SUGAR SHOCK! Blog

Can Vitamins Kill You? JAMA's Study Makes You Wonder

People are often wondering if they should take vitamins and supplements.

Well, Mike Adams, the often interesting, quite opinionated (that's a compliment, not a criticism) of NewsTarget.com sounds off in an intriguing, provocative opinion piece on a new JAMA study (Journal of the American Medical Association), which purports, in Mike's words, that vitamins may "kill you."

Actually, the JAMA article, entitled "Mortality in  Mortality in Randomized Trials of Antioxidant Supplements for Primary and Secondary Prevention," takes a more measured approach than Mike indicates. Nonetheless, its conclusions may be alarming to supplement takers.

The study -- from European researchers, who are affiliated with such institutions as The Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group, Copenhagen University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Nis, and Divisione di Medicina in Palermo, Italy -- concludes:

"Treatment with beta carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E may increase mortality. The potential roles of vitamin C and selenium on mortality need further study."

Although I'm tempted to agree with Mike, right now, I just don't feel that I know enough to come to any educated conclusions, but I certainly recommend that you read Mike's opinion piece, "The big vitamin scare: American Medical Association claims vitamins may kill you (opinion)," and then come up with your own point of view.

While you're at the interesting NewsTarget.com site, you may wish to read another interesting opinion piece from Mike, "How I got blindsided by yeast extract in Amy's Kitchen organic foods,"

Today, Consider Getting Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution, Revised and Updated, And What You Must Do to Escape the Bird Flu

Today is a really big day for two colleagues of mine, who are fellow members of the Quantum Leap Program sponsored by Bradley Communications, publishers Radio-TV Interview Report (RTIR).

Please join me in supporting both of these kind, positive-thinking, hard-working marketers -- Steve Freed, R.PH., publisher of Diabetes in Control and writer Brendanne Phillips -- who really want to make a difference in many people's lives. At the same time, they're inviting you to purchase two special books today, because if you do so, you could get all kinds of special gifts.

The first book I'd like to draw to your attention is Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution: Newly Revised and Updated. First published in 1997, this book has helped many diabetics, and it includes information that help you if either a type 1 or type 2 diabetic to take control of your disease by normalizing your blood sugars.

In fact, as the promo materials assert, "Dr. Bernstein himself is living proof of the success of his methods. Diagnosed with diabetes at age 12, he was a successful business executive and engineer when he worked out a way to normalize his blood sugars. This, in turn reversed many of the longterm complications he had suffered from for years. At the age of 45, he entered medical school in order to publish his findings and eventually treat other diabetics."

Anyhow, in his newly revised and updated edition, Dr. Bernstein provides tips to regulate your blood sugars; offers methods for preventing or reversing the long-term complications of diabetes; gives up-to-date information on new products, medications, and supplements; explains the connection between obesity and type 2 diabetes; shows how to interrupt the cycle of obesity and insulin resistance; reveals a new method for losing weight quickly and easily; tells you what foods to avoid; and includes low-carb, high-protein gourmet recipes.

The second book I'd like to single out is What You Must Do to Escape the Bird Flu from Brendanne Phillips. As I've discovered from chatting with Brendanne at our Quantum Leap events, she is quite committed to helping people prevent getting either the bird flu -- or any other flu for that matter.

In fact, Brendanne warns: "You may not  have heard, the bird flu has already hit England and is on its way to the United States. Just last week, 2,500 birds were found dead on a turkey farm, resulting in 150,000 more being destroyed. Whether or not it happens sooner or later, all experts agree  this could be the biggest threat to your health."

After you purchase Brendanne's book, just go to her special promo page so you can get more free gifts. (Please ignore the date listed at the top of the page -- you can still benefit if you act today.)

I do hope you'll consider supporting my two colleagues Steve and Brendanne and their worthwhile efforts. Both Steve and Brendanne are passionate about helping people improve their health and lives.

Thanks for allowing me to digress here off topic for a while.

Listen to a Podcast Now of Dr. Ronald Hoffman's Interview With Me on "Health Talk"

Tonight my dream came true. Seriously!

...So, there I was, about to be interviewed by the articulate, cutting-edge physician Dr. Ronald Hoffman on his popular show, "Health Talk," on WOR 710, and as he was introducing me, he started chatting about the groundbreaking 1975 book Sugar Blues.

Dr. Hoffman credited the book as having "profoundly influenced" him when he was an aspiring pre-med student and setting him on a "lifelong program to help people conquer their addiction to sugar."

Now here's where my dream came true: Dr. Hoffman pronounced:

"Now we have a worthy successor to that 1975 book [Sugar Blues]... It's entitled SUGAR SHOCK! And it's just out. And our guest tonight is its author Connie Bennett."

You better believe that I was smiling as broadly as a person can upon hearing Dr. Hoffman remark that SUGAR SHOCK! is "a worthy successor" to Sugar Blues.! I was incredibly honored to have my book spoken about in the same breath as Sugar Blues! My goal had been achieved!

You see, I love the book Sugar Blues and have reverence galore for its author William Dufty, a fabulous, muckraking journalist, whom I consider my ultimate anti-sugar idol. (Alas, I'd unsuccessfully tried to interview the talented Dufty for my book. Sadly, he passed away before we could connect after our initial e-mail contact. Incidentally, did you know that Dufty learned his aversion to sugar cubes from famed actress Gloria Swanson and that he later married her?)

Anyhow, Dr. Hoffman continued his introduction:

"Connie Bennett has collaborated with the distinguished Dr. Stephen Sinatra, a frequent guest on this program, to produce an excellent modern update on problems associated with sugar and how we can conquer our dependency, our addictions to sugar."

Well, there's no need for me to describe the rest of the "Health Talk" show in which Dr. Hoffman interviewed me. Suffice it to say that I loved chatting with the esteemed Dr. Hoffman.

And I have great news! I'm pleased to announce that you can listen to our interview in its entirely, at your own convenience, because WOR provides a podcast. In fact, you can even download the podcast here, too.

Here's how WOR Radio 710 HD is promoting the show:

Health Talk - February 27, 2007

Tune in to a sweet episode of Health Talk tonight as Dr. Hoffman is joined by Connie Bennett, author of "Sugar Shock' to talk about how to get people to stop eating so many sweets. Hope you enjoy the radio show. I do hope, after listening to the show that you're inspired to get out and purchase SUGAR SHOCK!

Tune In Tonight To Dr. Ronald Hoffman's Popular Syndicated Radio Show "Health Talk": He Will Interview Me

I'm thrilled. Tonight, at 9 p.m. EST, I'll have the pleasure to be interviewed by the much-acclaimed Ronald Hoffman, M.D., one of America's foremost complementary medicine practitioners, on his popular radio show, "Health Talk."

The show will be recorded, and you'll be able to hear us chat two hours later in the New York area. (You can get the weekday schedule here.)

If you don't know about "Health Talk," you really should. In fact, Dr. Hoffman's show -- which airs on 39 stations nationwide --  is the longest-running M.D.-hosted health show on syndicated radio. Very impressive.

In my opinion, "Health Talk" has had such staying power because it's always interesting, educational and, well, as millions can attest, hard to turn off!

For instance, "Health Talk" offers a wonderful blend of interviews with special guests; call-ins from listeners with questions; and intriguing segments on medical breakthroughs, current health-related news, or even critical looks at the media's medical reports. 

Dr. Hoffman is founder and medical director of the Hoffman Center in New York City, which is achieved a wonderful reputation in the New York area. He's a medical expert for Fox, ABC, CBS, and NBC news; a frequent lecturer (get his schedule here); and he's the author of several books, including Tired all the Time: How to Regain Your Lost Energy.

His latest book is How to Talk With Your Doctor: The Guide for Patients And Their Physicians Who Want to Reconcile and Use the Best of Conventional and Alternative Medicine. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to read it yet, because I've been swamped with researching and now promoting my own book, but Dr. Hoffman's book sounds exactly what the doctor ordered, so to speak! Who better to dispense advice to us patients on how to empower our medical treatment than a cutting edge physician like Dr. Hoffman?

Anyhow, recently, I had the pleasure of briefly meeting Dr. Hoffman while I was exhibiting my book SUGAR SHOCK! at the CAM Expo East. It was such a pleasure to share greetings, even if we didn't have time for a long chat, because he's one of those special doctors, who really gives you great hope for the profession, because he makes a point to be up on both traditional and natural medicine.

By the way, you can find some really insightful, enlightening remarks from Dr. Hoffman about hypoglycemia in my book SUGAR SHOCK!

Hope you listen to "Health Talk" tonight. To call in to "Health Talk," just dial 800-544-7070.

By the way, the first 5 people who post a comment here (which indicates that you've heard the interview) will receive gifts from me -- SUGAR SHOCK! tote bags and pocket magnifiers so you can find the hidden sugars on food labels.

You can listen to previous podcasts of "Health Talk" here.

Welcome, Cincinnatti Radio Listeners

Welcome, listeners to "The Healthy Stuff."

Hope you learned something today when dynamic host Julie Isphording interviewed me for 55 KRC in Cincinnatti, Ohio.

It was an honor to be quizzed by Julie about my book SUGAR SHOCK!

As you can see from Julie's bio, she's one amazing woman: Not only is she an award-winning, syndicated radio talk show host, but she is a former Olympic runner and member of the first ever Women’s Olympic Marathon Team (1984).

In fact, Julie has won many marathons, including the prestigious Los Angeles Marathon. She's even been ranked among the top runners in the world because of her accomplishments at the New York City Marathon, Boston Marathon and the Olympic Trials.

But Julie -- who teaches people how to lead an Olympic life -- laughingly 'fessed up during our chat that she has an over-attachment to a certain kind of candy and a particular cereal.

Of course, I happily shared some secrets and strategies to help her and listeners to squash those sugar cravings.

Everyone, bear in mind: I'm here to help you break free of your sugar issues! 

Coca-Cola Tries to "Get the Target Off Our Backs" by Persuading the Public That Diet Coke and Other "No-Calorie" Drinks Are Healthy and More Clever Marketing Tactics

Coca-Cola is getting into some very clever, if not misguided marketing tactics to somehow convince John Q. American Public that there's a place in the diet for both empty-calorie, sugary soft drinks and/or chemical-laden "diet drinks."

Not only that, but Coke is "on a mission" to tack on the phrase "health and wellness" onto Diet Coke and other "no-calorie" drinks. You can learn about these marketing ploys, thanks to Duane D. Stanford of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, who was in Scottsdale, Arizona recently, where he attended the annual conference of the Consumer Analyst Group of New York.

Mind you, I wasn't in Scottsdale myself, but journalist Stanford heard Coke CEO Neville Isdell share insights into the soft drink company's marketing approaches to offset flat sales of its carbonated soft drinks.

For instance, in his astute article, entitled "Coke tries to shift obesity focus off its drinks," Stanford reportsof the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Isdell announced plans to broaden the debate over the obesity epidemic so Coke can "get the target off our backs."

What?

Yes, according to Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Duane Stanford, Isdell branded millions of us who are health-minded as "targets"! And he wants us to quit revealing the truth about Coke's products, including seemingly innocent ones named "Coke Zero" or "Diet Coke Plus."

Reportedly, one way Coke plans to "get the target off our backs" is to use different terminology for diet drinks. Indeed, rather than rightly referring to them as "carbonated soft drinks," Coke wants us to name them "sparkling beverages." Hmm. Sounds a bit deceptive to me.

Today I Speak To Students of My Alma Mater, The Institute for Integrative Nutrition

Today is an exciting day for me. I will be speaking before some 1,000 students now studying at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where I studied last year to become a certfied holistic health counselor.

I'll be chatting about how sugar is such a hot topic and how giving a good sugar talk could be the launching pad to more exciting opportunities as a health counselor.

Gotta keep practicing my talk now.

Attend My SUGAR SHOCK! Book Signing & Talk March 10 At Border's in New York City

If you live near New York City, I'd love to have you catch my book signing and chat for SUGAR SHOCK! on Saturday, March 10 at 4:15 p.m. at the amazingly wonderful Border's bookstore at Columbus Circle. Get more info here.

We're expecting lots of people on March 10, as we did at my first book signing on Jan. 6 there, when some 200 people showed up!

What do you get out of taking time out to attend this SUGAR SHOCK! book signing?

• You get to have some fun! Seriously, you'll hear me read from my book for a bit, and you'll have fun laughing with me at myself and my "Sugar Shrew" days.
• You get to participate in some really fun, empowering exercises, which could help you to get ready to face your sugar issues.
• You get to meet wonderful, budding or current holistic health counselors from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, where I myself studied last year. (IIN holds classes upstairs that day, and we're hoping that hundreds of them will come to my book signing.)

Hope to see you March 10! Please let me know if you'd like to help out that day. If you do, I have some gifts for you.

The Larger the Group of Kids, The More Graham Crackers Kids Eat

Certainly, we've all seen this in action -- you get a group of kids together and they nosh away. The more kids, the more they eat.

Well, anecdotal evidence is now backed by new research, which shows that when you have larger groups of kids, they eat 30 percent more.

Thanks to the New York Times for the lead on this new study from scientists at the University of Michigan.

You gotta love one researcher's quote: “In animals, you’re going to be a little more frenzied when you eat in a group,” said Dr. Julie C. Lumeng.

Well, lo and behold, as The Times pointed out, this also seems to be the case with preschoolers— the children in larger groups not only ate more but faster.

OK, so if iimpressionable young ones eat more when they're in larger groups of kids, what might happen if they're not offered graham crackers but instead can choose fruits and veggie for snacks. Even if they ate more, they'd still make better food choices.

Jennifer Moore contributed to this report.

Whole Foods Market Will Buy Wild Oats

How interesting.

My favorite health-food-oriented grocery store chain, Whole Foods Market, Inc, announced that it is going to buy its smaller rival, which just happens to be my other favorite, Wild Oats Markets, MSNBC reports.

Whole Foods Market -- which evidently is facing slowing growth at its stores -- will buy Wild Oats for about $565 million "to compete better with larger traditional grocers, which are increasingly encroaching into its organic and prepared foods niches," as MSNBC explains.

Although one analyst said "This is not a move being made from a position of strength," the popularity of organic and natural foods is definitely a positive sign that people want to take better care of themselves.

Anyhow, you can get more business analysis here.

More Buzz Builds, Thanks to Bloggers & Websites

It's been very exciting the way word has been spreading all over the Internet about my book SUGAR SHOCK! Every day, it seems, I hear about another website or blog that spotlights it.

For instance, a Google alert notified me that HeartHealthNews.com posted a review, actually picking it up from the review on CalorieLabNews.com

Then, I learned that journalist, author and motivational speaker G. Gaynor McTigue spotlighted SUGAR SHOCK! on his blog, Earth: a guide for aliens, after running into me at the recent CAM event.

Incidentally, Gaynor informs me that entry #340 of his new book, 400 Ways to Stop Stress Now... And Forever is to "Kick the sugar habit."

Bloggers and web writers, feel free to keep spreading the word about SUGAR SHOCK!

My Encounter (Non-Edible) With the Low-Fat Brownie! The What? You Heard Me Right

This morning, I'm taking you on a journey to New York City, to so you can experience with me what I call a "SUGAR SHOCK! Snapshot."

The other day, I dashed into a deli to grab some lunch (while an appointment kept me waiting), and I had the most shocking encounter with a brownie.

Mind you, this was no ordinary brownie. This was a "low-fat brownie." Huh? How could that be?

You see, as I walked up to the checkstand to pay for my juicy salad, topped with enticing veggies, eggs and tuna, I saw this gorgeous-looking treat.

Yes, despite the fact that I've been sugar-free for close to 9 years (come April 15), every so often, desserts do hold a visual appeal. (But bear in mind that this doesn't mean that I allow myself to indulge in them. These days, I prefer to feel good, and I full well know that giving in to a tempting sugary dessert would bring on what I call "The 3-Day Crud.")

Anyhow, back to the deli delicacy. Because as I was waiting to turn over my money in this bustling luncheon establishment, there, in big bold letters, you saw that this sugar-laden brown creation was being trumpeted as "low-fat."

As I faced this culinary concoction -- a low-fat brownie -- all I could do was flash a big smile -- or did I actually smirk? I mean this brownie-pushing was absurd advertising at its best.

My brain became busy:

• How the heck could such a nonsensical dessert even exist?
• Did the deli owner really thank that this sign would boost brownie sales?
• And how could usually smart-and-savvy New Yorkers be dumb enough to be duped by that ridiculous description and assume that this sugary food would be any healthier than your average sugary, nutrient-deficient, blood-sugar-bouncing dessert?

Anyhow, my encounter with the brownie basically spotlighted one of the many food-label misconceptions that many Americans have.

You see, people get confused. In fact, as I reveal in my book SUGAR SHOCK!, folks may assume that "low fat" and "fat free" mean "sugar free."

But that plain isn't so. While you may think a low-fat brownie -- or low-fat yogurt, for that matter -- may be a more healthy choice, it's entirely feasible that this allegedly low-fat creation does, in fact, contain as much, if not more sugar, than its high-fat counterpart.

Think about it: If you're going to remove fat and you want to keep a food tasty, what do you do? Well, you add sugar!

So, the next time you see a sign or label which proclaims that a food is "low fat" or fat free," be forewarned. It may not be as good for you as you may initially presume. And it may be made tasty by tossing in sugar.

You can learn about "Top 10 Food-Lable Misconceptions About Sweeteners" in Chapter 20 of my book SUGAR SHOCK!, which, of course, I invite you to check out now.

Save the Date: On Wednesday, April 4, I Will Answer Your Sugar Questions

Many of you wonderful readers of my book SUGAR SHOCK! and members of my free, online KickSugar group have been e-mailing your many questions and asking for guidance.

You sure do have a lot of questions! LOL! I thought long and hard, "How can I help all these people?"Because I really do want to help. Well, I came up with a way to be there for you. So here's what I'm doing:

On Wednesday, April 4 at 8 p.m. EST (5 p.m. PST), I will hold the first of a series of fee-based teleseminars, designed specifically to answer your questions.

Here's how it will work:

1. You will ask your questions ahead of time at a special website, which my webmaster will put up shortly.
2. I will then do whatever research I think I should conduct, and I'll even consult other experts, if need be.
3. You then call in on March 27 for the fee-based teleseminar. (FYI, you'll be able to call this number from all over the country and world, and normal long distance rates will apply. FYI, you can get some really reasonable rates -- I pay very little to call all over the U.S. and Canada.)
4. If, for some reason, you can't make the teleseminar, the call will be recorded and you'll be able to purchase a download after the fact.

Until the page gets set up within a few days, feel free to ask your questions here.

The Hunt For A Trans Fat Replacement Leads to Another Fat That Spikes Your Blood Sugar

As if trans fats weren't bad enough. Now the hunt for a replacement to plop into those processed foods apparently isn't going so well.

A new fat with the tough-to-pronounce name "interesterified fats" may bring a whole new host of health threats, according to a new study in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism.

In fact, as Reuters Health reports, researchers found that the new interesterified oils may not only lower HDL levels (the heart-healthy cholesterol) but also cause a significant rise in blood sugar.

In fact, what is alarming is that the study's volunteers consumed the interesterified fats for a mere four weeks and yet during that time, "Blood glucose went up quite precipitously," study co-author Dr. K.C. Hayes, a professor of biology at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, told Reuters Health.

"The problem, he and his colleagues found," the wire service reported, "seems to be that interesterified fats change the body's levels of insulin, which regulates blood sugar."

Yikes! Yet another very compelling reason to steer clear of those processed, culprit carbs.

Thanks to my research assistant Jennifer Moore for alerting me to this study.

Does Dieting Boost Chocolate Cravings?

An interesting new study came from researchers in the psychology department at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom, which shows that chocolate can have a strong hold over you if you're a woman who's dieting.

Specifically, Professor Ben Fletcher and Dr Karen Pine found that dieting females can get into "a vicious cycle of negative emotions," which which, in turn, "provokes cravings for the very foods they are trying to avoid, chocolate being one of the most powerful."

Here's how the researchers describe their findings:

"Dieting, then, appears to make a difference to how people perceive food, in this particular instance, chocolate. Instead of helping people to eat more healthily and to cut down on products which are bad for their health, the negative effect induced by dieting appears to have the opposite effect in that it can increase the desire for the actual foods they are trying to avoid."

I think these researchers do have a point -- for some, if not many people, deprivation -- or complete removal of sweets -- just triggers their desire for more.

But on the other hand, I don't think this research takes into account that some people just can't have little tastes of sweets, a I reveal in my book SUGAR SHOCK!

In my opinion, one of the best ways to counter this clamoring for chocolate when you're dieting is to arm yourself with information. And that's what I try to do here, on this blog; in my free, online KickSugar group, and in my book SUGAR SHOCK!

Thanks for the news tip from MedicalNewsToday.com and my research assistant Jennifer Moore.

Welcome, Fans of Dr. Alvin Jones on WCBQ-AM and WHNC-AM

Welcome, fans of Dr. Alvin Augustus Jones in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina.

I do hope that you've enjoyed hearing Dr. Jones interview me on The Paradise Radio Network (on either WCBQ-AM 1340 or WHNC-AM 890) "Where World Leaders & Thinkers Come To Chat."

Dr. Jones was such a fascinating interviewer. I had fun answering questions about food label misconceptions; whether or not "Big Sugar" is the next "Big Tobacco"; how all those sugary foods and culprit carbs could minimize your memory, exacerbate women's issues, and trigger inflammation. At his urging, I also shared tips to break free from your sugar addiction.

As I mentioned on the air, I'm happy to contribute tote bags to the the first three people who make remarks. FYI, send me your address -- but don't fret, I won't publish it here. So post a comment here now so you can become a raffle prize winner.

If you'd still like to listen to the interview, you can do so here.

Which is More Addictive -- Food Or Heroin? eDiet.com's Shawn McKee Weighs In

Check out this intriguing, insightful story from eDiet.com's tormented Shawn McKee, who delves into the fact that some people get addicted to foods.

This is a plight, alas, that he himself is can well understand. Ironically, the expert to whom Shawn consults for insights coincidentally has the unusual name of Sam Sugar. 

Turns out Sam Sugar is an M.D. and F.A.C.P. affiliated with The Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa is a board-certified specialist in internal medicine with over 30 years experience. He's also an Associate Professor of Medicine at Rush University College of Medicine in Chicago.

For a fascinating exploration into sugar's addictive qualities, I invite you to check out my book SUGAR SHOCK!

Specifically, I encourage you to check out Chapter 9, "Proof Pours In: New Studies Show That You Can Become Dependent on Sweets."

Thanks to Myra, a member of my KickSugar group, for referring me to the ThatsFit.com article, which, in turn, linked to the eDiets.com piece.

You Can Ask Away Tonight! Chat With Me at 8 p.m. EST at WeightLossBuddy.com (For F*ree)

Often, people keep tossing questions my way, which I don't always have time to answer. Well, tonight's your chance to grab my ear.

Come chat with me tonight in WeightLossBuddy.com, where I'm currently Expert of the Month.

You can go to this spot but to get into the virtual conversation, you just need to join for free here first.

Hope to see you tonight.

Broccoli, Tomatoes, Raspberries & Carrots Become Popular With Kids, Thanks to The "Food Dudes" Of Ireland

In America, we're accustomed to cartoon characters cleverly nudging our kids to clarmor for sugary cereals and other nutrient-poor junk foods.

Meanwhile, over at 150 elementary schools in Ireland, four super-cool "Food Dudes" -- who thrive on tomatoes, broccoli, carrots, raspberrries -- are making it very smart and "with it" for kids to eat fruits and veggies, Associated Press medical writer Marcia Cheng reports.

This is one most brilliant, clever, admirable food PR campaign, complete with captivating videos, which creatively make positive use of peer pressure, peer modeling and a rewards sytem.

"In some respects, we use the same techniques as multinationals selling junk food, but we're on the side of the angels," Dr. Fergus Lowe, a University of Wales psychologist who was part of the team that devised the effort told the AP.

Just listen to this awesome plot hatched:

The Food Dudes -- better known as the young super-heroes Charlie, Tom, Raz and Roccodo -- eat their favorite fruits or veggies, which give them special powers so they can save the world and the Life Force from a gang of baddies, the "Junk Punks."

As the super-heroes website explains, General Junk and his sidekicks, Miss Demeanour and Master Disaster, are "trying to drain the energy of the world by depriving it of nutritious" fruits and vegetables. Armed with the special powers they get from carrots, tomatoes, raspberries and broccoli, "the Food Dudes feed the Life Force and foil the Junk Punks."

The Food Dudes have been such a hit and so successful at getting children to begin to relish fruits and veggies in the 150 participating schools that the Irish government, the European Union and food giant Unilever will expand the program to all schools in Ireland, the AP reports.

I'm Offering Last-Minute, Sweeter-Gift Giving Advice to Texans

While the night is still young today -- at 5:30 Texas time, I'm giving some last-minute sweeter gift-giving advice for Valentine's Day to listeners of KXYL-FM in Brownwood.

If you're a regular to this blog -- or even a first-timer -- you'll probably guess that when I'm interviewed by radio hosts Jessie Jones and Sam Coursey, I'll be suggesting that men (or women) give their sweethearts gifts from the heart that don't involve sugary chocolate.

And, of course, it goes without saying: Happy Valentine's Day to all.