| Is unpasteurized milk safe? Raw milk proponents say benefits are numerous By Tamara Scully Contributing Writer- Daily Record Special Publications If some New Jersey farmers and consumers have their way, milk mustaches will come in more than the pasteurized variety. A raw milk, or unpasteurized milk, movement is emerging here in New Jersey. Advocates say raw milk is healthier and tastier, but there’s a catch: It’s illegal to sell unpasteurized milk in New Jersey. The pasteurization process, regulated by the federal government, heats milk to a high temperature for a short period of time. The purpose is to decrease the amount of microorganisms in the milk, in an effort to minimize germs that might cause illness. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not support raw milk, citing potential health risks. “Clinical and epidemiological studies from FDA, state health agencies and others have established a direct causal link between gastrointestinal disease and the consumption of raw milk,” according to a 2003 FDA statement. “FDA determined that pasteurization was the only means to assure the destruction of pathogenic microorganisms that might be present.” But raw milk advocates say that pasteurization does more harm than good. The heat destroys helpful bacteria and beneficial enzymes, which aid in digestion and fight off harmful germs. Some of the bacteria found in milk can even strengthen our immune system, they say. Raw milk proponents frequently refer to commercial milk as "dead milk" because it no longer provides the living flora they believe is necessary to healthy bodily functioning. Angel Paredes, 42, of Warren County, is sold on the benefits of raw milk. He travels about 30 minutes to a dairy farm in Easton, Pa., to purchase raw milk and dairy products, such as cheese, sour cream and yogurt . (Raw milk can be legally sold on farms in New York and Pennsylvania.) Paredes, who began suffering from lactose intolerance in college, wasn’t able to consume milk until he tried raw milk. Now, he says, he can enjoy milk and dairy products without any problems. He’s not the only one crossing the state border to buy raw milk. “He’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Schoenfeld said. “I personally know over 225 people who obtain raw milk from Pennsylvania.” |
By Tamara Scully Contributing Writer Daily Record Special Publications If nutrition experts had their way, diets would focus on non-processed foods. They would include protein, carbohydrates, essential vitamins and minerals and some fats — and they’d promote an active lifestyle. In fact, they wouldn’t be “diets” at all, but rather a different way of approaching the food we eat. That day may have arrived. Diets such as the Evolution Diet, Paleolithic Diet and the Natural Foods Diet are starting to gain fans. By eating fresh foods and avoiding foods with high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils — which are used liberally in commercial food processing — proponents of these diets claim that Americans can loose weight and become healthier. While the specifics of these diets may differ, the basic philosophy behind them is the same: Humans were not designed to eat commercially processed foods. Given the rising popularity of organically grown and nutrient-dense foods, it seems people are ready for this “return-to-our- roots” approach to eating. |
| Finding the right diet for you Experts weigh in on how to keep the pounds off By Tamara Scully Contributing Writer Daily Record Special Publications More than 50 million Americans will go a diet this year, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. While many initially will lose weight, only 5 percent will keep it off. It’s an age-old question: What is the secret to successful weight loss? While many are leery of “miracle pills” and claims that “you can eat all you want and still lose weight," other diet programs don’t sound so unreasonable. In fact, many — Scarsdale, Atkins and Pritkin — were designed by or created in conjunction with medical doctors, lending credence to claims that these plans offer a healthy approach to weight loss. Given all of the dieting options, why are so many Americans still overweight? Are some diets healthier than others? What really makes a diet work? The real scoop on dieting One reason many diets don't work, says dieters and dieticians alike, is that healthy eating is as much psychological as it is physiological — and both must work together to keep the pounds off. Registered Dietician Dee Grasso has worked for a decade in the field of weight management. Grasso, a research associate in the department of Nutrition Sciences and Food Policy Institute at Rutgers University, believes the key to weight loss is common sense. " Always choose a diet that doesn't leave out any major food groups and one that you can follow long-term," Grasso said. In fact, the concern that nutrition experts have with many popular diets is that they eliminate or restrict certain food groups. With the Atkins and South Beach diets, for instance, the focus is on low-carbohydrate foods, while popular low-fat diets, such as the Ornish and Pritikin, take the opposite approach. Other diets, like the cabbage soup or grapefruit diets, emphasize the consumption of one type of food. In the long term, eliminating any food group is unhealthy because it alters the body’s physiological processes, health experts warn. "Diets like the Atkins concern me because you basically are cutting out four major food groups … which means you are missing out on all the nutrition and health benefits that those foods provide," said Haylee Boyle, a registered dietician with the Sussex County Office of Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agency. Pam Schoenfeld, a Randolph mother of three with a degree in nutrition and biochemistry, has had a life-long interest in nutrition. She advocates combining an active lifestyle with a well-balanced diet that focuses on unprocessed foods that are prepared simply. " Look not so much at what you are not eating,” she said, “but what you are eating.” Programs abound About 8 million Americans participate in a structured weight loss program each year. These programs might include or require: liquid diets; pre-packaged foods; counting calories, fats or carbohydrates; eating foods in certain combinations; or using pills and supplements. All of these programs attempt to bring some structure to the eating process, which is helpful for some. “Diets work for some people, for a certain amount of time, because it gives them structure,” Boyle said. “However, it can get tiresome avoiding foods you are used to eating … and people end up gaining the weight back." Schoenfeld said a successful diet is one that stops cravings. "That's when you will eliminate your weight problems," she said. Eat, exercise and enjoy Many experts said the key to losing weight, at least in the short term, is simple: reduce your calorie intake, or burn more calories than you consume. For that reason, any plan that cuts calories will work in the beginning, whether it promotes healthy eating or not. "There is not a secret to these diets,” Boyle said. “They all involve a significant reduction in calories.” Keeping the weight off, though, requires a permanent lifestyle change. A healthy lifestyle, Boyle said, entails exercise, proper nutrition and cutting out the "empty" calories found in sugary beverages and snack foods. It also entails eating only when you’re hungry, rather than when you’re bored, sad or depressed. " The end goal to any diet is that you want it to make you healthier," Boyle said. "Safe and effective weight loss should occur slowly, one or two pounds per week.” The right diet will make you look good, promote a positive mood and increase your daily energy level. "I have a 3-E Theory: Eat, exercise and enjoy,” Grasso said. “The most important part of that equation is ‘enjoy.’ If you aren't enjoying the food you are eating or the exercise you are choosing … chances are you won't stick to it." |
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