It’s that time of the week again – yes, more increased cashback deals courtesy of Market America.  Here are this week’s deals on your favorite products from Market America, which we hope you’ll enjoy as much as we did picking them! 

Remember, these deals expire 6/8/11, be sure to share them with your friends and family so that they can take advantage of these offers and the increase in cashback from Market America before they expire!

Increased cashback:

Prime™ AGE – 20% Cashback

Transitions™ Quick Start kit – 20% Cashback

Snap Heavy Duty Concentrate – 15% Cashback

Motives® by Loren Ridinger Mineral Gel Eyeliner  (various colors) – 18% Cashback

Motives® by Loren Ridinger Angled Eyeliner Brush – 18% Cashback

Happy Shopping!

USDA: Goodbye Food Pyramid, Hello MyPlate

Yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama and officials from the USDA unveiled what they hope to be their newest weapon in the battle against childhood obesity: a plate of food.

The USDA launched MyPlate on Thursday, replacing the two decade old Food Pyramid

The USDA’s Food Pyramid, which was established in 1992 to get Americans to better focus on the “right” types of foods they should be eating, has been replaced with MyPlate, “a new generation icon with the intent to prompt consumers to think about building a healthy plate at meal times,” USDA officials said in a press release.

The new MyPlate icon emphasizes the fruit, vegetable, grains, protein and dairy food groups.

“This is a quick, simple reminder for all of us to be more mindful of the foods that we’re eating and as a mom, I can already tell how much this is going to help parents across the country,” Obama said. “[I]t’s tough to be a nutritionist. But we do have time to take a look at our kids’ plates. As long as they’re half full of fruits and vegetables, and paired with lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy, we’re golden. That’s how easy it is.”

The near 20-year-old Food Pyramid replaced the “Four Food Groups” model of healthy eating in 1992 in an effort to bolster public awareness of the types and amounts of foods that should be included in a healthy diet. Unfortunately, the idea never gained traction, panned by critics as being confusing and “counterintuitive.”
“[The Food Pyramid was] not exactly the finest public health message this country has ever generated, I’ll just put it that way,” CNN Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen said recently. “It didn’t convey the message very well.”

With MyPlate, the USDA hopes to reverse that notion, as well as better instill the message of a healthy diet to school-aged children. This is the latest effort by the White House to shine a spotlight on the growing childhood obesity epidemic.

Earlier this year, the first lady launched the Let’s Move campaign aimed at reducing childhood obesity in the United States within a generation.

Probiotics May Ease Bloating

Defined by the World Health Organization, probiotics are “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host”. A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology has evaluated the effects of probiotic supplementation on bloating for people with bowel disorders. For this study researchers recruited 60 people with functional bowel disorders but no constipation.  Forty three of the test subjects were women and the average age of subjects was 37. A combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM  and Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07 or placebo was used for eight weeks. Questionnaires were completed by volunteers who also were asked to rate their relief of gastrointestinal symptoms on a seven-point scale. After eight weeks of treatment, subjects taking the probiotic combination had improved symptoms of bloating compared to placebo. This study adds to the growing base of data which supports probiotic use for certain bowel disorders and the role of probiotic bacteria in human health.

To read more on this study click here

Resveratrol improves insulin sensitivity in type-2 diabetics

Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol found in a variety of vegetation such as grapes (skins) and Japanese knotweed, has been the focus of many studies over the last several years. Believed to affect a wide variety of processes within the body, resveratrol has been shown to produce many health related benefits.   A recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition (April 2011) reported a positive affect on insulin resistance and oxidative stress in humans.. Researchers recruited 19 (male) type-2 diabetics to receive a supplement containing 10 mg of resveratrol or placebo daily, for 4 weeks. When compared with the placebo group, those receiving resveratrol showed significant improvements in insulin sensitivity and blood glucose levels, as well as delayed appearances of glucose peaks after test meals.  Though more research is necessary to solidify resveratrol’s importance in combating high blood glucose levels and improving insulin sensitivity, this is the first study in humans to demonstrate that it does have some application this effect.

 To read more on this study:
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=8203366

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