Too much sugar contributes to poor cholesterol. Who knew?

According to the Tufts University, too much sugar - probably from all the processed foods that Americans are apt to be eating - is contributing not just to expanding waistlines and cavities, but to unhealthy cholesterol levels as well.

This is the conclusion from a first ever look at such a connection between sugar and blood cholesterol in a large epidemiological study, using data from the long-running National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 through 2006. The American Heart Association has issued a statement recommending reductions in sugar.

Think you are already consuming less sugar? Maybe. Maybe not, depending on the amounts of processed foods you’re eating.

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The power of germs and 'Babies'

Uh, the Reno Gazette-Journal didn’t end up in my mailbox yesterday. The Wall St. Journal was there instead. I wasn’t happy, realizing that this might be a hint that I should subscribe to the publication that got it all wrong about the Titanic (everybody was safe, and it was being towed to port).

That aside, in the Personal Journal, there was an article by Melinda Beck, talking about my new favorite movie ‘Babies’ and how we could learn a few things from those less-industrialized, less-modern and - gasp! - less clean societies.

The Power of Germs

Exposure to a variety of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms may prime the immune system and protect against certain diseases.

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