Natural Standard Blog

USDA Sets New Rules for School Meals

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recently issued new rules concerning the types of foods served to students in kindergarten through 12th grade at school. Currently the nutritional standards for school meals are set forth by the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. The new rules, which will go into effect July 2012, aim to reduce the currently accepted levels of sodium and fat in school meals, as well as increase the types of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and proteins that must be offered to students.

A low sodium diet has been shown to significantly reduce an individual's chance of developing coronary heart disease, which occurs when the blood vessels that supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscle gradually become narrowed or blocked by plaque deposits. Plaque is a combination of fatty material, calcium, scar tissue, and proteins.

Most Americans eat about four or five times the amount of sodium they need. Table salt is just one source of this mineral in the American diet. Almost every non-fresh food purchased at the grocery store contains added amounts of sodium that are well above the amount that the body needs. Such an overuse of this mineral has serious medical consequences.

In addition to consuming less sodium, eating a diet that is low in fat and high in nutritional value has long been advocated by many major U.S. health organizations as a key component to preventing heart disease, type II diabetes, stroke, and many other adult-onset chronic diseases. However, many individuals incorrectly manage their level of fat intake by consuming low fat foods that contain artificial sugars such as aspartame or higher levels of calories.

According to the new USDA regulations, school meals will need to be designed using single food-based planning menus to make sure that key food groups are included at each meal. Furthermore, the meals will need to be planned separately for different grade groups (K-5, 6-8, 9-12), since calorie requirements change with age.

In addition, the new rules require that fruits and vegetables are offered at lunch as separate components (one fruit, one vegetable). Vegetables will be sub-grouped, and each school is required to serve every subcategory of vegetables weekly. These subgroups include dark green vegetables, red/orange vegetables, beans and peas, starchy vegetables, and others. Also one meat or meat alternative and one grain must be served at breakfast and lunch, with eventually only whole grain-rich grains being offered. Milk provided by schools will be limited to only low-fat or fat-free milks, with flavors only available in fat-free varieties. Finally, the levels of saturated and trans fat in each meal must be reduced.

For more information about low-sodium diets, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness Database.

Natural Standard in The Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal recently consulted Natural Standard to discuss the available scientific evidence on citicoline, a natural molecule thought to affect brain function.

Citicoline was originally developed and launched by Ferrer International, S.A. for the treatment of stroke. Manufacturers have started incorporating citicoline into dietary supplement and beverage formulas. These products are often marketed for their potential to enhance brain functioning.

In the article "An Energy Shot for the Brain," reporter Laura Johannes discusses the recent hype about citicoline, and the various brands currently promoting its effects on the brain.

Dr. Catherine Ulbricht, Founder and CEO of Natural Standard, reports that citicoline currently appears to have limited side effects. However, "the jury is out" on its effectiveness for limiting the effects of stroke and enhancing brain function. There is currently some good scientific evidence that suggests potential benefits for use in stroke patients; however, evidence of benefit is still inconclusive for memory loss.

Citicoline is approved in Europe and Japan for use in stroke, head trauma and other neurological disorders. Citicoline is currently being investigated as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease. Further research is necessary.

For more information about integrative therapies for stroke and memory enhancement, please visit Natural Standard's Comparative Effectiveness Database.

Vibration Therapy and Neurological Diseases

Whole-body vibration therapy may benefit strength and quality of life in individuals with neurological diseases, according to a new study.

Vibration therapy, also known as vibration healing, is the use of mechanical vibration to supposedly prevent, treat and promote recovery from a variety of physical ailments, including pain, sports injuries and bone density loss. Whole-body vibration therapy is applied for more systemic complaints. A patient stands on a machine or sits in a chair that vibrates. Many physical therapists for professional athletes use vibration therapy to decrease the recovery time after an injury. However, evidence of benefit is currently unclear.

In a new study, researchers conducted a comprehensive literature search for studies evaluating the effects of whole-body vibration therapy on various factors, including strength, balance and quality of life, for patients with neurological diseases. Thirteen studies evaluating effects in Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and stroke were identified for inclusion.

The researchers found that there is some evidence suggesting potential short-term benefits of whole-body vibration therapy for strength. There was also weak evidence suggesting potential benefits for quality of life. In the long-term, the authors noted that there was limited evidence suggesting potential benefits for balance, strength and walking.

Further well-designed clinical trials are necessary before any conclusions can be made.

Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder that is chronic and progressive, meaning that symptoms continue and worsen over time. Parkinson's disease affects nerve cells in a part of the brain that controls muscle movement.

The term cerebral palsy refers to a neurological disorder that appears in infancy or early childhood (most commonly under 37 weeks of age) and permanently affects body movement and muscle coordination but does not worsen over time.

There is currently good evidence of benefit that suggests music therapy may modestly improve symptoms including some aspects of motor coordination, speech intelligibility and vocal intensity, emotional functions, activities of daily living and quality of life for patients with cerebral palsy and Parkinson's disease.

For more information about vibration therapy, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness Database.

FREE Practitioner Database Listing

The Natural Standard international Practitioner Search database is now available to the public for free.

Natural Standard invites all healthcare professionals to submit a complimentary listing for inclusion. This valuable tool helps users locate integrative medicine practitioners with specific areas of expertise in all locations around the world.

Please e-mail the following details to practitioners@naturalstandard.com: full name, discipline, organization name, phone number, fax, e-mail, website, specialty area, services, certification information.

Natural Standard Featured CE/CME: Ginseng

Natural Standard's featured CE/CME for the month of January is Ginseng: Safety & Effectiveness.

The term ginseng refers to several species of the genus Panax of the Araliaceae family. The two most commonly used ginseng species are Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.). Panax ginseng has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for more than 2,000 years. Its diverse uses include increasing appetite and strength, enhancing memory and physical performance, reducing fatigue and stress and improving overall quality of life. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) has been used as a folk remedy by many Native American tribes for diverse ailments, including headache, female infertility, fever and earache.

Natural Standard offers CE/CME modules for multidisciplinary healthcare professionals. Students and other users may take courses for training purposes without generating credit certificates. Continuing Education requirements differ based on discipline, license and location. If you are unsure of your specific needs, please contact your local agency.

Acupressure for Women's General Health

Acupressure may benefit general health for women, according to a new study.

Acupressure works with the same body points and meridians as acupuncture, but stimulates the sites with finger pressure rather than by fine needles. Traditionally, acupressure is directed to 14 meridians and 2,000 specific charted points all over the body. Today, acupressure is used in the prevention and treatment of many illnesses of both mind and body. Currently, there are many human studies suggesting the effectiveness of wrist-point (P6) acupressure for treating nausea.

In a new study, researchers randomly assigned 85 students into an acupressure or sham pressure treatment group. The acupressure group focused on acupressure at the Sanyinjiao point (SP6). General health questionnaires were given before treatment and then again after the first and second months of treatment.

The researchers found that after treatment, general health improved for both the acupressure and sham groups. However, the authors noted that there were significantly greater improvements in the four domains of general health for the individuals in the acupressure group when compared to the sham group. General health improved further after the second month of treatment.

The authors concluded that acupressure may be beneficial for the improvement of general health in women. Although promising, further research is necessary.

For more information about acupressure, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness Database.

Calcium and Vitamin D Linked to Reduced Stomach Fat

Supplementation with calcium and vitamin D may reduce stomach fat, according to a new study.

Vitamin D is found in many dietary sources, such as fish, eggs, fortified milk and cod liver oil. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, helping to form and maintain strong bones. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body and has several important functions. Diets with higher calcium density (high levels of calcium per total calories) have been associated with a reduced incidence of being overweight or obese in several studies. While more research is needed to understand the relationships between calcium intake and body fat, these findings emphasize the importance of maintaining an adequate calcium intake while attempting to diet or lose weight.

In a new study, researchers randomly assigned 171 obese patients to receive regular or reduced-calorie orange juice. The orange juice was either unfortified or fortified with 350 milligrams of calcium and 100 international units of vitamin D per serving. Each treatment group received three 240 milliliter servings of their assigned orange juice daily for 16 weeks. Stomach fat tissue was measured before and after treatment.

The researchers found that the average weight-loss of 2.45 kilograms was similar between groups. However, the authors noted that regardless of the calorie content, the individuals receiving the fortified orange juice had significantly greater reductions in stomach fat tissue than those receiving unfortified juice.

The researchers concluded that supplementation with calcium and vitamin D may reduce stomach fat. Additional research is necessary to further evaluate these findings.

For more information about calcium or vitamin D, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements Database.

Nopal, Chia, Soy and Oats for Metabolic Syndrome

A new study suggests that a diet containing chia seeds, soy protein, nopal and oats may be beneficial for patients with metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions, including high blood pressure, high insulin levels, excess fat around the waist and high cholesterol.

Chia is promoted for its high omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 content. Animal studies suggest that chia may lower blood cholesterol, LDL (low density lipoproteins or "bad" cholesterol), and triglycerides while increasing HDL (high density lipoproteins or "good" cholesterol). Preliminary studies suggest nopal may offer benefits to individuals with diabetes or hyperlipidemia, and numerous human studies report that adding soy protein to the diet may moderately decrease blood levels of total cholesterol and LDL.

In a new study, researchers randomly assigned 67 patients to a reduced-calorie diet and a beverage containing chia seed, soy protein, nopal and oats, or a reduced-calorie diet and placebo, for two months. Before treatment, all participants reduced their regular diet by 500 calories.

The researchers found that all participants had decreased body weight, body mass index and waste circumference after two months. However, the authors noted that only the participants in the beverage group had decreases in triglycerides and blood sugar.

Although promising, additional research is necessary to further understand these findings.

For more information about chia, soy, nopal or oats, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements Database.

Whole Grain Consumption Linked to Reduced Disease Risk

A recent study suggests that consuming whole grains may reduce the risk for chronic disease in adolescents.

Whole grains are an important component of a high fiber diet. A high fiber diet incorporates large amounts of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber, also referred to as roughage or bulk, is the part of a plant that cannot be digested or absorbed by the body. Dietary fiber is found in grains, fruits and vegetables. There is no fiber in animal products such as meat, fish, eggs or dairy products.

In a new study, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, researchers reviewed whole grain intake, weight and chronic disease risk factors, such as smoking and physical activity, for 4,928 individuals between 12 and 19 years-old.

The researchers found that higher whole grain intake may be associated with higher intake of carbohydrates, folate and other important nutrients. Consuming more whole grains may also be linked to lower body mass index and better blood sugar control; however, the authors noted that these findings were only present when the data was adjusted for food group intake.

The researchers concluded that eating more whole grains may be associated with better nutrient intake and a lower risk of chronic disease among adolescents. However, more research is necessary to further understand these findings.

For more information about whole grains and high-fiber diets, please visit Natural Standard's Health & Wellness Database.

Natural Standard Training

Sign up for a free online training session to learn more about Natural Standard's decision-support tools.

Natural Standard provides high-quality, evidence-based information about integrative therapies to help healthcare professionals and consumers make safer, more educated decisions about health.

Natural Standard is an international multidisciplinary collaboration that includes contributors from more than 100 eminent academic institutions. Research teams systematically gather scientific data and expert opinions to develop comprehensive monographs that are designed to facilitate clinical decision making. For each therapy, the available scientific evidence of effectiveness is evaluated using the Natural Standard Evidence-Based Validated Grading Rationale™. All monographs undergo blinded peer review prior to inclusion in Natural Standard databases.

These guided tours will demonstrate how to navigate the various databases and cross reference medical conditions and therapies.

Thu, Jan 19, 2012 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM (EST)

Tue, Jan 24, 2012 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM (EST)

Thu, Jan 26, 2012 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM (EST)

Tue, Jan 31, 2012 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM (EST)

Thu, Feb 2, 2012 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM (EST)

Tue, Feb 7, 2012 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM (EST)

Thu, Feb 9, 2012 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM (EST)

A special *LATE* training session will be held at 7:00PM - 8:00PM EST on Tue, Jan 31, 2012 to accommodate for other time zones.

After registration, attendees will receive e-mail confirmation with information on how to join the webinar.

System Requirements: PC-based attendees: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server. Macintosh®-based attendees: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

Complimentary Webinars

Natural Standard is offering a series of complimentary webinars on integrative medicine. Natural Standard offers these impartial webinars as an informational public service. All webinars are recorded and archived at www.naturalstandard.com/webinars.

Arthritis: Management of Pain, Inflammation & Immunomodulation with Botanical Medicines: Dr. Eugene R. Zampieron, ND, MH(AHG) is a medical herbalist and a Registered and certified Professional Member of the American Herbalist Guild (MH, AHG). Dr Zampieron helped firmly establish the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine as the first accredited naturopathic medical college on the Eastern seaboard. Dr Zampieron is currently the senior-most faculty member at the institution, has taught many courses including botanical medicine, pharmacognosy, botanical pharmacy, urology, geriatrics, practice management, rheumatology and history of natural medicine courses. Natural Standard would like to thank Dr. Zampieron for providing this educational webinar. Complimentary access is available February 1-29, 2012.

Congestive Heart Failure: An Integrative Approach: Bijan Bandani, PharmDc, presents an overview of the signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of congestive heart failure. He discusses several patient cases detailing the safety and effectiveness of integrative therapies for this condition. He also reviews the scientific evidence, dosing, safety and interactions related to various therapies. Complimentary access is available February 1-29, 2012.

Iron Deficiency May Lead to Impaired Learning

A recent report published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science states that childhood iron deficiency may prevent the development of sections of the brain associated with learning, memory and understanding.

Iron is an essential mineral involved with oxygen transport and metabolism. Iron cannot reside in the blood on its own, but fortunately the protein transferrin functions as an iron carrier and delivers iron to important organs such as the brain.

Within the brain, iron is stored in areas referred to as white matter. Parts of white matter are associated with learning, memory and understanding.

If the concentration of iron in the blood is low, the body will produce excess transferrin so that more iron can be captured from food. Therefore, high transferrin levels within the blood correspond to iron deficiency. Although maintaining appropriate iron levels is important, the association between iron deficiency and impaired learning is unclear.

Investigators in this study collected blood samples from 615 young adult twins and analyzed the blood for the presence of transferrin. Approximately nine years later, the participants were evaluated for differences in brain structure using MRI and diffusion tensor imaging.

Investigators determined that a high transferrin level in the blood of adolescents, which corresponds to insufficient iron levels, was associated with inadequately formed white matter nine years later. Because portions of white matter are involved with learning, memory and understanding, the investigators determined that iron deficiency in children and adolescents may cause learning disabilities for the corresponding adults.

Further studies are necessary to confirm the study's findings.

For more information about iron, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 May Prevent Memory Loss

A recent report published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition states that oral supplements of folic acid (FA) and vitamin B12 may help prevent memory loss in certain elderly patients.

Vitamin B12 deficiency, commonly observed in elderly populations, has been associated with abnormal psychiatric symptoms. The use of folic acid, a specific form of vitamin B9, to enhance cognitive skills and improve psychiatric illnesses has been investigated in other studies.

This study randomly assigned 900 adult participants, aged 60-74 years, experiencing symptoms of depression and living in communal dwellings, to receive oral capsules of either 400ug FA + 100ug vitamin B12 or placebo.

Cognitive function measurements after 12 and 24 months evaluated using the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-Modified (TICS-M) indicated that long-term combined supplementation of FA and vitamin B12 by mouth may improve immediate and delayed memory performance.

Further studies are necessary to confirm the study's findings in more general populations.

For more information about the potential health benefits of folic acid or vitamin B12, please visit Natural Standard's Food, Herbs & Supplements Database.

Integrative Therapies for Weight Loss

Many integrative therapies have been studied for their potential effects on weight loss. Among the foods, herbs, supplements and modalities that may aid in weight reduction are chitosan, konjac glucomannan, whey protein, psychotherapy and hydroxycitric acid.

Chitosan: Chitosan comes from chitin, which is part of the outer shell-like structure of insects, spiders, and crustaceans. Chitosan is sold in the United States and other countries as a form of dietary fiber that reduces fat absorption. However, scientific evidence suggests only a small effect of chitosan on fat absorption. While some studies suggest that chitosan is an effective weight loss therapy, others have found it is ineffective. More evidence is needed.

Konjac glucomannan: Glucomannan is a soluble and highly viscous dietary fiber. Although glucomannan is a term for a sugar derived from various sources, the most common meaning for glucomannan is for the soluble fiber derived from the root of Amorphophallus konjac (elephant yam or konjac plant). When consumed, it absorbs water in the digestive tract, reducing absorption of carbohydrates and cholesterol. It is this property that makes glucomannan a product of interest with respect to weight loss, blood sugar lowering, and cholesterol reduction. There is good evidence to support the use of glucomannan for cholesterol reduction, constipation, diabetes and weight loss.

Whey protein: Whey protein is one of the two major groups of proteins found in milk. It is a highly digestible source of protein. Whey protein has been found to reduce short-term food intake and may aid in reducing appetite. The role of whey protein in body weight control has also been studied. Whey protein may aid in weight loss, however, further research is necessary.

Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy is an interactive process between a person and a qualified mental health professional (psychiatrist, psychologist, clinical social worker, licensed counselor, or other trained practitioner). Its purpose is the exploration of thoughts, feelings, and behavior for the purpose problem solving or achieving higher levels of functioning. Several studies indicate that people who are overweight or obese may benefit from behavioral and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy in combination with diet and exercise.

Hydroxycitric acid: (-)-Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is a main component of the dried fruit rind of Garcinia cambogia, a native Southeast Asian plant commonly known as brindleberry or Malabar tamarind. HCA is present in high concentrations in Garcinia cambogia and is also found in the tropical plant Hibiscus sabdariffa. HCA is currently used in a number of over-the-counter weight loss products. HCA may also enhance exercise performance, but different studies have produced conflicting results. More high-quality clinical trials are needed.

For more information on integrative therapies studied for weight loss, please visit Natural Standard's Comparative Effectiveness Database.

Peripheral Vascular Disease: An Integrative Approach

Natural Standard is offering a series of upcoming complimentary webinars on integrative medicine. Natural Standard offers these impartial webinars as an informational public service. All webinars are recorded and archived at www.naturalstandard.com/webinars.

Matt Martineau, PharmDc, presents an overview of the signs, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD). He discusses several patient cases detailing the safety and effectiveness of integrative therapies for this condition. He also reviews the scientific evidence, dosing, safety and interactions related to various therapies. Complimentary access to the webinar is available January 1-31, 2012 (Requires Windows Media Player).

The transcript of this webinar is also available as a PDF.

Q & A with Dr. Holly Lucille

Natural Standard is offering a series of upcoming complimentary webinars on integrative medicine. Natural Standard offers these impartial webinars as an informational public service. All webinars are recorded and archived at www.naturalstandard.com/webinars.

Dr. Catherine Ulbricht, Founder and CEO of Natural Standard, interviews Holly Lucille, ND, RN, a well-known licensed naturopathic physician, author and educator. Dr. Lucille is the former president of the California Naturopathic Doctor's Association where she spearheaded the effort to license naturopathic doctors in the state of California. Dr. Lucille is not only a naturopathic physician and registered nurse, but she is also a personal trainer, certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Complimentary access January 1-31, 2012 (Requires Windows Media Player).

The transcript of this webinar is also available as a PDF.