Catalyst Zone

High Growth Reported for World Lactose Market

2008-07-10T19:06:00.000-07:00

Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report related to the Chemicals industry industry is available in its catalogue.

World Lactose Market

This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Lactose in Millions of US$. The specific end-use segments discussed are Pharmaceuticals, Food & Beverages, Confectionery, and Others (Cosmetics, Detergents, Surfactants etc). The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Latin America. Annual forecasts are provided for each region for the period of 2000 through 2015. A ten-year historic analysis is also provided for these markets with annual market analytics.

Firm Recalls Supplements Containing Undeclared Erectile Dysfunction Drug

2008-07-10T19:00:00.000-07:00

Jack Distribution is voluntarily recalling certain lots of its Rize 2 The Occasion capsules and Rose 4 Her capsules because they contain an undeclared ingredient similar to the active ingredient of an erectile dysfunction (ED) drug.

An FDA analysis found some lots of the dietary supplements, manufactured and packaged in 2007, contained thiomethisosildenafil, an analog of sildenafil, the active ingredient in Pfizer’s Viagra. This chemical poses a potential threat to consumers because it may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs, such as nitroglycerin, and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels, the FDA said.

To read more of this content at FDA News, click here.

The Future of Home Fitness Has Arrived

2008-07-10T18:57:00.000-07:00

LOSING weight and getting fit is hard. Finding the motivation to do those things is even harder. But now something has come along which can help you drop the pounds and stop uncontrollable panting - all in your own living room, and it's fun at the same time.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the future of home fitness. Welcome to Wii Fit.

To read more of this content at the South Yorkshire Times, click here

Seven Silly Fitness Fads

2008-07-10T18:52:00.000-07:00

Before you sign up for a circus-themed exercise class, or buy tricked-out Hula Hoops, read our guide to which wacky workouts actually work.

From strippercise to circus-trapeze aerobics, gyms and fitness gurus keep coming up with new ways to make working out less of a chore. But though these whimsical classes and instructional DVDs can reinvigorate your gym routine, some of the glitziest (and goofiest) new trends can also put you at risk for sprained ankles, pulled muscles and overexertion. And some don't even give you much of a workout.

Here are seven of the silliest fitness fads—with the lowdown on whether or not they really chisel and tone. (For other workout tips, check out our earlier story on "Six of the Worst Ways to Work Out.")

To read more of this content at Newsweek, click here

Study Shows Fish Oil Improves Heart Function

2008-06-30T16:25:00.000-07:00

Some fish migrate thousands of miles each year. The secret to their marathon abilities could be that fish oil makes the heart stronger.

Recent medical research has shown that it also works for human hearts. In one study, researchers demonstrated that healthy hearts can work better with two important fish oils, docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

To read more of this content at the Chicago Daily Herald, click here.

NZ Rugby Team Considering Calf's Blood Extract for Playoff Push

2008-06-30T16:11:00.001-07:00

The Manly Sea Eagles are considering using a controversial calves' blood extract to help boost the endurance of their players in the lead-up to the finals.

The Sea Eagles, who are top of the premiership, have adopted a cutting-edge approach to the use of science in recent years, and an emphasis on altitude training has been credited for their second-half dominance this season.

Under the guidance of physiologist Steve Dank, Manly have led the way in introducing DNA testing of players, GPS tracking to monitor their performances at training, and the use of radical herbal supplements such as the $300 per litre anti-inflammatory product Lact-Away, which is made from the bark of French pine and was initially a racehorse treatment.

To view more of this content at Stuff.co.nz, click here.

Bill C-51: No More Easily Accessible Vitamins and Supplements?

2008-06-07T19:15:00.000-07:00

So you want to take Vitamin C, how about if it was illegal to take that vitamin C, what if it was so illegal that you could be thrown in jail for up to 2 years and fined up to $5,000,000! Sounds like fiction doesn't it?
Well it's about to become reality unless people become aware of what is going on. The Canadian Government is trying to pass a bill known as Bill C51. This bill has already passed its second reading and it is flying under the radar, it is very close to becoming law and some powers that be DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW! This bill would give entire control of supplements over to drug companies by only allowing MDs to "Prescribe" them as they see fit. Of course we know here in this country the government controls the doctors and the pharmaceutical companies tell the government what laws they want inorder to make more profit. What this means is that if you want to take a multivitamin or some Omega-3, you have to book an appointment with your doctor, go in and try to convince your doctor that you are in need of these supplements. If you doctor doesn't approve or better yet decides a certain drug would be better off for you then you unfortunately won't have access to your supplements anymore.

On top of this the entire natural supplement industry will collapse on itself, thousands of jobs will be lost and even more stress will be placed on our already crumbing over-stressed medical system. Imagine waiting over a month to get in to see your MD just to request if you can take some oregano oil for a cold that has now come and past, only to have your request denied anyway.

The irony of all this is that MDs who are NOT trained in the use of herbs and supplements for the most part will have full control over what you can and CANNOT TAKE.

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

Study: Antioxidants Could Help Intensive Care Unit Patients

2008-06-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

Scientists from the University of Granada and the Virgen de las Nieves Hospital have found out that some critical patients could improve their oxide stress and, consequently, their clinical situation by taking a simple exogenous antioxidant treatment through food. This study has proved that the oxide stress increase during patients stays in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), due to the low levels of antioxidant food consumption.

The oxide stress is caused by the imbalance between the reactive oxygen substances production and the organism defence mechanisms which acts rapidly in the detoxification of these substances or repairs the damage. The oxide stress is involved in many diseases like atherosclerosis, Parkinson, Alzheimer, and it is also significant in the aging process.

To read more of this content at Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, click here

Bigger, Stronger, Faster

2008-05-30T19:26:00.000-07:00

Sylvester Stallone, Hulk Hogan, Arnold Schwarzenegger. The 1980s saw an explosion of butt-kicking in America, observes Christopher Bell in the raucously funny and surprisingly insightful prologue to his debut documentary, "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*." And as a 12-year-old kid from a loving but undeniably short and doughy family in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Bell and his brothers were particularly susceptible to the message. As he reminds us, the don't-mess-with-the-U.S. Reagan years were an overheated response to '70s downers such as the Iran hostage crisis. But for the Bell boys, it was simply a call to ripped, bulging arms.

What began simply as a documentary about steroid use in America, "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*" (The asterisk refers to the movie's subtitle: "The Side-Effects of Being American") turns out to be a surprisingly comprehensive and insightful look at a culture predicated on might and obsessed with achieving success at any cost.

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

A Dangerous Combination...Energy Drinks and Alcohol

2008-05-30T19:18:00.000-07:00

If you enjoy energy drinks there is a dangerous combination medical professionals say you should avoid...adding alcohol to your drink.

Creighton Baird says jager bombs and vodka red bulls are popular drinks at parties he attends. People drink the combination to feel a "high" he says can not be created without both the alcohol and energy drink.

"And so you are hyped up but you are drunk at the same time which makes you feel like you were, I mean you feel like you're superman when you're drunk away, but you feel like when you mix alcohol with an energy drink you feel like you can take on the world," Creighton says.

That feeling of invincibility is what a local doctor says is the energy drink masking the intoxicating effects of the alcohol creating the illusion of being alert.

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

Bodyworks: Photos from the Weird World of Bodybuilding

2008-05-11T18:48:00.000-07:00

Popeye biceps, rippling six-packs, and supernaturally dark tans: these pumped-up people have trained for a Scandinavian bodybuilding contest by shaking off every last ounce of fat. But even if you admire their commitment, it is hard not to recoil in confusion at such asexual specimens.

It was this reaction – something between respect and disgust – which prompted the Danish photographer Joachim Ladefoged to photograph this slew of hard-bodies. He took a mixture of black and white and colour photography at the Danish Bodybuilding Championship in 2001 and similar events in the ensuing years, underexposing the subjects to make them appear darker still. The resulting snaps are assembled in a book, Mirror (the title a nod to his models' narcissism), to be published later this year.

To read more of this content at The Independent, click here

Eastern Europe Fastest Growing Market for Neutraceuticals

2008-05-07T19:55:00.000-07:00

Sales of nutraceutical products in Eastern Europe have shot up in the past decade, as the market catches up with the rest of the world, according to an industry veteran.

Peter Zambetti, global business development manager for dietary supplements at Capsugel, said that this is the fastest growing of all global markets, with every area in the region showing "pretty impressive growth".

Overall, sales in the region reached around $1.4bn in 2006, compared to just over $300m in 1997, said Zambetti, who is also in the International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Association's (IADSA) global market affairs department.

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

Iron Supplements Might Harm Infants Who Have Enough, Study Suggests

2008-05-05T16:56:00.000-07:00

A new study suggests that extra iron for infants who don't need it might delay development -- results that fuel the debate over optimal iron supplement levels and could have huge implications for the baby formula and food industry.

"Our results for 25 years of research show problems with lack of iron. For us to find this result is a big deal, it's really unexpected," said Dr. Betsy Lozoff, University of Michigan research professor at the Center for Human Growth and Development, and the study's principal investigator.

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

What it Takes to be a Fitness Competitor

2008-04-26T17:38:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-26T17:21:00.000-07:00

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.

Do You Want to Become a Fitness Model?

2008-04-24T19:43:00.001-07:00

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

2008-04-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

(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

2008-04-24T19:28:00.000-07:00

(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

2008-04-24T19:25:00.001-07:00

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

2008-04-24T19:20:00.000-07:00

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.

UK sales stagnate as nation sickens of health fad food

2008-04-19T21:14:00.000-07:00

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.

Soy: It Isn't Just Tofu Any More

2008-04-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-16T19:56:00.001-07:00

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

2008-04-16T19:48:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-16T19:44:00.000-07:00

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

Greek Weightlifting Coach Blamed for Tainted Supplements in Drug Scandal

2008-04-11T19:37:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-11T19:28:00.001-07:00

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

2008-04-11T19:24:00.000-07:00

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.

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

2008-04-04T19:39:00.001-07:00

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.

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

2008-04-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-03T14:39:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-03T14:35:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-03T14:32:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-03T14:29:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-03T14:23:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-03T14:18:00.000-07:00

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.

Neutraceuticals Market Assessment 2008 Out Now

2008-03-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

The nutraceuticals market comprises the combined functional foods and vitamins, minerals and supplements (VMS) sectors. The larger functional foods sector encompasses principally the four areas of: breakfast cereals fortified with fibre and sometimes with vitamins
and minerals; probiotic yoghurts and yoghurt drinks; cholesterol-lowering margarines; and soya milks. A newer and growing segment is fortified breads. Fortified breakfast cereals and probiotic yoghurts/yoghurt drinks are claimed to aid digestion, and cholesterol-lowering margarines are targeted at heart health. The use of the cholesterol-lowering active ingredients has been extended to probiotic yoghurts and yoghurt drinks, and to milk and cheese.

The smaller VMS sector is dominated by single and multivitamins, fish oils (mainly cod liver oil), plant oils (largely evening primrose oil), minerals and glucosamine supplement products.

The functional foods sector increased by 8.3% in value terms in the year ending 8th September 2007, a substantial slowing of growth from the 22.1% rise shown in the year to 9th September 2006. This slowdown was accounted for by a decline in sales of probiotic yoghurt drinks (which appear to have peaked after strong previous growth), while sales of cholesterol-lowering margarines and spreads experienced only a slight rise. However, some positive growth was achieved through increased sales of fortified breakfast cereals, probiotic yoghurts and soya milks.

To read more of this press release from PR-inside.com, click here.

Girls and Women Taking Up Vegan Banner...but Supplementation may be Necessary

2008-03-26T19:11:00.000-07:00

Get a look at the new face of veganism.

The mousy hippie chick who couldn't imagine eating a brown-eyed baby cow any more than she could imagine eating the family pet has grown up.

She's a sexy, sassy babe with a smart-aleck attitude about the food choices you are making.

Fashion has met food, and the work of a couple of escapees from the world of modeling has put veganism on the runway, creating a perceptible bump in the fastest-growing food trend among girls and young women.

To read more of this content at The Baltimore Sun, click here.

Are Nanoparticles the Next Frontier for Supplements?

2008-03-26T19:07:00.001-07:00

Imagine a low-fat ice-cream that tastes just as creamy as an unhealthier, full-fat version. Or a colourless drink that bursts into the flavour of your choosing at the flick of a microwave switch. Or intelligent food packaging that detects if the contents are beginning to spoil, changes colour to alert you, and then releases a preservative.

These are some of the promises of nanotechnology, a revolutionary area of research at the atomic or molecular scale of matter. Nanotechnology is expected to have a huge impact on many aspects of our lives, including medicine and the environment, with the development of materials and devices that can monitor blood, detect environmental pollutants and store energy better.

To read more of this content at The Sydney Morning Herald, click here.

Press Release: CV Technologies Set for Growth Says CEO

2008-03-26T19:02:00.000-07:00

EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - March 26, 2008) - CV Technologies Inc. (TSX:CVQ) - CV Technologies' recent financial and operational performance sets the stage for successful long-term growth through product line and geographic diversification, said President, CEO and Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Jacqueline Shan, speaking today to the Company's Annual General Meeting of shareholders at the Alberta Research Council in Edmonton.

"Our road map is predicated on our belief that CV Technologies will continue as a leader in our product category in Canada, and that we will extend the COLD-fX® line and introduce other new products," Dr. Shan said. She observed that "Canada will remain our engine, serving as a showcase for our products and generating the financial and other resources that we expect will ultimately permit us to thrive in the global market".

"Our initial investment of money and time in establishing U.S. relationships continues to demonstrate benefits. We have maintained favorable profiles with respected U.S. opinion leaders in the scientific, regulatory, medical and journalistic communities. And we are confident their goodwill will translate into support for future efforts, when the time is right," she said.

"Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first botanical drug product. We are exploring the possibility of obtaining U.S. botanical drug registration for COLD-fX, which would allow us to make therapeutic claims," Dr. Shan remarked. "In addition, we are in early stage discussions with potential strategic partners about the prospects for developing new products and extensions to our existing lines for global distribution. We are also exploring licensing our intellectual property for use in industries like functional foods and animal supplements."

To read more of this press release from MarketWire, click here.

Canadian Federal Supplements Watchdog says its System Works

2008-03-21T14:53:00.000-07:00

A federal watchdog for the booming "natural supplements" industry has rejected more than 40 per cent of the products it has reviewed for sale nationally, a Health Canada official says.

Robin Marles, of the National Health Products Directorate, defended the division's process for licensing so-called natural remedies, which is to be completed by 2010.

To read more of this content at The Calgary Herald, click here

Studies: Growth Hormones Don't Improve Performance

2008-03-21T12:08:00.000-07:00

Athletes who take human growth hormone may not be getting the boost they expected. While growth hormone adds some muscle, it doesn't appear to improve strength or exercise capacity, according to a review of studies that tested the hormone in mostly athletic young men.

"It doesn't look like it helps and there's a hint of evidence it may worsen athletic performance," said Dr. Hau Liu, of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, Calif., who was lead author of the review.

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

Low Testosterone Levels Linked to Depression in Older Men

2008-03-19T16:44:00.000-07:00

Researchers have uncovered a link between low free testosterone levels and depression. Their study, which appears in the March issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, shows that older men with abnormally low free testosterone levels, or hypogonadism, were, on average, 271% more likely to display clinically significant signs of depression than men with higher testosterone levels.

To read more of this content on Medscape Medical News here.

The Effect of Hormones on Diet Intake

2008-03-19T16:41:00.000-07:00

Testosterone is a steroid hormone secreted from the Leydig cells of the testes that has both anabolic and anticatabolic effects upon muscle tissue. Dietary nutrients, in particular fat, have been shown to affect testosterone. Individuals consuming a diet containing about 20% fat compared with a diet containing 40% fat have significantly lower concentrations of testosterone. Also, replacing dietary carbohydrate with protein has been shown to decrease testosterone concentrations.

To read more of this content at The Los Angeles Chronicle, click here.

How to Make Weight-Loss Supplements Work Most Effectively for You

2008-03-16T16:35:00.000-07:00

Science has proven that dietary supplements can play a significant role in accelerating weight loss. However, there are many reasons why a good weight-loss regimen involving supplements should help you reach your weight-loss goals, but in the end fails to live up to your expecations. Here are three things to remember before you begin taking supplements for weight loss:

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

Creatine Protects Against Brain Damage in Newborns, Study Says

2008-03-15T07:26:00.000-07:00

A food supplement used by athletes and body builders to boost muscle power might help to prevent brain damage and death of newborn babies from oxygen starvation, researchers say.

Problems with the placenta and umbilical cord before or during birth can reduce the fetal oxygen supply. One in 300 babies in developed countries suffers birth injuries as a result, and one in 20 babies in the UK are born by emergency caesarean section because doctors worry they may not be getting enough oxygen.

Now Zoe Ireland and David Walker at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, think they may have found a simple way to reduce the risks.

They fed pregnant spiny mice a diet containing 5% of the organic acid creatine, which can protect cells by providing energy when oxygen levels are low.

When the researchers starved the mice of oxygen just before birth, 95% of pups whose mothers had been fed creatine survived, compared to only 63% of pups whose mothers did not receive the supplement.

To read more of this content at The New Scientist, click here

Trials: Omega-3 Fatty Acids Always BenefitHeart

2008-03-15T07:21:00.000-07:00

Omega-3 fatty acids may sometimes result in "fishy burp," but the fatty acids always benefit the cardiovascular system, a U.S. doctor says.

Dr. James O'Keefe of the Mid America Heart Institute in, Kansas City, Mo,. says several trials demonstrate the positive benefits of ingesting omega-3 fatty acids. However, the most compelling evidence for the cardiovascular benefit provided by omega-3 fatty acids comes from three large controlled trials of 32,000 participants randomized to receive omega-3 fatty acid supplements containing DHA and EPA or to act as controls.

To read more of this content at the United Press International(UPI), click here.

Do Supplements Boost Athletic Performance?

2008-03-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

Performance-enhancing dietary supplements are regularly used by athletes and daily exercisers. Surveys indicate that 75 percent of college athletes and almost 100 percent of body builders use at least one product that allegedly boosts performance.

Supplemental ergogenic aids is the general term for ingested substances that improve efficient use of energy, increase energy production or shorten recovery time. Growth in the ergogenic supplement industry has been astounding. There is little evidence, however, that the billions of dollars spent on performance enhancers provide the advertised results.

To read more of this content at The Times Daily, click here.

Leading U.S. Supplement Manufacturer Files for Bankruptcy

2008-03-15T07:13:00.000-07:00

Leiner Health Products Inc., a leading maker of vitamins and nutritional supplements, filed for bankruptcy protection Monday, a year after the Food and Drug Administration found problems at one of its manufacturing plants, prompting a product recall.

Carson-based Leiner, which supplies store-brand products to major retailers including Costco and CVS, listed assets and debt of $500 million to $1 billion in a Chapter 11 petition filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.

To read more of this content at the Los Angeles Times, click here.

NJ Brewers Outfielder Seeks Therapeutic Exemption to Use Banned Stimulant

2008-03-15T07:09:00.001-07:00

Feeling that he might still be struggling with the aftereffects of a 2005 outfield collision, Brewers outfielder Mike Cameron has applied for a therapeutic exemption to use stimulants during the 2008 season.

Cameron's 2005 season ended on Aug. 11, when he slammed into Carlos Beltran while trying to catch a fly ball.

If he had applied for the exemption in 2007, he could have avoided the 25-game suspension he'll have to serve at the beginning of this season for testing positive for a banned stimulant for the second time.

To read more of this content at ESPN, click here

Typical North American Diet is Deficient in Omega-3 Fatty Acids

2008-03-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

New research from the Child & Family Research Institute shows the typical North American diet of eating lots of meat and not much fish is deficient in omega-3 fatty acids and this may pose a risk to infant neurological development. Omega-3 fatty acids are unsaturated fats found in some fish such as salmon and herring and in smaller amounts in eggs and chicken. This discovery is an important step towards developing dietary fat guidelines for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Current dietary recommendations evolved from the 1950’s emphasis on reducing saturated fat intake to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

To read more of this content on Newsvine, click here

Bee Pollen: A Budget Friendly Food for Health and Healing

2008-03-07T16:55:00.000-08:00

Bee pollen is often referred to as nature's most complete food. Pollen harvested from a diverse selection of geographic areas contains all the essential components of life in a good tasting, chewable, easily digested, and highly bio-available form that can be consumed by anyone from young children to the very old. All the nutritive and rejuvenating elements contained in expensive, whole food vitamin pills can be found in bee pollen. But since these elements are crafted into the most super of superfoods by nature, they have the added benefits of perfect synergy. Pollen also offers healing, with interesting research studies documenting its medicinal effects.

To read more of this content at Natural News, click here.

Catalyst Zone Covers The Arnolds

2008-03-05T15:36:00.000-08:00

The Arnold Sports Festival, brainchild of actor and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, wrapped up March 3 after three days of competition in 18 different sports, from armwrestling to fencing to bodybuilding and weightlifting.

Winners of the prestige events this year were: Dexter Jackson of Jacksonville, Florida, who won the Arnold Classic bodybuilding competition, raking in $130,000; Zydrunas Savickas of Lithuania won two events over an international field to capture the 7th Annual Arnold Strongman Classic title for the sixth year in a row; Yaxeni Oriquen of Miami, Florida took the Ms. International bodybuilding competition, and Gina Aliotti of San Diego, California, won the Figure International Championships. Kimberly Klein of Belmar, New Jersey, won the Fitness International competition.

In other news from the Arnolds,

Olympic bronze medalist (2000) and two-time Olympian (2000 and 2004) Cheryl Haworth (Savannah, Ga.) won yet another USA Weightlifting National Championship in the women’s 75+kg weight class today in Columbus, Ohio, but she will need much bigger lifts in May at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in Atlanta, Ga. to make her third consecutive U.S. Olympic Team. Haworth, easily won the women’s 75+kg weight class, but has lifted much heavier weights in the past and will need to again if she wants to return to the Olympic platform. Haworth totaled just 232kg today (102kg snatch and 130kg clean and jerk) easily outdistancing her nearest competitor today of 210kg, but far from the 250kg that she totaled despite being under 100% healthy in September at the 2007 World Weightlifting Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand. (to read more of this content at the Official Site of the U.S. Olympic Team, click here.

Dean Narcisco of the Columbus Dispatch was on the scene, providing this look at the fortunes of previous winners of events at The Arnolds.

Not slow to recognize the phenomenal appeal of mixed martial arts, this year organizers arranged for the UFC to hold an event at the festival. UFC 68, the Uprising, saw veteran comeback artist Randy "The Natural" Couture upset Tim "The Maine-iac" Sylvia to take the heavyweight crown.

It wouldn't be The Arnolds without a visit from the founder and inspiration, the Governator himself. And Arnold didn't disappoint.

At least not all of them. There were a few disgruntled folks who hoped to get some facetime with the bodybuilding legend who were left with a bitter taste in their mouth. I'll be back? Probably not these fans. Or middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik.

Company, Owners Face Federal Fraud Charges for Selling Supplements Online

2008-02-28T15:01:00.001-08:00

A federal grand jury indicted three businesses in Springfield on Thursday on charges of fraudulent marketing. The grand jury believes the companies, their two owners and business associates fraudulently marketed several dietary supplements over the Internet with illegal claims that the products could prevent, treat, or cure a number of diseases. Investigators say the businesses sold the products to a business in Michigan that used several Web sites to sell more than $16 million worth of the products in 2005 and 2006.

To read more of this content at KY3.com, click here

Does Good Skin Come in a Tablet?

2008-02-24T07:20:00.001-08:00

Great skin just got another wrinkle.

Cosmetic treatments are no longer just about creams and emollients — the latest trend is about working from the inside out. "Ingestibles" are supplements such as omega-3 oils, alpha lipoic acid, grape seed, pomegranate extract and many other nutritional-sounding words you never used to hear at the cosmetics counter.

To read more of this content at the Seattle Times, click here

Ontario's Ultimate Fighting Stalemate

2008-02-22T15:21:00.000-08:00

The Montreal Canadiens are one the hottest teams in the NHL and a sense of optimism is growing in Quebec that Les Glorieux could go deep in the playoffs this season.

But the hottest ticket in Montreal these days is not for a Canadiens game, but for the Ultimate Fighting Championship card which will be held at the Bell Centre on April 19 -- the first time in history an UFC event will be held in Canada.

To read more of this content in the Toronto Sun, click here

Despres Fights Back Against Doping Penalty

2008-02-22T15:15:00.000-08:00

Canadian bobsleigh pilot Serge Despres says he has "possibly the lowest recorded positive test in the history of drug testing," and it will cause him to miss the Vancouver Olympics.

Despres, of Cocagne, N.B., was handed a 20-month suspension on Tuesday after testing positive for the anabolic steroid nandrolone in an off-season test last summer.

The 29-year-old, who drove Canada 2 to an 11th-place finish at the Turin Olympics in 2006, has hired high-profile California lawyer Howard Jacobs to fight the case. On Tuesday, they filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, although not to contest the finding, because Despres recognizes that he has some responsibility for the positive test.

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

Bacteria Help Boost Immune System

2008-02-22T15:12:00.000-08:00

Eating food infested with bacteria is not always a bad a thing.

Oak Park triathelete Karen Steward-Nolan does just that to keep her body going while training, which sometimes requires running 10-20 miles on a treadmill during the Chicago winter months.

One of Steward-Nolan’s favorites is yogurt, a good choice of snack because it contains “good” bacteria.

To read more of this content on Med Reports Chicago, click here

GlaxoSmithKline Planning to Launch More Supplement Products

2008-02-22T15:09:00.000-08:00

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare (GSK Consumer) is planning to launch more products in the health supplement category in 2009, reports Business Standard.

Recently, the company launched ActiBase, a protein supplement in New Delhi, and is now planning to launch it in the other parts of the country in a phased manner. The protein supplement market is estimated at Rs 5 billion and is dominated by Protinex.

To read more of this content at Myiris, click here

Natalie Waples: A Fit Image, the Natural Way

2008-02-17T11:03:00.000-08:00

She knew at a young age that she wanted to make a name for herself.

Developing her skills in both stage presentation and public speaking through pageants at the regional, provincial, national and international level, Canadian Overall Figure Champion, Natalie Waples, took an interest in figure competitions and fitness modeling in 2005.

To read more of this content, click here

The Role of Nutrition in Martial Arts, Military and Police Personnel

2008-02-17T10:09:00.000-08:00

For a considerable amount of time, nutrition has not played a prominent role in the life of many martial artists, police, and military personnel as a means of improving their performance. Top athletes are always looking for an edge. Although the martial arts are more of a way of life and a life style than a sport per se, the needs of the martial artist are the same as that of the elite athlete. Mental aspects not withstanding (i.e. mental awareness, strategy, cunning, etc.), the need for speed, agility, strength, flexibility, and the ability to recuperate from tough workouts (and unforgiving sparring partners) is paramount to the success of athletes and martial artists alike. Police and military personnel can also have unique requirements that require them to perform at peak physical and or psychological levels.

To read more of this content by Will Brink, originally published in Bodybuilding.com in 1993, click here

Probiotics Ward Off Flu in Elite Athletes

2008-02-17T09:59:00.000-08:00

Marathon runners may be less likely to get sick if they dose up on good bacteria, according to Australian research which may help give elite athletes the edge they need.

A study by the Australian Institute of Sport found endurance runners given a probiotic supplement suffered less severe flu and cold symptoms than other athletes.

Their illness also generally lasted only half the time of those not taking the supplement, lead researcher Dr David Pyne said.

To read more of this content in The Age, click here

Can Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements Prevent Type 1 Diabetes?

2008-02-17T09:55:00.000-08:00

"Several popular studies have shown those individuals that have a greater intake of these fatty acids may very well have a (decreased risk) of developing Type 1 diabetes," Rodriguez said.

In those studies, the DHA appeared to prevent or delay the destruction of insulin-producing cells. Without intervention, Frank has a 78 percent chance of developing the disease before his 5th birthday.

To read more of this content go to IndyChannel. Click here.

The Role of Zinc Supplements in the Development of the Immune System

2008-02-17T09:32:00.000-08:00

Zinc is an essential nutrient that has an important role in the growth and development of many cells, tissues, and the immune system. Zinc is considered a cofactor for over 300 metalloenzymes and one of the symptoms of zinc deficiency is an increased frequency of bacterial and viral infections. The effects of zinc and immune function have been well studied. The cellular and molecular effects of zinc on immunity are beyond the scope of this review and the reader is referred to several recent reviews for additional information.

To read more of this content click here.

The Supplements Made Me Do It

2008-02-13T16:26:00.000-08:00

As a child, I couldn't get away with rule-breaking by saying, "The devil made me do it!" Yet this is essentially what some Major League Baseball players say when accused of steroid use: "The supplements made me do it."

Today star pitcher Roger Clemens is expected to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. The players and their representatives who have spoken so far -- to legislators and the press -- have offered a litany of excuses for how they ended up in the midst of a steroid scandal. The most preposterous, by far, is that dietary supplements are to blame.

Clemens, for example, has repeatedly denied using steroids or human growth hormone. But he acknowledged that he has been injected with vitamin B-12. Tainted B-12 was how Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro explained his failed steroids test in 2005. In his congressional testimony last month, Baseball union chief Donald Fehr blamed not just dietary supplements, but Congress for insufficient regulation.

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

Is Human Growth Hormone the Fountain of Youth?

2008-02-13T16:22:00.000-08:00

Marie Miano, like some professional athletes, takes human growth hormone — but she has a prescription.

"I feel like the fountain of youth because I feel better than I did before. I feel younger, I feel healthier." she said.

At 54, she started growth hormone injections after reading actress Suzanne Sommers' book — just one Hollywood celebrity sold on HGH.

Actor Sylvester Stallone freely admits he used the hormone as he prepared for his latest Rambo movie.

"The way people think of HGH is archaic," the actor said on the Today Show.

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

Doctors Use Wii Games for Rehab

2008-02-13T16:17:00.000-08:00

Some call it "Wiihabilitation." Nintendo's Wii video game system, whose popularity already extends beyond the teen gaming set, is fast becoming a craze in rehab therapy for patients recovering from strokes, broken bones, surgery and even combat injuries.

The usual stretching and lifting exercises that help the sick or injured regain strength can be painful, repetitive and downright boring.

In fact, many patients say PT — physical therapy's nickname — really stands for "pain and torture," said James Osborn, who oversees rehabilitation services at Herrin Hospital in southern Illinois.

Using the game console's unique, motion-sensitive controller, Wii games require body movements similar to traditional therapy exercises. But patients become so engrossed mentally they're almost oblivious to the rigor, Osborn said.

To continue reading this content on Newsvine, click here

Supplement Trends for 2008

2008-02-12T15:11:00.000-08:00

11-Feb-2008 - Healthy aging, balanced energy and inflammation are the three core health concerns that consumers try to address with dietary supplements, according to a new report.

The Hartman Group’s Tinderbox on Trends 2008 draws its conclusions through ethnographic research, which includes consumer interviews and observation in the home and in retail outlets.

According to the research group, when a health concern presents itself, most consumers will first examine their diet. When food does not remedy the situation, they look to supplements, preferably from whole foods, to correct and balance their condition.

Supplements most popular with “leading-edge” or “core” consumers were those that addressed aging, energy and inflammation, said Hartman.

To read more of this content at Medical Health Articles, click here

Weight Lifting Could Keep Diabetes at Bay

2008-02-12T15:05:00.000-08:00

A team of researchers has concluded that weight lifting not only helps to burn excess fat, but also helps to prevent diabetes.

To read this content at HealthJockey, click here

Supplements Could Help Fill UK Nutritional Gap

2008-02-04T14:50:00.000-08:00

04/02/2008 - A fifth of adults in the UK ignore nutritional guidelines when it comes to buying food, a survey has revealed, which could further open the door for dietary supplements.

According to the Health Food Manufacturers' Association (HFMA), some 38m adults mistakenly believe potatoes count as one of their "five-a-day" portions of fruit and vegetables.

The shocking statistics open up further potential for the use of supplements to help plug the nutritional blackhole.

HFMA nutritionist, Dr Marilyn Glenville said: "With only 15 per cent of women and 13 per cent of men eating the recommended five-a-day fruit and vegetables, it is important that people are trying to keep themselves in good health by using supplements on a daily basis."

(read more)

Work Out to Exhaustion -- and Beyond -- With Carnosine

2008-02-02T21:12:00.000-08:00

For years, elite athletes and their trainers have known that in order to increase muscle mass and strength, it’s necessary to work muscles to complete exhaustion, since it’s at the brink of muscle failure where the body’s ongoing protein synthesis is put on hold because available adenosine triphosphate (ATP) -- which is critical for protein synthesis -- is fully depleted by the contractions of the exercise. When the exercise ceases at the point of exhaustion, the body over-reacts, signaling muscle cell nuclei to drastically increase protein synthesis. It is thought that this results in super-increase of muscle protein.

(read more)

Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Magic Bullet for Bipolar and Depression?

2008-01-30T01:16:00.000-08:00

Have we been fishing in all the wrong places for the magic bullet for depression and bipolar? Have scientists been turning a blind eye to a well-known elixir that works well for other diseases and conditions? Ever since psychiatry threw Freud and his couch in the rubbish bin a couple of decades back, the profession has been oriented toward prescription drugs. Now, their focus appears to be widening.

Last year, a Harvard University study generated a buzz throughout the bipolar community with the prospect of a natural substance that worked - fish oil. After years of being bombarded by industrial-strength pharmaceuticals and toxic salts, people with bipolar could possibly look forward to a kinder and gentler treatment. Paradoxically, the evidence is far stronger when it comes to depression, but we're lacking the clinical trials as proof.

(read more)

Army Searches for Youth Potion in Mitochondria

2008-01-30T01:15:00.000-08:00

The hip-hop world has been all a-flutter, lately, over accusations that 50 Cent and Mary J. Blige took human growth hormone, or HGH, to get big and stay youthful. Army scientists want their soldiers to stay strong and spritely, too. But they're taking a slightly different approach, in a new program for "Optimized Human Performance." Instead of HGH, the Army is looking for its fountain of youth in mitochondria -- the body's powerhouses, which turn sugars into energy.

(read more)

Conquering Delayed-Onset Food Allergies in Three Steps

2008-01-30T01:11:00.000-08:00

Do you find yourself suffering from asthma, migraines, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic fatigue, fuzzy brain, non-seasonal rhinitis, depression, eczema, arthritis, bloating, or insomnia, yet no medical treatment seems to work for you? If you have one or more of these symptoms that just come and go and are unresponsive to medication, then there's a very big chance that your diet is the main culprit behind all your health complaints. A growing number of studies have established the connection between the above-mentioned ailments to food allergy. Even irritable bowel diseases such as diverticulitis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and celiac disease have been linked to food allergies.

(read more)

Hillary Swank's Fitness Plan

2008-01-28T19:20:00.000-08:00

Actress Hilary Swank would rather sleep six hours and get an hour workout, than sleep seven hours, according to a profile in W Magazine. (Me too.)

She lifts weights twice a week. And on the other days, she hikes, does PowerPilates or practices Krav Mag, an Israeli hand-to-hand self defense technique, according to this profile by Catherine Wong.

But her real health secret? She takes a whopping 45 supplements a day.

(read more)

Tony Gonzalez: 247 lb Vegan

2008-01-28T19:14:00.000-08:00

The protein-rich bounty of the football training table is supposed to grow the biggest and strongest athletes in professional sports. Kansas City Chiefs tight-end Tony Gonzalez was afraid it was going to kill him. "It's the Catch-22," says Mr. Gonzalez, 31. "Am I going to be unhealthy and play football? Or be healthy and get out of the league?"

So last year, on the eve of the biggest season of his career, Mr. Gonzalez embarked on a diet resolution that smacked head-on with gridiron gospel as old as the leather helmet. He decided to try going vegan.

(read more)

Health and Beauty Trivia

2008-01-28T19:10:00.000-08:00

This is not a litany of do’s and don’ts but tidbits of information with one objective in mind—make you better informed so you are able to make wiser lifestyle choices.

Liberation from ignorance will result in a greater ability to celebrate life in better health, assuming, of course, one uses the knowledge gained to make the right choices.

The only one who can make the decisions is you.

(read more)

Scientists Neutralize Cow Farts -- Yours May Be Next

2008-01-28T19:06:00.000-08:00

Sure, Hummers are bad for the environment, but do you know what else is? Cow farts. Yep, the methane in cow farts contributes to a surprisingly-high 5% of all global warming gasses out there, with methane being 22 times more potent at capturing atmospheric heat than carbon dioxide. The good news? A couple of Japanese scientists seem to have stumbled upon a way to neutralize this problem.

(read more)

Phenylalinine: Happy Pill or Neuro-Toxin? (Exclusive Content)

2008-01-21T15:52:00.000-08:00

A Special Catalyst Zone Exclusive Article in Cooperation With Newsvine.com

For years, conspiracy theorists and urban mythology websites have warned about the dangers of aspartame, going so far as to implicate the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in a plot against North Americans, since the FDA has failed to respond to their concerns by banning the sugar replacement. One of the components activists point to as being dangerous is the amino acid Phenylalanine, abbreviated as Phe.

“Phenylalanine is a neurotoxin and excites the neurons in the brain to the point of cellular death”, says Janet Starr Hull, creator of the so-called 'aspartame detox program' and owner of the website
Sweetpoison. “ADD/ADHD, emotional and behavioral disorders can all be triggered by too much Phenylalanine in the daily diet.”

Today, Phe is emerging in a role separate from its traditional role as a component of aspartame and is being included with dietary supplements for its reputed mood elevation properties, so it’s worthwhile taking a look at the real story behind Phe and its safety.

Phenylalanine (HO2CCH(NH2)CH2C6H5) is an essential amino acid, meaning you need it in your diet. However, humans can’t synthesize it themselves, and must therefore obtain it from dietary sources or supplements. Fortunately, it’s found in virtually all proteins, in foods such as eggs, milk, cheese, nuts, bananas, poultry, fish and whole grains, in three forms: D-phenylalanine (DPA), L-phenylalaline and D-L phenylalaline. While dietary deficiency is rare, it can occur in low-protein diets, where it would be characterized by lethargy, edema, weakness, or skin lesions, as well as liver damage and slow growth.

Phenylalanine uses the same active transport channel as tryptophan to cross the blood-brain barrier. The DPA form, which doesn’t have a role in protein biosynthesis, is nevertheless present in small amounts in proteins, particularly aged proteins and in processed foods. While the biological functions of D-amino acids like DPA are as yet unclear, there are suggestions that DPA, in particular, may have pharmacological activity.

The DL-phenylalanine form is thought to possess both
analgesic and antidepressant capabilities, possibly through its ability to block the degradation of the endorphin
enkephalin by the enzyme carboxypeptidase A.

As a precursor of DL-phyenylalanine, L-phenylalanine (the most common form) has been shown to have a role in the synthesis of norepinephrine and dopamine, and elevated cerebral levels of these neurotransmitters has been thought to be associated with antidepressant effects. Basically, L-phenylalanine is converted into L-tyrosine, a DNA-encoded amino acid which is converted by the body’s chemistry into L-DOPA, which in turn is converted into the catecholamines dopamine, norepinephrine (or noradrenaline) and epinephrine (or adrenaline).

DL-phenylalaline is also being used to help with memory and learning, as an appetite suppressant, and in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and chronic arthritic pain, although rigorous clinical trials for these applications are still in short supply.

Aspartame, marketed under trade names including Equal and Nutrasweet – popular sugar-replacements widely used in weightloss products, and in more than 6,000 consumer food and beverages worldwide – is an attractive sweetener because it is 180 times sweeter than sugar. This means that, compared to sugar, the amount of product required to produce a similarly sweet taste is calorically insignificant. First synthesized by chemists from G.D. Searle and Co. in 1965, aspartame was not approved by the FDA for use as a food additive until 1980, largely due to unanswered questions about a correlation with cancer incidence in rats discovered during testing. Following FDA approval for use in dry goods, aspartame was further approved for use in carbonated beverages, with all other restrictions being dropped by 1996. Numerous other investigations, in Europe and elsewhere have been conducted, all with similar results. Juliette Kellow, a dietician with Weight Loss Resources U.K. (billed as an 'online slimming club', and hence presumably in business to sell weight loss techniques and supplements), says: “more than 200 objective scientific studies have shown aspartame to be completely safe. Its safety has been confirmed by the regulatory authorities in more than 100 countries including the European Commission’s Scientific Committee for Food, America’s Food and Drug Administration and by experts within the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Health Organisation.”

However, she notes, despite this confidence level, aspartame products are still required to carry a public notice identifying that they contain phenylalanine. This is because, while Phe is safe for the general public, there are people with a rare genetic disorder called phenylketonuria who are unable to properly metabolize phenylalanine and so are required to limit their intake of Phe from any source – including aspartame. Accordingly, all products in the U.S. and Canada that contain aspartame must be labelled: "Phenylketonurics: Contains phenylalanine."

Katherine Zeratsky, a dietician with the Mayo Clinic, agrees, saying:

“Phenylalanine is safe to eat or drink unless you have phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare birth defect in which an enzyme needed to process phenylalanine is missing. For infants and children with this disorder, consuming phenylalanine is dangerous. Adults with this disorder should consult their doctors regarding whether phenylalanine is a concern. If you do not have PKU, phenylalanine in foods is not a concern.”

Recently, researchers have found a way in which even those with PKU can consume phenylalanine with much less risk. BioMarin Pharmaceutical, a California company, was granted FDA approval on December 13, 2007 for its newly developed drug, Kuvan , which trials suggest helps people with PKU to ingest phenylalanine in 30-50% of cases.

So, say dieticians, aside from concerns voice by relatively fringe elements, there appear to be few reasons not to take phenylalanine. But are there any good reasons?

As it turns out, there is very little research pointing to the beneficial aspects of Phe – the analgesic and anti-depressant effects mentioned earlier. While some anecdotal reports suggest there is a link between Phe intake and elevated (and beneficial) dopamine, norepineprhine and epinephrine levels, insufficient data exists to posit a solid causal link. And, in the case of Phe use for treatment of arthritis, Parkinson’s or for memory support, data is even more scant. From all indications, a balanced diet high in protein would appear to provide the same benefits.

But on the other hand, how could it hurt?

Double Shot of Supplement Info for Pregnant Women

2008-01-21T15:20:00.000-08:00

Already this week comes two separate studies describing the importance of nutritional supplements for pregnant women, and the importance they play in the health of both the mother and the fetus. First, a report from the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology finds that "women who take multivitamins containing folic acid have a far reduced risk of pre-eclampsia (pregnancy-related high blood pressure) than women who don't. (read more.

Meanwhile, upping the ante, an article in this week's Lancet reports that "multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMN) for pregnant women is more effective than iron and folic acid at preventing early infant death and fetus loss ( read more).

Low Vitamin D Levels Increase Heart Risk

2008-01-21T15:11:00.000-08:00

A new study by researchers at Harvard Medical School has found that low levels of vitamin D in the body can increase the risk of heart disease. The study published in the journal Circulation suggests that people who also have high blood pressure are at particularly high risk.

(read more)

Why High-Protein, Low-Fat, and Low-Carbohydrate Diets Suppress Hunger

2008-01-17T16:05:00.000-08:00

Many popular diet plans are based on changing the proportion of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats one ingests as a method to promote weight loss. There has been some controversy regarding the effectiveness of these diets, but a new study accepted for publication in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM) could shed light on potential mechanisms by which various diets promote weight loss.

This study examined the relative ability of different nutrient types to suppress ghrelin, which is secreted by the stomach and is the only known appetite-stimulating hormone. Circulating ghrelin levels increase shortly before meals and then decrease promptly after ingestion of food.

(read more)

European Industry Food Supplement Quality Guide Released

2008-01-16T17:18:00.001-08:00

Demand has soared across the globe for a pan-European quality guide for food supplements created by trade organisation the European Federation of Associations of Health Product Manufacturers (EHPM).

Developed by a team of technical experts for EHPM, the ‘Quality Guide for Food Supplements’ is the first pan-European guide of its kind, building on many existing national guides that have been developed by the trade organisation’s member associations over the past ten years.

(read more)

Vitamin D2 Supplements Might Lower Risk of Falling in Older Women

2008-01-16T17:15:00.000-08:00

High-risk older women, especially those from sunny climates, and especially during the winter, may benefit from a reduced risk of falls if they take Vitamin D2 supplements, according to an article in Archives of Internal Medicine (JAMA/Archives), January 14th edition.

(read more)

Mediterranean Diet Helps Pregnant Women Protect Kids From Allergies

2008-01-16T17:09:00.000-08:00

PREGNANT women who eat a Mediterranean diet may be protecting their baby from eczema and allergies in childhood, new research suggests.

A study by Greek doctors found that children of mothers who closely follow the oil and fish-rich diet while pregnant have a 45 per cent lower risk of developing an allergic disease before the age of seven.

(read more

Why it's Important to Remember Phosphatidyl Serine

2008-01-15T17:33:00.001-08:00

Scores of research studies since the 1980s have pointed to an important role for the “brain cell nutrient” phosphatidyl serine (pronounced fos-fa-tie-dil see-reen) as a dietary supplement in support of brain functions such as memory and mental sharpness.

What is phosphatidyl serine (PS)? It is made naturally by the body, is most concentrated in the brain, and works in the cell’s energy-producing mitrochondia to support cell function, the integrity of the cell membrane, and inter-cell communication. It is a basic component of cell membranes, which – in nerves and the brain especially – generate and relay electrical currents from cell to cell. This activity tends to fall off starting in middle age.

(read more)

Supplement Link to Prostate Cancer?

2008-01-15T17:15:00.000-08:00

When two patients developed unusually aggressive metastatic prostate cancer within months of starting the same muscle-building dietary supplement, researchers here started investigating.

The supplement contained testosterone and estradiol but promoted cancer cell growth more potently than testosterone alone while hampering androgen blockade, found Shahrokh F. Shariat, M.D., of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center here, and colleagues, in the Jan. 15 issue of Clinical Cancer Research.

(read more)

Liver Life: When January Catches Up

2008-01-15T17:10:00.000-08:00

JANUARY'S the month when all the boozing, the late nights and the over-eating finally catches up with us.

We drag ourselves around, perhaps pledging "never" to drink again, or to abstain for a while and tackle our sagging health.

Specialist in nutrition, Professor Patrick Holford, says: "It's common for people to panic at this time of year because they may be feeling really groggy and struggling to perform.
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"The reality is most of us are always vertically ill - that is, we are upright but don't feel great most of the time. The majority of people are usually functioning well below their potential because their body is overloaded with toxins from the food and drink they take in.

(read more)

Defeat Narcolepsy the Natural Way

2008-01-15T16:16:00.001-08:00

Narcolepsy is a chronic disease of the brain. Abnormalities in the structure and function of a particular group of nerve cells are thought to play a role in the development of narcolepsy. CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10) and Ginkgo Biloba promote good cerebral circulation and also have strong anti-oxidation effects. L-Glutamine assists in processes of the brain.

(read more)

Low Testosterone Linked to Fracture Risk in Older Men

2008-01-15T16:00:00.000-08:00

Men older than 60 with low blood testosterone levels may have a higher risk for hip and non-vertebral fractures, researchers here reported.

The fracture rate was 30% higher for non-vertebral fractures for such men and almost 90% higher for hip fractures, Christian Meier, M.D., of the University of Sydney, and colleagues, reported in the Jan. 14 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

(read more)

UK to Test Vitamins on Inmate Behaviour

2008-01-15T15:56:00.000-08:00

A pilot program to test the effects of vitamin and mineral supplements on inmates at UK young offenders' institutes will be carried out to see if adequate nutrition helps curb violent behaviour.
The pioneering move follows years of work by Natural Justice, which secured £1.45m to carry out a program from the Wellcome Trust charity.

(read more)

3 Nutrients May Cut Cataract Risk

2008-01-15T15:52:00.000-08:00

he antioxidants lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin E may help prevent cataracts, according to a new study on nutrition and eye health.

The study's key finding: Women who get more lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamin E are less likely to develop cataracts than women who skimp on those nutrients.

Foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin include leafy green vegetables (such as spinach, kale, turnip greens, collards, and mustard greens), squash, green peas, broccoli, pumpkin, and corn.

Foods rich in vitamin E include vegetable oils, almonds, sunflower seeds, leafy green veggies, and fortified cereals.

(read more)

Could Vitamin D Really Cure Your Arthitis?

2008-01-15T15:47:00.000-08:00

Just in case there were any doubts about the importance of vitamin D - the 'sunshine' vitamin - two major studies published last week confirmed just how essential it is for good health.

One study found that people with higher levels in their blood were more likely to survive cancer, the other that having very low levels increased your risk of cardiovascular disease.

( read more)

Lipoic Acid Could Reduce Atherosclerosis, Weight Gain

2008-01-14T16:15:00.000-08:00

A new study done with mice has discovered that supplements of lipoic acid can inhibit formation of arterial lesions, lower triglycerides, and reduce blood vessel inflammation and weight gain -- all key issues for addressing cardiovascular disease.

(read more)

Treating Joint Pain Naturally

2008-01-14T16:10:00.000-08:00

A natural ingredient used in skin care may be the key to treating joint pain.

A recent study found that an oral supplement with an active ingredient from the pit of the shea fruit-which contains one of the most powerful inflammation fighters of any known plant-provided an unprecedented reduction in cartilage deterioration for a natural product.

(read more)

Probiotics: Friendly Little Germs

2008-01-14T16:06:00.000-08:00

Until a few years ago, Ted Gallinat couldn't tell you the difference between kefir and yogurt or antibiotics and probiotics.

He was a fast food junkie. Then he attended a health conference in Davisburg.

"I was a little skeptical," admitted the Richfield Township resident and former Flint Township supervisor. His thinking had always been when you're sick, you go to a doctor and get a prescription. Preventive medicine wasn't on his radar.

( read more)

Using Supplements to Maximize the Benefits of Medication

2008-01-14T15:35:00.000-08:00

Today, half of the U.S. population takes prescription medications to help safeguard health. But some doctors say that certain drugs might actually be robbing people of vital nutrients, causing serious side effects. According to medical expert Hyla Cass, M.D., taking one or more prescription drugs every day for any period of time could cause people to experience additional symptoms that are considered "part of the disease."

In her new book, "Supplement Your Prescription: What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutrition" (Basic Health Publications), Dr. Cass explains the nutrient depletion side effects of the most commonly prescribed drugs. She then provides nutritional supplement guidelines.

(read more)

Soy Linked to Less Belly Fat in Post-Menopausal Women

2008-01-14T15:31:00.000-08:00

A daily soy supplement may prevent abdominal fat increases in post-menopausal women, suggests a new study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Women receiving a daily soy shake experienced reductions in their subcutaneous abdominal fat, while women receiving a casein placebo experienced gains in fat around their waist and abdomen.

( read more)

Fatworld Game Released

2008-01-14T15:15:00.000-08:00

Ian Bogost's games often have a serious undertone despite the not-so-serious presentation. It's part of what makes them so popular. His new game, which has been released today, is no different and uses a cartoony style to cover up an attempt to provide a serious examination of obesity in gamers.

Persuasive Games, Ian's studio, has just released FatWorld, a game which Ian describes as "Animal Crossing meets Super Size Me".

( read more)