BUZZ - trends, news and views

By Editor: January 2007,

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Our quick (and unscientific) look at some of the trends and news we find interesting and relevant.

This Valentines Day – Be good to your heart - as well as someone elses!

We are working with California Walnuts, and in addition to learning about the great snacking and cooking opportunities with walnuts – we have learned what a heart healthy snack they are – and what better time to think about hearts!

An ever-growing body of research has shown that walnuts play a significant role in a healthy lifestyle. Walnuts are unique as a nutrient-dense whole food source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential omega-3 fatty acid.  Numerous studies suggest that omega-3s may help reduce the risks for heart disease and other chronic health problems.

The bottom line is that walnuts contribute nutrients essential to healthy eating. Enjoying a handful of walnuts each day is one of the easiest things a person can do to increase their good cholesterol (HDL) and lower their bad cholesterol (LDL).

Best of all, they taste great and can be enjoyed as a snack on their own or added to cereal, salads, pasta and stir-fries. And maybe even as a Valentines Day gift!

For more info: www.walnutinfo.com

Study claims social drinkers earn higher paycheques

Seems visiting the corner bar after work may do more than relax you—it may have a positive impact on your bottom line. According to a recent study, those who indulge in the occasional cocktail have higher incomes than their more sober counterparts. A survey by the Reason Foundation, a Libertarian think tank, found women who imbibe earn 14 per cent more than their non-drinking counterparts, while men who occasionally indulge come out 10 per cent ahead of their sober peers—and, men who described themselves as social drinkers, visiting a bar at least once a month, earned an additional seven per cent on top of the aforementioned ten. So what’s the reason for this increased earning power? “Social drinking builds social capital,” says economist Edward Stringham. “Social drinkers are out networking, building relationships, and adding contacts to their BlackBerries that result in bigger paycheques.” Seems the trick is just in not overdoing it—as in all things, moderation pays off. (from CityNews.ca)

Things a man should know about drinking

We stumbled across a surprisingly lengthy list of drinking “rules” on Esquire’s Web site. A few of our favorites:

• There is no shame in club soda and cranberry juice.
• When throwing a party, break the seals on liquor bottles, lest guests should hesitate to open them and come to doubt your hospitality.
• Better yet: Hire a bartender.
• At the holiday office party, consume one drink less than your boss.
• Adopt a favorite cocktail on a seasonal basis.
• Acceptable drinks for men: Beer, wine, whiskey, cocktails that are neither sweet nor made with dairy or fruit other than lime or lemon or orange.
• Fresh orange juice. Fresh lemon juice. Fresh lime juice.
• Don’t eat the worm.
• When all else fails, have a martini.

For your next dinner party, it’s okay to let your fingers do the walking

According to some of the hippest hostesses out there, takeout is the poor girl's catering. "Or the lazy girl's catering," says Jennifer Rubell, the New York-based contributing food editor of Domino magazine. Her lavish photo shoots feature simple, clever ideas such as entire dinner parties ordered online. There's no stigma to serving takeout these days, she says, and no need to conceal your plan. "The most important thing is that you do entertain at home. . . . You never have the kind of interactions you have with friends in a restaurant as you have at home." For the menu, Rubell leans toward sushi, Thai, Chinese, Indian and Vietnamese. "For dinner, anything stewy really holds well and reheats well. Stay away from fried food, which gets soggy. Soups are fantastic." Of course, presentation is everything, and Rubell advises ditching the Styrofoam containers and putting some energy into creating a fun, colorful table for your guests. The best part of takeout entertaining: You won't be so drained that you can't see your way to your next party. (from the Globe and Mail)

Men with hypertension who drink moderately may lower risk of heart attack

A new, long-term study recently reported that among hypertensive men, moderate alcohol consumption was associated with a decreased risk of fatal and non-fatal heart attack. The researchers, from the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Dutch research institute TNO Quality of Life, and Wageningen University in the Netherlands, also found that rates of stroke and death from heart disease and all causes did not differ for hypertensive men who drank moderate amounts of alcohol and those who drank no alcohol. "This was the first study to our knowledge that examined the risk of heart attacks among men with high blood pressure who drank moderately,” says lead author Joline Beulens. “Because excess alcohol intake clearly increases blood pressure, many men with hypertension are counseled not to drink, but our results suggest that may not be necessary if men drink safely and responsibly.”
(excerpted from Medical News Today)