Did You Know...

...Vitamin K is important for strong healthy bones too? Most people know that calcium and Vitamin D are crucial for strong bones, but it's also important to get enough Vitamin K. Women should shoot for 65 mcg a day, while men need 80 mcg. Green leafy (spinach, mustard, kale, romaine lettuce and chard) vegetables are the best source of Vitamin K.

...The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a popular pesticide called Dursban may cause blurred vision, muscle weakness, headache, memory loss, depression and irritability when people are exposed to it in large amounts? More than 20 million pounds of Dursban are used each year in the U. S. to kill insects, termites and cockroaches in homes, schools, and hospitals. It is also used in pet collars. About 80 out of 325 reported illnesses from Dursban poisoning were serious enough to require hospitalization, EPA noted. EPA will not make a final determination on restrictions of the use of the pesticide until next summer. Source: Nutrition Week, Community Nutrition Institute Vol. XXIX No. 43 and 11/12/99.

...houseplants can reduce indoor pollutants? Some houseplants, particularly the spider plant, can help clean up indoor air, but only up to a point. Evidence shows that spider plants slightly reduce indoor air pollution, but they don't clear the air of harmful contaminants such as cigarette smoke and carbon monoxide. Keep in mind, too, that if you overwater your plants, you are promoting the growth of fungi and allergens and in doing so, contributing to the problem of indoor air pollution.

...the Food and Drug Administration has approved a health claim for soy products? As of October 26, 1999 the FDA authorized the use of claims about the role of soy products in reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. According to research, foods containing soy protein included in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol levels. One would need to eat 25 grams of soy protein per day to show a significant cholesterol lowering effect. Food labels that may be eligible to print the health claim include soy beverages, tofu, tempeh, soy-based meat alternatives and possibly some baked goods. Food carrying the claim must also be low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol.

Spring 2000
Perennial Plant of the Year | Fertilizing Your Lawn in Spring | Home Study Lawn Care Course | Stay Safe When Mowing Your Lawn | PHS Gold Medal Plant Award | Penn State Expert Offers Tree Shoppers Well-Rooted Advice | Cybergarden Sites | Bug Bites | Hort Shorts | Hort Tips | Healthy Body-The New Year's Resolution | Water: An Essential Nutrient | Asparagus: Queen of Spring Vegetables | Gardening: My Cousin Broccoli | Health and Household Tips | Did You Know?

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