Alert! Port Ambrose LNG Port A Health Hazard for NY and NJ Beaches

Kim Frackek is the Outreach Coordinator for the Sane Enery Project

My role as a blogger for health is to bring your attention to a wide variety of issues that go beyond our usual obsessions. This post concerns the infrastructure being built at an alarming rate to export fracked gas in the New York Harbor. Have you heard of the proposed LNG port proposed for New York Harbor? Do you know where Port Ambrose is and why Jones Beach, Robert Moses Beach and all beaches in the vicinity the locations where you like to take your family may no longer be safe come this summer? Did you know Governor Chris Christie vetoed this project? Did you know that once liquified natural gas starts burning it cannot be extinguished? If you have ever seem someone have the misfortune of trying to flambe rum and have it travel up there are in a flash you have an idea what kind of misfortune this could turn into in New York on a grand scale with our aging and decrepit pipes. If you haven't heard about any of this you are not alone. The gas and oil interests who have brought you fracking have made hearings scant and times and locations to attend at the most inconvenient possible far way from the communities that would be directly affected. I offer you testimony from last weeks hearing (and so far the ONLY hearing) by Kim Frackek one of 300 persons who attended to speak out. At the end of this post see links to make comments and learn more about this very real threat that Governor Cuomo can veto. Please encourage him to do so. I for one would like to continue going to the beaches I grew up on, don't  you? 

With Concern - Ekayani Chamberlin

Testimony dated January, 2015
JKK Hilton Public Hearing on Port Ambrose LNG Project

"My name is Kim Fraczek, I am a resident of Brooklyn, NY and work as the Outreach Coordinator for Sane Energy Project as well as work with several diverse community groups in our region as an arts educator and organizer.
I am here today wishing to address several issues about the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, but with respect to time, I will focus on just a few points, and submit a more lengthy comment in my written testimony. I understand you have accepted our request for an additional hearing in New York, but declined our request to have a hearing in central Manhattan. This already poses a problem for our state. It tells me that you don’t want to hear what the public has to say about this LNG Port, given the complicated location and time today. I know several parents and hundreds of working people who would like to participate in this process, but cannot because of this difficult location where we had to spend money to rent cars and coordinate expensive busses just to be present. I request that you push to hold hearings in every borough as well as surrounding NY and NJ counties, who will also face environmental impacts from the LNG Port, that is near easy public transportation. If you need help finding locations, I can assure you, anyone in this room would be glad to assist you. Further, I appreciate the 30 day extension on the comment period, however 90 days to review 25 lengthy volumes of information about this LNG port while the public is busy working to pay their bills and feed their families is nowhere near sufficient time to possibly digest this this information and formulate meaningful comments.
Per the DEIS, I am concerned about the health impacts this is going to have on my human, marine and plant/food community. I see there is insufficient information about how air quality monitoring is taking place to establish a base reading. I quote from the DEIS, “No air quality monitoring stations are located in the immediate vicinity of the proposed Port facilities as no offshore data are collected;” When mentioning studying ambient air quality, from the shore line, “Monitoring is performed primarily for pollutants, known as criteria air pollutants…These pollutants include nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide,” Given that Liquefied Natural Gas will emit high doses of Methane, how are you monitoring this? We would like a base reading of Methane from the immediate vicinity as well as the shoreline and inland. Why should this be too much to ask? Liberty Natural Gas wants the financial benefits from our location to turn profit, so we want to make certain we are not suffering health impacts. Can we feel safe about relaxing on our famous beaches that bring loads of economic value to our neighborhoods? According to U.S. Dept. of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, “If LNG spills into water, it explodes. If LNG spills on the ground, it turns into rapidly expanding clouds of vaporizing methane that can asphyxiate by displacing oxygen and flash-freeze human flesh.” According to the Congressional Research Service, “If ignited at the source, these vapors become flaming “pool fires” that burn hotter than other fuels and cannot be extinguished. Highly volatile LNG cannot be odorized, so there is no warning of a leak”
I would actually like to ask you to sit with those thoughts and images for a few moments and imagine if your family and friends were to be affected by a very possible leak on a nice summer day, enjoying the beach.
Why should we have to bear the risk and the definite air quality issues that come with a giant refrigerator housing volatile gas near our homes when there is such a possibility and future with renewable energy sources that can come from the wind, the tide and our ever-giving sun. Creating clean energy systems that work in harmony with our planet, can provide exciting jobs and careers for our union members here.
Companies like Liberty Natural Gas is part of the largest industry our planet has ever known. They will put their profits before our labor forces safety, our food supply, our water supply, the safety of our homes and the safety of our future to sustain life on this planet. And life is a pretty great gift that we have. Please work together with us to deny Port Ambrose and build an efficient, clean and profitable future for everyone, including our local communities.

Thank you."

Coverage in New York Newsday
Sane Energy Project How to Submit Comment Info:

High Dietary Fiber Intake Linked to Reduced Body Weight

Note the very bottom of article: Increase your intake for fruits and vegetables for fiber. Fiber first!

January 7, 2015 Higher dietary fiber intake is linked to reduced body weight At a Glance Studies show that in addition to its established role in supporting overall health, higher dietary fiber consumption may play a significant role in weight loss and obesity.  Read more about this research below.    Dietary fiber plays many important roles in the body, and intake has been linked to cardiovascular health and a lower risk of certain cancers. Additionally, evidence from observational studies has linked fiber intake to body weight, showing that obese men and women are likely to consume significantly less dietary fiber than lean individuals. One particular cohort study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, included 89,432 European participants, aged 20–78 years, who were initially free of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Participants were followed for an average of 6.5 years. Results indicated that total dietary fiber intake was inversely associated with weight and change in waist circumference during the study period. At 10 grams/day higher total fiber intake, there was an estimated 39 grams/year weight loss and waist circumference decreased by 0.08 cm/year. A 10 grams/day fiber intake from cereals alone results in 77 grams/year weight reduction and 0.10 cm/year reduction in waist circumference. Fruit and vegetable fiber was not associated with weight change but had an effect similar to total and cereal fiber intake on reduced waist circumference.  In another study, a review article published in the journal Nutrition suggests that dietary fiber helps prevent obesity in several different ways. It promotes satiation by slowing gastric emptying, altering glycemic or insulin response, decreasing absorption of macronutrients, and by altering the secretion of gut hormones linked to hunger. Over the last decade many the most popular weight-loss diets have trended towards high-protein and low-carbohydrate intakes to lose weight. Unfortunately, in an effort to lower carbohydrate intake, these diets often have very low fiber intake as well. Analysis of low carbohydrate diets reveal that in some cases dietary fiber intake is as low as 1.6 grams/day and is almost always less than 10 grams/day. The author of this review suggests that regardless of dieting method that individuals choose to follow, they should consider the addition of fiber to aid their weight-loss. Dietary fiber can be increased through increasing consumption fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, or through a fiber supplement. Huaidong Du et al. Dietary fiber and subsequent changes in body weight and waist circumference in European men and womenAm J Clin Nutr Vol. 91, No. 2, 329-336, February 2010. Slavin J. Dietary fiber and body weight. Nutrition 21(2005);411-418.

New Year New You Tour Stops & How High Intensity Exercise Suppresses Appetite!

It can be so discouraging trying to get your weight under control if you don't have the scientific knowledge on how your body actually works.This  fabulous weekly Essentials of Health Bulletin courtesy of Usana Health Sciences sheds light on how High Intensity Exercise helps your body regulate eating and food selection. Yes! By now you may have heard that the RESET Challenge launches Monday January 5, 2015 running right through to March 29th , 2015. In support of that the New Year New You Tour with Dr. Brian Dixon and colleagues is making a nation wide tour beginning in New York Sunday, January 10h and it is free. To lean more go here! Dates and Times and Languages posted! El Habla Espanol!

To Your Health Goals!

- Ekayani

  
December 31, 2014

High-intensity exercise may influence appetite regulation and food selection

At a Glance

Increased physical activity is associated with long-term successful weight maintenance due to mechanisms more complex than just increased energy expenditure. A study using MRI imaging has shown that intense exercise not only affects energy output, but may also influence how people respond to food.

Read more about this research below.

 Short periods of intense exercise are known to suppress hunger through appetite regulating hormones. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition compared the effects of high-intensity exercise on central (brain) response to visual food stimuli. 

The researchers recruited 15 healthy lean men in their early twenties. The study participants completed two 60 minute tests: exercise (running at 70% maximum aerobic capacity) and a resting control. After each test, images of high- and low- calorie foods were viewed and the brain response to the foods was measured using an MRI.     

After the exercise session, thirst and core body temperature were increased while appetite response was significantly suppressed. Exercise significantly suppressed ghrelin (an appetite stimulating hormone) and enhanced the release of peptide YY (an appetite reducing hormone). When compared to the resting control, neural (brain) response in the brain’s reward related regions were stimulated in response to viewing the images of low-calorie foods, but suppressed upon viewing images of high-calorie foods. 

This study found that high intensity exercise increases neural responses in reward-related regions of the brain in response to images of low-calorie foods, and suppresses activation during the viewing of high-calorie foods. These central responses are associated with exercise-induced changes in peripheral signals related to hydration and appetite-regulation.

Exercise is a well-known important component of a healthy lifestyle. This study provides further evidence that exercise can do more than just providing a caloric deficit, it may also influence you to make healthier food choices.  

Crabtree DR, et al. The effects of high-intensity exercise on neural responses to images of food. Am J Clin Nutr. 2014 Feb;99(2):258-67. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.113.071381. Epub 2013 Dec 4.

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Vitamin E status in women and the risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy

Vitamin E status in women and the risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy 

At a Glance A new study has found that maternal vitamin E status during the first trimester of pregnancy may influence the risk of early miscarriage in women. Read more about this research below.

Tocopherols are a family of vitamin E compounds found naturally in vegetable oils, nuts, fish, and leafy green vegetables. The nutritional benefits of vitamin E and its importance in the human diet have been well documented. However the diets of many Americans provide less than the recommended amounts of vitamin E. Low fat diets, GI tract disorders, and certain medications can further impact the availability and absorption of vitamin E.

Originally tocopherols were discovered for their role in animal reproduction, but little to date has been known about the contribution of vitamin E deficiencies in human pregnancy loss. A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has shown that maternal vitamin E status in the first trimester may influence the risk of early pregnancy loss. This is believed to be the first population study of early pregnancy vitamin E nutritional status and the risk of miscarriage in a human population.

The study was conducted in rural Bangladesh, a typically undernourished population. The researchers measured alpha-tocopherol and gamma-tocopherol plasma status of a case-cohort study of 1,605 pregnant Bangladeshi women. 1,161 of the women (72.3%) had low-to-deficient vitamin E status defined by a plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration of <12.0 µmol/L. The most important finding was that women with low alpha-tocopherol concentrations were almost twice more likely to miscarry than women with normal status. Women with low gamma-tocopherol status were also significantly more likely to miscarry than those with higher concentrations.

The cutoff of plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration 12.0 µmol/L was proposed to define vitamin E deficiency in normal, healthy adults. However, it should be noted that currently there is no clearly defined consensus on the definition of vitamin E deficiency in pregnant women because alpha-tocopherol concentrations increase with blood lipids over the course of pregnancy.

While these findings show an association between adequate alpha-tocopherol status and reduced risk of miscarriage in human populations, future studies exploring the potential beneficial effects of adequate vitamin E status during pregnancy are warranted.

Ahmed Shamim A, Schulze K, Merrill RD, et al. First trimester plasma tocopherols are associated with risk of miscarriage in rural Bangladesh. Am J Clin Nutr February 2015 ajcn.094920; First published online November 26, 2014. doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.094920

Taking your vitamin D3 supplement with a meal containing fat increases absorption

Greetings Everyone I personally don't endorse eating beef liver as I see the cow as mother and the bull as father according to the Vedic version but the point here is that some kind of fat be it yoghurt, avocado, nuts - is needed to better utilize Vitamin D3. Now that I have spoken my peace please read this important information courtesy of Usana Health Sciences.(They make the same point in the end of the article). - Ekayani Taking your vitamin D3 supplement with a meal containing fat increases absorption At a Glance Taking your vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) containing supplements with a meal providing some fat may significantly enhance vitamin D absorption by up to 32% compared to a non-fat meal. Read more about this research below.    Vitamin D is a fat-soluble nutrient that is found naturally in very few foods (oily fish, egg yolk, and beef liver), fortified in others, and produced in the skin from exposure to sunlight. Skin exposed to sunshine indoors through a window, on cloudy days, in shade, having a tan or dark-colored skin, and using sunscreen can significantly decrease the amount of vitamin D the skin makes. And recent studies have shown that sunshine levels in some northern latitudes are so weak during the winter months that humans make little to no vitamin D. Despite food fortification, the data suggests that many people do not get enough vitamin D from diets alone. Vitamin D supplements may help bridge the gap. Because vitamin D is fat soluble, it seems logical that vitamin D supplements should be taken with a meal containing some fat. However vitamin D absorption differences based on dietary composition has been poorly understood. A new study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics sought to test the hypothesis that absorption of vitamin D3 improves when taken with a meal containing fat compared to a fat-free meal. In this study researchers recruited fifty healthy older men and women to complete this one day study and randomly assigned them to one of three meal groups: the first group consumed a fat-free meal; and the second and third groups consumed a meal with 30% of calories from fat but each provided a different ratio of MUFA’s (monounsaturated fatty acids) to PUFA’s (polyunsaturated fatty acids). After completing a 12-hour fast, all subjects took a single 50,000 IU vitamin D3 supplement with their test breakfast. Plasma vitamin D3 levels were collected and measured by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry before the meal and 10, 12, and 14 hours after consuming the meal and supplement.  The results showed that the maximum vitamin D3 plasma level (12-hour time-point) was 32% higher in subjects consuming the fat-containing meals compared with the fat-free meal. Absorption did not differ significantly at any time point between the high and low MUFA and PUFA groups. This study provides a better understanding of the importance of some type of fat in a meal to optimize the absorption of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) from supplements; however the type of fat consumed is not significant for absorption. Dawson-Hughes B, Harris SS, Lichtenstein AH, Dolnikowski G, Palermo NJ, Rasmussen H. Dietary Fat Increases Vitamin D3 Absorption. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2014 Nov 17. pii: S2212-2672(14)01468-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2014.09.014. [Epub ahead of print]

Sleepless in America Trailer | National Geographic Channel

Sleepless in America Trailer | National Geographic Channel: In an unprecedented partnership, NGC along with The Public Good Projects and NIH, America’s foremost scientific authority, will draw the nation’s attention to the science of sleep — a topic fundamental to our collective well-being.



A topic we have a page dedicated to on facebook. Search Sleepinar

Impact of iron deficiency on exercise performance in women of reproductive age

Impact of iron deficiency on exercise performance in women of reproductive age 

At a GlanceA new meta-analysis has shown that women athletes, of reproductive age, who take iron supplements, experience a significant improvement in exercise performance. Read more about this research below.

Iron deficiency anemia is a common form of anemia and is a health risk for many women of reproductive age. Iron is an important component of hemoglobin in red bloods cells necessary to transport oxygen to tissues throughout the body. Iron deficiency occurs when iron requirements or losses exceed iron intake resulting in reduced tissue levels and deficient iron stores. Without adequate iron, blood is unable to efficiently transport oxygen contributing to fatigue, lethargy, and poor physical functioning.

Female athletes have a higher risk of this type of anemia due to dietary deficiencies, losses from blood and other bodily fluids, and reduced absorption due to exercised induced inflammation. Previous studies have suggested that low iron levels may impair exercise performance.

A study published in the Journal of Nutrition has found that women athletes of childbearing age with iron deficient anemia who supplement with iron experience a marked improved in exercise performance. Researchers performed a systematic review and analysis of the effect of iron supplementation and exercise performance of women in childbearing years utilizing randomized controlled trials that measured exercise outcomes to daily oral iron supplementation vs. control. 

Iron supplementation improved women's exercise performance, in terms of both the highest level they could achieve at 100% exertion (maximal capacity) and their exercise efficiency at a submaximal exertion. Anemic and iron deficient women who received iron were better able to perform a given exercise using a lower heart rate and at a higher efficiency than women who were not taking an iron supplement.

This study helps establish evidence that iron deficiency impairs exercise performance in women and may help better establish the beneficial effects of iron supplementation on exercise performance in women, and the general health and well-being of women in the general population. However, additional studies/ evidence may be required to further clarify the effects of iron on other exercise variables, and for other functional outcomes, such as work performance, productivity, and potential adverse effects.

Pasricha SR, Low M, Thompson J, Farrell A, De-Regil LM. Iron Supplementation Benefits Physical Performance in Women of Reproductive Age: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Nutrition, 2014; DOI: 10.3945/jn.113.189589