Originally published September 22 2005
Bakers use leaf lard to cut trans fat
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Leaf lard, obtained from the hard white fat around the kidneys (the leaf) of young pigs, is unlike most commercial lards because it does not contain trans fatty acids, nor does it have the tendency to taste like bacon.
Trish Kump enjoyed working behind the bar at the Tides Tavern in Gig Harbor, pouring drinks in front of a lineup of ashtrays --- and the smoking customers who used them.
Newly pregnant, Kump began thinking about a story told to her by a pregnant co-worker at the Tides: After her first visit to her obstetrician, the doctor was convinced that Kump's co-worker was a smoker, when in fact she had never touched a cigarette in her life.
Kump began eyeing those ashtrays more perilously, concerned about her exposure to secondhand smoke and the consequences to her health and that of her unborn child.
Doctors routinely warn expectant mothers about the dangers of secondhand smoke --- that it can increase the risk for miscarriage, sudden infant death syndrome, low birth weight and premature birth.
"The perception has been that smoking is the major problem and secondhand smoke is something we deal with down the road," said Stephen Grant, author of the study and an associate professor of environmental and occupational health at the University of Pittsburgh.
Pregnancy dangers: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking during pregnancy is considered the single most preventable cause of illness and death among mothers and infants.
� Up to 8 percent of all babies who die less than a week after birth die because of problems caused by their mothers' smoking during pregnancy.
� Babies born to smokers are 1.5 to 3.5 times more likely to have low birth weights than babies born to nonsmoking mothers.
Instead of enduring the smoke, some were leaving if they could not be seated in the nonsmoking area, which often was full.
At a childbirth-preparation class at Swedish's campus in Ballard, couple Lindsay Woltjer and Greg Rauch said they significantly changed their lifestyles once Woltjer became pregnant.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml