Coffee Lovers

Harmful bacteria may be lurking in your single-serve coffee machine

Published May 19, 2015

FoxNews.com

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Illness-causing bacteria may be hiding in your beloved single-serve coffee machine. (Keurig Green Mountain)

There's some bad news for coffee lovers brewing their morning joe with a single serve coffee maker.
According to a swab test conducted by KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, over 4 million colonies of  harmful bacteria and mold was founding lurking in the water tank, coffee pod compartment, spout and tray on more than half of the 28 machines tested.
The station says it tested eight machines in Pittsburgh and another 20 in Chicago and Dallas and found strains of bacteria like E.coli, staphylococcus, streptococcus and pseudomonas aeruginosa.
“I thought you would find something, but not something that could make us sick,” coffee machine owner Stephanie Brink told KDKA.
According to the National Coffee Association, about 27 percent of consumers own single-serve brewers, such as Keurig or Nespresso.  But many people forget to clean their machines on a regular basis.
"Coffee makers are certainly a moist environment where mold and bacteria are known to grow in high numbers.  Our bodies can deal with them, but at some point they'll grow to levels high enough to cause sickness," Kelly Reynolds, a microbiology specialist at the University of Arizona told Consumer Affairs.

Keurig told KDKA that if a machine has not been used for several days, it is important to run “several cleansing brews to remove any internal standing water.”
Here are some other steps to prevent mold or bacteria from collecting in your coffee machine:
--Clean your machine regularly
--Run vinegar through it to help sanitize surfaces
--Use filtered water rather than water straight from your tap
--Change the water after each use
--Leave the lid off to allow the machine to air out
--Wipe the machine down daily

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2015/05/19/harmful-bacteria-may-be-lurking-in-your-k-cup-coffee-machine/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl25%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D1572178082

Oatmeal

5 Reasons You Should Eat Oatmeal Every Day

By Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RDN, CDN

Published Oct 28, 2014

 

Since October 29 is National Oatmeal Day, it’s a good time to point out that if you’re not eating oatmeal, here’s why you oat-to:

1. Oats contain both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fibers form a viscous gel that helps to lower cholesterol and stabilize blood glucose levels. The insoluble fiber in oats helps provide a “moving” experience by curtailing constipation and improving intestinal health. What a delicious way to make your heart and colon smile.
2. Oats make an easy, balanced breakfast. One cup of cooked oatmeal contains about 150 calories, four grams of fiber (about half soluble and half insoluble), and six grams of protein. To boost protein further, my favorite way to eat oatmeal is with a swirl of almond butter nestled within. This powerful combo will keep you away from that mid-morning visit to the vending machine.
3. Oats provide important minerals. Nutrient-rich oatmeal contains thiamin, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, selenium, and iron.
4. Oats are naturally gluten-free, but check with manufacturers to ensure that their products are not made using the same equipment as other potentially contaminating grains. (Always purchase gluten-free products from reputable companies and read food labels carefully.)
5. Oats could help you control your weight by keeping you feeling fuller longer. Sadly, carbs are often shunned and feared by those looking to drop a few pounds, yet choosing whole grains could squash hunger and simultaneously provide that pleasant “ahhhh” feeling carb-lovers crave. But, as with any other food, be mindful of portion sizes.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/bonnie-taub-dix-nutrition-intuition/reasons-why-you-should-eat-oatmeal-every-day/?pos=1&xid=nl_EverydayHealthDietandNutrition_20150514