Posts filed under ‘Nutrition in the News’
Barbara’s Bulletin: New Dietary Guidelines Under Scrutiny
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the 106-page updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans at the end of January. Time Magazine reports today that many are lashing out against the new guidelines. Criticism ranges from anger on the advice to eat less food high in fat, saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol from food lobbyists, to anger from nutrition experts that the language used in the guidelines may be too scientific or complicated for the average American to understand and put into practice.
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) has even filed a lawsuit against the USDA/HHS because they feel the dietary guidelines should clearly state which foods should be avoided, not just which nutrients can be detrimental to health. PCRM contends that utilizing biochemical jargon like “solid fat,” or “saturated fat” when telling consumers what to avoid, does not translate well into helping consumers make healthy food choices. Instead, PCRM wants certain foods, particularly, meat and dairy products to be called out as sources of saturated fat, cholesterol, etc, that should be eaten sparingly in the diet. Although, the PCRM is a pro-vegan organization, and may just be trying to promote their agenda, other nutrition experts also have voiced that they wish the guidelines were more simple and clear. On the flip side, the Weston A. Price foundation, whose head is a great believer in the health of dairy products like raw milk, has come out against the guidelines because the villainize animal products. This foundation makes the argument that people will not feel full or satisfied without saturate fat or sodium-rich food.
Even in the midst of heated discourse on the release of the new guidelines, to most nutrition experts, it is clear that the government is finally starting to take the health of Americans seriously and has provided some great advice for healthier eating. Eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grain, and less saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium is a great way to get your diet on track. The New York Times released a great, simplified take on the dietary guidelines last week that can help you start to put some of its health message into practice.
Barbara’s Bulletin: Eggs Are Getting Healthier?
Our egg supply is getting more nutritious. New research released from the U.S. Department of Agricultural shows that eggs now contain less cholesterol and more vitamin D than they did in 2002. This news comes on the heels of the new dietary guidelines, which said that for healthy individuals, consuming 1 egg per day does not cause elevated blood cholesterol levels or increase cardiovascular disease risk.
Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture studied the nutritional make-up of eggs from 12 different areas around the country in order to update their website nutrition facts. The eggs they collected had 30mg less cholesterol and 25IU more vitamin D than the eggs they collected almost a decade ago. These changes in nutrient levels are most likely due to changes to animal feed or breeding practices. Farmers are now putting more vitamin D enriched feed to improve nutrient levels of their hen eggs.
The dietary guidelines state that individuals should aim for less than 300mg of dietary cholesterol per day, eggs are now 185mg, leaving more room for other food in the diet that contain cholesterol like fish or meat. Still it is important to note that consuming 2 eggs for breakfast, a typical portion size at restaurants provides more daily dietary cholesterol than recommended.
Barbara’s Bulletin: Food and Intelligence May Be Related
Feeding your children junk food may affect more than just their waistline. A new study featured on BBC News today shows that levels of intelligence are strongly linked to a healthy diet. Researchers at Bristol University used data from participants taking part in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children to access diet impact on intelligence and found surprising results.
Children were followed from age 3-8 with diet checks at ages three, four, six, and eight and a half and intelligence tests at age 8. The research revealed three types of eaters: those who ate mostly processed food, those on a traditional diet of meat, potatoes, and vegetables, and those who ate a more strict healthy diet of fish, vegetables, and fruit. In the end, there was a strong association with food intake and intelligence. Children who consumed a highly processed diet had slightly lower intelligence than the other two groups. Which means that even if your child isn’t eating an extremely healthy diet, just eating real, unprocessed foods is beneficial. These results were still valid even after taking into account other factors such as length of breastfeeding time, education level of mother, and social class.
Making sure you provide your child with healthy choices is important for their development. Although the study only showed a minor difference in intelligence, and further long-term study is necessary, incorporating more whole foods and fruits and vegetables into you and your family’s diet is always a good idea.
Barbara’s Bulletin: New Front Package Labeling Revealed
This week a large group of big name food producers and grocers unveiled their new plan, called Nutrition Keys, for labeling calories, sodium, saturated fat, and sugar on the front of their food products. These changes, expected to go into effect in the next few months, were in response to pressure from the Obama administration to provide a clearer picture of product nutrition to consumers. However, according to the New York Times, Michelle Obama, who was initially in full support of these labeling changes, ended up less enthusiastic about the final labeling outcome.
Food industry leaders from the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the Food Marketing Institute differed in opinion with the Obama administration due to their desire to also include front package information on valuable nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. Nutrition Keys permits food producers to include 2 beneficial nutrients, such as protein, iron, potassium, fiber, calcium, and vitamin A, C, and D, alongside the four icons showing level of calories, sodium, saturated fat, and sugar. The administration felt that it would be confusing for consumers to have unhealthy food hyped as rich in certain vitamins, for example, right next to information that it was excessively high in sugar or fat as well.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently discussing whether labeling laws should change, so until they release stricter guidelines, food producers will continue to get away with fortifying and disguising many unhealthy foods with vitamins and minerals. Still, as Michelle Obama said, providing information on the front of the package was a “significant first step.”
Barbara’s Bulletin: Wal-Mart to Offer More Healthy Product Choices
The largest grocer in the country will be making huge changes in the next five years. Lucky for Americans, this company overhaul will without a doubt affect and hopefully improve the health of our country. According to an article in the New York Times this week, Wal-Mart has promised that they will not only provide more healthy food choices, but that they will lower the often prohibitive price tags on fresh produce and whole grains.
Wal-Mart, working with Michelle Obama, has agreed to make their Wal-Mart product line 10% lower in sugar, 25% lower in sodium, and devoid of trans fat, as well as to exert pressure on big name food companies to provide them with products that follow these same guidelines. They will also absorb the extra costs of providing cheaper fruits, vegetables, and whole grain products, without causing any hardship for the farmers who supply these items. When these new changes are in place, Wal-Mart projects an annual savings of one million dollars for consumers buying fruits and vegetables.
Some people believe that Wal-Mart may not be going far enough with their new goals. Sugar-laden beverages, like soft drinks, will not be improved during this healthy food upgrade. Still, by providing healthier options and more of a monetary incentive to buy fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, Wal-Mart will hopefully help their shoppers make better choices and inspire their competitors to the same.
Barbara’s Bulletin: Mediterranean Diet May be Brain Boost
Want to slow down aging? Closely following a healthy diet, particularly the Mediterranean diet, may be the ticket to turning back the clock on cognitive decline. Many of the countries that border the Mediterranean have traditional diets that are rich in vegetables and fruits, whole grains, fish, and healthy fats like olive oil or nuts, with a moderate intake of alcohol such as red wine. Although this diet pattern has been shown in past studies to reduce the risk of heart disease, a study published in the New York Times this week suggests that adhering to this diet may also be associated with preserving our mental cognition as we age.
The study conducted by the Rush Medical College in Chicago tracked the changes in mental functioning of elderly participants over the course of three years. In the end, the strictest adherents to the Mediterranean diet had the brainpower of someone on average, 2 years younger. These results were true even when the study was controlled for obesity, smoking, education, hypertension, etc. Although more research still needs to be done on the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, eating less meat and incorporating more vegetables and whole grains into your diet is a great way to lower saturated fat and increase fiber intake, which are both important for heart health. For more information on the Mediterranean diet check out the American Heart Association’s information page on the subject. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4644
Barbara’s Bulletin: Antioxidant linked to decreased disease risk and longer life
Although Thanksgiving is a great time for celebrating friends and family, a well-cooked meal teaming with delicious vegetable side dishes also deserves accolades. According to the New York Times, this holiday, we should be thankful for orange vegetables in particular. A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at the association between the levels of alpha-carotene in our bodies, a type of antioxidant that is found in many orange fruits and vegetables, and our risk of dying from heart disease and cancer as well as having longer life span. The researchers discovered that individuals with the most alpha-carotene in their bloodstream had a 40% decreased risk of dying over the course of 6 years.
The study looked at results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey from 1988 to 1994, which surveyed more than 15,000 individuals on their nutrition status. Even participants in the survey who smoked, were overweight, or older had a better health outcome, including a decreased risk of cancer and heart disease, if they consumed a diet rich in alpha-carotene. Although more studies need to be performed to find out if consuming a lot of alpha-carotene in your diet is just another indicator of a healthy eater, or can actually promote health on its own, some studies have shown promising results in alpha-carotene inhibiting the growth of tumors in laboratories.
Fruits and vegetables that have alpha-carotene such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, squash, spinach, and broccoli, were probably featured dishes on your Thanksgiving table this year. But based on ongoing studies like this one, it’s important to make sure this group of delicious produce finds its way on to your plate everyday.
Barbara’s Bulletin: Resistance Training May Help Your Heart
Diversifying your exercise routine may improve your cardiovascular health. According to Business Week, a new study performed by researchers at Appalachian State University has shown that resistance training increases blood flow and has a more long-term affect on decreasing blood pressure after exercise than aerobic exercise. While aerobic exercise does not increase blood flow, it helps reduce arterial stiffness.
The study compared two exercise groups, one group cycled for 30 minutes, and the other did repetitions of 8 types of resistance training to look at cardiovascular effects associated with different forms of exercise. The authors of the study recommend incorporating resistance training into your daily exercise routine, especially if you are at increased cardiovascular disease risk to get the different benefits provided by both aerobic and resistance training exercises.
If you suffer from high blood pressure or out cardiovascular problems, make sure to consult a doctor before starting any type of exercise routine.
Barbara’s Bulletin: Happy Meals Becoming Less Happy
If a kid’s meal doesn’t meet specific nutrition guidelines, San Franciscans don’t want their kids eating them due to the allure of free toys. During the election this week, San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors voted to prohibit toys that accompany any meals that don’t meet required limits on sodium, calories, and fat. While the press, including the New York Times and CNN , pegged this more as an attack against McDonald’s happy meals, the restrictions apply to any restaurants that provide toys to children.
In San Francisco, the bill came in response to a study that found 30% of the kids in 5th grade were now overweight. The bill stipulates that restaurants have until December 2011 to improve the health contents of their meals or they must stop providing toy incentives. Guidelines include providing meals with less than 600 calories; with less than 35% of calories coming from fat; less than 640 mg sodium; less than 0.5 mg trans fat; and with at least ½ cup of fruit and ¾ cup vegetables.
As with all food, everything, including fast food, is fine if eaten in moderation. However, many Americans eat fast food meals once a day or more due to financial hardship, lack of assess to healthy food, or taste preference. If fast food restaurants continue to grow and offer more healthy options for kids and adults, it could have a huge effect on the growing obesity problem in our country. It will be interesting to see how successful this new initiative in San Francisco is and if these guidelines are expanded to the rest of the country.
Barbara’s Bulletin: Promising Alternative Therapy for Eating Disorder
According to an article in the NY Times published this week, an alternative therapy for the treatment of anorexia is gaining widespread support with eating disorder specialists. A family therapy approach, which demands a lot of time and assistance from a patient’s parents, has proven to substantially increase the chance of recovery and prevent remission of anorexia. Traditionally, patients are treated one-on-one with a therapist and family is not included in the treatment.
In the family therapy approach, also known as the Maudsley method, parents are required to be present during every mealtime and snack time to provide encouragement and support to the patient to consume a required amount of food. Siblings must leave the table when they finish eating and not interact with the child struggling with the eating disorder. In a recent research study that followed 121 adolescent girls with anorexia, 49% of those treated with the Maudsley method achieved full remission in 12 months, which was more than twice as many who succeeded with individual therapy. Even more significant, only 10% of patients treated with the Maudsley method relapsed, whereas 40% of the individual therapy patients did. Furthermore, many parents reported feeling grateful to be more involved in their child’s recovery.
If you, or someone you know struggles with an eating disorder, getting therapeutic support can help in recovery. For more information check out the National Eating Disorders Assocation website at: http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
