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IN THIS ISSUE:
  • Foods That Add Years to Your Life

    Instead of a list of foods to avoid, here is a list of foods to include regularly in your diet for a long life.

  • Foolproof Support to Stop Gas, Bloating and Digestive Concerns

    It’s easy to assume that trouble-free digestion is as simple as filling your diet with the right foods in the right amounts and chewing thoroughly. But what if, no matter what you eat, your gut still seems to be saddled with the same embarrassing problems: gas, indigestion, bloating and nagging discomfort that just won’t go [...]

  • The Simple Secret to Staying Slim Without Starvation

    It may be hard to believe that some of the most powerful fat-burning supplements on the market have actually been around for decades. In fact, recently published research is shining a spotlight on one effective weight loss solution that will probably take you by surprise. This new clinical trial took a closer look at the [...]

  • Vitamin C Curbs Cancer Growth

    According to New Zealand scientists, healthy vitamin C levels may help reduce the chances that a tumor can survive and grow.

  • Common Diabetes Drug May Raise Heart Attack Risk

    The popular diabetes drug Avandia is being studied to determine if it is increasing the risk of heart attacks.

  • Colorful Meals Are More Healthy

    A colorful plate with a variety of colors such as green, orange, and red means a variety of phytochemicals and nutrients.

  • Child Supplement Considerations

    Here are some things to consider and to look for when deciding if your child needs to supplement their diet.

  • High Glycemic Carbs and Cardiovascular Health

    Consuming too many high glycemic index carbohydrates may not be good for your cardiovascular health.

  • Mixed Health Messages

    We get mixed health messages all the time. One example is that sun exposure is good…then the other side says sun exposure is bad. So, what is a responsible person to do?

Foods That Add Years to Your Life

Posted Jan 20, 2011

THE secret of eternal youth may elude us but that shouldn’t stop us from trying to stay young by eating and drinking the right things.

And that doesn’t just mean a balanced diet and plenty of exercise.

There are some foods which, over the years, have been shown to have a positive effect.

Here’s a look at what we should be eating to help defy the years.

FISH

We’ve been told for a long time that we should be eating at least two portions of oily fish a week. The reason? The omega-three fatty acids they contain can help lower our cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

One of the first studies to confirm the health benefits of fish came 30 years ago when researchers began to study why the native Inuits of Alaska were remarkably free of heart disease.

The reason, scientists now think, is the extraordinary amount of fish they consume in their daily diets.

YOGURT

Yogurt is rich in calcium, which helps stave off the threat of osteoporosis and it’s also good for gut health through the presence of “good bacteria”.

In the Seventies, Georgia in the former Soviet Union, was rumoured to be home to a high number of centenarians and one theory is the large amount of yoghurt they ate.

APPLES

Apples have a way of suppressing your appetite. They contain pectin, which sends a message to your brain to tell you to stop eating. If you eat one half an hour before a meal, or when you feel peckish, it can stop hunger pangs for up to four hours.

This makes it a remarkably effective tool if you’re looking to control your weight. That in turn comes with a whole myriad of health benefits which will help you feel younger.

BLUEBERRIES

Long-described as a “superfood” thanks to high levels of antioxidants, blueberries can have a positive effect on our health as we age.

One study carried out 11 years ago saw rats being fed blueberry extracts. Scientists found they outperformed others on balance and co-ordination as they aged. Blueberries are also an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese, which is important in thedevelopment of bones.

CHOCOLATE

We regularly hear eating small quantities of dark chocolate is good for us as it contains a useful amount of antioxidants and in particular flavanols, which help preserve the healthy function of blood vessels. Maintaining youthful blood vessels lowersthe risk of high blood pressure, type two diabetes, kidney disease and dementia.

OLIVE OIL

We’ve long been told that the Mediterranean lifestyle is the reason why people in countries such as Italy and Greece live longer.

Eating a diet that contains a lot of olive oil is useful as it contains monounsaturated fats, which is good for our hearts, and polyphenols. These are powerful antioxidants that may help prevent age-related diseases.

This effect was first recognised 40 years ago when an international study noticed the low rates of heart disease and cancer on the Greek island of Crete.

NUTS

As long as you’re not allergic to them, nuts should be a regular part of your diet as they are a rich source of unsaturated fat, just like olive oil. One study focused on the diets of Seventh-Day Adventists, a religion that emphasises healthy living andvegetarianism. It found that people who eat nuts will live, on average, for twoand-a-half years longer.

RED WINE

The main thing in deriving health benefits from alcohol is not to over do it. Drink too much and the damage to your health will vastly outweigh any positives.

Evidence shows that drinking red wine in moderation helps protect against heart disease and diabetes.

It contains resveratrol, a compound that is likely to contribute to its benefits.

THE secret of eternal youth may elude us but that shouldn't stop us from trying to stay young by eating and drinking the right things.

And that doesn't just mean a balanced diet and plenty of exercise.

There are some foods which, over the years, have been shown to have a positive effect.

Here's a look at what we should be eating to help defy the years.

FISH

We've been told for a long time that we should be eating at least two portions of oily fish a week. The reason? The omega-three fatty acids they contain can help lower our cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

One of the first studies to confirm the health benefits of fish came 30 years ago when researchers began to study why the native Inuits of Alaska were remarkably free of heart disease.

The reason, scientists now think, is the extraordinary amount of fish they consume in their daily diets.

YOGURT

Yogurt is rich in calcium, which helps stave off the threat of osteoporosis and it's also good for gut health through the presence of "good bacteria".

In the Seventies, Georgia in the former Soviet Union, was rumoured to be home to a high number of centenarians and one theory is the large amount of yoghurt they ate.

APPLES

Apples have a way of suppressing your appetite. They contain pectin, which sends a message to your brain to tell you to stop eating. If you eat one half an hour before a meal, or when you feel peckish, it can stop hunger pangs for up to four hours.

This makes it a remarkably effective tool if you're looking to control your weight. That in turn comes with a whole myriad of health benefits which will help you feel younger.

BLUEBERRIES

Long-described as a "superfood" thanks to high levels of antioxidants, blueberries can have a positive effect on our health as we age.

One study carried out 11 years ago saw rats being fed blueberry extracts. Scientists found they outperformed others on balance and co-ordination as they aged. Blueberries are also an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese, which is important in thedevelopment of bones.

CHOCOLATE

We regularly hear eating small quantities of dark chocolate is good for us as it contains a useful amount of antioxidants and in particular flavanols, which help preserve the healthy function of blood vessels. Maintaining youthful blood vessels lowersthe risk of high blood pressure, type two diabetes, kidney disease and dementia.

OLIVE OIL

We've long been told that the Mediterranean lifestyle is the reason why people in countries such as Italy and Greece live longer.

Eating a diet that contains a lot of olive oil is useful as it contains monounsaturated fats, which is good for our hearts, and polyphenols. These are powerful antioxidants that may help prevent age-related diseases.

This effect was first recognised 40 years ago when an international study noticed the low rates of heart disease and cancer on the Greek island of Crete.

NUTS

As long as you're not allergic to them, nuts should be a regular part of your diet as they are a rich source of unsaturated fat, just like olive oil. One study focused on the diets of Seventh-Day Adventists, a religion that emphasises healthy living andvegetarianism. It found that people who eat nuts will live, on average, for twoand-a-half years longer.

RED WINE

The main thing in deriving health benefits from alcohol is not to over do it. Drink too much and the damage to your health will vastly outweigh any positives.

Evidence shows that drinking red wine in moderation helps protect against heart disease and diabetes.

It contains resveratrol, a compound that is likely to contribute to its benefits.

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Foolproof Support to Stop Gas, Bloating and Digestive Concerns

It’s easy to assume that trouble-free digestion is as simple as filling your diet with the right foods in the right amounts and chewing thoroughly. But what if, no matter what you eat, your gut still seems to be saddled with the same embarrassing problems: gas, indigestion, bloating and nagging discomfort that just won’t go away?

The truth is that there’s a lot more to efficient, trouble-free digestion than healthy eating habits-and what happens in your digestive tract once the food gets there is just as important as proper nutrition.

Processed foods are notoriously depleted in natural, essential nutrients and other beneficial substances-but because it’s difficult to avoid processed foods all the time, furnishing your body with a little extra help in order to complement your food with optimal amounts of nutrients is critical. To maximize your body’s digestive process, consider supplementing daily with VRP’s comprehensive blend of Digestive Enzymes-including amylase, lactase, lipase, cellulase and neutral protease, which aid your body in breaking down starch, milk sugar, fats, plant matter and protein, respectively.1-2

Don’t forget, however, that ensuring proper digestion isn’t your only concern. Reinforcing the strength of your intestinal lining is equally essential-because if your gut’s protective barrier becomes weak, your health will eventually suffer some serious consequences.

This condition is known as "leaky gut"-triggered by persistent irritation in the intestinal lining, which causes a loosening of the tightly sealed spaces between the cells of your intestines. As a consequence, larger molecules-in the form of toxins and incompletely digested food particles-can make their way into your bloodstream, where your immune system will identify them as invaders. This can cause even more damage to your intestinal lining, which will ultimately allow even more rogue intestinal toxins to get into your system and wreak havoc with your health.

The symptoms of "leaky gut" vary depending on the relative strength or weakness of your intestinal lining’s integrity-but a few of the most common symptoms include abdominal pain, anxiety, joint and muscle pain, brain fog, compromised immunity, greater susceptibility to infections and a vast array of digestive symptoms, from constipation and diarrhea to bloating.

Fortunately, you can increase the strength of your digestive system with the right blend of supportive compounds. L-glutamine, for example, can help to reinforce your intestinal structure and nourish the cells in your colon.3-4 Likewise, deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) has similar properties to carbenoxolone, a semi-synthetic compound used for combating gastric and duodenal ulcers.5-6

Meanwhile, deficiencies of n-acetyl glucosamine are common in cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which can reduce the protective ability of your gut’s mucosal lining.7 That’s why supplementing with this nutrient-along with soothing and supportive botanicals such as marshmallow, berberine, cabbage, slippery elm, phosphatidylcholine and gamma oryzanol-is essential for long-lasting digestive and total-body health.8-16

Look for all of these key ingredients as part of a single daily digestive formula called GI Cell Support, available now from Vitamin Research Products.

References:

1. Omogbenigun FO, Nyachoti CM, Slominski BA. Dietary supplementation with multienzyme preparations improves nutrient utilization and growth performance in weaned pigs. J Anim Sci. 2004 Apr;82(4):1053-61.

2. He M, Yang Y, Bian L, Cui H. [Effect of exogenous lactase on the absorption of lactose and its intolerance symptoms] [Article in Chinese]. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 1999 Sep 30;28(5):309-11.

3. Sacks GS. Glutamine supplementation in catabolic patients. Ann Pharmacother. 1999;33:348-54.

4. Miller AL. Therapeutic considerations of L-glutamine: a review of the literature. Altern Med Rev. 1999;4:239-48.

5. van Marle J, Aarsen PN, Lind A, van Weeren-Kramer J. Deglycyrrhizinised liquorice (DGL) and the renewal of rat stomach epithelium. Eur J Pharmacol. 1981;72:219-25.

6. Tewari SN, Wilson AK. Deglycyrrhizinated liquorice in duodenal ulcer. Practitioner. 1973;210:820-3.

7. Burton AF, Anderson FH. Decreased incorporation of 14C-glucosamine relative to 3H-N-acetyl glucosamine in the intestinal mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 1983;78:19-22.

8. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.

9. Martindale W. Martindale the Extra Pharmacopoeia. Pharmaceutical Press, 1999.

10. Amin AH, Subbaiah TV, Abbasi KM. Berberine sulfate: antimicrobial activity, bioassay, and mode of action. Can J Microbiol. 1969;15:1067-76.

11. Sun D, Courtney HS, Beachey EH. Berberine sulfate blocks adherence of Streptococcus pyogenes to epithelial cells, fibronectin, and hexadecane. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1988;32:1370-4.

12. van Poppel G, Verhoeven DT, Verhagen H, Goldbohm RA. Brassica vegetables and cancer prevention. Epidemiology and mechanisms. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1999;472:159-68.

13. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.

14. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.

15. Stremmel W, Ehehalt R, Autschbach F, Karner M. Phosphatidylcholine for steroid-refractory chronic ulcerative colitis: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2007 Nov 6;147(9):603-10.

16. Seetharamaiah GS, Chandrasekhara N. Effect of oryzanol on cholesterol absorption and biliary and fecal bile acids in rats. Indian J Med Res. 1990;92:471-5.

It's easy to assume that trouble-free digestion is as simple as filling your diet with the right foods in the right amounts and chewing thoroughly. But what if, no matter what you eat, your gut still seems to be saddled with the same embarrassing problems: gas, indigestion, bloating and nagging discomfort that just won't go away?

The truth is that there's a lot more to efficient, trouble-free digestion than healthy eating habits-and what happens in your digestive tract once the food gets there is just as important as proper nutrition.

Processed foods are notoriously depleted in natural, essential nutrients and other beneficial substances-but because it's difficult to avoid processed foods all the time, furnishing your body with a little extra help in order to complement your food with optimal amounts of nutrients is critical. To maximize your body's digestive process, consider supplementing daily with VRP's comprehensive blend of Digestive Enzymes-including amylase, lactase, lipase, cellulase and neutral protease, which aid your body in breaking down starch, milk sugar, fats, plant matter and protein, respectively.1-2

Don't forget, however, that ensuring proper digestion isn't your only concern. Reinforcing the strength of your intestinal lining is equally essential-because if your gut's protective barrier becomes weak, your health will eventually suffer some serious consequences.

This condition is known as "leaky gut"-triggered by persistent irritation in the intestinal lining, which causes a loosening of the tightly sealed spaces between the cells of your intestines. As a consequence, larger molecules-in the form of toxins and incompletely digested food particles-can make their way into your bloodstream, where your immune system will identify them as invaders. This can cause even more damage to your intestinal lining, which will ultimately allow even more rogue intestinal toxins to get into your system and wreak havoc with your health.

The symptoms of "leaky gut" vary depending on the relative strength or weakness of your intestinal lining's integrity-but a few of the most common symptoms include abdominal pain, anxiety, joint and muscle pain, brain fog, compromised immunity, greater susceptibility to infections and a vast array of digestive symptoms, from constipation and diarrhea to bloating.

Fortunately, you can increase the strength of your digestive system with the right blend of supportive compounds. L-glutamine, for example, can help to reinforce your intestinal structure and nourish the cells in your colon.3-4 Likewise, deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) has similar properties to carbenoxolone, a semi-synthetic compound used for combating gastric and duodenal ulcers.5-6

Meanwhile, deficiencies of n-acetyl glucosamine are common in cases of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which can reduce the protective ability of your gut's mucosal lining.7 That's why supplementing with this nutrient-along with soothing and supportive botanicals such as marshmallow, berberine, cabbage, slippery elm, phosphatidylcholine and gamma oryzanol-is essential for long-lasting digestive and total-body health.8-16

Look for all of these key ingredients as part of a single daily digestive formula called GI Cell Support, available now from Vitamin Research Products.

References:

1. Omogbenigun FO, Nyachoti CM, Slominski BA. Dietary supplementation with multienzyme preparations improves nutrient utilization and growth performance in weaned pigs. J Anim Sci. 2004 Apr;82(4):1053-61.

2. He M, Yang Y, Bian L, Cui H. [Effect of exogenous lactase on the absorption of lactose and its intolerance symptoms] [Article in Chinese]. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu. 1999 Sep 30;28(5):309-11.

3. Sacks GS. Glutamine supplementation in catabolic patients. Ann Pharmacother. 1999;33:348-54.

4. Miller AL. Therapeutic considerations of L-glutamine: a review of the literature. Altern Med Rev. 1999;4:239-48.

5. van Marle J, Aarsen PN, Lind A, van Weeren-Kramer J. Deglycyrrhizinised liquorice (DGL) and the renewal of rat stomach epithelium. Eur J Pharmacol. 1981;72:219-25.

6. Tewari SN, Wilson AK. Deglycyrrhizinated liquorice in duodenal ulcer. Practitioner. 1973;210:820-3.

7. Burton AF, Anderson FH. Decreased incorporation of 14C-glucosamine relative to 3H-N-acetyl glucosamine in the intestinal mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 1983;78:19-22.

8. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.

9. Martindale W. Martindale the Extra Pharmacopoeia. Pharmaceutical Press, 1999.

10. Amin AH, Subbaiah TV, Abbasi KM. Berberine sulfate: antimicrobial activity, bioassay, and mode of action. Can J Microbiol. 1969;15:1067-76.

11. Sun D, Courtney HS, Beachey EH. Berberine sulfate blocks adherence of Streptococcus pyogenes to epithelial cells, fibronectin, and hexadecane. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1988;32:1370-4.

12. van Poppel G, Verhoeven DT, Verhagen H, Goldbohm RA. Brassica vegetables and cancer prevention. Epidemiology and mechanisms. Adv Exp Med Biol. 1999;472:159-68.

13. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.

14. Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 1st ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company, Inc., 1998.

15. Stremmel W, Ehehalt R, Autschbach F, Karner M. Phosphatidylcholine for steroid-refractory chronic ulcerative colitis: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2007 Nov 6;147(9):603-10.

16. Seetharamaiah GS, Chandrasekhara N. Effect of oryzanol on cholesterol absorption and biliary and fecal bile acids in rats. Indian J Med Res. 1990;92:471-5.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,



Back to top

The Simple Secret to Staying Slim Without Starvation

It may be hard to believe that some of the most powerful fat-burning supplements on the market have actually been around for decades. In fact, recently published research is shining a spotlight on one effective weight loss solution that will probably take you by surprise.

This new clinical trial took a closer look at the effects that a basic multivitamin and multi-mineral combination had on the body weight, BMI, waist circumference and fat mass of 96 obese Chinese women between the ages of 18 and 55.1 Researchers separated the women into three groups-one group was given a multi-mineral and multivitamin supplement daily, the second group was provided with a daily calcium tablet and the third group was administered a placebo for a total of 26 weeks.

Results at the end of the study showed that the group who received the multivitamin and multimineral also had significantly lower body weight, BMI and fat mass than the placebo-not to mention lower total cholesterol and a reduction in dangerous LDL cholesterol, too. Additional evaluation showed that women taking the daily multivitamin and multimineral also had higher resting energy expenditure and lower respiratory quotient-meaning that their bodies were more efficient at calorie burning than their non-vitamin-taking counterparts.

That’s not all: Life-saving HDL (or "good") cholesterol levels were higher among the women taking the multivitamin and multimineral, as well; waist circumference measurements among this group were also lower-which could mean a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes in the long run, too.

The conclusion? While a single calcium supplement can help to improve blood lipid profiles, a comprehensive multivitamin and multimineral supplement can take your fight against fat to a whole new level-increasing your body’s calorie-burning capacity, helping to shrink your waistline and lower your BMI, too. So if you’re distressed by the persistently high numbers on your scale, forget crash diets or expensive gym memberships. A quality daily multi-such as Extend Core is the smartest place to start.

Reference:
1. Li Y, Wang C, Zhu K, Feng RN, Sun CH. Effects of multivitamin and mineral supplementation on adiposity, energy expenditure and lipid profiles in obese Chinese women. Int J Obes (Lond). 2010 Feb 9. Published Online Ahead or Print.

It may be hard to believe that some of the most powerful fat-burning supplements on the market have actually been around for decades. In fact, recently published research is shining a spotlight on one effective weight loss solution that will probably take you by surprise.

This new clinical trial took a closer look at the effects that a basic multivitamin and multi-mineral combination had on the body weight, BMI, waist circumference and fat mass of 96 obese Chinese women between the ages of 18 and 55.1 Researchers separated the women into three groups-one group was given a multi-mineral and multivitamin supplement daily, the second group was provided with a daily calcium tablet and the third group was administered a placebo for a total of 26 weeks.

Results at the end of the study showed that the group who received the multivitamin and multimineral also had significantly lower body weight, BMI and fat mass than the placebo-not to mention lower total cholesterol and a reduction in dangerous LDL cholesterol, too. Additional evaluation showed that women taking the daily multivitamin and multimineral also had higher resting energy expenditure and lower respiratory quotient-meaning that their bodies were more efficient at calorie burning than their non-vitamin-taking counterparts.

That's not all: Life-saving HDL (or "good") cholesterol levels were higher among the women taking the multivitamin and multimineral, as well; waist circumference measurements among this group were also lower-which could mean a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes in the long run, too.

The conclusion? While a single calcium supplement can help to improve blood lipid profiles, a comprehensive multivitamin and multimineral supplement can take your fight against fat to a whole new level-increasing your body's calorie-burning capacity, helping to shrink your waistline and lower your BMI, too. So if you're distressed by the persistently high numbers on your scale, forget crash diets or expensive gym memberships. A quality daily multi-such as Extend Core is the smartest place to start.

Reference:
1. Li Y, Wang C, Zhu K, Feng RN, Sun CH. Effects of multivitamin and mineral supplementation on adiposity, energy expenditure and lipid profiles in obese Chinese women. Int J Obes (Lond). 2010 Feb 9. Published Online Ahead or Print.

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Vitamin C Curbs Cancer Growth

Posted Aug 18, 2010

Wellington (dpa) – Vitamin C can help curb the growth of cancer cells, according to New Zealand scientists who claim breakthrough research to provide the first real evidence of a connection between the vitamin and the development of tumours.

“Our results offer a promising and simple intervention to help in our fight against cancer at the level of both prevention and cure,” Associate Professor Margreet Vissers, of the University of Otago’s Free Radical Research Group, said recently.

She said the role of vitamin C in cancer treatment had been the subject of debate for years, with many anecdotal accounts of the vitamin’s beneficial role.

While her previous research had demonstrated the vitamin’s importance in maintaining cell health and hinted at its potential for limiting diseases such as cancer, the latest study looked at whether vitamin C levels were lowered in patients with endometrial tumours.

She said the study found that tumours were less able to accumulate vitamin C compared with normal healthy tissue and that this related to the ability of the tumour to survive and grow.

“Tumours with low vitamin C levels had more of a protein called HIF-1 which allows them to thrive in conditions of stress,” she said.

“The findings are significant as they show, for the first time, a direct relationship between HIF-1 and vitamin C levels in tumours and suggest it would be beneficial for people with cancer cells to have more vitamin C.”

“This could help limit the rate of tumour growth, increase the responsiveness to chemotherapy and may prevent the formation of solid tumours.”

Details of the research are published in the latest edition of the Cancer Research journal.

Wellington (dpa) - Vitamin C can help curb the growth of cancer cells, according to New Zealand scientists who claim breakthrough research to provide the first real evidence of a connection between the vitamin and the development of tumours.

"Our results offer a promising and simple intervention to help in our fight against cancer at the level of both prevention and cure," Associate Professor Margreet Vissers, of the University of Otago's Free Radical Research Group, said recently.

She said the role of vitamin C in cancer treatment had been the subject of debate for years, with many anecdotal accounts of the vitamin's beneficial role.

While her previous research had demonstrated the vitamin's importance in maintaining cell health and hinted at its potential for limiting diseases such as cancer, the latest study looked at whether vitamin C levels were lowered in patients with endometrial tumours.

She said the study found that tumours were less able to accumulate vitamin C compared with normal healthy tissue and that this related to the ability of the tumour to survive and grow.

"Tumours with low vitamin C levels had more of a protein called HIF-1 which allows them to thrive in conditions of stress," she said.

"The findings are significant as they show, for the first time, a direct relationship between HIF-1 and vitamin C levels in tumours and suggest it would be beneficial for people with cancer cells to have more vitamin C."

"This could help limit the rate of tumour growth, increase the responsiveness to chemotherapy and may prevent the formation of solid tumours."

Details of the research are published in the latest edition of the Cancer Research journal.

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Common Diabetes Drug May Raise Heart Attack Risk

Posted Aug 11, 2010

WASHINGTON – Federal health scientists have panned a GlaxoSmithKline study that the company used to defend the safety of its embattled diabetes drug Avandia, a once blockbuster-seller that has fallen out of favor because of potential ties to heart attacks.

The Food and Drug Administration posted an exhaustive 700-page review of Avandia on Friday ahead of a meeting next week to decide whether the drug should stay on the market.

The FDA finds itself in a difficult position that’s all too familiar: reviewing a drug approved a decade ago that now appears tied to deadly side effects. Experts say the FDA’s predicament is a result of shifting standards for the agency: increased scrutiny on safety and stepped-up pressure from Capitol Hill.

The FDA reviewed dozens of studies of Avandia, including one Glaxo has pointed to as proof of the drug’s safety. But an FDA reviewer said the study was plagued by “serious flaws” and actually supports the case against Avandia.

The drug works by increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin, a key protein needed for digestion that diabetics don’t adequately produce.

People with diabetes are unable to properly break down carbohydrates, either because their bodies do not produce enough insulin or because of resistance to insulin. They are at higher risk for heart attacks, kidney problems, blindness and other serious complications.

Avandia was Glaxo’s third best-selling drug in 2006 with U.S. revenue of $2.2 billion, according to health care statistics firm IMS Health. But safety concerns swirling around the drug have pummeled sales over the last three years, with sales falling 75 percent to $520 million last year.

In 2007 an analysis of dozens of studies first linked the drug to heart attacks. The FDA responded by adding a warning label to the drug later that year.

Glaxo, based in London, has argued for years that Avandia’s safety should be assessed only based on clinical trials, considered the gold standard of medical research.

But the FDA reviewer said Glaxo’s chief trial “was inadequately designed and conducted to provide any reassurance” about the heart safety of Avandia.

The FDA holds a special two-day meeting starting Tuesday to help decide what course of action to take. A panel of outside physicians will consider a range of recommendations including:

– Adding more warning labels.

– Limiting which doctors can prescribe the drug.

– Pulling the drug from the market.

The FDA is not required to follow the advice of its outside panels, though it usually does.

The agency has been down this road before. In 2007 the FDA assembled the same group of experts to vote on the same drug. The group voted 22-1 in favor of keeping Avandia on the market.

New data on Avandia’s risks and pressure from politicians have prompted the agency to re-examine the drug’s safety.

Despite the reams of information posted online, the FDA’s main problem remains one of too little data.

Avandia, like many other drugs of the 1990s, was approved based on relatively small studies in several thousand patients. While those studies were sufficient to show the drug helped control blood sugar levels – the key measure for diabetes drugs – they were not large enough to detect all of the drug’s potential side effects.

“The problem is the drug wasn’t studied in enough patients up front to know whether it causes serious cardiovascular events,” said Dr. David Kessler, former FDA commissioner and now a professor at University of California at San Francisco. “And chasing that question after millions of prescriptions have been written leads to a lot of confusion.”

Since 2009 the FDA has required longer, larger studies of diabetes drugs that include more high-risk patients.

Scientists have tried to get an accurate picture of Avandia’s risks by pooling hundreds of thousands of data points from various sources.

The most recent such analysis was published last month and suggested Avandia is more likely to cause strokes and heart-related death than a rival drug, Actos, made by Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

The paper’s chief author, Dr. David Graham, an FDA scientist who wants the pill banned, estimated as many as 100,000 heart-related problems may have been caused by Avandia.

The study analyzed medical records of more than 225,000 elderly Medicare patients.

Graham first came to prominence for his role in publicizing the risks of the Merck painkiller Vioxx, which was pulled in 2004 from the market after showing links to heart attacks and strokes. He argued that lives could have been saved if the FDA had acted more swiftly.

The legacy of Vioxx and the political firestorm that followed will hang over next week’s deliberations.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill already have painted Avandia as a test of the agency’s competence and courage.

Senate Finance Committee ranking Republican Charles Grassley helped start the review of Avandia with an investigation that concluded GlaxoSmithKline tried to downplay the risks of its drug. Last week Grassley said the drug should be pulled from the market.

But former FDA officials say such political prodding hurts the agency’s mission.

“Public policy decisions don’t get made in a vacuum, and that’s a reality of FDA decision making that everyone has to recognize,” said Mary Pendergast, a former FDA deputy commissioner who now consults for companies. “But when members of Congress who are not scientists tell the FDA what to decide, I think that’s hard for the FDA.”

WASHINGTON - Federal health scientists have panned a GlaxoSmithKline study that the company used to defend the safety of its embattled diabetes drug Avandia, a once blockbuster-seller that has fallen out of favor because of potential ties to heart attacks.

The Food and Drug Administration posted an exhaustive 700-page review of Avandia on Friday ahead of a meeting next week to decide whether the drug should stay on the market.

The FDA finds itself in a difficult position that's all too familiar: reviewing a drug approved a decade ago that now appears tied to deadly side effects. Experts say the FDA's predicament is a result of shifting standards for the agency: increased scrutiny on safety and stepped-up pressure from Capitol Hill.

The FDA reviewed dozens of studies of Avandia, including one Glaxo has pointed to as proof of the drug's safety. But an FDA reviewer said the study was plagued by "serious flaws" and actually supports the case against Avandia.

The drug works by increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin, a key protein needed for digestion that diabetics don't adequately produce.

People with diabetes are unable to properly break down carbohydrates, either because their bodies do not produce enough insulin or because of resistance to insulin. They are at higher risk for heart attacks, kidney problems, blindness and other serious complications.

Avandia was Glaxo's third best-selling drug in 2006 with U.S. revenue of $2.2 billion, according to health care statistics firm IMS Health. But safety concerns swirling around the drug have pummeled sales over the last three years, with sales falling 75 percent to $520 million last year.

In 2007 an analysis of dozens of studies first linked the drug to heart attacks. The FDA responded by adding a warning label to the drug later that year.

Glaxo, based in London, has argued for years that Avandia's safety should be assessed only based on clinical trials, considered the gold standard of medical research.

But the FDA reviewer said Glaxo's chief trial "was inadequately designed and conducted to provide any reassurance" about the heart safety of Avandia.

The FDA holds a special two-day meeting starting Tuesday to help decide what course of action to take. A panel of outside physicians will consider a range of recommendations including:

- Adding more warning labels.

- Limiting which doctors can prescribe the drug.

- Pulling the drug from the market.

The FDA is not required to follow the advice of its outside panels, though it usually does.

The agency has been down this road before. In 2007 the FDA assembled the same group of experts to vote on the same drug. The group voted 22-1 in favor of keeping Avandia on the market.

New data on Avandia's risks and pressure from politicians have prompted the agency to re-examine the drug's safety.

Despite the reams of information posted online, the FDA's main problem remains one of too little data.

Avandia, like many other drugs of the 1990s, was approved based on relatively small studies in several thousand patients. While those studies were sufficient to show the drug helped control blood sugar levels - the key measure for diabetes drugs - they were not large enough to detect all of the drug's potential side effects.

"The problem is the drug wasn't studied in enough patients up front to know whether it causes serious cardiovascular events," said Dr. David Kessler, former FDA commissioner and now a professor at University of California at San Francisco. "And chasing that question after millions of prescriptions have been written leads to a lot of confusion."

Since 2009 the FDA has required longer, larger studies of diabetes drugs that include more high-risk patients.

Scientists have tried to get an accurate picture of Avandia's risks by pooling hundreds of thousands of data points from various sources.

The most recent such analysis was published last month and suggested Avandia is more likely to cause strokes and heart-related death than a rival drug, Actos, made by Japan-based Takeda Pharmaceuticals.

The paper's chief author, Dr. David Graham, an FDA scientist who wants the pill banned, estimated as many as 100,000 heart-related problems may have been caused by Avandia.

The study analyzed medical records of more than 225,000 elderly Medicare patients.

Graham first came to prominence for his role in publicizing the risks of the Merck painkiller Vioxx, which was pulled in 2004 from the market after showing links to heart attacks and strokes. He argued that lives could have been saved if the FDA had acted more swiftly.

The legacy of Vioxx and the political firestorm that followed will hang over next week's deliberations.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill already have painted Avandia as a test of the agency's competence and courage.

Senate Finance Committee ranking Republican Charles Grassley helped start the review of Avandia with an investigation that concluded GlaxoSmithKline tried to downplay the risks of its drug. Last week Grassley said the drug should be pulled from the market.

But former FDA officials say such political prodding hurts the agency's mission.

"Public policy decisions don't get made in a vacuum, and that's a reality of FDA decision making that everyone has to recognize," said Mary Pendergast, a former FDA deputy commissioner who now consults for companies. "But when members of Congress who are not scientists tell the FDA what to decide, I think that's hard for the FDA."

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Colorful Meals Are More Healthy

Posted Aug 2, 2010

Eating brightly colored fruits and dark green leafy vegetables can benefit your health, when consumed as part of an overall balanced diet. Colorful foods contain powerful antioxidants and phytochemicals which can protect cells against cancer and other degenerative diseases.

This week’s featured family meal and other recipes combine colorful fruits and vegetables with a variety of grains, low-fat milk and dairy products, lean meats and legumes as part of an overall healthy diet.

Color your family full this week with a meal of Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells, Lemon-Dill Carrots and Blues Buster Smoothies. Other colorful recipes to try this week include Avocado-Orange Salad with Romaine and Lime-Cumin Dressing, Pork Kebabs with Grilled Plums and Couscous, Summer Squash Casserole and Beef Enchiladas.

Be sure to register at MealsMatter.org to add these and other colorful recipes to your personalized family meal plan and shopping list.

“Family Meals Matter” features recipes selected by registered dietitians from the thousands of user-contributed recipes available at our free online nutrition and meal-planning website, Meals Matter (www.MealsMatter.org), sponsored by Dairy Council of California.

FEATURED FAMILY MEAL

Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells

24 Jumbo pasta shells (8 ounces)

11/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 onions, finely chopped

2 pounds Fresh spinach, trimmed and washed, or two 10-ounce packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

2 cups part-skim ricotta cheese

2/3 cup plain dry breadcrumbs

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided

1/4 teaspoon fround nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground pepper to taste

1 large egg white, lightly beaten

3 cups prepared marinara sauce, preferably low-sodium

Basic Tomato Sauce

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

Pinch of crushed red pepper

2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 teaspoon dried oregano

Freshly ground pepper to taste

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook shells in a large pot of boiling water, stirring often, until just tender, about 15 minutes or according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. If using fresh spinach, add it in batches and toss with tongs until wilted. Drain in a colander, pressing out excess moisture with the back of a spoon. Let cool. If using thawed frozen, add it to the onions and toss to mix well. Set aside.

Combine ricotta, breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup Parmesan and nutmeg in a bowl; mix well. Add the reserved spinach and season with salt and pepper. Stir in egg white.

Stuff each of the reserved shells with a generous 2 tablespoons of the ricotta mixture. Spread 1 cup marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange the stuffed shells in a single layer. Top with the remaining 2 cups of the sauce and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake until the top is golden and the shells are heated through, about 30 minutes. (If the top browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil.) Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Basic Tomato Sauce

Heat oil in a large heavy pan or Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and crushed red pepper; cook for 30 to 60 seconds. Add tomatoes, tomato paste and oregano; mash with a potato masher. Bring to a boil. Simmer, uncovered, over low heat, stirring frequently, until the tomatoes cook down to a thick mass, 45 to 55 minutes. Season with pepper.

Lemon Dill Carrots

8 medium-size carrots, scraped and diagonally sliced

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/3 cup water

1 teaspoon margarine

1/2 teaspoon dried dillweed

1/4 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1/8 teaspoon salt

Fresh dillweed sprigs (optional)

Preparation

1. Arrange carrot in vegetable steamer over boiling water. Cover; steam 2-3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Transfer carrot to a serving bowl and keep warm.

2. Combine cornstarch and lemon juice in a small saucepan, stirring until smooth. Add water; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.

3. Stir in margarine and next 3 ingredients. Cook, stirring constantly, until margarine melts.

4. Pour lemon juice mixture over carrots, and toss gently. Garnish with dillweed sprigs, if desired.

Blues Buster Smoothie

6 oz. blueberry yogurt

1/2 cup apple juice

1/3 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

1/3 cup frozen sliced peaches

5-6 ice cubes (approx.)

Preparation

Blend all ingredients with ice (amount of ice will vary depending on desired consistency). Pour into a glass and serve chilled.

SHOPPING LIST (Includes ingredients to make at least four servings of each Featured Family Meal recipe)

SPINACH AND CHEESE STUFFED SHELLS (With prepared marinara sauce)

24 jumbo pasta shells (8 ounces)

1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 onions, finely chopped

2 pounds fresh spinach, trimmed and washed, or two 10-ounce packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

2 cups part-skim ricotta cheese

2/3 cup plain dry breadcrumbs

1/2 cup freshly-grated Parmesan cheese, divided

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground pepper to taste

1 large egg white, lightly beaten

3 cups prepared marinara sauce, preferably low-sodium

LEMON-DILL CARROTS

8 medium-size carrots, scraped and diagonally sliced

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/3 cup water

1 teaspoon margarine

1/2 teaspoon dried dillweed

1/4 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1/8 teaspoon salt

Fresh dillweed sprigs (optional)

BLUES BUSTER SMOOTHIE

24 ounces blueberry yogurt

2 cups apple juice

1 1/3 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

1 1/3 cups frozen sliced peaches

20-24 Ice cubes

Other Featured Recipes

Summer Squash Casserole

http://www.MealsMatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/13140

Pork Kebabs with Grilled Plums and Couscous

http://www.MealsMatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/60788

Avocado-Orange Salad with Romaine and Lime-Cumin Dressing

http://www.MealsMatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/32085

Beef Enchiladas

http://www.mealsmatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/41715

—

For more healthy meal planning made simple, go to www.mealsmatter.org

—

© 2010, Dairy Council of California, MealsMatter.org.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

—–

Eating brightly colored fruits and dark green leafy vegetables can benefit your health, when consumed as part of an overall balanced diet. Colorful foods contain powerful antioxidants and phytochemicals which can protect cells against cancer and other degenerative diseases.

This week's featured family meal and other recipes combine colorful fruits and vegetables with a variety of grains, low-fat milk and dairy products, lean meats and legumes as part of an overall healthy diet.

Color your family full this week with a meal of Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells, Lemon-Dill Carrots and Blues Buster Smoothies. Other colorful recipes to try this week include Avocado-Orange Salad with Romaine and Lime-Cumin Dressing, Pork Kebabs with Grilled Plums and Couscous, Summer Squash Casserole and Beef Enchiladas.

Be sure to register at MealsMatter.org to add these and other colorful recipes to your personalized family meal plan and shopping list.

"Family Meals Matter" features recipes selected by registered dietitians from the thousands of user-contributed recipes available at our free online nutrition and meal-planning website, Meals Matter (www.MealsMatter.org), sponsored by Dairy Council of California.

FEATURED FAMILY MEAL

Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells

24 Jumbo pasta shells (8 ounces)

11/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 onions, finely chopped

2 pounds Fresh spinach, trimmed and washed, or two 10-ounce packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

2 cups part-skim ricotta cheese

2/3 cup plain dry breadcrumbs

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided

1/4 teaspoon fround nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground pepper to taste

1 large egg white, lightly beaten

3 cups prepared marinara sauce, preferably low-sodium

Basic Tomato Sauce

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, finely chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

Pinch of crushed red pepper

2 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 teaspoon dried oregano

Freshly ground pepper to taste

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook shells in a large pot of boiling water, stirring often, until just tender, about 15 minutes or according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. If using fresh spinach, add it in batches and toss with tongs until wilted. Drain in a colander, pressing out excess moisture with the back of a spoon. Let cool. If using thawed frozen, add it to the onions and toss to mix well. Set aside.

Combine ricotta, breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup Parmesan and nutmeg in a bowl; mix well. Add the reserved spinach and season with salt and pepper. Stir in egg white.

Stuff each of the reserved shells with a generous 2 tablespoons of the ricotta mixture. Spread 1 cup marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange the stuffed shells in a single layer. Top with the remaining 2 cups of the sauce and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake until the top is golden and the shells are heated through, about 30 minutes. (If the top browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil.) Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Basic Tomato Sauce

Heat oil in a large heavy pan or Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and crushed red pepper; cook for 30 to 60 seconds. Add tomatoes, tomato paste and oregano; mash with a potato masher. Bring to a boil. Simmer, uncovered, over low heat, stirring frequently, until the tomatoes cook down to a thick mass, 45 to 55 minutes. Season with pepper.

Lemon Dill Carrots

8 medium-size carrots, scraped and diagonally sliced

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/3 cup water

1 teaspoon margarine

1/2 teaspoon dried dillweed

1/4 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1/8 teaspoon salt

Fresh dillweed sprigs (optional)

Preparation

1. Arrange carrot in vegetable steamer over boiling water. Cover; steam 2-3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Transfer carrot to a serving bowl and keep warm.

2. Combine cornstarch and lemon juice in a small saucepan, stirring until smooth. Add water; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened.

3. Stir in margarine and next 3 ingredients. Cook, stirring constantly, until margarine melts.

4. Pour lemon juice mixture over carrots, and toss gently. Garnish with dillweed sprigs, if desired.

Blues Buster Smoothie

6 oz. blueberry yogurt

1/2 cup apple juice

1/3 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

1/3 cup frozen sliced peaches

5-6 ice cubes (approx.)

Preparation

Blend all ingredients with ice (amount of ice will vary depending on desired consistency). Pour into a glass and serve chilled.

SHOPPING LIST (Includes ingredients to make at least four servings of each Featured Family Meal recipe)

SPINACH AND CHEESE STUFFED SHELLS (With prepared marinara sauce)

24 jumbo pasta shells (8 ounces)

1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 onions, finely chopped

2 pounds fresh spinach, trimmed and washed, or two 10-ounce packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

2 cups part-skim ricotta cheese

2/3 cup plain dry breadcrumbs

1/2 cup freshly-grated Parmesan cheese, divided

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground pepper to taste

1 large egg white, lightly beaten

3 cups prepared marinara sauce, preferably low-sodium

LEMON-DILL CARROTS

8 medium-size carrots, scraped and diagonally sliced

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/3 cup water

1 teaspoon margarine

1/2 teaspoon dried dillweed

1/4 teaspoon grated lemon rind

1/8 teaspoon salt

Fresh dillweed sprigs (optional)

BLUES BUSTER SMOOTHIE

24 ounces blueberry yogurt

2 cups apple juice

1 1/3 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

1 1/3 cups frozen sliced peaches

20-24 Ice cubes

Other Featured Recipes

Summer Squash Casserole

http://www.MealsMatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/13140

Pork Kebabs with Grilled Plums and Couscous

http://www.MealsMatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/60788

Avocado-Orange Salad with Romaine and Lime-Cumin Dressing

http://www.MealsMatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/32085

Beef Enchiladas

http://www.mealsmatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/41715

---

For more healthy meal planning made simple, go to www.mealsmatter.org

---

© 2010, Dairy Council of California, MealsMatter.org.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

-----

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Child Supplement Considerations

Posted July 28, 2010

When my son was 4, I tried giving him nutritional supplements to make up for his appalling diet. I mixed fish oil into his orange juice. I let him eat candylike gummy multivitamins. And I stirred a chocolate powder containing 31 fruit and vegetable extracts into his milk.

It eased my worries, but experts disagree on whether supplements do any good.

“An appropriate diet should cover all needs,” said Dr. Steven Daniels, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ committee on nutrition. Parents of picky eaters may be concerned, he said, but the worry “is often misplaced because kids are growing and developing normally.”

But how many kids eat an “appropriate” diet? Dr. Kathi Kemper, who chairs the holistic and integrative medicine department at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, often recommends a multivitamin or fish oil which contains omega-3 fatty acids because “people have a funny idea what a healthy diet actually is,” she said. Surveys show that 99 percent of American children do not meet the recommended daily allowance for one or more essential nutrients, Kemper said.

If you do use supplements, look for children’s brands. Avoid large doses of anything; some nutrients, such as iron and vitamin A, can become toxic. Also note that supplements are not standardized and quality is not well-regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Here’s a guide to some of the more common supplements:

Multivitamins haven’t been shown to offer a tremendous benefit and aren’t recommended by the AAP, but they generally don’t hurt as long as they’re made for children and less than 100 percent of the daily recommended value. Gummy vitamins look and taste like candy; try brushing your child’s teeth afterward to avoid cavities, said registered dietitian Judith Dodd, a food and nutrition adviser and spokeswoman for the International Food Information Council Foundation.

Vitamin D: Studies have consistently shown that kids are not getting appropriate amounts of vitamin D in their diet, said the AAP’s Daniels. He added that it makes sense to take a multivitamin containing D. But scientists aren’t sure how much vitamin D children actually need. The AAP recommends 400 international units a day to prevent and treat rickets, a bone-softening disease. Dietary sources are limited but many foods are fortified with D. It’s also made by the body when the skin absorbs the sun’s rays.

Fish oil/omega-3′s: Kemper recommends fish oil for children who don’t eat fish two or three times a week. Children who have specific issues, such as high triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood that can raise the risk of heart disease), may need fish oil, said Daniels, but he doesn’t recommend it for the general population.

Liquid or powdered fruit and vegetable extracts: Whole fruits and vegetables are best. When choosing a supplement, much depends on how they are produced “because nutrients can be lost in the production process,” said registered dietitian Dee Sandquist, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. The biggest challenge, however, could be getting your picky eater to consume it in the first place.

Calcium: Children over age 3 are usually deficient in calcium: Only 15 percent of girls and 22 percent of boys meet the recommended intake levels, according to the federal dietary guidelines report. While a calcium supplement may be helpful, “milk has nine vitamins and minerals which provide an array of health benefits which a calcium supplement will not,” said Sandquist, who also recommends nondairy options (soy, almond, rice) or sources such as cereal and orange juice. But remember, it adds up: “We know about 500 milligrams is the right amount for absorption,” Dodd said. Anything more is excreted.

Iron: The AAP recommends 5 to 10 milligrams of iron for breast-fed babies. It should only be supplemented if needed for a medical condition, such as anemia, Sandquist said.

When my son was 4, I tried giving him nutritional supplements to make up for his appalling diet. I mixed fish oil into his orange juice. I let him eat candylike gummy multivitamins. And I stirred a chocolate powder containing 31 fruit and vegetable extracts into his milk.

It eased my worries, but experts disagree on whether supplements do any good.

"An appropriate diet should cover all needs," said Dr. Steven Daniels, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' committee on nutrition. Parents of picky eaters may be concerned, he said, but the worry "is often misplaced because kids are growing and developing normally."

But how many kids eat an "appropriate" diet? Dr. Kathi Kemper, who chairs the holistic and integrative medicine department at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, often recommends a multivitamin or fish oil which contains omega-3 fatty acids because "people have a funny idea what a healthy diet actually is," she said. Surveys show that 99 percent of American children do not meet the recommended daily allowance for one or more essential nutrients, Kemper said.

If you do use supplements, look for children's brands. Avoid large doses of anything; some nutrients, such as iron and vitamin A, can become toxic. Also note that supplements are not standardized and quality is not well-regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.

Here's a guide to some of the more common supplements:

Multivitamins haven't been shown to offer a tremendous benefit and aren't recommended by the AAP, but they generally don't hurt as long as they're made for children and less than 100 percent of the daily recommended value. Gummy vitamins look and taste like candy; try brushing your child's teeth afterward to avoid cavities, said registered dietitian Judith Dodd, a food and nutrition adviser and spokeswoman for the International Food Information Council Foundation.

Vitamin D: Studies have consistently shown that kids are not getting appropriate amounts of vitamin D in their diet, said the AAP's Daniels. He added that it makes sense to take a multivitamin containing D. But scientists aren't sure how much vitamin D children actually need. The AAP recommends 400 international units a day to prevent and treat rickets, a bone-softening disease. Dietary sources are limited but many foods are fortified with D. It's also made by the body when the skin absorbs the sun's rays.

Fish oil/omega-3's: Kemper recommends fish oil for children who don't eat fish two or three times a week. Children who have specific issues, such as high triglycerides (a type of fat in the blood that can raise the risk of heart disease), may need fish oil, said Daniels, but he doesn't recommend it for the general population.

Liquid or powdered fruit and vegetable extracts: Whole fruits and vegetables are best. When choosing a supplement, much depends on how they are produced "because nutrients can be lost in the production process," said registered dietitian Dee Sandquist, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. The biggest challenge, however, could be getting your picky eater to consume it in the first place.

Calcium: Children over age 3 are usually deficient in calcium: Only 15 percent of girls and 22 percent of boys meet the recommended intake levels, according to the federal dietary guidelines report. While a calcium supplement may be helpful, "milk has nine vitamins and minerals which provide an array of health benefits which a calcium supplement will not," said Sandquist, who also recommends nondairy options (soy, almond, rice) or sources such as cereal and orange juice. But remember, it adds up: "We know about 500 milligrams is the right amount for absorption," Dodd said. Anything more is excreted.

Iron: The AAP recommends 5 to 10 milligrams of iron for breast-fed babies. It should only be supplemented if needed for a medical condition, such as anemia, Sandquist said.

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High Glycemic Carbs and Cardiovascular Health

Posted July 16, 2010

There could be more heart- disease dangers in your diet than the usual suspects. By Paula Goodye

WHEN CONSIDERING which foods increase the risk of heart disease, you might think of fatty bacon rashers, but not a bowl of refined breakfast cereal. But to defend arteries from the thickening and hardening that can lead to heart disease and stroke, it might pay to be choosy about your carbs.

We’re all familiar with the standard dietary advice to head off heart disease – avoid saturated fat and trans fats in favour of healthier fats. But, according to Professor Jennie Brand-Miller of the School of Molecular Biosciences at the University of Sydney, there’s growing evidence that too many carbohydrates with a high Glycemic Index (GI) – the kind that cause rapid rises in blood sugar – may also contribute to heart disease.

The trouble with a diet heavy on rapidly digested carbohydrate foods – such as many white breads, refined breakfast cereals, processed snack foods, biscuits and potatoes – is their potential to increase levels of blood glucose. High levels of glucose are “toxic” to arteries, Brand-Miller explains. “Not only do they encourage plaque to form in the artery walls, they also cause inflammation that ages arteries, making them stiffer and less elastic, while also increasing the formation of blood clots.”

And it’s not just people with diabetes who are likely to have high blood glucose levels either – increasing numbers of Kiwis and Australians now have blood glucose levels that hover somewhere between normal and diabetic, and that’s not healthy.

“This isn’t saying that high GI carbohydrates are the only villain as far as arteries are concerned – it means we need to beware of both too much saturated fat and too many high GI carbohydrates,” says Brand-Miller. “It’s the quality of both carbohydrates and fat that influence heart health. Carbs and fat both taste good – but we have to be choosy about which type we eat.”

Some research also suggests women’s hearts may be more easily damaged by high GI carbs than those of men. A study recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that in women, but not men, a high carb intake more than doubled the risk of developing heart disease over an eight-year period. Eating more high GI carbs seemed to increase the risk, while eating more low GI carbs did not. But with men it was a different story – the amount of carbohydrate foods and their GI rating didn’t seem to matter – at least not to their heart health.

Why carbs should have an effect in women, but not men, isn’t clear, but Brand- Miller speculates that heart disease might develop in a different way in women compared to men.

“Some research has found that a predictor of heart disease in women is a high level of C-reactive protein (CRP), a substance measured in blood that’s a sign of inflammation. This low grade inflammation is probably a result of oxidative stress – and this fits in with the idea that a high GI diet can increase oxidative stress. A study at the University of Sydney has suggested that women may be more vulnerable to the effects of high GI carbohydrates on weight gain, but it’s only a hypothesis – we don’t know for sure.”

None of this is to say that you should never bake a potato or eat toasted Turkish but it does suggest it’s not smart to let refined carbs and potatoes dominate your diet. And not just for your heart’s sake either.

A broad mix of vegetables and eating denser, grainier breads delivers a lot more heart healthy nutrients and fibre.

There could be more heart- disease dangers in your diet than the usual suspects. By Paula Goodye

WHEN CONSIDERING which foods increase the risk of heart disease, you might think of fatty bacon rashers, but not a bowl of refined breakfast cereal. But to defend arteries from the thickening and hardening that can lead to heart disease and stroke, it might pay to be choosy about your carbs.

We're all familiar with the standard dietary advice to head off heart disease - avoid saturated fat and trans fats in favour of healthier fats. But, according to Professor Jennie Brand-Miller of the School of Molecular Biosciences at the University of Sydney, there's growing evidence that too many carbohydrates with a high Glycemic Index (GI) - the kind that cause rapid rises in blood sugar - may also contribute to heart disease.

The trouble with a diet heavy on rapidly digested carbohydrate foods - such as many white breads, refined breakfast cereals, processed snack foods, biscuits and potatoes - is their potential to increase levels of blood glucose. High levels of glucose are "toxic" to arteries, Brand-Miller explains. "Not only do they encourage plaque to form in the artery walls, they also cause inflammation that ages arteries, making them stiffer and less elastic, while also increasing the formation of blood clots."

And it's not just people with diabetes who are likely to have high blood glucose levels either - increasing numbers of Kiwis and Australians now have blood glucose levels that hover somewhere between normal and diabetic, and that's not healthy.

"This isn't saying that high GI carbohydrates are the only villain as far as arteries are concerned - it means we need to beware of both too much saturated fat and too many high GI carbohydrates," says Brand-Miller. "It's the quality of both carbohydrates and fat that influence heart health. Carbs and fat both taste good - but we have to be choosy about which type we eat."

Some research also suggests women's hearts may be more easily damaged by high GI carbs than those of men. A study recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that in women, but not men, a high carb intake more than doubled the risk of developing heart disease over an eight-year period. Eating more high GI carbs seemed to increase the risk, while eating more low GI carbs did not. But with men it was a different story - the amount of carbohydrate foods and their GI rating didn't seem to matter - at least not to their heart health.

Why carbs should have an effect in women, but not men, isn't clear, but Brand- Miller speculates that heart disease might develop in a different way in women compared to men.

"Some research has found that a predictor of heart disease in women is a high level of C-reactive protein (CRP), a substance measured in blood that's a sign of inflammation. This low grade inflammation is probably a result of oxidative stress - and this fits in with the idea that a high GI diet can increase oxidative stress. A study at the University of Sydney has suggested that women may be more vulnerable to the effects of high GI carbohydrates on weight gain, but it's only a hypothesis - we don't know for sure."

None of this is to say that you should never bake a potato or eat toasted Turkish but it does suggest it's not smart to let refined carbs and potatoes dominate your diet. And not just for your heart's sake either.

A broad mix of vegetables and eating denser, grainier breads delivers a lot more heart healthy nutrients and fibre.

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Mixed Health Messages

Posted July 9, 2010

It is summer vacation and, if the weather forecast is accurate, it is a perfect time to hit the beach, right?

Oh, but wait: Make sure you first cover up your head with a good shade hat and slather on plenty of sunscreen.

Hold that thought: Too much sun protection, it turns out, can deprive you of the Vitamin D necessary to build strong bones. And wait a minute, a new report finds that a lot of those lotions don’t work as well as advertised anyway. What’s more, all that gunk washing off is turning our oceans into the Gulf of Mexico.

Sheesh! What’s a responsible person to do?

The debate over sunscreen is among the many mixed messages we must sort out while muddling through life.

–Coffee helps stimulate energy and boosts alertness. Or, it’s an addictive drug that leads to all sorts of neurologic and gastrointestinal disorders.

–Reckless spending has driven the nation deeply into debt, so we must cut up our credit carts and begin saving for the future. Hold on! We’re putting too much money into bank accounts and not buying enough goods and services to support the economy. Merchants are losing business and people are losing their jobs.

–Seat belts save lives, and we will arrest you if you’re not wearing one while driving or if you don’t strap in young passengers — unless they’re riding in a school bus.

–Helmets also save lives, and the law says young people must wear them while riding bicycles. Adult bike riders, though, and motorcyclists don’t have to wear them, at least according to some states’ laws. Evidently they’re thickheaded.

–Apparently our kids goof off too much and don’t spend nearly enough time studying, so students in other countries are getting ahead of them. But what of all those warnings that hectic schedules involving soccer, piano lessons and long homework assignments never leave children time to learn how to have fun and simply play?

Perhaps the best advice comes from Aristotle: “All things in moderation.” Except some authorities say the celebrated Greek philosopher didn’t originate that phrase — Pascal did. Or maybe it came from the Bible.

Oh well, you get the idea.

To see more of The Day, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.theday.com.

Copyright © 2010, The Day, New London, Conn.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

It is summer vacation and, if the weather forecast is accurate, it is a perfect time to hit the beach, right?

Oh, but wait: Make sure you first cover up your head with a good shade hat and slather on plenty of sunscreen.

Hold that thought: Too much sun protection, it turns out, can deprive you of the Vitamin D necessary to build strong bones. And wait a minute, a new report finds that a lot of those lotions don't work as well as advertised anyway. What's more, all that gunk washing off is turning our oceans into the Gulf of Mexico.

Sheesh! What's a responsible person to do?

The debate over sunscreen is among the many mixed messages we must sort out while muddling through life.

--Coffee helps stimulate energy and boosts alertness. Or, it's an addictive drug that leads to all sorts of neurologic and gastrointestinal disorders.

--Reckless spending has driven the nation deeply into debt, so we must cut up our credit carts and begin saving for the future. Hold on! We're putting too much money into bank accounts and not buying enough goods and services to support the economy. Merchants are losing business and people are losing their jobs.

--Seat belts save lives, and we will arrest you if you're not wearing one while driving or if you don't strap in young passengers -- unless they're riding in a school bus.

--Helmets also save lives, and the law says young people must wear them while riding bicycles. Adult bike riders, though, and motorcyclists don't have to wear them, at least according to some states' laws. Evidently they're thickheaded.

--Apparently our kids goof off too much and don't spend nearly enough time studying, so students in other countries are getting ahead of them. But what of all those warnings that hectic schedules involving soccer, piano lessons and long homework assignments never leave children time to learn how to have fun and simply play?

Perhaps the best advice comes from Aristotle: "All things in moderation." Except some authorities say the celebrated Greek philosopher didn't originate that phrase -- Pascal did. Or maybe it came from the Bible.

Oh well, you get the idea.





To see more of The Day, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.theday.com.

Copyright © 2010, The Day, New London, Conn.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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