OH! Magazine - Australian Version June 2014 (Australian Version) | Page 4

( OH MY! ) OH MY! Facts, stats and random ‘stuff’ to help keep you motivated, inspired and/or informed during your journey to achieving and maintaining optimum health. All hail perfect pins According to a poll of over 1,000 Australians commissioned by leading razor brand Venus and Olay SugarBerry, the world’s most perfect pins belong to: Australia’s Top Legs Jennifer Hawkins – 27% Miranda Kerr – 24% Megan Gale – 14% Hollywood’s Sexiest Legs Cameron Diaz – 15% Jennifer Aniston – 14% Beyonce Knowles – 14% Sport’s Perfect Pins Maria Sharapova – 26% Tatiana Grigorieva – 13% Sally Fitzgibbons – 11% Musical Limbs Katy Perry – 29% Rihanna – 12% Nicole Scherzinger – 9% Foods for brain health severely lacking on Aussie dinner plates  The recently released Australian Brain Health Survey, commissioned by Souvenaid, found that when it comes to ageing and health, dementia is our top concern (37%), surpassing cancer (19%) and loss of mobility (13%). The study revealed that essential brain super foods sit too low on our daily menu for brain health – fish (7 per cent), broccoli (11 per cent) and red meat (13 per cent). Interestingly, 48 per cent of Australians were found to be eating carbohydrates on a daily basis, thinking (mistakenly) that this would enhance their brain health. This lack of nutritional effort is concerning with half of the respondents aged 50 years or older admitting they are starting to struggle with their mental agility, saying that their brain faculties aren’t as good as when they were in their 20s. Information sourced from Galaxy Research, Brain Health, Survey. 9 April 2014 and Alzheimer’s Australia. Understanding Dementia Statistics, available at www.fightdementia.org.au Organics shown to reduce pesticide intake A small study by RMIT’s Dr Liza Oates r e c e n t l y compared a week of eating conventional food with a week of eating predominately certified organic food. And it found that when the participants lived on an organic diet, the levels of organophosphate pesticides in their urine dropped by 89 per cent. The peer-reviewed study was recently published in the Environmental Research journal. Dr Oates says, ‘Conventional food production commonly uses 4 JUNE 2014 ( OH! MAGAZINE ) organophosphate pesticides which are neurotoxins that act on the nervous system of insects – and humans – by blocking an important enzyme. Our results show that people who switch to eating mainly organic food for just one week, can dramatically reduce their exposure to pesticides.’ During the research urinary levels of six metabolites of organophosphate pesticides (known as dialkylphosphates or DAPs) were analysed on the eighth day of each phase. The mean level of total DAP metabolites after eating a diet of at least 80 per cent organic food was 89 per cent lower than the levels after eating conventional food. Dr Monk says, ‘Reading the results of this study was like a ‘Mrs Marsh’ moment for me. Remember the toothpaste commercial that features a teacher breaking a piece of chalk dipped in liquid in front of students and they say ‘Ooh it really does get in!’? This study reminds us that the stuff that’s sprayed on our food does make its way into our body.’ Australian Organic is concerned that children are more at risk of agricultural chemicals than adults, given their weight and growing patterns. “This is only a small study but it’s enough to prompt further research in Australia and it’s great to see that it’s finally happening.” Dr Monk says. Australian Organic is funding a follow up study. Australian Organic is funding a follow up study. For more information go to www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=e3hoqm8befvj1