Allison Aubrey

Step Aside, Gents. Witness The Rise Of Women In Coffee

Allison Aubrey — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 07:28:00 +0000

The inspiration for NPR's Coffee Week arrived in an email last summer.

Judge Overturns New York City Ban on Big Sugary Sodas

Allison Aubrey and Maria Godoy — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:39:00 +0000

A New York state judge has knocked down New York City's landmark new ban on big, sugary drinks, just one day before it was set to take effect.

Calling them "arbitrary and capricious," state Supreme Court Justice Milton Tingling on Monday invalidated regulations that would have banned New York City restaurants, movie theaters and other food service establishments from serving sugary drinks in sizes bigger than 16 ounces. The ban would have covered not just sodas but a wide array of other sugar-sweetened drinks, from smoothies to coffee.

If Caffeine Can Boost The Memory Of Bees, Can It Help Us, Too?

Allison Aubrey — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 22:20:00 +0000

Who knew that the flower nectar of citrus plants — including some varieties of grapefruit, lemon and oranges — contains caffeine?

Sacrificing Sleep Makes for Run-down Teens — And Parents

Allison Aubrey — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 07:56:00 +0000

When NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard School of Public Health asked parents and caregivers in our new poll whether getting a good night's sleep is important, families overwhelmingly told us that sleep is a high priority.

But almost all said that it's difficult to pull off.

Family Dinner: Treasured Tradition Or Bygone Ideal?

Allison Aubrey — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 21:27:00 +0000

When we asked you (via our Facebook page) to tell us about the weekday challenges your families face, given the competing demands of work, commutes, schoolwork and activities, you didn't hold back. Especially on the subject of squeezing in a family dinner.

"This topic hit my central core," wrote Moschel Kadokura. "It's amazingly hard," says mom Samantha Kolber of Plainfield, Vt. "Lots of balls in the air," says Katherine Hennessy of Boston.

Women With A Berry Snacking Habit May Have Healthier Hearts

Allison Aubrey — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 22:21:00 +0000

When it comes to supernutritious foods, the blueberry has long had a health halo floating over it.

Going back to Colonial times when Native Americans and English settlers ground up blueberries and added them to porridge, in both dried and fresh forms, there have been hints of health-promoting effects.

In recent years, regular consumption of berries has been linked to better brain health and a decreased risk of touching story about a bunch of women gathering to bake fresh apple pies for the people of Newtown, Conn., it warmed our hearts here at The Salt. Truly.

We agree, there is great comfort in baking.

U.S. Olive Oil Makers Say Imports Aren't Always So 'Extra Virgin'

Allison Aubrey — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 23:40:00 +0000

Italians may still be light-years ahead when it comes to gelato, but when it comes to extra-virgin olive oil? Watch out: U.S. producers are on it.

Across the country, this small industry is expanding. Out West, there's California Olive Ranch, where production has grown tenfold over the past six years; it's now producing upwards of 2 million gallons of olive oil a year. Down South, Cowgirl Brands in Dallas is putting, yes, Texas on the olive oil map.

After Sandy, It's Pizza And Homemade Meatballs For The Lucky In New Jersey

Allison Aubrey — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:04:00 +0000

The produce aisle may not yet be restocked at the Stop & Shop in Toms River, N.J., and other perishables may still be hard to come by. But rest assured, the local pizza joint is hopping.

"We've been busy, very busy," says Marissa Henderson, granddaughter of the proprietor of Geno D's pizzeria in Toms River.

Data Linking Aspartame To Cancer Risk Are Too Weak To Defend, Hospital Says

Allison Aubrey — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 22:06:00 +0000

We almost brought you news today about a study that appeared to raise some troubling questions about aspartame, the popular sugar substitute found in many common foods like diet soda. Note the key word — almost.

A study due to be published at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and released to reporters earlier in the week under embargo found some correlation between drinking diet soda and an increased risk of leukemia and Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, as well as a few other rare blood-related cancers.

But at 2:24 p.m.

Health Benefits Of Tea — Milking It Or Not

Allison Aubrey — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 20:26:00 +0000

The idea that milk may diminish the potential heart-health benefits of tea has been a topic of some debate. Lots of us can't imagine black tea without a little dairy to cut the bitterness. But, according to this research going back to 2007, we might want to at least consider trying, say, a nice cup of green tea sans sugar or cream.

Why?

Why Heavy Teens May Eat Less But Weigh More Than Their Thinner Peers

Allison Aubrey — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:38:00 +0000

It may be more important than we thought to tackle obesity in childhood. A new study published in Pediatrics finds that overweight teenagers eat fewer calories than their healthy weight peers.

That's right — they eat less.

How much less? The study found that among 12- to 14-year-olds, obese girls consumed 110 fewer calories daily than healthy-weight girls.

Why Organic Food May Not Be Healthier For You

Allison Aubrey — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 07:22:00 +0000

Yes, organics is a $29 billion industry and still growing. Something is pulling us toward those organic veggies that are grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.

But if you're thinking that organic produce will help you stay healthier, a new finding may come as a surprise.

High School Daze: The Perils of Sacrificing Sleep for Late-Night Studying

Allison Aubrey — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 07:29:00 +0000

High school students with heavy academic course loads often find the demands of homework colliding with the need for adequate sleep.

Coffee Is The New Wine. Here's How You Taste It

Allison Aubrey — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 21:29:00 +0000

The "know your farmer" concept may soon apply to the folks growing your coffee, too.

Increasingly, specialty roasters are working directly with coffee growers around the world to produce coffees as varied in taste as wines. And how are roasters teaching their clientele to appreciate the subtle characteristics of brews? By bringing an age-old tasting ritual once limited to coffee insiders to the coffee-sipping masses.

When we wanted to get in on the coffee "cupping" trend, we headed to Artifact Coffee, a funky new cafe in Baltimore.

Thriving Gut Bacteria Linked To Good Health

Allison Aubrey — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:52:00 +0000

There's no magic elixir for healthy aging, but here's one more thing to add to the list: good gut health.

A study published in the latest issue of Nature finds diet may be key to promoting diverse communities of beneficial bacteria in the guts of older people.

To evaluate this, researchers analyzed the microbiota, or gut bacteria, of 178 older folks, mostly in their 70s and 80s.

Some of the people were living in their own homes, and their diets were rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, grains, p

Antibiotic-Free Meat Business Is Booming, Thanks To Chipotle

Allison Aubrey — Thu, 31 May 2012 21:48:00 +0000

It's no longer just foodies at farm markets or Whole Foods buying antibiotic-free, pasture-raised meats.

Increased demand is coming from lots of big players, including Hyatt Hotels; institutional food providers such as Bon Appetit Management Co., which caters to schools and companies; and the fast-food chain Chipotle Mexican G

Is It Possible To Walk And Work At The Same Time?

Allison Aubrey — Mon, 07 May 2012 06:37:00 +0000

When it comes to walking, the easy part is understanding the benefits: Regular, brisk walks can strengthen our bones, help control blood sugar, help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and the list goes on. The hard part is finding the time to fit it in.

Engineering physical activity back into Americans' daily lives is the goal of an educational campaign launched by Kaiser Permanente,an Oakland, Calif.-based health plan.

There are tons of tips and resources online, with the goal of creating a culture of walking.

What's Inside The 26-Ingredient School Lunch Burger?

Allison Aubrey — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Thiamine mononitrate, disodium inosinate, pyridoxine hydrochloride.

Why are these hard-to-pronounce ingredients added to everything from a burger served in schools to veggie burgers in the frozen food aisle of the grocery store? We try to answer that on this edition of Tiny Desk Kitchen.

It turns out the answers are as varied as the ingredients. But as we yearn to know what's in our food and how it's made, these kinds of ingredients with unfamiliar names make people suspicious.

"For me, it's just a huge red flag," says Ryan Lonnett, a parent of children in Fairfax County, Va., schools.

Does A Chocolate Habit Help Keep You Lean?

Allison Aubrey — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 21:36:00 +0000

A new study finds that people who eat chocolate several times a week are actually leaner than people who don't eat chocolate regularly.

Really, we asked? Last time we checked chocolate was loaded with fat and sugar.

Chances Are Pink Slime Is In Grocery Store Beef Too

Allison Aubrey — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:12:00 +0000

If you're trying to determine whether the ground chuck you buy in the grocery store contains so-called pink slime, or lean beef trimmings, you won't find it on the ingredient list. "It's not required to be labeled," explains Don Schaffner, a food scientist at Rutgers University.

But, chances are, it's there. An estimated 70 percent of the ground beef supply contains these lean bits of meat derived from muscle and connective tissue.

USDA To Give Schools More Ground Beef Choices After Outcry Over 'Pink Slime'

Allison Aubrey — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:37:00 +0000

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has weighed in on the use of so-called pink slime in beef served in the government's free and reduced-price school lunch program.

Today the agency confirmed that it believes the beef product — known in the industry as Lean Finely Textured Beef — is safe.

Death By Bacon? Study Finds Eating Meat Is Risky

Allison Aubrey — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:15:00 +0000

Bacon has been called the gateway meat, luring vegetarians back to meat.

To Cut The Risk Of A High-Fat Meal, Add Spice

Allison Aubrey — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:01:00 +0000

No need to be stingy with spices. Research from Penn State finds heavily spiced meals — think chicken curry with lots of turmeric, or desserts rich in cinnamon and cloves — may do the heart good.

"Elevated triglycerides are a risk factor for heart disease," explains researcher Sheila West.

Her study found that a spicy meal helps cut levels of triglycerides, a type of fat, in the blood — even when the meal is rich in oily sauces and high in fat.

In fact, she documented a decrease of triglycerides by about one-third.

Inhalable Caffeine Maker Gets Warning Letter From FDA

Allison Aubrey — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 21:35:00 +0000

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has sent a warning letter to the maker of a caffeine inhaler that's marketed around college campuses. The agency says it's concerned about misleading claims about the product and its safety.

When the inhalable caffeine product, known as AeroShot, hit college campus stores back in January, it caused a buzz, not all of it euphoric.

Most Of Us Just Can't Taste The Nuances In High-Priced Wines

Allison Aubrey — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 07:56:00 +0000

Have you ever splurged on a highly rated bottle of Burgundy or pinot noir, only to wonder whether a $10 or $15 bottle of red would have been just as good? The answer may depend on your biology.

A new study by researchers at Penn State finds that when it comes to appreciating the subtleties of wine, experts can taste things many of us can't. "What we found is that the fundamental taste ability of an expert is different," says John Hayes of Penn State.

So what explains this? Part of it has to do with training and experience.

Hey Locavores, Are You Creating Jobs?

Allison Aubrey — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:01:00 +0000

When we think of the farmers we know, we can count a lot of locally-produced food we've reported on, from unusual greens to pawpaws.

And when the Obama Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture promotes their Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative, what do they count?

George Washington's Ice Cream Recipe: First, Cut Ice From River

Allison Aubrey — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0000

This year would not be a good year for ice cream. In fact, there would be none at all if we relied on the technique George Washington used at Mount Vernon, his Virginia estate that's perched on the banks of the Potomac River.

His source of ice was the frozen river. Given the warm winter we've had here in D.C. , there's no chance. Seems the weather is nothing like it was on Jan.

Taxes And Food Stamp Restrictions Proposed To Tame America's Sweet Tooth

Allison Aubrey — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:04:00 +0000

Sugar may be our favorite pick-me-up. I know I sometimes get the 4 p.m. urge for peanut M&Ms. But how much is too much?

The American Heart Association says women should not have more than 6 teaspoons, or 30 grams, a day, which is about 100 calories of added sugar (excluding fruit).