Research Notes: Breast Cancer

Fatty acids in fish oil may help lower the risk of breast cancer in women. In a new study lead by the University of California at Los Angeles, 25 women were put on a diet that mimicked foods eaten by Asian women. The diet included up to 4,000 milligrams of fish oil daily, soy products and lots of vegetables. This diet significantly altered the women's breast fat content.

Compared to American women, who consume more vegetables and animal fat, Asian women, who eat more fish have a lower incident of breast cancer. Studies on mice as well as other cultures have shown that omega-three fatty acids in fish reduces tumor growth, while omega-six fatty acids in vegetables and animals causes tumors to increase in growth.

Source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute; 1997; 89; pp. 1123-1131

Zucchinis in the Night

Anyone who woke up last week to find "the dreaded green gourd of summer" on your doorstep, you were not alone. Gardeners always grow more zucchini than they can use. They wind up giving away pounds and pounds to anyone who passes by. But by late summer, once grateful friends refuse free baskets full of the squash and lock their doors when they see a zucchini-toting gardener heading up the driveway.

To cope with this rejection, a Mt. Gretna, Pennsylvania resident came up with a stealth drop-the-zucchini-and-run tactic which was reported in the Wall Street Journal. Thus a new holiday was born....August 8th is "Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbors' Porch Night." We may need to set aside such a date in Illinois. What do you say about that, Master Gardeners?

How to Choose and Store Mangos

Mangos may be varied in size, some are oval and rather flat and others are round, depending upon the variety and area in which they are grown. However, regardless of variety, buy mangoes that are still rather firm and allow the to remain at room temperature until the fruit "gives" easily. Then, store in the refrigerator unless you plan to use them immediately. The outer skin may attain a somewhat speckled look by the time they are ripened sufficiently to eat, but this doesn't mean spoilage, only ripeness.

Late Summer 1997
It's Harvest Time! | Fences in the Landscape | Hort Shorts | Hort Tips | Using Electrical Garden Tools Safely | Bug Bites | Cybergarden Sites | Food Safety: September is National Food Safety Month | Locally Grown: Farmers' Market | Food Handling: How to Ripen Fruit | Health & Household Tips | Did You Know?

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