EN Comments

Research Roundup

Meat Safety: A Huge Step in the Wrong Direction

A December 2001 ruling by a federal Court of Appeals now limits the U.S. Department of Agricultures ability to close down a meat processing plant solely because the plant failed to meet limits on Salmonella contamination. The court ruled in favor of Supreme Beef Processors, Inc., a company that had failed three tests over several years, claiming the presence of Salmonella is not a measure of a plants sanitary condition. The USDA asserts, however, that Salmonella serve as a signal that there may be a general microbial contamination problem. In fact, Salmonella was chosen as a target microbe precisely because taking steps to reduce its presence is likely to reduce contamination from other bacteria. Case in point: During the three-year period that Supreme Beef was failing the Salmonella tests, a sample tested positive for deadly E. coli O157:H7, requiring about 180,000 pounds of ground beef to be recalled by Supreme. The court maintained that Salmonella is not a problem in meat because consumers can protect themselves by cooking it well. Although true, EN believes the government also has the responsibility to monitor food purveyors to ensure they do their part for a safe food supply. ENs Bottom Line. Consumers must continue to be diligent when it comes to handling and cooking meatground beef in particular. Wash hands and all surfaces after handling raw meat to avoid cross-contamination. Cook ground beef well; be sure the middle of hamburgers reaches 160o F. Seniors, young children and those with suppressed immune systems may want to stop eating hamburgers altogether. But, EN urges readers to write their congressional representatives in support of legislation that would strengthen USDAs authority to set and enforce standards to control Salmonella and other harmful microbes in our food supply.

More Cancer Links

Selenium might help protect against prostate cancer, suggests findings of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. The researchers studied 52 men diagnosed with prostate cancer and 96 men with no detectable cancer. Men with the lowest blood selenium levels were four to five times more likely to have prostate cancer as men with the highest selenium levels. Blood selenium seemed to decrease significantly with age, suggesting that getting more selenium may be particularly important for older men. Good food sources include Brazil nuts, seafood and whole grains.
The Journal of Urology, December 2001.

EN on Herbs

Ashwagandha: Indian Ginseng to Counter Stress

Also known as winter cherry and Indian ginseng, ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a highly prized herb in Ayurvedic medicine, dating back more than 3,000 years. Its Sanskrit name means like a horse, an apt description of its pungent aroma. What It Might Do: Ashwagandha is referred to as an adaptogen or tonic, an herb that enhances resistance to stress, increases stamina and promotes general well-beingsimilar to ginseng, but with additional calming effects. Ashwagandha has been shown to inhibit inflammation, stimulate immune cells, improve memory and protect the heart. A review of the literature in the December 2000 issue of Alternative Medicine Review also suggests antitumor, antistress, antioxidant and rejuvenative properties, along with nervous system and hormonal effects. However, almost all the research has been in animals. Studies in humans are conspicuously scanty; one of the few found significant pain reduction and improved functioning in 42 people with osteoarthritis after three months of use.
8 ENVIRONMENTAL NUTRITION February 2002

How it Might Work: Ashwagandha contains over 35 identified constituents, which may help explain the plants myriad medicinal actions. In addition to alkaloids and saponins, steroidal compounds called withanolides that resemble the active constituents in ginseng may normalize hormone levels. If You Take: Recommended dosages vary. Some say to take capsules of powdered root (two to three grams, three times a day); check package directions on extracts. For standardized products, look for 1.5% withanolides and 1% total alkaloids. Caution: Do not take if you are pregnant or nursing, have ulcers or gastritis or take sedatives or benzodiazepines. Large doses of the herb may cause narcotic-like effects and stomach upset. EN Weighs In: For countering the effects of stress, ashwagandha may be cheaper and more responsible than environmentally threatened ginseng, though its effectiveness and safety have yet to be clinically proved.

Calcium may protect women from brain cancer, suggests findings from The San Francisco Bay Area Adult Glioma Study. The study compared dietary intakes (but not supplement use) of 337 adults with a type of brain cancer called astrocytic glioma with 450 people without brain cancer. Women with the highest dietary calcium intake (1,000 milligrams or more) had half the risk of brain cancer as women with the lowest calcium intake (less than half that). Men did not show the same protection, perhaps because hormonal differences in women trigger enhanced absorption of calcium.
Nutrition and Cancer, November 15, 2001.

Middle-aged men who participate in moderately vigorous to vigorous activity may reduce their overall cancer risk, according to a British study. Researchers followed 7,588 men in their 40s and 50s for 19 years. The risk of cancer was significantly less in men who engaged in more intense exercise more frequently; no benefits were seen at lesser levels. Specifically, the most reduced risk was seen for cancers of the prostate, upper digestive tract and stomach.
British Journal of Cancer, November 2001.

In Coming Issues
The latest on mad cow disease. New diet links to memory and brain health.How to fit more fiber in your day.The tastiest low-fat cheeses. Evaluating Juice Plus claims.
www.environmentalnutrition.com