The outbreak of disease in people caused by a new influenza virus of swine origin continues to grow in the United States and internationally. Today, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports additional confirmed human infections, hospitalizations and the nation’s first fatality from this outbreak. The more recent illnesses and the reported death suggest that a pattern of more severe illness associated with this virus may be emerging in the United States. Most people will not have immunity to this new virus and, as it continues to spread, more cases, more hospitalizations and more deaths are expected in the coming days and weeks.

CDC has implemented its emergency response. The agency’s goals are to reduce transmission and illness severity, and provide information to help health care providers, public health officials and the public address the challenges posed by the new virus. Yesterday, CDC issued new interim guidance for clinicians on how to care for children and pregnant women who may be infected with this virus. Young children and pregnant women are two groups of people who are at high risk of serious complications from seasonal influenza. In addition, CDC’s Division of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) continues to send antiviral drugs, personal protective equipment, and respiratory protection devices to all 50 states and U.S. territories to help them respond to the outbreak. The swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is susceptible to the prescription antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir. This is a rapidly evolving situation, and CDC will provide updated guidance and new information as it becomes available.

How your spa should handle the situation

According to industry experts Rebecca James Gadberry, chairman and co-CEO of YG Laboratories, and Terri Wojak, director of True University, the following steps should be taken by your spa to help make it as safe and sanitary as possible for clients and employees alike.

1. Hand sanitizer. Place hand sanitizer in key areas throughout the spa, especially in the reception area, bathrooms and locker rooms. Provide all employees with pocket-sized hand sanitizers and encourage them to carry the sanitizer when they’re off-premises, too.
2. Protective gear. Make sure all estheticians wear gloves and a medical-grade protective face mask throughout services. For the esthetician to see, the mask should lay flat over the mouth and nose rather than in a bubble shape. Do not touch anything else while wearing gloves, such as your face, nose and other surfaces. If it’s unavoidable, change gloves before continuing the service and properly disinfect any areas that were touched.
3. Wipes. Wipe down frequently used doors, phones and communal key boards with sanitation wipes once an hour.
4. Keep rooms clean. Thoroughly wash bowls, brushes and other implements with antibacterial soap and use a medical-grade disinfectant. Always change sheets, towels and bedding after each client.
5. Keep products sanitary. Products need to be kept sanitized, as well. Dispense products into separate bowls before touching the client, or if you need to grab something else, again make sure you have on a fresh pair of gloves. Every product should also be wiped down with a disinfectant after every service.
6. Cancellation policy. Suspend your cancellation policy until the pandemic has passed. Clients who feel ill may decide to come in rather than lose money because they cancelled an appointment.
7. Do not treat ill clients. If a client shows signs of being ill, do not treat proceed with the treatment. It is better to be safe than sorry, and it is not fair to put providers, employees or other clients at risk for illness.
8. Send employees home. Make your staff aware of the main symptoms of the H1N1 virus. These can be found further down in this article. If an employee feels ill at work or before she comes to work, allow her to stay home. This illness comes on suddenly, so make sure you have backup plans to replace employees who may call in sick or be sent home during their shift.
9. Visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Web site. Not only can you keep up with the latest news about the virus, you can also download a variety of posters to help build awareness about how to protect against passing along the disease and being exposed to it.

The swine flu and you

The following information was provided by the CDC Web site.

What is swine flu?

Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.

Is this swine flu virus contagious?

CDC has determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it is not known how easily the virus spreads between people.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?

The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does swine flu spread?

Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

How can someone with the flu infect someone else?

Infected people may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to seven or more days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?

First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Are there medicines to treat swine flu?

Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within two days of symptoms).

How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?

People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to seven days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?

Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his eyes, nose or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can  spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface such as a desk and then touches his own eyes, mouth or nose before washing his hands.

How long can viruses live outside the body?

We know that some viruses and bacteria can live two hours or longer on surfaces such as cafeteria tables, doorknobs and desks. Frequent handwashing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?

There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school, and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?

If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best technique for washing my hands to avoid getting the flu?

Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water. or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. The CDC recommends that when you wash your hands—with soap and warm water—that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn’t need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if I get sick?

If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have been identified and become ill with influenzalike symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact your health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed. If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others. If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flulike symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

How serious is swine flu infection?

Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the United States with no deaths occurring. However, swine flu infection can be serious. In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died eight days later. A swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey, occurred in 1976 that caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death.

Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?

No. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

From the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov). Accessed April 30, 2009

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Spas Add Years to Your Life

Did you know that April 16th was National Stress Awareness Day? Coincidence that it falls the day after taxes are due? I don’t know, but spas can help. ISPA’s research shows that the No. 1 reason people go to the spa is to relax and relieve or reduce stress. Here are some other facts on stress:

* 1/3 of Americans are living with extreme stress and nearly half believe their stress has increased over the past five years. (American Psychological Association)
* People who go for a single deep-tissue massage reduce their blood pressure by seven points. Over time, lowered blood pressure can add six years to your life. (Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine)
* By 2020, the top five diseases will all have the underlying contributing factor of stress. (World Health Organization)

Dealing with your stress today can help prevent stress-related illnesses (heart disease, stroke, depression) tomorrow. “There’s quite a bit you can learn at a spa to help reduce stress,” said Dr. Brent Bauer, director of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program at Mayo Clinic. “Things like meditation, acupuncture, massage and guided imagery – the right answer is to find what fits for you and incorporate it on a regular basis.”

“Spas are not about luxury, they’re about teaching healthy living; they’re a place where people can get tangible results and work on overall well-being,” said ISPA President Lynne McNees. “So many spas are offering great ways to help you manage your stress that it’s easy to find a spa experience that fits into your budget.”

A sampling of the stress relieving treatments offered by ISPA members during April include:

Saybrook Point Inn & Spa’s Calming Combo includes your choice of any 50-minute massage with a scalp treatment or foot massage. $99 Mon-Fri (CT)

 

 

 

Skinsational Skin & Body Spa*  offers free mini-massage or mini-facials from 11a.m. – 1 p.m. Mon-Thu (CA)

 

 

Relache Spa has a De-Stress for Less package with a massage, facial or manicure/pedicure combo. $99 (TN)

 

 

Le Boe European Day Spa’s Tax Stress Relief Package includes 60-minute aromatherapy massage, 15-minute face and scalp massage and 15-minute reflexology. $130 (FL)

 

 

The Founders Inn & Spa’s Stress Less is a 50-minute massage and 50-minute pedicure. $99 Mon-Thu (VA)

 

 

For a complete list of ISPA members offering stress relieving treatments please contact ISPA, and visit www.experienceispa.com to find an ISPA member.

About ISPA

ISPA is recognized worldwide as the leading professional organization and voice of the spa industry. www.experienceispa.com

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Melanoma Progression Seen to Be Affected by Stress Levels

Another reason to encourage relaxation and stress relief at the spa—melanoma has been found to progress more rapidly in those that are stressed.

Stress appears to hasten the progression of aggressive or advanced melanoma skin cancer, but commonly prescribed blood pressure drugs may slow the disease and improve the quality of patients’ lives, according to an Ohio State University study.

In laboratory tests, the researchers exposed samples of three melanoma cell lines to the stress hormone norepinephrine and looked for changes in the levels of certain proteins released by the cells: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which stimulates the growth of new blood vessels to feed a growing tumor; and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8), which play a role in tumor growth.

When exposed to norepinephrine, all three melanoma cell lines increased production of the three proteins. In C8161 cells—the most aggressive and advanced form of melanoma—there was “a 2,000% increase in IL-6. In untreated samples from this cell line, you normally can’t detect any IL-6 at all,” Eric V. Yang, a research scientist at the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, said in an OSU news release. “What this tells us is that stress might have a worse effect on melanoma that is in a very aggressive or advanced stage, and that one marker for that might be increased levels of IL-6,” Yang said.

The researchers found that norepinephrine molecules bind to receptors on the surface of cancer cells, which stimulates the release of the pro-cancer proteins. Further tests showed that common beta-blocker blood pressure drugs significantly reduced melanoma cells’ production of IL-6 and the other two proteins. The drugs did this by blocking the receptors on the surface of the cancer cells.

The findings, published in the February issue of the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity, suggest that beta-blockers may help slow the progression of melanoma, Yang and colleagues said. Each year in the United States, almost 48,000 cases of melanoma are diagnosed and nearly 8,000 people die of the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.

More information

The American Academy of Dermatology has more about melanoma.

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WCI, Inc. Renovates Bonneville Spa in Washington State

Portland, Oregon-based interior design firm WCI, Inc. recently completed a spa renovation at the Bonneville Hot Springs Resort & Spa in North Bonneville, Washington. Space planning was a key challenge in this project in that many items needed to fit in relatively small rooms while creating a sense of calm and luxury without the feeling of overcrowding.

“Each window in the spa looks out to gorgeous mountain views, so we used the natural surroundings as art,” says Larissa Burden, lead designer on the project. “In the public areas, a simple valance was used with no drapery treatments in order to accentuate the view.”

The interior design complements the outdoor surroundings. Dramatic drapery and lighting treatments create private pedicure “thrones” to provide a unique spa environment. Warm neutrals in the flooring, walls, and fabrics, along with fireplaces in treatment rooms, set the tone for a relaxing experience. The design relationship between the neutral, calming elements and the dramatic, plush details works together to create a soothing environment.

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You see that $15 or $20 charge on your bank statement every month.

You like having that gym membership, but as money gets tighter, the realization sinks in that you don’t go enough to justify the expense.

This scenario has played out in many place throughout the country, although not quite as much in Western New York. As people suddenly find their gym membership expendable, meanwhile, fitness facility owners are using some creative methods to counteract the cost-cutting.

Gym memberships nationwide, which showed their first decline in a decade in 2007, have continued to dip, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sports Association.

Fitness19, located in North Tonawanda’s Mid-City Plaza for less than a year, has seen a slight dip in membership, but owner Michael Hobbs said he’s not too concerned.

“We have seen a very small percentage of members cancel due to the economy,” he said. “We’re the type of gym that’s month-to-month with no contracts. We’re also not a huge gym with huge overhead.”

The time of year also plays a role, he said, as people are more likely to think about personal fitness once it’s time for them to consider New Year’s resolutions.

“With the holidays, no one thinks about joining the gym,” he said. “People forget about their health.”

Membership has not dropped much at the Ken-Ton Family YMCA on Belmont Avenue, but the facility has given financial assistance to 200 more families as of Oct. 1 than in all of 2007, director Rick Presutti said, giving away nearly twice the money that was raised for that purpose this year.

“From January to march we saw a little bit of a decline, but for the most part we’ve since remained about status quo,” he said. “We’re continuing to give away money to make sure people that have had problems … can continue to use their memberships.”

Financial aid is not the only tactic used by gym owners to entice members to stay. A Gold’s Gym program deemed ”Fat-O-Nomics” enters on money people can save by shedding excess weight. Being 50 pounds overweight, for example, burns nine extra gallons of gasoline per year.

“The cost of a lot of goods has gone up,” says spokesman Dave Reiseman. ”We’re aware that there are stories out there asking, ’Is the gym membership worth it?’ ”

At Bally’s Total Fitness, which has a location on East Robinson Road in Amherst, a friends and family discount previously only available to employees has gone public. Coupon-holders are eligible for a three-year membership at $25 per month with $55 enrollment and card fees.

And Lockport’s Lifestyles Health Club, located on Lockport Olcott Road, has started offering a free month’s membership with the purchase of six or 12 months, general manager Marsha Flynn said.

“I would say we did have a slow time,” she said. “But we’ve been using specials, so that helps.”

Businesses listed on spa directory service are slashing prices.  The number of discount deals offered is up 25 percent to 30 percent versus a year ago.

Beyond discounts, some are adopting a recession spin: touting services as stress reducers, not indulgences, and highlighting the economic benefits of “wellness.” At the Lockport Athletic and Fitness Club, owner Amer Abdallah has touted the benefits of physical fitness in tough times.

“Here’s the beautiful thing,” Abdallah said. “Health and wellness relates hand-in-hand to (customers) mental being and state of mind. (Exercise) is not a luxury. This is a necessity.”

And the Westin New York in Times Square has turned layoffs into sales opportunity. A “pink slip pick-me-up” spa promotion gives 20 percent off a facial from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.

”If you’re unemployed, you need a pick-me-up — and you need to look good on your interviews,” spa director Nicole Morris said.

And then there are the additional benefits some facilities offer. The Ken-Ton YMCA, for example, has added additional family and senior programs, such as a group outing to see a stage show in Buffalo and holiday luncheons, to give people more for their money, Presutti said. The facility will also upgrade its cardiovascular equipment in the spring to “keep our members happy,” he said.

In addition, the Buffalo-Niagara YMCA will begin a Jump Start membership drive in January, which Presutti said will include a membership discount and other offers, as well as tout the extra benefits the YMCA offers.

“We upgrade member service things to keep the people happy and give people some extras that they don’t normally get in everyday life,” he said.

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Exercise Helps Prevent Age-Related Brain Changes In Older Adults

 Older adults who exercise regularly show increased cerebral blood flow and a greater number of small blood vessels in the brain, according to findings presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

The study, conducted at the University of North Carolina (UNC) – Chapel Hill, is the first to compare brain scans of older adults who exercise to brain scans of those who do not.

“Our results show that exercise may reduce age-related changes in brain vasculature and blood flow,” said presenter Feraz Rahman, M.S., currently a medical student at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. “Other studies have shown that exercise prevents cognitive decline in the elderly. The blood vessel and flow differences may be one reason.”

The researchers recruited 12 healthy adults, age 60 to 76. Six of the adults had participated in aerobic exercise for three or more hours per week over the last
10 years, and six exercised less than one hour per week. All of the volunteers underwent MRI to determine cerebral blood flow and MR angiography to depict blood vessels in the brain.

Using a novel method of three-dimensional (3-D) computer reconstruction developed in their lab, the researchers were able to make 3-D models of the blood vessels and examine them for shape and size. They then compared the blood vessel characteristics and how they related to blood flow in both the active and inactive groups.

The results showed that the inactive group exhibited fewer small blood vessels in the brain, along with more unpredictable blood flow through the brain.

“The active adults had more small blood vessels and improved cerebral blood flow,” said the study’s senior author, J. Keith Smith, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of radiology at UNC School of Medicine. “These findings further point out the importance of regular exercise to healthy aging.”

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Celebrate the Season with this Tasty Treat, Infused with Cancer-Fighting Ingredients

‘Tis the season to be merry, but with the economic crunch and a long list of gifts needed for neighbors, friends, and teachers, consumers’ budgets are stretched. Texas Oncology has developed a free holiday recipe for Jingle Jam, an easy-to-make, Southern-style preserve that combines healthful cranberries, citrus, and jalapenos. This recipe, full of cancer-fighting ingredients, is sure to please everyone on gift lists and around holiday tables – while leaving you some change to jingle in your pockets.

“It’s no secret that recipes with fruits, veggies, and whole grains provide the foundation for a diet that is nutrient-packed and will promote health,” said Jerry Barker, Jr., M.D., a Texas Oncology radiation oncologist. “Jingle Jam brings together some of Texas’ favorite holiday staples for a tasty treat that is full of color, flavor, and nutrients.”

In Texas alone, more than 90,000 people – the fourth-highest incidence in the nation – are diagnosed each year with cancer, some of which could have been prevented with proper diet. Jingle Jam’s combination of wholesome cranberries, citrus, and jalapenos serves as a reminder of the variety of cancer-protective ingredients that can easily be incorporated into the everyday diet.

Cranberries, for example, are a powerful source of flavonoids, a family of phytonutrients with antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and grapefruit contain vitamin C, folate, and fiber – all essential to a cancer-protective diet. Jalapenos are loaded with vitamins A and C, and contain a phytochemical called capsaicin, which has been shown to benefit individuals with prostate cancer. Pectin is a natural product of most fruits and may block cancer growth. Pectin is used as a gelling agent and is also available commercially, but the
Jingle Jam holiday recipe utilizes the natural pectin in cranberries for a pleasing consistency.

Texans come together for the holidays to enjoy friends, family, and good food. It’s easy to make the holiday table merry and bright with Jingle Jam, while feeling good about it. Versatile and delicious, Jingle Jam – which uses less sugar than a typical jam – has a variety of tasty uses. It makes a delectable addition to the holiday bird, but also as a glaze for steamed carrots or roasted pork loin. Spread it
on whole grain toast or English muffins for breakfast, or as an appetizer dolloped atop goat cheese tartlets, or poured over cream cheese and served with crackers. Dress up a turkey sandwich, or use it as a dipping sauce for quesadillas.

To view a demonstration on how to make Jingle Jam, click here; or to download a festive, printable Jingle Jam recipe card, click here .

Here are a few additional quick tips to give holiday recipes and food choices a flavor-forward nutritional makeover:

* Use healthy oils, such as olive, canola, or other vegetable oils instead of butter or lard.
* Add chopped nuts, such as pecans, walnuts, or hazelnuts for added fiber, crunch, flavor, “good” fats, and a host of phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
* Make salads colorful, using dark, leafy greens and a variety of seasonal fruits and veggies.
* Serve whole grain bread with meals.
* Incorporate seasonal fruits into desserts.
* Choose dark chocolate with at least 60 percent cocoa, which contains antioxidant polyphenols.
* Texas Oncology is looking out for Texans’ health, providing them with the top technologies and treatment options available.

About Texas Oncology
Texas Oncology delivers high-quality cancer care with leading-edge technology and advanced treatment and therapy options available to help patients achieve “More breakthroughs. More victories.” in their fights against cancer, right in their own communities. Texas Oncology, a pioneer in community-based cancer care, is an independent oncology practice with sites of service throughout Texas and southeastern New Mexico.

Texas Oncology patients have the opportunity to take part in some of the most promising clinical trials in the nation for a broad range of cancers. In fact, Texas Oncology has played an integral role in gaining Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for 24 of the latest 30 cancer therapies.

Texas Oncology is affiliated with US Oncology, the nation’s foremost cancer treatment and research network accelerating the availability and use of evidence-based medicine and shared best practices. With more than 1,250 physicians at 480 locations in 39 states, the US Oncology network provides Texas Oncology with access to the latest advancements in therapies, clinical research, and technology, as well as best-in-class clinical and operational processes that help to advance the quality, safety, and cost effectiveness of cancer care.

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New Study Says Weight Gain Occurs on Weekends

Do you ever find yourself on Monday wondering if you went a little overboard with the chips and dip over the weekend? And maybe even with those brownies at the party the weekend before? Oh yeah, and that “fourth meal” burrito from El Farolito Saturday night?

If you generally use weekends as an excuse to indulge a little, you are not alone. And according to a study published last month in Obesity, there is a good chance that weekend splurges are the reason you are gaining weight (or at least one reason it is so difficult to lose it).

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis wanted to understand how weekends affect weight fluctuations in free-living individuals under different weight loss plans. To address this, they Read more…

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10 Easy Recipe Swaps to Help You Lose Weight

I have a thrifty streak—the unkind might call it cheap—you might expect from someone who grew up during the Depression. And when I make dinner for myself, I have gotten in the habit of mixing my tofu or fish with tons of green beans to stretch out the protein and make it last for several meals, not just one. In addition to saving money, I’ve been inadvertently practicing the weight-control technique known as energy density reduction, or, more catchily, “Volumetrics.”

That’s the term Barbara Rolls, professor and Guthrie chair of nutrition at Pennsylvania State University, has coined to describe the method, which is based on a simple principle: People tend to eat the same weight, or amount, of food from day to day. Since some foods are less energy dense—that is, they have fewer calories per gram—than others, if you fill your plate Read more…

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