattening.

New thinking: In truth, any food consumed in too great a quantity will cause weight gain. However, when eaten in appropriate portions — always check the serving size as a guideline — the protein and healthy fats found in nuts may actually help you lose weight. In addition to weight loss, eating nuts has been associated in several studies with reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Walnuts, which contain heart-healthy omega-3 fats, are a particularly good option.

Chocolate

Old thinking: It’s a sweet treat, so it must be bad.

New thinking: The old thinking does apply to chocolate treats with a lot of added sugar. However, dark chocolate — look for cocoa content of at least 70 percent — is loaded with flavonoids, the same beneficial compounds found in berries, red wine and tea. An ounce of chocolate a day has been shown to reduce risks for heart disease, and an ounce and a half may help reduce stress.

Potatoes

Old thinking: All potatoes are too fattening.

New thinking: Certain potatoes may play a role in reducing the risk of a silent killer — but the type of potato matters. A 2012 study found that purple potatoes helped lower blood pressure in hypertensive, obese individuals without causing weight gain. Additionally, potatoes are naturally high in fiber and contain virtually no fat. Sweet potatoes and purple potatoes are tops when it comes to nutrient density, but what you put on your potato (or don’t put on it) will make or break an attempt at a healthy meal. Forgo the sour cream, bacon bits, butter and cheese. Opt for fresh veggies and herbs instead.

Soy

Old thinking: Eating soy increases your risk of disease.

New thinking: Soy is certainly controversial, but as with some of the foods mentioned above, the type of soy you eat matters. Many concerns are associated with highly processed soy products, but numerous studies looking at isoflavones and protein in whole soy sources — think miso, tofu and edamame — demonstrate the benefits associated with this legume. Highlights include reduction in cancers of the breast(for women on certain types of therapy), prostate and colon and improvement in heart health.

Daily Protein Consumption Can Lower Your Risk of Stroke.

An interesting article posted by The Telegraph reported on a new study that found that eating just one chicken breast a day could lower your risk of stroke by 20%. 

So is it the chicken that does the trick? No, its the protein - or more specifically 20g of protein a day that lowers your risk of stroke. And you know our Serious Oats Team is a hugh fan of protein and it's health benefits, so we had to repost. Check out the article below. 

Eating a high protein diet significantly lowers the risk of stroke and could prevent 10,000 deaths in Britain every year, a study has suggested.
Consuming as little as one chicken breast, or a salmon fillet – the equivalent of 20g – reduces the risk of stroke by 20 per cent. And for every additional 20 grams per day of protein that people ate, their risk of stroke decreased a further 26 per cent.
"If everyone's protein intake were at this level, that would translate to more than 1.4 million fewer deaths from stroke each year worldwide, plus a decreased level of disability from stroke, “ said study author Dr Xinfeng Liu, of Nanjing University School of Medicine in Nanjing, China.
"The amount of protein that led to the reduced risk was moderate — equal to 20 grams per day.”
Researchers followed 254,489 people for an average of 14 years and monitored their diets and health.
Dr Liu said that people should avoid red meat, which has been associated with increased stroke risk.
Two of the studies were conducted in Japan, where people eat less red meat than westerners do and more fish, which has been associated with decreased risk of stroke.
"These results indicate that stroke risk may be reduced by replacing red meat with other protein sources, such as fish," Liu said.
Protein has the effect of lowering blood pressure, which may play a role in reducing stroke risk.
The reduced risk of stroke was stronger for animal protein than vegetable protein.
The research was published in the journal Neurology.

What Makes Breakfast the Most Important Meal of the Day?

The benefits of eating a nutritional breakfast are numerous. 

In fact eating a healthy breakfast jump starts your metabolism

and helps you shed pounds. 

Use this guide as a helpful reminder, next time you think about skipping breakfast. 

Oatmeal Promotes a Better Feeling of Fullness

According to a recent article posted by the Huffington Post, oatmeal may be your key to feeling satiated through out the day. Feeling fuller longer keeps you from making poor nutrition and eating decisions and keeps you on track for a healthy lifestyle.

When compared to ready to eat cereals, eating oatmeal for breakfast provided a greater feeling of fullness and a decreased desire to eat again for up to four hours later.

We all know the key to losing weight and maintain good nutrition is a delicate dance between quantity and quality. It is not only important to monitor your portion sizes and frequency of your snacking but also the quality of what it is that you are eating. You should be sure you are getting the most nutritional bang for your buck. And sometimes the foods we eat can work in our favor to help us on our path to good health and nutrition. As we see in the study published by The Journal of the American College of Nutrition, when compared to ready to eat cereals, oatmeal provides a fuller more satisfied sensation, thus negating your need to snack more or go back to the kitchen for your next meal sooner.

"The increase in satiety may be attributed to the viscosity of oatmeal," researchers wrote in the study. "Increased viscosity was due to the hydration properties, higher molecular weight, and concentration of the beta-glucan in oatmeal compared to the [ready-to-eat cereal]."

So eat up that Oatmeal folks!

Eating a Protein Rich Breakfast Helps Curb Your Appetite

According to a recent article released by Daily Science, eating a protein rich breakfast helps curb your appetite through out the morning and helps you make smarter eating decisions throughout the day.

“While Americans generally consume enough protein, they tend to eat a small amount at breakfast, moderate amounts at lunch, and the largest amount at dinner. New research presented today at The Obesity Society's annual scientific meeting in Atlanta shows that eating high protein sausage and egg-based breakfasts curbed hunger throughout the morning, compared with a low-protein breakfast (pancakes and syrup) or skipping breakfast, in 18-55-year-old women.

"Eating a breakfast rich in protein significantly improves appetite control and may help women to avoid overeating later in the day," said Kevin C. Maki, principal investigator of the study and a research scientist with Biofortis Clinical Research, a Mérieux NutriSciences company.

All of the breakfast meals contained approximately 300 calories and similar quantities of fat and fiber. The protein-rich breakfast bowls contained 30 to 39 grams of protein. Participants completed questionnaires to rate aspects of appetite -- such as hunger, fullness, and desire to eat -- before breakfast and at 30 minute intervals between breakfast and lunch. A standard lunch meal of tortellini and sauce was served and subjects were asked to eat until comfortably full. Study participants had improved appetite ratings (lower hunger, more fullness, less desire to eat) throughout the morning after eating each protein-rich breakfast, and also ate fewer calories at lunch, compared with the low-protein breakfast and breakfast skipping (water only).

"In the USA, many people choose to skip breakfast or choose low protein foods because of lack of high protein convenient choices. These results demonstrate that commercially prepared convenient protein-rich meals can help women feel full until lunch time and potentially avoid overeating and improve diet quality," said Heather Leidy, an assistant professor specializing in appetite regulation at the University of Missouri and a co-author on the study.”

This article solidifies Dr. Scharper’s mission to provide a convenient and affordable high protein breakfast option to you. The lack of options in the mornings coupled with the ever growing list of responsibilities we have at the start of our day make it difficult to prioritize eating right over eating quick. But, Dr. Scharper’s Serious Oats boast 20g of protein in each individual cup and provides the perfect foundation to start your day off with good nutrition. 

Changing Perceptions of Hunger

A recant study performed by Joel Fuhrman, Babara Sarter, Dale Glaser and Steve Acocella, caught my eye in the Nutrition Journal. The study was entitled, Changing perceptions of hunger on a high nutrient density diet.

The study observed 768 participants; primarily from the United States, as they changed their dietary habits from a low micronutrient diet to a high micronutrient diet.

They reported highly significant changes in both physical and emotional symptoms of hunger. Those who practiced the high micronutrient diet reported that hunger was more tolerated and occurred less frequently, even when meals were skipped.

After the completion of this study they were able to conclude that a high micronutrient dense diet mitigates the unpleasant aspects of the experience of hunger even though it is lower in calories. This study suggests that it is not simple caloric content, but more importantly the micronutrient density of a diet that influences the experience of hunger. A high micronutrient diet can result in more sustainable eating habits that will lead to weight loss and improved health.

I have always been a firm believer that your body tells you what it needs. And this study suggests that by consuming a diet high in micronutrients that your body’s nutritional requirements will be met more efficiently therefore reducing the snack cravings even when you are not hungry. So what is the take-away here? If you improve the QUALITY of your food, your body will desire less QUANTITY. 

To view the entire study click here. 

Why Diet Soda is Not the Answer

After reviewing many studies on artificial sweeteners, Susie Swithers, a professor of psychological

sciences and a behavioral neuroscientist, suggests that diet soda does not help you lose weight. In fact according to recent studies, diet sodas might be just as bad for you as the non-diet kind. Boom. Do you hear that? It is the sound of millions of heart breaking across America.

Artificial sweeteners are no strangers to the scrutiny of the public eye, it has been suggested that they cause a wide array of health issues. But despite this information the sales of these no-cal beverages still skyrocket in the ever-lasting fight against obesity. But a Purdue University Study has discovered that diet sodas may actually be linked to a number of health problems ranging from obesity to diabetes – just like the sugary ‘full sugar’ version.

Some of the studies reviewed suggest that when people consume diet sodas, they engage in what is known as ‘cognitive distortion’ and decide that since they have saved on liquid calories they can splurge somewhere else. ‘Ill have a diet soda and some fries.’

Interestingly, there are studies in animals that suggest something else could be going on too that is sabotaging the weight loss capacity of your ‘diet soda’. According to an article on Swithers’ findings in USA Today,  

Studies in animals note a link between consuming artificial sweeteners and overeating that leads to weight gain. Somehow artificial sweeteners throw off the body's ability to know how many calories it needs. 

"We think there's a much more basic fundamental learning process that's getting interrupted," Swithers said. 

Normally when someone consumes something sweet, the body expects calories and sugar to follow. But when a person drinks diet soda the payoff never arrives. 

You get this kind of confusion and that can lead to overeating, and at least in the animal model that can lead to an increase in blood sugar spikes," Swithers said.