Consumer Reports' latest tests reveal that many of the most loudly hawked products (and often most expensive) delivered less than they promised and several were beaten by the old standards that cost far less.The 2007 August issue is CR's largest kitchen package to-date with over 30 pages of advice and comprehensive Ratings that will help consumers decide which appliances, countertops, sinks, faucets and flooring offer the best combination of style, performance, and value based on our independent lab tests.

Consumer Reports cooked up 850 pounds of ground beef in tests of appliances and used over 40 stain-producing materials including red wine and ink to test the stain-resistance of flooring, countertops, and other materials.

CHICAGO – Eating about 30 calories a day of dark chocolate was associated with a lowering of blood pressure, without weight gain or other adverse effects, according to a study in the July 4 issue of JAMA.

Previous research has indicated that consumption of high amounts of cocoa-containing foods can lower blood pressure (BP), believed to be due to the action of the cocoa polyphenols (a group of chemical substances found in plants, some of which, such as the flavanols, are believed to be beneficial to health). “A particular concern is that the potential BP reduction contributed by the flavanols could be offset by the high sugar, fat and calorie intake with the cocoa products,” the authors write. The effect of low cocoa intake on BP is unclear.

I saw the movie Ratatouille the other day—it was very cute. In case you haven’t seen it the story is about a rat that wants tobe, and then becomes, a great chef. The film was adorable, filled with action, and great cooking scenes—yes—great cooking scenes. But there was something else I got from the film—an inspiration. Ratatouille, the movie, is about the love of food and cooking. So, immediately I went to the supermarket and purchased a shopping cart filled with healthy foods – I couldn’t wait to get home and start cooking. Cooking at home can be a great way to lower your caloric consumption, get better quality nutrition, increase energy, and develop a stronger appreciation for the foods you eat. Eating out can really hinder your weight control efforts (Restaurant Shockers). Take a look at some of these stats about eating out. 

I just saw this, and thought..hmm. Just what we need more cosmetic surgery ....but this is very interesting. Also read below about the stress fat connection. Investigators at Georgetown University Medical Center have been able to use simple, non-toxic chemical injections to add and remove fat in targeted areas on the bodies of laboratory animals. They say the discovery, published online in Nature Medicine on July 1, could revolutionize human cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery and treatment of diseases associated with human obesity.

Investigators say these findings may also, over the long-term, lead to better control of metabolic syndrome, which is a collection of risk factors that increase a patient’s chances of developing heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Sixty million Americans were estimated to be affected by metabolic syndrome in 2000, according to a study funded by the Centers for Disease Control in 2004.

In the paper, the Georgetown researchers describe a mechanism they found by which stress activates weight gain in mice, and they say this pathway − which they were able to manipulate − may explain why people who are chronically stressed gain more weight than they should based on the calories they consume.