• extra virgin olive oil is the oil from the first pressing of the olive? The subtle flavor is destroyed by heat. Use extra virgin frugally in dishes that do not require cooking, such as salad dressing and dipping sauce. Keep a lesser quality olive oil on hand for roasting and sauteing.
  
  
• high heel shoes are a physical hazard? Researchers at Harvard Medical School have found that walking in high heels strains the knees, producing the kind of wear and tear on cartilage that causes osteoarthritis. Ankle flexibility is limited increasing the average load on the knee by 23%. The findings may help to explain why women are twice as prone as men to knee problems. Free your feet and switch to flats if you have a lot of ground to cover.
  
  
• the Food & Drug Administration has recommended approval of a vaccine for Lyme Disease? In recent studies the vaccine reduced the chance of infection from Lyme carrying ticks by 80%. However, you will need three shots over a 13 month period. If you are an avid hiker, it may be worth it.
  
  
• according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 1994 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes of Individuals, women still do the majority of work in the kitchen? Researchers at the University of Minnesota analyzed data from 1,200 households jointly headed by men and women and found that 93% of the females planned meals, 88% shopped for food and 90% usually cooked. In contrast, just 23% of the men helped with meal planning, 36% usually shopped for food and only 27% usually cooked. Younger men and men in low income households were more likely to help with meals. Very interesting!
  
  
• wheat bran that has been heated may be more effective than raw wheat bran in preventing colon cancer? Researchers from the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Research Service at the University of California at Davis conducted a six and a half months study on the effects of raw and processed wheat bran on the diets of rats. The animals that were fed processed wheat bran had 33% fewer indications of colon cancer than those who ate the raw wheat bran.
  
  
• a new "peanut-free zone" on board planes has been proposed by the U. S. Department of Transportation? According to the Wall Street Journal, the move is supposed to protect flyers who suffer from peanut allergies. Not surprisingly, the peanut growers think the idea is just plain nuts.

Winter 1998
Time to Think Christmas Trees | Caring for Poinsettias & Christmas Trees | Constructing a Holiday Wreath | Help Minimize Salt Injury to Shade Trees | '99 All-America Selection Vegetable Winners | Bug Bites | Cybergarden Sites | Lawn Care Calendar | Hort Shorts | Hort Tips | Locally Grown—Pumpkins & Winter Squash | Food for Thought | Food Handling | Food Safety | Health & Household Tips | Did You Know?

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