The Gap in Life Expectancy

"There is a big gap between 'total life expectancy' and 'healthy life expectancy'," Professor David Richardson, scientific adviser to the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN UK), is quoted saying in this recent article.

Professor Richardson points out in his new report that as people age their energy intake declines, making it much more difficult to ensure the micronutrient intake of diet as a whole. Such a deficit in micronutrient intake offers an opportunity for food supplements.

The report focuses on a wide range of health conditions and how the diet and micronutrients may offer protection, including cognitive function, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, cancer, cognitive function, gut health and immunity, and bone and joint health.

If more attention was placed on improving healthy ageing, the potential economic, health and social burdens could be reduced, said Richardson.

The report, titled "Nutrition, Healthy Ageing and Public Policy", will be available at the "International Perspectives on Dietary Supplement Regulation" workshop on April 17, at Yokohama in Japan, and organised by the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations’ (IADSA) to address the evolution of dietary supplement regulation.

The elderly currently make up 10 per cent of the global population – a figure that is expected to double by 2050, placing increasing demands on public health systems and medical and social services. In 2005 the World Health Assembly addressed the issue by adopting a resolution to strengthen and promote active and healthy ageing.

According to IADSA's healthy ageing report, evidence supports the premise that good nutrition, specific nutrients and other food substances can play a major role in maintaining and enhancing physical and mental performance.

Taking the example of omega-3 fatty acids, Prof. Richardson pointed out that it is "almost impossible" for the elderly population to achieve the recommended intakes from the diet, based on current consumption.

“Increases in healthcare expenditure will outpace economic growth in many countries, so health professionals and policymakers will need to give greater priority to maximising the quality of life of older people and to ensuring the most cost-efficient methods of nutritional support,” said Professor Richardson.

“Healthcare strategies, including the wider use of food supplements, could favourably modify the age-related decline in most organ functions and the development and progression of many chronic diseases.”

Meanwhile, here in the USA, physician and alternative medicine veteran Dr. Julian Whitaker, who runs the Whitaker Wellness Institute in Newport Beach, California, pitted mainstream medical practice and the pharmaceutical industry against the potential of the dietary supplement industry to act preventatively.

In this article, he said the medical establishment sets the definitions of disease so that more and more people fall within diseased ranks and need to be medicated.

"You create the conditions, you sell the conditions...," United Natural Products Alliance executive director Loren Israelsen said in his introductory comments. "Whoever defines these terms is likely to win the game."

So far, pharmaceutical companies and their political clout are winning the game, while the public and the dietary supplement industry lose, according to Whitaker.

...Whitaker cited that in 2004, the US spent $1.9mn on national health care expenditure and this figure is set to double over the course of the next decade. Despite this colossal investment, Americans rank 22nd out of 23 countries in terms of their health.

"In order to get people to take these drugs, they have to create fear," said Whitaker, pointing-out that pharmaceutical companies spend $4bn yearly on direct-to-consumer marketing in the US The only other developed country that permits such a practice is New Zealand.

Interestingly, the FDA is currently looking to increase regulations/guidelines on both "supplements" and "funtional foods." More on that in a future post here at BLV Health Watch.

Update on March 2007 USA Food Recalls

There are a few very large recalls underway in the USA that consumers should be aware of:

1. U.S. Chicken Breast Recall (link):

Carolina Culinary Foods, a West Columbia, S.C., firm, initially recalled 52,650 pounds of fully cooked chicken breast strips on Feb. 18 because of possible bacterial contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The FSIS said the expansion of the recall of 6- and 12-ounce packages distributed to retail establishments nationwide was based on additional sampling initiated by Kraft Foods and conducted at a non-government laboratory.

The FSIS said the front of each recalled package bears the establishment number "P-19676" inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture mark of inspection. Each recalled package also has a "Use by" date of earlier than "28 MAY 2007."

The expanded recall totals approximately 2.8 million pounds.

2. Summer Sausage Recall (link) in some States:

Sixteen-ounce packages of "RESER'S FINE FOODS, Premium BEEF SUMMER SAUSAGE, Natural Smoke Flavoring Added" -- distributed to retail stores in Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington -- are being voluntarily recalled by the Hempler Foods Group of Ferndale, Wash., owing to the presence of the presence of milk protein (hydrolyzed sodium caseinate), a potential allergen.

Each label bears the establishment number "EST. 6410" inside the USDA seal of inspection. Each package also bears a "Sell by" date of "3/13/07," "3/18/07," "4/25/07," "5/16/07," "6/16/07" or "8/27/07."

3. Ground beef recall (link) in western U.S.:

Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. of Wallula, Wash., is recalling approximately 16,743 pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service says the ground beef was distributed in Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Utah in 60-pound boxes, each containing six 10-pound chubs of "ROUND, COARSE GROUND BEEF, 85/15." The box end also bears a label with the establishment number "Est. 9268" as well as a "BEST BEFORE OR FROZEN BY" date of "03/08/07" and packaging date "02/16/07."

Selenium, B6 and B12

We'd like to follow up our "Folic Acid story" with the following - to balance things out a bit...

Yet another study has been released implicating B12 deficiencies -- or more accurately, linking low selenium, B6 and B12 to increased age-related difficulties:

Researchers from Cornell University have linked low serum concentrations of selenium and vitamins B6 and B12 to age-related difficulties in conducting in daily activities, leading them to conclude that nutritional status is a key factor in helping people live an active life for longer.

...The study, entitled “Low micronutrient levels as a predictor of incident disability in older women”, defined disability in activities of daily living as self-reported difficulty in performing two or more activities such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring and eating. Read full story here.

And as I mentioned in my previous post, the fortification of grains with folic acid could mask a B12 deficiency. Not good news for the large group of aging baby boomers.

Currently, approximately seven million people over the age of 65 in the US are disabled. But, with baby boomers accounting for nearly 30 percent of the American population and inching closer to 65, this looks set to rise dramatically. Catering to this age group is a major focus for the nutritional products industry.

Folic Acid - the Evidence?

When the news first came out in 1998 about the US' and Canada's plans for the mandatory fortification of grain products with folic in a bid to reduce incidences of neural tube defects in babies, I admit -- we stood among the skeptics.

Why? Because of the B12 deficiency problem that comes with it which, if unaddressed, can lead to dementia. Particularly prevalent in older people, it has identical symptoms to anaemia caused by folate deficiency – but while folic acid will remove these symptoms, it won't address the lack of B12.

"If folic acid impedes diagnosis, it could result in neurological damage."

Jess Halliday, editor of NutraIngredients.com and NutraIngredients-USA.com, has stepped up to weigh in on the other side of the issue ...with new evidence on the pro-fortification side.

Although we here at BLV remain cautious on the subject, since baby boomers are entering their "golden years," and more care needs to be taken regarding the health of this extremely large part of the world's population... still, it's worth checking into news from the other side of the fence on the issue. Visit through this link to read what Jess has to say on the positive side of the subject.

Benzene Update - further evidence of a cover-up?

"As I see it, every day you do one of two things: build health or produce disease in yourself." -- Adelle Davis (1904 - 1974), American pioneer in the field of nutrition

The quote above brings to mind how important it is for all of us to develop healthy habits. But, there are many challenges facing us today that go beyond what we are in control over when it comes to building our own health.

The recent salmonella in spinach disaster that happened here in the USA is one example. We eat spinach because we believe it is good for us... we have no control over whether or not it is coming to us in a contaminated form.

And as much as we'd like to trust (in fact, NEED to trust) the FDA and the USDA for our safety as it pertains to the food supply chain, it gets to be very difficult when incidents like the benzene situation are uncovered.

We've written about it on a few occasions at BLV Health watch: like here, and here and now yet another article comes out about a benzene cover-up. In the article, published by BeverageDaily, they write:

Cadbury Beverages, now Cadbury Schweppes, privately withdrew its Diet Orange Crush drink in five regions in the US in 1990 because tests found some products with benzene several times above the acceptable limit. Benzene is a cancerous chemical. ...The revelation, confirmed by newly released official documents passed to BeverageDaily.com, raises new questions about the seriousness of the benzene in soft drinks problem.

The article even provides info given by the FDA on the subject:

“Levels of benzene formed are highly variable with treatment, but ranged from four ppb to several hundred ppb,” an FDA memo dated January 1991 says. “Even sitting at room temperature in the dark yield [sic] low benzene levels after one or more days.” Heat and light exposure rapidly increased benzene formation.

And a final comment in the article:

“It's outrageous that when a known carcinogen such as benzene was found in popular USA soft drinks, neither the beverage industry or FDA notified consumers,” said an ex-Cadbury scientist, who approached BeverageDaily.com alongside lawyer Ross Getman about the benzene in soft drinks problem.

Fast forward to the recent samonella-spinach scare...

It's been known for quite some time that bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella can be absorbed by plants -- particularly radish, lettuce, spinach, and root vegetables such as carrots.

Some clinical studies believe manure from large factory farms are the cause of these microbes getting into our fresh produce (owing to the higher likelihood of microbes being present in the manure from factory farms). A few older studies, some of which were ordered by the USDA, Dept. of Ag and other related government bodies responsible in whole or in part for our food safety, cleary show a direct connection to factory farming methods and increase in spread of E. coli and salmonella -- particularly at slaughterhouses/packing plants -- and in our meats.

The recent recall of hams and turkeys right before Thanksgiving dinner here in the USA (and which may have been contaminated with Listeria) might give us a few uneasy moments to pause and think: is our food really safe?

Now, for the most part, meats are generally cooked.

But fresh produce, such as lettuce, spinach, carrots, etc. are often used raw in salads. When the bacteria is "absorbed" by produce, (in one rumored report, it occurred due to spread of manure received from a factory farm -- used to fertilize their produce in order to apply the "organic" label to their products) I daresay no matter how hard you wash it, I doubt you can guarantee the removal of all the microbes. The worst part? Not knowing if those microbes are present or not.

We'll be bringing you some very important articles and news on this subject in the New Year ahead. More updates on other subjects coming soon.

Until then, be safe, be well, and be careful out there.

Changing the health and wellbeing of all Americans

Byron J. Richards, Founder/Director of Wellness Resources, is a board-certified clinical nutritionist and nationally renowned health expert, radio personality, educator and author. And according to a recent article, he's not too happy with the changes ahead for the health and wellbeing of Americans:

"Looking back in ten, twenty, or fifty years there will be a new congressional inquiry. This one will be centered on the massive numbers of deaths of Americans at the hands of Big Pharma and the FDA. It will make the Vioxx scandal look like a Sunday afternoon picnic. The congressional leaders, under pressure from millions of adversely affected patients and families of the injured, will be forced to examine the sordid monopoly of healthcare in America."

The article is worth a quick read.

Preventing another Vioxx mess?

The Associated Press reported today:

The Food and Drug Administration and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have agreed to develop an automated system to detect unanticipated problems with prescription drugs and medical devices.

The current system relies on the largely manual assessment of reports voluntarily submitted to the FDA, sometimes months or years after an event has occurred (reference the Vioxx recall). The new automated system is intended to recognize patterns and alert problems much quicker.

New Research Underway on Tick-Borne Illnesses

Scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center in the USA have received a $2 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease to investigate if increased intake of antioxidants can protect against tick-borne illnesses.

-- Rocky Mountain spotted fever (potentially life threatening) caused by the parasitic bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii.

-- Mediterranean Spotted Fever (also called Boutonneuse fever), caused by Rickettsia connorii (usually transmitted by dog ticks)

The science team, led by Sanjeev Sahni, are investigating the role that antioxidants, like alpha-lipoic acid, vitamins C and E, and antioxidants found in green tea, might play in preventing the rickettsia bacteria.

Visit through this link to read the full details of this story.

Government WIC Nutritional program to be revised

The US government has proposed that its Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutritional program should be revised for the first time in over 25 years in order to better reflect the Dietary Guidelines for Americans... which would add fruit, vegetables and whole grains to the WIC packages for the fist time.

What is WIC?

Being pregnant or beastfeeding a baby is a big job. And the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) was designed to help. If you have a low income, or no income, and: you are pregnant or have recently given birth, and you have a nutrition or health problem ...then you might qualify for this no cost service available in most USA States.

WIC provides at no cost:
- nutritious foods to supplement your diet
- information on healthy eating
- and referrals for health care

The current proposed rule would implement the first comprehensive revisions to the WIC food packages since 1980.

Inventions: sucking the caffeine out of coffee

US-based Decaf Company is ready to licence newly developed polymers that can be used to control or remove caffeine content in all beverages as they are served, according to an article posted 27/07/2006 on FoodQualityNews.com

The polymers, known officially as molecularly-imprinted polymers or MIPs, can be attached to either a stirrer or cup. When used in a beverage the MIPs then bind caffeine molecules to them, removing them from the drink itself. DeCaf said a few stirs could cut caffeine by up to 70 per cent.

Most coffee beans are decaffeinated using chemicals that soak up the caffeine molecules, which can also dampen flavour and aroma. According to DeCaf Company, its new polymers could decaffeinate coffee without altering the coffee beans or tea leaves and without the use of chemicals.

Nutrition and eye health

Ever wonder about your vision "Eye-Q"? The American Optometric Association (AOA) website has an excellent quiz to help you determine how much you know about eye health and what you can do through diet/nutrition to keep your eyes healthy.

"Research has shown that nutrition can impact the development of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which are the two leading causes of blindness and visual impairment among millions of aging Americans. Nutrition may be particularly important given that currently, treatment options after diagnosis for these eye diseases are limited." AOA Website

Visit this link to take the quiz.

Volatile organic compound discovered...

Watch out for a volatile organic compound called 1,4 dichlorobenzene (1,4 DCB) ...it's a common ingredient found in many air fresheners, toilet bowl cleaners, mothballs and other deodorizing products, and new research indicates it may cause modest reductions in lung function.

Even a modest reduction in lung function can be extremely dangerous, especially for children who may have asthma or other respiratory illnesses.

1,4 DCB, is a white solid compound with a distinctive aroma, similar to mothballs. It is typically used primarily as a space deodorant in products such as room deodorizers, urinal and toilet bowl blocks, and as an insecticide fumigant for moth control.

The USA Dept. of Health and Human Services issued the News Release regarding new research confirming 1,4 DCB dangers through NIEHS on July 27, 2006. Click through this link to read the full news release.

ABC News, TIME Magazine, TODAY Show all have goji in common

At 7/24/06 - 8:45 AM (edt) "Today Show" style consultant, Bobbie Thomas on WHAT's HOT in America this summer showcased goji berries. Sitting on the table in front of her was a bottle of our own preferred best source of goji, Himalayan Goji Juice.

This month alone, the news about goji berries has appeared:

- in bookstores nationwide featured on the cover of "Breakthroughs In Health"

- in a recent press release featuring the "Running the Sahara" ultra long distance runners

- in a Time Magazine article

- in an ABC News story

- and now, the Today Show...

But here's the thing I'd like to point out. Goji juice's benefits are cumulative... meaning that the longer you drink it, the more likely you are to see results.

In nutrition ...in fact, in health in general... consistency is the key.

If you think one bottle (or one bag of dried berries) is going to change the cumulative effects of everything you've done over the years to your b^ody, think again. Nothing is truly a "magic" cure-all.

That being said, goji juice definitely is one powerful punch to put you on the right path to positive well being!

Oh... you haven't tried it yet? Why not?


Tags: goji free goji report goji reviews goji berry goji juice goji plant goji benefits goji products goji berries

FDA Warning - Impotence Dietary Supplements

The FDA has warned consumers not to buy/use 7 dietary supplements sold online to treat impotence and enhance sexual performance, stating they are unapproved, illegal and risky.

The list includes products, which FDA testing show contain active drug ingredients which in the USA, are available only by prescription.

The 7 products are: Zimaxx, Libidus, Neophase, Nasutra, Vigor-25, Actra-Rx and 4Everon.

Chemical analyses showed the products contain either chemical ingredients that are similar to sildenafil or a second drug called vardenafil, the FDA said. The FDA has sent warning letters to the product marketers banning their products as illegal drugs.

The MayoClinic reports:

They contain potentially harmful drugs, the FDA says, which aren't included on the product labels. The drug-containing supplements aren't regulated or approved by the FDA, and because the source of the ingredients is unknown there's no guarantee that the ingredients are 'safe, effective or pure.'

The FDA says that products such as the ones on its warning list claim that they are 'all natural,' but they contain the active ingredients in FDA-approved medications for ED. An FDA chemical analysis showed that Zimaxx contains sildenafil, the active ingredient in the FDA-approved ED drug Viagra. The other products on the warning list contained either a version of sildenafil or vardenafil, which is the active ingredient in another FDA-approved ED drug, Levitra.

Berry Good Clinical Study

According to a new clinical study, published on-line ahead of print in the journal "Neurobiology and Aging" (doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2006.05.031), berry extracts have been found to produce "stellar brain protection" against aging and provide protection from dangerous galactic radiation.

The new study was partly supported by NASA and conducted by scientists from Tufts University and the University of Maryland.

“It appeared that the antioxidant diets and the different polyphenols in these fruits might be acting in different brain regions to produce their beneficial effects,” said the researchers.

“Perhaps, the polyphenolic compounds in blueberries are working mainly in the striatum, while those in strawberries are primarily affecting the hippocampus. While these results are interesting, more testing needs to be done to confirm this suggestion,” they said.

“These findings suggest that multiple mechanisms may be involved in the beneficial effects of high antioxidant fruits on ageing as well as radiation,” concluded the researchers.

And this latter point could well see these super fruits going inter-planetary at some point in the future.

“It may be important to include berryfruit or berryfruit extract supplementation as countermeasures to mitigate the effects of radiation during long-term missions in space and also to reduce or reverse the deleterious effects of aging.”

Further details can be found in this news article at NutraIngredients.com/USA

Special Report - Is Goji Right For You?

As goji hits the headlines once again -- See this abc News Story -- and the 3-man expedition team of ultra distance runners prepare to face their death-defying trek across the Sahara Desert with the belief that Himalayan Goji Juice will help them do what no one has been able to do before... we felt it was time to publish our Special F^REE Goji Report:

Is Goji Right For You?

Get your copy at:
http://www.bestliquidvitamins.com/goji.html

Learn what we discovered in our own personal journey drinking goji juice. It's not what you might think.

If you've been wondering at all if you should try it, this is one report you NEED to READ!



Keyword Tags: goji free goji report goji reviews goji berry goji juice goji plant goji benefits goji products goji berries

Salmonella in Cadbury chocolate (Europe)

I'm not sure if you heard about Cadbury (in Europe) having found traces of the Salmonella montevideo strain in its products last month. Seven of its most popular brands were subsequently recalled by the company after the FSA discovered the problem. Here's an update:

Cadbury claims it did not disclose to officials that its products could be contaminated with the Salmonella montevideo strain as only "minute" traces of the bacteria were found and the company deemed the risk too low.

But the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) released a damning report yesterday in which it stated that: “The presence of salmonella in ready-to-eat foods such as chocolate is unacceptable at any level.” (full story here)

Coca-Cola trade secrets stolen?

Apparently 3 people have been arrested in the USA for stealing top secret documents from Coca-Cola and attempting to sell them to its arch-rival, PepsiCo.

PepsiCo said it alerted Coca-Cola after it received an e-mail from a man calling himself ‘Dirk', offering “very detailed and confidential information” that only a few top Coca-Cola executives had seen. (see full story here)

An FBI "sting operation" was set up using video surveilance cameras, and sure enough... there was an actual theft attempt. An undercover agent concluded the transaction for some files and a sample of what Coca-Cola confirmed was a new product under development. After the "sale" the 3 people involved were rounded up and put under lock and key.

As if the soda pop industry doesn't have enough trouble on their hands, what with the benzene thing, and the "no pop in schools" push on, now they have to watch out for industrial espionage, too?

New soy health benefits discovered

When Dr. Earl Mindell first came out with the health benefits related to soy, the medical establishment gave no credence to his findings. In fact, when he first published "The Vitamin Bible" 25 years ago, and a later book "The Soy Miracle," he was frequently criticized by mainstream physicians and health practitioners for championing the use of nutritional supplements.

Since that time, in study after study after study, soy has been proving to be the miracle that Dr. Mindell first claimed.

However, a recent scientific statement by the American Heart Association (AHA) in one journal "Circulation" concluded that soy had little effect on cholesterol levels, and raised doubts about health claims associated with soy.

Dr. Frank Sacks, a member of the AHA panel, reportedly said in January: "It's really clear that isoflavones don't contribute anything to cardiovascular benefits."

But a new study, published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism (Vol. 91, pp. 2209-2213), reports that high blood levels of daidzein were associated with favourable lipoprotein profiles. (In other words, "increasing levels of daidzein, an isoflavone found in soy, have been linked to significant improvements in cholesterol levels and could boost heart health.")

If its findings are reproduced in future studies, they might lead to a re-evaluation of the science that led AHA to its conclusion.

What is truly interesting is that much of the health supporting evidence for soy comes from independent research that is not even remotely connected to Dr. Mindell or any of his products.

Sometimes it's tough to be a trail-blazer leading the way on issues relating to health and wellness.

Thankfully, Dr. Mindell didn't quit.

About Dr. Earl Mindell: Dr. Earl Mindell is a registered Pharmacist, Master Herbalist, with a Ph.D. in Nutrition, and the author of over 30 books dealing specifically with nutrition. He's often referred throughout the world as the "Father of the Nutrition Movement" and appears on more than 300 shows per year, such as CNN Live, Oprah, and more. He is also an highly sought after public speaker for several organizations, including the United Nations, as an authority on anti-aging, nutrition and wellness.

Anti-cancer activity of xanthohumol hops not really great news for beer drinkers

The anti-cancer activity of xanthohumol (which is found in hops) was first discovered around 10 years ago by a team at Oregon State University in the US according to this article.

However, there's no reason for beer drinkers to get excited yet.

"Beer is the major dietary source of xanthohumol, but the average content of xanthohumol in beer may not be high enough to produce a significant inhibitory effect on benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) in humans," writes lead author Emily Colgate.

She also stated that a person would have to drink more than 17 beers to consume the same amount found effective in the study.

"Nevertheless, xanthohumol can be isolated from hops in large quantities and be examined further for its use as a dietary supplement for the prevention of BPH or prostate cancer in humans," said Colgate.

The Oregon State researchers also conclude, "Animal toxicity studies provide evidence that xanthohumol may not be harmful to humans but further safety and efficacy studies in vivo are needed before xanthohumol can be recommended as a human dietary supplement for BPH or prostate cancer."