AAI Q and A: Fish OIls, Food Inc., and the COOL System

Dear AAI: I have heard a lot of news about fish oils, are there any benefits to these?

I’m glad you asked this because a study for the American Society for Nutrition just did a study on the mental benefits of fish oil. According to the study fish oil pills may be able to prevent severe mental illnesses. In the study patients were either given four fish oil pills (daily) or a placebo. In the fish oil group only 2 out of 41 people showed psychotic symptoms, compared to 11 out of 40 in the placebo group. They concluded that Omega-3 fatty acids my help the process that leads to damaged brain cells. You can find more about this study in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Dear AAI: I loved Food Inc. and was hearing rumors about a new movie along the same lines. Is this accurate?

Food Inc. was a very excellent movie, and in fact you are correct! A new documentary called Forks Over Knives will be coming out in a few months time. According to the film’s website, Forks Over Knives “examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods.” One known expert in the field, Dr. Neal Barnard of the Physicians’ Committee for Responsible Medicine, participated in this film. A trailer is available to view on YouTube to spark your interest and give you a brief glimpse into this new hard-hitting documentary.

Dear AAI: I have been on a budget concerning food options, but would still like to eat healthy. What are the cheapest and healthiest foods to buy in the supermarket?

I think a lot of people are having this dilemma lately. According to Eat This Not, That 2010, the cheapest but healthiest foods to buy in the supermarket are: frozen chicken breasts, canola oil, dry lentils, salsa, and popcorn kernels.

Dear AAI: I have been hearing about COOL in the news lately and was wondering just what this was.

COOL is a labeling system that has been talked about for some time, but was just brought into effect in 2002 for fish/shellfish, and 2009 for all other commodities (beef, pork, lamb, chicken, fresh/frozen fruit, fresh/frozen vegetables, macadamia nuts, pecans, and ginseng). COOL stands for country-of-origin-labeling system. It requires grocery stores to label where said product is from. For example, fish from the United States would say “Product of USA.” If any item is harvested in another country but transformed in the USA, it will then be labeled as “Product of USA.” Only grocery stores are required to label products; restaurants are exempt.

Dear AAI: I am a vegetarian and it seems like I do not get enough protein. I have been hearing things about whey protein, and have been told to give it a try. Will it work?

Whey protein is a mixture of globular proteins isolated from whey, the liquid material created as a by-product of cheese production. Some studies have shown whey protein to possess anti-inflammatory properties. Most people take whey protein after weight lifting, because it increases levels of amino acids in the blood, ultimately to increase mass fast. Whey protein will add protein to your diet, if not taken in by food. It is a naturally complete protein, and has a rich source of (BCAAs) branched chain amino acids, which replenish depleted levels during exercise and repair lean muscle tissues. A typical serving of whey protein contains around 100 calories, 2 grams of fat, and 23 grams of protein.