Vitamin D exposure before birth may play an important role in the development of multiple sclerosis later in life, the Harvard Nurses' Mothers' Study suggests. The risk for multiple sclerosis is lower among women whose mothers had a high intake of either vitamin D during pregnancy.
Investigators studied more than 35,000 nurses whose biological mothers completed a questionnaire about their maternal milk intake, maternal dietary vitamin D intake, and predicted maternal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D during pregnancy with their daughters' risk of developing multiple sclerosis. About 200 women were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Investigators found that women born to mothers with a high vitamin D intake during pregnancy were less likely to have multiple sclerosis. The researchers report that the predicted vitamin D level in the pregnant mothers was inversely associated with the risk for multiple sclerosis in their daughters.
"It is important to realize that our results suggest, but certainly do not prove, an association. We agree with this critique, which can only be addressed by conducting an independent investigation, possibly using biomarkers of vitamin D status in pregnancy rather than self-reported diet. We are working on this." Still, researchers say, the findings will be of interest to women with multiple sclerosis and their physicians because of the higher-than-average risk for disease in their children.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Later Introduction of Baby Foods Related to Lower Risk of Obesity Later in Life
One area of great interest is the possibility that being breastfed might predispose a person to being lean, and the longer the better. Extended breastfeeding, however, is usually associated with delayed introduction of complementary "baby" foods, and it is possible that this (gain rather than breastfeeding) might influence weight. To investigate this possibility, a team of Danish researchers led by Kim Fleischer Michaelsen investigated these factors in a group of individuals who were studied from birth until adulthood. Their findings, and an accompanying editorial by Michael Kramer, are published in the March 2010 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Neither breastfeeding duration nor timing of complementary foods was related significantly to BMI in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. However, at 42 y of age the risk of being overweight decreased with increasing age at introduction of complementary foods. For instance, for each month introduction of vegetables was delayed, the risk of being overweight at 42 y of age was reduced by 10%. ASN Spokesperson Shelley McGuire, PhD, highlights that "As parents, we all want to know what we can do to help our children avoid obesity, so research like the study led by Dr. Fleishcher Michaelsen is extremely important- it provides evidence that breastfeeding per se may not have an effect on body weight; instead, it may be other feeding choices (like when baby foods are introduced) that are related to breastfeeding choices. Most likely, these factors work together to prevent or predispose a growing child to obesity later in life."
Bonnie - wow - this is an extremely long study!
Neither breastfeeding duration nor timing of complementary foods was related significantly to BMI in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. However, at 42 y of age the risk of being overweight decreased with increasing age at introduction of complementary foods. For instance, for each month introduction of vegetables was delayed, the risk of being overweight at 42 y of age was reduced by 10%. ASN Spokesperson Shelley McGuire, PhD, highlights that "As parents, we all want to know what we can do to help our children avoid obesity, so research like the study led by Dr. Fleishcher Michaelsen is extremely important- it provides evidence that breastfeeding per se may not have an effect on body weight; instead, it may be other feeding choices (like when baby foods are introduced) that are related to breastfeeding choices. Most likely, these factors work together to prevent or predispose a growing child to obesity later in life."
Bonnie - wow - this is an extremely long study!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Fat acts differently in those with PCOS
Fat tissue in women with polycystic ovary syndrome produces an inadequate amount of the hormone adiponectin, that regulates how fats and glucose are processed, promoting increased insulin resistance and inflammation, glucose intolerance, and greater risk of diabetes and heart disease, according to a study conducted at the Center for Androgen-Related Research and Discovery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is the most common hormonal disorder of women of childbearing age, affecting approximately 10 percent of women. It is the most common cause of infertility, and an important risk factor for early diabetes in women.
"We're beginning to find that fat tissue behaves very differently in patients with PCOS than in other women," said Ricardo Azziz, M.D.,M.P.H., director of the Center for Androgen-Related Research and Discovery, and principal investigator on the study. "Identifying the unusual behavior of this fat-produced hormone is an important step to better understanding the causes underlying the disorder, and may be helpful in developing treatments that will protect patients against developing heart disease and insulin resistance."
Fat tissue is the body's largest hormone-producing organ, secreting a large number of hormones that affect appetite, bowel function, brain function, and fat and sugar metabolism. One of these hormones is adiponectin, which in sufficient quantities encourages the proper action of insulin on fats and sugars and reduces inflammation. Women with PCOS produce a smaller amount of adiponectin than women who do not have the disease, in response to other fat-produced hormones, according to the research to be published in the February issue of Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.
In the study, adiponectin was lacking in PCOS patients whose weight was considered to be in a healthy range, as well as in those patients who were overweight.
Bonnie - the little data that is available for natural substances with properties that may assist in boosting adiponectin production includes: acacia, aloe, astragalus, curcumin, fish oil, ginkgo biloba, heartwood, hops, resveratrol, and Vitamin D3.
There are currently lab tests available to test for low Adiponectin levels.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
GI medication gone wild
One of every 10 Americans was prescribed at least 1 gastrointestinal (GI) medication on an outpatient basis in 2007 compared with 1 of every 15 Americans in 1997, according to a recent report from the US Department of Health and Human Services. A 60% rise in the number of Americans who were prescribed GI agents accompanied a 170% increase in total expenditures on these medications, which was $18.9 billion in 2007 compared with $7 billion in 1997 (adjusted to 2007 dollars). The average price per GI drug purchase increased during this period from $90 to $120 for a 33% increase. The overall inflation rate for this 10-year stretch was 29%. These findings emerged from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the National Center for Health Statistics. Expenditure and purchase estimates for prescription medications include refills as well as the original script.
Americans aged 65 years and older were the heaviest users of GI medications. In 2007, 26.6% of this age group were prescribed a GI medication. In contrast, just 8.9% of Americans aged 18 to 64 years had at least 1 such prescription. That rate among Americans aged 17 years and younger was 2.5%.
Bonnie - one in 10 is beyond shocking. Use is highest in the elderly population, which has the most to lose from taking them. I have expounded incessantly about the issues with GI medications, especially long-term use.
Americans aged 65 years and older were the heaviest users of GI medications. In 2007, 26.6% of this age group were prescribed a GI medication. In contrast, just 8.9% of Americans aged 18 to 64 years had at least 1 such prescription. That rate among Americans aged 17 years and younger was 2.5%.
Bonnie - one in 10 is beyond shocking. Use is highest in the elderly population, which has the most to lose from taking them. I have expounded incessantly about the issues with GI medications, especially long-term use.
Acid level impacts inflammation
Steve - it is not like we need more affirmation that excess acidity causes inflammation, but this Canadian Medical Association Journal was well conceived.
In vitro data suggest that lower extracellular pH activates the immune system. We conducted a population-based study of the relation between serum acid–base status and inflammation.
We examined the serum anion gap and serum levels of bicarbonate and inflammatory biomarkers in 4525 healthy adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 1999–2006. We excluded participants who had chronic disease, recent infection and an estimated glomerular filtration rate of less than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m 2.
After adjustment for age, sex, ethnic background, body mass index, serum albumin level and other factors, we found that a higher anion gap and lower bicarbonate level were associated with a higher leukocyte count and higher C-reactive protein level. Compared with participants in the lowest quartile of anion gap, those in the highest quartile had a leukocyte count that was higher and a C-reactive protein level that was higher. A higher anion gap and lower bicarbonate level were also associated with a higher platelet count, a larger mean platelet volume and a higher ferritin level.
A higher serum anion gap and lower bicarbonate level were associated with higher levels of inflammatory biomarkers in a healthy sample of the general population.
In vitro data suggest that lower extracellular pH activates the immune system. We conducted a population-based study of the relation between serum acid–base status and inflammation.
We examined the serum anion gap and serum levels of bicarbonate and inflammatory biomarkers in 4525 healthy adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during 1999–2006. We excluded participants who had chronic disease, recent infection and an estimated glomerular filtration rate of less than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m 2.
After adjustment for age, sex, ethnic background, body mass index, serum albumin level and other factors, we found that a higher anion gap and lower bicarbonate level were associated with a higher leukocyte count and higher C-reactive protein level. Compared with participants in the lowest quartile of anion gap, those in the highest quartile had a leukocyte count that was higher and a C-reactive protein level that was higher. A higher anion gap and lower bicarbonate level were also associated with a higher platelet count, a larger mean platelet volume and a higher ferritin level.
A higher serum anion gap and lower bicarbonate level were associated with higher levels of inflammatory biomarkers in a healthy sample of the general population.
Walking helps osteoarthritis
"Progressive walking" combined with glucosamine sulfate supplementation has been shown to improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis, according to journal Arthritis Research and Therapy. Researchers found that patients who walked at least two bouts of 1500 steps each on three days of the week reported significantly less arthritis pain, and significantly improved physical function. All patients received the dietary supplement for six weeks, after which they continued to take the supplement during a 12-week progressive walking program.
The program, called Stepping Out, includes a walking guide; a pedometer; weekly log sheets and a weekly planner, all intended to help patients adopt the exercise regime. Seventeen patients were randomly assigned to walk five days per week, while the remaining 19 were instructed to walk three days a week. The team found that both groups achieved significant improvement in their symptoms, however being encouraged to walk five days a week was not more effective than being encouraged to walk three days.
The program, called Stepping Out, includes a walking guide; a pedometer; weekly log sheets and a weekly planner, all intended to help patients adopt the exercise regime. Seventeen patients were randomly assigned to walk five days per week, while the remaining 19 were instructed to walk three days a week. The team found that both groups achieved significant improvement in their symptoms, however being encouraged to walk five days a week was not more effective than being encouraged to walk three days.
Probiotics during pregnancy may cut obesity in child
The development of high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, called gestational diabetes, is known to boost a woman’s risk of subsequently developing type-2 diabetes, as well as putting the offspring at increased risk of childhood obesity and diabetes as they get older. Finnish researchers are now reporting that probiotic supplements may reduce the frequency of gestational diabetes by 20 per cent, according to data published in the British Journal of Nutrition.
In addition to the benefits to mother, the study’s findings may also have benefits for the baby, with fewer births of larger babies. "Based on the present findings, perinatal dietary counseling combined with probiotics could provide a safe and cost-effective tool in addressing the obesity epidemic,” researchers added. Subjects were recruited during their first trimester of pregnancy and randomly assigned to a control group, or a group that received intensive dietary counseling provided by a nutritionist. The women in the dietary counseling group were further randomized to receive probiotic supplements containing lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidus or placebo. No adverse events were reported, and no effect on the duration of pregnancies were recorded.
“The results of the present study show that probiotic-supplemented perinatal dietary counseling could be a safe and cost-effective tool in addressing the metabolic epidemic,” wrote the researchers. “In view of the fact that birth size is a risk marker for later obesity, the present results are of significance for public health in demonstrating that this risk is modifiable,” they added.
Steve - music to our ears!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Locallly grown food up 20%
Locally produced foods was one of the hottest nationwide trends in foods, one of which is farm friendly or local foods. Farm-friendly or local foods are just as they sound, foods that are found closer to the farm, often on the farm, but also at farmers markets, local CSA’s (community supported agriculture), and in local family-owned grocery stores. The vast majority of these farms often use different terms to describe their production methods. Common terms are homestead, organic, natural, sustainably grown, free-range and grass-fed, air-cooled poultry, grown from heirloom seeds or produced with respect for the land, animals, and workers. Regardless of the terminology, much of the food is produced without pesticides, antibiotics or growth hormones.
Sales from food produced using these principals have grown 20 percent per year over the past decade and now reach nearly $11 billion nationwide. Research shows that nearly half of consumers purchased organic foods within the past six months with fruits and vegetables heading up the largest category, but with an increasing large proportion coming from the dairy case. Meat and poultry also appear to have the next most potential because consumers are growing increasingly concerned about BSE, E coli and the presence of growth hormones and antibiotics in their meat.
Sales from food produced using these principals have grown 20 percent per year over the past decade and now reach nearly $11 billion nationwide. Research shows that nearly half of consumers purchased organic foods within the past six months with fruits and vegetables heading up the largest category, but with an increasing large proportion coming from the dairy case. Meat and poultry also appear to have the next most potential because consumers are growing increasingly concerned about BSE, E coli and the presence of growth hormones and antibiotics in their meat.
Magnesium may boost lung function in asthmatics
Daily supplements of magnesium may improve lung function in asthmatics, and improve their quality of life. Measures of lung capacity increased by about 6 per cent during six months of magnesium supplementation, and improvements were also observed in the bronchial response to methacholine, a chemical that produces constriction of the lungs, according to findings published in the Journal of Asthma.
Epidemiological studies have reported beneficial effects of magnesium on asthma occurrence and management, but less than half of adults in the US consume the recommended levels of the mineral, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for 1999-2000.
The participants were randomly assigned to receive either the a daily dose of 340 milligrams of magnesium or placebo for 6.5 months. At the end of the study, a 6 per cent improvement in lung function, measured as the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), was observed in the magnesium group, and not in the placebo group. Furthermore, 20 per cent more methacholine was needed in the magnesium group to produce bronchoconstriction to the same degree as seen in the placebo group. Quality of life, a subjective measure obtained by questionnaire, only improved in the magnesium group, added the researchers.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Food's Toxic Effect Part II
Food's Toxic Effect Part I (2007)
Many of us are aware of food allergies. These are immediate, catastrophic inflammatory responses to foreign proteins in foods or substances that we ingest (commonly known as anaphylaxis). It is estimated that 12 million Americans suffer from true food allergies. Most of us know if we have a true food allergy.
However, many of us are unaware of what approximately 72 million Americans suffer from: food intolerance. If our practice is any indication, we think the number of Americans with food intolerance is much higher than estimated.
Food intolerances are most indicated in individuals with inflammatory bowel problems which can include eosinophilic esophagitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. Additionally, those with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, fibromyalgia, and migraines often have food intolerances.
Simply, when an intolerant food is presented to the digestive system, it has a toxic effect at the cellular level. Gluten intolerance is a perfect example of how a substance, in this case, the glue that holds grain together, attacks the cells in our digestive tract and creates a host of adverse effects. As the toxicity becomes more pronounced (cells begin to die or under perform), this is when we contract chronic conditions such as the aforementioned.
In our estimation, roughly 40% of our clientele have food intolerances. In most cases, if the food triggers are not discovered in the first few appointments, we run a Food Intolerance (Cytotoxic) blood test that covers 209 foods, spices, and preservatives. We have used the same lab, Biotrition in Rolling Meadows, for many years because their results are accurate and consistent.
In February 2007, to our delight, one of the few studies ever done on food intolerance was published. It was a resounding success and mirrored almost to the letter how we treat food intolerance.
Analysis of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition study
Subjects in this study had all failed to reduce their Irritable Bowel Sydrome symptoms using the standard therapies such as anti-cholinergics, anti-spasmodics, anti-diarrheals, and serotonergic agents.
The researchers hypothesized that identifying and removing trigger foods that create inflammation (IgG) in the gut, in addition to balancing the gut microfloral environment, would reduce the IBS symptoms. Their "hypothesis" paid off.
After using food intolerance blood testing almost identical to the testing that Nutritional Concepts' uses, the subjects were asked to the eliminate the foods that were discovered to be the strongest agitators. The most frequent positive reactions found in the subjects were (dairy does not appear because all subjects had removed dairy from their diets prior to participating in this study):
4 or more molds - 70%
Baker's yeast - 85%
Onion mix - 65%
Pork - 60%
Peanut - 60%
Corn - 55%
Wheat - 50%
Soybean - 50%
Carrot - 45%
Cheddar Cheese - 40%
Egg White - 40%
After testing each subject's microflora via comprehensive stool analysis, it was discovered that 100% of the subjects exhibited deficiencies of beneficial flora. They were put on high dose, broad-spectrum probiotic supplements.
The subjects were retested at six months and one year.
Food's Toxic Effect Part II (2010)
Another Journal of the American College of Nutrition study, published in June 2009, showed that juvenile patients with severe Crohn's disease went into remission without medication within two months when put on a food exclusion plan with dietary supplements. This should leave little doubt that removing intolerant foods and infusing with tolerated foods and nutrients not only helps, but heals.
Analysis of the Study
Most moderate-severe juvenile Crohn's disease patients are in a constant catabolic state resulting in poor weight and growth failure. Anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and monoclonal antibody drugs, as well as growth hormone, frequently fail to achieve sustained remission or reverse growth failure.
Objective: The object was to test whether an exclusion diet with nutraceutical therapy could induce sustained clinical remission and weight gain.
Methods: Subjects with moderate-severe Crohn's disease were treated with adequate caloric and protein intake. Dairy products, all corn and whole grains, and any foods containing carrageenan were eliminated. Dietary supplements including a multivitamin/mineral, probiotic, and two proprietary natural antiinflammatory complexes, were administered twice weekly.
Results: Within 2 months of starting the diet and nutrients, all subjects went into remission, with discontinuation of all pharmacological drugs. Half of the patients have remained in sustained remission for 4 to 8 years. Other patients symptoms reoccurred when they became less compliant. 75% of subjects had excellent growth response.
Conclusion: The exclusion of food intolerants commonly associated with moderate-severe Crohn's disease engendered prolonged remission and restoration of normal weight juvenile subjects. The findings, according to the Columbia University researchers, justify larger controlled trials to evaluate the long-term benefit of compliance of this protocol in both juvenile and adult Crohn's disease patients.
Bonnie - in a way, Nutritional Concepts is a large controlled trial that has been going on for more than twenty years. The results have been very successful for detecting and removing intolerant foods not just for Crohn's disease, but myriad disorders that go beyond just the digestive system. Do not hesitate to contact our office for more information about how we go about addressing food intolerance.
Many of us are aware of food allergies. These are immediate, catastrophic inflammatory responses to foreign proteins in foods or substances that we ingest (commonly known as anaphylaxis). It is estimated that 12 million Americans suffer from true food allergies. Most of us know if we have a true food allergy.
However, many of us are unaware of what approximately 72 million Americans suffer from: food intolerance. If our practice is any indication, we think the number of Americans with food intolerance is much higher than estimated.
Food intolerances are most indicated in individuals with inflammatory bowel problems which can include eosinophilic esophagitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome. Additionally, those with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, fibromyalgia, and migraines often have food intolerances.
Simply, when an intolerant food is presented to the digestive system, it has a toxic effect at the cellular level. Gluten intolerance is a perfect example of how a substance, in this case, the glue that holds grain together, attacks the cells in our digestive tract and creates a host of adverse effects. As the toxicity becomes more pronounced (cells begin to die or under perform), this is when we contract chronic conditions such as the aforementioned.
In our estimation, roughly 40% of our clientele have food intolerances. In most cases, if the food triggers are not discovered in the first few appointments, we run a Food Intolerance (Cytotoxic) blood test that covers 209 foods, spices, and preservatives. We have used the same lab, Biotrition in Rolling Meadows, for many years because their results are accurate and consistent.
In February 2007, to our delight, one of the few studies ever done on food intolerance was published. It was a resounding success and mirrored almost to the letter how we treat food intolerance.
Analysis of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition study
Subjects in this study had all failed to reduce their Irritable Bowel Sydrome symptoms using the standard therapies such as anti-cholinergics, anti-spasmodics, anti-diarrheals, and serotonergic agents.
The researchers hypothesized that identifying and removing trigger foods that create inflammation (IgG) in the gut, in addition to balancing the gut microfloral environment, would reduce the IBS symptoms. Their "hypothesis" paid off.
After using food intolerance blood testing almost identical to the testing that Nutritional Concepts' uses, the subjects were asked to the eliminate the foods that were discovered to be the strongest agitators. The most frequent positive reactions found in the subjects were (dairy does not appear because all subjects had removed dairy from their diets prior to participating in this study):
4 or more molds - 70%
Baker's yeast - 85%
Onion mix - 65%
Pork - 60%
Peanut - 60%
Corn - 55%
Wheat - 50%
Soybean - 50%
Carrot - 45%
Cheddar Cheese - 40%
Egg White - 40%
After testing each subject's microflora via comprehensive stool analysis, it was discovered that 100% of the subjects exhibited deficiencies of beneficial flora. They were put on high dose, broad-spectrum probiotic supplements.
The subjects were retested at six months and one year.
- Diarrhea, a dominant symptom in the subject cohort, was drastically reduced after food elimination and probiotic supplementation. Daily stool frequency was also reduced from 4.29 to 3.43.
- Pain frequency (1 - no pain to 5 - severe pain) resulted in significant improvement from 3.65 to 2.71.
- Subjects also reported significant improvements in interference with activity, body image, health worry, social reaction, sexual function, and relationships.
- Researchers also found significant colonization of beneficial microflora after supplementation.
- The authors of this study note that the medical community's reticence concerning IgG testing should be challenged and re-evaluated as a result of these findings.
Food's Toxic Effect Part II (2010)
Another Journal of the American College of Nutrition study, published in June 2009, showed that juvenile patients with severe Crohn's disease went into remission without medication within two months when put on a food exclusion plan with dietary supplements. This should leave little doubt that removing intolerant foods and infusing with tolerated foods and nutrients not only helps, but heals.
Analysis of the Study
Most moderate-severe juvenile Crohn's disease patients are in a constant catabolic state resulting in poor weight and growth failure. Anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and monoclonal antibody drugs, as well as growth hormone, frequently fail to achieve sustained remission or reverse growth failure.
Objective: The object was to test whether an exclusion diet with nutraceutical therapy could induce sustained clinical remission and weight gain.
Methods: Subjects with moderate-severe Crohn's disease were treated with adequate caloric and protein intake. Dairy products, all corn and whole grains, and any foods containing carrageenan were eliminated. Dietary supplements including a multivitamin/mineral, probiotic, and two proprietary natural antiinflammatory complexes, were administered twice weekly.
Results: Within 2 months of starting the diet and nutrients, all subjects went into remission, with discontinuation of all pharmacological drugs. Half of the patients have remained in sustained remission for 4 to 8 years. Other patients symptoms reoccurred when they became less compliant. 75% of subjects had excellent growth response.
Conclusion: The exclusion of food intolerants commonly associated with moderate-severe Crohn's disease engendered prolonged remission and restoration of normal weight juvenile subjects. The findings, according to the Columbia University researchers, justify larger controlled trials to evaluate the long-term benefit of compliance of this protocol in both juvenile and adult Crohn's disease patients.
Bonnie - in a way, Nutritional Concepts is a large controlled trial that has been going on for more than twenty years. The results have been very successful for detecting and removing intolerant foods not just for Crohn's disease, but myriad disorders that go beyond just the digestive system. Do not hesitate to contact our office for more information about how we go about addressing food intolerance.
Aspartame rebranded as AminoSweet
Leading aspartame producer Ajinomoto is launching a new initiative that will brand the sweetener aspartame as AminoSweet. Ajinomoto believes that the time is right to remind the industry that aspartame tastes just like sugar, and that it’s made from amino acids – the building blocks of protein that are abundant in our diet.The name AminoSweet is appealing and memorable. It reflects that AminoSweet comes from the same amino acids that are abundant in the food we eat every day.
Bonnie - surprised? The reason is simple. Aspartame has such a horrible reputation that they must distance themselves from the name. Ajinomoto is banking on the fact that consumers are so clueless that we can be duped into thinking this is a new product.
Ajinomoto better be very careful about how they market AminoSweet. If they try link it to anything natural, consumers and the Federal Trade Commission will be all over them. Let me be perfectly clear. While aspartame may be derived from amino acids, there is nothing natural about it. Aspartame is pure chemicals that cause debilitating side effects. Please read my eNewsletter comments about it.
Please pass this along to anybody you wish to educate about this "wolf is sheep's clothing." For more info about the history of aspartame, please watch the fascinating, sobering documentary Sweet Misery.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Study says junk food commercials = obesity
The association between television viewing and childhood obesity is directly related to children's exposure to commercials that advertise unhealthy foods, according to a new UCLA School of Public Health study published in the American Journal of Public Health. The study is the first to break down the types of television children watch to better determine whether different kinds of content may exert different effects on obesity.
The researchers gathered data from primary caregivers of 3,563 children, ranging from infants to 12-year-olds, in 1997. Through time-use diaries, study respondents reported their children's activities, including television viewing, throughout the course of an entire weekday and an entire weekend day. Caregivers were also asked to report the format -- television programs, DVDs or videos -- and the names of the programs watched. This data was used to classify television viewing into either educational or entertainment programming and to determine whether or not it contained advertising or product placement.
Among all children, commercial viewing was significantly associated with higher BMI, although the effect was stronger for children younger than 7 than for those older than 7. Non-commercial viewing, including watching DVDs or educational television programming, had no significant association with obesity.
According to the authors, the findings strongly suggest that steering children away from commercial television may be effective in reducing childhood obesity, given that food is the most commonly advertised product on children's television and the fact that almost 90 percent of children begin watching television regularly before the age of 2. By the time they are 5 years old, children have seen an average of more than 4,000 television commercials for food annually. During Saturday morning cartoons, children see an average of one food ad every five minutes. The vast majority of these ads -- up to 95 percent -- are for foods with poor nutritional value, the researchers say. "Commercial television pushes children to eat a large quantity of those foods they should consume least: sugary cereals, snacks, fast food and soda pop," the researchers said. "Educational television has come a long way since today's parents were children, and there are now many fantastic shows on commercial-free television and, of course, wonderful content available on DVD."
Steve - there's also a wonderful tool called DVR/TIVO where you can skip the commercials.
The researchers gathered data from primary caregivers of 3,563 children, ranging from infants to 12-year-olds, in 1997. Through time-use diaries, study respondents reported their children's activities, including television viewing, throughout the course of an entire weekday and an entire weekend day. Caregivers were also asked to report the format -- television programs, DVDs or videos -- and the names of the programs watched. This data was used to classify television viewing into either educational or entertainment programming and to determine whether or not it contained advertising or product placement.
Among all children, commercial viewing was significantly associated with higher BMI, although the effect was stronger for children younger than 7 than for those older than 7. Non-commercial viewing, including watching DVDs or educational television programming, had no significant association with obesity.
According to the authors, the findings strongly suggest that steering children away from commercial television may be effective in reducing childhood obesity, given that food is the most commonly advertised product on children's television and the fact that almost 90 percent of children begin watching television regularly before the age of 2. By the time they are 5 years old, children have seen an average of more than 4,000 television commercials for food annually. During Saturday morning cartoons, children see an average of one food ad every five minutes. The vast majority of these ads -- up to 95 percent -- are for foods with poor nutritional value, the researchers say. "Commercial television pushes children to eat a large quantity of those foods they should consume least: sugary cereals, snacks, fast food and soda pop," the researchers said. "Educational television has come a long way since today's parents were children, and there are now many fantastic shows on commercial-free television and, of course, wonderful content available on DVD."
Steve - there's also a wonderful tool called DVR/TIVO where you can skip the commercials.
A healthy new market for Crestor
by Julie Deardorff
Chicago Tribune
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved the drug rosuvastatin (Crestor) for people who have not been diagnosed with heart disease, leaving some preventive cardiologists shaking their heads. Crestor costs $1,500 a year. It comes with side effects, including muscle pain, gastrointestinal disorders, a "confused state" and an increased risk of diabetes. And the FDA's expanded use of Crestor will encourage dependence on pharmaceutical drugs, critics say.
"Is this the best way to spend money to promote good health?" wondered Northwestern cardiologist Steve Devries, an associate professor of cardiology at the Feinberg School of Medicine. Instead, "our strongest push should be to encourage healthy lifestyle changes," Devries said.
That means focusing on diet and exercise, which the FDA says you should do while taking Crestor, anyway. The FDA approval means Crestor can now be marketed to men over age 50 and women over age 60 who have at least one traditional cardiovascular risk factor (smoking, high blood pressure, family history) and high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker for inflammation. Elevated CRP is associated with the buildup of cholesterol and other fatty material in the coronary arteries. Cholesterol medication is designed to lower so-called "bad" cholesterol. And it can play a vital role in certain situations, said Devries.
But high levels of CRP "can be treated with weight loss, exercise, smoking cessation, reduced intake of sugar-boosting carbohydrates and reduced intake of unhealthy fats," said Devries. Moreover, a Mediterranean diet has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiac problems by more than 70 percent, he said. "Public health efforts should be focused on developing innovative programs to encourage health lifestyles-changes that have a far broader potential for improving health -- and at a lower cost -- than any FDA approval can achieve," said Devries.
Bonnie - it is nice to see Dr. Devries step out and comment on this issue. I have known Dr. Devries for a long time and I appreciate his candor. Obviously, I am in total agreement.
As I said a long time ago, the powers-that-be want as many people to be on a statins as possible.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
DHA supplements may improve chemotherapy outcome
According to researchers in a new study published in the British Journal of Cancer, “our data show for the first time that a dietary intervention targeted on DHA is a feasible approach that has potential to substantially increase survival in metastatic breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy.” The new study, if supported by additional research, suggests that the omega-3 DHA may help improve survival by sensitizing tumors to chemotherapy.
As part of their anthracycline-based chemotherapy (FEC) regimen, 25 women were given additional DHA (1.8 grams per day) for between 2 and 96 months. After an average of 31 months, researchers found that the overall survival of women was 22 months, and reached 34 months in women with the highest DHA levels in their blood. “Although the median time to progression (6 months) and overall survival (22 months) in our study were within the frame of published data, it should be stressed that our patient population had a particularly poor prognosis, as 68 per cent had liver metastases in addition to other sites of metastases,” stated the researchers. “The median overall survival of patients having liver metastases was reported to be 14 months.”
Breast cancer drug does not work with some antidepressants
Tamoxifen -- a breast cancer medicine used by millions of women -- won't work when taken with some common antidepressants, a new study says. Tumors were more than twice as likely to return after two years in women taking antidepressants like Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil, compared with those taking the anti-cancer drug alone, the study showed. The research by Medco Health Solutions was presented Tuesday at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Orlando. Doctors began treating hot flashes with antidepressants, an unapproved use, after a study linked the former standard remedy, hormone replacement therapy, to an increased risk of breast cancer and heart attacks. Hot flashes are also a side effect of tamoxifen. Other types of antidepressants, such as Effexor, may be safer for women on tamoxifen, said Powel Brown, a cancer prevention expert at Baylor College of Medicine.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Med diet may lower thinking and memory problems
A Mediterranean diet may help people avoid the small areas of brain damage that can lead to problems with thinking and memory, according to a study that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 62nd Annual Meeting. The study found that people who ate a Mediterranean-like diet were less likely to have brain infarcts, or small areas of dead tissue linked to thinking problems.
For the study, researchers assessed the diets of 712 people in New York and divided them into three groups based on how closely they were following the Mediterranean diet. Then they conducted MRI brain scans of the people an average of six years later. A total of 238 people had at least one area of brain damage. Those who were most closely following a Mediterranean-like diet were 36 percent less likely to have areas of brain damage than those who were least following the diet. Those moderately following the diet were 21 percent less likely to have brain damage than the lowest group. “The relationship between this type of brain damage and the Mediterranean diet was comparable with that of high blood pressure,” said study author Nikolaos Scarmeas, MD, MSc, of Columbia University Medical Center in New York and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. “In this study, not eating a Mediterranean-like diet had about the same effect on the brain as having high blood pressure.”
Previous research by Scarmeas and his colleagues showed that a Mediterranean-like diet may be associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and may lengthen survival in people with Alzheimer’s disease. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
For the study, researchers assessed the diets of 712 people in New York and divided them into three groups based on how closely they were following the Mediterranean diet. Then they conducted MRI brain scans of the people an average of six years later. A total of 238 people had at least one area of brain damage. Those who were most closely following a Mediterranean-like diet were 36 percent less likely to have areas of brain damage than those who were least following the diet. Those moderately following the diet were 21 percent less likely to have brain damage than the lowest group. “The relationship between this type of brain damage and the Mediterranean diet was comparable with that of high blood pressure,” said study author Nikolaos Scarmeas, MD, MSc, of Columbia University Medical Center in New York and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. “In this study, not eating a Mediterranean-like diet had about the same effect on the brain as having high blood pressure.”
Previous research by Scarmeas and his colleagues showed that a Mediterranean-like diet may be associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and may lengthen survival in people with Alzheimer’s disease. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health.
First Lady Michelle Obama Launches "Let's Move" Obesity Campaign
Courtesy USA Today
Today, the self-described "mom in chief" is launching Let's Move, a campaign to help other parents deal with a national health crisis she describes in epic terms. The goal: to eliminate childhood obesity in a generation.
"It's an ambitious goal, but we don't have time to wait," the first lady said in an interview with USA TODAY in her spacious office in the East Wing of the White House. "We've got to stop citing statistics and wringing our hands and feeling guilty, and get going on this issue." She says she intends to "sound the alarm" about the epidemic: About 32% of children and adolescents today — 25 million kids — are obese or overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those extra pounds put kids at a greater risk of developing a host of debilitating and costly diseases, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
A 2005 study found that kids today may lead shorter lives by two to five years than their parents because of obesity. Meanwhile, the costs "take your breath away," Obama says. Obesity costs the country a staggering $147 billion a year in weight-related medical bills, according to government data. Obama says she will use all the power of her White House pulpit to promote a multifaceted campaign that will include more healthful food in schools, more accurate food labeling, better grocery stores in communities that don't have them, public service announcements and efforts to get children to be more active. Some of her plans, such as tax incentives for businesses, will need congressional approval.
Let's Move (letsmove.gov) aims to do for healthy eating and exercise what the government's anti-smoking campaign did in the 1960s: change how people think about their health. "The first lady having a huge microphone and a spotlight is really helpful," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says. "It's a big health crisis. We need to involve not only the kids but the families."
Ideas grew from a garden Obama, 46, is announcing the campaign a little more than a year after she and her daughters, Malia, 11, and Sasha, 8, moved into the White House on the day Barack Obama was sworn in as president. Obama said then that she would spend much of her first year in Washington making sure her kids adjusted to their new school and to life being shadowed by the Secret Service. But the seeds of the obesity campaign were planted months ago — in an organic White House garden she set up with the help of local elementary schoolchildren. And her passion for working on the problem grew. "The garden was an important first step — just sort of exploring the ideas around nutrition and children," Obama says. "I was curious to find out whether kids connected with this issue if we talked about it in terms of fun and gardening." And they did. "Kids from urban environments, from households (like) mine, who were raised on fried foods and good, tasty stuff, were fully engaged in the process of planting these vegetables and watching them grow and harvesting them and cleaning them and cooking them and eating them, and writing about how vegetables were their friends," she says. "So we thought we could be on to something here if we make this conversation a national conversation."
She is taking that conversation to schools around the country, mayors' organizations and the nation's governors. And her campaign has commitments from the nation's pediatricians, children's TV networks and websites such as Nickelodeon and sports teams such as the New York Yankees. Each will do whatever it can do best, she says, to spread the message that it matters what children eat and how much they move. Yankees centerfielder Curtis Granderson, who will be with Obama at today's announcement, says he wants to encourage kids to do what he did as a child: Put aside the video games and get outside and play. "We didn't realize the importance of it at the time," he says. "But we would be outside for hours at a time having fun."
Obama says her busy schedule in the next couple of years will reflect her commitment to the cause. Last week, she started by filming the campaign's first public service announcement, a direct message to parents. "I know from my own experience," Obama says. "I would move heaven and earth to give my kids all the chance in the world for them to be at the top of their game in every way, shape and form. Let's Move operates under the principle that every family wants the same thing for their kid. So we're going to figure out how to make it easier for them to get it."
That casual, down-to-earth approach as the mother of two girls has earned her higher approval ratings in the polls than her husband's since he took office. In an interview about the childhood obesity campaign, she wears gray slacks and a lavender sweater, the kind of everyday outfit that works for her whether she's hula-hooping with schoolchildren on the South Lawn or visiting federal agencies to thank employees for their hard work. The issues she's addressing are serious, but she says she will keep it conversational. "The tone, hopefully, that I approach this, is one that is inclusive, and not judgmental — and helpful."
Political observers say it's the right kind of campaign for a first lady who wants to make a difference but wants to be careful not to delve too far into policy the way Hillary Rodham Clinton did with health care when her husband held the presidency. "Childhood obesity is a no-downside issue," says Boston University journalism professor Elizabeth Mehren, who has written extensively about political spouses. "It's something that mothers can connect to, so it fits in with her 'first mom' agenda." At the same time, "it's a back-door connector to that very pressing issue for her husband: health care."
Others also applaud her choice, saying it goes beyond previous campaigns such as Nancy Reagan's anti-drug effort and Laura Bush's literacy push. "First ladies have taken on issues in the past, but this is different because childhood obesity is such a pressing public health concern," says Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group. "Interest in nutrition is at an all-time high, and there is a lot of concern about the health and financial effects of obesity. "All the stars are aligned for her to make an impact."
Boston pediatric endocrinologist David Ludwig, one of the researchers who showed obesity may shorten kids' lives, says: "We can't just decry childhood obesity while continuing to condone junk food advertising aimed at young children and underfunding school lunch and physical education programs. What the first lady can do is help give momentum to that effort in a way few other people can."
The campaign will begin the way many government efforts do: with the appointment of a federal task force that will give government agencies 90 days to figure out what they plan to do to help. Obama's office already has lined up commitments from mayors, business leaders, grocery store owners, school lunch suppliers, non-profit groups, retailers and foundations. Other elements of the plan, several of which will need approval in Congress because they require new funding or offer tax breaks, include:
•The American Academy of Pediatrics will encourage its 60,000 members to check the body mass index (BMI), a number that takes into account height and weight, of all children at every checkup, and to give every child a kid-friendly prescription with suggestions for healthy, active living at those visits, says Judith Palfrey, president of the academy. The group had been working on the idea, and the campaign "was the magic moment to roll it out with the blessing of the first lady," she says.
•$400 million in tax credits and other incentives to get grocery stores to move into "food desert communities" where people don't have access to major grocery stores and have to rely on corner markets, convenience stores and hybrid gas stations that may charge more and have fewer healthful choices. It will also get fresh foods into smaller stores.
•A new foundation made up of existing foundations and groups to monitor the campaign.
•$25 million for schools to renovate their kitchens to replace deep fryers with equipment needed to store more produce and serve more nutritious food.
•$10 billion over 10 years for the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act. Some of the money would be used to provide free and reduced-priced school meals for a million more children a year and to help schools serve more nutritious foods. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says he's encouraging schools to "focus on community gardens and school gardens, which can provide additional supplies."
Healthful eating at school is important: About 31 million kids eat lunch at school every day, and 11 million eat breakfast. Overall, kids consume about 30% to 50% of their calories in school. Reports from the Institute of Medicine, which advises Congress on health and science, recommend booting junk foods out of schools and making dramatic changes in school meals. Many companies are on board with improving school food, Obama says, by reducing the amount of salt, fat and sugar in school lunches and increasing the amount of whole grains and fresh produce. There are also changes to be made in the snacks provided to students. "There is no reason why we can't have water, healthy juice drinks in vending machines, granola bars, trail mix, whole-grain sandwiches," she says.
Just as important as better food, Obama says, is physical activity. The government recommends that children get 60 minutes or more of physical activity daily. Education Secretary Arne Duncan says improving food and physical activity at schools is "the right investment" of resources.
Despite her lofty goals, Obama says, she wants to reassure fellow parents that they don't have to make huge changes or break the bank to have an influence on their kids' weight and health. The Obama family has a chef now, of course, and the first lady no longer has to worry about whether she has time to cook healthful meals. But before she got to the White House, she says, she made a set of small changes to her girls' diets that made a difference. She started cooking once or twice a week more often than she had been. Instead of giving them juice boxes at meals and in their lunches, she gave them low-fat milk or water. And she eliminated after-dinner desserts on weekdays. "The kids didn't even notice," she says. "You take stuff out, they complain about it for, like, two seconds, and then it's like, 'OK, I'll drink the water.' "
She also says she doesn't want parents to beat themselves up if they slip up from time to time or get a little relaxed about the food they serve or the time their kids spend in front of a screen. "We don't have to be 100% perfect," she says. "My kids eat dessert. My kids watch TV. ... I love burgers and fries, and I don't want to live a life where I can never have them again. And if we told families and children that that was the answer, we'd never get there. "The beauty is we don't need to be 100% of the way there. If we get 20% of the way there, we will change the health status of our kids for a generation."
First Lady USA Today Interview
Today, the self-described "mom in chief" is launching Let's Move, a campaign to help other parents deal with a national health crisis she describes in epic terms. The goal: to eliminate childhood obesity in a generation.
"It's an ambitious goal, but we don't have time to wait," the first lady said in an interview with USA TODAY in her spacious office in the East Wing of the White House. "We've got to stop citing statistics and wringing our hands and feeling guilty, and get going on this issue." She says she intends to "sound the alarm" about the epidemic: About 32% of children and adolescents today — 25 million kids — are obese or overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those extra pounds put kids at a greater risk of developing a host of debilitating and costly diseases, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
A 2005 study found that kids today may lead shorter lives by two to five years than their parents because of obesity. Meanwhile, the costs "take your breath away," Obama says. Obesity costs the country a staggering $147 billion a year in weight-related medical bills, according to government data. Obama says she will use all the power of her White House pulpit to promote a multifaceted campaign that will include more healthful food in schools, more accurate food labeling, better grocery stores in communities that don't have them, public service announcements and efforts to get children to be more active. Some of her plans, such as tax incentives for businesses, will need congressional approval.
Let's Move (letsmove.gov) aims to do for healthy eating and exercise what the government's anti-smoking campaign did in the 1960s: change how people think about their health. "The first lady having a huge microphone and a spotlight is really helpful," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says. "It's a big health crisis. We need to involve not only the kids but the families."
Ideas grew from a garden Obama, 46, is announcing the campaign a little more than a year after she and her daughters, Malia, 11, and Sasha, 8, moved into the White House on the day Barack Obama was sworn in as president. Obama said then that she would spend much of her first year in Washington making sure her kids adjusted to their new school and to life being shadowed by the Secret Service. But the seeds of the obesity campaign were planted months ago — in an organic White House garden she set up with the help of local elementary schoolchildren. And her passion for working on the problem grew. "The garden was an important first step — just sort of exploring the ideas around nutrition and children," Obama says. "I was curious to find out whether kids connected with this issue if we talked about it in terms of fun and gardening." And they did. "Kids from urban environments, from households (like) mine, who were raised on fried foods and good, tasty stuff, were fully engaged in the process of planting these vegetables and watching them grow and harvesting them and cleaning them and cooking them and eating them, and writing about how vegetables were their friends," she says. "So we thought we could be on to something here if we make this conversation a national conversation."
She is taking that conversation to schools around the country, mayors' organizations and the nation's governors. And her campaign has commitments from the nation's pediatricians, children's TV networks and websites such as Nickelodeon and sports teams such as the New York Yankees. Each will do whatever it can do best, she says, to spread the message that it matters what children eat and how much they move. Yankees centerfielder Curtis Granderson, who will be with Obama at today's announcement, says he wants to encourage kids to do what he did as a child: Put aside the video games and get outside and play. "We didn't realize the importance of it at the time," he says. "But we would be outside for hours at a time having fun."
Obama says her busy schedule in the next couple of years will reflect her commitment to the cause. Last week, she started by filming the campaign's first public service announcement, a direct message to parents. "I know from my own experience," Obama says. "I would move heaven and earth to give my kids all the chance in the world for them to be at the top of their game in every way, shape and form. Let's Move operates under the principle that every family wants the same thing for their kid. So we're going to figure out how to make it easier for them to get it."
That casual, down-to-earth approach as the mother of two girls has earned her higher approval ratings in the polls than her husband's since he took office. In an interview about the childhood obesity campaign, she wears gray slacks and a lavender sweater, the kind of everyday outfit that works for her whether she's hula-hooping with schoolchildren on the South Lawn or visiting federal agencies to thank employees for their hard work. The issues she's addressing are serious, but she says she will keep it conversational. "The tone, hopefully, that I approach this, is one that is inclusive, and not judgmental — and helpful."
Political observers say it's the right kind of campaign for a first lady who wants to make a difference but wants to be careful not to delve too far into policy the way Hillary Rodham Clinton did with health care when her husband held the presidency. "Childhood obesity is a no-downside issue," says Boston University journalism professor Elizabeth Mehren, who has written extensively about political spouses. "It's something that mothers can connect to, so it fits in with her 'first mom' agenda." At the same time, "it's a back-door connector to that very pressing issue for her husband: health care."
Others also applaud her choice, saying it goes beyond previous campaigns such as Nancy Reagan's anti-drug effort and Laura Bush's literacy push. "First ladies have taken on issues in the past, but this is different because childhood obesity is such a pressing public health concern," says Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group. "Interest in nutrition is at an all-time high, and there is a lot of concern about the health and financial effects of obesity. "All the stars are aligned for her to make an impact."
Boston pediatric endocrinologist David Ludwig, one of the researchers who showed obesity may shorten kids' lives, says: "We can't just decry childhood obesity while continuing to condone junk food advertising aimed at young children and underfunding school lunch and physical education programs. What the first lady can do is help give momentum to that effort in a way few other people can."
The campaign will begin the way many government efforts do: with the appointment of a federal task force that will give government agencies 90 days to figure out what they plan to do to help. Obama's office already has lined up commitments from mayors, business leaders, grocery store owners, school lunch suppliers, non-profit groups, retailers and foundations. Other elements of the plan, several of which will need approval in Congress because they require new funding or offer tax breaks, include:
•The American Academy of Pediatrics will encourage its 60,000 members to check the body mass index (BMI), a number that takes into account height and weight, of all children at every checkup, and to give every child a kid-friendly prescription with suggestions for healthy, active living at those visits, says Judith Palfrey, president of the academy. The group had been working on the idea, and the campaign "was the magic moment to roll it out with the blessing of the first lady," she says.
•$400 million in tax credits and other incentives to get grocery stores to move into "food desert communities" where people don't have access to major grocery stores and have to rely on corner markets, convenience stores and hybrid gas stations that may charge more and have fewer healthful choices. It will also get fresh foods into smaller stores.
•A new foundation made up of existing foundations and groups to monitor the campaign.
•$25 million for schools to renovate their kitchens to replace deep fryers with equipment needed to store more produce and serve more nutritious food.
•$10 billion over 10 years for the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act. Some of the money would be used to provide free and reduced-priced school meals for a million more children a year and to help schools serve more nutritious foods. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says he's encouraging schools to "focus on community gardens and school gardens, which can provide additional supplies."
Healthful eating at school is important: About 31 million kids eat lunch at school every day, and 11 million eat breakfast. Overall, kids consume about 30% to 50% of their calories in school. Reports from the Institute of Medicine, which advises Congress on health and science, recommend booting junk foods out of schools and making dramatic changes in school meals. Many companies are on board with improving school food, Obama says, by reducing the amount of salt, fat and sugar in school lunches and increasing the amount of whole grains and fresh produce. There are also changes to be made in the snacks provided to students. "There is no reason why we can't have water, healthy juice drinks in vending machines, granola bars, trail mix, whole-grain sandwiches," she says.
Just as important as better food, Obama says, is physical activity. The government recommends that children get 60 minutes or more of physical activity daily. Education Secretary Arne Duncan says improving food and physical activity at schools is "the right investment" of resources.
Despite her lofty goals, Obama says, she wants to reassure fellow parents that they don't have to make huge changes or break the bank to have an influence on their kids' weight and health. The Obama family has a chef now, of course, and the first lady no longer has to worry about whether she has time to cook healthful meals. But before she got to the White House, she says, she made a set of small changes to her girls' diets that made a difference. She started cooking once or twice a week more often than she had been. Instead of giving them juice boxes at meals and in their lunches, she gave them low-fat milk or water. And she eliminated after-dinner desserts on weekdays. "The kids didn't even notice," she says. "You take stuff out, they complain about it for, like, two seconds, and then it's like, 'OK, I'll drink the water.' "
She also says she doesn't want parents to beat themselves up if they slip up from time to time or get a little relaxed about the food they serve or the time their kids spend in front of a screen. "We don't have to be 100% perfect," she says. "My kids eat dessert. My kids watch TV. ... I love burgers and fries, and I don't want to live a life where I can never have them again. And if we told families and children that that was the answer, we'd never get there. "The beauty is we don't need to be 100% of the way there. If we get 20% of the way there, we will change the health status of our kids for a generation."
First Lady USA Today Interview
Bonnie - obviously, I am a big fan of the First Lady's initiative and I wish her the best in her endeavor. Like always, I will do my best to spread the word. My one worry, however, is that she will rely too much on pediatricians who are not well versed in promoting nutrition and have said as much. She should also include nutritionists and dietitians in the initiative. Research has also shown that pediatricians would like to discuss nutrition more during patient visits, however, they are not often reimbursed through insurance. This is something that must change.
Friday, February 05, 2010
Caffeine supports sports performance
Athletes can bolster their performance through the judicious use of caffeine, provided they use it responsibly and are mindful of possible side effects, according to the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN). The organization released a 43-page position statement in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition detailing the performance-enhancing effects of caffeine and certain common misconceptions. Seven major points:
- Caffeine is effective for enhancing sport performance in trained athletes when consumed in low-to-moderate dosages (~3-6 mg/kg). Higher dosages do not result in additional performance benefits.
- Caffeine exerts a greater ergogenic effect when consumed in an anhydrous state as compared to coffee.
- Caffeine has been shown to enhance vigilance during bouts of extended exhaustive exercise, as well as periods of sustained sleep deprivation.
- Caffeine is ergogenic for sustained maximal endurance exercise and has been shown to be highly effective for time-trial performance.
- Caffeine supplementation is beneficial for high-intensity exercise.
- The literature is equivocal on caffeine’s benefit in strength-power performance.
- The scientific literature does not support caffeine induced dieresis during exercise or any harmful change in fluid balance that would negatively affect performance.
Hidden danger of an aspirin a day
By Neena Abraham, M.D. (commentary appears in the NY Times)
If your physician has suggested you take aspirin to reduce your risk of heart disease, it is important to remember that even small doses of daily aspirin — including “baby aspirin,” at a dose of 81 milligrams daily — can increase your risk of ulcers and bleeding.
It is important to remember that all Nsaids, including over the counter aspirin, have the potential to damage the tissue of the gastrointestinal tract. Damage can occur anywhere, from mouth to anus. Over-the-counter doses of aspirin, or buffered or enteric coated aspirin preparations, do not eliminate the risk of developing an Nsaid-related ulcer. Your risk for bleeding is still two- to four-fold greater than if you were not taking the aspirin product at all. This risk increases in magnitude as the dose of the aspirin increases.
Some studies have suggested that one-third of aspirin-induced ulcers are related to over-the-counter aspirin use. The excess ulcer bleeding risk associated with aspirin use is estimated at 5 extra cases per 1,000 patients per year. However, it is important to remember that your risk of aspirin-induced ulcer will further increase if you have high-risk features such as: being older than 60, having a history of gastric or duodenal ulcer, having active Helicobacter pylori infection (the bacterium linked to ulcers), taking aspirin at the same time as you take full strength Nsaids (such as ibuprofen, Motrin and naproxen), anticoagulants (such as warfarin) or antiplatelet agents (such as clopidogrel or ticlopidine); or taking aspirin if you are a chronic steroid user.
Aspirin is not a nutritional supplement — it is a medication with real risks and side-effects, so it should not be taken without explicit cardiovascular risk assessment by your physician. If you and your doctor determine that the benefit of taking aspirin to prevent heart disease exceeds the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, ensure you are only taking the minimum dose of aspirin required for cardiovascular risk reduction (in the United States, that is a dose of 81 milligrams a day). If you have high-risk features for aspirin and Nsaid-induced ulcers, as discussed above, discuss with your physician the appropriateness of taking a stomach protecting medication, such as a proton-pump inhibitor. It may also be important to be tested and treated for H. pylori infection to minimize your risk of ulcer formation.
Bonnie - once again, not exactly news for my clientele. And this doc is sugar-coating the dangers in the piece.
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