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Should you take a daily multivitamin?According to the Mayo Clinic website (mayoclinic.com), a vitamin supplement may be a good idea if:
Thu Jan 25, 2007 - LONDON (Reuters)
Women who take folic acid supplements in early pregnancy can reduce the risk of cleft lip in their baby by up to 40 percent, researchers said on Friday. Folic acid, a synthetic compound of a B vitamin found in green leafy vegetables, has been recommended to prevent neural tube disorders such as spina bifida. But its impact on cleft clip has been less clear.
"Folic acid supplements during early pregnancy seem to reduce the risk of isolated cleft lip (with or without cleft palate) by about a third," said Allen Wilcox of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Durham, North Carolina. Cleft lip or palate occurs when the tissues that form the palate, or roof of the mouth, and the upper lip do not join correctly. Boys are more affected than girls and the disorder is also more common in Asians. Surgery is often carried out to repair the condition.
In a study published online by the British Medical Journal, the scientists studied the effect of taking folic acid supplements in Norway, which has the highest rate of facial clefts in Europe. They questioned the mothers of 573 children born in Norway with cleft lip or palate from 1996 to 2000 and 763 women with healthy children. The mothers were asked whether they took folic acid supplements early in their pregnancy and how much. After adjusting for smoking and other confounding factors, the researchers found that folic acid supplements reduced the risk of cleft lip by 40 percent.
Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables without taking folic acid supplements cut the risk by 25 percent in the women. "If folic acid is able to prevent a major birth defect in addition to neural tube defects, this benefit should be included among the risk and benefits of fortifying food with folic acid," Wilcox added.
The United States started fortifying flour with folic acid several years ago after its role was established in reducing neural tube birth disorders. Other countries including Canada, Australia, Mexico and Chile have followed their example.
An exciting new study suggests the massive cost savings and health benefits of using nutritional supplements, including calcium, folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, and saw palmetto.
The study suggested that a daily intake of 1200 mg of calcium by men and women over 65 years of age could potentially save a staggering $13 billon over a five-year period.
It also stated, "Daily use of folic acid by women would prevent 600 cases of neural tube birth defects yearly, saving $1.3 billion in lifetime medical costs over five years."
The data on supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids and saw palmetto were also extremely encouraging, since their use can decrease the cost of healthcare associated with chronic conditions.
GNLD is excited that this study underscores what we have known for over 46 years: Optimum nutrition helps prevent disease. Our comprehensive line of nutritional supplements includes Neo-Cal and Chelated Cal-Mag; Formula IV & Formula IV Plus and our Daily Vitality Packs; Omega III Salmon Oil Plus; and Masculine Herbal Complex - your best sources for calcium, folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, and saw palmetto, respectively.
Source: DaVanzo, J. et al, "Improving Public Health, Reducing Health Care Costs: An Evidence-Based Study of Five Dietary Supplements," September 22, 2004.According to the Centers for Disease Control*, one out of every three children born in the United States the year 2000 will develop adult-onset diabetes. The CDC blames the epidemic of obesity as the primary culprit for this unprecedented national health problem.
In addition, the trend suggests that females and minorities are at the greatest risk. Obesity in the United States is at an all-time high, and is now considered the #1 health threat in America. Adult-onset diabetes, also known as Type II diabetes, carries with it a myriad of health complications, many of which are life-threatening.
Losing weight, regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight are the best ways to prevent the development of adult-onset diabetes. For individuals who have already developed diabetes, in many cases just losing a few pounds can often have a major positive impact on controlling the disease.
* Source: Centers for Disease Control, www.cdc.gov 2003 report, "Preventing Diabetes and its Complications"A recent study published in the American Journal of Cardiology* concludes that adult men who have a low daily intake of magnesium have a higher risk of developing heart disease.
As part of the Honolulu Heart Program, researchers discovered that men who had magnesium intakes near or above the RDA (400mg) were less likely to develop heart disease, when compared to men who had the lowest intakes (186mg or less). Unfortunately, most adults do not meet the recommended daily intake for magnesium and may be increasing their risk of heart disease without even knowing it.
GNLD has a wide range of supplements that will help you meet your magnesium needs.
* American Journal of Cardiology, September 2003.A recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute1 suggests that lycopene supplements alone may not have the same cancer-fighting effects as tomatoes or tomato powder. The researchers concluded that although lycopene does have anti-cancer properties, when it's taken alone it was not effective. In fact, the test group that received the lycopene-only supplements had similar rates of prostate cancer as the group that received only a placebo.
This study underscores the need for supplements, especially carotenoid supplements, to be based on whole-food products. GNLD's Carotenoid Complex uses only whole-food raw materials, because we know that in nature you will never find lycopene, or other carotenoids, alone. Carotenoid Complex contains a full spectrum of carotenoids, sourced from 7 different carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables, and it is clinically proven by USDA researchers to be effective.
1 Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 95, No. 21, 1578-1586, November 5, 2003Another reason to make a long-term habit of taking your daily vitamin! Research suggests that adults who take multivitamins for 10 years or more have a substantially lower risk of developing colon cancer, when compared to those who don't.* In fact, their risk of developing colon cancer is decreased by nearly 30%!
When you shop for a multivitamin, be sure to look for one that provides a broad spectrum of nutrients that your body requires, and has a long history of satisfied users. GNLD's Formula IV is not just a multivitamin, it's a multifactor food supplement that provides vitamins, minerals, and related food factors which are essential for optimal health. Formula IV has been providing good nutrition to thousands of people for over 45 years. To ensure your good health, take your Formula IV "Greenie" every day!
* American Journal of Epidemiology, October 1, 2003.
Is it better to take vitamins in the morning or the evening? With meals or in between?
Time of day usually makes little difference (check the label for directions). But taking supplements with food is important, because a little fat in food can facilitate absorption.
A recent study at Oregon State University showed that very little vitamin E was absorbed when taken on an empty stomach or with fat-free milk.
The same is true of beta-carotene, even in carrots. People who ate a salad with fat-free dressing absorbed virtually no beta-carotene; they absorbed slightly more with a reduced-fat dressing, and the most with a full-fat dressing, according to a new study at Iowa State University.
Hold the chips and pass the broccoli! Only 1% of American young people ages 2 to 19 eat healthy diets, a new study has found. On average, young people in that age group receive 40% of their energy from fat and added sugar, rather than eating well-rounded diets of a variety of foods, according to the study published Tuesday in the September issue of the journal Pediatrics.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends eating six to 11 servings of grain each day, three to five servings of vegetables, two to four of fruit, two to three of dairy products and five to seven ounces of meat. The guidelines call for 10% or less in fat and added sugar.
Sixteen-percent of 3,307 young people interviewed in a nationwide telephone survey conducted by the USDA did not meet any of the federal guidelines on nutrition. Only 30% met the dietary recommendations for fruit, grain, meat and dairy, while 36% ate the recommended amount of vegetables. Only 1% met all five requirements.
Bad eating habits in childhood can lead to disease later in life, including heart problems associated with too much fat, and osteoporosis from low calcium intake, said Dr. Kathryn Munoz, one of the study's authors. A poor diet can also lead to obesity.
There was some good news: Boys between the ages of 12 and 19 had the highest consumption of recommended food groups. The down side may be that girls eat less to lose weight. Experts say parents can help by giving children 1% or skim milk, replace soda with juices and encourage young people to eat vegetables and fruits with low fat, yogurt-based dips instead of mayonnaise-based dips.
Ben Weider, CM, PhD, International Federation of Bodybuilders, Montreal, Canada, says, "Medicine is finally coming to accept that correct nutrition and exercise have profound protective effects against disease and degeneration. The antioxidant hypothesis, so ably developed by Dr. Denman Harman, is now gaining respect as a means of prevention and treatment of diseases as diverse as cancer, cardiovascular disease, cataracts, diabetes, infections, immune dysfunctions and degenerative disorders of the human brain." Weider said new protective effects of carotenoid antioxidants are being documented every month. Specific metabolic actions of flavonoids are filling respectable medical journals that previously would have ignored such common components of fruits and vegetables. A prime example is the use of indolecarbinol from cabbage to prevent and to treat breast cancer. Dr. Jeffrey Blumberg, universities, hospitals and government authorities from Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and Tufts, to the Mayo Clinic and the USDA, are now recommending the use of antioxidants for multiple disorders in amounts far beyond the obsolete RDAs.
Scientists say you may gain weight with fake fat. When Olestra was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in January for use in snack foods, it looked like it might be the fat equivalent of the free lunch. But there is no free lunch. Olestra, the indigestible synthetic fat, has a few well-publicized drawbacks, primarily that it sucks vitamins out of the body.
"It's not going to do anything to reduce obesity", says Dr. Alice Lichtenstein, a Tufts University researcher. She said it is possible that Olestra will produce more obesity in children. In adults, signals from eating fat tell us that we're full. "Children who consume Olestra won't be getting those signals, and their bodies won't learn to stop eating", she says.
The June edition of the Mayo Clinic Health Letter also sent out a warning on Olestra, saying it inhibits the absorption of vitamins A, D, E and K and carotenoids, substances help keep the immune system healthy and prevent some cancers and heart problems. The manufacturer, Procter & Gamble, said it plans to add vitamins to Olestra to replace those Olestra strips from the body. "But that's not good enough," Lichtenstein said. "Chemically created vitamins are not a substitute for the nutrients in real food. For example, food has several forms of vitamin E. A chemical substitute is likely to be in only one of the forms. The question: What if the missing form is one that helps fight off some form of cancer?"
Olestra can also cause abdominal cramps and loose stools. What effect does she think Olestra will have on people who have been watching their weight? "I'm afraid that people who have been avoiding chips because of the fat will now think it's safe to eat them," she said. "They will just be adding more calories they don't need." How can you control your weight? Exercise regularly and make small, smart adjustments in how you eat. These kinds of changes will make a permanent difference -- if you exercise daily.
Are scientists on the track of the fountain of youth? A report released Thursday in the journal "Science" highlights the milestones scientists have achieved in helping millions of people face the challenges of aging. Experiments suggest that while our genes influence aging, there is no program that limits our life-span. The oxygen we need to live also causes oxidative damage. So researchers altered fruit flies to boost antioxidant defenses and lengthened the life-spans of fruit flies and other animals. "What happens is that they live longer, and they are more vigorous and the age-related changes that take place in their cells and body are delayed," said Raj Sohar of Southern Methodist University.
Scientists suggest trying to lower metabolism by eating less and including in the diet a lot of fruits and vegetables high in anti-oxidants. Metabolism can also be lowered by taking naps. And while exercise is good, extreme levels of activity may not offer any advantage. David Finkelstein of the National Institute of Aging says, "I suspect the life-span will increase due to the interventions we can make."
Multi-vitamin supplements taken by people over age 65 may greatly improve the immune system and decrease the frequency of infections. Researchers found that even apparently healthy elderly people have substantial deficiencies of certain nutrients, increasing their risk of disease. Two others studies conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health involving 130,000 people indicated that vitamin E lowers heart disease risk by one-third for men and by one-half for women. Vitamin A was found to reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks as well as improve the chances of survival and recovery for those who do suffer from one, according to studies done at the Free University in Brussels, Belgium.
In a 10-year study, researchers at UCLA found that 300-500 mg of Vitamin C daily may help people live longer and decrease their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. And, Dr. Robert Russell of Tufts University says that vitamin B-12 may well be the single most important nutrient for the aged, because many elderly people have atrophic gastritis and are unable to absorb vitamin B-12. Lack of vitamin B-12 leads to memory loss, disorientation, weakness, lack of coordination and other various neurologic disorders.
Surgeon General, Dr. Audrey Manley's, first-ever report on exercise sounds an urgent wake-up call about the risks of our couch-potato culture! More than 60 percent of U.S. adults don't exercise regularly, and 25 percent aren't active at all. Even young people fall short...5 percent aren't physically active at all. Reams of evidence prove that exercise decreases your risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and colon cancer. The remedy is moderate exercise on most days. You could swim for 20 minutes, walk for 30, garden for about 45 minutes, or wash cars for an hour a few times a week to get the workout you need to stay in shape. "It's really important to recognize that moderate activity can have benefits -- something as simple as 30 minutes of walking a day with someone you like," said Dr. Sidney Smith of the American Heart Association.
"It's clear that the brain benefits from exercise," says neuroscientist William Greenough of the University of Illinois. His studies suggest we can benefit in two ways: Aerobic exercise fuels the brain with more nutrients, and skill-based exercise increases the number of synapses, or connections, which, some scientists theorize, makes the brain better able to process information. Numerous studies show that children who engage in regular physical activity do better in school than their sedentary classmates. The improvement was thought to be from increased self-confidence and concentration, but some scientists now believe the connection is physiological.
Learning a new dance step may boost the brain in the same way that learning a language can. If the dance is aerobic, then the benefits double. Other studies have shown that sedentary adults, aged 63 to 82, improved their reaction times after a 10-week water aerobics course. Pierce J. Howard, an organizational psychologist, says new research suggests that aerobic exercise increases the amount of certain brain chemicals that stimulate the growth of nerve cells. It's believed that young people stand to gain the most improvement in brain function from exercise.
Eat your vegetables! A new study finds that middle-age men who ate a lot of fruits and vegetables over a 20-year period were significantly less likely to suffer strokes than other men. "It was a bit surprising to us how strong the link was," said lead author, Dr. Matthew W. Gillman, Assistant Professor of Ambulatory Care and Prevention at Harvard Medical School.
The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. "For every increase of three servings of fruits and vegetables per day, there was approximately a 20 percent decrease in the risk of stroke," he said. The results parallel findings two years ago among women. Those who ate lots of spinach, carrots and other vegetables and fruits rich in antioxidant nutrients had a 54 percent lower risk of stroke than other women. Fruits and vegetables also appear to reduce the risk of many cancers and contribute to a high-fiber, low-fat diet, which is strongly associated with heart health.