Saturday, November 29, 2008

Decreased antioxidant levels increase risk of age-related macular degeneration with exposure to sunlight

The journal Archives of Ophthalmology recently reported that having reduced plasma antioxidant levels and increased exposure to sunlight increases the risk of neovascular, or advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

In a recent study (titled the European Eye Study), over 4,400 participants over age 65 were analyzed for the presence of macular degeneration. Their blood plasma was evaluated for vitamins C and E, the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin, and the mineral zinc. Each individual also completed a questionnaire regarding their typical exposure to sunlight. This was used to estimate blue light exposure from visible light, which is known to contribute to the development of macular degeneration. Early stage macular degeneration was detected in 2,182 participants, and 101 had the advanced form of the disease. The research found no association between blue light exposure and early macular degeneration.

However, among participants in the lowest quartile (25 percent) of serum vitamin C, zeaxanthin, vitamin E and zinc, exposure to blue light significantly increased the risk of advanced macular degeneration.

Arch Ophthalmol 2008 Oct;126(10):1396-403

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Lutein and zeaxanthin may improve visual performance and reduce the effects of glare

Healthy subjects with an average age of 23.9 were assigned to receive daily supplements of lutein (10 mg) and zeaxanthin (2 mg) for six months. The subjects' eyes were then tested for the effects of glare as experienced in everyday situations, including being outdoors on bright days, lengthy sessions of looking at a computer monitor, and nighttime exposure to oncoming headlights.

Following six months of supplementation, the participant's average macular pigment optical density (MPOD) increased significantly from the average value at the beginning of the study. MPOD is a measure of the eye's ability to filter short-wave light.

After testing the subjects for their performance in visual tasks following glare, researchers concluded that four to six months of supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin significantly reduced the detrimental effects of the exposure and improved visual performance.

Optom Vis Sci 2008 Feb;85(2):82-8

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

What Makes Rev3 Different From Other Energy Drinks?

Rev3 provides all the power of an energy drink while working as a dietary supplement. It is an advanced formula of antioxidants and other important nutrients packed in a delicious beverage that contains no artificial flavours, colours, sweeteners or preservatives. Rev3 is formulated to eliminate the "crash" associated with energy drinks shortly after the rush they provide.

Rev3 Energy Surge Pack is an easy-to-carry sachet pack, perfect for a gym water bottle.

Packed with Powerful Benefits
  • Combines vitamins, antioxidants, and nutrients
  • Consistent and long-lasting energy boost, without the exhaustion and crash that follow from high sugar energy drinks
  • Natural sources of caffeine from white, green, and black teas to support mental alertness and stamina
  • Contains Korean ginseng and rhodiola rosea to help the body’s response to stress and fatigue
  • Low in calories at only 10g per serving
  • Low in sugars at only 2g per serving
  • Cost effective

Contact me today to get your Rev3

Sunday, November 23, 2008

The Buzz over Energy Drinks / Allison Aubrey

Last year, teenagers and young adults spent almost $2.3 billion on heavily caffeinated drinks with names like Monster, Red Bull, Amp and Full Throttle.


Evan Cathcart, 19, says a can of Red Bull gives him a quick boost when he's skateboarding.
"I can skateboard longer and it tastes good," Cathcart says. He's always assumed energy drinks are more potent than Mountain Dew or Coke, but he says it's unclear exactly how much caffeine they contain because it's not labeled on the can.


In order to determine how much caffeine is contained in various brands of energy drinks, toxicology professor Bruce Goldberger of the University of Florida tested 10 drinks. He found a significant range of caffeination.


He found one of the energy drinks, Hair of the Dog, contained no caffeine. Another drink, a 16-ounce serving of SoBe No Fear, contained 141 milligrams of caffeine, which is the equivalent of almost five cans of Coke or 1 ½ cups of a typical brewed coffee. Goldberger also tested an 8-ounce sugar-free can of Red Bull, which had twice the caffeine of a can of Coke or Pepsi.
Caffeine researchers who've studied the effects of the stimulant on the body say there's nothing alarming about the amount of caffeine in a single can of these energy drinks.


But experts say teens often don't realize how much caffeine they're drinking. And many teenagers also don't know how easy it is to become dependent on the stimulant.
"If they use it for three or five days in a row, and then suddenly quit, then they're going to be thrown into withdrawal," says Roland Griffiths, professor of behavioral biology at Johns Hopkins University.


Withdrawal symptoms can include headaches, mood swings and trouble concentrating. Some people are more sensitive to stimulants than others, so some teens may get a bad case of the jitters from very little caffeine.
"I think it's important that people recognize that caffeine really is a drug," Griffiths says, "and that they accord it respect as a drug."


Teens and young adults seem to be drinking more of these caffeinated beverages than ever. Two years ago, when Bruce Goldberger first began to study energy drinks, he found 10 brands.
"Now, the market has blossomed and there's literally hundreds of energy drinks available," Goldberger says.


As the market expands, some brands are pushing caffeine levels to new highs. One drink, called Cocaine and made by Redux Beverages, contains about three times as much caffeine as Red Bull. To publicize its drink, the company sponsors contests inviting contestants to submit wacky videos they've put on Web sites like YouTube or MySpace.
"They send us the videos," says Redux's Hannah Kirby, "and then we send them out a T-shirt and samples of the beverage. We've done a lot of stealth marketing."


Energy-drink makers also market their products to teens and young adults by sponsoring sporting events or athletes who compete in extreme skiing, skateboarding or BMX biking.
"A lot of these energy drinks, ones like Monster, they catch on by word of mouth," says energy-drink blogger Dan Mayer.



Source NPR (National Public Radio)

Friday, November 21, 2008

Usana Brand in the Spotlight

BeautyDirectory is an essential beauty industry tool, fulfilling beauty editors' need for a central source of brand information, product images and PR contact details. All beauty editors and industry experts access this website.



Usana's skin care products are featuring in the BeautyDirectory Spotlight:

Summer haircare solutions
Sun, sand and chlorine can leave hair feeling dry and damaged over summer. Sensé Revitalizing Shampoo and Nourishing Conditioner are enriched with natural ingredients to gently care for the scalp and restore moisture to dry hair.
Sensé Revitalizing Shampoo features wheat protein, panthenol, vitamin E and aloe to deliver moisture to the hair for natural softness and shine. Sensé Nourishing Conditioner soothes environmental effects with whole grape and green tea extracts. Both are suitable for all hair types, including chemically processed and colour-treated hair.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

The good oil for baby-boomers / NZ Herald

After childhood years being admonished to eat their veges, the baby-boomer generation is now being told to eat more oily fish.

The fish contains long-chain omega-3, credited in an Australian report issued in NZ yesterday with cutting the risk of chronic ailments including cardiovascular disease.
The report says baby-boomers aged 43 to 62 could provide huge savings for the health system if they consumed the recommended intakes of omega-3.

That equates to about two or three 150g serves of oily fish a week, fish oil capsules or liquid, or other foods enriched with marine omega-3.
Wendy Morgan, nutrition adviser for Sydney's Omega-3 Centre, told a functional foods and edible oils conference in Auckland that in the next 25 years the number of New Zealanders over 65 would double, with huge implications for the health sector.

Mrs Morgan said the centre's report pulled together Australian research which showed the benefits of eating oily fish, or consuming fish oil, as a source of long-chain omega-3.
"It is really important for this group of baby-boomers as they age."
She said there was "interesting" but not yet conclusive evidence of its benefits for problems such as obesity, diabetes, depression and dementia.
There was, however, strong evidence that omega-3 reduced the risks of heart disease, eye problems, and rheumatoid arthritis.

One study, for example, showed that eating recommended amounts of oily fish reduced by up to 75 per cent the onset of macular degeneration, causing loss of vision and possibly blindness.
Not only did omega-3 cut the risk of heart disease but it was even more powerful in preventing a second heart attack by up to 45 per cent.

Mrs Morgan said the overall benefits were savings to the health system from the treatment of chronic diseases in the ageing population and improved quality of life for the individuals.
The research showed baby-boomers were often already on special diets and interested in nutrition, but their intake of oily fish was not high.

"This is a call to action for baby boomers ... our message is start consuming omega-3 now."
Mrs Morgan said the actual intake was estimated at only about one fifth of what was needed to make a difference.
Long-chain omega-3 was found mostly in fish like salmon and sardines. While it was present in meat, the chains were not as longand therefore less valuable.
Mrs Morgan said omega-3 was found in every cell in the body but needed to be regularly replenished.

It was important in diet throughout a person's life, right from when a baby was in the womb.
Mrs Morgan said that while awareness levels were increasing, people were still not eating enough omega-3 and doctors were partly to blame for not telling patients of its benefits.

A United States study had shown that while most doctors knew about omega-3, and that it was beneficial, only 17 per cent remembered to tell patients with heart disease.
Mrs Morgan said the work of the Omega-3 Centre, a non-profit organisation, was supported by the Australian Heart Foundation and partly funded by commercial interests.


THE DOSE
Recommended average daily dose of long-chain omega-3:
* 500mg to reduce risk of heart disease.
* 1000mg if you already have heart disease.
* 3000mg a day if you have high triglyceride levels or rheumatoid arthritis (check with doctor first).

Thursday Nov 13, 2008 - By Angela Gregory

Monday, November 17, 2008

School's DIY trial supports omega 3 / NZ Herald

It's not overly scientific, and the sample is small, but early results are in on New Zealand's first classroom-based experiment on the benefits of omega 3.

And those initial results are good, Wellsford School principal Paul Whitaker said yesterday. Mr Whitaker came up with the idea of giving some of his students omega 3 after watching a BBC documentary that involved a similar experiment.

He contacted North Shore (Auckland) -based natural health products company Good Health, who agreed to supply the school with omega 3 tablets, and began the experiment on September 10.

Twenty-one of the school's students, aged between 11 and 13, took omega 3 tablets once a day for the first month, and are continuing to take them twice a day for the following two months.
Another student group of the same size and roughly the same demographic makeup are serving as the control group - not taking the tablets but engaging in the same lessons.

The two groups are to be tested on a range of disciplines, undergoing a series of basic timed addition, subtraction, division and multiplication tests. They will also sit nationally approved spelling and reading tests.

The first of the tests, focused on writing, was completed yesterday.

The control group's writing had stayed at the level it should have. But the children taking omega 3 had shown a definite improvement in writing and general focus, Mr Whitaker said.
That followed his expectations that the children taking omega 3 would have higher motivation, more concentration and improved overall basic skills.

Mr Whitaker said the students were excited about the trial, and the school had the full support of the children's parents.

Good Health chief executive Paul O'Brien said he hoped the trial would prompt more formal trials in New Zealand to test if omega 3 did genuinely improve the wellbeing of children.
Results suggested it did, he said.

"Ironically, omega 3 was routinely dispensed years ago in the form of the dreaded teaspoon of cod liver oil."

CHEWING THE FAT
* Omega 3 is an unsaturated fatty acid.
* It's commonly found in oily fish including salmon, anchovies and sardines.
* Vegetable sources include pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, and walnuts.
* Studies suggest a diet rich in omega 3 can reduce the risk of heart disease.
* It may also cut the risk of prostate and skin cancer and improve behaviour in antisocial teenagers.
* Omega 3 has "qualified health claim" status with the US Food and Drug Administration.

Tuesday Nov 11, 2008 - By Craig Borley

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Oily fish intake and dietary omega-3s may improve eye health

According to new research, eating one portion per week of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by over 50 percent.

Fish intake, the major source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), may reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). There are two types of AMD: wet and dry. Of these two types, wet AMD is the primary cause of vision loss.

In a study recently published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers recruited 105 people (age 65 and over) with wet AMD and 2170 healthy people to act as controls, then compared their dietary habits using questionnaires. The scientists then investigated the association of oily fish and dietary DHA and EPA with wet AMD.

Compared to people who consumed less than one portion of fish per week, participants who consumed at least one serving of oily fish per week had a 50 percent reduction in risk of developing wet AMD. In addition, people who got at least 300 mg per day of DHA and EPA were 68 and 71 percent less likely to have wet AMD than those with lower consumptions.

The results of this study support previous research indicating a protective benefit of omega-3s against the onset of AMD. The benefit may be due in part to their important role in the layer of nerve cells in the retina.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 88, No. 2, 398-406, August 2008

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Product Update - November 2008

USANA Essentials™ has long been regarded as a superior leading brand product. Essentials 2005 formula was rated #1 nutritional supplement in Australia and New Zealand according to independent review by NutriSearch *. According to the latest news release by NutriSearch, the USANA latest Essentials 2008 formula once again being regarded as truly a winning formula.

“With these recent improvements in its Essentials formulation, USANA Health Sciences has strengthened its grip as the undisputed leader in the Australian and New Zealand nutritional marketplace”, commented Lyle MacWilliam, founder and president of NutriSearch.

The NutriSearch recent news release compared the Essentials 2008 formulation with its 2005 formula using nutritional criteria recommended by world’s leading nutritional experts, and found “a dramatic improvement in overall product quality”.

Improvements made to the Essentials formulation over the years, including the Essentials upgrade in 2007 and the latest upgrade, have further enhanced its overall product performance. The newest Essentials formulation now enjoys a remarkable score of 97.8, and the highest five-star rating.





* Lyle MacWilliam; 2005; Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplement (Australian and New Zealand Ed)


Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Early Signs of Insulin Resistance ‏/ Ray D. Strand, M.D.

When I began to appreciate the serious consequences of insulin resistance, I had a tremendous advantage over the clinical researchers who were located in the major medical centers of our country. I had been doing annual physicals in the police department, fire department, and sheriff department and all of their employees for over 20 years.

When I would see one of these individuals who had develop prediabetes or diabetes, I could look back at years and years of physicals and labwork that I had done. There was a very typical pattern that was evident and I became very familiar with the early signs of insulin resistance. I then began to look for these earlier signs of insulin resistance in all my patients.

Elevated Blood Pressure - I became concerned when there blood pressure was greater than 130/85.
Low HDL or good cholesterol - I became concerned when women had an HDL less than 50 or men less than 40.
High Triglyceride Level - I became concerned when this level began to rise even if it was still in the normal range. I would do a ratio and divide their triglyceride level by their HDL cholesterol, which was an indirect measure of insulin levels. I became concerned when this ratio was greater than 2.
Expanding Waist Size - I became concerned when women had a waist size greater than 32 to 33 inches and men had a waist size greater than 36 to 37 inches.

RAY D. STRAND, M.D.
Specialist in Nutritional Medicine

Sunday, November 9, 2008

New advice from National Heart Foundation

The Complementary Medicine industry welcome the new advice from the National Heart Foundation

Emerging scientific evidence has strongly supported the view that daily consumption of fish oils provides therapeutic benefits for people with heart disease, as well as preventive benefits for general population. In the latest release of its position statement, National Heart Foundation of Australia for the first time made recommendations with respect to fish, fish oils and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) to improve the cardiovascular health of all Australians.

It recommends that, to lower their risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), all Australians without existing heart conditions should consume about 500 mg per day of combined DHA and EPA through the combination of oily fish, fish oil capsules or liquid, and food and drinks enriched with marine Omega-3 PUFA.

For adult Australians with documented CHD, National Heart Foundation recommends that they consume about 1000 mg per day of combined DHA and EPA through a combination ) of oily fish, fish oil capsules or liquid, and food and drinks enriched with marine Omega-3 PUFA.

The position statement by Notational heart Foundation also provides cautions on the consumption of fish with high and medium methylmercury content, and advise people to follow government guidelines regarding safety issues. Many people are unable to consume the recommended dosage requirements through fish alone and for this reason, fish oil supplements therefore provide consumers with a cost effective way of ensuring their omega 3 intake is adequate. For further information, please visit National Heart Foundation's website at: http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/document/NHF/HW_FS_FishOils_PS_FINAL.pdf

Friday, November 7, 2008

Chocolate - A Natural Source of Antioxidants

Supplemental antioxidants are a necessity these days but you can also increase your dietary intake of antioxidants.

Cocoa beans contain substantial amounts of antioxidants, dietary substances that mop up free radicals. Disease-fighting antioxidants are also present in blueberries, kale, spinach, green tea, red wine, and grapes. But chocolate is a particularly potent source.Chocolate and cocoa powder are derived from beans that contain large quantities of natural antioxidants called flavonoids. Researchers have found that natural cocoa contains the highest capacity of the antioxidant procyanidin.

Antioxidants in Dark Chocolate

The higher the cocoa content, the higher the antioxidant capacity. Dark chocolate -- but not milk chocolate or dark chocolate eaten with milk -- is a potent antioxidant, report Mauro Serafini, PhD, of Italy's National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome, and colleagues. Their report appears in the Aug. 28 issue of Nature. "Our findings indicate that milk may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from chocolate and may therefore negate the potential health benefits that can be derived from eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate."

Dark Chocolate Lowers Blood Pressure

Dark chocolate -- not white chocolate -- lowers high blood pressure, say Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Cologne, Germany. Their report appears in the Aug. 27 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.

Eat in Moderation

But don’t let that give you an excuse to go on a chocolate binge! You still need to remember that chocolate is high in calories so you’ll need to balance the extra calories by eating less of other things.

Brenda Rogers – USANA Naturopath

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Recipe of the Month

Fish and Chunky Sweet Potato Chips

Serves 4

Ingredients
• 4 large sweet potatoes cut into chunky wedges
• 4 x firm fish steaks (Tuna, swordfish, blue eyed cod)
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• Sea salt and black ground pepper
• Cooking spray

Par boil the sweet potato the drain and spread over a baking tray and cover lightly with cooking spray. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
Season the fish steaks with salt and pepper and cover both sides with sesame seeds. Heat a non-stick frying pan sear on one side until golden brown then turn and leave until just cooked through.

Serve with sweet potato chips and a fresh side salad.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Treat Prediabetes / Ray D. Strand, M.D.

Over 50 million people in the United States alone have prediabetes. In August of 2008 a consensus conference involving the American College of Endocrinology convened in Maryland. Dr. Handelsman, chair of the consensus conference said, “We felt we had to come out with some type of recommendation for how to treat these patients who had prediabetes.” Dr. Daniel Einhorn, medical director of the Scripps Whittier Institute for Diabetes in La Jolla, California stated, “Nothing else matches intensive lifestyle management in reducing the complications of prediabetes.”

Here are the first major recommendations for the treatment of patients who fall into this category of having prediabetes. Previously, physicians have been advised to just follow these patients and when they develop diabetes to begin their treatment. What is interesting is the fact that when this conference looked at all the evidence that was available from our previous clinical trials, aggressive lifestyle management was the absolute best way to treat these patients. Drug use was just not near as effective in reducing the complications of prediabetes as were lifestyle changes.

RAY D. STRAND, M.D.
Specialist in Nutritional Medicine

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes / Ray D. Strand, M.D.

Eighty percent of diabetic patients today will die prematurely from a cardiovascular event like a heart attack, stroke, or ruptured aneurysm. This was true in 1970 and is true today. In spite of all our medication and present treatments for diabetes, we have not been able to change this horrible statistic. Now it is true that we are able to decrease the risk of what is referred to as microvascular disease like diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy. However, we have not been able to decrease the risk of major cardiovascular disease. Why is this happening?

As you have been learning in prior Health Nuggets, our arteries begin aging much faster than they should as soon as you develop insulin resistance. It may be 10 to 15 years before you actually develop diabetes. Clinical trials have shown that the day we actually diagnose a patient in our office as being diabetic that 60% of them already have major cardiovascular disease. Now that they are diabetic, their arteries will actually begin to age even faster. Physicians are behind the eight ball and are really intervening with their traditional treatments too late. The answer to this dilemma is to begin treatment earlier before the patient actually becomes diabetic.



RAY D. STRAND, M.D.
Specialist in Nutritional Medicine