Category Archives: Food Supplements

By Pam Stuppy

The supplement market has expanded in leaps and bounds over the past few decades as consumers search for magic bullets toward better health. Glimpses of possible health contributions from assorted substances have led to more and more supplemental products, each promoting their contribution towards a potentially better quality of life and/or greater longevity. This market expansion and the health messages provided by supplement manufacturers have resulted in greater consumer confusion about the need for supplemental products.

Some of the vitamins and minerals that appear in supplemental products have been studied over a number of years for their benefits to our bodies. What researchers are exploring currently, however, are numerous other substances found in plant-based foods that work alone or more often synergistically with each other and/or vitamins and minerals. Think of it as a team working for your health. You may see terms such as phytonutrients or phytochemicals to describe these substances.

Whereas supplements contain limited numbers of nutritional substances, less processed food sources contain thousands of these phytonutrients, and there are probably many more we have yet to discover. One of the largest categories of phytonutrients is flavonoids. More than 6,000 different flavonoids have been identified to date.

Phytonutrients are found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices and some beverages. A few examples of their potential benefits would be protecting our bodies from tissue damage, reducing the risk of chronic diseases and promoting maximal body functioning.

Another point of confusion for consumers is the marketing of some food products. Because we are learning that phytonutrients are important for health, some foods are being promoted as superfoods. Measuring the antioxidant capacity of foods (as in the ORAC system) has been one way of establishing a hierarchy of foods. Such criteria are often the rationale behind the promotion of some known and also exotic foods.

These laboratory assays can give us a little information about a foods health benefits, but antioxidant capacity is only one of numerous possible functions of the broad range of phytonutrients. We need to also look at how these substances operate in a body rather than just in a test tube and research has a long way to go before we have these answers. Until then, consuming a wide variety of plant-based foods would be a good goal.

Does this mean that supplements should not play a role in our health? Yes and no. We know that supplements are not a replacement for a healthy diet. A poor diet with added supplements can still result in poor health. That being said, individual vitamins and minerals may be warranted for people with certain medical issues, those who have had surgeries related to the intestinal tract, those taking medications that interfere with nutrient uptake, or people who are otherwise unable to consume adequate food intake.

When it comes to most nutrients, there is a window of benefit between consuming too little and too much. We know that deficiencies can cause problems but in some instances so can overconsumption. A UL (upper tolerable limit) has been established for most of the vitamins and minerals. Above this amount, there is concern for some negative side effect. Between supplements, fortified foods and beverages and other sources, consumers may be exceeding the UL.

Be aware that the supplement market is not tightly regulated. Some products may contain contaminants, may not contain what they say they contain on the label, may not dissolve appropriately, may contain excessive amounts, may promote unproven benefits and are often costly.

Some vitamins and minerals when consumed at the higher supplemental doses also compete with each other for uptake into the body. They may also interact with or interfere with certain medications. The level of nutrients available in foods is rarely a concern, however.

Some supplements that may be helpful to certain individuals might be vitamin B12, iron, vitamin D, magnesium and calcium. Dietary B12 requires acid in the stomach for availability but the supplemental form does not. Older adults who may have lower stomach acidity or people taking medications that lower stomach acid may want to take B12.

People with iron deficiency anemia could benefit from an iron supplement but this should be monitored because excessive iron is detrimental. Intake of supplemental iron and calcium should be separated by at least four hours.

A supplement of vitamin D may benefit those who get limited sun exposure (such as people living in northern latitudes, those with limited time outdoors or who use sunscreen, people who are overweight, and those with darker pigmented skin). A blood test can determine vitamin D status.

Most people should be able to consume adequate calcium and magnesium for bone health from a healthy diet. If not, the dose of the magnesium supplement should be kept to less than the UL of 350mg/day.

Note that the body cannot take in more than 500mg of calcium at a time, so doses higher than this amount should be split over the day. Calcium carbonate should be taken with meals due to the higher stomach acid needed for absorption. Calcium citrate does not require acidity so is the recommended form for older individuals with lower stomach acidity and for people taking medications that reduce stomach acid. Be aware that some studies of postmenopausal women showed an increased risk of kidney stones with calcium supplement doses over 500mg/day.

So, in answering the question as to whether foods or supplements are better for health, in some cases it may be a balance between the two. Ideally, a healthy diet made up of a variety of less processed foods, with special emphasis on those that are plant-based, should be the foundation for securing the wide range of nutrients needed for health.

Pam Stuppy, MS, RD, CSSD, LD, is a registered, licensed dietitian with nutrition counseling offices in York, Maine, and Portsmouth. She is also the nutritionist for Phillips Exeter Academy, presents workshops nationally, and is board certified as a specialist in sports dietetics. Visit http://www.pamstuppynutrition.com for nutrition information, healthy cooking tips and recipe ideas.

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Foods or supplements for maximal health? - News - fosters.com ... - Foster's Daily Democrat

Our late Rottweiler mix, Lucy, was diagnosed with chronic hip dysplasia when she was only 4 years old. After researching ways to help her I learned that joint supplements containing the ingredients chondroitin and glucosamine seem to help some dogs with joint issues. Following a discussion with my veterinarian, I started Lucy on two pills a day. I dont know if they helped her, but she joined us on walks and hikes until we finally lost her at age 15.

Now we think that our 10-year-old border collie mix, Jason, is showing signs of arthritis. Once the vet confirms this, well ask if we should put him on the same supplements we used for Lucy? Were not alone in considering the use of pet supplements. According to market researcher Packaged Facts, projected retail sales for pet supplements and nutraceutical treats in the U.S. are expected to grow through 2017, to an estimated $1.6 billion.

The National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) describes pet supplements as products that are intended to complement the diet and help support and maintain a normal biological function. Products range from multivitamins for overall health to targeted formulas that claim to alleviate joint problems or canine cognitive dysfunction.

The most commonly used pet supplements are multivitamins, joint supplements and fatty acids. Veterinary experts agree that glucosamine/chondroitin supplements if they are of good quality, may have modest benefits in some animals with arthritis. And fish oil supplements may be beneficial for pets with certain medical conditions, such as heart disease, kidney disease and cancer. However, even these common supplements have potential side effects and are not right for every dog and cat with these conditions. As for multivitamin supplements, veterinary experts say that pets do not need these unless they are on a nutritionally unbalanced diet.

A healthy dog and cat on a well-regulated commercial pet food that has been carefully designed by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist will be getting all the vitamins and minerals they need, said Laura Eirmann, a veterinary nutritionist at Oradell Animal Hospital. Complete and balanced pet foods are made to give pets the right amount of nutrients and adding more could be harmful to your pet Eirmann said. For example, giving too much calcium to a large breed puppy can lead to skeletal diseases.

Eirmann advises that pet owners always speak with their primary care veterinarian before adding a supplement to their pets diet. This is especially important because unlike drugs, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not review supplements for efficacy, safety or quality before they are put on the market. Drug manufacturers must prove that a drug is safe and effective before it can be sold to consumers. However, in the case of pet supplements, the FDA has to prove that they are unsafe before they can be pulled off of the market.

Because pet supplements are not regulated its a buyer beware area, Eirmann said.

Dogs and cats handle food items differently than we do. Just because a supplement is advertised as natural, that doesnt mean it is safe for our pets.

In her article Dietary Supplements for Pets: Harmful or Helpful? Lisa M. Freeman, a veterinary nutritionist, and professor at Tufts University Cummings Veterinary Medical Center wrote that pets can get sick or even die as a result of dietary supplements. She writes:

Even if the supplement by itself is safe, its use in combination with medications an animal may be taking can cause dangerous interactions. In addition, numerous studies have shown that many supplements have terrible quality control. This means that if you buy a supplement that is supposed to contain 500 mg per tablet, it may contain 500 mg but it also may contain 1000 mg or nothing at all! Some supplements may be contaminated with mercury, lead, or other substances. That doesnt even get into the issues of supplement tablets that dont dissolve appropriately (which means they wont get absorbed).

Eirmann said there is evidence that some supplements can help pets. In fact, her 15 -year-old golden retriever, Sprocket, is taking a supplement that contains SAMe and Silybin, proven to support certain types of liver disease. In addition to speaking with a veterinarian, Eirmanns advice to anyone interested in adding supplements to their pets diet is to do extensive research. Find out if the company manufacturing the supplements has done any studies and if those studies are applicable to your particular pet.

If youre doing the research online, dont rely solely on testimonials or company marketing materials, Eirmann said. You want to know if a product is safe and if it is effective. Your veterinarian is the expert so ask before making a final decision on using a product.

Source: Laura Eirmann, a veterinary nutritionist at Oradell Animal Hospital

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

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Do Our Pets Really Benefit From Supplements? Here's What the Experts Have to Say - Care2.com

If you want to drop those extra pounds that always make you feel uncomfortable, there are umpteen ways to try now. While you may be tempted to go for quick fixes and easy solutions, you need to be thoughtful and knowledgeable about what approach you take towards weight loss. Some methods may be rewarding, whereas others may end up harming you.

If you think of supplements and herbal remedies, you may find many mixed reviews. When it comes to alternative medicines, some are proven to be effective, whereas others have no scientific backing at all. That is why you should always discuss with your physician before you try anything.

FDA has cracked down the facts about some traditional weight loss supplements. There are many dietary supplements, which are primarily treated as food supplements to promote weight loss. Lets further discuss a few such supplements that can help you lose weight effectively.

It is a sugar variant, which is derived from the hard outer shell of crabs, shrimp, and lobsters. Some studies have shown that Chitosan is effective in blocking fat from getting absorbed by the body in the form of cholesterol.

Even though the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health states that this supplement is effective in weight loss, no concrete proof has yet been presented. Chitosan does not cause long-term side effects, but some people reported upset stomach and constipation.

You can see many mixed Garcinia cambogia and apple cider vinegar reviews online. Garcinia cambogia is basically a tropical fruit, which is also called Malabar tamarind. It is said to have effects in blocking the bodys ability to make fat and curb appetite. It also keeps the sugar and cholesterol levels in check.

Apple cider vinegar helps in decreasing obesity and helps the body to regulate metabolism and maintain fitness. In many cases, reduction of waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio is observed with regular use of apple cider vinegar.

It is another popular supplement that contains the fatty acid known as linoleic acid. It is proven to have positive effects in curbing the body fat and help individuals feel full. It is said that consumption of about 1.8 to 6.8 grams of CLA a day may strengthen muscles and reduce body fat.

This supplement is made from konjac plant. Like any dietary fiber, Glucomannan also helps you lose weight by effectively blocking fat absorption in the body. You can find Glucomannan in the form of capsule or powder. It also to be noted that Glucomannan may make it hard to absorb other medications. So, you need to consume other medicine either an hour before or four hours after taking Glucomannan.

Many other natural supplements are effective in weight loss such as green tea extract, green coffee extract, Guar Gum, Hoodia, 7-Keto-DHEA, Ephedra. However, always ensure that you discuss it in detail with your healthcare provider before trying out any of these.

Kenny Weiss is a naturopathy expert and dietitian who works for a leading alternative health care practice in the United States. After carrying out several studies, he posted many Garcinia cambogia and apple cider vinegar reviews online.

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Handy Weight Loss Supplements and Herbs for Delightful Results - Times Square Chronicles (press release) (registration)

We always want the best for our family pets and the best in this case is a natural diet along with a little help with selection of supplements.

Within this category you will find a weed and flowers seeds which will allow you to grow your own tortoise food at home, if cultivated correctly you could all most have an endless supply.

You will also find available a selection of diet supplements including Vitamins & Calcium, which help your pet tortoise fight against the signs of MBD.

All food sources on our website are suitable for the Mediterranean breeds.

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Food & Supplements - Tortoise Food - The Tortoise Shop Ltd

Strawberries used to be a summer treat an expensive luxury that appeared only when Wimbledon was on one of the three TV channels available. Nowadays of course, with the advent of polytunnels and increased consumer demand they are available twelve months of the year. Delicious with a spot of cream.

But soon you might be eating another type of strawberry the seeds. A recent paper published in the journal LWT Food Science and Technology titled Defatted strawberry seeds as a source of phenolics, dietary fiber and minerals suggests that strawberry seeds could be the next thing to hit the health food market.

The food supplement industry in the UK is big business which might be surprising as the UK was described in some media reports as the fat man of Europe in 2016. According to the United Nation report, the UK has the highest levels of obesity in Western Europe.

But, that didnt stop the UK consumers spending over 400 million on vitamins and supplements each year. Almost 65% of us take some form of vitamins or supplements daily adding up to a lot of pills. As the market matures it changes, and rather than take a cure-all we are increasingly taking targeted supplements whether age-related or targeted at some specific benefit.

So, where do strawberry seeds fit into this market?

The researchers from Lodz University of Technology in Poland were interested in the nutrients that could be found in strawberry seeds. Seeds from other plants sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, sesame seeds and chia seeds have been shown to be full of micronutrients that we can struggle to get from other food sources. Plus, seeds are full of protein, essential fats, minerals and dietary fibre all without putting weight on.

The researchers analysed seeds from three consecutive harvests by separating the seeds from the flesh and juice and then defatting the seeds using carbon dioxide. Seeds are defatted as they are easier to analyse for nutrients. They then carried out tests to measure the protein content, total dietary fibre and polyphenols in the seeds.

The researchers found that the seeds comprised mainly of dietary fibre with almost 74% of the seeds weight comprised of fibre. Proteins made up almost 17% of the seeds weight. They used liquid chromatography to measure the quantity of polyphenols in the seeds which they found to be around 1.7% of the seeds weight. The use of chromatography to analyse fruit and veg is discussed in this article, LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS Multi Residue Pesticide Analysis in Fruit and Vegetable Extracts on a Single Tandem Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer.

With their high fibre and protein content, the authors suggest that strawberry seeds could have a potential for use as a food supplement which is great news for manufacturers who make strawberry juice as the seeds are a waste product.

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Can Strawberry Seeds Be Used as Food Supplements? - Chromatography Today

Exposure to pyrrolizidine alkaloids in food, in particular for frequent and high consumers of tea and herbal infusions, is a possible long-term concern for human health due to their potential carcinogenicity, say EFSAs experts.

The consumption of food supplements based on pyrrolizidine alkaloid-producing plants could also result in exposure levels causing short-term toxicity resulting in adverse health effects.

EFSA has updated its 2011 advice on the risks for human and animal health from pyrrolizidine alkaloids, a large group of toxins produced by different plant species that can unintentionally enter the food chain.

The European Commission requested the updated risk assessment, which takes account of exposure estimates using more recent data on the levels of these toxins in honey, tea, herbal infusions and food supplements.

In 2011 EFSA concluded there were possible long-term health concerns for toddlers and children who are high consumers of honey, the only food category for which sufficient data were then available.

EFSAs experts identified 17 pyrrolizidine alkaloids in food and feed that should continue to be monitored and recommended further studies on the toxicity and carcinogenicity of those most commonly found in food.

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Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in tea, herbal infusions and food supplements - EU News

Q: Lately my blood pressure has been really high, so I started taking medication, which seems to be working. But I think the cause is stress, since my diet is good and I work out regularly. What else can I do to lower my blood pressure and maybe even stop taking the meds? Kevin H., Davenport, La.

A: Just recognizing that you need to take steps to reduce your stress response is really commendable. According to the American Psychological Association, around 24 percent of adults say that they experience extreme stress and identify their main stressors as money and work; this year, family, personal health/health of a family member and the economy rounded out the top six triggers. Fortunately, there's a lot you can do to improve your stress responses.

If you're open to new ideas, let us introduce you to some ancient arts that have astoundingly groundbreaking benefits: yoga, meditation and tai chi. You'll love them.

An interesting new study analyzed how these sorts of mind-body interventions can change your stress response on a molecular level! The researchers, writing in Frontiers of Immunology, looked at 18 different studies that covered about 850 subjects over 11 years and found that mind-body interventions "reverse the molecular reactions in our DNA which cause ill-health and depression."

Seems mind-body interventions are turning genes on and off (epigenetic changes), and that affects the biological makeup of the body, the brain and the immune system. It also reduces chronic inflammation associated with stress inflammation that ups your risk for all kinds of diseases, from cancer to diabetes.

So if you want to reverse your feelings of stress, anger, insomnia, frustration and body-related discomfort like muscle- and headache, and undo the epigenetic changes that amp up your stress and increase your risk for a wide variety of health woes, check out the meditation guides at http://www.sharecare.com and find a local tai chi or yoga instructor. Om-m-m my, you will see a difference in your outlook and your future.

Q: I keep hearing about the goodness of vitamin D, but what should I eat more of? Are supplements useful or not? Katie G., Boston

A: In truth, vitamin D is more hormone than vitamin! A hormone regulates the activity of certain cells or organs and often works on more than one physical process: D maintains blood levels of calcium and phosphorus by enhancing absorption of D in food and supplements through the small intestines. And D regulates over 200 genes, as well as blood pressure in the kidney and blood glucose in the pancreas, while keeping abnormal cells from multiplying in breast and colon tissue. D also appears to help regulate the immune system.

There are two important forms of vitamin D you should know about ergocalciferol (vitamin D-2), which is made by plants, and cholecalciferol (vitamin D-3), which is made by your skin in response to exposure to sunlight. (D-3 is first converted by the liver and then the kidneys before becoming biologically active calcitriol in your body.) A new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says D-3 is what you want to make sure you get enough of.

The researchers say: "Those who consume D-3 through fish (we like salmon and ocean trout) or vitamin D-3-containing supplements are twice as likely to raise their vitamin D status than when consuming vitamin D-2 rich foods such as mushrooms, vitamin D-2-fortified bread or vitamin D-2 supplements."

Your move: Get 10 minutes of exposure to sunlight daily (that's enough to crank up the D-3 machine to ample levels) without sunscreen; then put it on! Enjoy D-3-packin' foods like fermented soy and supplemented functional foods like almond and walnut milk. Aim to get the recommended 600 IU of vitamin D-3 a day: Most of you will need a D-3 supplement. Your goal is to reach a blood level of 35 to 80 ng/ml; ask your doc for a blood test.

Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of "The Dr. Oz Show," and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen at youdocsdaily@sharecare.com.

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Stress relief through mind-body interventions; the ABCs of vitamin D - The Garden City Telegram

WASHINGTON, D.C. The Natural Products Association (NPA) on Wednesday responded to the findings of a study in the Journal of Medical Toxicology that it says exaggerates the risk of dietary supplements and ignores their superior safety record when compared to other products regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The study, An Increase in Dietary Supplement Exposures Reported to US Poison Control Centers, reported that U.S. Poison Control Centers receive a call every 24 minutes, regarding exposure to a supplement. The study was conducted by Center for Injury Research and Policy and the Central Ohio Poison Center, both at Nationwide Childrens Hospital.

The study found the rate of calls regarding dietary supplement exposures increased by 46.1% during 2000 to 2002, decreased 8.8% during 2002 to 2005 and increased again by 49.3% from 2005 to 2012. The decrease from 2002 to 2005 most likely resulted from the FDAs ban of the botanical stimulant ma huang previously found in some dietary supplements, according to Science Daily.

The dietary supplements with the highest proportion of serious medical outcomes were energy products, botanical and cultural medicines, researchers reported. Within the botanical category, yohimbe accounted for the largest proportion of serious medical outcomes at 28.2%.

Adverse events from supplements are extremely low given their widespread usage, and most of these are the result of three factors: accidents, people not consulting with their doctor, or misuse of a product combined with other health factors. Supplements are safe, which is why millions of Americans use them every day, said Dan Fabricant, Ph.D., President and CEO of NPA. The laws that regulate supplements require official reporting of adverse events so that the regulators, the health care community and others can review the data and make informed public policy decisions.

Specifically, NPA pointed out:

The FDA website describes its Safety and Reporting Portal as a convenient, secure, and efficient method for letting FDA know when industry or consumers finds a problem with a dietary supplement.

NPA said adverse event reporting is significantly higher for other products:

The Center for Responsible Nutrition, another industry trade group, has lobbied Congress to more fully fund the FDAs Office of Dietary Supplements to give it the enforcement wherewithal to keep so-called bad actors off the market.

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NPA Challenges Study on Supplement Safety - WholeFoods Magazine

WASHINGTON The Council for Responsible Nutrition on Tuesday announced the addition of 11 new companies to the associations membership roster.

These companies include voting members Before Brands, Biova, Life Line Foods, Natrol, Nutrawise, Pharma Tech Industries, Shanghai Freemen and Trident Brands and associate members Michael Schaeffer, LLC, Natural Partners and SRQ-Bio.

Before Brands is a consumer product company that will soon launch an innovative line of dietary supplements enabling young families to take a proactive approach with nutrition and food allergens. Biova markets water-soluble egg membrane ingredients. And Life Line Foods specializes in the manufacturing of liquid minerals, liquid vitamins and liquid specialty nutrient formulas through Buried Treasure, their nutraceutical division.

Natrol has been a leading manufacturer of vitamins, minerals, and supplements for more than 35 years and is dedicated to empowering consumers to Own Your Health with the help of their top-selling products: melatonin, 5-HTP and biotin. Nutrawise is a leading manufacturer of health and wellness supplements including the line of youtheory products. Pharma Tech Industries is a family-owned-and-operated pharmaceutical contract manufacturing organization.

Shanghai Freemen offers ingredients and solutions to enhance the performance, taste and nutritional benefits of some of the world's most celebrated brands. And Trident Brands is a U.S. public company specializing in the functional food, supplement and active nutrition categories with an exclusive license to manufacture Everlast branded active nutrition products and supplements in North America.

New associate members include Michael Schaeffer, which provides consultation, professional and technical services for the natural products industry with an emphasis in dietary supplement label review, product formulation, international product registration and overall support to companies which market or distribute dietary supplements. Natural Partners is a resource for health care practitioners who strive to improve patient wellness by providing education and professional-grade products. And SRQ-Bio is a Florida-based research organization equipped to support ingredient/product integrity and safety with qualitative and quantitative identity testing, and screening for GMO and pesticides.

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CRN announces addition of 11 new companies to membership roster - Drug Store News

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According to the NHS, it helps to turn the food we eat into energy, and ensures that parathyroid glands - which produce hormones essential for bone health - work normally.

The mineral is also important for maintaining heart health and blood sugar control.

Its present in many foods, such as green leafy vegetables, nuts, brown rice, fish, wholegrain bread, meat, dairy, peanut butter and soy milk.

However, many people dont consume enough through dietary sources.

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According to the NHS, the amount of magnesium you need a day if youre between 19 and 64 years includes 300mg for men and 270mg for women.

For example, its estimated that 80 per cent of Americans are deficient.

Signs of this include inability to sleep, sensitivity to noise, anxiety, muscle soreness and infertility.

It means that many people need to rely on magnesium supplements to top up adequately.

According to the NHS, the amount of magnesium you need a day if youre between 19 and 64 years includes 300mg for men and 270mg for women.

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A-Z of vitamins and minerals

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This is less than in the US where the National Institutes of Healths Office of Dietary Supplements recommend 400 to 420mg for men and 310 to 320mg for women.

Sometimes doctors may prescribe more to pregnant women or others with a particular condition.

However, just like vitamin C, it is possible to consume too much.

The NHS state: Taking high doses of magnesium - more than 400mg - for a short time can cause diarrhoea.

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If you take magnesium supplements, don't take too much as this could be harmful.

The Office for Dietary Supplements highlights another health issue too much magnesium can cause.

Technically known as hypermagnesemia, it occurs when theres too much magnesium in the blood.

Its rare because the kidneys usually work to get rid of excess magnesium, however people with kidney disease, heart disease and gastrointestinal disorders are at a higher risk.

It can cause nausea and vomiting, lethargy, muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, urine retention, respiratory distress and cardiac arrest, according to the Office for Dietary Supplements.

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Magnesium warning: Too much of the supplement could trigger cardiac arrest - Express.co.uk