Summer Safety: Nutritional Concepts Style

Our summer safety suggestions may stray a bit from the norm, but would you expect anything less? Combining these preventative measures along with the conventional makes it the best of both worlds for summer safety.

Vitamin D

• How much you need supplementally during the summer months is dependent on how much sun (or lack thereof) you get. Fifteen minutes of sun exposure without sunscreen five times weekly is the minimum. If you are unable to accomplish this, then stick with your current dosage. If you get the minimum sun exposure, cut your vitamin D dose in half until early fall. For those with clinically low vitamin D3 levels, it may be warranted to stay with your winter supplemental dose even with sun exposure. Refer to your health professional for individualized advice.

Hydration

• It is very easy to become dehydrated if outdoors for long periods of time (especially if playing sports or exerting yourself for an extended period of time). Make sure you carry water with you wherever you go. Reusable plastic bottle are acceptable if #2, #4, or #5 (look at the bottom of the bottle). Stainless steel is the preferred alternative. New Wave is a reputable brand that does not line the inside with aluminum or BPA.
  

Pool Safety

1. Do not swallow pool or lake water at all costs. Besides the high content of chlorine ((which is toxic), public swimming areas are loaded with water-borne pathogens. If you have children, reinforce the idea of keeping the mouth closed as much as possible when in the water. Pathogens are becoming more chlorine-resistant each season, and most public works departments have not installed the latest technology (for example, ultraviolet radiation machines) to adequately kill them off.
   
   
2. Shower before and after entering a pool or lake. If everybody could adhere to this rule, the risk of picking up a pathogen would be much less. Not to be disgusting, but showering removes any fecal remnants from the body and does not make it into the pool. Showering after helps remove anything lingering on your skin as well as removes chlorine residue, which is especially for asthmatics.
   
   
3. Do not enter a pool if you have an open sore or wound. If you do, pathogens and bacteria have an easy entry into your body and can infect the wound or fester elsewhere.
   
   
4. If you have or had diarrhea recently, do not enter a pool under any circumstances. This is the easiest way to transmit a pathogen to everyone else who joins you!
   

Grilling

• Do not char your food, especially animal products. The black, chalky stuff contains carcinogenic substances called heterocyclic amines (HCA). A competent grillmaster can properly cook food thoroughly without HCA's. Marinating your poultry, fish, and meat will greatly reduce any carcinogenic effect.
  

• Keep grilling utensils clean. Besides undercooked meat, the easiest way to pick up salmonella/food poisoning is using dirty utensils.
  

• For more on Food borne Illness, click here.
  

Sunscreen

Many sunscreens contain harsh chemicals that are thought to exhibit estrogenic effects. The two active, chemical-free ingredients we suggest to protect your skin are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Please refer to The Environmental Working Group's Database to find out where your brand stacks up.

Avoiding common mistakes that parents make when using sun block can help you avoid painful sunburns. These mistakes include:

1. Not using sun block. This is especially common early in the spring or summer, when you don't think it is sunny enough to get a burn.
   
   People sometimes forget to use sunscreen when it is late in the day, when they underestimate how long their kids will be outside, or when it is cloudy outside.
   
   
2. Not using enough sun block. The average person uses less than half the recommended amount of sun block. So apply a thick layer to each section of your child's body, to the point that it is actually hard to work it all in.
   
   
3. Missing areas of their child's body when they apply sun block. Many kids, especially younger ones, don't like to have sun block put on them. This can make applying sun block quite the battle, making it easy to miss a shoulder, thigh, or nose.
   
   
4. Not reapplying sun block every few hours, especially when your kids are in the water or sweating a lot. Even sun block that is waterproof should be reapplied often.
   
   
5. Waiting too long to put sun block on. Remember, to be effective, sun block should be applied about 30 minutes before your kids go outside. If you wait until your kids are already outside, they will be unprotected for about 30 minutes until the sun block is most effective, which is more than enough time to get a tan or sun burn.
   

Insects

Preventing mosquitoes is job one: Control starts at home.

• Avoid shaded areas where mosquitoes may be resting.
• If possible, schedule your activities to avoid the times when mosquitoes are most active – usually dawn and dusk.
• If you have a deck or patio, light it using General Electric yellow “Bug Lights”. These lights are not repellent, per se, but do not attract mosquitoes like other incandescent lights.
• Mosquitoes are relatively weak fliers, so placing a large fan on your deck or patio can provide an effective low-tech solution.
• Wear protective clothing such as long pants and long sleeve shirts when outdoors.
• Taking 100 mg. of vitamin B-1 orally has been shown in some cases to be a preventative.
  
• Use insect repellents properly. Besides DEET, which we do not suggest, Picaridin and Oil of Lemon-Eucalyptus are proven to be the most effective. We have heard accounts from clients that Skin-so-Soft by Avon is effective as well. Limit the use of chemical repellents as much as possible.
• Check your door and window screens for holes and tears that mosquitoes can use to enter your home.
  
• Eliminate all standing water on your property. Don't forget to remind your neighbors, too. Their mosquitoes may also be your mosquitoes.
• Don't use scented soaps, perfumes or hair sprays on your child..
• Avoid dressing your child in clothing with bright colors or flowery prints

Ticks, which can carry Lyme's Disease, have increasingly been a problem over the last decade:

• Check yourself before going back into the house (humans as well as pets) after being outdoors. Scrutinize your hair and scalp, in particular.
• If you discover a tick attached to your body, follow the proper procedure to remove it.

Energy Conservation

In a sense, helping to conserve energy will help our long-term safety by reducing the negative effects of climate change. Here are a few easy-to-implement suggestions:

• Keeps shades down during the hottest daylight hours. In turn, your house will stay cooler without excess use off the A/C.
  
• Turn the A/C off during peak hours of use (3PM-7PM). You'll save $ on your electric bill to boot!
• Do not water your lawn plants between 10AM-5PM. It is wasteful for water conservation. It is the worst time for your plants to receive water and it costs you the most.
• Invest in rain barrels. They usually come in 50 or 100 gallon tanks. Rain barrels catch rain water from your home's downspouts. You can use to water your bed areas, pots, or hook up a hose and water your trees. It can take a bite out of your water bill as well.
  

Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac

Rashes from poison ivy, oak, or sumac are all caused by urushiol, a substance in the sap of the plants. Poison plant rashes can't be spread from person to person, but it's possible to pick up a rash from urushiol that sticks to clothing, tools, balls, and pets.

• What you can do: Learning what poison ivy looks like and avoid it. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, while "leaves of three, beware of me," is the old saying, "leaflets of three, beware of me" is even better because each leaf has three smaller leaflets. Hikers who have a difficult time avoiding poison ivy may benefit from a product called Ivy Block. It's the only FDA-approved product for preventing or reducing the severity of rashes from poison ivy, oak, or sumac. The OTC lotion contains bentoquatam, a substance that forms a clay-like coating on the skin.
  
  If you come into contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac, wash the skin in cool water as soon as possible to prevent the spread of urushiol. If you get a rash, oatmeal baths and calamine lotion can dry up blisters and
  bring relief from itching. Treatment may include OTC or prescription corticosteroids and antihistamines.

Playgrounds

• If you are at a playground with a wood apparatus, check to see if the wood has a greenish tint to it. If it does, go to the next playground. Chances are the wood is treated with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA), an arsenic treatment compound.

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Chicago First Major City To Ban BPA

Chicago on Wednesday became the first U.S. city to adopt a ban on the sale of baby bottles and sippy cups containing the chemical BPA.

The Chicago City Council approved the ban on a 48-0 vote and a spokeswoman for Mayor Richard M. Daley said he intends to sign it. The ban is slated to take effect Jan. 31, 2010.

"This is an important step in a landmark consumer protection initiative. This legislation will protect Chicago's children and send a clear message to other jurisdictions considering similar legislation," said Alderman Manny Flores, co-sponsor of the measure.

BPA, or bisphenol A, is used to harden plastics in many consumer products including CDs, sports safety equipment and reusable bottles. It's also present in some food container linings.

Study adds to stevia Reb A safety

Rebaudiside A does not pose any safety questions regarding genotoxicity, according to a new study in Food and Chemical Toxicology: “These studies provide additional evidence that Reb A is not genotoxic at the doses tested and further support the generally recognized as safe determination of Reb A.” Researchers tested high purity (over 95 per cent) Reb A according to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and FDA Redbook guidelines for genotoxicity studies. The study supports findings from published in the same journal last year (Food and Chemical Toxicology, July 2008, Vol. 46, Supplement 1, Pages S1-S92), which found that rebiana - a high-purity Rebaudioside A from stevia - is safe for use as a sweetener for foods and beverages. According to tests using Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, mouse lymphoma and Chinese Hamster V79 cells the sweetener was non-mutagenic. Further studies using bone marrow from mice showed that Reb A was non-genotoxic at doses up 750 mg per kg of body weight. In a DNA synthesis test in rats the sweetener was found to be safe up to a dose of 2000 mg per kg of body weight.

Massachusetts sets "tough fast-food menu rules"

Massachusetts approved the toughest statewide restaurant menu labeling rules in the United States on Wednesday, requiring major chain restaurants to display the calorie content of the food they sell.

The regulations, designed to combat rising obesity, are more comprehensive than those in California, which in September became the first state with menu labeling rules for fast-food restaurant chains such as McDonald's Corp and Yum Brands' KFC, advocates of healthy foods say.

Approved by the Massachusetts Public Health Council, the rules will require restaurant chains with 20 or more in-state locations to post calorie counts next to each item on their menus or menu boards, including those at drive-throughs.

The requirements take effect November 1, 2010, and will apply to 50 restaurant chains with a combined 5,800 locations.

Steve - I wouldn't exactly say this is "tough." To begin with, most Americans have no idea how many calories they should be eating daily. The statute does not require them to post a % of daily calorie value. There are no listings for sodium, saturated fat, or sugar. I bet this legislation took forever to pass. Unfortunately, it really does not mean a whole lot.

Kids Take More Drugs for Diabetes, Attention Deficit

By Sarah Rubenstein
WSJ

Pharmacy-benefits manager Medco came out today with its annual report on drug spending by its clients. One item that caught our attention: Kids aged 19 and below were the ones who had the greatest increase in spending, at about 4.5%. In contrast, spending actually fell among seniors 65 and older, by just over 1%. Medco’s chief medical officer, Rob Epstein, pointed to increased use of drugs for diabetes and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among youngsters as drivers of the increase among that group. Medco noticed the trend with diabetes drugs a while back, as did rival Express Scripts. The trend is often linked to obesity among kids. ADHD drugs, meantime, have been a mainstay for a while.

Chemical cocktail threat to male fertility

Chemicals found in many food, cosmetic and cleaning products pose a real threat to male fertility, a leading scientist has warned.

Professor Richard Sharpe, of the Medical Research Council, warned these hormone-disrupting chemicals were "feminizing" boys in the womb.

He linked them to raising rates of birth defects and testicular cancer and falling sperm counts.

Chemicals in consumer products and food that have been reported to disrupt the sex hormones include:

Phthalates: Found in vinyl flooring, plastics, soaps, toothpaste

Bisphenol : Found in babies' bottles, food can linings. mobile phones, computers

Pesticides: Including pyrethroids, linuron, vinclozolin and fenitrothion

Professor Sharpe's report was commissioned by the CHEM Trust, a charity which works to protect humans and wildlife from harmful chemicals.

There is evidence that male reproductive health is deteriorating, with malformations of the penis becoming more common, rates of testicular cancer rising, and sperm counts falling.

Professor Sharpe said: "Because it is the summation of effect of hormone disrupting chemicals that is critical, and the number of such chemicals that humans are exposed to is considerable, this provides the strongest possible incentive to minimise human exposure to all relevant hormone disruptors, especially women planning pregnancy, as it is obvious that the higher the exposure the greater the risk."

New EU chemicals legislation, called REACH (Registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals) puts the onus on the chemical industry to prove that its products are safe.

Courtesy of BBC News

Bonnie - there over literally tens of thousands of chemicals in our environment that have never been examined from a safety perspective and thousands more that enter the marketplace with little oversight. Ugh.

Iron Deficiency In Womb May Delay Brain Maturation In Preemies

Iron plays a large role in brain development in the womb, and new research shows an iron deficiency may delay the development of auditory nervous system in preemies. This delay could affect babies ability to process sound which is critical for later language development in early childhood.

The study evaluated 80 infants over 18 months, testing their cord blood for iron levels and using a non-invasive tool -- auditory brainstem-evoked response (ABR) -- to measure the maturity of the brain's auditory nervous system soon after birth. The study presented at the Pediatric Academic Society Annual Meeting found that the brains of infants with low iron levels in their cord blood had abnormal maturation of auditory system compared to infants with normal cord iron levels.

Bonnie - as I have said for a long time, iron is critical during prenatal, pregnancy, and early childhood stages of development. One way to ensure that a deficiency does not occur? A prenatal vitamin and early childhood supplementation.

Women worry more about looks than health

There's a big disconnect between body image and true physical condition, a new Associated Press-iVillage poll suggests. A lot of women say they're dieting despite somehow avoiding healthy fruits and veggies. Many others think they're fat when they're not.

"The priorities are flipped," says Dr. Molly Poag, chief of psychiatry at New York's Lennox Hill Hospital.

About 60 percent of Americans are overweight or obese. The AP-iVillage poll of 1,000 adult women mirrors the government's count on that. More surprising, perhaps, are women's attitudes and actions.

Half don't like their weight, even 26 percent of those whose body mass index or BMI -- a measure of weight for height -- is in the normal range. But just a third don't like their physical condition, even though being overweight and sedentary are big risk factors for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other ailments.

The poll found women putting in a median of 80 minutes of exercise a week -- meaning half do even less. The average adult is supposed to get 2½ hours of exercise a week for good health.

And just 8 percent of women ate the minimum recommended servings of fruits and vegetables -- five a day. A staggering 28 percent admit they get that recommended serving once a week or less.

About a quarter of the women surveyed said they'd consider plastic surgery to feel more beautiful. Their overwhelming choice: a tummy tuck.

At the other end of the spectrum, the poll found 16 percent of normal-weight women who nonetheless are dieting to drop pounds. Eating disorders aside, normal-skinny doesn't automatically mean healthy, stresses University of Houston sociologist Samantha Kwan.

Courtesy of Associated Press

Bonnie - what a sad state of affairs. Results from a poll such as this is a direct result of how our society puts such an emphasis on appearance and beauty. Until these perceptions change, we will continue to fight an uphill battle to make this country healthier. The fruit and veggie stat was absolutely dumbfounding.

Meditation May Increase Gray Matter

In a study published in the journal NeuroImage, UCLA researchers used MRI brain scans to report that certain regions in the brains of long-term meditators were larger than in a similar control group.

Specifically, meditators showed significantly larger volumes of the hippocampus and areas within the orbito-frontal cortex, the thalamus and the inferior temporal gyrus — all regions known for regulating emotions.

"We know that people who consistently meditate have a singular ability to cultivate positive emotions, retain emotional stability and engage in mindful behavior," said Eileen Luders, lead author and a postdoctoral research fellow at the UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging. "The observed differences in brain anatomy might give us a clue why meditators have these exceptional abilities."

Research has confirmed the beneficial aspects of meditation. In addition to having better focus and control over their emotions, many people who meditate regularly have reduced levels of stress and bolstered immune systems. But less is known about the link between meditation and brain structure.

Steve - meditation...what a simple concept. It only takes about twenty minutes once or twice daily and provides so many benefits.

Sorghum a growing gluten alternative

According to Dr. Jeff Dahlberg, research director for National Grain Sorghum Producers in Lubbock, food-grade sorghum is becoming an increasingly popular gluten-free alternative.

That's good news for people with Celiac disease. Dahlberg said there are several different types of sorghum, and the one that works best for flour is white sorghum. It has little or no taste, so it doesn't mask the flavor of other ingredients.

The researcher explained, however, that sorghum flour faces a couple of challenges. The first is that like many other alternative flours, it is available primarily through the Internet. Second, because sorghum flour does not contain gluten, it is necessary to incorporate some type of binder, such as xanthan gum or cornstarch, in the flour mix (suggests adding 1/2 teaspoon of xanthan gum per cup of sorghum flour for cookies and cakes or one teaspoon per cup of flour for breads.)

Steve - we wish more products were made with sorghum flour, especially for the corn-sensitive, so they can eat something besides quinoa.

Look before you flush

It may not be a topic you are used to discussing around the dinner table or at social gatherings, but it should be one to take seriously.

Let's talk about stool. In my profession, it is a topic that comes up several times daily. Here is a brief synopsis of why it is essential to monitor your digestive health by taking the "look before you flush" approach. You will be surprised at what you will learn.

Stool is the end product of digestion. After all the "good stuff" has been broken down and absorbed to be used by the body, stool is the waste that's left over. Mostly, stool comprises of fiber, microbes, and water. Slight changes in consistency, color, size, and shape are all signs as to what is happening on the inside.

Because proper digestion is an essential part to good health, it makes sense to monitor changes in stool on a daily basis.

One of the most important characteristic to note about your bowel movements is the frequency. Constipation can lead to major health problems and should be addressed immediately. Think of the bowel as a holding tank for waste that needs to be emptied at least daily. Otherwise, toxins that your body has worked so hard to eliminate can be reabsorbed into the blood stream. Even if you are having regular (i.e. daily) bowel movements, if the stool is hard to pass or looks like pellets, you still may be constipated.

The opposite to constipation, diarrhea, can also create problems, especially if it lasts longer than a couple days. Diarrhea indicates that something is irritating the bowel, causing forced elimination. Following a bland diet and avoiding food intolerances as well as known bowel irritators (caffeine is a big one) may eliminate the problem. However, dehydration and poor absorption are major concerns with chronic constipation and anyone who has had diarrhea for any length of time should consult a professional.

It is not normal to see undigested food in the stool, although some foods high in insoluble fiber, such as whole corn kernels, often will show up in the stool.

If undigested food particles are common, you may not be chewing your food properly or it may be a sign that you may be lacking digestive enzymes.

Mucus is a sign of inflammation in the bowel and is common with conditions such as irritable bowel and food intolerances.

Stool color will depend on diet, however other factors also come into play in determining stool hue.

Bright red is a sign of blood from the lower end of the digestive tract, such as hemorrhoids. Red blood can also be the result of constipation, which can cause tearing and fissures in the anus.

Pale stools may indicate insufficient bile. Bile is made in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and released to help emulsify fats. Poor fat digestion may also result in stools that look greasy. Conditions such as gallstones may lead to poor bile flow.

When is comes to texture, a healthy stool should be toothpaste like; soft, but in one piece. Stool that easily breaks apart in the toilet bowl may indicate food sensitivity and/or inflammation.

It is normal for stool to have some odor, but if it is a recent change or if you are having a hard time standing the smell, you may want to access the problem. Usually, an increase in odor indicates dysbiosis, or altered gut flora. We need some good bacteria in order to balance the digestive system. If this balance is thrown off (antibiotics and a diet high in refined foods are big culprits), the "ugly" bugs can overwhelm the good guys, creating an odorous gas as their by-product. Supplementing with probiotics will go a long way at re-balancing the system.

Another possibility is that the food is not properly being broken down. This allows larger molecules to remain in the gut while bacteria do the work.

A normal, healthy bowel movement is one that is easily passed without straining or pain, with a medium brown color and minimal gas and odor. The stool should be consistent in size and shape.

May is Better Sleep Month

May is Better Sleep Month, and the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) and Better Sleep Council (BSC) are promoting healthy steps consumers can take to improve their sleep. Particularly in today’s stressful economy, committing to a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, healthy exercise and appropriate supplements can combat stress and enhance sleep quality.“Herbals and other dietary supplements can be safe and effective ways to help individuals achieve quality sleep,” said Douglas MacKay, N.D., vice president, scientific and regulatory affairs, CRN. Among MacKay’s top choices for supplements to help reduce stress or promote healthy sleep—melatonin, magnesium, calcium, valerian and 5-HTP.

Steve - Our Improve Your Mood Action Plan outlines an extensive, non-pharmacological sleep protocol.

Vitamins Found to Curb Exercise Benefits

If you exercise to improve your metabolism and prevent diabetes, you may want to avoid antioxidants like vitamins C and E.

Researchers found that in the group taking the vitamins there was no improvement in insulin sensitivity and almost no activation of the body’s natural defense mechanism against oxidative damage.

The reason, they suggest, is that the reactive oxygen compounds, inevitable byproducts of exercise, are a natural trigger for both of these responses. The vitamins, by efficiently destroying the reactive oxygen, short-circuit the body’s natural response to exercise.

“If you exercise to promote health, you shouldn’t take large amounts of antioxidants,” researchers said. A second message of the study, he said, “is that antioxidants in general cause certain effects that inhibit otherwise positive effects of exercise, dieting and other interventions.” The findings appear in this week’s issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The advice does not apply to fruits and vegetables, according to researchers. Even though they are high in antioxidants, the many other substances they contain presumably outweigh any negative effect.

Steve - it is ridiculous that this study was structured the way it was and even more ridiculous that the media would pay so much attention to it, given how tiny the subject size was (39 men).

I would never put an “untrained” person, no matter what their BMI or age, into a program that requires 85 minutes of exercise 5 days per week for 4-weeks, as required in this study. The body needs to accommodate an increase in physical activity to build up its endogenous antioxidant defenses to the anticipated increase in ROS. There are far more nutrients and phytochemicals found in the diet and available supplements and antioxidant-rich foods and juices that would be needed to anticipate the degree of oxidative stress an individual would experience with such an exercise program (as opposed to the 1000 mg vitamin C and 400Iu vitamin E they received).

Athletic clubs that sell memberships have long realized that individuals who sign up and begin at an intense level of exercise can feel defeated due to the side effects they experience in the first month and for this reason often stop their exercise program and revert to a more sedentary lifestyle.

Skeletal muscle biopsies were obtained from the right vastus lateralis muscle of study subjects. But some of the data is missing for a number of subjects, and reported as such by the authors.

The authors noted that biopsies for the ‘early’ time-point were only obtained from five people in the vitamin group, and four in the placebo group. Yet the authors conclude a “strong induction of PGCl-alpha, PGCl-beta, and PPAR-gamma expression in skeletal muscle following 4 weeks of exercise training in previously untrained, antioxidant naïve individuals” and “markedly reduced exercise-related induction” in those taking antioxidants, based on these limited number of biopsies.

In addition, the authors flippantly say antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables are not an issue. How do they know this without doing the research?

Vitamin A reduces aggressive prostate cancer

High levels of vitamin A (retinol) reduces the risk of aggressive prostate cancer, however eating a diet high in vitamin A may not be enough to reduce the odds of a man getting the disease, according to a study in the April issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention.

The study examined the serum concentrations of retinol in 692 prostate cancer patients and 844 patients without prostate cancer. Men with the highest concentrations of vitamin A had a slightly lower risk of prostate cancer overall, but had a 42 percent reduction in aggressive prostate cancer risk.

Acupuncture, real or fake, helps aching back

Acupuncture brought more relief to people with back pain than standard treatments, whether it was done with a toothpick or a real needle, U.S. researchers said on Monday in a study that raises new questions about how acupuncture works.

For many patients, that benefit lasted for a year, the team reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

"Our study shows that you don't need to stick needles into people to get the same effect," said Dr. Daniel Cherkin of Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle, who led the study.

"Historically, some types of acupuncture have used non-penetrating needles. Such treatments may involve physiological effects that make a clinical difference," Karen Sherman of Group Health, who worked on the study, said in a statement.

The team, wanted to study the effects of different types of acupuncture in a large, carefully controlled study of 638 patients with chronic low back pain.

They divided patients into several groups. One got seven weeks of standardized acupuncture treatment known to be effective in back pain. Another group got an individually prescribed acupuncture treatment.

A third group was treated using a toothpick in a needle guide tube that did not pierce the skin as regular acupuncture does, but targeting the correct acupuncture "points".

A fourth group just got standard medical treatment, which included medication and physical therapy.

After eight weeks, 60 percent of the patients who got any type of acupuncture reported significant improvement in their ability to function compared with those who got standard medical care alone.

But there was no significant difference in the pain relief people got from the acupuncture using needles or from toothpicks.

The researchers said there is some evidence that even needles were used 2,000 years ago in acupuncture treatment, and some imaging studies have shown that "superficial and deep needling of an acupuncture point elicited similar blood oxygen level-dependent responses," the team wrote.

Another study even found that lightly touching the skin can induce some emotional and hormonal reactions, which could explain the benefit, they wrote.

Or, it may simply be the experience of visiting an acupuncturist for treatments that helps.

Regardless of how it worked, they said acupuncture appears to be a relatively safe and painless way of easing an aching back, especially when traditional medicine alone fails.

Steve - certain health professionals perform acupressure, which is the non-invasive form of acupuncture. It should not come as a surprise to the researchers that there were benefits seen with this therapy.

Many restaurant meals heavy on salt

Researchers at the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington examined 17 restaurant chains and found 85 out of 102 meals had more than one day's worth of sodium, and some had more than four days' worth, including:

-- Red Lobster Admirals' Feast with Caesar Salad, creamy lobster topped mashed potato, cheddar bay biscuit and lemonade: 7,106 mg of sodium.

-- Chili's Buffalo Chicken Fajitas and Dr. Pepper: 6,916 mg sodium.

-- Olive Garden Tour of Italy lasagna with a bread stick, salad with house dressing and coca-cola: 6,176 mg sodium.

The federal government advises people with high blood pressure, African-Americans and those middle-age and older, should consume no more than 1,500 mg of sodium daily, others should consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day and children ages 4-8 should consume no more than 1,200 mg of sodium per day.

"Many elderly eat frequently at these restaurants because of convenience and cost," Dr. Mel Daly of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine said in a statement.

"But the high sodium levels in many of these meals can lead to a spike in blood pressure and even precipitate heart failure in some individuals."

Bonnie - it should come as no surprise to anyone that restaurants load up their food with sodium, saturated fats, preservatives, and sugar. They can get away with it because they are not required to list the ingredients or nutritional content of their menu items. While many restaurants, the large chains in particular, now voluntarily list their ingredients, albeit with exclusions (for instance, PF Changs does not list the amount of sodium in their menu items; their food was found to have a huge amount of sodium), finding the information is difficult to access (usually website only).

Why should restaurants be treated any differently than your average grocery item? They shouldn't. However, the restaurant lobby is too powerful and have fought tooth and nail to block any legislation for menu transparency. If the consumer only knew what were in menu items they deem healthy!

Mediterranean Recipe Contest

A representative from the nonprofit organization Oldways, creators of the Mediterranean Food Pyramid, alerted us to the fact that May is Mediterranean month and they have a number of activities for consumers including a Mediterranean Recipe Contest.

Proper nutrition essential for bone health

Musculoskeletal conditions, such as arthritis and joint pain, are the number one reason for physician visits and account for at least 50 percent of all chronic conditions in people over the age of 50 in the United States. With more than one in four Americans having a musculoskeletal condition requiring medical attention and the costs of these conditions toppling $849 billion annually, it’s now more important than ever to understand and take proactive steps to keep bones healthy and strong.

In a recent scholarly review published in Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach, they concluded that adequate nutrition is essential for overall skeletal health of people of all ages and all activity levels. Dr. Ronald Zernicke, Director of the University of Michigan Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center, and his colleagues synthesized research conducted in the last 50 years on the role of diet on skeletal tissue and overall bone health. They specifically looked at the effects of dietary proteins, fats, and carbohydrates on bone health. What they found not only supports current facts about bone health and prevention of bone loss, but also validates nutritional strategies to help preserve bone structure and strength.

Protein and Bone Health
According to Dr. Zernicke’s team, research suggests that adequate protein is essential for developing and maintaining healthy skeletal tissue.

Simple Carbohydrates and Bone Health
Diets high in refined sugar have been studied extensively and shown to affect bone growth and mechanical strength. Surprisingly, something as simple as drinking carbonated beverages, such as soft drinks and even sports drinks, is associated with significant decreases in bone mineral density – both in males and females. Drinking soft drinks can also lead to weight gain, a decrease in lean muscle mass, and can contribute to the loss of calcium and iron which are crucial to health and athletic performance, according to Zernicke.

Fats and Carbohydrates Beneficial to Bone Health
Not all fats and carbohydrates are bad for you. Current research suggests that omega-3 fatty acids and complex carbohydrates, such as fruits and vegetables, may actually improve bone mass density and increase calcium absorption. Fruits and vegetables contain nondigestible carbohydrates, like inulin-type fructans, that cannot be digested by the small intestine. Hence, as they move toward the large intestine and begin to be processed, they produce organic acids that enhance the disbursement of calcium throughout the body.

Benefits of Calcium and Vitamin D
We have always been told that calcium and vitamin D are keys to good bone health, but these nutrients are proving to be just as important for muscle contraction, heartbeat regulation, nerve impulse transmission, regulation of blood pressure, and immune system function.

Based on their comprehensive review of the scientific literature, Zernicke and his team recommend the following dietary steps to achieve healthy bones:

• Avoid foods and beverages with poor nutrient density (such as sugars, carbonated beverages, or food high in sodium or saturated fat).

• Incorporate high energy density foods (such as polyunsaturated fatty acids – foods containing omega-3 like salmon and walnuts – fruits and vegetables high in potassium and fiber and high-quality animal or plant based protein) into your diet to ensure vitamin and mineral adequacy.

• If there are dietary deficiencies, supplements can be used to enhance skeletal health.

• Protein is extremely important for proper bone growth, especially in young athletes and physically active, growing children.

The review from the U-M Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center has shown that it’s not only the quantity or the cost of bone health issues today that is cause for concern, it’s the larger role that the skeletal system plays to protect vital organs against damage. Zernicke summarized the group’s findings by saying, “Adequate nutrition is critical to the development and maintenance of a healthy skeleton. It’s important for everyone, young and old, people who participate in sport and recreational activities, and everyone in between to make dietary choices that provide the foundation for overall bone health and physical performance.”

Bonnie - while they left out magnesium and a few other key points, I think this is pretty good coming from your standard, allopathic research facility. It hows that the medical community is starting to get it.

Controversial piece on Folic Acid in LA Times

Credited with lowering the rates of some birth defects, the vitamin also has been linked to a higher likelihood of some cancers. By Emily Sohn, LA Times

May 11, 2009

Excerpts:

Folic acid is one of those great public health success stories. In the decade that followed the fortification of cereal grains and other foods, along with educational campaigns, the rate of certain birth defects dropped dramatically.

There is now an urgent need, experts say, to figure out how much folate is enough but not too much for different segments of the population.

"Too little folic acid we know is not good, and too much folic acid is probably not good," said Connie Motter, a genetic counselor at Akron Children's Hospital in Ohio and co-chair of the National Council for Folic Acid, a coalition of advocacy groups. "The answer is not going to be easy."

The United States began requiring the fortification of flour, and several other cereal grains in 1998, after clinical trials linked folic acid deficiency with spina bifida and anencephaly, two potentially devastating birth defects. Since then, the rate of both defects has declined by 20% to 50%.

No one disputes the need for women to have adequate amounts of folic acid in their bodies at the time of conception. The first few weeks of pregnancy, in particular, are a critical period for a baby's brain and spine development. And because more than half of pregnancies are unplanned, doctors recommend that all women of childbearing age take a daily supplement of up to 800 micrograms of folic acid.

But for other people, the evidence for folate's benefits is mixed.

On the plus side, getting enough folate protects against anemia. It may promote heart health, though that link is controversial. And it keeps hair, skin and nails healthy.

On the downside, scientists know that excess folic acid can cover up a shortage of the vitamin B12. B12 deficiency is a common condition in older patients that can cause dementia if not addressed.

The story grows even more complex in the case of cancer.

"For the last 20 years, I've been publishing papers and doing research that demonstrates that if you don't get enough folate, you have a higher risk for several types of cancer," said Joel B. Mason, professor of nutrition science and policy at Tufts University in Boston. "More recently, what has emerged is that it's not as simple of a relationship as we thought."

In some ways, folic acid appears protective. The vitamin plays an essential role in the formation and repair of DNA and can help prevent development of certain cancers, particularly in the colon, where cells replicate especially fast.

Studies show that people who get plenty of folic acid reduce their risk of developing colorectal cancer and precancerous polyps by 40% to 60%. But folic acid doesn't just help healthy cells grow. It also helps cancerous cells grow.

"We're presented with this horrible dilemma that on the one hand, taking ample quantities of folate in the diet is helpful. On the other hand, it might be accelerating the risk of developing certain cancers in certain people."

And so governments face a tricky problem: how to make sure that the people who need folic acid are getting enough without putting another segment of the population at risk. More than a dozen countries currently have mandatory folic-acid fortification. Many others are considering it, including the European Union.

Several years ago, the March of Dimes was pushing for higher levels of fortification, but the organization is now supporting current levels.

"Do we know whether the risk to an adult male is the same as the risk to a woman in her childbearing years?" she said. "The answer is no. . . . There is always a risk and balance with anything you do."

Steve - interestingly enough, these two studies came out the day after this piece was published:

Folic acid food rules cut birth defects

Fortifying flour and pasta products with folic acid appears to cut the number of babies born with congenital heart disease, the most common of all birth defects. While food fortification is not mandatory in Europe, a 1998 Canadian requirement has led to a 6 percent drop each year in the number of such defects in Quebec, they reported in the British Medical Journal.

Currently 67 countries fortify wheat flour, 47 of them by mandate, Helena Gardiner of Imperial College in London and Jean-Claude Fouron of CHU Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center in Montreal noted in an editorial.

Even with fortification, many women do not get enough folic acid. In their study, Pilote and colleagues identified all infants born in Quebec with severe congenital heart defects between 1990 and 2005.

Their analysis showed no change in how many babies were born with severe heart defects in the nine years before fortification. But there was a 6 percent decrease annually for each of the seven years after fortification began.

A pre-pregnancy year of folic acid sharply lowers risk of very premature birth

Taking folic acid supplements for a year before conception reduces the risk of very premature birth by at least 50%, researchers reported Monday.

Shorter courses of the supplement were not as effective, according to the study of nearly 35,000 women reported in the Public Library of Science journal PLoS Medicine.

Folic acid's effectiveness in reducing the risk of neural-tube and other birth defects -- even without such a long course -- is long established. The discovery that it can also reduce the risk of preterm birth "is very significant," said Dr. Diane Ashton, deputy medical director of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation, who was not involved in the study.

The finding reinforces the recommendation that "all women of child-bearing age should take multivitamin supplements," she said.

Only 35% to 40% of such women do take supplements, according to surveys conducted by the March of Dimes and other groups.

The researchers found that for women who had been taking folate for at least a year before conception, the risk of birth between 28 and 32 weeks was reduced by 50%.

The risk of birth between 20 and 28 weeks was reduced by 70%.

The latter reduction is particularly significant, Ashton said, because researchers had previously found no way to reduce the proportion of preterm babies born so early.

Other recent research in the last two months:

Folic Acid Before Conception Boost Birth Weight

Folic Acid Improves Migraine Relief

Folic Acid May Suppress Allergies

So where are we with folic acid you ask?

1. It is crucial that fortification of the food supply continues.
2. As we have exhaustively explored as the research has periodically come out with regard to the colorectal cancer, the data is highly malleable depending on interpretation. Hence, the jury is still out.
3. As with any nutrient, dosage is based upon individual need. This is definitely the case with folate.
4. One component of folate research that is copious, but rarely mentioned by public health officials and the media concerns genetic predisposition. Roughly 25% of the human population has the inability to break down folic acid into its absorbable folate form. This must be taken into account when doing any research associated with folic acid and cancer.
   

Probiotics may help women regain their figures after pregnancy

Probiotic supplements during the first trimester of pregnancy may help women lose weight after the infant’s birth, say new findings presented today at the European Congress on Obesity. Finnish researchers report that supplements containing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were associated with less central obesity. “The results of our study, the first to demonstrate the impact of probiotics-supplemented dietary counseling on adiposity, were encouraging,” said researcher Kirsi Laitinen from the University of Turku in Finland. “The women who got the probiotics fared best. One year after childbirth, they had the lowest levels of central obesity as well as the lowest body fat percentage.”

At the end of the study, central obesity was recorded in 18 per cent fewer women in the probiotic group than in women who received placebo plus dietary counseling, and 15 per cent fewer women in the control group. Average body fat percentage was 28 per cent in the probiotic group, compared to 29 and 30 per cent in the diet advice only group and the control group, respectively.

Steve - the bifidus used in this study was the same used in Metagenics Ultra Flora Plus.

Vit. E May Slow Cognitive Decline

Vitamin E, along with drugs that reduce inflammation, may slow the decline of mental and physical abilities in Alzheimer’s patients, according to an analysis sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. The report reviewed 540 patients treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital Memory Disorders Unit for Alzheimer’s disease. All patients studied received standard treatment, while 208 patients took vitamin E with no anti-inflammatory drug, 49 took the anti-inflammatory with no vitamin E, 177 took both the anti-inflammatory and vitamin E, and 106 took neither.After an average of three years, a modest slowing of decline was shown in patients that took only vitamin E and in those patients that took only the anti-inflammatory medication. However, there appeared to be an additive effect in terms of slowing overall decline in the patients that took both the vitamin E and the anti-inflammatory.The findings will be reported at the annual meeting of the American Geriatrics Society in Chicago.

Epigenetic Highlight - May

Steve - this blogger did a good job encompassing where we are at in genetic science and how important epigenetics is to the equation.

Correlative to Causation: Genetics versus Epigenetics/Metabolomics
By Mark Schauss
May 3, 2009

People ask me why I am not all that excited about genetic testing. I think the following explanation from Dr. H. Frederik Nijhout, Department of Biology, Duke University puts it my thoughts together perfectly. He talks about genes and what they really do and how our behavior and environment are as important, if not more so than the existence of a specific gene.“Think about using a key to open, then turn on a car. The key doesn’t actually control the car but it can be thought to be correlative to the control. The key must be turned and used to turn on the car. It is a stimulus from the outside influences - a human - that makes it work, the true controller and causation of the car turning on and moving. the gene is just a key that needs outside stimulus (environment) to turn on.”He further goes on to say - “When a gene product is needed, a signal from its environment, not an emergent property of the gene itself, activates expression of that gene.”This is why I feel that just because we know what the gene is, doesn’t mean it will express itself unless the outside environment triggers is and causes it to move. This is why I think it is far more important to fight environmental damage which turns on some of the “bad” genes causing cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other debilitating diseases. It’s not just about global warming, it’s about our species existence. The planet will survive, it’s us that may not the way we’re going.

Use of sleep medication on the rise

According to Information Resources, Inc. (IRI), nighttime pain-relief products generated more than $156 million spent at food markets, drugstores, and mass outlets (excluding Wal-Mart) during the 52 weeks ending January 25, 2009.

This represents 6 percent of the overall internal analgesics category and a 1.5 percent increase over the same period last year. In addition, in terms of units sold, three nighttime pain relievers currently rank among the top 50 internal analgesics. Who uses nighttime pain relievers and why?

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 70 million people suffer from a chronic sleep disorder or intermittent sleep problem. Intermittent sleep problems can be caused by many factors, one of which is pain. Headaches, backaches, muscle aches, minor arthritis pain, and menstrual cramps are common types of pain keeping people awake at night.

A new poll released by the National Sleep Foundation shows that only 32 percent of Americans who admit to having sleep problems report them to their physicians. Those who choose to deal with their problems themselves have the option of using OTC sleep aids.

Individuals experiencing both pain and sleeplessness may choose a nighttime pain-relief medication. Regular OTC sleep aids typically contain diphenhydramine hydrochloric acid, an antihistamine with sedating properties. Most major brands of nighttime pain relievers, however, also contain an analgesic such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, or aspirin. Instead of taking two pills, consumers just need one.

Bonnie - keep in mind these stats do not include the increase in prescription sleep medication, which is also predictably on the rise. I implore anyone who has trouble sleeping to at least look at natural alternatives first before turning to meds, which often come with debilitating side-effects. Our Sleep Well Action Plan is an economical self-help guide.

Babies to get new growth charts

New child growth charts are being introduced to combat obesity and boost breastfeeding rates. The United Kingdom still uses charts from 1990 which are based on growth rates for formula-fed babies which grow quicker. The charts, which are being introduced in England with the other nations expected to follow soon, will mean more children are classed as overweight. But the government hopes it will help to reassure mothers who breastfeed that their babies are not under weight.

Dr Sheila Shribman, the government's maternity tsar, said: "Breastfeeding is the best form of nutrition for infants. "The new charts will not only provide more accurate measurements for infant growth of breastfed babies, but will also help healthcare professionals and parents to identify early signs of overweight or obesity and provide support." And Professor Charlotte Wright, of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, which helped design the charts, added: "In retrospect, I think health staff realize we have probably been worrying some mothers unnecessarily about their baby's weight."

The charts are based on ones developed by the World Health Organization after a 15-year study of 8,500 children from across six countries established firm and in-depth data about the growth of healthy children for the first time.

Courtesy of the BBC

Bonnie - these guidelines are long overdue. Let's see if the U.S., one of the most overweight nations in the world, will adhere to the WHO directive. There charts are still based upon the year 2000 standards.

Research Highlights - May

American Journal Clinical Nutrition

• In healthy postmenopausal women, a moderate increase in dietary animal protein (10-20%), improved calcium absorption from a low calcium diet, compensating for a slight increase in urinary calcium excretion. Contrary to past research, increased protein consumption is not detrimental to bone health.

• To ensure that the vitamin D requirement is met by the vast majority of adults aged 64 and over during winter, 316IU to 1712IU is required depending on summer sunshine exposure and 25(OH)D levels.

• There is a positive association between heterocyclic aromatic amines (the black stuff on charred meat) and colorectal adenoma risk. In April, there was also a study linking HCA's with pancreatic cancer.

• DHEA supplementation in older women improved spine bone mineral density when administered with calcium and vitamin D.

• A 64,234 subject study showed mortality from circulatory diseases and all causes is not significantly different between vegetarians and meat eaters.

• Eliminating all animal products from the diet increases the risk of certain nutritional deficiencies, including vitamin B-12, D, calcium, iron, zinc, and omega-3 fatty acids.
  

Journal of Nutrition

• Seaweed favorably alters estrogen and phytoestrogen metabolism and these changes likely include modulation of colonic bacteria.

• Higher total carotenoid intakes, mainly those of beta-carotene and lycopene, were associated with a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome and with lower measures of adiposity and serum triglyceride concentrations in middle-aged and elderly men.
  

Journal of the American Dietetic Association

• Results indicate that calcium bioavailability in the two calcium-fortified ice cream formulations used in this study is as high as milk, indicating that ice cream may be a good vehicle for delivery of calcium. Bonnie - mind you, this is coming from the largest organization of Registered Dietitians! Astounding that this study was ever performed.

• It is important to identify the role of nutrition in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. The goal of this study was to compare the equivalency of nutrient intakes assessed by diet records and the Arizona Food Frequency Questionnaire and the associations of these nutrients with bone mineral density (BMD). Significant correlations between dietary assessment methods were found with all dietary intake variables. Iron and magnesium were consistently and significantly positively associated with BMD at all bone sites regardless of the dietary assessment method. Zinc, dietary calcium, phosphorous, potassium, total calcium, and fiber intakes were positively associated with BMD at three or more of the same bone sites regardless of the dietary assessment method. Diet records and the Arizona Food Frequency Questionnaire are acceptable dietary tools used to determine the associations of particular nutrients and BMD sites in healthy postmenopausal women

American Journal Preventive Medicine

• Overall, 77.6% of men and 78.4% of women (196,373 subjects total) from the 52 mainly low- and middle-income countries consumed less than the minimum recommended five daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Baseline global information on low fruit and vegetable consumption obtained in this study can help policymakers worldwide establish interventions for addressing the global chronic disease epidemic.

New artificial sweetener on the market

Nevella Brand no calorie sweetener, is being marketed as helpful to populating healthy flora. Please do not be swayed by this ploy. The product does contain inulin, but in the form of corn-based maltodextrin. The two other ingredients are dextrose (corn-based sugar) and sucralose (Splenda) do not help populate heallthy flora. If you see this product in stores, we do not recommend consuming it.

B6 may slash colorectal cancer risk

Increased intake of vitamin B6 from dietary and supplements may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by over 50 per cent, suggests a new study. Almost 15,000 people took part in the study, which reported that increased blood levels of the vitamin’s active form, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), were significantly associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer, according to findings published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention. The study follows similar findings from Scotland-based researchers published in the same journal last year. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital (Edinburgh) and the University of Aberdeen, reported that increased intakes of vitamin B6 from dietary and supplements may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by over 20 per cent (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev., Vol. 17, pp. 171-182).

Jung Eun Lee from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, collaborated with scientists from Harvard School of Public Health, Jean Mayer U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, and GlaxoSmithKline R&D on the study. The researchers prospectively evaluated the link between blood PLP levels and risk of colorectal cancer amongst 14,916 men. During the course of the study, 197 incident cases of colorectal cancer were documented, and these cases were then compared to 371 healthy. Lee and his co-workers report that PLP levels were positively correlated with blood levels of folate and vitamin B12. PLP levels were also slightly inversely correlated blood levels of homocysteine, and the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor 2, and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Regarding the incidence of colorectal cancer, plasma PLP levels were inversely linked with risk of colorectal cancer, said the researchers. Indeed, when increasing levels were found to decrease the risk by 8, 58, and 51 per cent, they sad. “In conclusion, vitamin B6 may protect against colorectal cancer independent of other one-carbon metabolites and inflammatory biomarkers,” they concluded.

Steve - reducing risk by 50% is immense. Do we believe that it reduces overall risk by that much? No, it is one study. However, P-5-P does have numerous benefits which is why we have recommended it separately and in multivitamins forever. Why have the media and allopathy not jumped all over this and made it a big health story?

Cellular On And Off Switch For Allergies And Asthma Discovered

If you're one of the millions who dread the spring allergy season, things are looking up. A research study appearing in the May 2009 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology shows how a team of American scientists have identified a previously unknown cellular switch that turns allergies and asthma both on and off.

Equally important, this study also suggests that at least for some people with asthma and allergies, their problems might be caused by genes that prevent this switch from working properly. Taken together, this information is an important first step toward new medications that address the root causes of allergies, asthma and other similar diseases.

"This study uncovers some of the basic mechanisms that control whether or not people have asthma and allergies and the severity of the symptoms," said John Ryan, Ph.D., Professor of Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University, and a senior scientist involved in the research. "This understanding opens new avenues for treating these and other related diseases."

Ryan and colleagues made this discovery in mouse experiments that examined cells from bone marrow and umbilical cord blood that ultimately help create a type of immune cell (mast cells). Too many mast cells lead to an over-aggressive immune response, which causes allergies and asthma. The scientists found that when chemicals (cytokines IL-4 and IL-10) used to initiate an immune response (the "on switch") are added to developing mast cells, the developing cells die.

Because bone marrow makes both mast cells and these cytokines, the researchers conclude that just as the cytokines serve as the "on switch" for the immune system, bone marrow cells also use them as the "off switch" to stop mast cells from getting out of hand. Further supporting their discovery was the finding that strains of mice prone to allergies and asthma had genes which affected the production of this chemical "off switch" in their bone marrow.

"The immune system has an incredible capacity for balance and counterbalance to maintain optimal and properly tuned immune responses," said John Wherry, Ph.D., Deputy Editor of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, "The studies by Ryan and colleagues are an excellent example of this inherent self-regulation of the immune system and how an imbalance in mast cell regulation could contribute to allergy and disease."

Bonnie - while they did not come right out and say it, they are talking about epigenetics. These message hubs either harmonize or disrupt genetic switches depending on lifestyle, environment, diet, etc. Finding substances to harmonize as opposed to blocking these hubs are essential for actually healing and not using a "band aid" approach.

The Unknown About Bone

Five to seven percent of bones, organs of the skeletal system, are recycled per week. Old, brittle bone is dug out by osteoclasts to make way for osteoblasts, which replace the trenches with new, healthy bone. When the cycle breaks down, osteoclasts break down bone faster than osteoblasts can create. This is called bone resorption, the main cause of osteopenia and osteoporosis. The holy grail for Big Pharma is to find drugs that can reduce bone resorption and build back healthy, dense bone. The current class of drugs, called bisphosphonates, are able to block resorption, but in turn reduce bone building activity, thus leaving old, brittle bone. These drugs also come with a growing list of side effects.

So where does the future lie in mitigating bone resorption?

Reduce Inflammation
Osteoporosis is a chronic inflammatory disease. If you "put out the fire," you reduce reduce the severity of the condition. Diet and balancing omega 3 to omega 6 ratio are crucial to reducing inflammation. Our Pain Relief Diet and Best of the Mediterranean Diet are two anti-inflammatory food plans we highly recommend. Reducing stress (see Improve Your Mood Action Plan) is also very important.

Calcitonin (Miacalcin)
Calcitonin is actually an old drug that was kicked to the curb because Big Pharma never saw it as a blockbuster. It has a very safe track record when administered intranasally. The naturally occurring peptide hormone (derived from salmon) participates in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, inhibits osteoclast activity, increases bone mineral metabolism, may help regulate Vitamin D levels, and may even positively affect osteoarthritis.

The most relevant clinical trial to evaluate the effect of calcitonin in the prevention of bone fractures was the Prevent Recurrence of Osteoporotic Fractures (PROOF) study, a 5-year double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial showing that salmon calcitonin nasal spray at a dosage of 200 IU/day can reduce the risk of vertebral osteoporotic fractures by 33%.

This drug is prescription only, so speak to your physician or pharmacist.

Ostera
Ostera is a non-prescription alternative. The revolutionary nutraceutical has just been introduced by Metagenics. Researchers screened thousands of natural substances for their effectiveness in reducing bone resorption in vivo. Upon choosing berberine and hops extract, they conducted a 77 subject human trial with impressive results. Along with seeing lower osteoclast activity, there were increases in bone formation. Complete with magnesium, calcium, adequate vitamin D, optimal diet, and weight-bearing exercise, you have the ideal natural combination for osteoporosis prevention in postmenopausal women.

Vitamin D
For those who have not had their vitamin D3 level [25(OH)D] checked yet, what are you waiting for? Normal vitamin D levels are as essential to proper bone remodeling as any component. The daily maintenance dose has also risen sharply in the last few years, but is completely based upon individual needs. Please check with our office or your physician.

Teriparatide (Forteo)
Approved by the FDA in 2002, Recombinant human parathyroid hormone is administered by daily subcutaneous injection for a maximum of 18 months (oral and nasal delivery systems are in the pipeline). When given alone to a patient with osteoporosis, it will stimulate bone formation (5 to 10 percent per year in lumbar spine) within each remodeling cycle and cause a positive bone balance within each cycle.

It is currently recommended as second line therapy to bisphosphonates because of increased risk of bone cancer (osteosarcoma in rats). In typical FDA fashion, long-term safety studies are being performed well after approval. When the FDA approved Forteo, it did so conditionally, requiring, among other things, that the manufacturer conduct a 10-year study to learn whether patients taking it are more likely to develop bone cancer. The manufacturer also agreed not to advertise Forteo directly to consumers and to educate physicians that the drug is intended only for patients at high risk of fractures. So far, only one case of osteosarcoma has been reported among the 250,000 patients for whom Forteo reportedly has been prescribed since it was introduced in 2002.

Teriparatide is the first FDA approved agent for the treatment of osteoporosis that stimulates new bone formation. Not one bisphosphonate drug can claim that.

Natural Hormone Balance
Being a Certified Menopause Educator, there are numerous natural methods for balancing hormones post-menopause. The two safest options I usually recommend are natural, standardized, topical hormone creams (for more, see Bonnie on Bioidenticals), and the herb Black Cohosh. A study that appeared in the April issue of Fertility and Sterility reported that postmenopausal women treated with Black Cohosh underwent a decrease in the urinary concentration of N-telopeptides, a marker of bone resorption, and an increase in alkaline phosphatase, a marker of bone formation, at the third month of therapy. Dosage regmines vary and need to be administered to the individual.

Absorbable Calcium and Magnesium
In recent years, the recommended average of supplemental calcium has gone down while magnesium has gone up. The sources of these two nutrients are essential for absorption. We prefer MCHC (microcrystalline hydroxyapatite) for calcium because it rarely constipates and its trace minerals mirror the matrix of bone which greatly enhances absorption. For magnesium, we prefer the glycinate source because it does not disturb the GI tract, and being bound to the amino acid glycine, assures supreme absorption.

For further information, refer to our Healthy Bones Action Plan.

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FDA Warns Consumers to Stop Taking Hydroxycut Products

Consumers should "immediately stop" using Hydroxycut weight-loss products amid concerns they may cause jaundice and liver failure, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday.

The FDA has received 23 serious reports of health problems with Hydroxycut products and one death in a 19-year-old male who had used the weight-loss products, said Linda Katz, interim chief medical officer in the FDA's food safety and nutrition division.

The FDA strongly advises people against using 14 Hydroxycut products, Ms. Katz said. Lovate Health Sciences Inc. of Canada markets the products, as fat burners and energy-enhancers. Lovate representatives couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

The company has agreed to recall 14 of its Hydroxycut products. Other Hydroxycut products, such as Hydroxycut Cleanse and Hoodia, won't be recalled as the FDA said they contain different ingredients from the other products.

Vasilios Frankos, director of the FDA's dietary supplement program, said it's still unclear what ingredients in the products are harmful. The FDA is trying to get a better understanding of what ingredients, or combination of ingredients, is causing the liver damage. Other dietary supplements may contain similar ingredients.

Steve - we have always been vehemently against fat burners, especially the Hydroxycut products.

1/2 glass wine each day boosts men's life expectancy

Men who regularly drank up to a half a glass of wine each day boosted their life expectancy by five years, Dutch researchers report.

Light, long-term alcohol consumption of all types of beverages, whether wine, spirits or beer, increased life by 2.5 years among men compared with abstention, the researchers found. By "light," they meant up to 20 grams, or about 0.7 ounces a day.

While numerous other studies have found similar benefits, study author Martinette Streppel, of the division of human nutrition at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, said 40 years of follow-up is noteworthy for many reasons.

The long-term, regular follow-up, Streppel added, enabled the researchers to study the effect of long-term alcohol intake on mortality. The study is published online in April in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Streppel couldn't say if the findings apply to women, but suspects the polyphenolic compounds found in wine, especially red wine, produce the heart-healthy effects.

Omega-3 supplements cut heart failure risk

Eating fatty fish – such as salmon – once a week, and taking omega-3 supplements every day, will reduce your risk of heart failure. Taking omega-3 supplements had the most dramatic protective effect, but eating fatty fish every week also helps. Researchers made the discovery after tracking the health of 39,367 men aged between 45 and 79 for six years. During the study period, 597 men without a previous history of heart problems or diabetes suffered heart failure, and 34 died. Those who ate fatty fish such as mackerel, herring and salmon once a week were 12 per cent less likely to suffer heart failure compared with those who never ate fatty fish. But the risk was lowered even more dramatically among men who supplemented every day with omega-3 fish oil capsules. Their risk fell by 33 per cent. (Source: European Heart Journal, 2009; April 22, 2009)

Bonnie - this is not exactly a news flash, but interesting to note the difference between eating fish and taking supplements.

Folic Acid May Suppress Allergies, Asthma

Folic acid may suppress allergic reactions and lessen the severity of allergy and asthma symptoms, according to new research from the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. The research examined the link between blood levels of folate – the naturally occurring form of folic acid — and allergies, and found evidence that folate can help regulate inflammation. A report appears in the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology.The researchers reviewed medical records of more than 8,000 people ages 2 to 85 and tracked the effect of folate levels on respiratory and allergic symptoms and on levels of IgE antibodies, immune system markers that rise in response to an allergen. People with higher blood levels of folate had fewer IgE antibodies, fewer reported allergies, less wheezing and lower likelihood of asthma. People with the lowest folate levels (below 8 nanograms per milliliter) had 40 percent higher risk of wheezing than people with the highest folate levels (above 18 ng/ml). The Hopkins team is planning a study comparing the effects of folic acid and placebo in people with allergies and asthma.

Bonnie - we will be tracking the follow-up study.

Stevia: the science

There has been much excitement about the promise of stevia as a natural alternative to artificial zero-calorie sweeteners. The science so far:

Interest in the sweetener has been intense, particularly since the FDA issued its non-objection in December that the stevia-derived sweetener Reb A is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a food additive. Differentiation must be made between rebaudiside A and steviol glycosides in general. Rebaudioside A, also known as Reb A and rebiana, is a high-intensity sweetener derived from the stevia leaf. It is said to be approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar.

Safety
The majority of the science around stevia and rebaudioside A are related to its safety. A significant body of research was published online in the peer-reviewed journal Food and Chemical Toxicology (July 2008, Vol. 46, Supplement 1, Pages S1-S92), which found that rebiana - a high-purity Rebaudioside A from stevia - is safe for use as a sweetener for foods and beverages. An overview in the journal’s supplement by scientists from Coca-Cola, Cargill, and an independent toxicologist said that the studies found the ingredient met all current JEFCA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) specifications for steviol glycosides. “The due diligence of the rebiana scientific program reported in this Supplement reflects a commitment by industry partners to, at long last, fully address regulatory requirements for this naturally occurring sweetener by providing the scientific basis to conclude high purity rebaudioside A (rebiana), produced under current GMP to food-grade standards, is safe and appropriate for introduction into the global marketplace,” they concluded. The FDA issued letters of no objection to GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status for stevia-based Reb A at 95 percent purity or above in December.

Health Benefits
Stevia glycosides (SGs) have been reported to not only sweeten but also have some health benefits, including effects on blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Indeed, these observations formed the basis of a citizen’s petition filed by a Washington DC-based law firm called Coburn & Coffman PLLC. The petition, filed in October, focused on § 301(ll) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), and was made on the grounds that SGs have been studied for therapeutic uses, thereby contending that SGs are drugs and therefore cannot be legally added to conventional foods. In December, FDA concluded that it had no objection to rebiana, (Reb A) at 95 percent purity or above, having GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status as a general purpose sweetener for food and drink, not just as a supplement. Other health benefits include a report from Indian researchers in 2007 that stevia may also be a rich source of antioxidants and may protect against DNA damage and cancer. According to findings in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2007, Vol. 55, pp 10962-10967), researchers led by Srijani Ghanta from the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology in Kolkata reported that an extract from Stevia rebaudiana leaves was found to contain an abundance of antioxidant polyphenols, including quercitrin, apigenin, and kaempferol. Ghanta and his co-workers used methanol and ethyl acetate for the extraction, Subsequent tests showed that the extract could protect against DNA strand scission by hydroxide radicals.