Not All Sugars Are Created Equal

Lactose is the sugar found in milk and essentially nowhere else in the world. (There are a few reports of traces being found in various plants, but it's not clear whether those can be confirmed.) There are about 12 grams of lactose in a cup, eight ounces, of milk. That's one reason why nutritionists favor milk over sodas. An equivalently-sized glass of Coke has 27 grams of sugar.

But what kind of sugar is sugar? In the United States the word "sugar" on an ingredients list means sucrose, the sugar that is found in sugar cane or sugar beets. Any other sweetener must be individually named.

What's in these sweeteners? The new January-February 2010 issue of the Nutrition Action Healthletter (so new that the website hasn't been updated to mention it yet: what's wrong with people who can't get their websites up to date?) has an interesting sidebar to its cover article on "Sugar Overload." It tells you what's in sugars. It may not be what you expect.

Lactose is a disaccharide, meaning it is made up of two simple sugars, glucose and galactose. Sugar is an example of a carbohydrate and all carbohydrates eventually break down in the body to form glucose, which is the body's energy source. Glucose is already there. Galactose breaks down in about 45 minutes. Complex carbohydrates, like the starches, are usually just long chains of glucose molecules. That's why all carbohydrates provide 4 calories of energy per gram.

Sucrose is also a disaccharide, made up of fructose and glucose. It's a chemical combination of the two, just as lactose is a chemical combination of galactose and glucose. Fructose metabolism is somewhat more complex than galactose metabolism, one reason that it is controversial as a sweetener. The big difference between sucrose and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), though, is that sucrose is a chemical combination of glucose and fructose and HFCS is a physical combination of the two. There are several commercial mixtures of glucose and fructose that are sold as HFCS but the version that is 58% glucose and 42% fructose has the same sweetness as sucrose, which is why it's used as a substitute.

So what is the effect of HFCS? That same page I linked to above says there isn't one.

Studies that have compared high fructose corn syrup (an ingredient in nearly all soft drinks sold in the US) to sucrose (common table sugar) find that most measured physiological effects are equivalent. For instance, Melanson et al. (2006), studied the effects of HFCS and sucrose sweetened drinks on blood glucose, insulin, leptin, and ghrelin levels. They found no significant differences in any of these parameters.[48] This is not surprising since sucrose is a disaccharide which digests to 50% fructose and 50% glucose; while the high fructose corn syrup most commonly used on soft drinks is 55% fructose and 45% glucose. The difference between the two lies in the fact that HFCS contains little sucrose, the fructose and glucose being independent moieties.

48. Melanson, K.; et al. (2006). "Eating Rate and Satiation.". Obesity Society (NAASO) 2006 Annual Meeting, October 20-24,Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Massachusetts. doi:10.1111/1467-9280.02452 (inactive 2008-06-25).

Let the furious comments begin.

What about other sugars? Let's circle back to that Nutrition Action Healthletter article.

Agave syrup or nectar: 84% fructose, 8% glucose, 8% sucrose.
Apple juice concentrate: 60% fructose, 27% glucose, 13% sucrose.
Brown sugar: 97% sucrose, 1% fructose, 1% glucose.
Evaporated cane juice: 100% sucrose.
Dextrose: 100% glucose.
Grape juice concentrate: 52% fructose, 48% glucose.
High-fructose corn syrup: 58% glucose, 42% fructose or 55% fructose, 45% glucose.
Honey: 50% fructose, 44% glucose, 1% sucrose.
Maple syrup: 95% sucrose, 4% sucrose, 1% fructose.
Molasses: 53% sucrose, 23% fructose, 21% glucose.
Orange juice concentrate: 46% sucrose, 28% fructose, 26% glucose.
Raw sugar, Table sugar, Confectioner's sugar, Baker's sugar, Powdered sugar: 100% sucrose.

(If the percentages don't equal 100% the remainder are other carbohydrates.)

That's right. Agave nectar, the darling of coconut milk nondairy alternatives, is much higher in fructose than HFCS. So is apple juice content rate. And honey is basically the equivalent of HFCS.

If you want to scorn HFCS you're free to do so. Just be aware that the alternatives may have far more fructose that they aren't telling you about. It's not the food: it's how much you have of it and what percentage that plays in your overall diet. Please don't get fooled by phony claims of "organic" or "natural." First understand the chemistry and composition of food. Then make wise decisions.

Anaphylaxis - Life-Threatening Allergy

I found an excellent article on anaphylaxis on the AAIR (Asthma and Allergy Information & Research) site. Information and Research. My heart is beating faster already.

And much good informtion there is.

How can you tell if someone is having anaphylaxis?
Anaphylaxis usually happens quickly.
Anaphylaxis can produce:

• An itchy nettlerash (urticaria, hives)
• Faintness and unconsciousness due to very low blood pressure. Unlike an ordinary fainting attack, this does not improve so dramatically on lying down.
• Swelling (angioedema)
• Swelling in the throat, causing difficulty in swallowing or breathing
• Asthma symptoms
• Vomiting
• Cramping tummy pains
• Diarrhoea
• A tingling feeling in the lips or mouth if the cause was a food such as nuts
• Death due to obstruction to breathing or extreme low blood pressure (anaphylactic shock)

And a table of epinephrine injectors.

What is the best treatment for anaphylaxis?

Although there are several important treatments, by far the most important
is:

Adrenaline (epinephrine)

There is one drug which will work against all the effects of all the dangerous substances released in anaphylaxis. It is adrenaline (epinephrine). For serious attacks, it is a vital treatment. You need to inject it; inhalers may no longer be an option.

There are special syringe kits to make injection easy:

Name of injection kit	Country (incomplete list)	Dose	Source	Comment
Epipen	USA, Europe	Adult 0.3 mg Child 0.15 mg	Dey Laboratories (USA) ALK (Eur)	Long-established
Anapen	UK	Adult 0.3 mg Child 0.15 mg	Lincoln Medical Limited, UK	Identical drug & dose to Epipen. Easy to use.
AnaKit	USA	2 doses of 0.3 mg: other doses possible	Bayer	Long-established. Red box also contains antihistamine tablets and flimsy tourniquet (for bee or wasp sting).
Anaguard	USA,also available elsewhere.	As AnaKit	Bayer	Syringe as AnaKit, pen-like container is compact and strong, no tablets or tourniquet.
Min-I-Jet	UK	1 mg, other doses possible	IMS, UK	Seems designed more for hospital use.

Zilli's Cooking Empire

Aldo Zilli holds the world record for the most times a pancake is flipped in 1 minute. He flipped it 117 times in the minute.

What more do you need to be a Celebrity Chef in the modern world? Oh, very well. He's also appeared on One Man and His Hob. Still not impressed? Then you're probably not British, where Zilli is a one-man industry. One Man and His Hob featured him traveling around the UK, doing outdoor cookery on his portable hob, stove to you and me. That's in addition to his appearances on various other cooking shows and Celebrity Fit Club.

And his restaurants, like Zilli Fish and Zilli Cafe. And now Zilli Green.

Award winning Italian chef and restaurateur, Aldo Zilli will launch his new and innovative vegetarian restaurant, Zilli Green in Soho on the 14th February 2010 - the first ever Italian vegetarian chef with a fusion mind from across the world.

His former flagship restaurant, Signor Zilli will be entirely remodelled and re-branded to celebrate Aldo's commitment to healthy living. What's more, it will reinforce the message that vegetarian food doesn't have to be dull or tasteless - but exciting and delicious with quirky flavours and combinations. The menu will be an experience to share

Head chef, Enzo di Marino, one of the UK's most exciting, talented up and coming vegetarian chefs (who trained in the Abruzzo region of Italy before working internationally, including Japan) will create a wide selection of quality seasonal dishes with vegetables naturally sourced from trusted local producers (and prepared in a dedicated meat and fish-free kitchen). Observing Aldo's ethos of producing great tasting healthy cuisine with a contemporary twist, Zilli Green features dishes inspired by travelling the world. ...

A selection of classic palette cleansing desserts with a healthy twist includes Dairy-free tiramisu cake, Peach and mango crème brulee and an eclectic range of organic ice-creams. Organic wines and freshly squeezed juices will also feature in the downstairs bar.

Another release says that "While all the dishes are vegetarian, individual menu items are also labeled as vegan, vegan option, and gluten free when appropriate."

High end vegan cuisine seems to be rarer in the UK than it is in the larger American cities, so this is a welcome trend.

Two Gluten- and Dairy-Free Recipes

The AllergiesAndMe.com website has a recipes page.

They've been adding to it from other bloggers and authors and announced that in a press release.

Tina Turbin is a children’s book author, Danny the Dragon, and provides gluten-free support on her blogsite, www.GlutenFreeHelp.info as well as her main website, www.TinaTurbin.com. Tina has donated one of her favorite gluten free recipes, "Browny Muffins", and it should become a household favorite.

Megan Hart is one of the founders of the blogsite, WelcomingKitchen.blogspot.com. In addition, she has co-authored some allergen free cookbooks with Kim Lutz. Their newest Welcoming Kitchen will be available in September. Megan’s recipe contribution this week is “Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts”. These donuts have a coffee cake-like texture and will start your mornings off with a skip.

I've corrected the name of Megan Hart's blog, which was wrong in the press release.

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In this week's email... International Coffeehouse Chili Cook Off Sun Feb 7th 5:00 Superbowl Party Sun Feb 7th 5:30 (NOTE TIME CHANGE) Famous Bible Stories Study Fridays and Sundays- This Week Gensis Chapter 1 Great Study Space- Events Coming Later this semester Join our Mailing List! Join us this Friday or any Friday at the International Coffeehouse Come by anytime between 4-6pm and join us for snacks, conversation and friendship. It's a great place to ask questions like: "What did you think of President Obama's State of the Union speech?" or "What is a good valentine gift idea for my boy/girl friend?" or anything other question that you are pondering. And of course it is free. Chili Cook Off Sunday February 7th 5:00 PM Right before our Super Bowl Party, we will be holding our 4th annual Chili Cook Off. Bring your best chili and "fixings" and then we will officially determine who the best chili cook in the area is. The grand prize will be a $50 gift certificate to Chili's Restaurant and the coveted Wesley Chili Champion Apron. All attendees at the Super Bowl will be judges. (So if you really want to win, bring lots of friends!) Please reply to this email if you are bringing chili. One medium sized pot of chili will be enough as we will have many entrants. We will meet in Watseka Lounge at the Wesley Foundation 1203 Goodwin Street Urbana Superbowl Party February 7th at 5:30 PM The biggest sports event in America, the Super Bowl determines who is the best football team "in the world." (We're talking American football not soccer!) For persons who want to learn, we will be teaching you how to play and watch football (touch football that is). We will also be giving away a football as a "door prize." We'll have a giant projection screen set up in the Watseka Lounge at the Wesley Foundation. We ask you to either bring chili for the cook off (preceding the game) or a snack to share during the game. Famous Bible Stories Studies Fri 2:30-4:00 or Sun 12:30 - 2:00 Each week we will be looking at a new story in its historical context and modern issues that it may raise. This class will be offered at two different times each week. Choose which works best for you. Each weeks classes are independent so come when you can. Classes are free and we have bibles you can borrow. This Friday and Sunday we will be looking at Genesis Chapter 1. This is the first story in the bible telling of the creation of the world and everything in it. For some Christians, the literal belief in this story (and the rejection of evolutionary theory) becomes a "test case" for faith. Others understand it not as a historical account but as a story explaining God's relationship to creation and humans. It raises questions about science, responsibility to nature, the "goodness" of the world, why God would have created the world. Fridays from 2:30 - 4:00 pm and again Sundays from 12:30 - 2:00 pm (This class will be include a "lite lunch") Friday January 29th & Sunday January 30th - Stories from Genesis Friday February 5th & Sunday February 7th - Stories from Genesis Friday February 12th & Sunday February 13th - Moses NO CLASS Friday February 19th & Sunday February 21st NO CLASS Friday February 26th & Sunday February 28th - David and Goliath March schedule to be determined by participants. Classes will be held in the Etc. Coffeehouse at Wesley and the Student Lounge across the hall. 1203 W. Green Street Urbana Boost Grades- Study at Wesley The secret to good grades? Studying. The secret to studying? Finding the right place and spending a lot of time there. Our Wesley Foundation has numerous area's throughout our building that are great. Well lit. Quiet. Not too quiet. Snacks. Drinks. Wireless Internet. And best of all, it's FREE. Wander in today and explore to see if there is a good space to have a great semester. During many hours we also have a pot of coffee on in the Etc. Coffeehouse. Events Coming Later This Semester Fri. Jan. 29th 4-6pm International Coffeehouse Fri. Feb. 5th 4-6pm International Coffeehouse Sun. Feb. 7th 5:00pm Chili Cook Off Sun. Feb. 7th 5:30pm Super Bowl Party Fri. Feb. 12th 4-6pm International Coffeehouse (Valentines Presentation and Crafts) Sun. Feb. 14th 12:30 Valentine's Potluck Lunch Fri. Feb. 19th 4-6pm International Coffeehouse Fri. Feb. 26th 4-6pm International Coffeehouse To Be Announced Come learn about the Organ and even practice playing on it. Come to a Wedding Ceremony Spring Break Mission Trip to Lousianna

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In this week's email... International Coffeehouse Chili Cook Off Sun Feb 7th 5:00 Superbowl Party Sun Feb 7th 5:30 (NOTE TIME CHANGE) Famous Bible Stories Study Fridays and Sundays- This Week Gensis Chapter 1 Great Study Space- Events Coming Later this semester Join our Mailing List! Join us this Friday or any Friday at the International Coffeehouse Come by anytime between 4-6pm and join us for snacks, conversation and friendship. It's a great place to ask questions like: "What did you think of President Obama's State of the Union speech?" or "What is a good valentine gift idea for my boy/girl friend?" or anything other question that you are pondering. And of course it is free. Chili Cook Off Sunday February 7th 5:00 PM Right before our Super Bowl Party, we will be holding our 4th annual Chili Cook Off. Bring your best chili and "fixings" and then we will officially determine who the best chili cook in the area is. The grand prize will be a $50 gift certificate to Chili's Restaurant and the coveted Wesley Chili Champion Apron. All attendees at the Super Bowl will be judges. (So if you really want to win, bring lots of friends!) Please reply to this email if you are bringing chili. One medium sized pot of chili will be enough as we will have many entrants. We will meet in Watseka Lounge at the Wesley Foundation 1203 Goodwin Street Urbana Superbowl Party February 7th at 5:30 PM The biggest sports event in America, the Super Bowl determines who is the best football team "in the world." (We're talking American football not soccer!) For persons who want to learn, we will be teaching you how to play and watch football (touch football that is). We will also be giving away a football as a "door prize." We'll have a giant projection screen set up in the Watseka Lounge at the Wesley Foundation. We ask you to either bring chili for the cook off (preceding the game) or a snack to share during the game. Famous Bible Stories Studies Fri 2:30-4:00 or Sun 12:30 - 2:00 Each week we will be looking at a new story in its historical context and modern issues that it may raise. This class will be offered at two different times each week. Choose which works best for you. Each weeks classes are independent so come when you can. Classes are free and we have bibles you can borrow. This Friday and Sunday we will be looking at Genesis Chapter 1. This is the first story in the bible telling of the creation of the world and everything in it. For some Christians, the literal belief in this story (and the rejection of evolutionary theory) becomes a "test case" for faith. Others understand it not as a historical account but as a story explaining God's relationship to creation and humans. It raises questions about science, responsibility to nature, the "goodness" of the world, why God would have created the world. Fridays from 2:30 - 4:00 pm and again Sundays from 12:30 - 2:00 pm (This class will be include a "lite lunch") Friday January 29th & Sunday January 30th - Stories from Genesis Friday February 5th & Sunday February 7th - Stories from Genesis Friday February 12th & Sunday February 13th - Moses NO CLASS Friday February 19th & Sunday February 21st NO CLASS Friday February 26th & Sunday February 28th - David and Goliath March schedule to be determined by participants. Classes will be held in the Etc. Coffeehouse at Wesley and the Student Lounge across the hall. 1203 W. Green Street Urbana Boost Grades- Study at Wesley The secret to good grades? Studying. The secret to studying? Finding the right place and spending a lot of time there. Our Wesley Foundation has numerous area's throughout our building that are great. Well lit. Quiet. Not too quiet. Snacks. Drinks. Wireless Internet. And best of all, it's FREE. Wander in today and explore to see if there is a good space to have a great semester. During many hours we also have a pot of coffee on in the Etc. Coffeehouse. Events Coming Later This Semester Fri. Jan. 29th 4-6pm International Coffeehouse Fri. Feb. 5th 4-6pm International Coffeehouse Sun. Feb. 7th 5:00pm Chili Cook Off Sun. Feb. 7th 5:30pm Super Bowl Party Fri. Feb. 12th 4-6pm International Coffeehouse (Valentines Presentation and Crafts) Sun. Feb. 14th 12:30 Valentine's Potluck Lunch Fri. Feb. 19th 4-6pm International Coffeehouse Fri. Feb. 26th 4-6pm International Coffeehouse To Be Announced Come learn about the Organ and even practice playing on it. Come to a Wedding Ceremony Spring Break Mission Trip to Lousianna

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In this week's email... International Coffeehouse Chili Cook Off Sun Feb 7th 5:00 Superbowl Party Sun Feb 7th 5:30 (NOTE TIME CHANGE) Famous Bible Stories Study Fridays and Sundays- This Week Gensis Chapter 1 Great Study Space- Events Coming Later this semester Join our Mailing List! Join us this Friday or any Friday at the International Coffeehouse Come by anytime between 4-6pm and join us for snacks, conversation and friendship. It's a great place to ask questions like: "What did you think of President Obama's State of the Union speech?" or "What is a good valentine gift idea for my boy/girl friend?" or anything other question that you are pondering. And of course it is free. Chili Cook Off Sunday February 7th 5:00 PM Right before our Super Bowl Party, we will be holding our 4th annual Chili Cook Off. Bring your best chili and "fixings" and then we will officially determine who the best chili cook in the area is. The grand prize will be a $50 gift certificate to Chili's Restaurant and the coveted Wesley Chili Champion Apron. All attendees at the Super Bowl will be judges. (So if you really want to win, bring lots of friends!) Please reply to this email if you are bringing chili. One medium sized pot of chili will be enough as we will have many entrants. We will meet in Watseka Lounge at the Wesley Foundation 1203 Goodwin Street Urbana Superbowl Party February 7th at 5:30 PM The biggest sports event in America, the Super Bowl determines who is the best football team "in the world." (We're talking American football not soccer!) For persons who want to learn, we will be teaching you how to play and watch football (touch football that is). We will also be giving away a football as a "door prize." We'll have a giant projection screen set up in the Watseka Lounge at the Wesley Foundation. We ask you to either bring chili for the cook off (preceding the game) or a snack to share during the game. Famous Bible Stories Studies Fri 2:30-4:00 or Sun 12:30 - 2:00 Each week we will be looking at a new story in its historical context and modern issues that it may raise. This class will be offered at two different times each week. Choose which works best for you. Each weeks classes are independent so come when you can. Classes are free and we have bibles you can borrow. This Friday and Sunday we will be looking at Genesis Chapter 1. This is the first story in the bible telling of the creation of the world and everything in it. For some Christians, the literal belief in this story (and the rejection of evolutionary theory) becomes a "test case" for faith. Others understand it not as a historical account but as a story explaining God's relationship to creation and humans. It raises questions about science, responsibility to nature, the "goodness" of the world, why God would have created the world. Fridays from 2:30 - 4:00 pm and again Sundays from 12:30 - 2:00 pm (This class will be include a "lite lunch") Friday January 29th & Sunday January 30th - Stories from Genesis Friday February 5th & Sunday February 7th - Stories from Genesis Friday February 12th & Sunday February 13th - Moses NO CLASS Friday February 19th & Sunday February 21st NO CLASS Friday February 26th & Sunday February 28th - David and Goliath March schedule to be determined by participants. Classes will be held in the Etc. Coffeehouse at Wesley and the Student Lounge across the hall. 1203 W. Green Street Urbana Boost Grades- Study at Wesley The secret to good grades? Studying. The secret to studying? Finding the right place and spending a lot of time there. Our Wesley Foundation has numerous area's throughout our building that are great. Well lit. Quiet. Not too quiet. Snacks. Drinks. Wireless Internet. And best of all, it's FREE. Wander in today and explore to see if there is a good space to have a great semester. During many hours we also have a pot of coffee on in the Etc. Coffeehouse. Events Coming Later This Semester Fri. Jan. 29th 4-6pm International Coffeehouse Fri. Feb. 5th 4-6pm International Coffeehouse Sun. Feb. 7th 5:00pm Chili Cook Off Sun. Feb. 7th 5:30pm Super Bowl Party Fri. Feb. 12th 4-6pm International Coffeehouse (Valentines Presentation and Crafts) Sun. Feb. 14th 12:30 Valentine's Potluck Lunch Fri. Feb. 19th 4-6pm International Coffeehouse Fri. Feb. 26th 4-6pm International Coffeehouse To Be Announced Come learn about the Organ and even practice playing on it. Come to a Wedding Ceremony Spring Break Mission Trip to Lousianna

Restarting Milk Drinking if You're Lactose Intolerant

I know, I know. You're all tired of my finding silly things that people say on the Net and correcting them. (Like the doctor - a doctor! - who wrote "Only IndoEuropeans (and one small tribe in Uganda) are able to digest milk without problems." Aarrgghhh! Every culture has at least some people who are lactose tolerant. And there are many tribes in Africa who have historic milk cultures and so can drink milk.)

So it's really nice when I can find somebody who's knowledgeable and can explain things and who even says something new and interesting that I didn't know before.

Like Dr. Barry Starr of Stanford University whose Ask a Geneticist column answers a question I get frequently.

I read that lactose intolerance is caused by a genetic mutation. I previously consumed dairy, but have been a vegan for over a year now. I have heard some vegans say that they couldn't return to drinking dairy after being vegan for a long time because their body built up an immunity to it.

But if lactose intolerance is genetic, how is this possible? Are there multiple ways to build or weaken your tolerance for dairy?

Starr gives a good basic introduction to LI and then gets to the guts of the question.

So, what might be going on with your vegan friends?

I can think of a few possibilities. First off, lactase is only made in certain cells in the lining of your intestine. These cells are the only ones that can read the lactase recipe.

So if anything happens to them, then you can get temporary lactose intolerance until the cells return to normal. Things like gastro-enteritis or being allergic to wheat can cause this form of lactose intolerance. I haven't heard of diet affecting these cells though.

Another possibility is maybe something happened to the bacteria in their gut. Even people who make no lactase can tolerate a little milk in their diet. Most likely this is because of some beneficial intestinal bacteria.

These bacteria can digest milk for us in a way that doesn't cause discomfort. Certainly things like antibiotics can give someone temporary lactose intolerance. How might a diet change affect these bacteria?

Our gut is a battleground—a place of ferocious competition between lots of different kinds of bacteria. They are all trying to crowd each other out and they'll use any advantage they have.

Let's say some of the bacteria in your gut can easily digest milk. When you drink milk, they have an advantage over the other bacteria and so happily divide, making more of themselves.

Once you stop drinking milk, their ability to easily digest milk may become a liability. To digest milk, bacteria actually have extra DNA that lets them do it. The extra DNA means it takes a little longer for that bacterium to divide because it needs to copy all of its DNA first.

Now this is no big deal when they are awash in milk. The ability to digest milk more than compensates for the extra DNA. But when there is no milk, they slowly lose out to bacteria that can't digest milk. Or they get rid of that extra DNA and lose the ability altogether.

Either way, when you stop drinking milk, you may lose your ability to digest it because your bacteria lose their ability. I am not sure how big an impact something like this might have on someone's ability to drink milk. But it is a possibility...

Finally, it may be that it is a coincidence, the timing of the vegan diet and lactose intolerance. As I said before, people lose their ability to digest milk at different times of their lives. It may just be that some of your vegan friends happened to become lactose intolerant over the course of the time they were vegan.

That is the same answer that I always give people (phew!) and like Starr I think the real answer is either the second or third possibilities. That bit about the extra DNA on the bacteria was new even to me, though. It helps to be a expert expert.

Yogurt Named Food of Decade

Good old Harry Balzer. He's certainly consistent. How many people can you say that about in a positive sense in this day and age.

Balzer was the subject of one of the first posts I ever did on this blog, Yogurt Changed the Way We Eat. I wrote:

Harry Balzer knows more about the way you eat than anyone in America. His title is nothing special, vice president at the NPD Group. His job is. He studies Americans and food. Every day. ...

Every day, someone from the NPD Group is calling 3500 Americans, asking them whether they're gone to a restaurant, and if so, what they ate. The number one food ordered by women? French fries. Burgers are number two, pizza, number three. Salad comes in seventh. Men eat burgers, French fries, pizza in that order.

And NPD hands out notebooks to 3000 families at a time so that the can record everything they eat and drink for 14 days.

Then NPD combines the info and sells it for big bucks in their unique study, Eating Patterns in America, now in its 20th year. ...

And yogurt? Well, in Balzer's 28 years in the business, he's only named a "food of the day" that's changed America's eating patterns twice. The first was pizza, and now the second is yogurt.

Almost four years later, Balzer is still on the food patrol. And he's still touting yogurt. In an interview with NPR, Balzer named yogurt the food of the decade.

MICHELLE NORRIS: So was there one specific thing that defined the American diet over the last decade?

Dr. BALZER: Well, if there is one that defines this decade it would have to be yogurt.

NORRIS: Yogurt?

Dr. BALZER: Yogurt would be the category or the food that has increased in our dietary habits more than any other food during the past 10 years.

NORRIS: Color me surprised.

Dr. BALZER: And it probably, if you think about your own behavior, I'll bet you start your day off a lot with yogurt or have it during lunchtime, or maybe have it as a dessert or a side dish or as a snack, more than you did probably 10 years ago.

NORRIS: That's true.

Dr. BALZER: It's one of those things that kind of sneaks up on you, but yet I think defines what Americans are really looking for from its food supply.

NORRIS: Well, now, is it because yogurt is something that's healthy or because it's convenient or because it now comes in all kinds of forms?

Dr. BALZER: Yes.

NORRIS: It's not just in tubs. It's in tubes.

(Soundbite of laughter)

NORRIS: It's frozen. It's...

Dr. BALZER: Say yes to all of those. It's very convenient. It's very individualized. You don't get a bunch of yogurt like you get a pizza pie and celebrate with everybody else. This is just for you. It's your own flavor. It has a health halo certainly surrounding it. It really does define what I think America wants from its food supply.

And if you really want to know what the top food will be in 2020, Balzer can tell you. And you'll be more surprised than by the yogurt.

DR. BALZER: I will tell you the number one food that we will eat in the year 2020 will be a ham sandwich. And I know that because I've been doing this for 30 years and I was hard pressed in 1980 to be asked what we'll be eating in 1990. When I discovered that the ham sandwich was the number one thing we ate in 1980, and I made a prediction that we'd be eating it in 1990. And guess what we ate in 1990 - a ham sandwich. What do you think it was in 2000 - a ham sandwich. 2010? A ham sandwich.

So do I have to go out on a limb to tell you that the number one food we'll be eating in this country in the year 2020 will be a ham sandwich? What I don't know is what will be the bread. There will be something new about the ingredients or the condiments that go on this. But when I ask you, what did you have? You'll say, oh, I had a ham sandwich.

Let's hope it's on dairy-free bread.

Good Karma Milk Alternatives

Also at the supermarket this week I found products from Good Karma Foods, surely the quintessential natural/organic/alternative name.

Good Karma Organic Rice Divine and Organic Whole Grain Ricemilk products use the finest organic ingredients to give you a delightful eating experience indistinguishable from the even the best ice creams and dairy beverages. Our amazing products are Gluten Free, Dairy free, Vegan, Kosher, and Supports Green Farming.

They have three lines of milk alternative products.

Organic Rice Divine: Pints


Here’s the whole story behind Good Karma Organic Rice Divine™: We did it for you. You wanted someone to create a dessert no one had thought of before - - here it is. You didn’t want to worry about lactose intolerance or wheat allergies - - you don’t have to. You wanted uncompromised flavors that no one else had thought of before (or no one else had gotten right yet) - here they are.

Flavors: Banana Fudge; Carrot Cake; Chocolate Chip; Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge; Coconut Mango; Key Lime Pie; Mint Chocolae Swirl; Mudd Pie; Very Cherry; Very Vanilla.




Organic Whole Grain: Ricemilk

Get ready for the perfect ricemilk! Good Karma Foods as always, is excited to bring you yet another product of unparalleled quality and innovation. Welcome to the first beverage anywhere with 8 grams of Organic Whole Grain Brown Rice in every serving.Good Karma’s Organic Whole Grain Ricemilk contains all of the natural bran,bran oils, and other naturally occurring nutrients contained in Whole Grain Brown Rice! Our entire line is Organic, Creamy and Delicious! Enjoy Good Karma over cereal, in coffee, and best of all, in a tall cold glass.

Flavors: Chocolate; Original; and Vanilla.




Organic Rice Divine: Chocolate Covered Bars

The greatest frozen dessert we could create, and you don’t even need a spoon to enjoy it! Organic Rice Divine™ bars dipped in real organic chocolate and served on a stick. Just unwrap and enjoy. What could be easier? Available in Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chocolate. Three 3 ounce bars per box.Good Karma Organic Rice Divine™ - we’ve raised the bar on frozen desserts!

Flavors: Chocolate Chocolate Bars and Very Vanilla Bars

Tempt Hemp

A trip to the supermarket seems to find new milk alternative products each and every time. This week brought two.

First up is Tempt from Living Harvest.

Tempt™ Hempmilk is a delicious non-dairy beverage made from hemp seeds - one of nature's most perfect, planet-friendly foods. Perfect for your morning cereal or coffee, for cooking and baking, or to put the 'smooth' in your favorite fruit smoothie.

DAIRY & SOY FREE • VEGAN • TREE NUT FREE • GLUTEN FREE
CHOLESTEROL FREE • NON-GMO • KOSHER • LOW SODIUM
Hemp contains no known allergens

It comes in five flavors: Chocolate; Original, Unsweetened Original; Vanilla; and Unsweetened Original.

And now there is also Tempt Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert.



It also comes in five flavors: Chocolate Fudge; Coconut Lime; Coffee Biscotti; Mint Chip; and Vanilla Bean.

Much more information about hemp and the Tempt products at its FAQ page.

Hemp seeds are the edible part of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa L). They are a tiny, round seed, similar in size to a sesame seed. They have a light, pleasant flavor and taste similar to toasted pine nuts. Hemp seeds can be pressed for oil, milled into a protein powder, roasted or shelled and made into Hempmilk. Hemp seeds have been cultivated as a food for centuries in China, and many countries in Europe and Africa. All the hemp grown for Living Harvest products come from Canada. "

The World's Best - And Worst - Soy Milk

This week's sign of the apocalypse.

People in Australia, including some who are lactose intolerant, are demanding Bonsoy soy milk to put in their coffee because it tastes so good that there is no substitute.

"I'm lactose intolerant and I'm really fussy about my coffee. Bonsoy is the only one that tastes good," she said. "I tried another brand of soy milk but it just doesn't taste the same.

That's taken from Sarah Whyte's article in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Sounds great, right? What terrific advertising for a product. Except for one little detail. Bonsoy has been banned and recalled.

On December 24 Food Standards Australia warned against drinking Bonsoy after 10 people, including a newborn baby, fell ill with thyroid problems in NSW. A national recall was ordered.

Bonsoy was found to contain "unusually high levels" of iodine, which may affect the thyroid. It is enriched with kombu, a seaweed product. One cup of Bonsoy milk was found to contain 7500 micrograms of iodine – more than seven times the suggested daily dose for adults.

Yet some cafés are stocking black market batches of Bonsoy, and people are buying it under the counter.

Has the world gone entirely nuts? People are risking their lives for soy milk? Why?

Coffee and Cream Stout

I've mentioned that lactose is often used in brewing beer to make the variation called milk stout. Wikipedia gives this definition:

Milk stout (also called sweet stout or cream stout) is a stout containing lactose, a sugar derived from milk. Because lactose is unfermentable by beer yeast, it adds sweetness, body, and calories to the finished beer. Milk stout was claimed to be nutritious, and was given to nursing mothers, along with other stouts, such as Guinness. The classic surviving example of milk stout is Mackeson Stout, for which the original brewers claimed that "each pint contains the energising carbohydrates of 10 ounces of pure dairy milk".

Which should get you to say, "Wow, that's a lot of milk."

How bad is milk stout for you? As I wrote in Lactose in Beer?

How much lactose is left in the beer? You won't be surprised to learn that it varies too much with the recipe for a definitive answer. I did a calculation from one recipe and found that it resulted in about half as much lactose as a glass of milk. Other sources say, however, that the lactose content is small for some milk stouts. If you drink for flavor and not a buzz the lactose shouldn't be a problem.

That Wikipedia page also mentions a variation called "coffee stout."

Dark roasted malts, such as black patent malt (the darkest roast), can lend a bitter coffee flavour to dark beer. Some brewers like to emphasize the coffee flavour and add ground coffee. Brewers will often give these beers names such as "Guatemalan Coffee Stout", "Espresso Stout", "Breakfast Coffee Stout", etc.

The ABV of these coffee flavoured stouts will vary from under 4% to over 8%. Most examples will be dry and bitter, though others add milk sugar to create a sweet stout which may then be given a name such as "Coffee & Cream Stout" or just "Coffee Cream Stout". Other flavours such as mint or chocolate may also be added in various combinations.

I noticed a mention of one at the phillyburbs.com site.

On tap now at Triumph Brewing Company of New Hope is the Coffee and Cream Stout. A hybrid style of beer created by crossing coffee stout with milk stout. Adding unfermentable milk sugar (lactose) in the kettle results in a texture that is rich, chewy and, quite literally, creamy.

One more thing you have to watch out for, making you even more paranoid. You can thank me later.