Peanut Butter and Almond Butter Possible Cause of Salmonella Outbreak in US: FDA

Grocery store chain Trader Joe's is recalling jars of a specific variety of its store-brand peanut butter due to a salmonella outbreak in 18 states of the U.S. The outbreak has also prompted the voluntary recall of dozens of peanut butter and almond butter products made by Mexico-based Sunland Inc.

 

Peanut Butter and Almond Butter Possible Cause of Salmonella Outbreak in America

 

Salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. It is most dangerous to children, the elderly and others with weak immune systems.

According to a press release by Trader Joe's: "We have no confirmed information that suggests this peanut butter is unsafe to eat, but there is nothing more important to us than the health and safety of our customers and crew, and the quality of our products."

While Sunland said in a statement, "There is nothing more important to us than the health and safety of our customers, particularly the many families who enjoy our peanut butter everyday. While FDA (Food and Drug Administration), CDC, and State Health Agencies investigate to confirm the cause of illnesses reported, as a precautionary step, we have decided to voluntarily recall our Almond Butter and Peanut Butter products."

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC); at least 29 cases of salmonella infection have been registered in about 18 states, including Washington, California, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey and Maryland. The sickness was occurred between June 11 and Sept. 2.

The CDC, working together with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), found that the Trader Joe's peanut butter and Sunland's almond butter were the likely cause of the salmonella outbreak, though the link has not been confirmed.

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33 Deaths Reported Across Europe Due to E.coli Outbreak -- More Deaths Warned by Germnay's Health Minister

33 Deaths Reported Across Europe Due to E.coli Outbreak

BERLIN, Germany – Authorities in Germany have identified the source of the E.coli outbreak as being vegetable sprouts from an organic farm in Lower Saxony, northern Germany.

E. coli outbreak has killed 32 people already in Germany, While Mr Daniel Bahr, Health Minister of Germany, warned of more possible deaths even the source of infection has been identified. 

Daniel Bahr, talking to Bild am Sonntag newspaper, said, “'More fatalities cannot be ruled out, painful though it is to say so.”

The decreasing number of people being infected was a healthy sign; but it couldn’t rule out more cases of E.coli infection; he further added.

Reportedly, more than 3,000 got infected with E.coli in 14 European countries while the death of a Swedish woman is reported, who recently travelled to Germany, other than 32 deaths confirmed in Germany.

E. coli/HUS outbreak: source still mystery - - 365 news cases reported today (Wednesday/June 1)

BERLIN, Germany (June 1) — The German government is still unable to find the real source of E. coli outbreak while 365 news cases of E. coli have been registered on Wednesday (June 1).

365 E. coli/HUS case reported today (Wednesday/June1)

According to Robert Koch Institute of Germany; almost 1/4th of the new cases involved the hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), a dangerous complication resulting from E. coli infection that affects the blood and kidneys.

As per latest reports, total 16 deaths have been reported in north Europe and an unfortunate common factor among all is that all of them have traveled northern Germany in the last days of their lives.

As one of the biggest outbreak of its type; HUS/E. coli has already effected more than 1,500 in Germany only while the authorities have been unable to identify the source of the virulent strain of E. coli.

In early days of E. coli outbreak; German authorities have blamed the Spanish produce as the source of the outbreak after some cucumbers tested positive for the bacteria; but on Tuesday authorities in Hamburg established that the E. coli found on Spanish cucumbers is not the one that is killing people in Europe.

Spain’s per week loss of sales is almost US$287.5-million due to the false blame from German authorities which is a really big one for Spain, which already has the highest unemployment rate in the European Union. Therefore, Spain considering to take legal action against authorities in Hamburg for blaming its produce for the E. coli outbreak.

The World's First Dengue Fever Vaccine Developed by Thai Scientists: Reported by Thai News Agency (TNA)

BANGKOK, Feb 22 - According to the reports from Thai News Agency (TNA) on Tuesday; the world's first dengue hemorrhagic fever vaccine has been produced by Thai scientists.

The Thai researchers are now collaborating with the private sector to further develop the vaccine for its more successful treatment of patients with reduced infections.

A lecturer of Mahidol University, Dr. Suthee Yoksarn, together with his group and Chiang Mai University have mutually developed four stereotypes of the live attenuated vaccine by combining attenuated DNA with a protein structure that stimulates immunity against the dengue hemorrhagic fever--caused by the present strain of the dengue virus.

Virachai Virameteekul, Thai Science and Technology Minister, stated that the number of dengue hemorrhagic fever patients in Thailand has mounted, exceeding 100,000 last year and adding some 1,200 cases in January 2011.

The recently produced vaccine is believed to better protect people from the dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Daily Intake of Diet Soda May Led to Increased Risks of of Having a Stroke or Heart Attack

In an International Stroke Conference; a recent study was presented by the American Stroke Association establishing the possible link between ‘Diet Soda’ and an increased risk of having a stroke or heart attack.  

According to the study, which started in 2003, over 2,500 people were inquired about their soda intake and their health was examined over the years. Reportedly more than 550 cardiovascular events took placed during that period, and those who told drinking diet soda on daily routine had a 60% increased rate of these events including strokes and heart attacks.

After adjusting for other factors which may boost the probability of heart troubles – the researches still found that the threat was 48% higher for the diet soda drinkers.

What came from the study was a link, not necessarily a cause and effect.

After the bad rap that aspartame -- a main ingredient in many diet sodas -- has gotten, we are unsure as to how this is information is any more useful that what we've already heard. Diet soda is bad. So is regular soda and anything else we actually enjoy consuming, for that matter. Thanks, science!

The self-report based study fails to give us any real reason to stop drinking Diet Coke. How many of you have ever been less than truthful on health based survey? Hmm?

As the vice-chairman of the stroke-meeting conference committee put it, "You try to control for everything, but you can't." 

Foods to Fight Cancer: Six Superstar Veggies That Can Prevent Any Type of Cancer

To reduce your risk of cancer, look no further than your fridge. "All the studies on cancer and nutrition point to eating plant-based foods for their phytonutrients and other special compounds," says Richard Béliveau, PhD, chair in the prevention and treatment of cancer at the University of Québec at Montreal and author of Foods to Fight Cancer.

Aim for five to nine daily servings of all kinds of fruits and vegetables—especially these six superstars.

  Broccoli

All cruciferous veggies (think cauliflower, cabbage, kale) contain cancer-fighting properties, but broccoli is the only one with a sizable amount of sulforaphane, a particularly potent compound that boosts the body's protective enzymes and flushes out cancer-causing chemicals, says Jed Fahey, ScD. A recent University of Michigan study on mice found that sulforaphane also targets cancer stem cells—those that aid in tumor growth.

Helps fight: breast, liver, lung, prostate, skin, stomach, and bladder cancers

Your Rx: The more broccoli, the better, research suggests—so add it wherever you can, from salads to omelets to the top of your pizza.

Health.com: 13 easy pizza recipes

Berries

All berries are packed with cancer-fighting phytonutrients. But black raspberries, in particular, contain very high concentrations of phytochemicals called anthocyanins, which slow down the growth of premalignant cells and keep new blood vessels from forming (and potentially feeding a cancerous tumor), according to Gary D. Stoner, PhD, a professor of internal medicine at The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

Helps fight: colon, esophageal, oral, and skin cancers

Your Rx: Stoner uses a concentrated berry powder in his studies but says a half-cup serving of berries a day may help your health, too.

Health.com: Go wild for berries!

Tomatoes
This juicy fruit is the best dietary source of lycopene, a carotenoid that gives tomatoes their red hue, Béliveau says. And that's good news, because lycopene was found to stop endometrial cancer cell growth in a study in Nutrition and Cancer. Endometrial cancer causes nearly 8,000 deaths a year.

Helps fight: endometrial, lung, prostate, and stomach cancers

Your Rx: The biggest benefits come from cooked tomatoes (think pasta sauce!), since the heating process increases the amount of lycopene your body is able to absorb.

Health.com: 10 tasty tomato recipes

Walnuts
Their phytosterols (cholesterol-like molecules found in plants) have been shown to block estrogen receptors in breast cancer cells, possibly slowing the cells' growth, says Elaine Hardman, PhD, associate professor at Marshall University School of Medicine in Huntington, West Virginia.

Helps fight: breast and prostate cancers

Your Rx: Munching on an ounce of walnuts a day may yield the best benefits, Hardman's research found.

Health.com: 8 super nuts

Garlic
Phytochemicals in garlic have been found to halt the formation of nitrosamines, carcinogens formed in the stomach (and in the intestines, in certain conditions) when you consume nitrates, a common food preservative, Béliveau says. In fact, the Iowa Women's Health Study found that women with the highest amounts of garlic in their diets had a 50 percent lower risk of certain colon cancers than women who ate the least.

Helps fight: breast, colon, esophageal, and stomach cancers

Your Rx: Chop a clove of fresh, crushed garlic (crushing helps release beneficial enzymes), and sprinkle it into that lycopene-rich tomato sauce while it simmers.

Health.com: Surprising health benefits of garlic

Beans
A study out of Michigan State University found that black and navy beans significantly reduced colon cancer incidence in rats, in part because a diet rich in the legumes increased levels of the fatty acid butyrate, which in high concentrations has protective effects against cancer growth. Another study, in the journal Crop Science, found dried beans particularly effective in preventing breast cancer in rats.

Helps fight: breast and colon cancers

Your Rx: Add a serving—a half-cup—of legumes a few times a week (either from a can or dry beans that've been soaked and cooked) to your usual rotation of greens or other veggies. 

Source: Yahoo

Few Easy Meditation Steps Before Eating Meals Lead You to Loss of Excess Weight - - New Study at Carnegie Mellon University

A cutback in caloric intake is the primary requirement of weight loss, which is possible to be realized by merely practicing some meditation before eating meals, a new study suggests which was led by Dr. Carey Morewedge from Department of Social and Decision Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University.

The study demonstrates people be inclined to eat less of a food if they imagined the eating process frequently before they actually ate the food. And the study found the more food a person "ate" in his imagination, the less food subsequently he would eat.

In the study, according to what Dr. Morewedge told NPR Science Friday radio program, study participants were told to imagine the process of eating M&M, including moving the candies into a bowl, and then asked to eat the real food. Those who imagined eating 30 M&M ate much less real M&M than those who imagined eating only 3 M&M.

Dr. Morewedge further added that simply imagining moving the food did not help.

He said you also need to imagine eating what you are going to eat to reduce the consumption of the food. The study showed when participants imagined they were eating M&M, and then when they were assigned to eat cheese cubes, no matter how many M&M they ate in their imagination, they ate the same amount of cheese.

What works behind this trick is a process called habituation, according to Dr. Morewedge. According to this theory, people are less responsive to what they got habituated to. In the study case, after the participants imagined they ate lots of cheese cubes, they felt less urged to eat the food and they ate less of the food as a result.

But Dr. Morewedge told NPR that this imagination method does not work for other habits like smoking, which involves a more complex mechanism and imagining smoking could actually boost a smoker's craving for smokes and the smoker could actually smoke more.

Dr. Morewedge used cheese and M&M for the study. It is unknown whether this method would help people cut their consumption of a real meal which consists of multiple foods. Should the diners, like people going to have some Chinese buffet, imagine all the foods they are going to eat to reduce the consumption of the variety of real foods? Or would this method work at all in this case?

The study was published in a recent issue of Science, a prestigious scientific journal.

In China, two idioms describe two pitiful situations in which people don't have water to drink to quench their thirst and don't have food to eat to satisfy their hunger. In these situation as the idioms suggest, people may "look at prune to quench your thirst" and "draw a cake to satisfy your hunger".

Know Your Secret Enemy - - Depression at a Glance

Depression At A Glance

* A depressive disorder is a syndrome (group of symptoms) that reflects a sad, blue mood exceeding normal sadness or grief.

* Depressive disorders are characterized not only by negative thoughts, moods, and behaviors but also by specific changes in bodily functions (for example, eating, sleeping, and sexual activity).

* One in 10 people will have a depressive disorder in their lifetime, and in one of 10 cases, the depression is a fatal disease as a result of suicide.

* Some types of depression, especially bipolar depression, run in families.

* While there are many social, psychological, and environmental risk factors for developing depression, some are particularly prevalent in one gender or the other, or in particular age or ethnic groups.

* Depression is diagnosed only clinically in that there is no laboratory test or X-ray for depression. Therefore, it is crucial to see a health practitioner as soon as you notice symptoms of depression in yourself, your friends, or family.

* The first step in getting appropriate treatment is a complete physical and psychological evaluation to determine whether the person, in fact, has a depressive disorder.

* Depression is not a weakness but a serious illness with biological, psychological, and social aspects to its cause, symptoms, and treatment. A person cannot will it away. Untreated, it will worsen. Undertreated, it will return.

* There are many safe and effective medications, particularly the SSRIs, that can be of great help in depression.

* For full recovery from a mood disorder, regardless of whether there is a precipitating factor or it seems to come out of the blue, treatments with medications and/or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and psychotherapy are necessary.

* In the future, through depression research and education, we will continue to improve our treatments, decrease society's burden, and hopefully develop preventive measures.

Follow The Diet Plan That Don't Stop You Eating - - Holiday Season May Hurt Your Weight Loss Plans

Researchers discovered the ideal food consumption promoting weight maintenance involves eating lean meats, low-fat dairy, and beans. Also, consuming less foods with a high glycemic index (GI), usually simple carbohydrates, like white bread or refined starches. Following this diet plan allows individuals to eat until satisfied, without gaining additional weight.

The study found adults who lost a significant amount of their body weight (at least 8 percent) were able to maintain and continue weight loss based on desired goal when following this diet.

Research was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, NEJM.

Foods with a high glycemic index are digested quickly and essentially spikes blood sugar levels upon consumption. Foods with a lower GI are digested slowly, allowing blood glucose to enter the bloodstream more regularly.

For this study, 938 overweight adults from 772 families completed a weight loss program for eight weeks. Calorie intake was limited to 800 kcals/day and the average weight loss was 24 lbs.

After the eight week weight loss period, adults were randomly assigned a new maintenance diet for the following six months.

Data showed the worst diet for maintaining weight loss to be a low-protein and high glycemic index diet. The best diet for maintaining weight loss was high protein and low glycemic index.

This study shows increasing protein while reducing consumption of foods with a high glycemic index will typically result in successful weight loss and weight maintenance following significant weight loss.

Calories Calculating Mobile App developed by NTT Communications, Japan - - Evaluates the Color and Shape of Food and Compares Them to a Database

A new weapon in the fight against fat is under way: a mobile application that makes the calorie count based on picture of the food on their plate.

Although there are applications for this purpose, these programs require users to enter the type of food and caloric information. Since the software developed by NTT Communications, Japan, evaluates the color and shape of food and compares them to a database, calculating the calories.

Information about 100 thousand different foods are stored on a server operated by the company and can be accessed via smart phone. The application is even considering the portion sizes and adjusting the calorie count accordingly.

The company, which believes that the application can be the first of its kind in the world, has been testing the solution internally and will offer a free beta version from January. The criticisms have been favorable, but more is needed to refine the project, said the spokesman.

To expand a bit on the functions, the application will allow customers to exchange information on food and caloric content. Planned resources include suggestions for menus and exercises to reduce and burn calories.

Vegetarianism: A Path to Lead a Healthy Life

There are many routes to living a healthy and fit lifestyle. A vegetarian diet is one of those routes.

The most common type is called the Lacto-ovo vegetarian. This type does not eat beef, pork, poultry, fish, and shellfish or animal flesh of any kind. But they do eat eggs and dairy products.

With this type of diet, there is less fat and cholesterol because there is no meat. There is also a higher level of fiber from vegetarian foods such as apples, beans and spinach.

There are many misconceptions about vegetarians. Vegetarians do not only eat vegetables and fruit. They must include all of the parts of a normal balanced diet.

The key to maintaining healthy eating habits is to eat a variety of foods such as fruit, vegetables and a source of protein and iron.

Protein is not found in meat alone. Beans, tofu, milk, lentils, eggs, peanuts and hard cheeses are all good sources of protein.

According to The American Heart Association, reducing fat intake is recommended to lower the risk of chronic disease.

A easy way to stay away from taking in too much fat is to stay away from most fast food chains.

Other benefits of a balanced vegetarian diet include lower blood pressure, lower rates of diabetes and lower obesity rates.

Dementia in Adults Can Be Controlled by Daily Intake of Beetroot Juice - - New Study Revealed Important Facts About Dementia and Its Cure

Dementia is the syndrome in which affects the brain and hence cause serious loss of cognitive ability in aging person. It causes major dysfunction in memory, attention, language, and problem solving abilities, is now said get treated by the daily intake of beet juice, which in turn increase the blood flow in the brain in older adults.


A new study found in this prospect that beet juice can combat the progression of Dementia. As beet root contains high concentrations of nitrates which when comes in contact with the bacteria’s in mouth gets converted into nitrites and nitrites in turn open blood vessels in the body and increase the blood flow in the places in the body where it is required the most.

It has been shown previously also that nitrites found in high concentration in celery, cabbage, and other leafy, green vegetables like spinach, widely blood vessels but this study was first to say that nitrites increase blood flow in the brain as well. "There have been several very high-profile studies showing that drinking beet juice can lower blood pressure, but we wanted to show that drinking beet juice also increases perfusion, or blood flow, to the brain," said Daniel Kim-Shapiro, director of Wake Forest University's Translational Science Center; Fostering Independence in Aging.

The study on Beet root was done on 14 adults age 70 and older over a period of four days, where the researchers looked at the effects of the dietary intake of nitrates, where the subjects reported to the lab after 10 hours fast, for the first two days they consumed either a high and a low nitrate rich diet including 16 ounces of beet juice, where high nitrates is to be given more and recorded the blood flow by MRI and for the third and fourth days of the study, the researchers switched the diets and repeated the process for each subject.

It showed that by eating nitrate rich diet increase the blood flow to the white matter of the frontal lobes he areas of the brain commonly associated with degeneration that leads to dementia and other cognitive conditions.

The findings are published online in Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry, journal of the Nitric Oxide Society and will be available in print soon.

Breakfast: The Most Important Meal of The Day - - Skipping Breakfast Leads to Increase in Heart Diseases

Ever wondered why breakfast is touted as the most important meal of the day?

Starting the day by eating a wholesome, nutritious morning meal not only gives your body a kick-start that energizes you mentally and physically but it is also the secret to staying healthy, claims a new study.

According to researchers, skipping the first meal of the day increases the odds of obesity, large fat accumulation around the waist, higher cholesterol levels, developing diabetes, all of which heighten the risk of heart disease.

Experts theorize that people who start the day with the morning meal are less likely to be hungry during the rest of the day while breakfast skippers are more inclined to nibble on high-calorie snacks to stave off hunger.

Studies have established that people tend to accumulate more body fat when they eat fewer, larger meals than when they eat the same number of calories in smaller, more frequent meals.

Link between skipping breakfast and cardiometabolic risk assessed

Researchers from the University of Tasmania carried out a study to assess the link between skipping breakfast in childhood and adulthood and cardiometabolic risk.

The researchers enrolled 2184 Australian children aged 9 to 15 years old in 1985.

As a part of the study, the weight and height of the participants was measured and they were also questioned about what they ate before coming to school.

The team revisited them after 20 years when they were around 36 years old. At that time, their adult breakfast habits were recorded.

In addition, their waist circumference, blood levels of sugar (glucose), insulin, and fats (lipids) were also measured.

Participants also reported their levels of physical activity. In addition, factors such as age, gender, education, occupation, smoking, TV viewing, socioeconomic status as a child, and diet factors were taken into account.

Revelations of the study

It was noted that 1359 ate breakfast as children and adults, 224 skipped the morning meal as kids, 515 failed to eat breakfast as adults and 86 people abstained from the morning meal both as children and as adults.

The findings revealed that people who skipped breakfast as adults had an unhealthy lifestyle.

Those who avoided the morning meal at both ages had a larger waist circumference, higher insulin levels in the blood, elevated levels of total cholesterol as opposed to those who ate breakfast during both childhood and adulthood.

The researchers concluded that “skipping breakfast over a long period may have detrimental effects on cardiometabolic health."

The study was sponsored by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, the Australian National Heart Foundation, the Tasmanian Community Fund, Veolia Environmental Services, Sanitarium, ASICS and Target.

The study findings have been published in the 'American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.'

Cure of Asthma Possible With Bitter Taste - - Discovered by A Lung Specialist; Dr. Stephen B. Liggett

The sense of taste is not limited to the mouth, and researchers say this discovery may lead to better treatments for diseases such as asthma.



The bitter taste receptors are also found in smooth muscles of the lungs and airways. These muscles relax when they are exposed to bitter tastes, according to a study by researchers from the Medical College of Maryland in Baltimore, published in an edition of the Nature Medicine journal.

The discovery surprised the doctor Stephen B. Liggett, a lung specialist who identified an association between bitter taste with poisonous plants, leading humans to avoid ingesting bitter foods.

Liggett believed that the bitter taste receptors in the lungs produce a reaction of “rejection or numbness”, causing the hardness of the chest and consequent cough, so that the person leaves the “toxic” environment.

Instead, when scientists tested some non-toxic bitter components in the airways of rats and humans, the airways relaxed and open.

Liggett, who hopes to begin human trials within a year, explained that eating bitter does not help in the treatment of asthma. According to him, it is need to inhale enough doses of aerosol components.

Red Onions: Natural Fighter Against Heart Problems

As per Chinese researchers, regular consumption of red onions is quite effective in preventing the risk of heart disease in human body by removing the bad cholesterol responsible for triggering the fatal condition.

Commenting on the study findings, lead-study author, professor Zhen Yu Chen at the Chinese University in Hong Kong, said in a press statement that despite various studies carried out on the benefits of onions to humans “a little is known of how their consumption interacts with human genes and proteins involved in cholesterol metabolism within the body.”

So they decided to conduct this research in order to distinguish this very interaction of “onions with enzymes in an attempt to explore the underlying cholesterol-lowering mechanism.”

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Ginger: Better Than Painkiller Drugs - - Eases Muscle Pain Caused by Heavy Exercise

Eating ginger can help ease muscle pain caused by heavy exercise, says a latest research.

Ginger root has been used as a household remedy since centuries for a variety of ailments, such as cough and colds and upset stomach, but now the study has revealed that ginger is particularly good for staving off muscle pain, reports dailymail.co.uk .


Professor Patrick O'Connor, of the University of Georgia , who led the research believes this remedy can be better than consuming painkiller drugs.

"Anything that can truly relieve this type of pain will be greatly welcomed by the many people who are experiencing it," he said.

The study showed daily ginger intake reduced the exercise-induced pain by 25 per cent. It is known to contain chemicals that work in a similar way to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin.

Beetroot Juice: A Natural Stamina Booster - - Increase Blood Nitrate Levels And Reduce Muscle Usage of Adenosine Triphosphate

Drinking half a litre – almost a pint – a day for one week enabled test subjects using exercise bikes to cycle for 16 per cent longer before they were tired out, a study found.

It followed earlier research that showed the juice increased endurance.

Now scientists believe they know how the beetroot boost works. The juice doubled the amount of nitrate in the volunteers’ blood and cut the rate at which their muscles used up energy and oxygen, the University of Exeter team said.

‘While our previous research demonstrated the benefits of nitrate-rich beetroot juice on stamina, our latest work indicates this is consequent to a reduced energy cost of muscle force production,’ said study leader Prof Andy Jones.

‘Since our first study came out, we have seen growing interest in the benefits of drinking beetroot juice in the world of professional sport and I expect this study to attract more attention from athletes.’

Prof Jones’ team studied seven healthy men aged 19 to 38, who were asked to complete knee extension exercises while measuring their exertion levels.

Beetroot was found to increase blood nitrate levels and reduce muscle usage of adenosine triphosphate – the body’s chief energy source. The findings are published in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

Increasing Risk of Heart Disease And Type 2 Diabetes Due to Excessive Use of Processed Meats - - Revealed by a Recent Research at Havard

Cardiologists will tell you that eating a lot of meat is probably not the best thing for your heart health.

But now a new study out of Harvard finds that it all depends on what form of meat you're eating.

Here's Chuck Roberts with this morning's Get Fit, Get Healthy Tri-States tip.

Harvard researchers report on this week's website of the journal, Circulation, that eating processed meats, such as sausage, bologna and bacon may raise a person's risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. But on the flip side, the analysis found eating red meat that was not processed, such as beef, pork and lamb, did not elevate a person's risk for either of these health problems. The researchers looked at data from 20 large studies on meat and health and found processed meats were associated with a 42 percent higher risk of heart disease and 19 percent higher risk of type 2 diabetes. But red meat had no significant effects. Even though they found processed meat and red meat to have approximately the same amount of saturated fat and cholesterol, the researchers say the processed meat had four times more sodium and 50 percent more nitrate preservatives in them than the red meat, suggesting these elements could have more effect on heart disease and diabetes, than fat. The meat industry has a different view. The American Meat Institute Foundation says meat contains protein, amino acids, iron and zinc, which are the keys to good health. The AMIF says this is just one study from a wealth of research that has clearly demonstrated processed meat is a healthy part of a balanced diet.

Your Health Partner - - Healthiest Food on Earth

1. Berries
All berries are low in sugar and high in fiber. Blueberries have been shown to increase memory in lab studies, and raspberries and strawberries are loaded with ellagic acid, a powerful antioxidant that seems to have some anti-cancer properties, according to the American Cancer Society.

2. Beans
Beans are extremely high in fiber, which helps to control weight, prevent or manage diabetes and blood sugar, and may help prevent colon cancer and protect against heart disease. The National Institute of Medicine recommends 25-38 grams of fiber a day. The average American gets only 4-11 grams. One cup of beans provides 11-17 grams.

3. Nuts
Some of the largest and most important long-term studies of diet and health have shown that eating nuts several times a week is consistent with a risk of heart attack and heart disease that is 30%-50% lower than the general population. Just one ounce of nuts-almonds, macadamia, Brazil , walnuts, pecans-eaten three to five times a week seems to be the magic number.

4. Wild Salmon
Fish is the ultimate anti-aging food. Cold-water fatty fish like wild salmon, sardines, mackerel and herring contain omega-3 fats that protect the brain and the heart, improve mood, and lower blood pressure and triglycerides.

5. Raw Milk
Raw, organic milk nearly always comes from grass-fed cows and contains high levels of cancer-fighting CLA (conjugated linolenic acid) as well as a rich assortment of vitamins, minerals and beneficial bacteria (like Lactobacillus acidophilus)

6. Grass-Fed
Meat Meat from grass-fed cows has a much different fat profile than ordinary supermarket meat: high in omega-3s, lower in potentially harmful omega-6s and loaded with CLA, a kind of fat known for its anti-cancer activity. A superb source of protein and vitamin B12, it's also missing the antibiotics, steroids and hormones found in the meat that comes from feedlot farms.

7. Eggs
Considered by many to be nature's most perfect food, the egg is high in protein and relatively low in calories. The yolk contains choline, one of the most important nutrients for the brain, as well as lutein and xeazanthin, two critical nutrients for eye health. Brassica Vegetables Cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and kale all contain plant compounds called indoles that help reduce the risk of cancer. In addition to a stunning range of vitamins and minerals, they also contain sulforaphane, an important plant chemical that helps the body detoxify health-damaging chemicals.

8. Apples
Not only do they keep the doctor away, they also appear to do the same for lung cancer, diabetes and asthma. An apple contains five grams of fiber and a rich blend of nutrients including the bone-building vitamin K and the anti-inflammatory nutrient quercetin. And there's no better way to control your appetite than an apple eaten about half an hour before a big meal.

9. Onions and Garlic
In an impressive number of published studies, the consumption of onions and garlic has demonstrated protective effects against stomach, prostate and esophageal cancer. Along with broccoli, tea and apples, onions and garlic are among a select group of foods found to reduce mortality from heart disease by 20%.

10. Pomegranate Juice
Called "a natural Viagra" by researchers at Tel Aviv University , pomegranate juice is loaded with antioxidants. Studies show it can reduce blood pressure and plaque in the arteries. New research indicates it also slows the progression of tumors.. Four to eight ounces a day is highly recommended.

11. Green Tea
Though all teas are great for you, green tea has a unique profile of plant chemicals that have anti-cancer activity. It's now fairly established that green tea may help prevent the following types of cancers in humans: bladder, colon, esophagus, pancreas, rectum and stomach. If that's not enough, it also appears to help with weight control.