Surprising Anti-Allergy Factors

Allergic rhinitis, commonly known as “hay fever” and “seasonal allergies,” has been steadily increasing around the world, putting a damper on people’s quality of life due to symptoms and treatment cost. So, understanding the causes of rhinitis is an important research goal.

Benefits of pets, siblings, and farms
To look at this question, researchers questioned 8,486 adults, aged 20 to 40, from 13 countries, about their childhoods and their current respiratory health. After nine years, the study participants completed these questionnaires again and also were asked whether and when they developed nasal allergies or hay fever.

After taking into account other things that may affect allergies, including family history of allergies and whether their parents smoked, the researchers identified several childhood factors linked with later developing allergies:

• Contact with children, either siblings or in daycare, decreased the risk of developing allergies.
  The more siblings a person had, the lower his or her likelihood of developing rhinitis.

• Sharing a bedroom with an older sibling was protective against developing allergies.

• Having pets in the home or living on a farm as a child significantly decreased the likelihood of developing allergies.

• Having a mother who smoked while they were in utero and when they were a child increased allergy risk.

• Women had fewer allergies than men as kids, but more allergies as adults.

The balance between clean and not-so-clean
Some of these results may be surprising because they suggest that childhood exposure to more “dirt and germs” can keep allergies at bay. On the other hand, other studies suggest that for children growing up in urban environments, being exposed to urban pests such as cockroaches may increase allergy and asthma risk. Read on for tips on finding the right “balance of clean” to keep your family healthy.

Butt out. If you smoke, talk to your doctor about ways to quit. Using aids such as certain prescription medications, the nicotine patch or gum, and support groups significantly increases the likelihood of success, and your child’s health is a great motivator to quit.

Ponder a pet. If your child has been begging for a pet, don’t let the “dirt and germ factor” dissuade you. Of course, only consider adding a pet to your family if you know you can care for it properly, and pick one that fits your lifestyle. For example, cats tend to be lower maintenance than dogs.

Find a farm. Periodically taking your child out to a farm to see where our food comes from is a terrific learning experience, and it may just offer the added benefit of reducing your child’s risk of developing allergies.

Share bedrooms. Some parents of kids who have to share bedrooms feel they aren’t giving their kids the best of everything. But having siblings share a bedroom may be one of the best ways to allergy-proof your little ones.

By Suzanne Dixon, MPH, MS, RD

“B” Smart for Brain Health

From misplaced car keys to the forgotten name of a new acquaintance, “senior moments” affect all of us from time to time. Fortunately, there may be something we can do to sharpen our brains as we age. Even better, this small action—making sure we get enough of certain B vitamins—may be particularly helpful for those affected by depression, a condition that can negatively affect brain performance.

Boosting the Brain
To study how folic acid and vitamin B12 affect brain function, researchers randomly selected 909 older adults with symptoms of depression to receive a supplement providing 400 mcg of folic acid and 100 mcg of vitamin B12 or a placebo (no vitamins) pill. Participants completed phone questionnaires and tests to measure their thinking (cognitive) function at the beginning of the study and 12 and 24 months later.

Compared with the group not taking folic acid and vitamin B12, certain measures of thinking function significantly improved in those who received supplements:
Overall score on a test of cognitive function. Immediate memory, which is the ability to remember small amounts of information over a few seconds to minutes. Delayed memory, which is the ability to remember events or information after a time delay or from the past.

There were no differences between the groups in other aspects of cognitive function, such as attention and processing speed.

B Vitamins and Beyond
This study suggests older adults with symptoms of depression may benefit from a folic acid and vitamin B12 supplement, but these vitamins will not work miracles by themselves. In addition to getting your “Bs,” there are many things you can do keep your brain sharp as you age.

Seek support. If you feel down, depressed, or unable to enjoy your life, talk to your doctor. It may feel hard to accept help, but depression can be a medical condition, just like diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. You’d accept medical care for these issues, and you should for mental health too. Manage total health. If you have other chronic health conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, make sure you’re taking medications as prescribed and following your doctor’s advice about other self-care measures. These conditions not only affect blood flow in the body, they can affect blood flow to your brain. Poor blood flow means poorer brain function.

Get social. Having an active social life is associated with better brain function. Feeling part of a group and enjoying common interests improves health, especially as we age. Volunteer. “It’s better to give than to get” is never truer than when it comes to brain health. Volunteering improves both physical and mental health. Find a cause you’re passionate about—walking dogs at the local shelter, serving meals in a soup kitchen, visiting with the homebound—and lend a hand. Move more. If possible, get some physical activity every day. Even 30 minutes of walking is enough to improve brain and body health.

By Suzanne Dixon, MPH, MS, RD

Tainted Supplements vs. the FDA on Dr. Oz – Emerson Responds

On January 18th, Tainted Supplements: Where do they come from? aired on Dr. Oz show as part of his Tainted Supplements vs. the FDA series. As a part of this story, members of Dr. Oz staff went undercover and discovered that five out of five weightloss supplements that they bought tested positive for sibutramine, an ingredient in prescription obesity drugs that was banned because it caused heart attacks, strokes and seizures. In addition, one of the five tested positive for the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (Cipro). The Dr. Oz show reviewed these findings and, with guests Jim Kababick of Flora Labs and Peter Cohen of Harvard Medical School, raised some significant concern regarding spiked dietary supplements. The conclusion of the show was that there is a large, unscrupulous and profitable part of the “dietary supplement industry” that traffics in such products, making extravagant claims to consumers, such as promising rapid weight loss, without regard to, or interest in, public health or safety.

FDA regulation
While the issue of spiked and therefore adulterated dietary supplements is a serious one that merits attention, it is important to keep this issue in perspective. First, in contrast to the belief held by many, dietary supplements are federally regulated under 21 CFR part 111. These regulations prohibit product adulteration.

While the FDA enforces 21 CFR Part 111 and the dietary supplement industry has several ways in which they self-regulate, there are still some ‘bad actors’ that do not follow the regulations and have escaped federal and industry scrutiny. This situation exists in part due to insufficient resources on the part of the FDA to regularly inspect all dietary supplement manufacturers. Of note, the FDA has stepped up its auditing activities over the past couple of years and has successfully identified several of these unscrupulous manufacturers. It is also true that supplements do not require pre-market approval, but rather are regulated once they are in the marketplace. At that point, the FDA’s job is to identify and remove dangerous products from the market.

Emerson Ecologics safeguards
Emerson Ecologics has reduced the likelihood of carrying products spiked with pharmaceutical drugs due to several safeguards that we have in place. These include:

1. We stay current with industry adulterants and adulterated products and avoid carrying these high risk products.

2. We review all labels of new products for any suspicious or exaggerated claims or ingredients. This is particularly true for products in the categories of weight loss, muscle building and sexual enhancement.

3. We require certificates of analysis for products that we have identified as being at risk for containing spiked ingredients. We periodically verify these certificates of analysis at one of our independent qualified laboratories.

4. We have established the Emerson Quality Program (EQP) which provides our customers with an added layer of credibility to the already reputable professionally recognized lines of products that we carry. The EQP validates participating brands’ quality via a rigorous quality review that includes document audits, on-site audits and product analytical testing at qualified independent labs. Upon successful completion, the participating brand is noted by a seal as an EQP Partner, EQP Silver Partner, or EQP Gold Partner.

• The EQP Partner has demonstrated rigorous raw ingredient and supplier qualification processes, and analytical testing for identity, purity and potency that is compliant with the dietary supplement regulations, 21 CFR Part 111.
• The EQP Silver Partner meets the qualifications of Partner and additionally demonstrates the use of the most accurate and sensitive testing methodologies for all purity tests, and conducts full potency testing of active ingredients in finished products using risk-based skip lot testing.
• The EQP Gold Partner meets the qualifications of the Silver Partner and ensures that each lot of finished products have been fully tested for all adulterants and contaminants, has a real time stability program in place to verify the expiration date, and has evidence of environmentally sustainable practices and product research and development.

Through all of these activities, Emerson has provided its customers with several layers of added quality assurance. Visit our quality page (emersonecologics.com/quality) to learn more about the EQP and the quality practices of our EQP partners.

Get Over Your Cold Faster

Taking zinc lozenges could shorten the duration of the pesky infection by up to 42%.  While there is still no cure for the common cold – mainly because there is not just one cold virus, but hundreds of different types - taking zinc lozenges could shorten the duration of the pesky infection by up to 42%, according to a review published in The Open Respiratory Medicine Journal.

Super nutrient
Zinc is a mineral with a host of roles in the human body, from supporting fertility and proper growth and development to boosting immune function. A deficiency of zinc can make the body more prone to infections. In developing countries where deficiencies of the nutrient are more common, supplementing with zinc helps prevent the common cold, diarrhea, and pneumonia in children.

Fact or fiction?
Some people maintain that zinc lozenges help keep their colds in check, but skeptics argue that evidence for their use is lacking.

In an attempt to sort out the confusion over whether zinc can really help clear up the common cold more quickly, investigators from the Department of Public Health at the University of Helsinki, Finland conducted a review of studies published on the topic.

Thirteen trials were included in the analysis: five trials used zinc lozenges providing less than 75 mg of elemental zinc per day, and eight studies used lozenges that provided more than 75 mg of zinc per day; three used zinc acetate, and five used other forms of zinc.

None of the studies using less than 75 mg of zinc per day had an effect on the duration of the common cold. However, in seven of the eight studies using more than 75 mg of zinc per day, cold durations were significantly shorter.

Zinc acetate seemed to have the most profound effect on shortening the common cold, with a 42% reduction in the number of sick days. Other forms of zinc lozenges also helped people get better faster, shortening the duration of the cold by 20%.

Some people don’t like the taste of zinc lozenges and others may develop nausea from them, but there have not been reports of long-term side effects associated with their use. “More research is needed on zinc lozenges to find optimal lozenge compositions and treatment strategies,” commented the study’s authors.

Best bets for cold season
When you feel the familiar signals of an impending cold, try these tips to nip it in the bud for a faster return to your healthy self.

Moisturize your insides
Viruses like the ones that cause the common cold thrive in dry environments. Dry air also takes a toll on the mucous membranes, worsening a sore throat and nasal congestion. Use a vaporizer or humidifier to add moisture to the air, but make sure to clean it regularly and use new water each day. Also, keep up the fluids to breathe easier and prevent dehydration.

Give zinc lozenges a try. Look for zinc acetate and aim for a total of at least 75 mg per day.

By Kimberly Beauchamp, ND

Too Heavy? Try Getting Your Grape On

Resveratrol and other nutrients may be of greatest benefit when part of a healthy, balanced diet and an overall weight reduction plan Obesity increases a person’s risk for serious disease including diabetes, and while previous studies have shown that a big cut in calories may help prevent disease and increase a person’s lifespan, few people are able to make such drastic change. A study in Cell Metabolism suggests that taking the plant chemical resveratrol—found in red grapes and wine—may have similar effects as cutting calories and lead to health benefits in obese people. 

 Read More

Barley Fiber Improves Blood Sugar Control

Previous studies have shown that beta-glucan from oats, oat bran, barley, and barley bran lowers cholesterol levels

Fiber is known to be one of the most important dietary factors for healthy blood sugar regulation and diabetes prevention. A study in Nutrition and Metabolism supports this, finding that a drink made with a soluble fiber derived from barley, called barley beta-glucan, improved the body’s responsiveness to insulin and improved blood sugar control in people with mildly elevated blood glucose levels.

Fifty overweight or obese adults who had high blood glucose levels but did not meet the criteria for type 2 diabetes participated in the new study. They were coached in therapeutic lifestyle changes with a goal of weight maintenance, and were assigned to receive flavored drinks providing 6 grams per day of barley beta-glucan, 3 grams per day of barley beta glucan, or placebo for 12 weeks.

Read More

Olive Oil’s Potentially Positive Heart Health Effects

Olive oil has become well known as a “healthy” fat when included as part of a balanced and healthy diet

By Jane Hart, MD

Olive oil, when included in a healthy diet, has been linked to important health benefits, and now a study in Clinical Nutrition suggests that a daily dose of olive oil may be one important dietary option for heart and vascular disease prevention.

Olive oil may reduce heart disease risk factors

Prior studies have suggested that plant chemicals in olive oil, known as polyphenols, may help reduce risk factors for heart disease. This study looked at a particular aspect of that protection: the effect of olive oil on blood fats (lipids).

In this study, 200 healthy men were randomly assigned to three, three-week interventions of 25 ml per day of olive oil with low (2.7 mg per kg), medium (164 mg per kg), or high (336 mg per kg) content of olive oil polyphenols. Blood levels of various markers were measured before and after each intervention. Read More

How to Avoid Arsenic and Still Enjoy Juice

Diluting juice with water can lower the amount of juice your kids drink

By Suzanne Dixon, MPH

Following reports by famed Dr. Mehmet Oz indicating that some apple juices exceed the drinking water safety limits for arsenic, Consumer Reports conducted tests that confirmed these findings: Approximately 10% of 88 apple and grape juice samples tested contained more than 10 ppb of arsenic. Arsenic levels are a concern because exposure may increase the risk of short- and long-term health problems, especially in kids, who, with their smaller size, are especially vulnerable and are often given juice. Fortunately, a few precautions can go a long way toward keeping your family safe. Read More

Think Fiber First for Healthier Teens

By Suzanne Dixon, MPH, MS, RD

This study suggests a strong connection between a healthy, fiber-rich diet and lower risk of metabolic syndrome in teens

Metabolic syndrome describes a condition in which a person has three or more risk factors for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke—including high blood pressure, high fat in the blood (triglycerides), low HDL (“good”) cholesterol, high blood sugar, and carrying excess weight around the belly and upper body (a high waist circumference). While metabolic syndrome may seem like an “adult” problem, the condition can affect teens too, leading to serious health concerns later. Fortunately, some simple moves toward a healthier diet may reduce the risk of this condition among kids.

Fiber, fat, and nutrient density

To look at how diet affects the risk of metabolic syndrome in 12- to 19-year-old boys and girls, researchers collected nutrition surveys from 2,128 kids and identified who had metabolic syndrome. Some interesting results on the connections between diet and the risk of metabolic syndrome in adolescents came out of this study:

70% of the teens had at least one risk factor for the condition and 6.4% (138 out of 2,128) of the teens had metabolic syndrome. The biggest factor seemed to point to fiber consumption, as teens who ate the most had the lowest risk of metabolic syndrome: Read More

Dietary Supplement Industry Calls for Overhaul of FDA’s NDI Draft Guidance

—Industry associations join together to request revisions and a more reasonable guidance—

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 6, 2011—The dietary supplement industry’s trade associations—the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the Natural Products Association (NPA), and the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA)—joined together to call for an overhaul of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Draft Guidance for Industry: Dietary Supplements: New Dietary Ingredient Notifications and Related Issues, which in its current form undermines both the letter of the law and the intent of the Dietary Supplement Health & Education Act  (DSHEA) of 1994.

The Draft Guidance issued by FDA in July, if implemented and enforced by FDA, would burden industry,  placing unreasonable  requirements on business, especially smaller firms, and create unreasonable barriers of entry for newer market entrants, without any related benefits for consumers, according to the five industry trade associations. While the groups submitted separate comments to reflect their own membership priorities, the five associations stressed that FDA should focus on the common themes in their respective submissions, rather than look for points of disparity as indicating any substantive differences of opinion among the groups. “We are all committed to seeing a substantial overhaul of the draft guidance and are united in our common belief that the document is overreaching and contravenes DSHEA,” the five associations announced jointly.