What's ten times zero again?

In what may be a case of bad reporting, the IFT Weekly Newsletter mentions a new study that shows "it may be possible to create cookies enriched with antioxidants from grape seeds that taste good and have an antioxidant level about 10 times higher than a regular cookie."
Ten times, hmmm? Well that's interesting...

[IFT Newsletter]

Raisins may have some antioxidants - are we considering oatmeal raisin cookies "regular" because to me those are always the ones left over, or the ones we eat when we're pretending cookies are healthy. I suppose chocolate chip cookies made with dark chocolate may show some antioxidant activity due to the cocoa polyphenols in the cacao, but again, when was the last time "dark-chocolate chip" cookies were considered "regular"?

This new study, published in the Journal of Food Science, does not mention this "regular cookie" comparison, but the abstract seems to be the work of competent scientists. [article abstract]. Essentially, they fed volunteers a "control cookie" and other cookies with polyphenol antioxidants mixed in through various means. Encapsulation makes sense because certain nutrients break down too quickly during digestion to do their intended job. However, I wish the abstract would provide more details about this control cookie. Shall we assume it's a sugar cookie?

This assumption is tricky because, according to the abstract, "Consumers rated the control cookie and 1 GSE encapsulated cookie at parity; they were equally well liked (P > 0.05)." While the P>0.05 notation shows that the scientists did statistics on their findings, it does not elucidate how much the consumers liked the cookies. "Well-liked" does not mean that they'd eat it willingly, only that they wouldn't spit it out if it was up for grabs on a tray in the company break room.

Finally, the abstract concludes with a statement of false confidence and undue optimism: "When provided with information, nearly 60% of consumers stated that they were willing to purchase cookies enriched with antioxidants. This high positive percentage may increase if consumers received more education on the health benefits of antioxidant consumption."

Are these the same consumers that are willing to purchase vegan cookies under the assumption that they are healthier than non-vegan cookies? Are these the same consumers that buy Cherry 7-up over regular 7-up because (real) cherries have antioxidants?

Moral of the story - science is not as black and white as one might assume, and the details matter a great deal.

-Your Green-Eyed Guide ;D

The Art of the Compliment Sandwich

No one likes to hear that they have messed up or that they are incompetent in some way, but no one is perfect, and mistakes are inevitable. How then do you inform someone that they are missing the mark? Offense makes people play defense so if you come straight out with the sentiment of disappointment, the person is likely to shut out your message and work on their rebuttal. Alas, the compliment sandwich to the rescue!

The bread –
This is a strategy I like to call "Charm and Disarm". Start with a statement that acknowledges the person's good deeds or good efforts. With this strategy, the person is more inclined to listen to you. Furthermore, if you are genuinely able to emphasize with someone, your feedback might actually be more constructive because you will have a better understanding of their intentions. First seek to understand.

The meat –
This is where you deliver the bad news. Whether the person is acting lazy, incompetent, inconsiderate or perhaps just naïve, they deserve to know they are not meeting your expectations, and you deserve the chance to communicate that shortcoming. Communication is the key, and communication breakdowns perpetuate numerous problems that otherwise wouldn't be big enough to be considered a problem. 

How many times have you tried to tell someone something important, something you wanted them to know or wanted them to fix, and you felt they were just waiting for their turn to speak? How ironic that in this age of advanced technology and rapid communication, we as a population still struggle to talk to one another.

In conclusion, I am not suggesting you sugar-coat every negative comment or lower your standards for issues that are important to you. I am suggesting that the Compliment Sandwich can foster teamwork, understanding, clarity and actual progress.

Common example #1 – to the parent, grandparent, or roommate that buys you that token hideous holiday sweater:

"Wow, isn't this (original, unique, colorful, vibrant, festive…). Did you pick this out just for me? You know, I'm not sure this is really my style but I appreciate the thought and it was so sweet of you to go through that trouble to find this just for me."

 Common example #2 – to the coworker who can't cook but still tries to make everyone happy by bringing in baked goods or other treats:

"Wow, did you make these yourself? That must've taken you some time and energy, thank you.
(Meat A – the nice or cowardly way out) I'm trying to (watch my weight, limit my carbohydrates/fats/sweets/salt intake etc); or
(Meat B – the more direct approach). Those baked goods are a little (salty, hard, sour, undercooked etc) for my taste.
I think I'm going to have to pass. Thank you though, for your efforts.

Common Example #3 – to the employee who is not getting the task done as you asked them to:

Compliment their outfit or hairdo, or find something (anything) that they do that is good (if you can't find one single thing, why are they still your employee?). You might say you appreciate the work they did or the energy they put into the project, then point out that you were hoping they would do A, B and C instead of X, Y and Z. Point out that, if you were them, you wouldn't have thought to approach task A like that, you'd have approached it by (explain here what you wanted them to do in the first place so they learn something). For your closing statement, you can express to them that you are glad you had a chance to clear this up because people work better when everyone is on the same page.

If you can get over your frustration with the person and communicate your needs more effectively, you'll find truth in the infamous lyrics, "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need."

Yours Truly,
Green Eyed Guide

Because 1st Base is SO Important

I'm sharing this because I feel it's important to cast insecurity aside and seek advice when you need it. I'm not the only girl that would think twice about dating a bad kisser--that's the unfortunate truth. The good news is learning how to kiss well is easier than overcoming an addiction to W.O.W. or an obsession with the Dodgers.
http://www.how-to-kiss.org/how-to-french-kiss/ 

If a picture is worth a thousand words then a kiss is worth at least half that. A kiss can say so much, whether it's "I'll miss you but this is goodbye" to "I'm so lucky you're in my life" to "You are the hottest person in the room." What you DON'T want a kiss to say is "I'm not entirely sober" or "You make my mouth water." Whether a kiss says "I really, really like you" or "I'm not entirely sure I like you that much" is really up to you and your situation.

The important thing to note (ahem, aside from all the wonderful advice on the How To site above) is that you don't have to be a natural. I believe that anyone can become a good kisser and that, like with everything else, it takes practice, patience, humility, a good sense of humor and open communication to go from mediocre to great. 

Don't get picked off 1st base. You boys may disagree, and even some of you girls, but in my world, 1st base is the best. 
;D - Your Green-Eyed Guide

Shocking News: Cherry 7-up NOT made with real cherries!

Early November, Dr. Pepper was sued over antioxidant claims in its 7-up Cherry product. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the advertising for this product is misleading. As reported by Reuters, "The named plaintiff is David Green, a resident of Sherman Oaks, California, who said he would not have bought the soft drinks had he known their antioxidants did not come from fruit." Reuters Article
Dr. Pepper responded and defended the product by pointing out the obvious - "This is another attempt by the food police at CSPI to mislead consumers about soft drinks.  7UP Cherry is a cherry flavored soda that does not contain juice ... and it says so right on the label.  7UP Cherry is properly labeled under all FDA regulations so that consumers can make an informed choice.   When CSPI first contacted us in June, we told them that in 2011 we decided to re-label and reformulate 7UP Cherry.  The new 7UP Cherry will not contain antioxidants to be consistent with the formulation and appearance of other 7UP products. We also told CSPI that the new 7UP Cherry will be on store shelves in February 2013.  However, they refused to hear the truth and instead ran to the overburdened courthouses with their latest publicity-seeking lawsuit." Dr Pepper Snapple Group Responds

As a food scientist with extensive education in nutrition, I am saddened by how prolific these types of lawsuits are becoming. I am not exaggerating when I say that these False Advertising/Labeling suits are being filed on almost a daily basis. I take for granted how easy it is for me to read a food label and the ingredients list, but I always assumed that other people knew how to do the same.
Do we take the cynical approach and assume that these plaintiffs are just out for money? Or do we take the elitist approach and assume these people are so easily fooled and truly don't know any better? Are we as a society truly becoming too illiterate and lazy to read a food label?

I can''t believe we are honestly this easily misled. Jolly Ranchers are not made with real fruit, and neither are Froot Loops. Skittles are not made with real rainbows. If you want real fruit, try real fruit.

TIPS: Please, please, PLEASE take 30 seconds to glance at the first 5 ingredients on the INGREDIENTS LIST. Take another 5 seconds to glance over the Nutrition Facts for the ##% Juice claim.

What NOT to do on a First Date

Dating Don'ts and Disasters
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Finally home after what seems like the worst date I've ever been on, I feel compelled to share what I consider the faux pas of dating. I'd assumed this was common knowledge, but after tonight I know it's safe to assume nothing when it comes to dating.

1.     Do not show up in a wife-beater T-shirt and jeans, or any other outfit that looks overly casual. Your date doesn't expect you to wear a coat and tie or a ball-gown, but the first time you see your date in person, it helps for that first impression if you are well-dressed.
Automatic strikeouts – blue jeans and a blue T-shirt (don't you like any other color?), socks with sandals, those "barefoot" shoes with toes, excessive cleavage (meaning acres of chest and yards of legs – pick ONE to show off and save the rest for later)

2.     Do not call your date "dude" or use the word "like" twice in every other sentence. Your date doesn't expect you to speak like a college professor, and to flaunt a massive vocabulary on the first date can be intimidating and off-putting. Still, excessive use of "dude" and "like" gets old real fast, even in Southern California.

3.     If your date is a big sports fan, and you go somewhere together to watch the game, watch the game with them. When you try to interview them during the game, you will get incomplete answers and building resentment. Talking is what the commercials are for. No one is suggesting you have to sit in complete silence while the game is going on, but if your date is a huge sports fan and he/she is watching a playoff game, it is NOT a good time to ask them about their career goals and their family life. Choose your moments, or you'll strike out looking.

Green-Eyed Guide presents Food Science Note-worthy News: BPA

Another research study that can be spun both ways about the safety of BPA

Obese children and teenagers were found to have elevated BPA levels in their blood, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association [Association Between Urinary Bisphenol A Concentration and Obesity Prevalence in Children and Adolescents]. 

Those against BPA will say that this study suggests BPA is to blame for the obesity. BPA has zero calories, soda has too many "empty" calories, but well-founded arguments can and have been made that the mere presence of BPA in the system affects metabolism and consequently leads to obesity.

Those against BPA bans will say this study does not show that BPA caused the obesity. In fact, the researchers from NYU School of Medicine acknowledged that their study design doesn't allow them to definitively conclude BPA caused obesity. The study's main author said it's possible obese children have higher amounts of BPA in their blood because the chemical is stored, then later released from fat.

Conclusion – the science world still does not know enough about BPA to definitively conclude one way or the other about the safety of BPA. There are well-qualified experts on both sides, and both arguments can be backed by several well-done studies. 

I believe that if you are truly worried about something, you can find ways to live without it ("When in doubt, leave it out"). Personally, I feel that avoiding BPA for fear of the potential harm is not much different than slamming on the brakes for every single yellow light you ever come to for fear of running the red and getting hurt. There is not a clear or easy answer when it comes to usage of BPA. This study provides more information, but not any answers.

Link: Article Summary by IFT.org

Green-Eyed Guide presents Food Science Note-worthy News: Cinnamon and Type 2 Diabetes

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Daily doses of 3 grams of cinnamon helps type 2 diabetics
Adding 3 grams of cinnamon to their daily diet helped patients with type 2 diabetes improve their fasting blood glucose, triglyceride levels and BMI, according to research in the Journal of Preventive Medicine [Effects of Cinnamon Consumption on Glycemic Status, Lipid Profile and Body Composition in Type 2 Diabetic Patients].

This is not the first study to link health benefits with consuming cinnamon, but these benefits are negated with increasing spoonfuls of sugar sprinkled onto cinnamon toast.

Furthermore, none of these studies advocates eating cinnamon by the spoonful. PLEASE DO NOT join the masses of fools on YouTube who try to swallow tablespoons of cinnamon. Cinnamon is so dried out that it coats the windpipe, making suffocation entirely possible. The Mythbusters themselves have verified that this practice is incredibly hazardous to one's health [Myths and Tests: Special 1 - Mailbag Special: Air Date May 20, 2012] [Mailbag Special Videos - Mythbusters Site]

Links: How To Calculate BMI --> Quick Easy BMI Calculator

Links: Type 1 Diabetes vs Type 2 Diabetes -->  Type II Diabetes Overview

Maximize Your Energy (drink)

Use these three easy steps to maximize your energy (in other words, how to pick the RIGHT energy drink for your current situation)
Step One: Assess your true fatigue level.
Are you tired but not sleepy, or are you just bored? Are you in need of energy that cannot be provided by a brisk walk, a few jumping jacks and a tall glass of water? Have you been up for more than 12 hours (and is it TRULY necessary that you are up for at least 6 more)?
By answering these questions, you should get a better sense of how tired you really are. 
*If you are just bored, try to wake up naturally: take a brisk walk, do some plyometrics in the hallway or restroom, climb a flight of stairs or eat something if you haven't eaten in more than 3 hours. 
*If you are feeling like a zombie and you have been up for more than 16 hours, understand that there are probably no energy drinks that can help you as much as a 20 minute or 6 hour nap.

Step Two: Pick the drink that matches your fatigue level.
In increasing order of potency, here is a scale of energy drink classifications to help you pick the one that will provide you with just enough energy to get by. Note: if you frequently pick and use an energy drink that is stronger than the one that you really need, you may develop a tolerance and then you'll REALLY be in trouble - try to get by with the weakest one that you think will do the job of making you awake and alert:
1. Tea or coffee-based (like the wonderful amazing Starbucks Refreshers or Monster/Rockstar's coffee-flavored drinks)
2. Non-carbonated, with juice
3. Non-carbonated, no juice
4. Carbonated, with juice
5. Carbonated, no juice, "sugar-free"
6. Carbonated, with sugar (warning: only use these in dire situations because the sugar in a certain green energy drink can make a lot of people too jittery, not to mention, cutting down on simple sugar intake is recommended by almost every doctor I've ever met) 

Step Three: Drink it over several hours.
Challenge yourself to drink only half a serving every three hours. Keep in mind that it will take AT LEAST 20 minutes for you to "feel" the energy drink working. It takes 30 minutes for the first sips of an energy drink to reach maximum concentration levels in your blood. If you think this is too long, think about this: only alcohol, aspirin and caffeine get absorbed through the stomach, everything else has to wait until it enters the small intestine to get absorbed. (Which reminds me, if you have an empty stomach as you sip that energy drink, your stomach may get a bit irritated. Time your energy drink consumption accordingly.) Give the caffeine some time to get to work before you decide you need another dose. 

The bottom line is choose your drink wisely, try to do without as much as possible, and NEVER, EVER EVER CHUG AN ENERGY DRINK!


 

How Caffeine Works - a primer

Caffeine is a compound naturally found in cocoa beans, kola nuts, tea leaves and other plants like guarana. Caffeine is a stimulant that affects your whole body. Caffeine is a vasodilator, meaning it makes your blood vessels slightly larger in diameter. However, caffeine constricts the blood vessels in your brain. This effect is why caffeine can be found in certain pain or headache medications. It is easier to stem the tide of pain to your brain than to ease the pain once the full force has hit.

            How would you like to get paid for preventing someone from doing their own job? Football quarterback-tackling metaphors aside, caffeine works by keeping adenosine from doing its job.

The Difference Between 5 and 7 Hour Energy

You've seen them in grocery stores and gas stations, energy drinks proposing a timeline of effectiveness with just their name. But what's the difference between 5 and 7 Hour Energy? 
Answer: The number in the name - that's it! If it says 7 hour energy, a tiny part of your subconscious will be on board, thinking OK, I am totally alert now. Alas my friends, this is the Placebo Effect. The truth is caffeine has a half-life of three to six hours (different metabolisms mean different rates of caffeine break-down), so regardless of what it says on the label, 3-6 hours later, only half the original dose of caffeine is still active and effective in your system. This is why it pays to enjoy the energy drink over several hours - NEVER, EVER, EVER CHUG AN ENERGY DRINK!!! It is SO not good for your heart or brain - it's like an ambush, or like setting the treadmill to 8mph before you even step onto it.
Allow me to explain: Caffeine metabolism 101:

15 Ways to Convince Your GF Baseball is the Best Sport

What do you do when your darling girlfriend (or boyfriend) doesn't understand why you NEED to watch the baseball game? How do you convince them that this seemingly boring sport is truly the best sport of all? Try these arguments on them:

1.      When hockey players win the Stanley Cup and when football players win the Super Bowl, they get commemorative baseball hats.

2.      Even those who don’t enjoy baseball can’t deny they enjoy getting to "first base" on a first date.

3.      Also like dating, baseball is "a game of inches".

5 Most Misunderstood Terms (Food Chemist's Perspective)

1. Organic
   Organic chemistry has almost nothing to do with how cows are fed. Upon hearing the word "organic", a food chemist imagines a long chain of carbon atoms with hydrogens attached. The word "organic" may or may not elicit an involuntary shutter from the food chemist, for surviving organic chemistry is usually quite the ordeal.
2. Energy
   The best inside joke among food chemists is the zero-calorie energy drink. Why?
   

The Secret to Cooking Pasta and Veggies

Pasta with veggies is a great combo for a healthy meal, but how you cook this food affects its nutritional value. Maximize the nutritional impact with these food chemistry tips.

Top 10 Ways to Start Talking to Attractive Strangers

1. If they have one or both arms covered in tattoos (referred to as sleeves): 
   Ask them which arm they got done first (or if they plan on getting the second arm done). Historically, the left arm was used to hold the shield. Shields are typically adorned with important designs such as a family crest, a country's flag etc. Nine times out of ten, someone with both sleeves will have gotten the left arm done first. Coincidence? Ask them if they think so. 

Energy Drinks are like candy (or sex)

Energy drinks are like candy (or sex) in that abstinence is probably your safest bet but, if you are going to indulge, it's important to chose the right one and to pace yourself.