FOR RELEASE THE WEEK OF MARCH 27, 2000:
Both of my parents have adult-onset diabetes. Should I be eating only foods that rank low on the glycemic index?
More than 600 foods have been tested to determine their glycemic index, which classifies them based on how quickly and how long they affect blood glucose levels. The foods with the lowest glycemic index–those that have the least impact on blood glucose–include pasta, unprocessed cereal foods, baked beans, dairy products and many kinds of fruits and vegetables.
A drawback to selecting foods based on their glycemic index values is that the values are based on your eating just that one food, says Martha Raidl, University of Idaho extension nutrition specialist. "The effect is different if that food is eaten as part of a meal."
"Instead of eating only foods that have a low glycemic index, you can also keep your blood glucose levels low by eating a variety of foods as small meals, spread out throughout the day," she says. "Many diabetes professionals feel that diabetic meal planning should focus on total carbohydrate intake and not the glycemic index of each food consumed."
Can water really explode when you heat it in the microwave?
It can, although it rarely does, says Sandy McCurdy, University of Idaho extension food safety specialist. Surprisingly, one of the conditions under which it can happen is when you heat water in a very smooth, clean cup. If the water temperature rises above the boiling point before steam bubbles can form on very small irregularities inside a cup, a virtual "explosion" of sudden boiling can occur the moment you jiggle the cup.
"Water generally doesn’t superheat, but I’ve seen it," says McCurdy. "I don’t want to alarm people, but they should be careful with microwaved coffee or tea water. Some people have been badly burned on the face or hands."
Irregularities on or in the cup–including tea bags, for example–give water bubbles a place to seed, preventing superheating and these fountains of steaming hot water.
I’ve seen tailored jackets in the store made of a new fabric called Tencel. They’re pricey, but beautiful on the rack. How well does this fabric hold up over time?
David Trayte, University of Idaho assistant professor of clothing and textiles, says Tencel "wears very, very successfully" on the consumer. It is one of several brand names for a new manufactured fiber called lyocell that was first approved by the Federal Trade Commission in 1996. A product of Courtaulds Fibers, lyocell is made from wood pulp, so–even though it’s manufactured–it’s a natural fiber.
Trayte likes it–first of all–because its production process is relatively gentle on the environment. Lyocell also has a "wonderful ‘hand’ or texture," and its very thin microfibers allow it to drape luxuriously. In addition, it takes colors beautifully, is easy to care for, resists wrinkles and abrasions, and is typically stronger than cotton, rayon and acetate, which are also made from cellulose.
"It’s a pretty neat fiber," Trayte says. "Depending on what you’re paying for it, how well the fabric is made and how well the garment is assembled, I think it’s worth the price."
I’m worried about ash borers attacking my young white ash. How will I know whether they’re present? Can I protect the tree from harm?
Ash borers–which feed on the sapwood of ashes, lilacs and privets–can cause wilted foliage, sap streaming and decreased vigor. "Given free rein, this pest could kill a tree," says Yvonne Carree, University of Idaho extension forestry associate.
In April, check your ash tree for borer holes. Last summer’s entry holes may still show webbing and frass. Soon, each exiting borer will also leave behind a new hole–about a fifth-of-an-inch in diameter–above the entry hole.
The adult forms of the borers–clear-winged, day-flying moths that look like wasps–lay their eggs on bark or in bark crevices from mid-May through early August. If your ash is infested, the best time to apply a trunk and limb drench is mid-May to mid-June, says Bob Stoltz, University of Idaho extension entomologist. Stoltz suggests chlorpyrifos (Dursban), lindane or the permethrin-containing Dragnet FT. Beneficial nematodes, squirted into the borer holes with a squeeze bottle, may also be worth a try.
You’ll want to avoid pruning between May and August so the moths can’t lay their eggs near open wounds, he says. "If people would quit having their trees topped or scalped to stubs, a lot of the problem would be eliminated. The ash borer really likes to attack the new growth coming out from the sawed ends of limbs."