Environmental Nutrition

View or print a copy of the entire December 2008 issue of Environmental Nutrition

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Reseach Roundup: Decemer 2008

Subscribers Only Taking daily fish oil supplements may lessen damaging health effects of pollution due to oxidative stress, researchers in Mexico concluded after giving two grams of fish oil a day to 52 nursing home residents for seven months. Prior testing revealed that pollution levels in the nursing home were as high as outdoors. The omega-3-rich supplements boosted blood levels of antioxidant enzymes and reduced oxidative damage in blood cells, which are both affected by pollution.

A+ for Almonds, Abundant in Vitamin E, Minerals

Subscribers Only The Folklore. In ancient Greece, the almond tree was considered special, as it was the only tree that flowered before developing leaves. Ancient Romans showered newlyweds with almonds for fertility. The Facts. Almonds are related to stone fruits like cherries, peaches, apricots and plums; they resemble the kernels inside peach and nectarine pits. They are extremely nutrient-rich; a handful is an excellent source of vitamin E. While all nuts are valued for their E content, none has close to the amount—nearly 40% of the Daily Value—that almonds do. Almonds are also rich in protein, as well as magnesium and manganese, two minerals that can be hard to come by, and are a good source of copper, fiber and the B vitamin riboflavin.

Combining the Cholesterol-Lowering Powers of Statins and Sterols

Subscribers Only Statins vs Sterols. Statins are widely prescribed drugs to lower LDL-cholesterol; they include Lipitor, Pravachol and Zocor. Sterols, also called phytosterols, are natural compounds derived from fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and legumes. They’ve been studied since the 1950s for their ability to reduce LDLs. (Similar compounds called stanols, which come from tree bark and soybean oil, work in the same way.) Statin drugs block the body’s production of cholesterol in the liver. Sterols, on the other hand, primarily prevent cholesterol absorption from food. Thus statins plus sterols are better than either alone.

Negative Findings for Alternative Arthritis Supplements Questioned

Subscribers Only New research has concluded that the popular arthritis supplements glucosamine and chondroitin do not slow the progression of joint damage caused by osteoarthritis. The latest findings, published in the October Arthritis & Rheumatism, are a blow to the 20 million Americans suffering from osteoarthritis. But not everyone is ready to cap their supplement bottles just yet. Glucosamine is extracted from the shells of crabs, lobster and shrimp; chondroitin come from animal cartilage, such as in sharks. The popularity of the two supplements has skyrocketed in the past 10 years since publication of The Arthritis Cure (St. Martin’s Griffin, 1997), which championed their use.

COOL Rules? New Labeling of Food Imports Is Complicated, Confusing

Subscribers Only After years of contentious debate between Congress and the food industry, Country Of Origin Labeling, with the ultra-cool acronym of COOL, became official on September 30 (any food produced or packaged prior to that isn’t required to be labeled). The ruling means that certain food products must be labeled according to their country of origin. But not all foods. That’s the unfortunate catch. But the rule improves what was hit-or-miss information before. What’s COOL, What’s Not. The ruling mandates labeling for a curious conglomeration of foods: beef, lamb, pork, chicken, goat, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, peanuts, pecans, ginseng and macadamia nuts. However, processed foods, mixed foods and organ meats, (e.g., heart, liver, kidney) are exempt from COOL. The processed food exemption leaves a lot of food in no-man’s land, as well as some head-scratching logic.

Are You Being Greenwashed? EN Evaluates Eco-Labels

Subscribers Only If you’re interested in spending your dwindling greenbacks on "green" foods, you’re not alone. A near consensus of Americans—93%—have some degree of sustainability consciousness; 75% believe what they buy has an impact on society. Food companies have seen the "green" light and are swooping in to ease your environmental conscience with eco-friendly foods, from the sublime (fair trade coffee beans) to the ridiculous (organic jelly beans). Unfortunately, some claims are little more than creative self-promotion. The trend has its own phrase—"greenwashing"—defined as disinformation that misleads in order to present an environmentally responsible image. In a recent survey of 1,000 consumer products, 99% carried greenwashed claims. So how to sift through the morass of environmentally friendly phrases to find the green gems? EN helps eco-translate.

Parkinson’s Disease Linked to Low Vitamin D

Subscribers Only Vitamin D’s ever-expanding health roles continue and may now include Parkinson’s disease. So suggest a group of researchers from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta after analyzing for vitamin D in blood samples from 300 people—100 with Parkinson’s disease, 100 with Alzheimer’s disease and 100 healthy controls. The study found that more than half (55%) of the Parkinson’s sufferers had low levels of D compared to 41% of those with Alzheimer’s and 36% of controls. While people with neurological diseases may avoid the outdoors and thus be exposed to less sunlight, which is needed to make vitamin D, the researchers suggest that lower levels of the vitamin in those with Parkinson’s compared to those with Alzheimer’s hints at a link between Parkinson’s and D.

Diverticulosis: Corn, Nuts, Popcorn Not Guilty

Subscribers Only Diverticulosis is a condition characterized by small outpouchings from the colon, called diverticula. Experts estimate that one-third of Americans have diverticulosis by age 60, two-thirds by age 85. It’s only when stool or bacteria lodges in the pouches and they become inflamed that trouble starts. This inflammation is called diverticulitis and is the cause of pain and bleeding. Physicians typically prescribe a low-fiber diet to calm the colon. Hospitalization and surgery may be needed in severe cases.

Combating Your Own Energy Crisis: Fight Fatigue, Add Oomph To Your Life

Subscribers Only Tired? Worn out? Less than chipper? Has your "get up and go" got up and went? If so, you’re not alone. In a recent survey of adults by HealthFocus International, 45% said they were concerned about being tired and fatigued. No matter the cause—whether from feeling overworked, stressed out over the economy or simply from a chronic lack of quality sleep—the result can be harmful to your overall health. Here’s how to determine your particular fatigue triggers and how diet and lifestyle can play a role in lifting your lagging energy level.

6 Smart Supplements That Promise Protection For Your Heart Health

Subscribers Only Revelations about the relationship between diet and heart disease exploded in the 1960s, ushering in the era of drug therapy and dietary intervention. By the 1980s, the growing use of statin drugs to lower blood cholesterol allowed people—perhaps not wisely—to relax their diets and still see cholesterol levels drop. Today’s cholesterol landscape has evolved. Researchers have learned that a combination of foods—specifically, a diet low in saturated fat that includes omega-3-rich fish, vitamin-E-rich almonds (see related story, page 8), soluble-fiber-rich oatmeal, as well as plant sterols or stanols (see related story, page 7)—in conjunction with supplements can be as effective as statin drugs for lowering blood cholesterol levels in people with heart disease. Following a heart-healthy diet can help ward off the disease even before it takes hold.