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Friday 31 August 2012

Soda Bans, “Fat Taxes”…How We Should Really Fight Obesity

I don’t have to tell you that obesity is a stunning epidemic in the US. More than one-third of American adults are obese. Nothing indicates that we’re likely to ...


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I don’t have to tell you that obesity is a stunning epidemic in the US. More than one-third of American adults are obese.
Nothing indicates that we’re likely to get slimmer anytime soon. Depending on which study you read, the obesity rate is expected to reach anywhere from 42% to more than 50% by 2030.

Fattening up means that we’re bound to see an increase in health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. And even those of us who don’t develop those serious diseases will pay a price for them (literally), because all that illness will push health-care costs higher.

Obviously something needs to be done—even our political leaders agree on that. But what and how? There are many different schools of thought.

A prominent one got a lot of attention this past May, when the mayor of New York City proposed a citywide ban on certain sugary drinks. Special junk food taxes (also known as “fat taxes”) have been proposed in various states, too, such as Maine (more on that below).

My take? These proposals may have been triggered by good intentions, but they’re only half-hearted solutions, and here’s why…

THE PROBLEM WITH BANS

Let’s start by examining New York City’s proposed ban, which would prohibit the sale of any sweetened drink greater than 16 ounces that contains more than 25 calories per eight ounces, such as regular sodas, energy drinks and presweetened iced teas. At first glance, it may seem bold and enlightened. But in reality, it isn’t.

First of all, the rule doesn’t apply to drinks sold in supermarkets, convenience stores, newsstands or vending machines. It applies only to what New York City calls “food-service establishments” that are regulated by the health department, such as restaurants, movie theaters, ballparks, and delis. It also doesn’t apply to fruit juice that’s at least 70% juice…alcohol…and milk shakes and smoothies that are more than 51% milk, all of which are typically highly caloric and not very nutritious. Plus, many “food-service establishments” offer free refills, so how effective would this ban actually be?

On top of that, it’s too heavy-handed. If I maintain a healthy weight and am not raising anyone’s health-care costs and I want to indulge in a supersized soda once in a while, shouldn’t I be free to make that choice?

TAXING ISN’T THE ANSWER

The idea of taxing unhealthy food is a little easier to swallow than outright banning certain sizes of sodas, but it’s not the solution, either.

Take Maine, for instance. The state imposed a 5.5% “snack tax” (on ice cream, cookies, cake and such) from 1991 to 2000 (when voters repealed the tax). It didn’t work. In fact, the obesity rate in Maine doubled from 10% to 20% in that time period. It raises the question—would every tax on unhealthy foods or beverages fail to improve health? Or was this tax not high enough?

In May, BMJ published an analysis on the theoretical effectiveness of taxing unhealthy foods. The findings: Taxes would need to be at least 20% to deter people from buying the food.

But until there are real-life success stories that prove the effectiveness of a junk food tax, I remain skeptical. In my mind, it oversimplifies a complicated problem and ends up punishing people who don’t have the money to buy the most nutritious foods. The fact is, eating healthfully is expensive.

For example, one recent study done by researchers at University of Washington in Seattle analyzed the prices of 370 supermarket foods and found that junk food is substantially cheaper than healthy food. They found that 2,000 calories (about a day’s worth of calories) from healthy foods costs, on average, $36, while 2,000 calories of junk foods clocks in at just $3.52, on average.

WHAT’S MISSING FROM THESE STRATEGIES

We can’t just make bad-for-you foods more expensive—we need to make healthy foods less expensive.

There’s scientific evidence that it could work. For instance, a study published in 2001 looked at the effects of lowering the price of low-fat snacks in vending machines in schools and workplaces (by 10%, 25% and 50%). The 50% reduction in price led to a 93% increase in sales!

I, for one, would find a “junk food tax” easier to stomach if I knew that the sole use of that tax revenue was to reduce the costs of healthier foods. On top of that, let’s convince political leaders to shift some of the subsidies that support our current unhealthy food system—they are what ultimately lead to ultra-cheap sweeteners and highly processed foods—to reduce the costs and increase the availability of whole, fresh foods.

What do you think? Comment below to share your thoughts!

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Publication
Daily Health News
Original publication date
August 13, 2012
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Daily Health News

Halt Migraines with Homeopathy



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Q: I get terrible migraines, and my pain medication causes side effects. Is there a homeopathic remedy that could help?

A: Homeopathic remedies are very specific, so a remedy that works for one type of migraine might not work for another.
 
That’s why it’s important to identify the most appropriate treatment based on your individual symptoms. Still, homeopathic remedies are completely safe, cause no side effects and are available over the counter at health-food stores and online—so there’s no harm in trying them to see if you get relief.

Choose the remedy below that best corresponds to your symptoms. At the first sign of a migraine, dissolve three 30C pellets under your tongue. If your symptoms improve significantly, do not repeat the dose. If symptoms improve somewhat, repeat the dose once or twice, 15 minutes apart, for a maximum of three doses per headache episode. If symptoms do not improve at all, consider a different homeopathic remedy. If you have no success after trying two different remedies, see a professional homeopathic practitioner for guidance. Try…
  • Iris versicolor for classic migraines that begin with a visual aura, worsen when you sit still and sometimes culminate with vomiting.
  • Nux vomica for migraines that make you irritable and worsen when you move around or are exposed to cold, noise or light.
  • Belladonna for migraines characterized by extreme pulsating pain on the right side of the head and a feeling that your eyes are bulging out.
  • Bryonia alba for migraines that begin over the left eye and then spread and that worsen with the slightest motion.
  • Spigelia for migraines that involve stabbing pain directly above the left eye and that feel worse upon exertion and/or exposure to cold air.
 
Edward Shalts, MD, DHt, a diplomate in homeotherapeutics and a private practitioner in New York City. He is the author of Easy Homeopathy (McGraw-Hill) and The American Institute of Homeopathy Handbook for Parents (Jossey-Bass). www.HomeopathyNewYork.com
 
 

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Publication
HealthyWoman from Bottom Line
Original publication date
June 24, 2010

Thursday 30 August 2012

Best Itch Control for Bug Bites




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 It’s summer, and you know what that means—lots of bugs! And lots of bugs can mean lots of bug bites—the kind that make us itch for days.
 
Drugstores are stocked with creams and capsules that promise relief, and the Internet suggests some off-the-wall ideas—deodorant, transparent tape or nail polish anyone? There are tons of options!

I’ve probably tried a dozen itch products over the years, but nothing has ever worked very well. I wanted to know, when you’re standing in the drugstore aisle with a bad bug bite itch, and you’re faced with so many choices, which products should you buy to really stop the itch?

For relief, I called Andrew Rubman, ND, a Daily Health News contributing editor and the founder and medical director of the Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines in Southbury, Connecticut.

He shared his four favorite methods, since itchy bug bites are such a common complaint for Dr. Rubman’s patients, who live in woodsy New England. Here is his proven protocol, which involves two over-the-counter remedies and two natural treatments…

First and foremost, when you get a bite, try not to scratch the heck out of it, Dr. Rubman stressed. (If you already have, then skip steps #1 and #2, below and go straight to the subsection: “For Irritated Skin”). Scratching the bite can make it hurt more later, and it can break the skin, which raises the risk for infection.

STEP #1 TO FIGHT THE ITCH

After you wash the bite with soap and warm water and dry it off, the first thing that you want to do is to blunt the pain and itchiness as fast as possible, said Dr. Rubman. The moment he notices a bug bite—within seconds, even—Dr. Rubman applies a dime-sized amount of an over-the-counter antihistamine cream, such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine). “Choose this type of cream—rather than calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream—because it helps your body deal with the initial, traumatic histamine response to the bite,” he said. You can buy a one-ounce tube for about $7 at any drugstore.

 

STEP #2 TO FIGHT THE ITCH

Once you’ve reduced the severity of the pain and itchiness, try to get rid of the agent in the bite that’s causing the pain and itchiness. That’s where one of Dr. Rubman’s favorite natural products comes in—lye soap. (You can buy a three-ounce bar for about $5 here.)

The alkaline properties of the soap neutralize and break down the bug’s stinging saliva, Dr. Rubman explained, which means that the bite is less likely to be itchy and painful in the hours and days that follow.

About 10 to 15 minutes after you apply the antihistamine cream, wash the affected area with lye soap two times in a row with warm water, and then dry the area. Next, rinse the bar to get it wet and rub it onto your hand until it forms a rich, stiff lather. Wipe that lather onto the affected area. When the lather hardens after a few minutes, wash it off. Try this routine once a day—more often if the pain or itchiness is severe—and stop using the Benadryl after that initial treatment.

 

FOR IRRITATED SKIN

When you’ve been scratching at a bite, don’t use the antihistamine or the lye soap, said Dr. Rubman, because they might irritate skin that’s aggravated or broken. Here are two alternatives...

If the skin is scratched only a little, use the Aveeno Active Naturals Moisturizing Bar. Rub the bar with just enough water to create a thick paste. Rub the paste gently into the skin over and around the bite, and let it dry before washing it off. The Aveeno bar is almost as effective as the lye soap in helping remove the bug’s stinging saliva, but it’s more gentle on the skin. You can buy the bar for $3 here.

If the skin is broken, Dr. Rubman advised dabbing on a dime-sized amount of antibiotic cream, such as Neosporin, to keep the bite from becoming infected. For instance, you can buy a 0.5-ounce tube for about $7 at any drugstore. Then cover it with a bandage to prevent further scratching and/or infection. Wait until the skin has healed over to apply any of the products listed above.

I don’t know about you, but I’m going to keep these four key products in my medicine cabinet!
Source: Andrew Rubman, ND, founder and medical director, Southbury Clinic for Traditional Medicines, Southbury, Connecticut. www.SouthburyClinic.com.
 

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Publication
Daily Health News
Original publication date
August 20, 2012
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Daily Health News

Move Over Olive Oil…Here Comes Avocado Oil




2417.jpgIf you are like a lot of other people, you have become more careful about the type of oil you cook with. Olive oil is a healthful choice because it provides a mild anti-inflammatory benefit and reduces “bad” low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. But there are other healthful options, including avocado oil, which is pressed from the fleshy pulp of the avocado. If you find that the flavor of olive oil overpowers or doesn’t complement the taste of other ingredients in a dish, try avocado oil, which has a more subtle flavor than olive oil, smooth with a hint of pepper.

Nutritional benefits: Avocado oil contains the same amount of oleic acid, a healthful monounsaturated fat, as olive oil—about 9.5 grams per tablespoon—and just slightly more calories. It is cold-pressed without the use of solvents, and its acid content is comparable to that of extra-virgin olive oil. Like olive oil, avocado oil contains beta-sitosterol, a plant sterol (known to be healthful for the prostate) and small amounts of vitamin E and antioxidant carotenoids.

Ways to use: You can use avocado oil in homemade salad dressings or when sautéing fish or chicken. One advantage: Avocado oil has a higher smoke point than olive oil. This means that you can cook with it at higher temperatures (as high as 500°F). Olive oil reaches the smoking point at about 400°F.

Flavors: In addition to pure avocado oil, it can be infused with rosemary or basil. An 8.5-ounce bottle (plain or infused) sells for about $11 to $13. Olive oil sells for between $8 and $20 for the same-sized bottle. Avocado oil can be purchased online and at many grocery stores.

Source: Mark A. Stengler, NMD, is a naturopathic medical doctor and leading authority on the practice of alternative and integrated medicine. Dr. Stengler is author of the Health Revelations newsletter, author of The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies (Bottom Line Books), founder and medical director of the Stengler Center for Integrative Medicine in Encinitas, California, and adjunct associate clinical professor at the National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. http://MarkStengler.com

 

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Publication
Bottom Line Natural Healing
Original publication date
December 1, 2010
 

Wednesday 29 August 2012

Your Hormones May Be Out of Whack ...


Your Hormones May Be Out of Whack—and You Don’t Even Know It: Men, This Can Happen to You, Too



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When it comes to hormonal changes, women get the most attention. But hormones have a profound effect on the health of women and men.

In fact, these important chemical messengers, which constantly send instructions from one part of the body to another, may be at the root of mysterious and frequently undiagnosed health problems such as fatigue, insomnia, memory loss, depression and weight gain.

Hormones always act together, much like instruments in an orchestra. That is why a hormonal imbalance—too much or too little of one or more hormones—can trip up your health in many ways.

Six key hormones that may be out of whack…*

 

CORTISOL (ADRENAL GLANDS)


The hormone cortisol tells the body to respond to stress—both external stresses (such as traffic jams and financial troubles) and internal stresses (such as inflammation and infections).

The danger: Progesterone (a hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands as well as the ovaries and, in smaller amounts, by the testes) acts as a chemical building block for cortisol as well as estrogen and testosterone. If you are constantly under stress, you generate high levels of cortisol, depleting progesterone and, in turn, reducing the production of estrogen and testosterone. That is why effective stress management is essential to overall hormonal balance in women and men.

Common signs of imbalance: High cortisol levels can cause excess belly fat, high blood pressure, insomnia, irritability, low libido and weakened immunity. Low cortisol levels—from exhausted adrenal glands that can no longer manufacture enough of the hormone—can cause such problems as allergies, apathy and chronic fatigue.

My advice: Make stress management a priority. Simple techniques…
  • Breathe deeply. Simply breathe in for a count of four, hold for a count of six and breathe out for a count of six. Do this five times whenever you’re feeling stressed.
  • Create boundaries. Feeling helpless and out of control is extremely stressful. Identify your major source of stress—such as a difficult relationship—and create boundaries to regain control. If a friend causes stress by always complaining, for example, tell her the topics you’re willing to listen to—and those you’re not.
  • Get enough sleep. Sufficient sleep is crucial for balancing cortisol—and all other hormones. To improve sleep, keep your bedroom completely dark and a little cool…and don’t watch TV at bedtime. End each day with a positive ritual, such as writing down things that you’re grateful for or taking a warm bath.

 

INSULIN (PANCREAS)


Insulin regulates blood sugar (glucose), telling muscle cells to burn glucose for energy and fat cells to store it for future use.

Common signs of imbalance: Carbohydrate cravings, constipation, excess belly fat, poor memory, prediabetes and diabetes indicate high insulin levels, the most widespread insulin imbalance.

My advice: Balanced glucose levels lead to balanced insulin, and diet is the best way to balance glucose.
  • Eat six times a day. Having healthful, smaller meals throughout the day balances glucose. Eat breakfast, a mid-morning snack, lunch, a mid-afternoon snack, dinner and a bedtime snack.
  • Include protein in snacks and at meals. It helps keep glucose balanced. Good protein sources: Nuts, cottage cheese, hummus and oily fish such as salmon and sardines.
  • Eat low-glycemic carbohydrates. Slow-digesting carbohydrates that don’t create spikes in glucose levels include nonstarchy vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans.

 

THYROID HORMONE
(THYROID GLAND)


This hormone regulates metabolism, including body temperature and heart rate.

Common signs of imbalance: Cold hands and feet, dry skin, fatigue, hair loss, slow heartbeat and/or weight gain could signal hypothyroidism, the most typical thyroid imbalance.
My advice: Reducing stress is key.

Also helpful…**
  • Avoid gluten. Research now links gluten intolerance to thyroid problems. To determine if you are sensitive to gluten: Give up gluten-containing foods for two weeks and gradually reintroduce them. If symptoms (such as abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea) return, you are probably gluten-sensitive.
  • Take zinc. A daily dose of zinc (30 mg) helps restore normal thyroid levels. (Also take 2 mg of copper—zinc supplements can deplete copper.)
  • Take selenium. A daily dose of selenium (100 mcg), a potent antioxidant, helps to improve thyroid function.
  • Test for iodine. If you have symptoms of thyroid imbalance, ask your doctor to test your iodine level. This mineral is crucial for production of thyroid hormone. If levels are low, eat more iodine-rich foods, such as sushi that contains seaweed.

 

ESTROGEN AND PROGESTERONE
(OVARIES, ADRENAL GLANDS, TESTES)


These hormones work together to regulate functions in the brain, heart and every other organ.

Common signs of imbalance: For most premenopausal women, estrogen is too high and progesterone is too low. Symptoms include bloating, breast tenderness, heavy menstrual bleeding and moodiness. High estrogen also increases risk for breast cancer. For perimenopausal and menopausal women, estrogen is usually low, and symptoms can include hot flashes, urinary incontinence and vaginal pain and dryness.

In men, low libido, increased belly fat and breast size, depression and erectile dysfunction may occur with imbalances of these hormones.

My advice: Controlling stress and following the eating habits described earlier in the insulin section are two of the best ways to balance estrogen and progesterone.

 

TESTOSTERONE
(TESTES, OVARIES)


Testosterone affects sex drive and muscle mass in men and women.

What’s often overlooked: In men, low testosterone levels are linked to higher rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, prostate problems—and death from any cause.

Signs of imbalance: Fatigue, low libido, decrease in strength, erectile dysfunction, irritability, anxiety, depression, poor concentration, memory loss and weight gain.

My advice: To boost testosterone, don’t smoke or drink alcohol excessively (for men, no more than two drinks a day). Also helpful…
  • Lose weight. For men who are overweight, weight loss is one of the most effective ways to boost testosterone. Emphasize filling, low-calorie foods, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans.
  • Resistance training. Lifting weights three times a week stimulates the production of testosterone.
  • Interval training. This type of exercise also helps boost testosterone levels. What to do: Exercise to maximum capacity for one minute…slow down until normal breathing is restored (usually about one minute)…then repeat that two-part cycle for 20 minutes.

For women: Low testosterone can lead to weight gain and loss of sex drive. The self-care methods described above for men also work for most women. This includes no excessive drinking (for women, no more than one drink a day).

If you take a statin drug: Cholesterol is a building block of testosterone—and cholesterol-lowering statin therapy also can lower levels of the hormone.

If you’re taking a statin and have signs of testosterone imbalance, ask your doctor to test your total testosterone. If levels are 400 ng/dL or below in men, testosterone-replacement therapy should be considered. In women, a total testosterone level of 15 ng/dL or below is considered low.

*If you experience any of the signs or symptoms of a hormone imbalance, ask your doctor about getting your hormone levels tested.
**Check with your doctor before taking any of these supplements—some may interact with certain drugs.

Source: Alicia Stanton, MD, a physician who practices antiaging and integrative medicine in the Hartford, Connecticut, area. A faculty member for the Institute for Functional Medicine and the Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Regenerative & Functional Medicine, she is also coauthor, with Vera Tweed, of Hormone Harmony: How to Balance Insulin, Cortisol, Thyroid, Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone to Live Your Best Life (Healthy Life Library). www.DrAliciaStanton.com
 

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Publication
Bottom Line Health
Original publication date
September 2012

Cannabis ... Risk to IQ


How teenagers addicted to cannabis risk damaging their IQ and show signs normally seen in early Alzheimer's
  • Researchers put 1,000 boys and girls through a battery of IQ tests
  • They did the same tests more than 20 years later, at the age of 38
  • The study founda marked drop in intelligence and attention and memory were also harmed

By Fiona Macrae
|


Teenagers who become hooked on cannabis risk long-term damage to their IQ, researchers have warned.

A study found a marked drop in intelligence in those who started using the drug in their teens and continued to take it for years afterwards.

Attention and memory were also harmed, with those who developed a taste for the drug in adolescence faring worse on a test more usually used to spot the early signs of Alzheimer's in pensioners.

(File picture) Researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London found teenagers who become hooked on cannabis risk long-term damage to their IQ
(File picture) Researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London found teenagers who become hooked on cannabis risk long-term damage to their IQ


Importantly, the effects on IQ could still be seen in those who had not touched the drug for a year.

The results are significant because while cannabis has been blamed for relatively rare mental health problems such as schizophrenia, this is the first firm evidence of it wreaking damage on everyday life.

Professor Robin Murray, a consultant psychiatrist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'It is, of course, part of folklore among young people that some heavy users of cannabis seem to gradually lose their abilities and end up achieving much less than one would have anticipated.

'This study provides one explanation as to why this might be the case.'
One of the researchers said: 'The simple message is that substance use is not healthy for kids.'

Official figures show that although drug use is falling among British schoolchildren, cannabis is still their drug of choice, with almost 8 per cent of 11 to 15 year olds questioned having used it in 2011.
 
The analysis, detailed in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also found those who used the drug (pictured here) persistently from their teens did worse on a memory test
The analysis, detailed in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also found those who used the drug (pictured here) persistently from their teens did worse on a memory test


The eminent international research team, including some from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, put more than 1,000 boys and girls through a battery of IQ tests when they were aged 13 and 14.

They did the same tests more than 20 years later, at the age of 38, and any differences were noted. They were also asked every few years if they had taken cannabis and, if so, how often.
 
'As with all recreational drugs, it is important that all young people are informed about the potential harms of cannabis use, through good quality drug education and well-resourced public health campaigns.'
Martin Barnes, DrugScope

 Unlike some previous studies, none had tried the drug when the research started, making it easier to tease out any effects of cannabis on the brain.

The results showed small falls in IQ in those who never or rarely used the drug and in those who had started to use it a lot as adults.

But in those who became hooked on cannabis in their teens, IQ fell by an average of eight points – the equivalent of going from being of average intelligence to being in the bottom third of the population.

Researcher Professor Terrie Moffitt, of the Institute of Psychiatry, said: 'Research has shown that IQ is a strong determinant of a person's access to college education, their lifelong total income, their access to a good job, their performance on the job, their tendency to develop heart disease and even early death.

'Individuals who lose eight points in their teens and twenties may be disadvantaged, relative to their same-age peers, in the most important aspects of life and for years to come.'

The analysis, detailed in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also found those who used the drug persistently from their teens did worse on a memory test used normally to spot tell-tale signs of dementia.

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SCIENTISTS FIND SWITCH IN BRAIN THAT COULD CAUSE PSYCHOSIS

 

Earlier this month scientists revealed they have found a switch in the brain which may explain why smoking cannabis causes psychosis and addiction in more than one-in-ten users.

The team, at Aberdeen University found a genetic difference in the switch, probably inherited from early humans who smoked the drug in prehistoric times.

The difference may also explain why some people could be more susceptible to conditions such as obesity.

The chemical 'switch' discovered by researchers could explain by one in ten cannabis smokers suffer from psychosis and addiction issues.

The chemical 'switch' discovered by researchers could explain by one in ten cannabis smokers suffer from psychosis and addiction issues.
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And their friends told of them forgetting to return calls, pay bills and do errands.
With those who started taking cannabis persistently as adults suffering few ill-effects, the researchers say the drug may be particularly toxic in the teenage years, when the brain undergoes a rapid growth spurt.

Laurence Steinberg, a U.S. expert on the development of the adolescent brain, said: 'This study points to adolescence as a time of heightened vulnerability.

'The findings are pretty clear that it is not simply chronic use that causes the deficits but chronic use with adolescent onset.'

Professor Murray, whose own work has shown a clear link between cannabis use in teenage years and mental illness in later life, described the research as very impressive.

He said that if other studies come to the same conclusion 'it will be very important and public education campaigns should be initiated to let people know the risks'.

Martin Barnes, chief executive of charity DrugScope, said: 'Although the number of cannabis users in the UK has been falling consistently for some years, the risks to the health and wellbeing of those who do use it have not decreased.

'As with all recreational drugs, it is important that all young people are informed about the potential harms of cannabis use, through good quality drug education and well-resourced public health campaigns.'

VIDEO: Research shows weeds can change you forever..

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2194422/How-teenagers-addicted-cannabis-risk-damaging-IQ-signs-normally-seen-early-Alzheimers.html

Heart attacks among non-smokers fall by a QUARTER in German city after ban stubs out passive smoking


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Smoking bans brought in to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke can have a dramatic impact on public health, say researchers.

A study in Germany found that the number of heart attacks in one city dropped by 26 per cent among non-smokers just two years after the ban came in.

Over the same period the number of cases of ST-elevation myocardial infarction - a type of heart attack - increased by four per cent among smokers.

Non-smokers aged under 65 have benefited most from the smoking ban
History: Non-smokers aged under 65 have benefited most from the smoking ban
 
Study author Dr Johannes Schmucker, said: 'Non-smokers and especially non-smokers under the age of 65 benefited most from the implementation of the law, indicating the harmful effects of passive smoking.

'This suggests that expanding anti-smoking legislation could reduce the occurrence of STEMIs even further in the future.'

Many European countries have passed anti-smoking legislation which bans smoking from restaurants, bars and public buildings. The ban was enforced in England in July 2007.
 
Dr Schmucker analysed the 3,545 STEMIs that occurred between 2006 and 2010 in Bremen. The city's smoking ban came in in January 2008.
 
He found the rate of heart attacks remained nearly constant among smokers with an average of 25 per month in 2006/2007 rising to 26 per month in 2008/2010. However, the rate among non-smokers dropped from 39 to 29 per month.

Dr Schmucker said: 'Active smokers are inhaling such high doses of tobacco smoke that being exposed to less passive smoke in public venues is not going to change the risk for that particular group.'

Hospital admissions for heart attacks also fell 2.4 per cent in England in the year after the smoking ban came in, according to Bath University.

This cut in admissions saved the NHS around £8.4million and is likely to have prevented almost 200 deaths.

Smoke, both first and secondhand, is thought to increase the chances of a heart attack by making the blood more prone to clotting, reducing levels of 'good' cholesterol and raising the risk of dangerous heart rhythms.

More than one in five adults in Britain is a smoker, with 23 per cent of men and 21 per cent of women smoking regularly.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2194688/Heart-attacks-non-smokers-fall-QUARTER-ban-stubs-passive-smoking.html



Tuesday 28 August 2012

Older women should skip dessert if they want to lose weight long-term


No more cake after menopause? Why cutting out dessert is more effective than cutting calories for older women

  • Post-menopausal women face a natural decline in energy levels which makes it harder to shed weight
  • Eating fruit and vegetables helps with weight-loss long-term

By Claire Bates
|

Losing weight can be especially tricky for post-menopausal women as they face a natural decline in energy levels.

Simply reducing the number of calories consumed has poor long-term results as dieters cannot sustain their motivation and pile the pounds back on.

But now scientists say there are three simple rules over-50s should follow to help them slim down: Skip dessert, lay off meat and cheese and eat more fruit and vegetables.

Weight-loss tricks: For post-menopausal women, cutting out dessert is more effective long-term than giving up fried foods
Weight-loss tricks: For post-menopausal women, cutting out dessert is more effective long-term than giving up fried foods
 
Study leader Dr Bethany Barone Gibbs, from the University of Pittsburgh, told ABC News that a number of factors work against a dieter.

She said: 'Not only does motivation decrease after you start losing weight, there are physiological changes, including a decreased resting metabolic rate. Appetite-related hormones increase.
 
'Researchers studying the brain are now finding that you have enhanced rewards and increased motivation to eat when you've lost weight.'

So the investigators studied nearly 500 post-menopausal women to see if changes in eating particular foods could make a difference to maintaining weight loss at six months and four years.

Study leader: Dr Bethany Barone Gibbs
Study leader: Dr Bethany Barone Gibbs
 
They found that the eating behaviors associated with weight loss at six months were eating fewer desserts and fried foods, drinking fewer sugar-sweetened beverages, and eating at restaurants less.

However, at four years, just eating fewer desserts and drinking fewer sweet beverages continued to be associated with weight loss or maintenance.
Meanwhile eating more fruits and vegetables and less meat and cheese emerged as long-term ways of controlling weight.

Eating at restaurants declined at four years whether or not subjects lost weight, perhaps due to economic factors not relevant to the study.

Dr Barone Gibbs said eating fewer fried foods may not be sustainable for the long term.

She said: 'People are so motivated when they start a weight loss program. You can say, "I'm never going to eat another piece of pie," and you see the pounds coming off.
 
'Eating fruits and vegetables may not make as big a difference in your caloric intake. But that small change can build up and give you a better long-term result, because it's not as hard to do as giving up French fries forever.'

The research is published in the September issue of Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

DESSERTS POST- MENOPAUSAL WOMEN SHOULD AVOID AND THOSE THEY SHOULD INDULGE


What to skip:
  • Hot fudge sundaes - high in sugar and saturated fats which increases the risk of heart disease and reduces healthy weight management
  • Ice cream - contains refined carbohydrates which disrupt the blood sugar balance and hormone levels leading to unwanted food cravings
  • Chocolate cake - high in calories and during menopause a woman's energy expenditure decreases and so to prevent weight gain, high calorie foods should be avoided

What to eat:
  • Fruit - it has been proven by this study to be a long-term way of controlling weight because it is low in calories
  • A few pieces of dark chocolate - it contains antioxidants which fight off heart disease, cancer and tooth decay
  • Sorbet - low in calories and so a healthier option to ice cream to cool down hot flushes



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2194735/No-cake-menopause-Why-cutting-dessert-effective-cutting-calories-older-women.html

Fishing for blood clots ...

Fishing for blood clots: Tiny metal net dramatically reduces stroke deaths

  • Tiny wire net expands inside blood vessel 'catching' the clot
  • Researchers say it can effectively reverse a stroke while it is happening
By Claire Bates
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Monday 27 August 2012

Healthy lifestyle for high blood pressure ...


Healthy lifestyle 'just as good as drugs' for high blood pressure: Diet and exercise cut risk by two thirds

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Research: A healthy lifestyle can cut the chances of developing high blood pressure by two thirds
Research: A healthy lifestyle can cut the chances
of developing high blood pressure by two thirds
 
 Exercising regularly, keeping weight down, drinking in moderation and eating plenty of vegetables can cut the chances of developing high blood pressure by two thirds, say researchers.
 
The impact of these measures on high blood pressure was much bigger than expected, a study found, and in some cases could even be just as effective a way to treat sufferers as prescribing drugs.

Just walking to work and restricting alcohol to two drinks a day can ‘reduce the risk markedly’, according to the study of more than 20,000 people.

Every day there are 350 preventable strokes or heart attacks in the UK caused by high blood pressure.

In developed countries such as the UK, the lifetime risk of developing high blood pressure is now 90 per cent, and six million Britons take drugs to control it.

People with hypertension – the medical term for high blood pressure – are already routinely advised to make the lifestyle changes highlighted in the study but the effect far surpassed expectations.

The Finnish study followed 9,637 men and 11,430 women aged 25 to 74 who did not have hypertension.

Their adherence to healthy lifestyle factors was recorded, which included alcohol consumption of less than 50g per week (roughly six units), exercise at least three times per week, daily consumption of vegetables, and normal weight.

During a follow-up period covering an average of 16 years, 709 of the men and 890 of the women developed hypertension.

Pekka Jousilahti, of Finland’s National Institute for Health and Welfare, presented the findings yesterday at the European Cardiology Congress in Munich.

He said: ‘The risk of hypertension was only one third among those having all four healthy lifestyle factors compared with those having none.

Silent killer: High blood pressure has few early symptoms
Silent killer: High blood pressure has few early symptoms
 
 
‘Even having one to three healthy lifestyle factors reduced the risk of hypertension remarkably. For example having two healthy lifestyle factors reduced the risk of hypertension by nearly 50 per cent in men and by more than 30 per cent in women.

‘Four modifiable lifestyle factors – alcohol consumption, physical activity, consumption of vegetables and keeping normal weight – have a remarkable effect on the development of hypertension.’

Professor Jousilahti said the study suggested people should drink a maximum of one to two drinks of alcohol a day, and said ‘even a relatively low amount’ of exercise was enough to make a difference.

Professor Gareth Beevers, a trustee of the Blood Pressure Association UK charity, said: ‘This study shows a big effect from simple changes in lifestyle. It’s surprising and more than you would expect.

‘A recent review of studies into drug treatment for mild hypertension found no benefit, and this new research suggests that making lifestyle changes really does work and could work better.’

Professor Jousilahti said that although participants were healthy at the start of the study, it was likely the findings would also help those who already have high blood pressure.

He said patients could ‘reduce their blood pressure by modifying the four lifestyle factors alone, or by making these modifications while taking blood pressure-lowering medication’.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2194501/Healthy-lifestyle-just-good-drugs-high-blood-pressure.html


Sunday 26 August 2012

Sip Cherry Juice and Sleep Tight

 Posted on Friday, August 24 , 2012 Category: Food

If you aren’t getting enough ZZZZs at night, try drinking a little tart cherry juice before bedtime. Available at health-food stores in concentrate form, cherry juice increases levels of the sleep-regulating hormone melatonin in the body. Researchers from Northumbria University in England found that people who drank two ounces of the juice concentrate each day slept about 40 minutes longer than those who drank other types of juice—and they spent less time awake in bed. Have the drink 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime.


http://www.dailyburstofenergy.com/index.php/entry/sip-cherry-juice-and-sleep-tight

Do Eat Yellow Food


Posted on Wednesday, August 22 , 2012 Category: Food
Those spices in your cupboard can do more than make your food taste good. The ones with deep, bright colors—yellows, reds and oranges—are full of antioxidants, known to protect your brain. Studies have shown that people who ate curry, which includes generous amounts of the bright yellow spice turmeric, did better on mental-status evaluations than those who rarely or never ate it. Add ginger and cinnamon to the list of brain-protective spices—and sage, for help with memory.



http://www.dailyburstofenergy.com/index.php/entry/do-eat-yellow-food

Saturday 25 August 2012

Statin Dangers Unique to Women




19 August 2012


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Chances are that you or someone you love is taking a cholesterol-lowering statin medication. But these drugs can have numerous side effects, including muscle pain, liver damage, digestive problems, memory loss, even life-threatening muscle damage. Now a new study adds two more side effects to that list…and, sorry to say, women are particularly likely to be affected.
 
The study involved 1,016 generally healthy adults who had moderately elevated levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and no heart disease or diabetes. Participants were randomly assigned to take either a placebo…simvastatin (Zocor) at 20 mg…or pravastatin (Pravachol) at 40 mg. (These are standard, relatively modest statin dosages.) The capsules, taken daily for six months, looked identical, and neither the participants nor the researchers knew at the time which group was receiving which treatment. At the end of the study, participants reported how much energy they had, comparing how they felt after six months on the pills with how they had felt at the start of the study. They used a five-point scale ranging from "much less" to "much more" to rate their energy level and degree of exertional fatigue (such as fatigue during exercise).

Findings: Statin users were much more likely than placebo users to experience a decrease in energy…worsened exertional fatigue…or both. These side effects were somewhat worse with simvastatin than with pravastatin (though simvastatin was more effective at reducing cholesterol)…and were significantly more pronounced in women than in men. In fact, among female simvastatin users, four out of 10 experienced one type of energy loss, while two out of 10 reported both types of energy loss. Worrisome: Researchers noted that this side effect could signal some mechanism by which statins adversely affect cell health.

About 25% of Americans ages 45 and up take statins. If you are among them and you feel that the drug is sapping your energy…
  • Request that your doctor factor in your fatigue when gauging the drug’s benefits versus its risks. This is particularly important for patients for whom statins have not been shown to prolong life—groups that include women…people without heart disease…and seniors over age 70, even if they do have heart disease.
  • Discuss whether you can reduce your statin dosage or switch to a different medication to see if your side effects lessen.
  • Ask your doctor about dietary and lifestyle changes that may help lower your cholesterol to the point that statins would no longer be recommended. Bonus: Such lifestyle changes should give you an energy boost, too.

Source: Beatrice A. Golomb, MD, PhD, is a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and lead author of a research letter published in Archives of Internal Medicine. The findings in this study stem from a larger study that focused on statins’ effects on thinking, mood and behavior.
 
 

Listing Details

Publication
HealthyWoman from Bottom Line
Original publication date
August 19, 2012

Brain-Power Boost for Dementia Patients





23 August 2012

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Mastering a new language, learning to play a musical instrument and other such complex mental tasks may help keep our brains sharp as we age—and may even provide some protection against dementia. But what about less challenging activities, such as putting together puzzles, tending to plants or chatting about the past? Such pursuits are pleasurable, sure…but can they protect brain power for those who need help most—people who already have dementia?
 
Researchers from the UK decided to find out by pooling the results of 15 randomized controlled trials involving a total of 718 patients with mild-to-moderate dementia. Patients in the various studies’ cognitive stimulation groups participated in a wide range of activities that aimed to stimulate thinking and memory generally. Examples included discussing past and present events, playing word games, doing jigsaw puzzles, listening to music, baking and indoor gardening. Typically these were done as group activities involving trained staff plus a handful of dementia patients, though in some cases family caregivers provided the cognitive stimulation to their relatives on a one-to-one basis. Activities averaged 45 minutes, three times per week…and continued for anywhere from one month to two years.

Findings: Patients who participated in the cognitive stimulation activities reported improved quality of life and well-being…were found to communicate and interact with others better than they had previously…and their scores on tests of memory and thinking improved, too. The beneficial effects were seen not only at the end of treatment, but also during the study follow-up periods, which ranged from one to three months.

Brain gain: If a loved one has mild-to-moderate dementia, make a point of initiating stimulating discussions and involving the person in interesting group activities. Protect yourself, too: Even for people who don’t have dementia, lack of cognitive stimulation appears to hasten mental decline over the years—so pull out the jigsaw puzzles and Scrabble board and invite a few friends over for some brain-building fun.

Source: Bob Woods, MSc, is a professor of clinical psychology of the elderly and codirector of the Dementia Services Development Centre Wales at Bangor University in Bangor, Wales, and lead author of a study on dementia published in Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews.
 
 

Listing Details

Publication
HealthyWoman from Bottom Line
Original publication date
August 23, 2012

Friday 24 August 2012

Why Ugly Honey Is Better



23 August 2012

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I ran to my pantry after reading a report in Food Safety News (FSN) for which researchers tested more than 60 jars, jugs and plastic bears of honey to see which products contained pollen. The point? It’s the pollen in honey that makes it identifiable as honey…and it’s the pollen that is responsible for many of honey’s health benefits.

The label on my jar said clover honey and did not specify whether the product contained pollen. But it probably didn’t—because most don’t. In fact, among the “honeys” in the FSN report, 76% from grocery stores, 77% from big-box stores (such as Costco and Walmart) and 100% from drugstores did not contain pollen.

The no-pollen problem: I contacted honey expert Ronald Fessenden, MD, MPH, coauthor of The Honey Revolution: Restoring the Health of Future Generations, who told me, “The pollen contains numerous amino acids, antioxidants and other compounds that enhance the healthful qualities of honey. Without the pollen, you cannot definitively prove that honey is honey, nor can you identify its source.”

So why would sellers strip out the pollen? Because many consumers want “pretty” products, which in the case of honey means clear, light and smooth. Dr. Fessenden explained that unprocessed honey tends to crystallize within a month or so, becoming more solid, darker and cloudier. To prevent this, packagers use a microfiltering process. This involves heating honey to 160° or higher, blending multiple honeys (including imported products), then forcing the honey through a series of microfilters to remove all particulate matter—including the pollen—that could increase crystallization and reduce shelf life. Even organic honeys may be filtered this way (though many are not) because the organic label indicates only that the product meets organic labeling standards in its country of origin.

A more insidious reason for removing pollen is that this makes it impossible to track the honey’s source. So the super-clear honey you see at the store could come from a country with less strict food-safety standards—and may even contain illegal antibiotics or other contaminants, according to the FSN report.

How real honey boosts health: Much of the research on honey’s health effects has been done on raw, unprocessed honey. Eating honey can...

• Stabilize blood sugar levels. Due to the way honey is metabolized and stored in the liver as glycogen, it provides a primary energy source for the brain, kidneys and red blood cells at times when demands are high (such as during exercise) or blood glucose is low (for instance, during sleep). Also, because honey does not stimulate as rapid a release of insulin as other sugars do, it is the “sweetener of choice for people with diabetes,” said Dr. Fessenden.
• Improve sleep patterns and promote restorative sleep when consumed at bedtime. By preventing or reducing the release of stress hormones that occurs when liver glycogen stores are depleted, honey helps you sleep longer and more restfully. It also restores frequency and duration of the REM (dream-stage) sleep that typically diminishes with age, Dr. Fessenden explained.
• Reduce metabolic stress—which translates to a reduced risk for conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, thyroid disease, even Alzheimer’s disease.
• Enhance immune system function.
• Reduce gastrointestinal symptoms from ulcers and stomach acid problems.
• Increase antioxidant levels in the blood.
• Help control appetite due to its effects on appetite-regulating hormones.

Since I’m an allergy sufferer, I asked Dr. Fessenden whether the pollen in raw honey could worsen my hay fever. He said it was unlikely because the pollen in honey is heavy and sticky—the type that requires pollinators (such as honeybees) to disperse. In contrast, people with hay fever typically react to light, airborne pollens from grasses and trees, which are dispersed by wind. That is also why consuming local honey probably does not really “treat” allergies—though honey’s positive effects on the immune system may result in marked improvement in allergy symptoms.

For the healthiest honey: You can get raw honey from health-food stores or local farmers’ markets or beekeepers. Or check labels for the words “raw and unfiltered” or for information about the honey’s origin—the more info there is, the more likely that nothing has been removed. Dr. Fessenden noted that honey is still considered raw when heated to no more than 110° (about the maximum temperature of the beehive) and filtered just enough to remove bee parts and honeycomb bits, leaving the pollen mostly intact.

Store honey in a covered glass container at room temperature. “Honey lasts forever—it is one food that never spoils,” Dr. Fessenden said. If it crystallizes, you can place the jar in a “bath” of warm water until the crystals dissolve. Do not microwave honey.

To enjoy: Stir a spoonful of honey into yogurt or tea…use it to top toast or cereal…or savor a spoonful solo. At 64 calories per tablespoon, raw honey is slightly more caloric than white sugar (with 48 calories per tablespoon) but tastes much sweeter. If you’re watching your weight, limit yourself to one to three tablespoons of honey per day. Otherwise, Dr. Fessenden recommended three to five spoonfuls daily—in the morning with breakfast, before and/or after exercising and at bedtime. A pleasurable prescription, indeed!

Source: Ronald Fessenden, MD, MPH, is a retired physician, honey researcher and writer from Colorado Springs and cochairman of the Committee for the Promotion of Honey and Health in America, a nonprofit organization. He also is coauthor of The Honey Revolution: Restoring the Health of Future Generations, available in complete or abridged versions from www.WorldClassEmprise.com.
 
 

Listing Details

Publication
HealthyWoman from Bottom Line
Original publication date
August 23, 2012

Grape Seed Extract - Natural Compound Kills Cancer ...


Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Natural Compound Kills Cancer, Leaves Healthy Cells Unharmed

For thousands of years, people have harvested grapes. Think of the ancient Romans… the Greeks. But not just because they taste great. As Hippocrates – the Father of Medicine – noted, these gem-like fruits have miraculous healing properties.

And modern science has proven him right. Scientists have discovered more than a hundred biologically-active compounds in grapes. And while the flesh might be the sweetest and tastiest part, the skin and seeds have the greatest nutritional value.

In fact, research shows that nutrients extracted from grape seeds can provide powerful protection against many forms of cancer. That includes stomach, breast, colon, lung, skin, and prostate cancer.

Here’s how it works…

Selective cytotoxicity is the most promising area of cancer research. It simply means that a compound can kill cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. Unfortunately, chemotherapy drugs fail to meet this standard. But there are natural compounds that can wipe out cancer cells and leave healthy cells to thrive.

Xianglin Shi, PhD from the University of Kentucky is a researcher who looks for compounds like this. “What everyone seeks is an agent that has an effect on cancer cells but leaves normal cells alone,” says Dr. Shi.

And he just may have found it in the seeds of a grape…

According to the journal Clinical Cancer Research, Shi exposed and treated leukemia cancer cells with a commercially available grape seed extract (GSE) in different doses.1 He found that grape seed extract caused cancer cells to self-destruct. The higher the dose, the more cancer cells died.2

And even better…

GSE killed 76 percent of cancer cells within 24 hours, while leaving the healthy cells completely unharmed.

Dr. Shi says these results might be enough to start using agents such as GSE to prevent and treat cancer.

Another study, published in the journal Carcinogenesis, confirms his findings.3

Rajesh Agarwal, PhD conducted the study on mice with mouth or nasal cavity cancer. The mice received GSE in their feed. And just like in the previous study, cancer cells died. The healthy cells remained unharmed. The mice also showed no toxicity to GSE.
“Cancer cells have a lot of defective pathways,” said Dr. Agarwal. “And they are very vulnerable if you target those pathways.”

That’s just what the GSE did. But how?

Researchers in both studies found that the anti-cancer effect is due to GSE’s activation of a protein in our body called JNK. Once activated, JNK damages the DNA of cancer cells. This causes them to self-destruct. It does not have this effect on healthy cells.4

In cancer treatment, cell suicide is important. But keeping healthy cells alive is just as vital.

Chemotherapy doesn’t exclusively target cancer cells. It damages and destroys healthy cells too.

Perhaps even worse, according to a recent study in Nature Medicine5 (among others), chemotherapy can actually cause cancer.

These studies on grape seed extract are great news for anyone who wants to treat and prevent cancer.

But it doesn’t mean you should fill your grocery cart with grapes. The grapes that Hippocrates called “medicine” were very different from the grapes you’ll find in the store today. Most commercial grapes – especially the green seedless variety – were bred to be sweet and juicy. They are full of sugar and have little nutritional value.

If you do enjoy grapes, choose smaller varieties with red or purple skin. And always buy organic. Conventional grapes are loaded with pesticides.

But for the greatest nutritional benefit, consider taking a high quality grape seed extract supplement. They usually come in capsule form. And they can be easily found online. Also, while grape seed oil might be good for cooking, it does not contain the anti-cancer compounds found in the extract. So it should not be used as a substitute.

GSE is perfectly safe to consume. And research proves that it kills cancerous cells. It’s a win-win. It might just keep cancer – and chemo – at bay.

References:
1http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=6557928&page=1#.UCnC8hwdCdw
2http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19118041
3http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22266465
4http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20581839
5http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/nm.2890.html

http://naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/08/natural-compound-kills-cancer-leaves-healthy-cells-unharmed/#Continue

Thursday 23 August 2012

The Bleak Future Of Gluten-Free Food




Eating a gluten-free diet doesn’t necessarily mean you’re eating a healthy diet. In the gathering push by big food companies to sell gluten-free junk foods, you may find that trying to select a nutritious gluten-free diet becomes a treacherous task.

Growing Market

The growing market for gluten-free foods has the big food companies drooling over the profitable possibilities of exploiting this demand. But once they get their gluten-free production up to speed, they’ll be spewing out gluten-free junk food so fast it’ll make your head spin, your waistline grow and your health deteriorate if you start consuming their products.

You may have noticed that many people who eat a gluten-free diet focus on finding foods to substitute for items that contain gluten. We’re so hooked on cookies, cakes, doughnuts and breads that we can’t conceive of going through a day that omits a gooey, sweet confection.

That’s why the Web is filled with stories about bakers who formulate gluten-free desserts that are supposed to comfort the gluten-intolerant. But I don’t find much comfort in that. Yes, if your body can’t handle gluten, your choice of foods is more limited. But stuffing yourself with sugary, processed gluten-free cake won’t help your health.

What’s truly frightening, though, is the prospect of the food manufacturing heavy hitters dominating the gluten-free scene and convincing the public that just because something is gluten-free it’s got to be better for you. Processed food is processed food. It doesn’t do a body good.

Extra Production

Of course, the trashing of the gluten-free marketplace has already started as the big food companies start ramping up their production lines.

And it was inevitable that this kind of market would draw them in. Sales of gluten-free crisps, pretzels and snacks have grown from $225 million in 2009 to $388 million in 2011, according to bakeryandsnacks.com. At the same time, the market for gluten-free bread and snacks grew from $46 million to $119 million, with no end in sight for market expansion.

The big food guys recognize that about 30 million Americans have a problem with gluten. On the bright side of these developments, their marketing folks are going to get the message out about gluten, educating more people about the health problems that can be linked to these problematic proteins. On the dark side, Big Food is going to be pushing high-profit gluten-free snack foods that are lacking the fiber and nutrition that people need.

Snack Fans Of The World

All of that makes me wonder about the attitude Big Food takes toward its customers. Do these companies consider consumers to be health-conscious eaters? Or do they view supermarket shoppers as slaves to their taste buds who can be manipulated into buying just about any nutritionally worthless product as long as it is marketed, formulated and packaged enticingly enough?

Take a look at how Frito-Lay, the potato chip empire, talks to consumers. On its websites and in its videos it addresses and describes consumers as “fans” of its snack foods. The word “fan,” of course, is short for fanatic.

A Frito-Lay video aimed at consumers that describes how the company responds to feedback from its fans describes mostly what it takes out of its food to try to make it less harmful to health. (It limits sodium and trans fats.)

Strange Brew

In its effort to reach out to gluten-free fans, Frito-Lay also has started posting gluten-free recipes on its websites. But if its recipe for Chocolate & Potato Chip Cookies is any indication, cooking with Frito-Lay snack foods is not conducive to high-quality dining. The cookies contain coffee, chocolate chips, potato chips and guar gum.

I’m sure that a spokesperson for Frito-Lay would argue that the company is in the snack business and that it doesn’t intend for its foods to be consumed in large amounts. But it’s hard to understand how its products would fit into a healthy diet at all.

The situation with gluten-free food marketing mirrors what’s already wrong with our approach to food. We overeat fast, unhealthy processed food because we’re in too much of a hurry (we think) to prepare proper meals. We get sucked into consuming a diet of sugary drinks and snacks packaged in eye-catching containers that are satisfying in the moment but harmful in the long run.

A case in point is the method one marketing team used to increase sales of gluten-free pizza: “(We used a) package that was ‘Fun’ and highlighted ‘Gluten Free’ as a good thing and a great experience.”

If you think about it, you’ll realize that food marketing has become pretty much the same as the marketing of video games and clothing. We get sold the “fun” in all these consumer goods. We’re identified as fans of food, not people concerned with health. Pretty soon, the gluten-free lifestyle will be as mainstream as potato chips. Be ready

http://easyhealthoptions.com/alternative-medicine/nutrition/the-bleak-future-of-gluten-free-food/