June 20, 2003 News Releases
Released 6/18/03 & 6/19/03
UTAH STATE
NEWS RELEASES FOR 06-19-03
NEW BOOK LOOKS
AT WATER WISE PLANTS
LOGAN — Native plants and water conservation are subjects
of vital interest to cities, offices, homeowners and agriculture
alike, as all are affected by the growing shortage of water
in the Intermountain region.
A new book published by Utah State University Press provides
specific information about shrubs, trees, grasses, forbs and
cacti that are native to most states in the Intermountain West,
and that can be used in landscaping to conserve water, reflect
and preserve the region’s landscape character, and help
protect its ecological integrity.
“Water Wise Native Plants for Intermountain Landscapes”
is an invaluable guide for the professional landscaper, horticulturist
and others in the Intermountain nursery industry, as well as
for the student, general reader, gardener and homeowner,”
said Michael Spooner, director of Utah State University Press.
“Water Wise” is both convenient and comprehensive.
The heart of the book presents hundreds of species, devoting
a full page to each, with a description of appearance, habitat,
landscape use and other comments. Color photographs illustrate
each plant described. A reader-friendly introduction provides
important background on the ecology of the Intermountain West,
along with full descriptions of native plant habitats and associations.
The volume has been written by Wendy Mee, Jared Barnes, Roger
Kjelgren, Richard Sutton, Teresa Cerny and Craig Johnson.
An accessible resource of accurate native plant information
for all readers, “Water Wise” is indispensable to
professional landscapers and amateurs alike,” said Spooner.
For more information on “Water Wise Native Plants for
Intermountain Landscapes,” call Brooke Bigelow at Utah
State University Press, 1-800-239-9974.
June 19, 2003
Editor: Nadene Steinhoff, 435-797-1429, nadene.steinhoff@usu.edu
Contact: Brooke Bigelow, 1-800-239-9974, bbigelow@upress.usu.edu
ASK
A SPECIALIST: CAN YOU GIVE ME THE FACTS ON FAD DIETING?
LOGAN — Every year, Americans spend more than $30 billion
in the weight loss industry. However, most dieting plans are
gimmicks that don't work for long-lasting weight loss.
The real value of a diet is determined by its ability to maintain
weight loss while supporting overall health. It's not very exciting,
but the only thing that will cause permanent weight loss is
consuming fewer calories coupled with regular exercise. Since
the lure of fad dieting is sometimes hard to resist, consider
the following information to help you recognize a bad fad.
• It claims or implies a large or fast weight loss. Appropriate
weight loss is 1-2 lbs. per week.
• It implies weight can be lost and maintained without
exercise and lifestyle changes. Keep in mind it is most often
lifestyle choices that got people to the point of needing to
diet. Diet and exercise are important to any healthy lifestyle.
• It is described as a miraculous breakthrough and includes
unsubstantiated claims that are not proven by credible research.
Diet and health recommendations should follow years of sound
research that has been reviewed by panels of scientists before
being offered to the public.
• It is sold by self-proclaimed health advisors or nutritionists.
Credible research reported in a medical journal and reviewed
by peers is the place to turn for trusted nutrition information.
• It leaves out a food group. Balance is achieved via
consumption of all the food groups which will provide the required
vitamins and minerals without the use of a supplement.
The following is an evaluation of the claims and implications
of specific fad diets.
• High protein, low carbohydrate diets (Sugar Buster's
Diet, Atkins Diet, The Zone Diet). These diets claim that carbohydrates
and insulin are bad and cause weight gain. The reality is that
carbohydrates and insulin are both necessary to the body. Over
consumption of calories is what causes weight gain.
• Food-specific diets (i.e. the grapefruit diet, fruititarianism,
cabbage soup diet). Claims of these diets are that one food
has special properties that promote weight loss. Downfalls are
that these diets don't teach healthy eating habits and are not
nutritionally balanced. They also become monotonous.
• High fiber, low calorie diets (i.e. the Dean Ornish
Diet). These diets claim that fiber is filling and cannot be
absorbed by the body. Although adequate fiber is important,
the problem is that too much is not always better since these
diets often cause cramping, bloating and diarrhea.
• Liquid diets (Slim Fast, etc.). These consist of meal
replacements and very low calorie diets. Some require medical
prescription and supervision. The downfall is that these diets
are not for long-term use, and weight usually plateaus after
three months. They also don't teach life-long habits.
• Restrictive diets (Eat Right for Your blood Type, Beverly
Hills Diet). These diets claim that you must separate foods
to avoid confusing your enzymes and eat the correct foods for
your blood type to avoid hazardous complications. The reality
is that our bodies were made to digest combinations of foods,
and separation doesn't help digestion. There is no scientific
data that proves that eating for your blood type has any benefits
or prevents disease.
• Fasting. Some diets claim that this cleanses the body
or that it should be done at the beginning of a weight loss
program. The downfalls are that it deprives you of nutrients
and can cause low energy, weakness and lightheadedness as well
as stress on kidneys due to ketone build up from lack of carbohydrates.
Fasting occasionally (i.e. once a week or less) should not cause
harm to a well nourished individual. Fasting for prolonged periods
or more frequently than once a week can contribute to nutrient
depletion and should not be considered at all for those who
are not well nourished or for people with metabolic diseases.
• Diets that require specific foods (Jenny Craig, Body
for Life). These diets state that exercise and good nutrition,
through the use of their supplements or prepackaged meals, are
the keys to losing weight and keeping it off. These diets are
generally sound, but are expensive and supplements are not necessary
if you eat a well balanced diet. A downfall is that eating prepackaged
meals doesn't teach portion control, thus making maintenance
more difficult.
Though maybe not as luring or exciting as the others, a diet
from the Food Guide Pyramid has been proven to be the best way
to maintain proper nutritional balance while losing and maintaining
weight. This consists of eating from all the food groups --
grains, fruits, vegetables, meats and milk while consuming sweets,
fats and salt in moderation. It is important to be cautious
of portion size and find a calorie level that is right for your
body and activity level. It is suggested that you consume 1,600-2,800
calories per day, depending on gender and activity level. There
are no negative health implications since there are no missing
nutrients. Scientific evidence states that this diet works best
and can be healthily maintained for life, especially when combined
with exercise.
Visit http://extension.usu.edu/publica/news/aska/ to see other
"Ask A pecialist" columns.
________
Direct column topics to Julene Reese, Utah State University
Extension, Logan, UT 84322-0500; 435-797-1363; julener@ext.usu.edu
June 19, 2003
Answer by Nedra K. Christensen, Utah State University Extension
Nutrition and Food Science Specialist and Amanda Larsen, Nutrition
& Food Science, USU
UTAH STATE NEWS RELEASES FOR 06-18-03
THE USU
WRIGHT FLYER TRAVELS TO OGDEN AND THEN ON TO DAYTON, OHIO
LOGAN — After two years and more than 10,000 hours of
hard work from Utah State engineering and aviation technology
students and faculty, the USU Wright Flyer has taken off.
The USU Wright Flyer, a futuristic replica of the Wright brothers'
plane, will fly for the last time in Utah before heading to
the national flight celebration. The Flyer will be on display
at the Ogden celebration, 100 Years of Flight, Saturday, June
21, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ogden-Hinckley Airport.
Wayne Larsen, a flight instructor and agricultural pilot from
Box Elder County, will conduct low-level flights throughout
the day.
At the air show the USU Wright Flyer team will present information
on engineering, aviation and aerospace technology, the history
of the Wright brothers and their accomplishments and the history
of aviation.
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of powered flight, Utah
State University students and faculty, working with the Space
Dynamics Laboratory, designed and constructed the replica using
space-age materials. The celebration of powered flight will
give the residents of Utah an opportunity to reflect on the
past and compare it to the future.
Kevlar and graphite replace the muslin and spruce used in the
original flyer. These two composites are manufactured in Utah
and used in the space shuttles, next-generation rockets and
military aircrafts.
The USU Wright Flyer project has been designated as an official
part of centennial events by the U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission.
The flyer will travel to Dayton, Ohio, in July to the Inventing
Flight Celebration. On July 4, the USU Wright Flyer will fly
from Wright Patterson Air Force Base over historic Huffman Prairie,
where the Wright brothers practiced their flights 100 years
ago. The flyer will also participate in a July 4 parade and
then will be on static display at Huffman Prairie July 4–9.
The flyer will move to the Wright Memorial where it will reside
as part of a static display July 10–16.
At the Dayton Memorial Air show, July 17–20, the USU Wright
Flyer is one of the featured aircrafts and will take to the
skies daily during that event.
There will be an opportunity for the public to have pictures
taken sitting in or standing beside the USU Wright Flyer at
both the Ogden and Dayton, Ohio, events. The 5-by-7 pictures
are $5 each.
To find out more about the USU Wright Flyer, see the Web sites
at www.usuwrightflyer.org and http://utahstatetoday.usu.edu/archives/march2003/03-14-03/feature-03-14-03.cfm.
June 18, 2003
Contacts: Trina Paskett, 435-797-4678, 435-881-2823
Maren Cartwright, 435-797-1355
utah
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