LONG-TERM LIFESTYLE CHANGES COULD LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

Researchers at Kaiser Permanente's Center for Health Research found that men and women with elevated blood pressure who make and sustain healthy lifestyle changes for up to a year and a half can substantially reduce their rates of high blood pressure. Results of the study, called PREMIER, show that rates of high blood pressure dropped from 37 percent to 22 percent among participants who received diet and physical activity counseling, and most notably among those who received encouragement to eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Results of the study appear in the April 4th issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.

Previous research showed that lifestyle changes like eating a healthier diet and increasing physical activity for six months led to reductions in blood pressure. The new study indicates that sustaining these lifestyle changes for the longer period of 18 months leads to substantial blood pressure reductions.

Participants were given weight loss and physical activity, as well as sodium and alcohol intake limits. One group also received guidance on following the DASH diet, an eating plan rich in fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products and low in saturated fat, total fat and dietary cholesterol. DASH stands for "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension," a diet that lowered blood pressure in a previous study. In the recently completed study, high blood pressure declined in all three groups, but the reduction most striking in the group that included the DASH eating plan.

Source: Center for Health Research

 

STUDY SHOWS AVAILABILITY IS KEY TO TEEN PRODUCE CONSUMPTION

Adolescents are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables if those foods are accessible and made attractive. They also tend to follow their parents' lead in consumption patterns. Those are two of the findings in a University of Kansas study of white and black teenagers and their parents.

Researchers interviewed 144 black and 84 white families at an urban clinic and found that even if fruits and vegetables were stocked in the home, teens would generally not seek them out to have as a snack. The items needed to be placed within reach and prepared in a tempting way.

In addition, they found that if parents did not eat fruits or vegetables, teens probably would not either.

Source: American Dietetic Association

DISASTER RELIEF BILL INTRODUCED IN HOUSE

Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., introduced new disaster relief legislation in the House April 5, which would provide assistance to farmers and ranchers who have experienced weather-related crop losses, loss of livestock and damage to livestock feed supplies.

 

The measure is similar to an amendment to a supplemental appropriations bill passed earlier this month by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The supplemental bill also contains funding for the Iraq war and Hurricane Katrina relief.

 

The Senate and Peterson bills both would provide payments to farmers who had at least a 35 percent production loss due to weather in 2005. Payment rate would be set at 50 percent of the established price for the crop. The 95 percent crop value cap and deduction for crop insurance indemnities would be removed.

 

The Emergency Disaster Assistance Act of 2006 also will assist farmers who were overwhelmed by energy prices that spiked following last year's hurricanes. Energy-related farm expenses increased by more than $6 billion last year compared to the previous year, which reduced farm income.

 

The bill has attracted 25 original co-sponsors including Florida’s Mark Foley and Allen Boyd.

AG IN THE CLASSROOM TO HOLD STATE WORKSHOP

Florida teachers and agriculture industry volunteers are invited to "Discover Florida Agriculture: Education's Greatest Treasure" at Florida Ag in the Classroom's State Teacher and Volunteer Workshop, June 15-17, at the Hyatt Regency Tampa. Registration deadline is June 2.

The workshop will feature a broad range of lessons and activities. It will also include tours of Tampa Bay area farms.

Please contact Florida Ag in the Classroom with questions by calling (352) 846-1391 or emailing LBGaskalla@ifas.ufl.edu.

 

 

SWEET CORN FIESTA COMING SOON

Western Palm Beach County Farm Bureau will hold its 6th Annual Sweet Corn Fiesta April 29 at the West Palm Beach Fairgrounds. The event features plenty of fun for the family including food and live music, the International Federation of Competitive Eaters Competition (as seen on ESPN), the Amateur Sweet Corn Eating Contest, the old-fashioned bathing suit contest and a corn shuckin' contest. All rides, games and activities inside are free. Admission is adults $5.00, children 6-11 $3.00, 5 and under free. Call (561) 996-0343 for more information.