Ten ways to get kids to eat their veggies

(CNN) -- As a parent, you might look at the government's new nutrition icon and think, "Really?"

The image is a dinner plate divided into sections. Half the plate is full of fruits and vegetables.

That's right -- half of what your child eats is supposed to be fruits and vegetables. Not hot dogs, not hamburgers, not chicken nuggets, but broccoli, squash, Brussels sprouts, and other things that come from the ground.

"It's extremely tough to get your child to eat half a plate of fruits and vegetables," says Jessica Seinfeld, author of two books on cooking for kids. "I've talked to thousands and thousands of parents, and most of them can't get their kids to try them."

Statistics show kids aren't getting nearly enough fruits and veggies. Only 22% of children ages 2 to 5 meet government recommendations for vegetable consumption, according to a 2009 study by researchers at Ohio State University.

It only gets worse as children get older: Just 16% of children ages 6 to 11 meet the government's guidelines, and only 11% of those ages 12 to 18.

In the study of more than 6,000 kids and teens, about a third of vegetable consumption was fried potatoes (potato chips, french fries, etc.), and a little more than a third of the fruit consumption was juice -- so if you don't include those, the percentages get even lower.

There's no one way to get your kids to eat more fruits and veggies, but here are ten tips straight from moms.

1. Get them while they're hungry.

From Dr. Ann Kulze, family physician, author of "Eat Right for Life," and mother of Liz, 21, Frazier, 20, Jack, 19, and Lucie, 16.

If they're hungry, they'll eat. Before dinner, serve an appetizer of colorful vegetables, such as carrots, cucumbers, and red bell peppers, along with a hummus or low-fat salad dressing, Kulze suggests.

2. Institute the "no thank you bite" rule.

From Amy Traverso, Yankee Magazine's lifestyle editor and mother of 3-year-old Max.

Tell your child he has to take a bite before vetoing something on his plate.

"We figure as long as our son is tasting the food, he'll eventually get comfortable with it," Traverso says. "It works pretty well."

3. Make up cute names.

From Susan Risdal, an administrator with an IT company and the mother of C.J., 38, Cedric, 36, Dan, 30, and Lars and Rebecca, 26. She's also grandmother of Theodore, 7, Alexander, 4, Jess, 2, and Jaxon, 2 months.

Marketers do this, so why shouldn't you? Once Risdal started calling Brussels sprouts "hero buttons," her kids couldn't get enough of them.

4. Shop with your kids.

From Eileen Wolter, who writes a blog called A Suburban State of Mom. She's the mother of 6-year-old Luke and 3-year-old Graeme.

"Let them pick out the fruits and vegetables," Wolter says. "Let them smell the produce and admire the colors."

5. Cook with your kids.

From Shannon Duffy, mother of Dakota, 15, and Dylan, 9.

A few years back, Duffy asked Dylan to make the green beans -- add some butter, sprinkle on some seasonings -- while she worked on other dishes.

"When we sat down to eat, Dylan insisted on eating the green beans because, as he put it, 'I made them.'" Two years later, he's still eating his veggies as long as he helps prepare them.

6. Have a "veggie night."

From Mia Redrick, who has her own blog, Time for Mom-Me, and is mother of Patrick, 13, Alexandra, 9, and Matthew, 6.

This way, there's no competition from other types of foods.

"Serve up edamame, hummus with veggies, mushroom burgers with Swiss, etc.," Redrick suggests.

7. Hide the veggies.

From Jessica Seinfeld, author of "Deceptively Delicious," and mother of Sascha, 10, Julian, 8, and Shepherd, 5.

In Seinfeld's book, she tells parents how to stealthily sneak pureed vegetables into everything from shrimp dumplings to quesadillas.

8. Make fruits and vegetables the easy option.

From Coco Peate, blogger at vidacoco.com, and mother of Sophia, 7, Maddy, 5, Danny, 2, and 2-month old Anthony.

Take a tip from the geniuses who thought to put potato chips in single-serving bags. Stock a kid-accessible shelf in your fridge with little bags of cut fruit and vegetables, applesauce, and fruit cups.

9. Let them use fun gadgets.

From Althea Hughes Wills, blogger at Raw Mocha Angel.

What kid doesn't love gadgets? Let them use a blender, juicer, and food processor to make smoothies and other recipes with fruits and vegetables. Use proper supervision, of course.

10. Bribe with dessert.

From Natalie Boecker, marketing executive, mother of Ali, 27, and Pam, 23.

"Didn't want to finish what was good for them? No problem -- no dessert," Boecker says. "Maybe not the healthiest way to get them to eat vegetables, but it worked for us."

(CNN) -- As a parent, you might look at the government's new nutrition icon and think, "Really?"

The image is a dinner plate divided into sections. Half the plate is full of fruits and vegetables.

That's right -- half of what your child eats is supposed to be fruits and vegetables. Not hot dogs, not hamburgers, not chicken nuggets, but broccoli, squash, Brussels sprouts, and other things that come from the ground.

"It's extremely tough to get your child to eat half a plate of fruits and vegetables," says Jessica Seinfeld, author of two books on cooking for kids. "I've talked to thousands and thousands of parents, and most of them can't get their kids to try them."

Statistics show kids aren't getting nearly enough fruits and veggies. Only 22% of children ages 2 to 5 meet government recommendations for vegetable consumption, according to a 2009 study by researchers at Ohio State University.

It only gets worse as children get older: Just 16% of children ages 6 to 11 meet the government's guidelines, and only 11% of those ages 12 to 18.

In the study of more than 6,000 kids and teens, about a third of vegetable consumption was fried potatoes (potato chips, french fries, etc.), and a little more than a third of the fruit consumption was juice -- so if you don't include those, the percentages get even lower.

There's no one way to get your kids to eat more fruits and veggies, but here are ten tips straight from moms.

1. Get them while they're hungry.

From Dr. Ann Kulze, family physician, author of "Eat Right for Life," and mother of Liz, 21, Frazier, 20, Jack, 19, and Lucie, 16.

If they're hungry, they'll eat. Before dinner, serve an appetizer of colorful vegetables, such as carrots, cucumbers, and red bell peppers, along with a hummus or low-fat salad dressing, Kulze suggests.

2. Institute the "no thank you bite" rule.

From Amy Traverso, Yankee Magazine's lifestyle editor and mother of 3-year-old Max.

Tell your child he has to take a bite before vetoing something on his plate.

"We figure as long as our son is tasting the food, he'll eventually get comfortable with it," Traverso says. "It works pretty well."

3. Make up cute names.

From Susan Risdal, an administrator with an IT company and the mother of C.J., 38, Cedric, 36, Dan, 30, and Lars and Rebecca, 26. She's also grandmother of Theodore, 7, Alexander, 4, Jess, 2, and Jaxon, 2 months.

Marketers do this, so why shouldn't you? Once Risdal started calling Brussels sprouts "hero buttons," her kids couldn't get enough of them.

4. Shop with your kids.

From Eileen Wolter, who writes a blog called A Suburban State of Mom. She's the mother of 6-year-old Luke and 3-year-old Graeme.

"Let them pick out the fruits and vegetables," Wolter says. "Let them smell the produce and admire the colors."

5. Cook with your kids.

From Shannon Duffy, mother of Dakota, 15, and Dylan, 9.

A few years back, Duffy asked Dylan to make the green beans -- add some butter, sprinkle on some seasonings -- while she worked on other dishes.

"When we sat down to eat, Dylan insisted on eating the green beans because, as he put it, 'I made them.'" Two years later, he's still eating his veggies as long as he helps prepare them.

6. Have a "veggie night."

From Mia Redrick, who has her own blog, Time for Mom-Me, and is mother of Patrick, 13, Alexandra, 9, and Matthew, 6.

This way, there's no competition from other types of foods.

"Serve up edamame, hummus with veggies, mushroom burgers with Swiss, etc.," Redrick suggests.

7. Hide the veggies.

From Jessica Seinfeld, author of "Deceptively Delicious," and mother of Sascha, 10, Julian, 8, and Shepherd, 5.

In Seinfeld's book, she tells parents how to stealthily sneak pureed vegetables into everything from shrimp dumplings to quesadillas.

8. Make fruits and vegetables the easy option.

From Coco Peate, blogger at vidacoco.com, and mother of Sophia, 7, Maddy, 5, Danny, 2, and 2-month old Anthony.

Take a tip from the geniuses who thought to put potato chips in single-serving bags. Stock a kid-accessible shelf in your fridge with little bags of cut fruit and vegetables, applesauce, and fruit cups.

9. Let them use fun gadgets.

From Althea Hughes Wills, blogger at Raw Mocha Angel.

What kid doesn't love gadgets? Let them use a blender, juicer, and food processor to make smoothies and other recipes with fruits and vegetables. Use proper supervision, of course.

10. Bribe with dessert.

From Natalie Boecker, marketing executive, mother of Ali, 27, and Pam, 23.

"Didn't want to finish what was good for them? No problem -- no dessert," Boecker says. "Maybe not the healthiest way to get them to eat vegetables, but it worked for us."

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Yes! A dose of sun CAN protect you against skin cancer

As a fair-haired Scot with freckles and pale skin I’m a classic case to be more at risk from melanoma. Getting quite badly sunburned on my nose years ago in Spain has pushed my risk up further.

To say I’ve been wary about the sun is an understatement - I specialise in treating patients with advanced melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer.

I was also in Australia 30 years ago at the start of the Slip-Slop-Slap campaign to warn people to keep out of the sun, and for seven years I never went swimming without being covered in sun lotion and wearing a T-shirt.

But now I believe that rather than reducing the risk of skin cancer, following these sun-avoidance guidelines could actually raise it. That’s because we need sun on our skin to make vitamin D - ironically these campaigns may have made millions chronically short of it and put them at risk. t rather than reducing the risk of skin cancer, following these sun-avoidance guidelines could actually raise it.

That’s because we need sun on our skin to make vitamin D - ironically these campaigns may have made millions chronically short of it and put them at risk. The sun’s effects might even protect against melanoma (as reported in the Mail earlier this month).

As a fair-haired Scot with freckles and pale skin I’m a classic case to be more at risk from melanoma. Getting quite badly sunburned on my nose years ago in Spain has pushed my risk up further.

To say I’ve been wary about the sun is an understatement - I specialise in treating patients with advanced melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer.

I was also in Australia 30 years ago at the start of the Slip-Slop-Slap campaign to warn people to keep out of the sun, and for seven years I never went swimming without being covered in sun lotion and wearing a T-shirt.

But now I believe that rather than reducing the risk of skin cancer, following these sun-avoidance guidelines could actually raise it. That’s because we need sun on our skin to make vitamin D - ironically these campaigns may have made millions chronically short of it and put them at risk. t rather than reducing the risk of skin cancer, following these sun-avoidance guidelines could actually raise it.

That’s because we need sun on our skin to make vitamin D - ironically these campaigns may have made millions chronically short of it and put them at risk. The sun’s effects might even protect against melanoma (as reported in the Mail earlier this month).

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Disease Control in Animal Shelters

Steneroden KK, Hill AE, Salman MD: A needs-assessment and demographic survey of infection-control and disease awareness in western US animal shelters, Prev Vet Med 98:52, 2011. 

Infection control strategies and disease awareness were evaluated in shelters in six western states using detailed survey questions. Responses from 78 of 157 shelters were received. Statistical descriptive evaluation of the results indicated that the top 3 diseases of concern were feline respiratory disease, canine parvovirus, and ringworm. In 45% of shelters responding many or most animals arrive with an infectious disease. Written protocols for preventive practices were present at 88% of shelters responding, cleaning and disinfection protocols in 75%, outbreak response/control protocols in 36%, and infection control manuals in 15%. Veterinarians are in charge of infection control in 6% of the shelters. About 45% vaccinate dogs and cats for rabies while at the shelter. Training is provided for 30-35% of staff and volunteers at hiring. Institutionalized and ongoing worker training as well as development of infection control protocols were identified by the investigators as areas of focus needing attention in order to improve the ability to prevent and respond to infectious diseases. [MK]

Related articles:

Dinnage JD, Scarlett JM, Richards JR: Descriptive epidemiology of feline upper respiratory tract disease in an animal shelter, J Feline Med Surg 11:816, 2009.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Join us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Steneroden KK, Hill AE, Salman MD: A needs-assessment and demographic survey of infection-control and disease awareness in western US animal shelters, Prev Vet Med 98:52, 2011. 

Infection control strategies and disease awareness were evaluated in shelters in six western states using detailed survey questions. Responses from 78 of 157 shelters were received. Statistical descriptive evaluation of the results indicated that the top 3 diseases of concern were feline respiratory disease, canine parvovirus, and ringworm. In 45% of shelters responding many or most animals arrive with an infectious disease. Written protocols for preventive practices were present at 88% of shelters responding, cleaning and disinfection protocols in 75%, outbreak response/control protocols in 36%, and infection control manuals in 15%. Veterinarians are in charge of infection control in 6% of the shelters. About 45% vaccinate dogs and cats for rabies while at the shelter. Training is provided for 30-35% of staff and volunteers at hiring. Institutionalized and ongoing worker training as well as development of infection control protocols were identified by the investigators as areas of focus needing attention in order to improve the ability to prevent and respond to infectious diseases. [MK]

Related articles:

Dinnage JD, Scarlett JM, Richards JR: Descriptive epidemiology of feline upper respiratory tract disease in an animal shelter, J Feline Med Surg 11:816, 2009.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library

Join us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Read More

Move Like a Hunter-Gatherer, Live Longer

One of the best ways to reduce your risk of chronic disease and live a longer life may be to act like a hunter-gatherer.

Scientists recently analyzed the physical habits of our hunter-gatherer ancestors -- people who tended to engage in short bursts of physical activity (mostly outside) coupled with periods of rest -- and health experts agree we'd probably all be better off physically if we followed that example. In fact, our bodies may be genetically programmed for it.

Walk on the Wild Side
Our hunter-gatherer predecessors were pretty busy. Whether they were digging for roots and tubers; making tools; building shelters; hunting; or carrying logs, food, or small children, they were often on the move. All in all, they probably expended between 800 and 1,200 calories per day doing physical things -- most of them outdoors. But the average American today? We expend only a small fraction of energy doing anything physical. As a result, our stamina, muscle strength, and flexibility aren't maintained. What's more, our inactive ways cause us to miss out on yet more healthful habits enjoyed by hunter-gatherers -- socializing and outdoor living. Hunting and foraging in small groups provided our ancestors with a social outlet and an opportunity to be outside frequently -- both of which are natural mood boosters. (Related: Discover why outdoor workouts are better for your mood and your health.)

Get Back to Nature
Human beings lived for eons as hunter-gatherers, so it's not surprising that our bodies are built to thrive under physically demanding conditions outside. Ready to activate your hunter-gatherer genes? Here's a fitness plan that will help emulate the hunter-gatherer way:

Hit the trails. Researchers estimate that hunter-gatherers walked between 4 and 10 miles a day just to find necessities! While you might not be able to hit that lofty mark, you could probably do a lot more than you're currently doing. Find ways to walk more during everyday tasks, and bake a daily walk into your schedule as well. Try these three tricks to boost walking benefits.


Lift things. At least two to three times a week, you should do some strength training. Instead of carrying logs, carry groceries, laundry, kids, and pets. Instead of stacking rocks, lift weights at home or at the gym. Watch this video to see why strength training is so good for women's weight.


Get your flex on. Activities like yoga, dancing, tai chi, and gardening can help improve your flexibility -- something that hunter-gatherers had in spades. Here's an easy 12-point yoga pose you can do every day.


Do it outdoors. Exercising outside on natural surfaces (the ones we evolved with, like grass and dirt) works more muscles and boosts your balance.


Work out with a buddy. You'll get the added benefit of mood-boosting social interaction.


Mix it up. Once or twice a week, alternate short bursts of moderate- to high-intensity physical activity with periods of rest and recovery to challenge your heart and lungs. Follow harder workout days with easier workout days. Hunter-gatherers got lots of rest, relaxation, and sleep when recovering from physically demanding days. Here's another good reason to stay in bed.

One of the best ways to reduce your risk of chronic disease and live a longer life may be to act like a hunter-gatherer.

Scientists recently analyzed the physical habits of our hunter-gatherer ancestors -- people who tended to engage in short bursts of physical activity (mostly outside) coupled with periods of rest -- and health experts agree we'd probably all be better off physically if we followed that example. In fact, our bodies may be genetically programmed for it.

Walk on the Wild Side
Our hunter-gatherer predecessors were pretty busy. Whether they were digging for roots and tubers; making tools; building shelters; hunting; or carrying logs, food, or small children, they were often on the move. All in all, they probably expended between 800 and 1,200 calories per day doing physical things -- most of them outdoors. But the average American today? We expend only a small fraction of energy doing anything physical. As a result, our stamina, muscle strength, and flexibility aren't maintained. What's more, our inactive ways cause us to miss out on yet more healthful habits enjoyed by hunter-gatherers -- socializing and outdoor living. Hunting and foraging in small groups provided our ancestors with a social outlet and an opportunity to be outside frequently -- both of which are natural mood boosters. (Related: Discover why outdoor workouts are better for your mood and your health.)

Get Back to Nature
Human beings lived for eons as hunter-gatherers, so it's not surprising that our bodies are built to thrive under physically demanding conditions outside. Ready to activate your hunter-gatherer genes? Here's a fitness plan that will help emulate the hunter-gatherer way:

Hit the trails. Researchers estimate that hunter-gatherers walked between 4 and 10 miles a day just to find necessities! While you might not be able to hit that lofty mark, you could probably do a lot more than you're currently doing. Find ways to walk more during everyday tasks, and bake a daily walk into your schedule as well. Try these three tricks to boost walking benefits.


Lift things. At least two to three times a week, you should do some strength training. Instead of carrying logs, carry groceries, laundry, kids, and pets. Instead of stacking rocks, lift weights at home or at the gym. Watch this video to see why strength training is so good for women's weight.


Get your flex on. Activities like yoga, dancing, tai chi, and gardening can help improve your flexibility -- something that hunter-gatherers had in spades. Here's an easy 12-point yoga pose you can do every day.


Do it outdoors. Exercising outside on natural surfaces (the ones we evolved with, like grass and dirt) works more muscles and boosts your balance.


Work out with a buddy. You'll get the added benefit of mood-boosting social interaction.


Mix it up. Once or twice a week, alternate short bursts of moderate- to high-intensity physical activity with periods of rest and recovery to challenge your heart and lungs. Follow harder workout days with easier workout days. Hunter-gatherers got lots of rest, relaxation, and sleep when recovering from physically demanding days. Here's another good reason to stay in bed.

Read More

Feline Nutrition

Hewson-Hughes AK,Hewson-Hughes VL, Miller AT et al: Geometric analysis of macronutrientselection in the adult domestic cat, Felis catus, J Exp Biol 214:1039,2011. 

Nutritionists have investigated the diet and regulation of consumption in many species, including cats. In this study, investigators examined various dietary factors in cats fed different commercial cat foods with differing .nutrient composition. Cats appear to be limited in the amount of carbohydrate they can digest. High carbohydrate intake may in fact cause gastrointestinal problems in cats, and leads to reduced protein and fat intake. It is not clear how cats regulate their intake normally, whether through consumption or their metabolism. Further research is needed to determine which dietary factors contribute to the nutrient regulation in cats. [MK]

Related articles:
Zoran D: The carnivore connection to nutrition in cats, J Am Vet Med Assoc 221:1559, 2002.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

Hewson-Hughes AK,Hewson-Hughes VL, Miller AT et al: Geometric analysis of macronutrientselection in the adult domestic cat, Felis catus, J Exp Biol 214:1039,2011. 

Nutritionists have investigated the diet and regulation of consumption in many species, including cats. In this study, investigators examined various dietary factors in cats fed different commercial cat foods with differing .nutrient composition. Cats appear to be limited in the amount of carbohydrate they can digest. High carbohydrate intake may in fact cause gastrointestinal problems in cats, and leads to reduced protein and fat intake. It is not clear how cats regulate their intake normally, whether through consumption or their metabolism. Further research is needed to determine which dietary factors contribute to the nutrient regulation in cats. [MK]

Related articles:
Zoran D: The carnivore connection to nutrition in cats, J Am Vet Med Assoc 221:1559, 2002.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

Read More

Coffee May Lower Risk Of Deadliest Prostate Cancer

For a long time scientists have wondered whether coffee might lower the risk of prostate cancer.

Previous studies have been relatively small and have shown mixed results.

But now we have results from a Harvard study that followed almost 50,000 male health professionals for more than two decades. A lot of them drank a lot of coffee, which seems to have helped.

More than 5,000 of them got prostate cancer — 642 of them the most lethal form. "For the men who drank the most coffee, their risk of getting this bad form of prostate cancer was about 60 percent lower compared to the men who drank almost no coffee at all," says Lorelei Mucci, an epidemiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health and an author of the study.

When they saw the results, Mucci says, she and her colleagues said, "Wow, that's a lot!"

"Among risk factors that people have studied for lethal prostate cancer, this is one of the strongest," she told Shots.

The same group reported about a 50 percent reduced risk of dying from prostate cancer among men who exercised regularly — two or three brisk walks a week was enough.

The new study shows that getting a 60 percent reduction in risk of aggressive prostate cancer requires a lot of coffee — at least six cups a day. However, men who drank three cups a day had a 30 percent lower chance of getting a lethal prostate cancer, and that's not bad.

Only about one in 10 prostate cancers diagnosed these days is deadly. Most men get a less dangerous and curable kind. The study found no link between coffee drinking and overall risk of prostate cancer. Presumably previous studies didn't uncover the lowered risk of aggressive cancers because they didn't have enough of these cases.

Mucci says coffee drinkers got the benefit without getting buzzed on caffeine. "Whether they drank regular coffee or only decaffeinated coffee, there was the same lower risk of lethal prostate cancer," she says. "It's really the coffee; it's not the caffeine."

Another good thing is that it doesn't require decades of heavy coffee drinking to get the benefit. What mattered was how much they drank in the previous eight years.

The Harvard epidemiologist says the coffee effect persisted even after the researchers allowed for the effect of exercise, obesity, smoking and other factors that either raise or lower the risk of prostate cancer.

Neil Martin, a cancer doctor at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, was impressed with the new findings.

"Results like these are very appealing for people," he says. "It supports things that they do. ... And I guess I don't really see the downside of that. I think people should feel empowered about being able to change their risk of diseases."

And yes, in this case it is "diseases" — plural.

Earlier research suggests coffee reduces the risk of diabetes, liver disease and Parkinson's disease — possibly because of its insulin-lowering effects, its anti-oxidant qualities and other properties, including some yet to be discovered.

And just last week, Swedish researchers reported that women who drink at least five cups of coffee a day have nearly a 60 percent lower risk of a particularly aggressive breast cancer that doesn't respond to estrogen.

Mucci says more research is needed before officially urging people to drink coffee for its health benefits. Meanwhile, she says, "there's no reason not to start drinking coffee."

And no, she does not take money from the coffee industry.

For a long time scientists have wondered whether coffee might lower the risk of prostate cancer.

Previous studies have been relatively small and have shown mixed results.

But now we have results from a Harvard study that followed almost 50,000 male health professionals for more than two decades. A lot of them drank a lot of coffee, which seems to have helped.

More than 5,000 of them got prostate cancer — 642 of them the most lethal form. "For the men who drank the most coffee, their risk of getting this bad form of prostate cancer was about 60 percent lower compared to the men who drank almost no coffee at all," says Lorelei Mucci, an epidemiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health and an author of the study.

When they saw the results, Mucci says, she and her colleagues said, "Wow, that's a lot!"

"Among risk factors that people have studied for lethal prostate cancer, this is one of the strongest," she told Shots.

The same group reported about a 50 percent reduced risk of dying from prostate cancer among men who exercised regularly — two or three brisk walks a week was enough.

The new study shows that getting a 60 percent reduction in risk of aggressive prostate cancer requires a lot of coffee — at least six cups a day. However, men who drank three cups a day had a 30 percent lower chance of getting a lethal prostate cancer, and that's not bad.

Only about one in 10 prostate cancers diagnosed these days is deadly. Most men get a less dangerous and curable kind. The study found no link between coffee drinking and overall risk of prostate cancer. Presumably previous studies didn't uncover the lowered risk of aggressive cancers because they didn't have enough of these cases.

Mucci says coffee drinkers got the benefit without getting buzzed on caffeine. "Whether they drank regular coffee or only decaffeinated coffee, there was the same lower risk of lethal prostate cancer," she says. "It's really the coffee; it's not the caffeine."

Another good thing is that it doesn't require decades of heavy coffee drinking to get the benefit. What mattered was how much they drank in the previous eight years.

The Harvard epidemiologist says the coffee effect persisted even after the researchers allowed for the effect of exercise, obesity, smoking and other factors that either raise or lower the risk of prostate cancer.

Neil Martin, a cancer doctor at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, was impressed with the new findings.

"Results like these are very appealing for people," he says. "It supports things that they do. ... And I guess I don't really see the downside of that. I think people should feel empowered about being able to change their risk of diseases."

And yes, in this case it is "diseases" — plural.

Earlier research suggests coffee reduces the risk of diabetes, liver disease and Parkinson's disease — possibly because of its insulin-lowering effects, its anti-oxidant qualities and other properties, including some yet to be discovered.

And just last week, Swedish researchers reported that women who drink at least five cups of coffee a day have nearly a 60 percent lower risk of a particularly aggressive breast cancer that doesn't respond to estrogen.

Mucci says more research is needed before officially urging people to drink coffee for its health benefits. Meanwhile, she says, "there's no reason not to start drinking coffee."

And no, she does not take money from the coffee industry.

Read More

Exploding watermelons! Acres of crops erupt

Watermelon fields in eastern China are a mess of burst fruit after farmers used growth chemicals in an attempt to make extra money but ended up ruining their crops, state media reported Tuesday.

An investigative report by China Central Television found farms in and around Danyang city in Jiangsu province were losing acres of fruit to the problem.

The farmers sprayed forchlorfenuron, a growth accelerator, during overly wet weather and put it on too late in the season, which made the melons burst, CCTV said, citing agricultural experts.

White seeds
It said most watermelons sold at a wholesale market in nearby Shanghai were believed to have been treated with forchlorfenuron. Telltale signs are fibrous, misshapen fruit with mostly white instead of black seeds, it said.

Chinese regulations don't forbid use of the substance. It is also allowed in the United States for use on kiwi fruit and grapes.

But the report underscores how farmers in China are abusing both legal and illegal chemicals, with many farms misusing pesticides and fertilizers.

The government has already voiced alarm over the widespread overuse of food additives like dyes and sweeteners that retailers hope will make food more attractive and boost sales.

Watermelon fields in eastern China are a mess of burst fruit after farmers used growth chemicals in an attempt to make extra money but ended up ruining their crops, state media reported Tuesday.

An investigative report by China Central Television found farms in and around Danyang city in Jiangsu province were losing acres of fruit to the problem.

The farmers sprayed forchlorfenuron, a growth accelerator, during overly wet weather and put it on too late in the season, which made the melons burst, CCTV said, citing agricultural experts.

White seeds
It said most watermelons sold at a wholesale market in nearby Shanghai were believed to have been treated with forchlorfenuron. Telltale signs are fibrous, misshapen fruit with mostly white instead of black seeds, it said.

Chinese regulations don't forbid use of the substance. It is also allowed in the United States for use on kiwi fruit and grapes.

But the report underscores how farmers in China are abusing both legal and illegal chemicals, with many farms misusing pesticides and fertilizers.

The government has already voiced alarm over the widespread overuse of food additives like dyes and sweeteners that retailers hope will make food more attractive and boost sales.

Read More