Saturday, April 26, 2008

What it Takes to be a Fitness Competitor

She's got strength, courage, and a whole lot of willpower.

"I want to prove to people that women can do this after having children,"said Tami Ough, a professional fitness competitor.

"Fitness competitions include physique rounds where they judge your body and they judge you in a one-piece swimsuit and a two-piece swimsuit, and you also have to do routines set to music," she explained.

In 2005, Tami went from an amateur to Oregon's only professional fitness competitor with the International Federation of Bodybuilding.

To read more of this content at Oregon's KTVZ TV website, click here.

Benefits of Omega-3 for Bipolar Disorder Still Unclear

There's not enough scientific evidence to determine whether omega-3 fatty acid supplements can help treat people with bipolar disorder, say researchers at the University of Oxford in England.

People with bipolar disorder can shift between mania (elevated mood and energy) and depression. However, the use of omega-3 supplements to treat bipolar disorder is worthy of further study, since they seem to have no serious side effects, and many experts recommend them for people with heart disease and some immune disorders, said study authors Paul Montgomery and Alex Richardson.

They reviewed five studies that examined the use of omega-3 supplements for bipolar disorder, but only one study of 75 patients had enough data on results for Montgomery and Richardson to analyze.

Patients in that study had less severe depression symptoms while taking the supplements, but there was no change in their mania symptoms.

To read more of this content at the Washington Post, click here.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Do You Want to Become a Fitness Model?

Everyone is busy. But considering what is at stake, making time for exercise needs to be a priority right now. Thirty minutes a day is not too much when you get right down to it. Cut one prime-time show out of your evening television-viewing schedule. Get up a half-hour earlier each morning. Use half of your lunch hour for a brisk walk. You can find time if you look hard enough for it.

In fact, there are people who find time to manage and endorse the advantages of physical fitness just so they can prove to the world what a physically fit person can look like.

It is for this reason that most people contend that fitness models are one of the healthiest and most appealing people in the world. They embody the perfect concept of a physically fit person. Fitness models are, indeed, the epitome of health, life, vigor, and real beauty.

In reality, virtually everyone who has the capability to move can exercise to some degree; and everyone who is capable of projecting the benefits of exercise and physical fitness can be a fitness model.

Therefore, if you think that you have what it takes to be a fitness model, here are some tips on how to be come one.

To read more of this content at Healthscape, click here.

New Study Questions Anti-Oxidant Benefits

(Editor: while the dissenting opinions from this study are buried in the middle of the article, the following quote should be highlighted:

"This latest report is not without criticism. Experts questioned why the reviewers included only studies in which someone died; 405 death-free trials were excluded from the analysis. Among the studies that were included, most looked at the effect of antioxidant supplements in people with existing disease, rather than healthy populations. (It's possible that antioxidant nutrients may be beneficial before disease has been established".

This seems to be a pretty big caveat.)


Antioxidants, widely touted to ward off heart attacks, cancer, even Alzheimer's disease, were once again called into question last week.

A review of 67 randomized controlled studies concluded that antioxidant supplements do not extend life and some - vitamins A and E and beta carotene - could even cause premature death.

Antioxidant nutrients such as vitamins C and E, beta carotene and selenium are thought to help counter damage caused by free radicals, unstable oxygen molecules that can harm cells and lead to chronic disease.

To read more of this content at The Globe and Mail, click here.

Regulation May Deflate Booming Polish Supplements Market

(Editor: the following article should serve as a wakeup call for those who remain unconcerned about growing government interest in further regulating the supplement industry. Moves to class supplements as drugs, while they may be presented as being in the best interests of the public, have often proven to better serve the interests of the major pharmaceutical companies.)

Poland's food supplements market is growing at a rampant 30 per cent but may be hamstrung by moves to classify a range of food supplements as drugs, according to a report from a market researcher there.

Polish-based PMR, which researches central and eastern European markets, said in its report, "Non-pharmacy OTC market in Poland 2008", the buoyant market for food supplements would be curtailed if a range of herbal and other "borderline products" remain classified as medicines as is expected.

Polish law dictates that any borderline products that remain on shelves by 2010 will be registered as drugs and therefore limited in availability (prescription only) and distribution (pharmacies only).

To read more of this content at NutraIngredients.Com, click here.

Rat Study Suggests Lifelong Prebiotic Supplementation May Lengthen Lifespan

Lifelong supplementation with the prebiotics inulin and oligofructose may extend lifespan by over 30 per cent, according to a new animal study from France.

Male and female rats fed the prebiotic-containing diet (Orafti Synergy1) also had a lower body weight, cholesterol and plasma triacylglycerolaemia compared to rats fed the control diet, researchers ETAP - Applied Ethology and the Universite Henri Poincare Nancy I report in the British Journal of Nutrition.

The study is reportedly the first time that increased survival rates of both male and female rats have been demonstrated after life-long supplementation with a prebiotic.

To read more of this content at NutraIngredients.com, click here.

USANA Becomes Official Supplement Supplier of USA Bobsled Team

USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: USNA), a worldwide leader in science-based nutritional supplements, today announced it has signed a two-year sponsorship agreement to be the official supplement supplier of nationally ranked USA Bobsled Team Radcliff.

"I've done a lot of research on a variety of supplements and found the absorption rate of USANA's products into the system is unmatched," said Ivan Radcliff, 34, a World Cup silver medalist and a member of five world championship teams. "That's what helped me earn a fourth-place finish at the final race of the season in Lake Placid, N.Y."

USA Bobsled Team Radcliff, currently ranked fourth nationally, features Radcliff and Jim Carriel, and will include two athletes yet to be selected. USANA's agreement with the team extends through the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

To read more of this content at Fox Business, click here.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

UK sales stagnate as nation sickens of health fad food

Shoppers are losing faith in faddy, miracle foods that promise much but deliver little, apart from lighter wallets. Consumers are choosing instead to eat more naturally healthy foods, new research indicates.
After years spent swallowing pledges from giant food manufacturers such as Unilever and Danone, consumers are mounting a pro-biotic backlash. The amount of money spent on "functional" yoghurt drinks promising anything from greater brains and beauty to lower your cholesterol and stomach gas fell last year.

To read more of this content at Newsvine, click here.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Soy: It Isn't Just Tofu Any More

Soybeans are an excellent source of high-quality protein and as complete as the protein found in meat. They are rich in calcium, iron, zinc, several of the B vitamins and fiber. Soybeans also have fat, but the fat from soy is low in harmful saturated fat yet rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Soy isn’t just tofu these days. From the dairy case to the freezer section, food manufacturers are finding innovative ways for consumers to enjoy soy. Some options are: whole soybeans (frozen, dried or canned), tofu, tempeh, textured soy protein (TSP), miso, soy milk, soy yogurt, soy cheese, soy milk creamer, soy frozen dairy desserts, soy meat substitutes, soy nut butters, soy flour, soy oil, soy nuts, soy potato chips, and soy snack bars or protein bars.

To read more of this content at Quad City Times' 'Ask the Dietician' column, click here.

Review: Wii Fit

We're sweating bullets - and we haven't even stepped onto the board yet. Of all Nintendo's wacky lifestyle experiments there are none that skirt as close to the game/non-game border as this.

Ninty's previous jaunts into the realms of mental and ocular betterment have always had gamey connotations - we cannot, after all, pull homemade eye and arithmetic tests out of thin air. But exercise? That's free to anyone willing to whang around a few cans of baked beans as impromptu dumbbells.

To read more of this content at Computer and Video Games online magazine, click here.

Study: Vitamin D, Calcium Supplements Help Prevent Colon Cancer

WEDNESDAY April 16, 2008 (foodconsumer.org) -- Researchers at Emory University
conducted a trial and found more evidence to suggest that taking vitamin D and calcium supplements may lower risk of colon cancer.

To read more of this content at Food Consumer.org, click here.

San Diego Chargers' Stephen Cooper Suspended for Ephedra Use

The Chargers will play the first four games of the 2008 season without inside linebacker Stephen Cooper, who has tested positive for a banned substance.

Several sources said Cooper tested positive for ephedra in December.

Cooper was not available for comment, and his agent did not return multiple messages. But the player did issue this statement through the team:

“I regret that I mistakenly took a stimulant that I did not realize at the time was banned by the NFL. I support the NFL's anti-doping policies and understand that I must serve a suspension even though the stimulant that I took was not used before any game and was not used to enhance my performance. I apologize to the NFL, my team, my coaches, and to my fans, and I look forward to continuing to help the Chargers toward our goal of winning the Super Bowl in the upcoming season.”

To read more of this content at The San Diego Union Tribune, click here

Friday, April 11, 2008

Greek Weightlifting Coach Blamed for Tainted Supplements in Drug Scandal

ATHENS, Greece: The Greek Weightlifting Federation blamed its coach for the doping scandal that has jeopardized the weightlifting team's participation at the Beijing Olympics.

Christos Iakovou was suspended last week after 11 Greek weightlifters tested positive for banned substances. Confirmation of those results is expected this week.

Iakovou blamed the test results on a tainted batch of diet supplements from China. He said he had used the Chinese supplier from late 2007, and insisted he had informed the Greek federation.

To read more of this content at The International Herald Tribune, click here.

Nivea 'Fat Burner' Slapped Down

A skin care product manufacturer has been slapped down a second time by the Advertising Standards Authority over its Nivea Goodbye Cellulite gel.

The ASA rulings follow a complaint by consumer activist Dr Harris Steinman against a commercial claiming the gel allowed users to "say goodbye to cellulite", and that one of the ingredients, L-carnitine, was "your skin's own fat burner".

Steinman said there was no evidence that L-carnitine was absorbed through the skin.

To read more of this content at IOL, click here.

School Officials Concerned About Energy Drinks

Middle school is typically a high-energy environment, but the principal of Brighton's Scranton Middle School is concerned about the health of students who are turning to energy drinks for an extra boost.

Scranton Principal Henry Vecchioni is asking parents not to send their students to school with energy drinks like Monster or Red Bull.

While there is nothing illegal about young people consuming the caffeine-laden beverages, health officials are raising serious concerns about what the high levels of caffeine and sugar can do to the body of a 12- or 13-year-old.

The large Broward County school district near Miami is considering a ban on energy drinks in schools and a state legislator in Rhode Island has introduced legislation that would ban the drinks from all school grounds, arguing that their use by students constitutes "substance abuse" and should be treated the same as alcohol and tobacco.

To read more of this content at Michigan Live, Mlive.com, click here.

FDA Warns About Selenium Megadose in Supplement

April 9, 2008 -- The FDA has found hazardous levels of the mineral selenium in samples of certain flavors of the recalled dietary supplements Total Body Formula and Total Body Mega Formula.

The FDA has received 43 reports of people in nine states -- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas -- who experienced serious adverse reactions after using these products.

Total Body Essential Nutrition, which distributed the products, has voluntarily recalled the affected products, according to the FDA.

Selenium, a naturally occurring mineral, can boost the immune system, but it's only needed in very small amounts for good health. Generally, normal consumption of food and water provides adequate selenium to support good health.

Too much selenium is known to cause symptoms such as hair loss, muscle cramps, diarrhea, joint pain, fatigue, fingernail loss, and skin blisters.

To read more of this content at WebMD, click here.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Better Living Through Chemistry: The Top Five Nutritional Supplements You Really Should Try

by Synthesis

The sale of dietary supplements is big business today; 2007 sales in the U.S. alone are estimated to be as high as $22.5 billion. With numbers like these at stake, it's no surprise that savvy nutrition marketers are seeking to increase their market share via an exponentially expanding roster of products, all aimed at consumers' self-image, fears and paranoia.

So, from this multi-coloured galaxy of pills, powders and potions, which nutritional supplements do we really need? Which are the priority?

To read more of this content at Newsvine, click here.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Study Finds Whey-Protein-Rich Supplement Can Reduce Body Fat and Maintain Lean Muscle Mass

03-Apr-2008 - A whey-protein-rich ingredient can reduce body fat and maintain lean muscle mass, reports a new randomised, double-blind study from Glanbia.

Obese subjects were assigned to a reduced calorie diet for 12 weeks and receiving daily supplements containing Glanbia's Prolibra ingredient lost an average 6.1 per cent of their body fat mass, report the researchers in the open access journal Nutrition & Metabolism.

To read more of this content at Food Navigator, click here.

Triathlete Rebekah Keat on her Suspension Due to Contaminated Supplements

After winning Ironman Western Australia in November 2004, Rebekah Keat tested positive for trace amounts of 19-norandrosterone, a urinary metabolite of the banned steroid precursor norandrostenedione - aka nandrolone. Despite an appeal hearing where the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled the result was likely due to supplement contamination, Keat was given a two year ban from competition.

To read more of this content at Inside Triathlon, click here.

More coverage is also available from Cycling News, which reports that Keat along with fellow triathlete Mike Vine and cyclist Amber Neben have launched a lawsuit against Hammer Nutrition for "negligence, liability, breach of implied warranty, misrepresentation and violation of business code - alleging that Hammer Nutrition either uses raw materials with banned substances or does not manufacture the products correctly to avoid contamination."

Body Changes Mean Nutrition Should be Monitored, Supplemented After Age 50

If you are 50 or older, your nutritional needs are different than they used to be.
At about age 50, the body's metabolism (the rate at which it burns calories) slows considerably. The body digests food differently, and the need for healthful meals increases. This leaves little wiggle room for that extra piece of pie or super-size order of french fries.

To read more of this content at News OK (The Oklahoman), click here.

Herbs as Antioxidants and Remedies

Herbs are useful remedies against diseases like blood cholesterol, tonsillitis, asthma, inflammation and more.

To read more of this content at Newsvine, click here.

FL. Dept of Health Advises FDA of Adverse Reactions to Dietary Supplement

The Florida Department of Health has advised the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of 23 cases of adverse reactions to a liquid supplement distributed by Total Body Essential Nutrition based in Atlanta. As a result the FDA has issued a consumer alert warning consumers to immediately discontinue using the Tropical Orange and Peach Nectar flavored "Total Body Formula" and the Orange/Tangerine flavored "Total Body Mega Formula" supplements.

The symptoms being reported include "siginificant hair loss, muscle cramps, diarrhea, joint pain and fatigue" after using the products for as little as seven days. The source of these reactions has yet to be determined and the FDA will issue more information as it becomes available.

To read more of this content at The Florida Injury Board, click here.

This Supplement Eases Pain and Brightens Moods

With a name like S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine, it hardly sounds like something to cheer you up. But companies that sell this popular dietary supplement say it boosts your mood and eases the aches in your joints. Physicians say it shows promise for treating depression and arthritis, but add that more independent research is needed.

Known as SAMe and pronounced "Sammy," S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine occurs in the body naturally. It is made from the amino acid, methionine, and is believed to be involved in many critical biochemical processes in the body. Scientists say it's an antioxidant, an anti-inflammatory and even helps in the production of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters.

As a dietary supplement, SAMe has been increasing in popularity in recent years, according to Pharmavite LLC, a Northridge, Calif., company that began selling it in the U.S. in 1999. Now sold by many companies, SAMe is marketed for improving mood, easing arthritis and even helping some types of liver disease.

To read more of this content at the Wall Street Journal, click here.

Next Pharmaceuticals Partners with Organic Extracts Corporation to Sell and Distribute Supplement Ingredients to the Canadian Marketplace

SALINAS, Calif. — Next Pharmaceuticals (NP) announced today a partnership with Organic Extracts Corp., to sell and distribute NP's ingredients including Relora, their flagship product, as well as Nexrutine, Seditol, Flavoxine, Citrofen, Citri-Z and Chromulin to the Canadian marketplace.

"We are delighted to be associated with Next Pharmaceuticals, a company with a great reputation," said Ian Smith, President, Organic Extracts Corp. "We look forward to a productive and rewarding relationship in building Next Pharmaceuticals' science-based ingredients within the dietary supplement industry and for consumers throughout Canada."

To read more of this content at centredaily.com, click here.