Natural Standard Blog

Oatmeal for the Heart

A recent review supports the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) conclusion that oatmeal has benefits for heart health.

Researchers from Quaker-Tropicana-Gatorade Research and Development Department in Barrington, Illinois, and the University of Kentucky, Lexington, asserted that consumption of whole-grain oats can effectively reduce levels of LDL ("bad') cholesterol during weight-loss.

High cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia, is a condition in which there are unhealthy high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Too much cholesterol in the blood is a major risk for heart disease, which may lead to a heart attack, heart failure (cannot pump enough blood to the body) and death. High cholesterol levels are also a risk factor for stroke (lack of blood and oxygen to the brain), causing nerve damage.

According to current estimates, 71.3 million people in America have one or more forms of heart disease. High cholesterol affects about 20 percent of adults older than the age of 20 in the United States. The highest prevalence occurs in women between the ages of 65 and 74. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that high cholesterol contributes to 56 percent of cases of coronary heart disease worldwide and causes about 4.4 million deaths each year.

The review reported that 10 years have passed since the FDA completed their review of the literature pertaining to the consumption of whole-oat sources of soluble fiber and a reduction in blood cholesterol concentrations. The review ascertained that since that time, data have continued to accumulate regarding oat-soluble fiber consumption, cholesterol and other physiologic vectors related to cardiovascular health.

The review compared the findings of more contemporary analyses of the oat and cholesterol-reduction literature to determine if newer information is consistent with the original conclusion reached by the FDA.

The review authors concluded that a number of formal assessments have been conducted subsequent to the FDA review, and virtually all have reached the same conclusion, namely, consumption of oats and oat-based products significantly reduces total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations without adverse effects on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or triglyceride concentrations.

Additionally, the authors noted that a number of new insights about the potential benefits of oats have emerged over the past 10 years. These more recent data indicate that including oats and oat-based products as part of a lifestyle management program may confer health benefits that extend beyond total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol reduction.

For more information about high cholesterol, please visit Natural Standard’s Medical Conditions database. 

FDA: Cloned Meat and Dairy Safe to Eat

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has declared that meat and milk from clones of cattle, swine and goats, as well as the offspring of clones from any species traditionally consumed as food, are as safe to eat as food from conventionally bred animals.

However, there continues to be insufficient information for the agency to reach a conclusion on the safety of food from clones of other animal species, such as sheep.

The FDA has issued three documents on animal cloning outlining the agency's regulatory approach: a risk assessment, a risk management plan and guidance for the industry.

The documents were released in draft form in December 2006; since that time, the risk assessment has been updated to include new scientific information that reinforces the food safety conclusions of the drafts, the FDA reports.

The FDA explained that in 2001, U.S. producers agreed to refrain from introducing meat or milk from clones or their progeny into the food supply until the FDA could further evaluate the issue.

The FDA reports that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will convene stakeholders to discuss efforts to provide a smooth and orderly market transition, as the industry determines the next steps with respect to the existing voluntary moratorium.

Consumers should be aware that the agency is not requiring labeling or any other additional measures for food from cattle, swine and goat clones or their offspring because the FDA declares that the food derived from these sources is no different than food derived from conventionally bred animals. Should a producer express a desire for voluntary labeling (e.g., "this product is clone-free"), it will be considered on a case-by-case basis to ensure compliance with statutory requirements that labeling be truthful and not misleading.

The FDA reports that the clones would be used for breeding and would not be expected to enter the food supply in any significant number. Instead, their sexually reproduced offspring would be used for producing meat and milk for the marketplace.

An animal clone is a genetic copy of a donor animal, similar to an identical twin, but born at a different time. Cloning is not the same as genetic engineering, which involves altering, adding or deleting DNA because cloning does not change the gene sequence. Due to their cost and rarity, clones are intended to be used as elite breeding animals to introduce desirable traits into herds more rapidly than would be possible using conventional breeding, the FDA states.

The FDA is currently working with scientific and professional societies with expertise in animal health and reproduction to develop standards of care for animals involved in the cloning process. Although the agency is not charged with addressing ethical issues related to animal cloning for agricultural purposes, the FDA plans to continue to provide scientific expertise to interested parties working on these issues.

In the guidance for industry, the FDA does not recommend any special measures relating to the use of products from cattle, swine or goat clones as human food or animal feed. The guidance states that food products from the offspring of clones from any species traditionally consumed for food are suitable to enter the food and feed supply.

For more information, please visit www.fda.gov.

 

Tips for Weight Loss in the New Year

Two new studies offer insight on methods for losing weight as well as the common stumbling blocks of overweight and obese individuals.

In one study, researchers asked the question, "Exercise makes you feel good, but does feeling good make you exercise?"

Researchers from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH, explained that while exercise-induced mood enhancement has been well documented, the relationship between mood and exercise participation is less understood.

The researchers hypothesized that mood states influence evaluative judgments that could plausibly influence a decision to exercise

The study investigated the influence of morning mood on exercise, exercise intensity/duration on mood enhancement and daily change in mood on exercise days compared with non-exercise days in obese behavioral weight loss program participants. Thirty-six individuals recorded morning, evening and pre-and post-exercise mood, as well as the type, duration and intensity of exercise.

The study found that morning mood was associated with an increased likelihood of exercising, mood ratings were higher following exercise of greater intensity and duration and daily mood enhancement was associated with greater exercise initiation and greater exercise intensity.

The study authors suggested that measuring mood before and after exercise may yield important clinical information that can be used to promote physical activity in obese adults.

A related study examined the dietary practices, dining out behavior and physical activity correlates of weight loss maintenance.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explained that loss of excess weight can improve blood lipids, insulin sensitivity and blood pressure.

Using the 2004 Styles survey, a mailed survey of U.S. adults aged 18 years or older, the study examined behaviors associated with weight loss maintenance among people who reported trying to lose weight. Data on the number of daily fruit and vegetable servings, minutes per week of physical activity, dining out behavior and confidence in one's ability to engage in behavioral strategies were assessed.

The study found that more men (35.5 percent) than women (27.7 percent) were classified as successful weight loss maintainers. Compared with adults who reported eating at a fast-food restaurant two or more times per week, adults who reported not eating at fast-food restaurants were more successful at weight loss maintenance. Additionally, the study reported that compared with adults who consumed fewer than five fruit and vegetable servings per day and were sedentary, adults who consumed fewer than five fruit and vegetable servings per day and accrued 420 minutes or more per week of physical activity or consumed five or more fruit and vegetable servings and accrued 150 minutes or more per week of activity were more successful at weight loss maintenance.

The study authors concluded that the behavioral strategy of reducing consumption of fast foods could assist people in maintaining weight loss. Furthermore, the combined approach of consuming five or more fruit and vegetable servings per day and attaining 150 minutes or more per week of physical activity was a common strategy among adults successful at weight loss maintenance.

Assessment of weight involves evaluating body mass index, waist circumference and the patient's risk factors.

Many factors, including an individual's age, gender and height, are considered to determine if he/she is overweight. People increase in weight until they are fully grown. On average, females tend to gain about 16 pounds of body weight from age 25-54. In contrast, males tend to gain about 10 pounds of body weight from age 25-45. By around age 55, both men and women start to decline in weight. Females naturally have more body fat and less muscles mass than men. It is also normal for taller individuals to weigh more than shorter individuals.

Obesity is typically considered a long-term condition that often persists for many years. Researchers believe that many factors, including poor diet, overeating, pregnancy, medications, medical conditions, genetics, gender and age, may contribute to a person becoming obese.

Obesity can have serious long-term effects on health. Individuals who are overweight have an increased risk of developing many life-threatening illnesses, including heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis and cancer. According to the American Heart Association, obesity was associated with nearly 112,000 deaths in 2005.

In the United States, obesity is considered an epidemic. More than half of all Americans are considered overweight, and about 20 percent of children are overweight.

For more information on integrative weight loss approaches, please visit Natural Standard's Comparative Effectiveness database.

Beer for Alzheimer's Disease Prevention

Elements of beer may protect against the harmful effects of aluminum on brain health, suggests a new study.

Hops are flowers used primarily as flavoring and stability agents in beer, as well as in herbal medicine. Hops were perhaps first used as a preservative in brewing beer, where they are also responsible for elements of the taste.

In traditional Chinese medicine, hops are used to treat insomnia, restlessness, dyspepsia, intestinal cramps and lack of appetite. In Germany, hops are licensed as a standard medicinal tea.

Researchers from Spain explained that aluminum, a neurotoxin, has been implicated as one of the possible causal factors contributing to Alzheimer's disease.

The study investigated whether moderate beer consumption might, as a source of dietary silicon (which can affect the bioavailability of aluminum), limit the damage done to the nervous system by aluminum.

The study found that at moderately high levels of beer intake, the silicon in the beer was able to reduce aluminum uptake in the digestive tract and thus slow the accumulation of aluminum in the body, including the brain tissue.

The study authors concluded that based on these results, moderate beer consumption, because of its silicon content, may help prevent Alzheimer's disease.

For more information on hops, barley or other ingredients of beer, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database. For more information on Alzheimer's disease, please visit Natural Standard's Medical Conditions database.

Integrated Breathing and Relaxation Training for Asthma

An integrated breathing and relaxation technique may help ease the symptoms associated with asthma, a new study reports.

Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease. The air passages within the lungs are constantly swollen, restricting the amount of air allowed to pass through the trachea. Asthmatics have recurrent breathing problems and a tendency to cough and wheeze.

According to the American Lung association, about 20 million Americans have asthma, which causes about 5,000 deaths each year. Asthma is incurable, but many medications and changes in behavior may help manage the condition.

Researchers from London, England, explained that an integrated breathing and relaxation technique known as the Papworth method has been implemented by physiotherapists since the 1960s for patients with asthma and dysfunctional breathing.

The study analyzed the effectiveness of the Papworth method in 85 patients (36 men) who were randomized to the control group (46 patients) or to the intervention group receiving five sessions of treatment by the Papworth method (39 patients). Both groups received usual medical care. Assessments were undertaken at baseline, post-treatment (six months after baseline) and at 12 months.

The study found that symptoms were slightly relieved in the intervention group; however, the groups did not differ significantly following the treatment on objective measures of respiratory function except for relaxed breathing rate.

The study authors concluded that the Papworth method appears to relieve respiratory symptoms, dysfunctional breathing and adverse mood compared with usual care. The authors suggested that further controlled trials are warranted to confirm this finding, assess the effect in other patient groups and determine whether there is some effect on objective measures of respiratory function.

Integrative therapies with good scientific evidence in the treatment of asthma include boswellia, choline, coleus, psychotherapy, Pycnogenol® and yoga.

For more information on asthma, please visit Natural Standard's Medical Conditions or Allergy & Immunology database. For more information on the therapies mentioned in this article, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

Food for the Heart

A new study stressed the impact of nutrition on heart health.

Heart disease or heart disorders are conditions that affect the heart muscle or the blood vessels of the heart. There are many different types of heart disease, but the most common is coronary artery disease (CAD). This condition causes the arteries to narrow, and it may lead to stroke or heart attack.

High cholesterol and high blood pressure are often precursors to heart disease. In addition, recent evidence suggests that high levels of homocysteine in the blood increases a patient's risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD). These factors may damage or irritate the blood vessels, leading to blockages in arteries.

Heart disease is potentially life threatening. In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death in adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 700,000 Americans die of heart disease each year. This is because the heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. Blood contains oxygen, which is necessary for the body to function properly.

Patients with heart disease may have heart attacks, which may be fatal. A heart attack occurs when the supply of blood and oxygen to an area of heart muscle is blocked. If treatment is not started quickly, the affected area of heart muscle begins to die. This injury to the heart muscle can lead to serious complications, including death. It is possible to survive a heart attack, but the part of the heart muscle affected may be damaged, causing shortness of breath and chest pain during exertion or rest. Patients who have experienced a heart attack have an increased risk of having another one.

Patients with heart disease also have an increased risk of developing strokes. This occurs when the blood vessels in the brain become blocked. As a result, the brain does not receive enough oxygen.

Although some patients may be genetically predisposed to heart disease, individuals can take steps to reduce their risks. Eating healthfully, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking lower a patient's risk of developing heart disease.

Researchers from the University of Chicago explained that the major cardiovascular diseases affecting the developed world have at their core atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and high blood pressure, both of which are profoundly affected by diet and can be approached, at least in part, from a nutritional point of view, as can the increasing "epidemic" of obesity.

The study stated that diet is a multi-component mixture of many nutrients that may interact with one another. Many dietary risk factors contribute to heart diseases in various environmental and ethnic settings.

The study authors concluded by noting that although most of the information about nutritional risk factors and cardiovascular disease derives from studies in the developed world, the situation is rapidly evolving toward epidemic proportions in the developing world where a major burden on the economy and health services will be imposed.

For more information about heart diseases and disorders, please visit Natural Standard's Medical Conditions database.

Faith and Family Caregiving

Faith in God and belonging to a religion may reduce stress and anxiety in family caregivers, a new study suggests.

Researchers from Stanford University examined the impact of prayer, faith and religion on the well-being of individuals who serve as caregivers to a family member.

It has been suggested that patients who pray for themselves or are aware that others are praying for them may develop stronger coping skills and decreased anxiety, thereby potentially improving health outcomes. Other theories include beneficial effects of prayer or "positive thinking" on the immune system, central nervous system (brain) or hormonal system. The meditative, relaxing effects of prayer have been suggested to have beneficial effects such as lowering blood pressure. There are no plausible scientific explanations for the possible effects of intercessory prayers said without the knowledge of patients.

The study, conducted over a 14-month period, used participant observation and in-depth interviews to evaluate the health of African American adults providing in-home care for a family member with chronic confusion.

The majority of caregivers were adult daughters. Nearly half attributed chronic confusion to a difficult life and emotional stress or "worry;" a third believed it to be a natural component of "old age." The study reported that caregivers tended to view their work as an expression of love and devotion that was accompanied by emotional stress and personal sacrifice. While just under half of the caregivers had no other family members willing or available to assist with the physical care of the elder, the majority were able to turn to family members for emotional support.

The study found that caregivers identified strong religious beliefs as the primary force that sustained them in the caregiving role. The centrality of spirituality, and faith/religion was noted in nearly all aspects of life. Caregivers also reported that faith in God was an important aspect of the care recipients' lives as well.

Recipients' spiritual needs were addressed by accompanying the care recipient to church services and reading Bible passages to them on a regular basis. Selective community services were also used that supported efforts at maintaining the family caregiver role.

Studies of the effects of prayer on health outcomes report variable results, with some research finding benefits, and other trials noting no effects. More research on the effects of faith and religion on the health of both patients and their caregivers are needed.

For more information about prayer, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness database.

Salt and Longevity

A new study reviewed the evidence supporting the theory that limiting salt intake may help people live longer.

Researchers from James Cook University Hospital in the United Kingdom investigated whether restricting dietary salt intake would provide protection from adverse heart events or mortality.

In the study, researchers identified 462 papers of which 14 papers represented the best evidence on the subject. The author, journal, date and country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes, results and weaknesses were tabulated.

The authors concluded that restricting sodium intake to levels below six grams per day, as most international guidelines recommend, clearly reduces blood pressure and in turn may reduce the need for blood pressure medications by as much as 30 percent. However, the ability of dietary sodium restriction to reduce the incidence of heart problems is more controversial due to the lack of adequately powered randomized trials or observational studies.

Still, a low-sodium diet has been shown to significantly reduce an individual's chance of developing coronary heart disease. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are no adverse effects associated with a low-sodium diet.

Sodium is crucial for a proper fluid balance in the body and the healthy functioning of muscles. However, most Americans consume significantly more of this mineral than is necessary, or even healthy.

Salting food or purchasing high sodium products is not necessary to receive adequate amounts of this mineral. Americans receive enough sodium in their diets by eating a healthy balance of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein and milk without any additives. The NIH place a strong emphasis on the reduction of salt intake as a means of preventing, as well as recovering from, coronary heart disease.

For more information about a low-salt diet, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness database.

Testosterone Supplementation for Older Men

Testosterone supplementation in older men may have limited health benefits, a new study suggests.

Researchers from the Netherlands explained that serum testosterone levels decline significantly with age. Testosterone supplementation in older men might beneficially affect the aging processes.

Aging is the process of growing old or maturing. Humans reach their peak in growth and development when they are in their mid 20s. After this point, the body gradually becomes less functional over time.

Aging typically causes weakness, increased susceptibility to disease and infection, loss of mobility and agility and age-related physiological changes, such as wrinkled skin and gray hair. In the United States, about two-thirds of people age 65 and over take medications for various conditions.

Currently, the average life expectancy in the United States is about 75 years for males and 80 for females. Although genetic makeup has been shown to influence an individual's life expectancy, individuals are more likely to live long and healthy lives without disabilities if they take care of their bodies with proper diets, lifestyles and medications.

The study investigated the effect of testosterone supplementation on functional mobility, cognitive function, bone mineral density, body composition, plasma lipids, quality of life and safety parameters in older men with low normal testosterone levels.

The study included 237 healthy men between the ages of 60 and 80 years with testosterone levels lower than 13.7 nanomoles/liter. The study was conducted from January 2004 to April 2005 at a university medical center in the Netherlands.

Researchers randomly assigned participants to receive 80 milligrams of testosterone undecenoate or a matching placebo twice daily for six months; a total of 207 men completed the study.

The researchers found that lean body mass increased and fat mass decreased in the testosterone group compared with the placebo group, but these factors were not accompanied by an increase of functional mobility or muscle strength. Cognitive function and bone mineral density did not change.

Insulin sensitivity improved, but high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased; by the end of the study, 47.8 percent in the testosterone group vs. 35.5 percent in the placebo group had the metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical disorders (heart disease, strokes and peripheral vascular disease) that increase one's risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

The study noted that quality-of-life measures were no different except for one hormone-related quality-of-life measure that improved. Additionally, no negative effects on prostate safety were detected.

The study authors concluded that testosterone supplementation for six months in older men with low normal testosterone concentrations did not affect functional status or cognition but increased lean body mass and had mixed metabolic effects.

For more information about integrative therapies for anti-aging, please visit Natural Standard’s Foods, Herbs & Supplements and Health & Wellness databases.