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A Spoonful of Bad Health? UCSF Researchers Slam Sugar

Dr Dreams — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:48:50 +0000

Tobacco, alcohol … and sugar? A new commentary published in Nature argues that just as the first two substances are regulated in various ways by government authorities, so should be sugar. While acknowledging that food, unlike alcohol and tobacco, is required for survival, the authors say taxes, zoning ordinances and even age limits for purchasing certain sugar-laden products are all appropriate remedies for what they see as a not-so-sweet problem. The authors of the piece, Robert Lustig, Laura Schmidt and Claire Brindis, are all from the University of California, San Francisco. Lustig has been a particularly harsh (and longtime) critic of the impact of added sugars on health — here’s his widely viewed 2009 lecture on that topic. (Lustig was also a central character in a New York Times magazine piece on this subject last year.) Note that they are talking about sugar added to foods. No one is arguing that we should spurn fruit, for example, because of the naturally occurring fructose. “We believe attention should be turned to ‘added sugar,’ defined as any sweetener containing the molecule fructose that is added to food in processing,” the authors write. (And they argue the current dietary “bogeymen” — saturated fat and salt — deserve less scrutiny than the sweet white stuff.) They’re talking about foods sweetened with sucrose — about half fructose and half glucose — and high-fructose corn syrup, which despite its name is mostly used in formulations that are 55% and 42% fructose. The authors write that sugar is more than just empty calories — that growing evidence links fructose overconsumption with health problems including hypertension and diabetes. “Early studies” link it to cancer and cognitive decline, they write. They also argue that like tobacco and alcohol, “it acts on the brain to encourage subsequent intake.” So, what’s a country to do? The authors propose taxing processed foods containing any kind of added sugars, including drinks and cereal. In addition, they suggest tightening licensing requirements on vending machines and snack bars selling sugary drinks in schools and at work, instituting zoning ordinances to restrict the number of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores in low-income neighborhoods and near schools, and even instituting an age limit for purchasing sugary drinks such as soda. And they want the FDA to consider removing fructose from the list of ingredients deemed Generally Recognized as Safe . (Douglas Karas, an FDA spokesman, says that step is not currently being considered.) The Sugar Association, not surprisingly, found a lot to dislike in the commentary. In a response published on its website , the industry group says that USDA stats show people are consuming about 425 more calories per day now than 40 years ago, with caloric sweeteners accounting for about 38 of those calories. Meantime, the group contends that consumption of cane and beet sugar has been falling even as obesity rates have been rising. “We consider it irresponsible when health professionals use their platforms to instill fear by using words like ‘diabetes,’ ‘cancer,’ and even ‘death,’ without so much as one disclaimer about the fact that the incomplete science being referenced is inconclusive at best,” the association says. The obesity problem “originates from the combination of overconsumption of all foods and lack of exercise. To label a single food as the one and only problem misinforms, misleads and confuses consumers, and simply adds to the problem,” the association says. The National Confectioners Association, meantime, said that the group “supports realistic advice to Americans that accommodate all foods including occasional treats in moderation. There is a place for little pleasures, such as candy, in an overall lifestyle that supports health, wellness and happiness. In fact, helping the public understand how to incorporate little pleasures in their diet may well play the most important role in achieving and sustaining recommended dietary behaviors.” If you do want to keep an eye on your sugar intake, the nutrition facts panel that appears on food packages now does not break out added and naturally-occurring sugars. But you can certainly see how many total grams of sugar you’re consuming. Image: iStockphoto Update: This post has been updated with comment from the NCA.

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A Spoonful of Bad Health? UCSF Researchers Slam Sugar

10 Healthy Chinese Takeout Recipes to Celebrate the New Year

Dr Dreams — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:41:46 +0000

Happy Year of the Dragon! There are many healthy Chinese New Year foods to choose from if you’re celebrating the traditional way. But if all the holiday’s celebrations have you craving some not-so-traditional Chinese takeout , don’t worry – you don’t have to bust your diet to enjoy these foods. From low-calorie kung pao to tempeh stir-fry, read on for 10 healthy Chinese takeout recipes! View Slideshow ›

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10 Healthy Chinese Takeout Recipes to Celebrate the New Year

5 Bad Weight Loss Techniques to Avoid

Martin Neumann — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:11:49 +0000

When you’re trying to shed pounds, it’s important to steer clear of the quick fixes and focus instead on healthy weight loss strategies. It’s not always easy to decide which diet tips you should follow, though, so we’ve rounded up five common weight loss techniques you should avoid. View Slideshow ›

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5 Bad Weight Loss Techniques to Avoid

Too Much Iodine or Not Enough?

Sean Duffy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:41:39 +0000

Maybe you buy iodized salt, but that’s probably the only thought you give to iodine in your diet. Actually, iodine deficiency is a huge problem across the globe, and not getting enough in utero or during early development is the leading cause of brain impairments. But a recent study shows that getting too much iodine can cause health issues as well. Almost half of the participants in a recent Chinese study who were given higher doses of iodine (800 to 2,000 micrograms a day for four weeks) began developing what’s called subclinical hypothyroidism. This condition has no obvious symptoms, but over time, it’s linked to heart disease. Iodine is found in iodized salt, seafood, eggs, dairy products, and some breads. Since most of us get enough from our diets, there’s no need for iodine supplements. Americans should aim to get 150 micrograms of iodine each day, pregnant women should get 220 micrograms (low levels of iodine increase the risk of miscarriage), and breastfeeding moms are told to get 290 micrograms. If you’re vegan, you might not get enough from your fish- and dairy-free diet, so you probably want to talk with your doctor about taking a supplement. Check out the chart below to find out if your diet offers enough iodine, or too much.

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Too Much Iodine or Not Enough?

Fridge Fixes and Cabinet Cleanup For Healthier Eating

Dr Joe — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:14:51 +0000

Don’t save cleaning your cabinets until springtime! To meet your weight-loss and healthy-eating goals for 2012, take some time right now to organize your kitchen and feng shui your fridge. These tips will certainly help you upgrade your eating habits.

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Fridge Fixes and Cabinet Cleanup For Healthier Eating

5 Easy Ways to Clean Up Your Diet Now

Sean Duffy — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:53:32 +0000

What better time than the present to assess your diet and start making some healthy changes? Choosing to eat a cleaner diet can give you more energy, strengthen your immune system, and even help shed those pesky holiday pounds. Here are a handful of ways to get your diet back on track with a clean makeover. View Slideshow ›

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5 Easy Ways to Clean Up Your Diet Now

Nestlé and the Fat Cats — and Dogs

Dr Joe — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:53:11 +0000

By John Revill Forget about corporate fat cats: a new scheme launched by food giant Nestlé is targeting real overweight pets, which could also help their chubby owners battling their own expanding waistlines. The world’s largest food company has launched a new weight-loss program to help pet owners and their cats, dogs and other household animals get back into shape. Project: Pet Slimdown is an online resource created by the company’s Purina pet food brand and Jenny Craig weight loss business in the U.S., offering free weight-loss advice and exercise tips for animal and humans. Exercise ideas, walks and support from fellow dieting animals are all part of the package, which encourages pet owners to work with their vet to design a diet and exercise weight-loss program. “The obesity epidemic is not limited to people. Two thirds of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese, and more than half of all pets in the country are also battling the bulge,” said Lisa Talamini, vice president of research and program innovation at Jenny Craig, in a statement . (The fat-dog phenomenon is large enough so that Pfizer offers a weight-loss drug for dogs , Slentrol.) One dachshund highlighted by Nestlé, for instance, was so overweight his stomach almost touched the ground. Weighing in at 15.6 pounds, he was able to reach 12.2 pounds after three months on the diet program, before eventually reaching his ideal body weight of 10 pounds. The program offers links to the Jenny Craig business, with the aim of boosting sales of its products to humans too. “Pets are loyal, non-judgmental, and supportive,” said Grace Long, a veterinarian for Nestlé Purina in the U.S., in the press statement. “They are the ideal weight-loss partners.” As well as helping animals to get healthier, there is of course a business case. According to the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention , around 32% of the 86 million cats in the U.S. are overweight and 35% of the 78 million dogs also have weight problems. Canine overweight-management diets make up around a quarter of Nestlé’s U.S. dog food sales, which amounted to $512 million in 2010. Around 17% of Nestlé’s $317 million cat food sales are generated by people keen to put their cats on diets, according to research by market research company Audits & Surveys. With the growth in pet food sales, it was perhaps inevitable that some of the trends from human food marketing would spill over into the animal kingdom. Of course, the pets don’t usually make the choice of which food to buy. That’s on their owners, and Nestle is hoping to convince them with its healthy arguments. If successful, analysts reckon the pet initiative could also boost sales of Nestlé’s diet products aimed at people, as well as tie them to the Purina brand, part of Nestlé’s Petcare business which reported sales of 7.08 billion Swiss francs (about $7.42 billion at current exchange rates) in the first nine months of 2011. It may also increase sales at Jenny Craig. So when it comes to dieting, a dog might still be a man’s best friend. It might also help Nestlé expand its own bottom line. (This post originally appeared on the WSJ’s The Source blog .) Image: iStockphoto

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Nestlé and the Fat Cats — and Dogs

What Parents Tell Their Kids About Breast-Cancer Gene Test Results

Dr Joe — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:42:52 +0000

If you were tested for the “breast cancer gene” — mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes that raise the risk of breast, ovarian and other cancers — would you tell your children? That’s the question researchers posed to 253 parents, almost all of them women, who underwent BRCA gene testing and had at least one child under age 25. There isn’t much to do with the information for that age group: kids who learn that a parent carries a BRCA mutation aren’t advised to have the test themselves until at least age 18, and any additional screening resulting from a positive result wouldn’t likely begin until age 25, says Angela Bradbury , lead author of the study and the director of breast and ovarian cancer risk assessment at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. For those who reported passing along the results to children, researchers also asked them how the kids seemed to receive the news. Among the 505 offspring of those surveyed, 66% were told about their parent’s results, most of those within a month. The median age of the kids told within that short time window was 18; those told between one and 12 months after the parent learned the result had a median age of 13. Not surprisingly, kids whose parent had a negative result — meaning the parent didn’t have one of the known mutations — were more likely to be told within a month, compared to those whose parents had a positive result. Most kids took the news pretty well, at least according to their parents, though reports of distress were more likely when the result was either positive or a “genetic variant of uncertain significance,” meaning it wasn’t clear if the mutation identified raised the risk of cancer. Children with one parent testing positive for one of the BRCA mutations have a 50% chance of inheriting the mutation, says Bradbury. Women with the mutations have about a 60% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer (compared to 12% for the general population) and a 15% to 40% lifetime risk of ovarian cancer (compared to 1.4% for the general population), according to the National Cancer Institute . Men who carry the mutations are at higher risk of breast and possibly other cancers, the NCI says. “This study suggests that many children handle this information reasonably well,” though there are some subgroups that were more likely to seem distressed, including kids under age ten, says Bradbury. “That suggests some caution in sharing results” with younger kids, she says. Kids aged 14 to 24, meantime, were more likely to seem “concerned,” according to their parents. Future research will include reports from both parents and their kids, and will hopefully yield enough data to develop some possible educational interventions that could be used as part of genetic counseling or in the home, says Bradbury. “This is potentially a teachable moment” and might be used to help kids quit smoking, take up exercise, change their diet or take other lifestyle measures, she says. A study published online in Pediatrics last spring found that some parents reported they’d be willing to have their kids tested to see their genetic risk of adult-onset diseases including diabetes and some forms of cancer. Image: iStockphoto

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What Parents Tell Their Kids About Breast-Cancer Gene Test Results

Heart-Attack Risk Spikes Days After Losing a Loved One

Martin Neumann — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:06:27 +0000

One of the saddest times in someone’s life also appears be a period of increased vulnerability to a heart attack, new research shows. A study of 1,985 adult heart attack survivors finds that heart-attack risk rises to 21 times higher than normal within the very first day after a loved one has died. That sharp increase in risk tapers off with each day, but is still almost six times higher than normal within the first week and stays somewhat elevated for at least a month. The results suggest that people mourning the loss of someone important should be sure to take care of themselves in the period right after the death, and not to dismiss physical symptoms as purely signs of emotional stress, says Elizabeth Mostofsky , lead author of the study and a postdoctoral research fellow at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. And they should be sure to take medications as directed, says Mostofsky, even though this study didn’t seem to point to missed dosages of critically important drugs as a reason for heart attacks in the period right after a loved one’s death. Previous research has shown that people mourning the death of a spouse had a higher risk of death in subsequent weeks and months, but this was the first look at heart attack risk in the period immediately following the death of a loved one. The study was published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. The study found that the absolute risk of having a heart attack within a week of the death of a significant person to be between one additional heart attack per 320 people and one in 1,394, depending on an individual’s baseline risk for heart problems. Why could the death of a friend or spouse help trigger a heart attack? The short-term spike in risk is likely due to higher heart rate, blood pressure and increased blood clotting that can result from intense psychological stress, the researchers report. Luckily those changes are short-term, which likely explains why the risk drops off as the days pass, says Mostofsky. The WSJ has written about so-called “broken heart syndrome,” also known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy, a rare malady that mimics a heart attack but doesn’t seem to be connected to coronary artery disease. It’s usually “triggered by acute emotion or physical trauma that releases a surge of adrenaline that overwhelms the heart,” the WSJ wrote in 2010. Grief, anger, anxiety and other strong emotional responses can trigger the problem. The authors of the study write that they can’t rule out the possibility that some of the cases in their analysis had this problem rather than a true heart attack. The next step, says Mostofsky, is to look at more comprehensive registry data that can pinpoint whether a heart-attack patient experienced the loss of a first-degree relative in the recent past, rather than relying on people to recall their losses. That study will also try to identify specific factors associated with a heart attack, such as the relationship between the patient and the deceased. And it will be able to see if there’s a link between fatal heart attacks — which obviously weren’t included in this interview-based study — and the loss of a loved one. Image: iStockphoto

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Heart-Attack Risk Spikes Days After Losing a Loved One

Tell Us: Are You Going on a Detox?

Martin Neumann — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 12:08:08 +0000

I’ll admit, I went a bit overboard during the holidays. Faced with table after table of homemade treats, it was hard to say no. So January has been a welcome reprieve from all the sugar I consumed during all of the festivities. Now, it’s all about less refined sugars, lots of salads, and plenty of water. For many of you, a new year may mean detoxing as well. That can be anything from making sure you are eating foods that help get your body back on track (if you’re curious, here are 10 detoxing foods to introduce into your diet ) to making sure you make this cleansing green drink recipe once a day. Whatever your healthy eating plan of choice, have you decided to detox this month? What ways are you using to cleanse?

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Tell Us: Are You Going on a Detox?