Costco Connection - June 2005

THIS SUMMER, POMEGRANATE juice can add a equal to eating 15 healthful, tasty dimension to your family’s refresh- pomegranates. However, ment fare. This unusual fruit, whose name comes she suggests looking for a concentrate that is free of from two Old French words—pome, “apple,” and added sugars, such as high-fructose corn syrup or grenate, “having many seeds”— artificial sweeteners. ^has ^been ^associated ^with ^good“^Pomegranates“^The ^National ^Institutes ^{of health} ^for ^{centuries. Health} ^funded ^a ^study ^on ^pome-Ancient Egyptians believed are high in fiber granates,” says Richitt. “It found _pomegranates _healed _all _kinds _of_and _packed_the _benefits _{of drinking} _concen-ills. The fruit also appears in _with _vitamin _Ctrated pomegranate supplement _{Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism included} _a _high _level _ofand Islam, as well as Greek and and potassium antioxidants, increased

for your
health

Drink to
your
health

By Nancy Duncan

ARTVILLE

AgroLabs, a company that develops and markets pomegranates have a natural anti-inflamma-products and foods that promote health, says pome- tory agent and can increase blood flow. And, granates are an easy and natural addition to supple- for those counting calories, 1 ounce of con- ment any diet. centrated pomegranate supplement contains

Romanmythology. _to _boost _thecirculation and a high

More recently, The American _immune _syste” percentage of ellagic acid,

Journal of Clinical Nutrition m. which can reduce plaque extolled pomegranate juice as one buildup in artery walls, of nature’s most powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants thus decreasing heart disease.” are desirable because they help protect the body Pomegranates are high in fiber and against free radicals, which can damage tissue cells packed with vitamin C and potassium to and may also accelerate the progression of cancer, boost the immune system. They also slow cardiovascular disease and age-related diseases. down cholesterol oxidation while minimiz-

Cheryl Richitt, vice president of marketing for ing LDL, the bad cholesterol. In addition,

“The benefits of adding pomegranate juice sup- only 16 calories and 4 grams of sugar. plement are tremendous,” she says. “Recent research Little wonder pomegranate juice in any form is studies are providing growing evidence of huge becominga favorite among health-conscious fami-health benefits from pomegranates, leading to con- lies in modern times. C sumer interest and demand.”

Richitt says that a fresh, pure, pasteurized pomegranate concentrate is best. That’s because Nancy Duncan, MSW, is a health, fitness, drinking 1 ounce of pomegranate juice a day is nutrition and psychology writer in California.

Diabetes-treatment
advances make life easier

By Anne Marie Aikins

Andrea Higgins celebrated a Higgins is one of a growing over 40 with a relative who has big anniversary recently—it has number of Americans—more diabetesandobesity.

been 20 years since she was first than 18 million in the United When Higgins first heard the diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. In States—whose bodies are unable news that she had a potentially the past decade, however, life has to produce or store insulin prop- deadly and incurable condition, gotten much easier for the Costco erly. Risk factors for type 2 dia- she was only 11 and was forced to member, due to tremendous betes, which is the most common quickly learn how to test her advances in diabetes treatment. form of the disease, include being CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

Trash, don’t flush Scientists are increasingly warning us not to flush expired medicines. At issue are the pharmaceutical and personal-care items that defy traditional wastewater treatment— such as antibiotics, painkillers, estrogen, anti-depressants and blood-pressure medicines —leaving traces in waterways and raising worrisome questions about potential health and environmental effects.

While the Environmental Protection Agency studies whether to develop formal recommendations, here are a few tips for disposing of old meds.

PHOTODISC

■ Crush it, bag it, trash it. Break up capsules, crush tablets and put the remains back in the original container with its child-resis-tant cap. Tape it up and bag it.

■ Check with your local hazardous-waste-collec-tion agency—where you’re supposed to take motor oil and batteries— to see if they accept expired medicines.

■ Ask your pharmacy if it will take back expired drugs. Some pharmacies have programs to dispose of inventory they can’t sell, as well as consumers’ leftover medicines. (Costco pharmacies will accept expired medications for disposal). C