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Even just a little dairy is good for you: researchers

Taiwanese who eat no dairy have higher blood pressure than those who do


A little dairy food daily, even for those who haven’t traditionally consumed it, may reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke, say researchers at Australia’s Monash University. A study of nearly 4,000 Taiwanese was led by Professor Mark Wahlqvist. “In a dominantly Chinese food culture, unaccustomed to dairy foods, consuming them up to seven

Acupuncture needles are placed on specific points along the coronary band for the treatment or prevention of disease.  Photo: Carol Shwetz

More horse owners seeking alternative therapies

Veterinary and alternative therapies can be part of an integrated treatment plan

Seeking solutions to help horses heal and feel better outside of traditional and conventional veterinary medicine is becoming increasingly commonplace. Horse owners are not necessarily rejecting conventional medicine, rather they simply feel that alternative modalities offer complementary approaches. For example in addition to using anti-inflammatory drugs to ease muscle pain, they may also use chiropractic,


Beef producers: reading this will lower your blood pressure

Beef producers: reading this will lower your blood pressure

As long as you’re not producing well-marbled carcasses

Penn State University researchers say that contrary to conventional wisdom, a growing body of evidence shows that eating lean beef can reduce risk factors for heart disease. “This research adds to the significant evidence, including work previously done in our lab, that supports lean beef’s role in a heart-healthy diet,” Penny M. Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor

Woman standing at a bakery counter

The popularity of eating gluten free continues to drive product development

For some it’s a fad, for others it’s a medical necessity, but for farmers a growing interest in gluten free may be an opportunity to explore new crops

Inside the cosy St. Boniface storefront that houses Cocoabeans Bakeshop you’ll find breads, pastries, buns, sandwiches, cookies and cakes alongside steaming coffee and tiny tables, much like any bakery across the province. But there is one thing that isn’t on the menu — gluten. Owner Betsy Hiebert, along with her three children, are living with


Two women

New eating plan is a Mediterranean Diet for the Prairies, say developers

The Pure Prairie Eating Plan, developed at the University of Alberta is built around the traditions, foods and geographies of the Prairies

Researchers Initially, it was named ‘the Alberta Diet,’ and focused on those with Type 2 diabetes, says co-creator Catherine Chan, a professor of human nutrition at the University of Alberta. But as she and colleague Rhonda Bell worked on it, the vision became bigger, she says. A colleague suggested they call it the Mediterranean Diet

Take your taste buds on a trip around the world

Try more international foods this year – all from the comfort of your own home

Many of us eat more international foods than we imagine. Although we might think we are enjoying North American food, the recipes we prepare at home and the ones we choose in restaurants often are melting pots of world cuisine. What ethnic foods do you enjoy? My family particularly enjoys food of Asian, European and


Fruit flies fed organic diets are healthier

Fruit flies raised on diets based on organic foods performed better on a variety of health tests, including fertility and longevity

Researchers aren’t sure why, but fruit flies fed organic fruits and vegetables in a laboratory study lived longer and produced more offspring than flies fed a non-organic diet. The study from the lab of SMU biologist Johannes H. Bauer, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, found that fruit flies raised on diets of organic foods performed better

What’s a pet to some is dinner for others

What’s food and what’s taboo depends on a lot of things, including how human societies
developed, what made sense in different regions, and how humans ordered their world

What’s food and what’s taboo depends on a lot of things, including how human societies developed, what made sense in different regions, and how humans ordered their world Don McMahon gets a mixed reaction when he tells people what was served at his wedding reception in Uzbekistan last year. “Some people are kind of disgusted


A sausage a day is too many, says Swiss study

A study by the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine at the University of Zurich says that more than 40 grams (1.4 ounces) of processed meat is hazardous to your health. “We estimate that three per cent of all premature deaths can be attributed to the high consumption of processed meat,” says Sabine Rohrmann in

Cut the booze before the beef: Health study

At the end of December 2012, an important health study was released and created a fair bit of buzz in nutrition circles. The study, “The Global Burden of Disease Study (2010),” published in the medical journal Lancet, was an examination of a variety of factors with the goal of estimating each one’s relative contribution to