September 14,2007

Dr. Dean Ornish explains why he recommends canola oil over olive - Dean Ornish, MD, founder, president, and director of the non-profit Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California, has come out firmly for canola oil. In a recent column on the Readers’ Digest website, he exposes what he calls “the great olive oil misconception”.

Check out the story at: http://www.rd.com/content/the-great-olive-oil-misconception--dr-ornish-responds/

Dr. Ornish is a well recognized advocate of low fat/good fat and is Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. He was chosen by LIFE magazine as “one of the 50 most influential members of his generation”.

Canola oil is a fashion statement in India - Dalmia Continental, the first company in the organized sector of the Indian edible oil segment to import canola oil, launched its new brand Hudson with what observers described as “a dazzling fashion show”!

The official ceremony, held September 6 at the Hotel Taj in Chandigarh, began with the Consul General of Canada for Chandigarh, Helen Economo Amundsen, giving the keynote address highlighting the health properties and dietary advantages of canola oil. The ceremony was followed by a dazzling fashion show in which models walked down the ramp holding bottles of canola oil. The event was attended by a gathering of 200 people including prominent cardiologists, dietitians and industrialists of the region.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. V. N. Dalmia, Chairman of the company, said that since the people of Punjab were familiar with canola oil, good returns are expected from this market. Further he said that the company expects sales worth

C$ 1 million by selling 150 tonnes of canola oil during the very first year of introduction and by the year 2012 expect the turnover to touch C$ 80 million.

Explaining Canada’s Food Guide takes some explanation! - Health Canada has just posted new tools on its website to assist educators and communicators in sharing information about Canada’s Food Guide. The Guide was released earlier this year. For the first time, Canada’s guide to eating for good health instructs “include a small amount – 2 to 3 Tbsp – of unsaturated fat each day to get the fat you need” followed by a sample daily menu including canola oil.

Check out : Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide (for consumers):http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/educ-comm/eat_well_present_bien_manger_e.html

Presenting Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide (for intermediaries):

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/educ-comm/presentation_e.html

So how much of which fatty acids do we really need? Both the American Dietetic Association and the Dietitians of Canada agree that the body needs some fat and that 20 percent to 30 percent of energy needs should be met by dietary fat. The key question is which kind of fats are most healthy. The two groups have come up with a guide for everyone who’s ever wondered.

The Dietary Fatty Acids recommendations guide people to follow a food-based approach for achieving the following fatty acid recommendations:

    • Eat lots of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds.
    • Eat lean protein such as meats, poultry and low-fat dairy products.
    • Eat fish, especially those high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon.
    • Use non-hydrogenated margarines and oils.

For a consumer-friendly fact sheet on dietary fats, visit the Dietitians of Canada.

Calorie counting’s out in the Big Apple – According to the Associated Press, a judge struck down a New York City rule earlier this week that would have required fast-food restaurants in the Big Apple to post calorie counts on their menus. U.S. District Judge Richard J. Holwell said he determined the rule conflicted with federal law.

Legislation similar to New York City's is under way in 14 states where obesity rates have recently surged — Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Vermont. Nutrition labeling legislation has also been introduced in Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington.

Join in the game – Chevron is hosting a moderated online discussion group on energy issues including demand, supply, environment and geo-politics. Discussion topics vary. Right now the question is What are the challenges of powering a city economically and safely, while also safeguarding the environment?

Join the discussion at: http://www.willyoujoinus.com/discussion/default.aspx.

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