Pacific Oysters RuleA couple of years ago,...

Pacific Oysters Rule

A couple of years ago, marine biologists at Virginia Institute at Gloucester Point sterilized 40 Pacific oysters and put them in Chesapeake Bay to study their reactions to dermo and MSX, the parasites that have reduced the local oyster population. Yes, the Pacific oysters resisted the parasites--but they also somehow reversed the sterilization and started to breed. The experiment had to be discontinued because biologists feared that the Pacific oysters might take over. Cool.

Eat Yourself Healthy

The Food and Drug Administration approved the first health claim for a specific food on Jan. 21. “Soluble fiber from oatmeal, as part of a low-saturated fat, low-cholesterol diet, may reduce the risk of heart disease,” read the official statement.

OK, so it was cluttered up with the FDA’s inveterate hedging. (Why say “may reduce the risk” instead of “reduces the risk,” when “risk” already implies uncertainty?) No matter--oat companies are popping champagne corks all over. Expect to find the health claim on food packages very, very soon.

For more on the mighty oat, see Body Watch in Life and Style.

Drink Yourself Healthy

Meanwhile, the new fourth edition of the Health and Human Services Department’s “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” leaves out the former statement that alcohol has no health benefit and accepts that wine is associated with lower risk for coronary heart diseases, as well as with enhancing meals.

Now, if they can just come up with a high-soluble-fiber wine. . . .