essentia nutrition

Lifestyle Intervention is More Effective Than Drugs for Preventing Diabetes

2008-08-18T16:39:00.000+01:00

More and more research is emerging to support the value of physical
activity and a healthy balanced diet as a part of your patients
programme. It is not always at the top of the list of changes to make
for your patients though. Maybe this can change their minds...

A pill for life? On yer bike...
In one study, 3234 non-diabetic patients with elevated glucose - a
high-risk population for developing diabetes - were assigned to either a
placebo, metformin or lifestyle modifications. Lifestyle intervention
was classified as a goal of at least 7% weight loss and at 150 minutes
of physical activity per week. The average length of time for follow-up
was 2.8 years. Results showed that after this time the incidence of
diabetes had been reduced by 58% in the lifestyle intervention group as
compared to the placebo whereas metformin group had reduced their
incidence of diabetes only 31%.1

This has been backed up by numerous other studies and one particular
study suggested that lifestyle interventions could reduce the incidence
of disease by 20% and delay the development of diabetes by 11 years as
compared to Metformin which only resulted in an 8% reduction in disease
and delayed onset of diabetes by 3 years.2

Another study of lifestyle interventions in people at high risk for type
II diabetes showed sustained lifestyle changes and a reduction in
diabetes incidence that remained after the individual lifestyle
counselling was stopped.

From the Nutri e-newsletter No. 113

Summer Survival Tips No.3 - Happy Snacking!

2008-08-18T16:38:00.000+01:00

Healthy snacks are essential for energy-hungry children to keep them
going all day long without those blood sugar peaks and troughs. Here's
a round-up of some of the best snacks to offer your little angels this
summer!

*
Chopped fruit salad - Apples, grapes, strawberries, blueberries,
kiwi and pineapple all work well in fruit salads. Combining this with a
dollop of natural yoghurt will help to slow the release of the natural
fruit sugars to help promote stabilised energy levels.
*
Cereal bars - There are now some fantastic tasty cereal bars on
the market that combine oats with dried fruit and natural fruit juices
without any added sugar, sweeteners or anything nasty or artificial in
them. Organix cereal bars and Lyme Regis Fruitus Bars are probably two
of the best on the market at the moment and make a fantastic, portable,
healthy snack for your children (or yourself!).
*
Popcorn - We're not referring to the salt / sugar-laden popcorn
usually found in cinemas - this is the make-it-for-yourself-at-home
healthy version! Most health food shops sell packets of popping corn
that provides entertainment and nourishment all in one! Making your own
popcorn at home is so easy and one of those things that never ceases to
amaze children as the huge fluffy corn emerges out of the tiny kernel
with a loud 'pop'. You can eat it warm out of the pan completely
unadulterated or drizzle some molasses or manuka honey on top to
increase the nutrient value. Why not have a video screening at home
with real popcorn in the interval?!!
*
Veggies and Dips - Why not try making your own home-made houmous
or guacamole (with your children for a lovely messy activity!) and then
add some sliced carrot, pepper or celery sticks for lots of dipping.
This snack is bursting with lots of nutrients and excellent for blood
sugar balance.

*
Fruit kebabs - anything where children get involved with making
their own food is usually a huge hit so why not try chopping up lots of
different types of fruit on a large plate and let them make their own
fruit kebabs on wooden skewers (watch younger children with sharp
skewers). The more brightly coloured and varied you can make your
kebabs, the more nutritious they will be, packed full of vitamin C and a
powerhouse of antioxidants.
*
Toasted seeds with honey and soy sauce - Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in
a frying pan and add a mixture of sunflower and pumpkin seeds (120g) for
about 2 minutes until lightly browned. Remove from the heat and add 1
tbsp honey and 1 tbsp soy sauce, return to the heat for 1 minute and
then leave to cool. This is an excellent snack for children to nibble
on and is packed full of those all-important essential fatty acids.
*
Grilled bananas on wholegrain toast drizzled with manuka honey -
this is rather a substantial snack, but you could cut it into smaller
squares for children to share as a tasty appetiser. Manuka honey is
fast gaining a reputation as a super food with its anti-bacterial
healing qualities now being recognised in some hospitals. Both
delicious and nutritious, manuka honey is an excellent food to include
in your children's diets.
*
Energy shake - liquidise together 1 ripe banana, ¼ pack silken
tofu (about 55g), ½ cup apple juice, 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds, 1
tablespoon flaxseed oil and ½ level tablespoon lecithin granules to a
smooth consistency and drink straight away. This is a supremely
nutritious smoothie packed full of protein, vitamins, minerals and
essential fatty acids - almost a meal in itself - a delicious and
healthy snack!

From the Nutri e-newsletter No. 113

Generalised pain linked to low vitamin D levels in women

2008-08-18T16:36:00.000+01:00

Dr. John Briffa writes in his e-newsletter:

In a past blog I wrote about how some individuals (usually women) present in practice with generalised pain in their bodies. Since getting interested in nutritional medicine, I discovered that the key underlying problem in many of these individuals was a deficiency of vitamin D. In practice, I have found that boosting vitamin D levels in these individuals often gives satisfying relief from chronic, generalised pain. I was therefore interested to read this week about a study which found that women suffering from generalised pain were at enhanced risk of vitamin D deficiency. For more on this study, as well as the sort of vitamin D levels that appear to be necessary to keep women pain-free, click this link

Two studies cast further doubt on the effectiveness of the BMI as a measure of health

2008-08-18T16:35:00.000+01:00

Dr. John Briffa writes in his e-newsletter:

Previously I have written about the evidence which shows that the body mass index (BMI) is pretty useless for assessing health status. Problems here include the fact that it takes no account of the body's composition, nor where any excess fat may be distributed in the body. This week saw the publication of two studies which cast further doubt on the usefullness of the BMI. One of these found that significant numbers of people with BMIs in the "overweight" and "obese" categories were "metabolically healthy" as adjuged by measures such as blood pressure and blood fat levels. The other one also found that being "obese" is not necessarily a sign that all is not well within the body. This evidence provides further support for the notion that being "overweight" or "obese" is not necessarily a bad thing. For more on these studies, click this link.

Summer Survival Tips No.1 - First Up It's the Fruit Brigade!

2008-08-04T19:58:00.000+01:00

The 'summer holidays' are here and we thought it might be helpful to
begin sharing a few foodie tips that might just help towards keeping
your children happy, calm and in tip-top shape all summer long......

First up, it's the best of the fruit brigade to feed your children:

Mangoes are a true wonder-food, loaded with beta-carotene, vitamin C and
E as well as phenols such as quercetin and small amounts of the full
spectrum of other vitamins and minerals. They are also an excellent
source of dietary fibre, which helps to eliminate wastes effectively
from the body and can relieve constipation. Mango hedgehogs are always
a (messy!) hit with children.

Pears make an excellent nutritious snack, rich in vitamin C and
potassium and although not well-researched scientifically, they are
considered to be one of the least likely foods to trigger an allergic
reaction. They are loaded with alkalising minerals, fibre and water,
all of which are helpful for poor digestion and constipation - symptoms
that often accompany food intolerances.

The saying 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' is now firmly grounded
in science and it is thus a good idea to encourage apples as part of
your child's staple diet. Apples are a wonderful source of fibre and
are perfect for a good gradual release of energy for children. If a
child finds eating a whole apple boring, why not try adding chopped
apple to fruit salad or cereal or try cooked apple for a change.

For a healthy, tasty snack try offering watermelons and / or orange
melons as they are a rich source of antioxidants and vitamin C. Try
blending watermelon, flesh and seeds, to make a quick refreshing drink
for your children and they will also get the nutrients that hide inside
the seeds such as zinc, which is essential for growth and immunity.

Kiwi fruits are fun for children to eat if you simply slice the top off
and let them scoop out the flesh with a teaspoon (just like a boiled
egg!). Weight for weight kiwis contain 50% more vitamin C than oranges
and that's just one of their immune-boosting antioxidants. They contain
other antioxidant phytonutrients, including flavonoids and carotenoids
and also contain potassium. Like most fruits kiwis are also a good
source of lubricating fibre.

Blueberries are increasingly renowned as a wonder-food and an appealing
fruit for little children. They are a dense concentration of
antioxidants such as vitamin C and anthocyanidins. The antioxidants in
blueberries have a particular propensity for protecting the eyes and the
skin and they may even help to support brain function.

Providing a variety of fruits is the key to a healthy diet, so use these
fruity tips along with your own favourites to provide as much variety as
possible; it's much healthier and they're much less likely to get bored too!

From the Nutri Supplement, No 111

Men with urinary symptoms may not have a prostate problem, but a nutrient deficiency

2008-08-04T19:56:00.000+01:00

When a man has difficulty urinating, medical attention usually turns to his prostate gland. However, another possible cause of urinary symptoms is an "overactive bladder". Here, a prominent symptom tends to be "urgency", usually experienced as a strong desire to urinate quickly that can lead to some incontinence. My experience in practice is that this problem is usually related to a deficiency in a key nutrient. To discover which nutrient, and what other common manifestations a deficiency in it are worth looking out for, click this link.

From Dr. Biffa's Newsletter

Study confirms garlic's blood pressure reducing effect

2008-08-04T19:55:00.000+01:00

Garlic is often promoted as having benefits for the cardiovascular system, and one mechanism by which it may exert some positive effects here is through an ability to reduce blood pressure. A previous review dating from 1994 yielded some encouraging results. Now scientists have brought the science up-to-date with a meta-analysis of all the relevant data including studies published since the last review. The results will make welcome reading to those who like to include garlic in their cooking or choose to supplement with this herb. For more on this, click this link.

From Dr. Biffa's Newsletter,

More dismal results from the great low-fat experiment

2008-08-04T19:53:00.000+01:00

The low-fat dietary paradigm might be firmly entrenched in our collective psyche, but the evidence for any benefits from this way of eating is spectacularly thin on the ground. One example of this is the Women's Health Initiative trial in which tens of thousands of thousands of women were asked to consume their usual diet or a diet which, among other things, was lower in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol. Previously published results from this study revealed that, after about 8 years of low-fat eating, women were no better off in terms of cardiovascular disease or cancer risk. And they were not significantly lighter than their free-eating counterparts either. Recently, further results were published from this study, this time the focus was diabetes. Can you guess the results? To have your worst suspicions confirmed, click this link

WARNING: Drinking too much water is bad for your health

2008-08-04T19:51:00.000+01:00

Patrick Holford writes in his Health e-newsletter:

"Water is the body's most vital nutrient - and most people don't drink
enough. However, you can drink too much, as the recent case of a woman
who claims to have been advised to drink 5 litres of water on a dodgy
'detox' diet, and suffered brain damage for overhydration as a result,
illustrates.

Drinking 10 litres in an hour can even kill you.

Some ecstasy-related deaths have occurred due to people, paranoid about
dehydrating, actually overhydrating. This dilutes the blood and causes
water to flood cells and organs.Cells in the brain can then swell up,
increasing pressure inside the skull. If vital regions of the brain are
compressed this can cause symptoms ranging from headaches to problems
with breathing or seizures.

But equally dangerous is drinking too little.

Drinking eight glasses of water - the equivalent of about 1.5 litres
(2.75 pints) - makes an enormous difference to how you feel, especially
your energy and mental clarity. Water does help to dilute toxic
by-products of food metabolism in the blood, for elimination via the
kidneys, so drinking water helps support kidney function. It's also
important to keep your body hydrated so that toxins are not reabsorbed
into your body from the bowel.

In this hot weather 1.5 litres (2.75 pints) of water a day is really a
minimum, especially if you exercise, you will need this much water to
replace the liquid you are losing as sweat. The maximum amount of
liquids drunk should be equal to the amount the kidneys can reasonably
excrete in 24 hours, and in adults this is about 2 litres (3.5 pints)
per day.

So, be aware that drinking more than you need, which is about 1.5-2
litres (2.75-3.5 pints) a day under normal circumstances, isn't better
for you and may be worse".

Why resistant weight loss may be due to hidden allergies

2008-07-21T20:51:00.000+01:00

Patrick Holford writes in his health e-news:

"Time and time again, I meet people who tell me that their excess weight vanished after discovering, and eliminating, their food intolerances. Mary is a case in point. She was intolerant to gluten grains, especially wheat, and also extremely sensitive to sugar. By eliminating these foods she lost 7 stone in weight.

Click here to watch a short video clip and see Mary's amazing story. .

The reason why food intolerance can lead to weight gain - and make it difficult to lose it despite going on reduced calorie diets - is complex but is starting to be unravelled.

The most common kind of food intolerance leads to the production of IgG antibodies, which activate an immune reaction when you eat an offending food. This, in turn, increases inflammation in the body, raising certain known markers for inflammation such as TNF-a and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Increased inflammation also increases water retention and bloating, as well as other classic signs of food intolerance such as aching joints, headaches, blocked nose, IBS and skin problems. However, these symptoms are often delayed by 24 to 48 hours, so it isn't easy to know what you react to just by observing how you feel after eating a particular food. Nor is it easy to work out what you're intolerant to just by observing how you feel by short-term elimination of the food. This is because some people get withdrawal symptoms when they eliminate certain foods they are intolerant too.

To make matters worse, some potential offending foods, especially wheat and milk, have an immediate pay-off by producing opiod-like chemicals called gluteomorphins and caseomorphines that make you feel good so, if anything, you are naturally drawn to these foods. The same is true with sugar which, in the short-term, promotes energy - but actually encourages inflammation and weight gain in the long-term.

The more foods you eat that provoke an IgG antibody reaction (identified by a simple allergy test), the worse it is for your health and your weight. Your immune system should not produce large amounts of IgG antibodies and, if it does, you are likely to suffer from some degree of general malaise and symptoms that just don't seem to shift, as well as resistant weight loss.

For example, a recent study found that obese children had much higher IgG antibody levels than children of normal weight.1 "Anti-food IgG antibodies are tightly associated with low grade systemic inflammation and with the thickness of carotid arteries," the authors of the study report. They conclude that having IgG antibody reactions may be involved in the development of both obesity and atherosclerosis, and that a diet based on eliminating IgG positive foods may be the way forward.

Inflammation also affects the gut, potentially making the gut wall more leaky or permeable, which, in turn, may increase food intolerances. So it becomes a vicious circle.

Yorktest laboratories, leaders in the field of food intolerance testing, have recently launched a home-test called the Body ID Plan , specifically designed to help you find out if any particular food intolerances are stopping you losing weight. That's step one.

Once you've identified what you are allergic to, and eliminated it, the next step is to improve your gut health. I recommend having a heaped teaspoon of glutamine powder in water last thing at night to help heal the gut, plus a probiotics supplement containing dairy and sugar-free acidophilus and bifido bacteria, such as Biocare's Bioacidophilus , to help restore healthy levels of gut bacteria. These are only necessary for a couple of weeks after eliminating your offending foods"

Omega-3 fat intake found to be associated with greater satisfaction from food

2008-07-18T19:24:00.000+01:00

One of the keys to successful weight loss is, I think, to eat a diet based on foods that are truly effective in satisfying the appetite (not all foods are). In the past, satisfaction from food has been associated with glycaemic index (the lower the better) and protein (the more the better). Recently, though, research has come to light that suggests that the so-called omega-3 fats found in oily fish such as mackerel, salmon and sardine, may be beneficial in this respect too. For more on this research, click this link.

Low-carb diet out-performs low-fat diet in the weight loss stakes

2008-07-18T19:22:00.000+01:00

Low-carb diet out-performs low-fat diet in the weight loss stakes

Whether a low-fat for low-carb diet is, overall, best for weight control is perhaps one of the most discussed, not to mention contentious, issues in nutrition. There are, in fact, several studies that have found low-carb diets to be generally superior to low-fat regimes in terms of weight loss. One such study was published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine. This two-year study found that not only was a low-carb diet better than a low-fat one in terms of weight loss, it also led to superior improvements in blood fat levels too. For more on this, click this link.

From Dr. Biffa's e-Newsletter

Organic Foods Are More Nutritious

2008-07-12T13:12:00.000+01:00

Evidence continues to build that the nutrient density of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables has been steadily declining in recent years, primarily due to what is known as the "dilution effect”, produced by intensive agriculture.

Changes in plant breeding and the extensive use of fertilizer and pesticides have all dramatically increased the amount of food available, but in the process, that food has become less nutritious. As a result many health professionals are recommending consumers opt for organic produce.

Since 2001 more than 40 new studies have been published comparing the nutrient value of conventionally produced and organic foods. The Organic Centre has recently produced a report detailing the results of their analysis of 97 published, peer-reviewed research, comparing the nutrient levels of organic and conventionally grown produce. The conventionally grown and organic foods assessed had been grown in similar soils and climate, equivalent irrigation systems and harvest practices were used. 11 nutrients were examined:

    * Four measures of antioxidants (total phenolics, total antioxidant capacity ,
      quercetin, kaempferol),
    * Three precursors of key vitamins (Vitamins A, C, and E),
    * Two minerals (potassium and phosphorous),
    * Nitrates (higher levels are a nutritional disadvantage),
    * Total protein.

Organic fruits, vegetables and grains were found to contain higher levels of 8 of the 11 nutrients analysed, including higher levels of polyphenols and antioxidants. Organic foods were found to be nutritionally superior in 145 comparisons, amounting to 61% of comparisons. In 25% of the 145 favourable comparisons, organic varieties were found to have nutrient levels above 31% higher than that of their conventionally grown equivalents.

The researchers concluded that the difference between the organically-grown and conventionally-grown foods documented in their report was not only consistent, but sizable enough to conclude that organically-grown foods (on average) are more nutritious. Neal Davies, a co-author of the report, noted: "there is also evidence that the nutrients in organically grown foods are often in a more biologically active form." To read a summary of the report click here.   .

There are many other reasons to buy organic. Organic food is free of the pesticide residues associated with conventionally grown produce and organic farming is arguably a more sustainable form of farming both environmentally and ethically.

For more information on organic farming visit the Soil Association website and the Organic Centre’s website.

From The Nutri Supplement No. 107

Elevated Homocysteine Levels Associated with Brain Ageing

2008-07-12T12:52:00.000+01:00

Homocysteine is a compound made from the amino acid (protein component) methionine. The compound is notorious for its apparent ability to degrade and inhibit the formation of the three main structural components of the artery, including collagen. Elevated blood plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) levels have been firmly linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and are also associated with an increased risk of dementia and stroke.

In a study involving 1,965 healthy, middle-aged subjects free of clinical stroke, dementia, and other neurological conditions affecting brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, higher tHcy levels were found to be associated with smaller brain volume and the presence of silent brain infarctions (asymptomatic areas of brain tissue damage). The authors conclude that homocysteine affects neurological health through impacts on brain cells themselves and blood vessel function.

Click here to view the study abstract.

Homocyteine can be converted back to methionine in a reaction dependant on the vitamins folate and B-12. Good food sources of folate include liver, vegetables (especially spinach and broccoli), pulses (especially chickpeas and lentils), fruits and their juices (especially oranges, kiwis and strawberries), fortified cereals and whole-wheat, vitamin B-12 is found only in animal products (meat, eggs, dairy and fish). Homocysteine can also be converted to another amino acid, methionine, in a reaction catalysed by two vitamin B-6 dependant enzymes. Good food sources of vitamin B-6 include baked potatoes, bananas, pulses (especially soy and chickpeas), oats, chicken, pork, avocado, salmon, peanut butter and eggs.

To ensure you meet your needs consider a supplement containing at least the recommended daily amounts of the vitamins, particularly if you are pregnant or elderly.

From the Nutri Supplement, Issue No. 107

Cocoa Shows Promise as Heart Healthy Food

2008-07-12T12:50:00.000+01:00

A new study has shown remarkable health benefits for cocoa in diabetic patients. Patients with diabetes are prone to cardiovascular complications, so this study set out to find whether cocoa could be used as part of a treatment plan for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients.

In the study, diabetic patients were given a high-flavonol cocoa to drink for one month and results showed that in this short time, blood vessel function went from severely impaired to normal. This improvement was as large as has been observed with exercise and many common diabetic medications.

Flavanols, being a class of flavanoids, are natural plant compounds, which are also found in tea, red wine and certain fruits and vegetables. It is believed that flavonols are directly responsible for the health benefits of cocoa.

A Note of Caution!
Whilst this study is excellent news, it is important to realise the vast difference between raw, unsweetened cocoa powder, which is high in antioxidant flavonols, and the common commercial cocoa drinks and chocolate products that are loaded with sugar and low in antioxidant content. To get the heart healthy benefits of cocoa you have to use the bitter, unsweetened cocoa powder (without the added sugar!). Dr Kelm cautions in the article that the message to take away from this study is not that people with diabetes should guzzle cocoa (or over-indulge in chocolate), but rather, that dietary flavanoids hold promise as a way to prevent heart disease.

Sources: Eurekalert May 26, 2008
From the Nutri Supplement, Issue No. 107

Green tea found to bring benefits that may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease

2008-07-12T12:46:00.000+01:00

Tea is a beverage which studies suggest may have benefits for health, including an ability to help protect against heart disease. Most of this research has focused on black tea. Recently, though, a study was published which focused on green tea (which is what black tea is made from) with regard to its effects on cardiovascular health. In this study, the drinking of green tea was found to lead to changes in the activity of arteries which are generally taken as a sign of reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. For more on this study, click this link.

Omega-3 fat supplementation found to improve brain function

2008-07-12T12:45:00.000+01:00

The so-called omega-3 fats found in oily fish have in several studies been linked with improved brain function, including a reduced risk of depression. These fats also appear to have some capacity to protect against dementia. In a recent study individuals with Alzheimer's disease or what is know as 'mild cognitive impairment' were treated with omega-3 fats to assess their effect on brain function. Despite the short duration of this study and small numbers, this study ended up providing some positive results which I write about in my blog on Wednesday. This study appears to provide more evidence that omega-3 fats have a critical role to play in brain function, and may help to preserve our mental faculties as we age. For more on this, click this link.

More evidence that waist size is a much better measure of health than the BMI

2008-07-12T12:43:00.000+01:00

The body mass index (BMI) is the standard and most commonly-used method for assessing body weight by health professionals, though there is quite a body of evidence which shows it is a generally useless marker for health. A better measure appears to be waist size, as this is a better gauge of excess weight around the midriff (the type of excess baggage most strongly associated with diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes). In a recent study which I blogged about on Monday, increased waist size was found to be associated with an increased risk of death, even in individuals deemed 'healthy' according to their BMI. For more on this story, click this link.

It's not just the salt that makes meat-substitute foods a thoroughly unhealthy option

2008-05-28T18:32:00.000+01:00

A few stories in the press this week highlighted the sometimes very salty nature of meat-substitute foods such as 'veggie'-burgers and sausages. My opinion of salt and its relevance to human health has mellowed somewhat over the years. I can honestly say that from a health perspective, I am more concerned about the base ingredients of such foods. Quorn is commonly employed here, and I wrote about its nutritional attributes (or rather, the lack of them) recently. The other major ingredient in meat-substitute foods is, of course, soy. Like Quorn, soy is often promoted as a positively healthy food. In Monday's blog I discuss some of the research which suggests that soy's 'health food' status is seriously misplaced. For more on this, click this link.

From Dr. John Biffa's e-newsletter

If vertical growth is hormonally driven, couldn't horizontal growth be too?

2008-05-28T18:24:00.000+01:00

If vertical growth is hormonally driven, couldn't horizontal growth be too?

You've heard it before and no doubt you'll hear it again: the only way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise more. And, mentally tagged with this, usually, is the idea that overweight individuals are gluttonous, or lazy, or both. Actually, not everyone (including me) takes this view. One 'new' theory about why people put on weight has recently been put forward Gary Taubes', author of The Diet Delusion (entitled Good Calories, Bad Calories in the States). Taubes' suggests that as people put on weight, hormonal imbalance drives them to eat more, which perpetuates the problem. Taubes likens this situation to the hormonally-provoked voracious appetites children and adolescents can exhibit when they're going through a growth spurt. Taubes' quite reasonably suggests that if vertical growth and appetite can be driven by hormones, why can't the same be true for horizontal growth? On Wednesday, I write about a recent study which appears to provide support for Taubes' quite compelling ideas. For more on this, click this link.

CoQ10 may reduce muscle injury in athletes

2008-05-16T18:24:00.000+01:00

**Exciting new research for elite athletes has shown that supplements of
CoQ10 may reduce the occurrence of muscular injuries.

This new research was carried out in Japan and adds to an
already-growing body of research to support the use of CoQ10 in sports
nutrition.

The double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that levels of markers
associated with increased wear and tear in the muscle, like creatine
kinase and lipid peroxide, were significantly lower in elite Japanese
kendo athletes after consuming co-enzyme Q10 for 20 days, compared to
placebo.

/"These results indicate that CoQ10 supplementation reduced
exercise-induced muscular injury in athletes,"/ concluded the researchers.

The underlying mechanism appears to be due to the antioxidant potential
of the coenzyme, suggest the researchers, although further research is
necessary to confirm these findings.

Researchers from University of Tsukuba, University of Tokyo, and Kobe
Gakuin University reported their findings in the British Journal of
Nutrition.

Source: British Journal of Nutrition
Published online ahead of print, doi:10.1017/S0007114508926544
/"Reducing exercise-induced muscular injury in kendo athletes with
supplementation of coenzyme Q10"
/Authors: M. Kon, K. Tanabe, T. Akimoto, F. Kimura, Y. Tanimura, K.
Shimizu, T. Okamoto, I. Kono

From the Nutri Supplement, issue 101

MEP’s Support Plans to Ban Unnecessary Colours in Children’s Foods and Drinks

2008-05-16T18:23:00.000+01:00

**Last year's publication of the Southampton study, which linked certain
additives to hyperactivity, has fuelled national and international
debates on their use. Food additives are now well and truly in the
media spotlight with consumers demanding that action be taken to
restrict their unnecessary use.

The Southampton study, published in The Lancet last year, looked at the
effect of mixes of additives on a range of children aged between three
and nine and drawn from general population and across a range of
hyperactivity and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
severities.

Mix A contained sunset yellow, tartrazine, carmoisine, ponceau 4R and
sodium benzoate. Mix B contained sunset yellow, quinoline yellow,
carmoisine, allura red and sodium benzoate.

The researchers concluded that artificial food colours and additives
exacerbate hyperactive behaviour in children at least up to middle
childhood.

For anyone interested in the health of their children, it is welcome
news that now the EU Environment Committee has advised that sweeteners
and colourings in food aimed at children should be banned, while
additives should only be used if they provide an advantage to the consumer.

The new European proposal states that a food additive may be authorised
only /"if it is safe in use, if there is a technicological need for its
use, if its use does not mislead the consumer and if it has advantages
and benefits to him". /

In addition, /"food additives would be completely banned in unprocessed
food, as would sweeteners and colours in food for babies and small
children"/.

The proposals must now be agreed on by the plenary session of the
European Parliament in Strasbourg in July, and by the governments of the
member states.

Should the proposals be accepted and controls on the use of additives
made stricter, it could have far-reaching effects across the industry,
requiring huge investment in time and money to adapt products to meet
new regulations. Many companies have already started to take action as
a response to the growing concerns from consumers.

Lancet. 2007 Nov 3;370(9598):1524-5. /Food additives and hyperactive
behaviour in 3-year-old and 8/9-year-old children in the community: a
randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. McCann D, Barrett
A, Cooper A, Crumpler D, Dalen L, Grimshaw K, Kitchin E, Lok K, Porteous
L, Prince E, Sonuga-Barke E, Warner JO, Stevenson J./ School of
Psychology, Department of Child Health, University of Southampton,
Southampton, UK.

From the Nutri Supplement, issue 101

DHA Supplementation May Improve the Comprehension and Vocabulary of Young Children

2008-05-16T18:22:00.000+01:00

**DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, is the primary component of the fatty
membrane surrounding neurons. Its structure keeps the membrane flexible,
allowing messages to travel easily between neurons.

The potential link between improved omega-3 fatty acid status and better
cognitive performance has generated a great deal of excitement. DHA and
EPA, the active forms of omega-3, can only be obtained directly from
oily fish such as mackerel, sardines, salmon and pilchards; these foods
rarely feature in children's diets. So far, no high quality research has
been conducted to examine the effects on learning when supplementing the
diets of healthy children with fish oil. A newly published
randomised-controlled trial provides some evidence.
In the study 175 healthy 4 year olds were randomly assigned to receive
either 400mg of DHA or a placebo daily for four months. None of those
involved in the study were aware of which children were receiving the
active treatment, until the end of the four months. A number of tests of
cognition were carried out at the beginning and at the end of the four
months: Leiter-R Test of Sustained Attention, Peabody Picture Vocabulary
Test, Day-Night Stroop Test, and Conners' Kiddie Continuous Performance
Test.

Initial statistical analysis did not reveal any significant differences
between the two groups. When regression analysis was conducted, however,
a positive association was observed between blood levels of DHA and
scores on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, a test of listening
comprehension and vocabulary acquisition. Regression analysis is a
statistical tool to ascertain the effect of one variable, such as DHA
levels in blood, on another, such as cognitive performance.
This study is promising preliminary evidence of the efficacy of fish oil
supplementation in improving aspects of cognitive function in some children.

Click here
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18180340?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum>to
view the abstract

From the Nutri Supplement, issue 100

Focus On....Asparagus

2008-05-16T18:20:00.001+01:00

Asparagus is at the peak of its season in the warming spring months of
April and May. This delicate tasting vegetable is surprisingly versatile
and very nutritious.

*Nutritional Profile*
Asparagus is a rich source of folate, just the equivalent of a cup
provides approximately 263mg. Pregnant women need 400mg daily. A cup
of asparagus also contains 288mg of potassium. Adults need 3,500mg each
day. This high potassium content, combined with the active amino acid,
asparagine, gives the vegetable a diuretic effect. Historically,
asparagus has been used to treat problems involving swelling, such as
arthritis and rheumatism. It may also be useful for PMS-related water
retention.

*Asparagus is also Rich in Vitamin K, C and Fibre*
Asparagus contains the carbohydrate inulin, which provides food for the
beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, in the
gut. Asparagus also contains phytonutrients called anthocyanins that
give it its purple colour.

As part of a balanced diet, rich in fresh produce, nutrients and fibre,
asparagus can help prevent chronic disease, including heart disease and
cancer.

*Recipes*
Asparagus should be cooked in the minimum of water to preserve the water
soluble nutrients and flavour. It is perfect served lightly steamed with
a knob of butter alongside grilled salmon or chicken, boiled new
potatoes and a watercress, tarragon or hollandaise sauce. Try it with
poached eggs topped with parmesan cheese or maybe add it to a risotto,
omelette or stir fry. It can also be eaten raw - try it with a garlic
mayonnaise dip.

Study Finds Turmeric Beneficial for Diabetics

2008-05-16T18:20:00.000+01:00

**A new study has found that curcumin may be especially beneficial for
diabetics.

Over the years studies have shown potential benefits for curcumin for
reducing cholesterol levels, improving cardiovascular health, reducing
the risk of Alzheimer's, and potential protection against cancer. And
now it seems there may be another benefit to add to this already
extensive list.

Curcumin is the natural colour pigment that makes turmeric yellow. The
recent study tested its effects on various variables and reported
significant improvements for insulin resistance and glucose tolerance.

If results of the new study, published in the journal Molecular
Nutrition & Food Research, can be repeated in humans, it may suggest
potential for the spice for diabetes management or prevention.

*Source: Molecular Nutrition & Food Research
*Published online ahead of print 8 April 2008, doi: 10.1002/mnfr.200700184
/"Effect of curcumin supplementation on blood glucose, plasma insulin,
and glucose homeostasis related enzyme activities in diabetic db/db mice
(p NA)"
/Authors: K.-I. Seo, M.-S. Choi, U.J. Jung, H.-J. Kim, J. Yeo, S.-M.
Jeon, M.-K. Lee

From the Nutri Supplement, Issue 100