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Dedicated Insurance Professionals you know and trust...like Family |
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Greetings!
"The health of our nation depends on the health of our families and it's imperative that we address the obesity crisis impacting our country," - a quote issued by the USDA in 2010.
Because more than one-third of children and more than two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight or obese, the 7th edition of Dietary Guidelines for Americans places stronger emphasis on reducing calorie consumption and increasing physical activity.... (click here for the full press release nutritional guidance to promote health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity through improved nutrition and physical activity.
The obesity problem didn't occur overnight. In fact, it has been emerging for decades but only recently has it reached crisis proportions and grabbed national headlines.
Diet books top the bestseller list, the electronic and print media overwhelm us with nutrition do's and don'ts, but progress is slow. The reality is that we eat too much and move too little.
Agriculture is responding to a dire need in our country. TACT hopes you will visit www.usda.gov for more information on federal guidelines for nutrition and encourages you to find us on Facebook  to read related articles like those featured in this issue.
TACT - Dedicated Insurance Professionals you know and trust...like Family.
Sincerely,
Stoney Jackson
Executive Director
Check out our featured articles! Visit us! |
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Facebook Features
20-Year Forecast Shows No
End to Obesity Epidemic
WASHINGTON - The obesity epidemic might be slowing, with just over a third of U.S. adults being obese. But by 2030, 42 percent will be obese.
That's not nearly as many as experts had predicted, but the new forecast suggests even small continuing increases will add up.
"We still have a very serious problem," said specialist Dr. William Dietz of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Severe obesity will double by 2030, according to the study led by Duke University. Already, conservative estimates suggest obesity-related problems account for at least 9 percent of the nation's yearly health spending, or $150 billion a year.
Continue reading here.
Or click on the icon below
to view the link on Facebook.
More Employees Stand,
Exercise While Working
BOSTON - At workplaces across the country, more and more employees are standing while working, or exercising while working. Two Boston-area companies say the trend is paying off, with healthier and more productive employees.
At Blue Cross Blue Shield in Boston, Pat Tarentino is working while walking, using a treadmill desk.
"It's great when you are starting to feel lethargic in the middle of the day. If there's a spot available, you jump on and it energizes you and helps you keep focused," said Tarentino.
There are six treadmill desks at BCBS offices. Employees sign up for an hour, burning calories and helping their heart while they work.
"You can almost not get on the treadmills. You have to book it in advance. It's terrific," said BCBS employee Susan Goldman.
Blue Cross Blue Shield installed the walk stations as part of a holistic program for their employees. It's giving some associates a leg up on a competition tracking how many steps they take each day. Tarentino logged in 7.499 steps.
"They find they are more alert and engaged as they are getting their daily work done. At the same time they are trying to improve their own fitness," said BCBS Chief Human Resources Director Jason Robart.
Studies show that desk workers who stood during the work day had lower levels of stress and anxiety, and increased blood flow and oxygen to the brain.
Click here to read the article in its entirety.
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to view the shared article on Facebook.
Americans Living Longer,
But Obesity On The Rise
The CDC released its annual state of the union's health, and there's good news and bad. We're living longer. But we're also gaining more weight. Click here to read more on the topics below.
- The health gap: Income and education-related disparities
- Life expectancy, disease and risk factors
- How much we pay for health care
Pot Belly Boosts Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death
A "spare tire" around the midsection raises the odds of sudden cardiac death in obese people, a new study finds.
A larger waist-to-hip ratio matters even more than body-mass index when it comes to sudden cardiac death risk, said study researcher Dr. Selcuk Adabag, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Body-mass index is a measure of weight relative to height used to determine normal weight and obesity.
Obesity, a moderate risk factor for sudden cardiac death, and apple-shaped bodies often go hand in hand.
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TACT has shared a link on Facebook and invites you to click on the link below to read the article in its entirety.
5 Wellness Strategies to Combat Obesity
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agriculture News
Center for Nutrition Policy
and Promotion
Improving the nutrition and
well-being of Americans
The USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP) works to improve the health and well-being of Americans by developing and promoting dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers. CNPP is an agency of USDA's Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services.
Spotlights:
Last Modified: March 14, 2012
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To Your Health...
Issue Revisited -
High Fructose Corn Syrup
Issue 8 of TACT's Industry Newsletter dated April 24, included an article entitled High Fructose Corn Syrup, Toxic or Tame. TACT is mindful of its endorsers and the industry sector and producers they represent and appreciates Texas Corn Producers taking time to address the article from an industry standpoint.
The original article can be viewed on TACT's website by visiting the Newsletter Archive link. You may also visit www.livestrong.com to view the source of initial reported information and see below for the printed response from Texas Corn Producers.
Printed Response:
A recent To Your Health article in the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Trust's newsletter, entitled "High Fructose Corn Syrup Toxic or Tame," addressed some information and concerns about high fructose corn syrup consumption. Texas Corn Producers strongly encourages consumers to learn all the facts before drawing to conclusions about the ingredient. There were several claims in the published article, which are not a true representation of HFCS, and where it comes from. For example:
Article Claim: High-fructose corn syrup is bad for the environment as well as for our bodies, according to Novak. Because high-fructose corn syrup is so prevalent in American foods, a great deal of corn is grown each year to produce it. Corn crops require huge amounts of pesticides, which pollute our soil and ground water. Corn is also grown as a monoculture, which means that the land it's grown on is not rotated among other crops. This depletes the nutrients in soil and leads to erosion.
Truth: Less than 4 percent of the U.S. corn supply is used to make high fructose corn syrup, which should give your readers pause before accepting the article's "environmental footprint" hyperbole. (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. 2010. Table 4--Corn: Supply and disappearance and Table 31--Corn: Food, seed, and industrial use. Feed Yearbook - http://1.usa.gov/K2aiUw; Feed Grains Data: Yearbook Tables Corn: Supply and disappearance. http://1.usa.gov/K2alzA).
Further, U.S. corn farmers are stewards of the land. It is not in the farmer's best interest to excessively use pesticides on their crop, rather they work to maintain a best pest management practices to ensure their crop is grown to the quality standards expected by American consumers. Likewise, farmers live off the land, and soil composition and nutrition is essential to the continued productivity of the land. Counter to what the article indicates, most producers in Texas actually grow corn as part of a crop rotation on their farm. Learn more about Texas corn production at www.TexasCorn.org
please see below to continue reading
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Stoney's 90-Day Challenge
Maintaining
Update on Stoney's 90 day challenge.
With 225 as his goal, Stoney is happy to report that he has been able to maintain this goal from the past week reporting 225.4 on the scale this past Tuesday - his ideal weight!
He will continue to drink one shake a day to keep all of the weight from coming back. With obesity being in the news lately and on a lot of TACT members minds, isn't it time you accepted the Challenge and join Stoney and others that are and have transformed their lives? and accept the 90 challenge yourself to transform your life.
Follow Stoney's progress on Facebook!
Healthful Hints:
Eating Smart when Eating OUT:
Life sometimes gets too hectic to cook and prepare ALL of your meals ALL the time so here are some tips that may help you stay on track.
Beware of the bread basket - on average a dinner roll has between 100-200 calories (and that's without butter). Order entrees that are "grilled, broiled or poached" NOT "breaded, crispy, fried or crusted". Ask for sauce to be put on the side - any sauce described as creamy or buttery will likely be high in fat and calories.
Drink water! Sweetened teas and sodas can add hundreds of calories to your meal. Try adding lemon or sliced cucumbers to flavor your water naturally. If you crave something sweet after your meal try to choose a bite-size dessert or wait until you get home to get something with an exact calorie content (restaurant desserts are often loaded with calories). The good news about fast-food and restaurant chains is that they usually have nutritional information available on their website or menu so take advantage of this information.
Portion size: You may be eating healthy meals but still be consuming too many calories. Evaluate the size of your meal - if it looks too large cut it in half and save the rest for a second meal. You can even divide your meal in half and see how full you feel when you are half way thru. Wait a few moments, then decide if you should continue eating. Remember to eat slowly so that your stomach has time to send the signal to your brain that you are full.
Be your own advocate - when in doubt listen to your body. |
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Facebook Feature
Find us on Facebook and access more detailed,
industry-related information.
Interact with us!
We're waiting to talk to you!
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Contact Us
Texas Ag Coop Trust
1802 East 50th St., Ste. 107
Lubbock, TX 79404
806-747-7894
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Texas Ag Coop Trust
Officers, Board of Trustees
George Reed, Chairman
United Farm Industries
Plainview, TX
Gregg Allen, Secretary
Olton Grain Coop
Olton, TX
Jim Turner
Dalhart Consumers Fuel Association
Dalhart, TX
Paul Wilson
United Cotton Growers
Levelland, TX
Cary Eubanks
Slaton Coop Gin
Slaton, TX
Dean Sasser
Farmers Coop Elevator
Levelland, TX
Bret Brown
Sunray Coop
Sunray, TX
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Texas Ag Coop Trust
is endorsed by:
Texas Grain & Feed
Association
Texas Cotton Ginners Association
 Texas Coop Marketing Exchange
 Texas Corn Producers |
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Texas Corn Producers Article Response Continued
Article Claim: One known con of consuming high fructose corn syrup is that as a result of processing, it can contain mercury. Mercury is an element that accumulates in the body tissues leading to brain, nerve and organ damage. A 2009 study published in "Environmental Health", a scholarly journal, reports mercury contamination in a variety of samples of HFCS.
Truth: High fructose corn syrup has a strong history as a safe ingredient recognized by food manufacturers and the U.S. government. In 1983, the Food and Drug Administration listed high fructose corn syrup as "Generally Recognized as Safe" (known as GRAS status) for use in food, and reaffirmed that ruling in 1996. (61 Fed. Reg. 43447 (August 23, 1996), 21 C.F.R. 184.1866. Direct food substances affirmed as Generally Recognized as Safe; High Fructose Corn Syrup - Final Rule. http://1.usa.gov/JFvnZy)
Woodhall Stopford, MD, MSPH, of Duke University Medical Center, one of the nation's leading experts in mercury contamination, reviewed the results of total mercury testing of samples of high fructose corn syrup conducted by Eurofins Central Analytical Laboratory (Metairie, LA) in February and March 2009. Dr. Stopford concluded:
- No quantifiable mercury was detected in any of the samples analyzed.
- High fructose corn syrup does not appear to be a measureable contributor to mercury in foods.
In his summary of findings, Dr. Stopford stated, "Mercury is ubiquitous in the environment being generated both by man-made activities (such as coal-fired power plants) and by natural phenomenon (such as volcanoes). Mercury is found naturally in all living things, including all categories of foods and beverages. Levels in foods and beverages have dropped significantly in the last 40 years. The introduction of high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener has not been associated with any noticeable difference in mercury levels in foods and beverages containing high fructose corn syrup. Levels of mercury found in such foods and beverages are what would be expected from mercury found normally in such foods and beverages and are at background levels." (The paper can be downloaded from http://bit.ly/K2bJCr)
Article Claim: In 2010, researchers at Princeton University found that long-term consumption of high-fructose corn syrup can lead to abnormal increases in body fat, especially in the abdomen, and a rise in cholesterol. In one study, rats given water sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup gained much more weight than rats that drank water sweetened with table sugar. In another study, rats given a diet high in high-fructose corn syrup gained 48 percent more weight over six months than rats given only regular rat chow. The rats that consumed high-fructose corn syrup also developed high levels of triglycerides, which leads to increased cholesterol and possibly heart disease.
Truth: Princeton University study used grossly exaggerated intake levels in rats and incorrectly suggested that such results could have significant meaning for humans.
In the study "High -fructose corn syrup causes characteristics of obesity in rats: Increased body weight, body fat and triglyceride levels,"(1) the authors failed to put into perspective the excessive amount consumed by the rats in their experimental design. Translating the study's reported rat intakes to human proportions, the calories gained from high fructose corn syrup would be equivalent to about 3000 kcal/day all from that single source. In comparison, adult humans consume about 2,000 calories per day from all dietary sources. Such intake levels for the study animals would be the equivalent of humans drinking a total of 20 cans of 12 ounce sodas per day - a highly unrealistic amount. Moreover, the researchers concluded that the rats gained more weight from high fructose corn syrup than they would have from sugar, yet the researchers had no proper basis for drawing this conclusion since they failed to provide sucrose controls for part of the study's short-term experiments and no sucrose controls whatsoever were present in any of the long-term experiments.
Follow this link for Dr. Marion Nestle's criticism of the Princeton study: http://bit.ly/K2bQOg
Article Claim: A 2004 study published in "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" reports that high fructose corn syrup does increase the likelihood of obesity, though whether this is because the syrup itself has an effect or whether the syrup is simply cheap--and people are likely to consume a lot of it--is unclear. What is certain, however, is that high fructose corn syrup isn't chemically identical to table sugar. It's similar, in that both consist of the sugars glucose and fructose on nearly 1-to-1 ratios. In table sugar, however, glucose and fructose are chemically linked together, while in hfcs, they are not. The chemical ramifications of this distinction are not yet clear.
Truth: There is no scientific evidence to suggest that high fructose corn syrup is uniquely responsible for people becoming obese. Obesity results from an imbalance of calories consumed and calories burned. U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows that per capita consumption of high fructose corn syrup is actually on the decline, yet obesity and diabetes rates continue to rise according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, obesity rates are rising around the world, including in Australia, Chile, and the Middle East even though the use of high fructose corn syrup outside of the United States is limited. Around the world, high fructose corn syrup accounts for about 8% of caloric sweeteners consumed. (World Health Organization, Global Database on Body Mass Index, Country comparison - BMI adults % obese (>=30.0), Most recent. http://apps.who.int/bmi/index.jsp and LMC International, Inc. 2009. Table 2: World Sugar & HFCS Consumption. Sweetener Analysis December 2009.)
Even former critics of high fructose corn syrup dispel long-held myths and distance themselves from earlier speculation about the sweetener's link to obesity as the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition releases its 2008 Vol. 88 supplement's comprehensive scientific review. (High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS): Everything You Wanted to Know, but Were Afraid to Ask. Am Jrnl Clin Nutr 88(6)1715S-1744S. http://bit.ly/JFvT9N)
Furthermore, it is important to note that credible, non-government institutions have also acknowledged high fructose corn syrup as being similar to sucrose (table sugar) and safe.
According to the American Dietetic Association, "High fructose corn syrup ... is nutritionally equivalent to sucrose. Both sweeteners contain the same number of calories (4 per gram) and consist of about equal parts of fructose and glucose. Once absorbed into the blood stream, the two sweeteners are indistinguishable." (Hot Topics, "High Fructose Corn Syrup." December 2008.)
Also the American Medical Association stats that, "Because the composition of HFCS and sucrose are so similar, particularly on absorption by the body, it appears unlikely that HFCS contributes more to obesity or other conditions than sucrose." (American Medical Association. 2008. Report 3 of the Council on Science and Public Health a-08. http://bit.ly/JFwich)
Texas Corn Producers appreciates TACT's commitment to its clients' health, and encourages everyone to be educated about their dietary options and where their food comes from. Farmers work hard to grow a quality crop to help feed the world's growing population. For more information about HFCS, visit www.SweetSurprise.com or to learn more about corn production visit www.TexasCorn.org
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 What Is On Your Plate?  MyPlate mirrors how a person should structure their plate at all meals, with fruits, vegetables, proteins, grains, and dairy. Although there are no suggested number of daily servings on this updated food pyramid anymore, the plate shows simply that at every meal, each of the main food groups should be represented in almost equal proportions.
MyPlate is a big step in the government's plan to promote a healthy and active lifestyle for all Americans. Along with this new graphic, the government is working to make food nutrition labels more accessible and understandable, including calorie counts on menus at restaurants, and keeping Americans fit and active with Michelle Obama's Let's Move! Campaign.
While MyPlate is a simple representational guide for our meals with little words or explanation, the USDA has attached to the new symbol a few reminders about keeping a balanced diet:
Balancing Calories:
- Enjoy your food, but eat less
- Avoid oversized portions
Foods to Increase:
- Make half your plate fruits and vegetables
- Make at least half your grains whole grains
- Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk
Foods Reduce:
- compare sodium in foods like soup, bread, and frozen meals-and choose the foods with lower numbers
- Drink water instead of sugary drinks
For more information about MyPlate, go to http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ TACT - Dedicated Insurance Professionals
you know and trust...like Family. Welcome!
Sincerely,
Stoney Jackson
Executive Director
Texas Ag Co-op TrustNext Issue: June 5 , 2012 Newsletter Archives - click here |
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