A simple step for making healthier French fries

A British study found that soaking potatoes in water before frying them cuts down the levels of acrylamide, a suspected carcinogen which forms when starch-rich foods are cooked at high temperatures. Acrylamide has been linked to cancer in rats, and research suggests that the chemical may also be harmful to humans.

The study showed that soaking raw French fries for two hours reduces acrylamide levels by 48 percent. Short on time? The researchers found that a quick wash also lowers levels — but only by half as much as a longer soak. Click here to learn more about the results, which were published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.

For more advice on developing a healthy eating plan, see Healthy Eating: Tips for a Healthy Diet.

Regular family meals may protect teen girls from eating disorders

Teenage girls who regularly sit down for family meals may have a lower risk of developing eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, according to a recent study published in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine.

Researchers found that girls who ate five or more meals with their families each week were less likely to use extreme measures to control their weight. At the five-year follow-up, those who participated in frequent family meals reported lower levels of self-induced vomiting and use of diet pills, laxatives, and diuretics.

Related Helpguide Articles:

• Anorexia
• Bulimia
• Helping Someone with an Eating Disorder

Is it bad behavior or bipolar disorder?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 5.7 million U.S. adults have bipolar disorder in any given year. For the majority of these people, the illness goes unrecognized and untreated—leading to unnecessary suffering for both the bipolar individuals and those who care about them.

A big part of the problem is that the symptoms of bipolar disorder are often mistaken for bad behavior. During a manic episode, for example, people with bipolar disorder may gamble away huge sums, abuse alcohol or cocaine, make risky and impulsive business decisions, engage in sexually promiscuous behavior, or charge up their credit cards on exorbitant shopping sprees. All too often, friends and family members don’t realize that this reckless behavior points to a treatable mental illness.

To learn more about the warning signs and how to spot them, read Understanding Bipolar Disorder: Signs and Symptoms of Manic Depression.