Health News and Scoops

Play doctor or see if there is something weird about your stool with this new app from Quango called the “iPoop”. This is a new iPhone app that allows you to analyze your stool by merely placing the iPhone on the toiled bowl.

After completing a bowel movement, users visually examine what remains in the toilet bowl and then rate their droppings across three categories: frequency, color and shape. After “flushing” – or submitting – their report, users see an evaluation of what each characteristic might be telling them about their health and diet.

“The application is not meant to replace a qualified physician or gastroenterologist. Our hope is that this application would educate and encourage users to consider their health from an often overlooked perspective,” added Anolik. “If someone can take the this information and use it as a conversation starter with a physician, family member or friend, we’ve achieved success.”

PR Web

A buzz has begun in response to research released this week about the benefits of organic food. The study showed that organic food does not actually contain more nutrients than non-organically grown food. Measurements for nutritional benefit were based on the amount of compounds such as phosphorous, zinc, copper, and Vitamin C. Acidity content and nitrogenous compound content were other factors measured in the comparison. It was found that between organically grown foods and those that aren’t organically grown, the only difference is nitrogen content and relative acidity. These results were not taken lightly by the food administration, which claimed the study has no foundation; they say that the researchers used data from as far back as 1958, used outdated techniques, and failed to explain why nearly all other studies comparing organically grown versus non-organically grown food showed significantly more nutrients in organic food.

This is an interesting study, and one that to me sounds like the researchers were set out to prove a point rather than to execute a well-thought out research project. As others have claimed in response to this study, the compounds that were measured were not compounds that the food administration has ever argued are more present in organic foods. Organic foods have more antioxidants, and other beneficial compounds, than non-organically grown foods, and having more antioxidants is significantly more important than having more or less zinc or copper.

In my opinion, the most important caveat to this study is that the whole idea of eating organic foods is to avoid the chemicals. Sure, it’s sometimes advertised that organic foods have more nutrients, but in most cases the advertising is telling you that organic food is more nutritious. Key difference. More nutritious meaning there are no pesticides, antibiotics, and various other chemicals that have been swimming around in our food for so long. They missed the point. Multiple studies to date have showed significant evidence that organic foods have far less chemicals than non-organic food; and thus, don’t be deterred by this “data.” Eat those organic foods, but at the same time, don’t pay $6 for an orange either.

A lawsuit was filed against Denny’s this week by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a nonprofit organization that serves as “a strong advocate for nutrition and health, food safety, alcohol policy, and sound science.” The organization has sued Denny’s for extreme sodium levels found in the food.  Although Denny’s management argues that anyone can simply go to their website to find the nutrition facts about their food, the CSPI wants more.  The lawsuit is calling for Denny’s to display the sodium content right on the menu, along with warnings to the customers about the effects of high sodium.  Unfortunately for the circulatory systems of many frequent Denny’s customers, Denny’s has refused these changes and asks that they be allowed to lower the sodium amounts in the food themselves.  Or in other words, Denny’s wants to take as long as possible to do anything about the situation.

The Center for Disease Control warns adults not to exceed 1,500mg of sodium each day.  To give you an idea of where the CSPI is coming from, on particular Denny’s dish called “Moons Over My Hammy” contains 2,580mg of sodium (item seen in picture on the right).  This item is not one of those extreme “lumberjack” breakfasts that you might have seen before; it is just a ham, egg, and cheese sandwich.  Customers who were interviewed about the Denny’s food, and who were told about the amount of sodium they were eating, unanimously agreed that they would not have ordered those dishes if they had known about the amount of sodium.

Denny’s is not backing down, however, and in response to the CSPI action the chain has relased the following statement:

“Denny’s believes the lawsuit filed by CSPI is frivolous and without merit, and the company will fight it aggressively in court. With hundreds of items on the menu, Denny’s offers a wide variety of choices for consumers with different lifestyles, understanding that many have special dietary needs. In June 2009, the company launched Better for You items, allowing guests to replace favorites with lower-sodium and fat alternatives. Additionally, earlier this month, Denny’s launched a Better for You kids menu. All nutrition information is available online at www.dennys.com.”

This story could go either way.  For one, we should all be educated enough to know that eating at any restaurant chain is not good for your health.  Denny’s does not make any promises to consumers that their dishes are healthy; they just promise that they taste great.  On the other hand, I think that people are going to eat there regardless of sodium content, so they should display the sodium content on their menus if anything to avoid liability.  After someone eats the food, the damage is done.  Consulting the website will not help at that point.  No one is telling Denny’s to get rid of any food options, and I believe that many people will still eat them no matter what, but at least they are keeping their customers informed.  The moral of the story? Eat breakfast at home. Save your money, save your arteries.