Researchers in Japan have conducted the first-ever scientific study to show a connection between weight change and odors. They found that laboratory rats, when exposed to the scent of grapefruits three times a week, gained 20 grams less weight than rats exposed to no scent and rats that sniffed lavender. According to Professor Katsuya Nagano, head of Osaka University's Institute for Protein Research, the study suggests that the scent of grapefruit may activate animals' sympathetic nerves, which break down fat while cutting back the activities of the digestive system.
Heart Health in a Nutshell

A handful of peanuts a day may keep the cardiologist away, according to a recent study at Purdue University. Dr. Richard Mattes asked 15 healthy men and women to munch on peanuts for 30 weeks. After studying the effect of peanut consumption under three different dietary conditions, he found that eating 500 calories of peanuts a day can lower triglyceride levels by as much as 24 percent.

In other peanut news, even more healthful peanuts are on the way. The SunOleic peanut, developed by a Florida peanut breeder, will be coming to consumers soon. The new peanut will contain 80 percent heart-healthful oleic fatty acid, making it an even richer source of this heart-healthy oil than olive oil, which contains 70 percent oleic fatty acids. Regular peanuts contain 50 percent. The new peanuts also have a three-fold longer shelf life. Now, if only we could prevent peanut breath.

Sweet News About Cocoa

That delicious steaming cup of cocoa may be more healthful than you think. A study by Cornell University researchers has found cocoa is chock-full with antioxidants that prevent cancer. Cocoa has almost twice the antioxidants of red wine and three times those in green tea, Cocoa is rich in phenolic phytochemicals such as theaflavin, epigallocatechin gallate, resveratrol, and procyanidin. These compounds scavange for free radicals, which cause cancer, heart disease, and other illness.

The study appeared in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry.

Best Breakfast for Your Waistline

Forget the bacon and eggs, the toast, the vegetables, the fruits, the yogurt. A team of researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, recently found that the best breakfast for keeping your waistline in line may be cereal, either ready-to-eat or cooked.

Using data from a large U.S. population-based survey, the re searchers classified subjects according to their breakfast preferences and compared these to their body mass indices (BMIs). Eating cereal or quick bread (nonyeast bread, such as muffins) for breakfast was associated with the lowest body mass index (the closest to ideal weight). The highest BMI was associated with eating bacon and/or eggs. Skipping breakfast altogether to avoid extra calories did not lead to a better BMI. The study was published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

A New Cup of Tea

Those who love tea, but not caffeine, may find a new kind of tea from South Africa to their taste. Rooibus (pronounced ROY-boss) tea comes from a South African flowering shrub. Its fruity sweet flavor has been enjoyed in South Africa for hundreds of years. Rooibus tea contains no caffeine and lacks the astringent flavor of green or black teas. It cannot be oversteeped. Rooibus tea is rich in antioxidant substances and has been shown to have antimutagenic properties in animals. The tea may help protect against free-radical damage that can lead to cancer, heart attack, and stroke. Post editors found rooibus tea soothing and wonderfully flavorful.

For more information about Kalahari Red Tea, go to www.kalahariusa.com.