RightHealth Daily Dose » fast food

New York Tackles Salty Foods

Steven — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:44:53 +0000

After tackling high-calorie fast foods and trans fats, the New York City Health Department is teaming up with other municipalities and companies to reduce the amount of salt in prepackaged and restaurant foods over the next five years. “Salt is a huge problem in our diets,” said Dr. Sonia Angell, director of the Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Control Program at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. “The majority of us consume too much salt, which increases blood pressure and puts us at risk for heart attack and stroke.” Most people need about 1,500 mg of salt per day. However, the average American adult consumes upwards of 3,500 mg, mostly from prepackaged and restaurant-served meals. The goal of the New York City initiative is to reduce sodium levels in prepared foods, so as to allow consumers to add salt if desired. Subway, one of the participating restaurants, has already committed to reducing salt in their sandwiches nationwide. “If salt is reduced gradually, we won’t notice a difference in our palate,” Angell said. “Our palate will adjust and we’ll enjoy foods as much as we do now.” [via CNN]

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Fast Food Triggers Alzheimer’s In Mice

Steven — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 14:12:53 +0000

New insight into Alzheimer’s disease was reported by researchers at the Karolinska Institute this week. Scientists studying mouse models of the disease showed that when mice were fed with fast food products high in fat, sugar and cholesterol, they developed more “brain tangles” that lead to development of Alzheimer’s. These tangles of protein that develope in the brain are one of the hallmarks of the disease. Even though this is a mouse study, and the results may not necessarily be translated to humans, it’s yet another reason to consume less fast food and processed foods.

L.A. Aims To Slow Fast Food Growth

Steven — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:08:38 +0000

A Los Angeles City Council committee has unanimously passed a ban on new fast food restaurants in South L.A. If passed by the full council and signed into law by the mayor, the ban would affect a 32-square-mile-area which has the highest concentration of fast food establishments. The measure was proposed by councilwoman Jan Perry who says she has been “attempting to address the health issues associated with fast food, such as diabetes and obesity.” These health concerns are very much prevalent in this part of the city where there are also fewer grocery stores than the remainder of L.A. Full story.

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