Rev up your metabolism with lean protein

By Sally Squires
Special to The LA Times

February 20, 2006

The weight loss world is full of claims, rarely proven, that some pill or potion can help "burn calories while you sleep." But a recent study reports that this may, in fact, be possible — simply by eating more lean protein.

Dutch researchers have reported for the first time that consuming nearly a third of one's daily calories as lean protein — for example, lean meats or poultry without the skin — revs up a person's metabolism during sleep. And the benefits aren't just nocturnal. The researchers also found that higher protein intake boosted the burning of calories and fat during the day.

Plus, when the study's participants, who were all women of healthy weight, ate more protein, they said they felt fuller, more satisfied and less hungry than when they consumed a diet with the typical amount of protein, about 10% of calories.

The findings suggest that adding lean protein to your daily fare "enables you to reach the same level of satiety that you are used to with about 80% of your normal energy intake," notes the study's lead author, Margriet Westerterp-Plantenga, an associate professor of human biology at the University of Maastricht, the Netherlands. "That means you can eat about 20% less and still have the same satiety…. It's a very easy way to ingest" fewer calories without feeling hungry all the time.

This is not the first study to reveal protein's satiating effects. The same research team found similar results in 1999, but during waking hours. A number of other researchers also report evidence of protein's satiating and calorie-burning properties.

What gives protein its caloric edge? It's more difficult for the body to metabolize protein than fat or carbohydrates.

The body also doesn't store protein as efficiently as it does carbohydrates or fat. So protein is more likely to be burned, a process called thermogenesis. That in turn requires more oxygen and helps you feel satisfied in the hours after eating, Westerterp-Plantenga says.

But the latest findings don't mean it's time to dust off those high-protein, low-carb diet books. The protein-heavy Atkins diet included high fat and in some phases eliminated most fruit and vegetables.

The current study limited fat to about 30% of daily calories, and included 40% of calories as healthy carbohydrates, including fruit and vegetables.

Bonnie and Steve - Just as The Obesity Society discovered late last year, research starting to pile up regarding the importance of at least 30% lean protein in your daily diet. Did the ratios of this study seem familiar? Yes, because, once again, it mirrors our Circle of Health Food Chart exactly!

Our Comments on The New England Journal of Medicine Calcium Study

In so many ways, the results of this study validate so much of what we have been saying about calcium and bone health over the years.

It is not one size fits all -
Bone health is not one size fits all, which is why we are not surprised with this result. If you put everybody on the same amount of calcium and vitamin D, some people will do better, other people worse, and many in the middle, which gives you a fair outcome.

Diet was never taken into account -
This is a key to the study. We don't care how much many supplements you take. If one eats the standard American diet, loaded with acidic and inflammatory food triggers, you are going to lose healthy bone and increase your fracture risk.

The calcium source was carbonate -
The equivalent of swallowing pulverized rock. Your body does not absorb it well. When taking a source that better mirrors the matrix of the bone, like MCHC, it is infinitely better absorbed.

Kidney stones increased -
This is the lynchpin of the study as far as we are concerned. If calcium is being absorbed properly and taken at a dose optimal for the INDIVIDUAL, kidney stones should not be an issue. This should be a clear sign that the calcium carbonate form is poorly absorbed and/or the dose was too much. Malabsorbed calcium can also create calcification in other areas of the body, like the arteries.

Small but significant improvement in bone density -
Some of the calcium carbonate is bound to be absorbed, but most is not and will leech out into other areas of the body.

Did not significantly reduce hip fracture -
Poorly absorbed calcium can do little to avoid fracture when most eat the standard American Diet, which distinigrates bone with excess acidity and inflammatory food triggers.

Magnesium was not used in the study -
It is a travesty that magnesium was not used in addition to the calcium and vitamin D. Magnesium and calcium need to be in balance. Without magnesium, calcium is very poorly absorbed.

Vitamin D dose was too low -
400IU is too low, especially if that is the only supplemental intake one is getting.

Started on postemenopausal women 50 to 79 -
This is probably too late to start the study. Much of the damage to the bone has already been done and it is asking too much for the supplements to reverse the process. Early childhood sets the tone for bone health with diet and adequate vitamin/mineral intake.

With all the aforementioned variables that were not taken into account in this sutdy, it is no wonder that our mantra since we have been in business is, "one size does not fit all." There are many variables that need to be taken into account when assessing bone health. For further information, read our Healthy Bones Action Plan at nutritionalconcepts.com.

Bonnie and Steve

FDA re-opens probe into benzene contamination of soft drinks

US food safety authorities have re-opened an investigation closed 15 years ago into soft drinks contaminated with cancer-causing chemical benzene, following evidence the industry has failed to sort out the problem.

A chemist at the Food And Drug Administration (FDA) said testing in recent weeks had revealed some soft drinks contaminated with benzene at levels above the legal limit for water set by the US and Europe.

Benzene is listed as a poisonous chemical shown to increase the risk of leukaemia and other cancers.

The FDA was originally alerted in 1990 to the problem of benzene in soft drinks triggered by the preservative sodium benzoate. It never made the findings public, but came to an arrangement with the US soft drinks association that the industry would “get the word out”.

But in recent months, internal documents and private tests have begun to surface, supported by claims from a former chemist for Cadbury Schweppes, who is now keen to blow the whistle on the health risk involved. He and a US lawyer commissioned new tests that have now prompted the FDA to re-open the case.

These independent tests, performed by a laboratory in New York, found benzene levels in a couple of soft drinks two-and-a-half-times and five times above the World Health Organisation limit for drinking water (10 parts per billion).

The FDA now confirms it has found a similar problem in its own follow-up testing. “There were a few isolated products that have elevated levels. We certainly want to make sure there is some reformulation,” said an FDA chemist.

The problem is caused by two common ingredients – sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) – which can react together to cause benzene formation. It is considered completely separate from other outbreaks of benzene contamination due to faulty packaging in the 1990s.

The two ingredients are still used together in a wide range of soft drinks across the world.

More than 1,500 soft drink products containing sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid or citric acid have been launched across Europe, Latin America and North America since January 2002.

Courtesy of nutraingredeints.com

Kellogg's using genetically modified soybean oil

Kellogg's announced that in 2006, it will use oil made from genetically modified soybeans in place of the partially hydrogenated oil and saturated fats found in some of its crackers and snacks. The oil, called Vistive and developed by St. Louis-based Monsanto Co., contains no trans fatty acids or saturated fatty acids.

Bonnie - if you consume their products, make sure you read labels. If the product contains Vistive, be extra aware of allergic symptoms. Soy itself is very allergenic, but genetically modified soybeans may present a whole new level of allergy. Pay attention to your body.

McDonald's discloses allergens in french fries

Less than one week after disclosing that their french fries contained more trans fats than they had thought, another revelation was revealed.

McDonald's had said until recently that its fries were free of gluten and milk or wheat allergens and safe to eat for those with dietary issues related to the consumption of dairy items. But the fast-food company quietly added "Contains wheat and milk ingredients" this month to the french fries listing on its Web site.

The company said the move came in response to new rules by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the packaged foods industry, including one requiring that the presence of common allergens such as milk, eggs, wheat, fish or peanuts be reported.

McDonald's director of global nutrition, Cathy Kapica, said its potato suppliers remove all wheat and dairy proteins, such as gluten, which can cause allergic reactions. But the flavoring agent in the cooking oil is a derivative of wheat and dairy ingredients, and the company decided to note their presence because of the FDA's stipulation that potential allergens be disclosed.

"We knew there were always wheat and dairy derivatives in there, but they were not the protein component," she said. "Technically there are no allergens in there. What this is an example of is science evolving" and McDonald's responding as more is learned, she said.

While the company wanted to make consumers aware that fries were derived in part from wheat and dairy sources, she said, those who have eaten the product without problem should be able to continue to do so without incident.

Steve - Do you believe them?

The acknowledgment has stirred anger and some concern among consumers who are on gluten-free diets.

Steve - You think?

Couretsy of AP

Alzheimer's risk 'is 80% genetic'

In the US study, published in the journal Archives of General Psychiatry, researchers from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and colleagues identified 392 pairs of twins where one or both had Alzheimer's from the Swedish Twin Registry. All were aged 65 or over.

The researchers looked at how common it was for identical twins to both have Alzheimer's, or for only one to be affected. They also looked at the same patterns in non-identical twins.

It was more common for identical twins to both have Alzheimer's compared to non-identical, and risk rates in the groups gave the researchers their estimate of how significant genetic factors are.

The researchers estimated heritability - what proportion of risk for a disease across a population is genetic - for Alzheimer's to be between 58% and 79%.

Writing in the journal, they said: "In the largest twin study to date, we confirmed that heritability for Alzheimer's is high and that the same genetic factors are influential for both men and women.

"However, non-genetic risk factors also play an important role and might be the focus for interventions to reduce disease risk, or delay disease onset."

They added: "If individuals are worried that they may be at elevated genetic risk due to family history and are looking for lifestyle suggestions, possibly the most reliable advice we can offer today is that a healthy heart is related to a healthy brain."

The study also found that genetic factors appeared to determine when a person developed the condition.

Two-thirds of adults aged 65 years and older with dementia have Alzheimer's. The number of cases is expected to rise with the growing older adult population.

Steve - the bold line says it all. The heart and the brain are integrally linked.

It is not a guarantee that the genes that contribute to Alzheimer's will express themselves. Many genes that create negative health effects need to be "switched on." If one can do the right things with diet and lifestyle, it has been shown that negative gene expression can be kept at bay.

Feds Recommend Warnings on ADHD Drugs

Federal science advisers voted narrowly Thursday to recommend the most serious type of warning labels for Ritalin and other stimulants that are used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The 8-7 vote, with one abstention, by the Food and Drug Administration committee was to recommend adding "black box" safety warnings to ADHD drugs. Doctors prescribe the increasingly popular drugs to about 2 million children and 1 million adults a month.

The FDA isn't required to follow the recommendations of its advisory committees but typically does.

The agency's own data suggested a link between the drugs and an increased risk of sudden death and serious cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks.

A federal health official said Thursday that there was a strong possibility the drugs may be linked to the deaths of 25 people.

The deaths occurred between 1999 and 2003, according to an FDA report. Nineteen of them involved children. The report also detailed 54 cases of serious cardiovascular problems, including heart attack, stroke, hypertension, palpitations and arrhythmia, in adults and children being treated with ADHD drugs.

Some of these patients had pre-existing heart conditions or hypertension.

Courteys AP

Bush aims to cut children's health study

Last March, we lambasted the government for launching a $2.7 billion National Children's Study to find out 21 years later what makes kids unhealthy. Our reasoning was clear: they need to eat better, exercise, limit exposure to toxins, etc. One does not need to spend $2.7 billion to discover this.

This week, President bush decided to cut the study out of the budget. Of course, his reasoning did not fall in line with ours. Bush was simply looking for ways to trim the fat from the federal budget.

Although Bush does not have the final word, Congress does, and it looks like this study is dead. Why doesn't Bush put that $2.7 billion in incentives to make farmers to grow more organic fruits and vegetables!

Steve

From March 2005...

Government to find what makes kids unhealthy -
The federal government is launching a 21- year National Children's Study, in which researchers will track 100,000 kids in 96 counties from birth to their 21st birthdays to discover what makes them unhealthy.

More than 2,4000 scientists have helped design the $2.7 billion project, the largest and most expensive long-term children's study in history.

Saw Palmetto may not help BPH

According to a small 225 participant study that appeared in The New England Journal of Medicine, saw palmetto did not reduce moderate-severe symptoms asociated with an enlarged prostate. This goes against results from more than 20 studies that have shown promising findings. Saw palmetto had no side effects or safety issues throughout the study.

Bonnie - while this is a study to keep a eye on, it is way too early to write-off saw palmetto. I have prescribed it successfully for years for treatment of mild symptoms and as a preventative. Researchers should also increase the dosage in future studies for moderate to severe symptoms because 160 mg is considered a pretty low dose.

Vitamin D may inhibit prostate cancer growth

Vitamin D can slow down the spread of prostate cancer by limiting the activity of certain enzymes, US and Taiwanese researchers report.

The in vitro study, reported in the journal Carcinogenesis (Vol. 27, pp. 32-42), showed that vitamin D, in the form of the highly active 1alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-VD), inhibited the function of protease enzymes that are involved in tumour invasion.

The body of evidence for the benefits of vitamin D against prostate cancer is rapidly growing, but the scientists do not recommend taking high doses of the vitamin warning against increased calcium blood levels and kidney problems.

Our take on the landamark low fat diet study

Once again, I hate to say we told you so.

Researchers of the Women's Health Initiative, one of the largest (48,835 participants), most expensive government studies ($415 million), found that eating less fat failed to lower the risk of cancer and heart disease among older women.

Suprised, no? Does that mean you can run out to McDonald's and scarf down their french fries (which McDonald's recently "discovered" had more saturated and trans fat then they knew of)? No.

Like I have said for years, fat is not the problem. As long as you eat saturated fats in moderation, elminate all trans fats, and get your daily servings of healthy fat, you will be fine. Your body needs fat in your diet!

This is sweet vindication for the tireless conversations I put in with clients and public health officials throughout the 90's.

So where does the focus turn to now for reducing cancer and heart disease? Carbohydrates. Particulary those of the grain variety like wheat, corn, and soy. And, of course, the biggie...SUGAR! It has been my war cry for years and years. I hope we do not have to wait for another long running study to prove this. Of course, the Women's Health Initiative study puts a major crimp in 2005 MyPyramid's plans. As I said last year, their call for more grain carbs was another disasterous error!

Bonnie

We smell a rat!

In the never ending power struggle between government oversight over Big Pahrma, former Food and Drug Administration commissioner Lester M. Crawford, whose sudden resignation last fall after less than three months in office remains a mystery, has joined a lobbying firm that specializes in food and drug issues.

Crawford is listed as "senior counsel" to the firm Policy Directions Inc. Among the companies and organizations listed as clients are Altria Group Inc. (formerly Philip Morris Companies), Merck & Co. Inc., the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA,) the Grocery Manufacturers of America and the American Feed Industry Association.

When he resigned in September, Crawford said simply that it was time for someone else to lead the agency. Sens. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) have asked the Department of Health and Human Services inspector general to look into whether Crawford resigned because of an undisclosed financial conflict of interest.

Crawford is barred from lobbying former colleagues at the FDA for a year, but he can give clients strategic advice about food and drug issues and can lobby members of Congress.

Steve - hmmm...a joke? No. Unfortunately it happens all the time. Ah, Washington politics.

Babies go through anti-depressant withdrawal too

When pregnant women take anti-depressants, their newborns are likely to feel symptoms of withdrawal, the second negative study published on antidepressants in a week. Last week's New England Journal of Medicine study showed that babies of mothers who took antidepressants during pregnancy had six times the risk of a rare but life-threatening lung problem.

Researchers at the Children's Medical Center of Israel found that nearly one-third of 60 infants whose mothers had taken anti-depressants while pregnant had "neonatal abstinence symptoms," which include high-pitched crying, tremors, and disturbed sleep. Children of mothers who were not taking the anti-depressants did not experience such symptoms.

Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, February 2006

Latest alternative sweetener scores

We rate the hottest sweeteners on the market. You may find these names in food products as well as tabletop sugar alternatives. This is not a complete list, mostly what you will see in various health foods. Aspartame, sucralose, and saccharin are not listed because we have been very outspoken with our distaste for these substances.

Approve

Inulin and oligofructose - natural dietary fibers extracted from the chicory root. Some are sensitive to chicory, but otherwise, a safe ingredient.

Stevia - we have loved stevia for years as a tabletop sugar alternative; it has a great safety record with our clients; it also helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels

Palatinose - derived from the sugar beet, then is treated with microbial enzymes; it is very low glycemic and kind to teeth

Xylitol - dervied from corn, which rules this out for many; however, is very safe, helpful in preventing tooth decay, and can be used in a wide variety of products; must be eaten in moderation because it may create intestinal disturbance

Disapprove

Isomalt - a sugar alcohol that can create intestinal disturbances

Shugr - a sweetener blend (popular trend at the moment) of erythritol, maltodextrin, tagatose, and sucralose. A house of horrors!

Sunett - artificial sweetener blend. Anything that has a lng shelf-life and does not degrade over time scares us.

Tagatose - natural sweetener usually derived from milk and carries a high pH.

Bonnie and Steve

Magazine publishes special edition on Autism

Mothering Magazine, always a supporter of new therapies for autism, has published their latest update in the January/February issue. You can purchase it at newsstands or go to mothering.com.

Declining mineral levels in food suggest potential crisis

According to research published by the UK Food Commission this month, food mineral content studied in 1940 compared to 2002 show a stark change for the worse.

For example, the iron content in 15 varieties of meat had decreased on average 47%, with some showing a decline as high as 80%. The iron content in milk had dropped over 60%.

Mineral loss was seen across the board, icnluding crucial nutrients like magnesium, zinc, calcium, and copper. One would need to eat 4 carrots now to get the same magnesium content as one carrot in 1940.

Intensive farming on exhausted land and manufacturing/processing methods appear to be two likely causes of the mineral decline. The food industry is under intense pressure to produce cheap, instead of nutrient-dense food.

The UK Food Standards Agency, which publishes this report, admits that something is seriously wrong with the levels of nutritional awareness in Europe.

Bonnie - until growers and processors can reverse their shift from making cheap, nutrient-less food to more nutrient-dense food, we need to supplement our diet with nutrients. At the least, it is crucial to supplement with a high potency multivitamin/mineral. Extra calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, omega 3, and probiotics are other essential nutrients. Of course, I always recommend seeking the advice of a licensed health professional to assess your individual nutritional needs.

Ginger may prevent postoperative nausea and vomiting

Medical data suggest that at a dose of at least 1 gram of ginger is effective in preventing the nausea and vomiting that often afflicts patients after undergoing surgery. Researchers from Thailand pooled data from five clinical trials that involved a total of 363 patients. Compared with placebo, ginger cut the risk of nausea and vomiting in the 24 hours after surgery by 31 percent.

SOURCE: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, January 2006.

Mediterranean diet helps keep the weight off

People who eat a traditional Mediterranean diet are 60 per cent less likely to be obese, Greek researchers have said.

The diet, rich in cereals, fruits, legumes and whole grains, fish and olive oil, has been linked to longer life, less heart disease, and protection against some cancers. The diet’s main nutritional components include beta-carotene, vitamin C, tocopherols, polyphenols, and essential minerals.

The cross-sectional study surveyed the diet of 1514 men and 1528 women with an average age of 45. The diets were evaluated using a self-administered, validated food frequency questionnaire. Daily or weekly intake of 156 different foods was reported, along with alcohol consumption and physical activity.

“Greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet was associated with a 51 per cent lower odds of being obese and a 59 per cent lower odds of having central obesity,” wrote lead author Demosthenes Panagiotakos in the journal Nutrition (available online February 2006, doi:10.1016/j.nut.2005.11.004).

Stress And Emotions Can Negatively Effect Heart Health

Research shows that 20 percent of Americans are worried that stress will affect their health, yet 36 percent say they deal with stress by eating or drinking alcohol. While these behaviors may reduce stress in the short term, they contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle that can negatively affect your body and are proven risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

"Achieving a healthy lifestyle comes from adopting behaviors over time that help to manage stress in effective ways that don't at the same time take a toll on your physical health and body," says Russ Newman, Ph.D., J.D., APA executive director for professional practice.

Although heart disease is a serious condition that requires constant monitoring, there are many lifestyle and behavioral changes you can do to manage stress and reduce your risk for cardiovascular problems.

* Identify the sources of stress in your life and look for ways to reduce and manage them.

* Talk to your health professional. No two people are alike, and some treatment or risk reduction strategies may be inappropriate or even harmful if you attempt to do too much too quickly.

* Avoid trying to fix every problem at once, if possible. Focus instead on changing one existing habit (e.g., eating habits, inactive lifestyle). Set a reasonable initial goal and work toward meeting it.

* Don't ignore the symptoms of depression. Feelings of sadness or emptiness, loss of interest in ordinary or pleasurable activities, reduced energy, and eating and sleep disorders are just a few of depression's many warning signs. If they persist for more than two weeks, discuss these issues with your heart doctor. It may be that a psychologist working in collaboration with your physician would be beneficial.

* Enlist the support of friends, family, and work associates. Talk with them about your condition and what they can do to help. Social support is particularly critical for overcoming feelings of depression and isolation during recovery from a heart attack.

* If you feel overwhelmed by the challenge of managing the behaviors associated with heart disease, consult a qualified health professional. He or she can help develop personal strategies for setting and achieving reasonable health improvement goals, as well as building on these successes to accomplish other more ambitious objectives. IN particular, a psychologist can also help clarify the diagnosis of depression and work with the physician to devise a suitable treatment program.

Courtesy of the American Psychological Association (APA).

Who's to blame for junk food still being in school?

Stephanie Rose walked into the lunchroom of the Idaho Falls High School with a homemade chart and tallied what she found: Canisters of potato chips. Heaps of candy. Cellophane-wrapped cakes. High-caffeine sports drinks.

Twelve percent of the foods offered by the district a la carte program were granola or cereal bars, fruits, vegetables, or low-fat chips or pretzels. The other 88 percent included nachos, corn dogs, chips and cookies.

"For 25 cents you can buy 310 calories," said Rose, a nurse and diabetes educator who attended Idaho Falls High in the 1980s, when she had to take a helping of beans on her plate whether she wanted them or not.

These days, the school promotes "Corn dogs: two for a dollar," she says. "Good Lord, what are you trying to do here?"

Rose studied the food offerings for a school wellness committee, and she's campaigning to get rid of junk food. But she's facing opposition from some parents and school officials who say that if they ban school snacks, the kids will just buy them somewhere else. It will also cut off money that pays for equipment and programs.

As in the rest of the country, Idaho residents are getting fatter. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2003 that nearly 60 percent of adults in Idaho were considered overweight or obese. Rose said one-third of the patients she sees who are at risk for diabetes are under the age of 18.

The Idaho Falls district wellness committee is the result of a federal law that directs all school districts to have a policy in place by the end of June. But the law has no teeth in it; nothing happens if districts don't come up with a plan.

For now, the Idaho Falls committee is proposing minor changes — banning sales of candy in the lunchroom and limiting the size of sodas sold in vending machines.

"It's going to sort out the school districts who care about their kids from the ones who don't," she said.

Courtesy of AP

Bonnie - this is what we have run into when we have consulted for several school districts. Many of the superintendents want to make major changes, but back down when confronted by parents. It is not so much the kids as it is the parents. If the kids eat healthier at school, they will start asking questions about why they don't eat healthier at home. Many parents do not want to make the effort to change.

Transcript of WGN Story "Eat Pain Away"

Bonnie & Steve - suffice it to say, we were very pleased with the story. We are truly overjoyed that WGN would put such effort into this. We feel it is so crucial for the public to understand the relationship between food and pain.

Eat Pain Away

Comfort foods are foods that make us feel good. But new evidence shows some foods can actually take away physical pain.

It's not just about filling up to feel good. This is a specific diet packed with foods you have to avoid.

And when we followed a woman in pain who tried the diet, she found with each meal she started to heal.

You can't measure it with a specific medical test, can't chart it against other patients, but when you are in pain you know how bad it is.

"your body aches all the time."

Yet all of the doctors Francee Knachbar went to couldn't put their finger on a cause or a cure, so she suffered, for 15 years.

"I was taking probably four Tylenol every couple of hours cause my body ached so bad and nothing was helping."

Popping pills didn't work. So Francee gave blood in an effort to figure out what was wrong.

"The doctor's offices called and and said your blood looks amazing, everything looks great, your cholesterol is low. You look great."

But she still felt awful. Then she went to a nutritionist.

"Bonnie looked at my blood results and literally she said, well your protein is bad, your sodium's bad, you're lacking magnesium. I mean she just went through list by list of what was wrong and the doctors thought it's perfect."

Dr. Bonnie Minsky knew she was a perfect candidate for the pain-free diet.

"Yes, you can limit the pain. Because there's two big issues with pain. Too much acid in the body and too much inflammation. So we want to asses whether food relationships or missing, key nutrients could improve the situation."

The diet is specific and strict, aimed at eliminating all common pain triggers. That means no excess sugar or carbohydrates, no grains or acidic foods, no yeast producing foods or artificial colors or sweeteners. No preservatives, no fried foods, no trans fats, and no soft drinks.

"The first time when I went to the grocery store it took me two and a half hours, just to try to find the right thing."

Now the pantry is stocked, full of the right foods.

"Crispy brown rice for cereal in the morning."

Cereal without cow's milk that is.

"I can have the rice dream."
But will all this effort make her dream of being pain-free come true?

"I just want to feel like a normal human being."

Two days into the diet. no change. one week..."Still kind of tired and a little achy. Not sleeping great at night."

Then came the two week mark. "Then all of a sudden it was just like - I had energy. I was sleeping well. Um, no body aches."

Cindy Dooley knows the joy and surprise when the pain free diet begins to make you feel better. She followed the food plan three years ago to relieve arthritis symptoms.

"My hands were so swollen and my wrists and my toes and my feet hurt so much that I couldn't even drive."

Medications did help, but cindy didn't want to take steroids indefinitely. She knew she could live with the diet. What she found is, she's living better.

"By the end of the month I was totally pain-free and the next month I got pregnant."

A New baby and a new lease on life. She knows what foods to avoid pears, tomatoes, coffee.-- and which ones she can now enjoy.

"The diet itself, it's only about a month. And it's challenging to do that. But it's not challenging to balance right now, what I'm doing."

Francess is still trying to figure it out. Of all the things she cut out, what was the most harmful. Now comes the time to slowly add foods back into her diet.

"So far I've added back oatmeal - been fine. Red meat has been fine. Yesterday I added back corn and I seem to be okay."

"Everyone has different reactions. Some people have wheat and dairy and that's it. Some people have salisylic acid, nothing else. So we look at it, we don't care if it's an allergy, we don't care if it's an intolerance. If it's producing pain and you reduce it or stay away from it, you're going to be free of the pain."

The complete diet is available from:

Nutritional Concepts
1535 Lake Cook Rd, Suite 204
Northbrook, IL 60062
847-498-3422
support@nutritionalconcepts.com
www.nutritionalconcepts.com

Copyright © 2006, WGN-TV

WGN story on Nutritional Concepts

We are proud to announce that WGN News at Nine will be airing a special Medical Watch segment dedicated to Nutritional Concepts' Pain Relief Diet Action Plan. Please tune in... Wednesday, February 1 @ 9PM CST WGN Channel 9 in Chicagoland or check your cable guide for WGN Superstation if outside Chicagoland.

Spa Recipes Now Available!

In honor of our association with Esthetique Wellness Spa,
Bonnie Minsky has created over 100 of the healthiest,
most delectable, pampering spa recipes imaginable.
You can order at www.nutritionalconcepts.com
Here's a sneak peek!

Thai Style Tofu Lettuce Wraps - V (vegetarian)

4 T. rice vinegar
1½ T. unsulphured molasses
4 tsp. minced garlic
2 tsp. crushed pepper
1/3 c. Tamari Teriyaki (San-J)
1 T. finely grated fresh ginger
2 T. asian sesame oil
8 (4 oz.) tofu squares
1 large european seedless cucumber, peeled and cut into ¼ “ dice
2 c. fresh mung bean sprouts
½ c. cilantro leaves
1 c. chopped roasted peanuts or any nuts
1 head of lettuce

In a small saucepan, mix the vinegar with the molasses and cook over moderate heat, stirring until blended. Add 1 tsp. of the garlic and crushed red pepper and let cool. In a large bowl, mix 3 T. of sweet seasoned vinegar with remaining 3 T. of garlic and teriyaki, ginger, and sesame oil. Set aside ¼ c. of this teriyaki marinade. Add the tofu to the remaining marinade in the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight. Light a grill or preheat the broiler and position a rack 6 “ from the heat. Remove the tofu from the marinade and let it drain, then grill or broil for about 3 minutes per side, until browned and cooked through. Transfer the tofu to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut the tofu crosswise into ½ “ strips and mound in a bowl. In a medium bowl, toss the cucumber with the remaining sweet seasoned vinegar. Put the bean sprouts, cilantro, and peanuts in separate bowls. Arrange the lettuce leaves in a basket. Let guests wrap the tofu and garnishes in lettuce leaves and pass the teriyaki marinade and cucumber salad separately. SERVES: 6

YUM!!

Magnesium may lower risk of colon cancer

New research indicates that a diet rich in magnesium may lower the risk of colon cancer, supporting previous studies inversely linking intake of the mineral to the disease.

Researchers from the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota, found that diets rich in magnesium reduced the occurrence of colon cancer.

A previous study from Sweden (Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 293, pp. 86-89) reported that women with the highest magnesium intake had a 40 per cent lower risk of developing the cancer than those with the lowest intake of the mineral.

The research is important because dietary surveys show that a large portion of adults do not meet the RDA for the mineral, found naturally in green, leafy vegetables, meats, starches, grains and nuts, and milk.

The new research, published in the February issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology (Vol. 163, pp. 232-235), used a food frequency questionnaire to assess dietary nutrient intake of 35 196 women with an average age of 61.

During the 17 years of follow-up, three per cent of the women developed colorectal cancer.

The hazard ratio, a measure of the risk, was statistically 25 per cent lower for the volunteers with the highest intake of magnesium (more than 356 mg per day). This is still less than than the RDA for magnesium: 320 mg per day for women and 420 mg per day for men.

The protective mechanism of magnesium is not clear but the researchers suggest that reductions in insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and cell proliferation could be possible.

Courtesy of nutraingredients.com

The fish saga continues

In response to the growing conern over mercury in fish, the FDA published newly released testing of 25 fish varieties.

Not surprisingly, fish such as ahi tuna (a sushi staple) and chilean sea bass (a restaurant staple), both large fish that have long lifespans, showed higher levels of mercury than smaller fish that have shorter lifespans.

The results also showed that 6% of canned light tuna tested had high levels of mercury, although, still within what is considered a legal limit.

Bonnie - so where does this leave us? As we have said all along, stay away from the larger fish that have the longest lifespan. Focus on eating small fish with shorter lifespans such as sardines. Fatty fish such as salmon and halibut are fine. With regard to tuna, once or twice weekly maximum (for pregnant women and children follow the FDA's recommendations) for adults is fine.

Bacteria-killing water replaces chemical cleaners

EAU Technologies, which provides what it calls "green chemistry'' to food processing, said its electrolyzed oxidative water technology can replace many of the traditional methods in the processing sector now used to clean, disinfect, hydrate and moisturise foods.

The non-toxic water cuts down on existing bacteria, virus and mold proliferation. Special generators create acidic and alkaline fluids with the cleaning and sanitising properties. The water eliminates pathogens in processing plants by treating not only surface contamination but also the plant and animal foods directly.

*Green Chemistry is the design and convergence of traditional chemical processes and procedures with new environmentally friendly technologies in an attempt to reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances.

Standard toxic chemicals can create strains of pathogens that become resistant over time, because the cell can expel or neutralise the chemical before it can kill it, thereby causing the overall efficacy of chemical cleaners and disinfectants to be significantly reduced.

Steve - now these are the kinds of innovations that should be receiving large amounts of capital for R&D. Of course, they are not and the press release must appear on a small trade website called nutraingredients.com.

Fish oil probably does not help prevent cancer

A review study that appeared in Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that fish oil, seen as beneficial for preventing heart disease, may not help prevent cancer. The researchers looked at 38 studies over 30 years. While a few small studies showed improvement for cancers of the breast, prostate, and lung, they were not definitve.

Steve - another "review study." This is a perfect example of trying to make a definitive statement about a substance to which there is scant data. Fish oil for cancer prevention is low on the total pole on our priority list, precisely because the data is much more definitive for its effectiveness for cardiovascular, neurological, and pain /inflammation prevention. Although, we would never say that it "probably does not prevent cancer" because a review study says so. The review study 's conclusion cannot be definitive mainly because of the 38 studies reviewed, many were focused on health issues other than cancer.

First Hearing in Milk Warning Label Lawsuit

Judge Henry H. Kennedy of the U. S. District Court for the District of Columbia will hear oral arguments January 31 on a high-profile lawsuit filed by 10 Washingto D.C. area residents who want labels on milk cartons warning that milk can cause serious digestive illness. The plaintiffs argue that many people are not aware they are lactose intolerant and unwittingly buy milk, only to suffer side effects after drinking it.

Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest the milk sugar lactose, a normal process that occurs after the age of weaning. For those who are lactose intolerant, drinking milk can result in abdominal pain, diarrhea, and other painful gastrointestinal symptoms. Approximately 75 percent of the world’s population—including 60 to 80 percent of African Americans, 50 to 80 percent of Latinos, and at least 90 percent of Asian Americans and Native Americans—is lactose intolerant.

Steve - we'll be keeping a close eye on this one...stay-tuned!

Extreme Disappointment

I happen to be a member of The American College of Nutrition, an esteemed and very well respected organization that awards nutrition specialist certifications to mostly physicians and select dietitians/nutritionists. I have been proud to be a member of this exlcusive organization. That is, until December.

The College's journal, Journal of the American College of Nutrition, in an extreme departure from their usual unbiased viewpoints, dedicated the entire December issue to debunking negative theories regarding mik and milk products. The journal went so far as to address "The Myth of Increased Lactose Intolerance in African-Americans," and "Milk Consumption Does Not Lead to Mucus Production or Occurrence of Asthma."

I don't think I have ever seen as blatant of an attempt to appease an industry as this journal has. What's more, smack dab on the second page of the journal, it reads, "This supplement was sponsored by the International Dairy Federation's Standing Committee on Nutrition and Health." In addition, the "Guest Editors" happen to be the Director of Nutrition and Scientific Affairs for the National Dairy Council, a member of of Dairy Australia, and the Director of Nutrition Research for the National Dairy Council.

I would like to state for the record that I do not endorse and vehemently oppose the data that appeared in the December issue of Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

Bonnie Minsky, LDN, CNS, MPH, MA

Reasons to buy organic

According to a February Consumer Reports article, buy these organic items as much as posssible: apples, baby food, bell peppers, celery, cherries, dairy, eggs, imported grapes, meat, nectarines, peaches, pears, poultry, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and strawberries.

Consumer Reports draws upon data showing extremely high pesticide, hormone, and/or antibitoic residues in the aforementioned foods especially. Studies have shown that kids' pesticide exposure quickly drops after switching from a conventional to organic diet.

AHA downplays soy benefits

An American Heart Association committee reviewed a decade of studies on soy's benefits and came up with results that are now casting doubt on the health claim that soy-based foods and supplements significantly lower cholesterol, according to its statement in the journal Circulation.

The findings could lead the Food and Drug Administration to re-evaluate rules that currently allow companies to tout a cholestorol-lowering benefit on the labels of soy-based food.

Nutrition experts say soy-based foods still are good because they often are eaten in place of less healthy fare like burgers and hot dogs. But they don't have as much direct benefit as had been hoped on cholesterol, one of the top risk factors for heart disease.

The FDA in 1999 started allowing manufacturers to claim that soy products might cut the risk of heart disease after studies showed at least 25 grams of soy protein a day lowered cholesterol. A year later, the Heart Association recommended soy be included in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

But as more research emerged, the Heart Association decided to revisit the issue. The committee members reviewed 22 studies and found that large amounts of dietary soy protein only reduced LDL, or ``bad'' cholesterol, about 3 percent and had no effect on HDL, or ``good'' cholesterol, or on blood pressure.

Steve - Bonnie and I were never a proponent of the FDA allowing soy heart health claims in 1999. Soy has its place in the food supply, but only as a complementary food. The FDA, the American Heart Association, and major food manufacturers that jumped on the bandwagon and put soy in EVERYTHING are in a quandry. Soy is literally everywhere and in everything. Not only is it one of the three most allergenic food staples (milk and wheat being the other two), it is one of the most heavily sprayed crops (if not organic). In addition, soy is not very bioavailable protein (in general, plant based proteins are far inferior in bioavialblity than animal protein).

The studies on soy have been a mixed bag mainly because soy is tolerated differently depending on the individual's genetic makeup.

Now that soy is a major food staple worldwide, and has a huge amount of political clout, it is going to be very difficult to make it a "complementary" once again. Of course, you can count on the dairy industry to do all it can to make this happen.

FDA Black Box Warning for 2 Eczema Drugs

The labels on two prescription creams to treat eczema will have to bear "black box" warnings of possible cancer risks. The Food and Drug Administration action Thursday follows an agency advisory committee recommendation last February that Elidel cream and Protopic ointment carry the label warnings.

The new labeling also will clarify that the two drugs are recommended for use only after other prescription topical medicines have been tried by patients, the FDA said. The agency is also issuing a guide updating patients of its concerns. As of October, the FDA has received reports of 78 cases of cancers, including skin and lymphoma, in patients treated with the two drugs, said Dr. Stanka Kukich, the acting director of the FDA's dermatologic and dental drug products division. Estimates are that roughly 10 million people combined have used the two drugs.

Courtesy of AP

Oily fish in pregnancy increases child's brain power

Eating oily fish and seeds in pregnancy can boost children's future brain power and social skills, research suggests.

A study of 9,000 mothers and children suggested those who consumed less of the essential fatty acid Omega-3 had children with lower IQs.

These children also had poorer motor skills and hand-to-eye co-ordination, research in the Economist said.

A team from the National Institutes of Health in the US analysed data from a long-term study done in Avon, UK.

Looking at the effects of Omega-3 intake on 9,000 mothers and their children, the team found mothers with the lowest intake of the essential fatty acid had children with a verbal IQ six points lower than the average.

While those with the highest consumption of mackerel and sardines and other sources of Omega-3 had children, at age three-and-a-half, with the best measures of fine-motor performance, researchers said.

Professor Jean Golding of Bristol University set up the original research - the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children -15 years ago to look at the predisposition to disease.

She told the BBC: "The baby's brain needs Omega-3 fatty acids. It doesn't create its own fatty acids so it needs to be something that the mother will eat."

The new research also builds on earlier work in the US which suggests pregnant mothers will develop children with better language and communication skills if they regularly consume oily fish.

Courtesy of BBC News

Stress in the workplace = heart disease risk

Stress in the workplace is a major factor in the development of heart disease and diabetes, a study says.

Stress has long been linked to ill health, but the British Medical Journal study may have identified the biological process for the first time.

The study of 10,000 civil servants found a link between stress and metabolic syndrome, which involves obesity and high blood pressure.

Lead researcher Tarani Chandola said: "Employees with chronic work stress have more than double the odds of the syndrome than those without work stress, after other risk factors are taken into account.

This relationship meant that the more stress someone suffered, the more likely they were to suffer metabolic syndrome symptoms.

The researchers said that, for example, men who suffered chronic work stress were twice as likely to develop the syndrome as men who had no exposure to stress.

Women with chronic stress were also more likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome, although they formed only a small group in the study.

The researchers said one possible explanation for the result may be that prolonged exposure to work stress affects the nervous system.

They also suggested that chronic stress may reduce biological resilience, thus disturbing the body's physiological balance.

Courtesy of BBC News

Track record of nutritional interventions for Autism

A fabulous article published in the Winter 2006 NOHA newsletter (Nutrition for Optimal Health Association), written by Jon B. Pangborn, PhD, ChE, of Syracuse University exhibits several methods of nutritional intervention that have shown success with autistic children. Depending on the variables contributing to the condition, here are those listed to have exhibited improvement, according to thousands of cases tracked by the Autism Research Institute:

• Supplementing with B-6 (Pyridoxyl-5-Phosphate) and magnesium because they act synergistically.
• Supplementing trimethylglycine because it circumvents folate and B12 absorption problems.
• Gluten/casein-free diet which reduces the inflammatory burden on cell membrane in the small intestine
  
• Supplementing with digestive enzymes further breaks down undigested foods (autistic children often have malabsorption issues) and lessens the amount of pathogenic gut flora.
• Chelation therapy (once many of the above therapies are in place) as a detoxifier of heavy metals
  
• Injection of and/or oral use of large dose methylcobalamin (methylated form of B12)

Bonnie - I find this fascinating because these are documented cases from parents and physicians of autistic children. Before considering any of these methods, one must see a health professional who is well-versed in this area.

‘Direct evidence’ that cocoa benefits heart health

A team of international researchers claims to have ‘direct evidence’ for a cocoa flavanol improving blood vessel relaxation.

Flavonols are found naturally in chocolate, fruit, red wine and teas, and have previously been linked to improvements in heart health.

The new study, sponsored by confectionary giant Mars, examined the effect on blood vessel relaxation of chocolate flavanols in the form of a specially prepared cocoa drink, and then a drink containing isolated, cocoa-derived (-) epicatechin.

The initial randomised, double-blind, cross-over study gave volunteers a specially prepared cocoa drink containing either high or low concentrations of specific cocoa flavanols. Only the group that consumed the flavanol rich drink showed blood vessel relaxation.

A follow-on “proof-of-concept” study gave volunteers either a placebo drink or a drink containing isolated, cocoa-derived (-) epicatechin. The latter test group experienced similar blood vessel relaxation as for the flavanol-rich cocoa drink.

The role of (-) epicatechin was directly linked to nitric oxide, a molecule used by the endothelium to signal surrounding muscle to relax, thereby dilating the blood vessels and increasing blood flow. This supports previous research by individual team members suggesting a link between nitric oxide and cocoa flavanols.

Mars have been very active in this research area, having spent over 15 years researching the benefits of cocoa. Previous research by members of the international team has benefited from Mars sponsorship, and a mounting body of supporting evidence has strengthened the link between flavanols and nitric oxide.

The study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (Vol. 108, pp. 1024-1029).

Steve - this study, while promising, should be treated as would a study on a medication sponsored by the drug company who created it. While cocoa has been well-researched independently for its link to heart health, larger and longer population studies are underway and should bring more definitive data.

Travelers' Illnesses

About 8 percent of travelers to developing countries require medical care during or after travel, according to a new study of more than 17,000 people who became ill while traveling from 1996 to 2004.

Overall, the most common ailment was acute diarrhea, but among travelers to Africa, it was malaria.

Researchers hope the findings will help doctors better diagnose travelers' illnesses if they know the probability of contracting a disease in a given country.

Courtesy of The New York Times

Bonnie - several clients (and family members) who went on trips to India this past year have come back with serious digestive issues. The parasites, bacteria, and viruses are all different in developing countries and are much harder to keep at bay. Sanitary conditions are far below the standards we are used to.

For individuals who have compromised immune systems or digestive disorders, you may need to reconsider taking trips to developing countries.

Drug firms eye fat profits from new obesity pills

Sanofi-Aventis SA's Acomplia, or rimonabant, which could be approved by U.S. regulators as early as next month, is the first of a new wave of treatments that may spell fat profits for some pharmaceutical companies, with sales tipped by analysts to top $3 billion a year.

Another two experimental drugs from Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc and Alizyme Plc, with different mechanisms of action, have also produced promising clinical results in recent weeks, prompting some investors to start laying big bets on weight-loss medicine.

It is a risky area, however.

Slimming pills have had a chequered history, due to modest effectiveness and adverse side effects -- most notoriously with the diet drug combination "fen-phen," which was linked to heart-valve problems and has cost Wyeth more than $21 billion in provisions related to patient claims.

Jonathan de Pass, chief executive of specialist consultancy Evaluate, calculates there are now 26 new drugs in clinical trials for obesity and a further 32 in early-stage development.

The potential market is large in every respect.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates more than 1 billion people in the world are overweight and, if current trends continue, that number will reach 1.5 billion by 2015.

Of the current total, more than 300 million already rank as obese, putting them at substantial risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, respiratory problems and some cancers.

Dr Timothy Armstrong of the WHO's department of chronic diseases believes medication can help only a very small minority of patients and will not impact the overall obesity epidemic.

"It's not a panacea," he said. "Drugs don't have a role in preventing obesity in the wider population, where interventions around physical activity and diet are far more cost-effective."

Today, there are two main obesity medicines on the market -- Roche Holding AG's Xenical, which works by limiting fat absorption, and Abbott Laboratories Inc's Meridia/Reductil, which suppresses appetite.

Both can have adverse side effects, however. Xenical can cause excess gas and oily discharge, while Meridia may increase blood pressure. As a result, sales of both drugs are modest, at $460 million and $300 million respectively in 2004.

Side effects for the anticipated Acomplia could also be an issue. While patients on Acomplia have lost around 7 kg (15 lb) in body weight over two years, concerns remain about its potential impact on mood.

By Ben Hirschler, European Pharmaceuticals Correspondent, Yahoo News

Steve - You cannot fault the drug companies for trying. They need to meet the demands of their shareholders and there is A LOT of money to be made in treating obesity.

Let's wade through the morass for a while.

You must ask yourself three questions before choosing this route:

1. Is losing 15 pounds in two years worth it? There is no guarantee that you will lose the weight, a clear risk of side effects, and a considerable out of pocket expense (chances are your insurance company will not pay for obesity treatment).
2. Are you ready to be on the treatment for the rest of your life? That's what the powers that be are pushing for. They will want to prove that along with weight reduction, the medication will prevent every disease imaginable (i.e., pushing statin medication for alzheimer's prevention).
   
3. When you want to go off the pills, what are you going to do?
   

These are serious questions to consider. If you decide to try one of these treatments, don't be a guinea pig! Wait at least 1-2 years after it has been on the market. Remember Vioxx? It took the public over 4 years to find out the damage it caused.

We understand that medication will always be a minute percentage of obesity-reduction therapy, but one still needs to ask the hard questions and be cautious!

This Season's Flu Virus Is Resistant to 2 Standard Drugs

Doctors should stop prescribing two standard antiviral drugs to treat or prevent this season's influenza because the predominant strain has quickly become resistant to them, federal health officials said Saturday.

The standard drugs are amantadine and rimantadine.

Instead, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that doctors prescribe two newer antiviral drugs, oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), and said ample supplies were available.

The new findings concern only the strain of influenza causing regular seasonal influenza, and not avian influenza or pandemic influenza, said the centers' director, Dr. Julie L. Gerberding.

She said 91 percent of the human influenza A (H3N2) virus samples isolated in her agency's laboratories this flu season were resistant to both amantadine and rimantadine. A (H3N2) is this season's dominant strain. The agency's influenza surveillance program studies samples from state health departments.

Courtesy of The New York Times

Mental health link to diet change

Changes to diets over the last 50 years may be playing a key role in the rise of mental illness, a study says.

Food campaigners Sustain and the Mental Health Foundation say the way food is now produced has altered the balance of key nutrients people consume.

The report, Feeding Minds, pointed out the delicate balance of minerals, vitamins and essential fats consumed had changed in the past five decades.

Researchers said the proliferation of industrialised farming had introduced pesticides and altered the body fat composition of animals due to the diet they are now fed.

For example, the report said chickens reach their slaughter weight twice as fast as they did 30 years ago, increasing the fat content from 2% to 22%.

The diet has also altered the balance of vital fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 in chickens which the brain needs to ensure it functions properly.

In contrast, saturated fats, consumption of which has been increasing with the boom in ready meals, act to slow down the brain's working process.

The report said people were eating 34% less vegetables and two-thirds less fish - the main source of omega-3 fatty acids - than they were 50 years ago.

Such changes, the study said, could be linked to depression, schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Alzheimer's disease.

Steve - Boy, we could not have said it better ourselves.

Dental health crucial to heart health

According to a huge study recently published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, participants with 1 to 6 teeth missing (not counting teeth lost to injury or orthodontics) were 1.2 times more likely to have cardiovascular illness. Those with 6 to 31 teeth missing were 1.64 times as likely.

Steve - in short...brush, floss, and eating right go hand in hand for optimal cardiovascular and dental health!

Highlights from the January issue of American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

• In a multiple regression analysis of 168 prepubertal girls aged 4–8 y living in the southeastern United States, Vitamin D status was adequate in the children. There was a fluctuation in levels depending on season (fall/winter the levels dipped a bit lower), but were still normal. Steve - as we have said many times, in warmer climates, increasing vitamin D intake is not as crucial as it is for those living in colder climates. Even though we have heard many wonderful things about vitamin D lately, we are not one size fits all. In short, consult with a health professional before supplementing with vitamin D.
  

• Iron from purified soybean ferritin is well absorbed and may provide a model for novel, utilizable, plant-based forms of iron for populations with a low iron status.

• In a community-based, cross-section of 7137 men, 4585 premenopausal women, and 2248 postmenopausal women aged 25–64 y, a study found risks of osteoporosis, osteopenia, and nonspine fractures were significantly higher for subjects with higher percentage body fat independent of body weight, physical activity, and age. Thus, fat mass has a negative effect on bone mass in contrast with the positive effect of weight-bearing itself.

• A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study including thirty-seven healthy, nonsmoking postmenopausal women aged 50–70 y were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 groups. They consumed a daily dose of mixed carotenoids (ß-carotene, lutein, and lycopene; 4 mg each), 12 mg of a single carotenoid (ß-carotene, lutein, or lycopene), or placebo for 56 d. The results indicated that carotenoid supplementation decreases DNA damage and that a combination of carotenoids (4 mg each of lutein, ß-carotene, and lycopene), an intake that can be achieved by diet, or a larger dose (12 mg) of individual carotenoids exerts protection against DNA damage. Steve - translation...eat your veggies, fruits, supplement if you have to for reducing oxidative stress due to lifestlye, diet, and environment.
  

Dietary factors can help regulate blood pressure

Cold-water fish, celery (4 stalks per day), fiber, extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, fermented soy, and whey protein (if tolerated) may assist in regulating blood pressure.

Nutrients also suggested are CoQ10, bonito fish protein, vitamin B6, vitamin D, and vitamin E.

Health & Healing, January 2006

Steve - We have a wonderful Blood Pressure Action Plan that mirrors this at nutritionalconcepts.com

Once again, prostate cancer screening questioned

Even though this study was relatively small (1,002 men), researchers found that from 1991-1998, the men who were alive were no more likely to have been screened than the men who died of prostate cancer.

Archives of Internal Medicine, January 9, 2006

Steve - I found these in our archives.

Prostate Cancer Screening Treatment Questioned -
According to a report published in the October 5th issue of the British Medical Journal, men who receive prostate cancer screening and treatment do not gain a survival benefit compared to men who do not undergo screening and treatment. The investigation covered two different groups of men -- 94,000 in Seattle, WA (in which the PSA testing rate was 5.4 times higher than men in CT, biopsy rate was more than double, and were five times more likely to have their prostate removed) and 120,621 in Connecticut. Despite the more intensive prostate action in Seattle, the number of men who died from prostate cancer in the two groups over the total 11-year period was nearly equal. 11/2002

Prostate Cancer Over treated -
According to a study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 29-44% of men who used a PSA blood test to find prostate cancer over a ten year period were "over-diagnosed." Those patients may have received surgery or radiation treatment for prostate cancer that would never have progressed so far that it threatened their health. Prostate cancer is a slow moving disease that will never become life threatening. In addition a recent Journal of Clinical Oncology study showed that PSA blood test, the supposed "gold standard" for prostate cancer screening, was virtually useless in detecting it. 8/2002

Prostate Cancer Screening Flawed -
Prostate-Specific Antigen, known as PSA, a common blood test used to detect prostate cancer, misses up to 82% of cancers in men younger than 60 and 65% in those older than 60. The new study found that the levels used to trigger a biopsy are too high.
New England Journal of Medicine 7/24/03

Study Questions PSA Prostate Tests -
Almost a third of men over 75 undergo prostate screening, but a new study says there is no evidence that screening men this age would be beneficial to them. The senior author of the study says that autopsies on elderly men show that 30 to 70 percent will have prostate cancer, but they died of something else. The author goes on to say that most men with elevated PSAs do not have prostate cancer. J Nat Cancer Inst 12/3/2003

Prostate Cancer Overused -
Half of all prostate cancers picked up by PSA blood screening are irrelevant, according to a Canadian study. The report estimates that 50% of men aged 55 to 67 who are diagnosed with prostate cancer from a yearly PSA screening would not have shown symptoms of the disease during their lifetime. From the study's calculations, it was suggested that the PSA will find cancer on average 12.3 years before you would ever suffer from it or show symptoms. Journal of the National Cancer Institute 6/18/03

Standard Prostate Test Often Misses Cancer -
15% of older men with supposedly normal PSA readings have prostate cancer anyway - some with aggressive tumors. The study, which appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, conducted with the help of funding and personnel from the National Cancer Institute, is one of several recent studies questioning the efficacy of PSA tests. NEJM 5/27/04

Cough syrups ineffective

According to a committee of the American College of Chest Physicians, over-the-counter cough syrups do little to relieve coughs. Either the products contain drugs in too low of a dose, or contain combinations of drugs that have never been proven to treat coughs.

The committee goes so far to discourage the use of the medicines altogether, because their use as a first remedy can prolong diagnoses of coughs more serious, such as whopping cough.

Journal Chest, January 2006

Steve - I found this in our archives.

Cough Medicines Have No Benefit -
Night-time cough and sleep quality were not better with cough mixtures than with a simple, non-medicated syrup. Echoing the results of this study, the British Thoracic Society said "Cough medications don't do any harm to people who take them, but...neither do they have any medical benefits beyond those of non-medicated syrup." Pediatrics 7/6/04

Deficiency in vitamin D can increase cancer risk

According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, correcting vitamin D deficiency could significantly lower the risk of several types of cancer (specifically colon, breast, prostate, and ovary). According to researchers, the vitamin may block the growth of new blood vessels that allow cancer to thrive. In addition, vitamin D may buffer rogue cells from healthy cells within tissue, thus stunting its growth.

Steve - vitamin D is a very hot topic at the moment, and for good reason. The authors in this study suggest supplementing the diet with 800-1000IU vitamin D per day. As we have mentioned earlier, you must be very careful when supplementing with vitamin D because of its toxicity in large doses. Besides what you are getting dietarily from vitamin D, you must monitor how much/little sunshine you are getting on a daily basis (for cold weather regions, the late spring and summer only apply). Please seek the advice of a trained professional when supplementing with vitamin D.

Chicago is now the fattest city in the United States

Taking over the dubious honor from Houston, Chicagoan's need to take a good long, look in the mirror. Known for its hot dogs stands, deep-dish pizza, beef sandwiches, and steak houses, it is pretty obvious what's wrong here.

We cannot blame this on the lack of outdoor activites for exercise. Chicago is rated one of the five best city's in America for outdoor activities.

We have nobody to blame but ourselves - and our dietary, sedentary lifestyle is the culprit.

Bonnie and Steve

Vitamin D could help pregnant women: study

Vitamin D supplements for pregnant women could reduce osteoporosis in their children, according to research published on Friday.

The British study showed that children whose mothers lacked Vitamin D during pregnancy grow up to have weaker bones. A lack of Vitamin D is common in women of child-bearing age.

Professor Cyrus Cooper and a team from Southampton General Hospital in southern England studied almost 200 children born in 1991 and 1992. Their body size and bone mass were tracked up to the age of nine.

The study, published in The Lancet medical journal, showed that women who took Vitamin D supplements or who were exposed to higher levels of sunshine during pregnancy were less likely to be deficient in the vitamin.

"These findings provide evidence that maternal Vitamin D status during pregnancy influences the bone growth of the offspring," Cooper said.

Courtesy of Reuters

Steve - like we said last week when another vitamin D study showed reduced cancer risk, make sure you consult a health professional before supplementing with vitamin D, especially if pregnant. We are huge proponents of it, but too much can be toxic. You need to take a dose that is right for you as an individual.

Statistics from 2005 America's Health Rankings

The yearly report is funded by the United Foundation for Health, in partnership with the American Public Health Association and Partnership for Prevention. It is avilable in pdf format at this URL - http://www.unitedhealthfoundation.org/shr2005/ahr05_email.pdf. Highlights include:

• Since 1990, there has been a 99% increase in the prevalence of obesity, 40% decrease of infectious disease, 30% decline in smoking, and 18% decrease of cardiovascular death.
• Since 2004, there has been a 1% increase in obesity, 6% decline in smoking, 6% decrease of infectious disease
• 28 countries have healthy life expectancies that exceed the U.S., the highest being Japan, which can expect to have five additional years of life.