Do You Need Vitamin D Supplements?

in ,

There has been a spike in the number of people taking high-dose Vitamin D supplements and when we say high dose, this means intake of more than 1,000 IU. Deficiency in vitamin D can be a factor for increasing your risk to various health issues like depression, type 2 diabetes, heart problems, and bone fractures to name a few. And due to these worrisome risks, there has been a reported increase in vitamin D screening and use of the supplement for older adults beyond the age of 60.

A Doctor’s Take on Vitamin D

According to an associate professor of geriatrics and palliative medicine, Dr. Audrey Chun, “Having low or deficient levels is not part of normal aging, however, it is very common.” She says that the reason behind it is that as people grow older, the less time they spend under the sun which helps to stimulate specialized cells underneath the skin to create vitamin D. Add to this, as we grow older, these specialized cells also become less efficient in the production of vitamin D.

What Scientific Evidence Suggests

Ok, so we have an increasing number of people who have low vitamin D levels which leads to supplementing their diet with said nutrient. This boils down to the ever-important question, is it working? How do we know it’s working? How can we say it’s working?

So, let’s go back to the reasons why people who are deficient in said vitamin want to supplement it in their diet. Essentially, they want their risk factor for diabetes, depression, bone fractures, and other health issues related to low vitamin D to go down, right? Right!

In a review of a variety of clinical trials that studied more than 80,000 individuals with an average age of 66, they found that intake of vitamin D consecutively for a year did not lead to a significant decrease in their risk for low vitamin D related health issues—no significant decrease in risk for stroke or heart attack. And these studies were published in JAMA cardiology.

In another study on 25,000 people, 50 years and older, who had continuously supplemented with Vitamin D for over 5 years did not show any correlation with a decreased incidence of cardiovascular problems or cancer. More importantly, even those people who had low vitamin D levels to start off did not reap any benefit from supplementation.

The majority of people take vitamin D supplements to promote bone health. Sadly, in an analysis of 81 studies published in 2018 showed no evidence that intake of vitamin D supplements led to fracture and fall prevention.

Get Your Vitamin D Naturally

The population can meet normal vitamin D levels without having to supplement. Natural vitamin D can come from a 15-minute sunshine exposure or it can also come from yummy sources like canned tuna, sardines, egg, salmon, and fortified foods like orange juice, cereal, and milk.

Lastly, too much vitamin D is not good or recommended because it may make you more prone to kidney stones.

Inspired by www.consumerreports.org

Add Natural Vitamin D2 and Vitamin D3 to Your Products

GrandFusion® has developed a process to naturally stabilize and concentrate vitamin D2 and vitamin D3 in shiitake mushrooms. Almost all our fruit and vegetable powders contain the shiitake mushrooms to get the vitamin D2 or D3 in every application. Interested in learning more? Check out products page and all our products containing Vitamin D.

[fusion_button link=”/products” text_transform=”” title=”” target=”_self” link_attributes=”” alignment=”left” modal=”” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility” class=”” id=”” color=”default” button_gradient_top_color=”” button_gradient_bottom_color=”” button_gradient_top_color_hover=”” button_gradient_bottom_color_hover=”” accent_color=”” accent_hover_color=”” type=”” bevel_color=”” border_width=”” size=”” stretch=”default” shape=”” icon=”” icon_position=”left” icon_divider=”no” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”left” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_offset=””]View Products[/fusion_button]

 

Supplements or Whole Foods: Which Has Best Long-Term Health Benefits?

in ,

People turn to supplements because they contain a wide variety of vitamins and minerals in a single dose or pill form. And with just one gulp, whether they are hungry or not hungry, have an appetite or not, can still enjoy their daily dose of vitamins and minerals. Another reason for supplements is they that contain all the potent phytophenol that vegetables and fruits of all colors can contain, and this is undeniably more “palatable” for people who don’t like their veggies.

However, emerging research shows that nutrients coming from whole foods have better long-term health benefits. In fact, vitamins in a pill form may not have as many protective benefits as its whole food counterpart.

Supplements vs. Whole Foods

Hands down, supplements DO give health benefits and may have a positive effect on all-cause mortality primarily due to the nutrients they contain. However, all the positive health benefits may partly or largely depend on where you get these nutrients.

In fact, a cancer epidemiologist of Tufts University, Fang Fang Zhang cited that “while supplement use contributes to an increased level of total nutrient intake, there are beneficial associations with nutrients from foods that aren’t seen with supplements.”

Whole Foods for The Win With The Best Long-Term Health Benefits

It was seen that minerals and vitamins coming from whole food sources were linked to a lowered risk of death and heart-related problems.

In the study conducted by Zhang, it was done on a total of 30,000 plus people whose vitamin intake were recorded. Proper levels of copper, zinc, vitamin K, and A were linked to a decreased risk of heart diseases. But the huge eye-opener for them came when the sources for these vitamins were traced, and the results hinged on the sources of these nutrients.

Finally, Zhang concluded that those individuals who got their vitamins from supplements resulted in no reductions to their risk of heart disease. But, for those who got their nutrients from whole foods, enjoyed a lowered risk of cardiovascular diseases as well as all-cause mortality risk. Therefore, where you get your vitamins is crucial to your long-term health benefits.

It Pays to Be Health Conscious

According to Zhang’s analysis of the data from a Gallup 2013 poll, showed that as much as 51.2% of Americans take dietary supplements and as much as 38.3% took them within the last 30 days. Although supplements may not have equal nutritive value to its whole food counterpart, the regimen of taking it is linked to positive traits like the person’s high level of health consciousness. As a result, they are less likely to be obese, drink heavily, or smoke—meaning they are conscious when it comes to lifestyle choices.

Zhang reported that those people who do take supplements generally had a higher baseline nutrient intake than those who did not supplement their diets.

To drive the point of the study once again, multivitamins may be convenient, but they fall short on providing the needed long-term health benefits—as hoped. Thus, there are no shortcuts when it comes to eating right, but the health benefits do accumulate even when you start with a vegetable or two.

Inspired by www.consumerreports.org

Food Companies Enrich Processed Products with Real Vitamins From Fruits & Veggies

NutriFusion® developed our fruit and vegetable powders to specifically concentrate and stabilize the naturally occurring vitamins in minerals in fruits and vegetables. We knew that this ingredient would be incredibly important to the health of our future generations as more and more people opt for quick, convenient, and packaged options. Food, beverage, and supplement companies have now been adding our fruit and vegetable powders to their products for over 10 years. Interested in learning more about our GrandFusion fruit and vegetable powders? Download our guide to creating fuctional foods and beverages.

creating functional foods and beverages product development food science testing

Do Consumers Know Where Almond Milk Comes From?

in , , ,

Sounds like a silly question but the word milk is commonly associated with cows, like cow’s milk. And herein lies the confusion.

When grocery shoppers are out and about trying to meet their grocery list, they are faced with more choices than ever. Groceries now have a variety of milk to choose from, like plant-based milk alternatives, 1% cow’s milk to whole cow’s milk or even goat milk. This huge selection can be confusing to buyers, and thus the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) put up a poll to see if buyers want their plant-based food labeled using dairy terms.

The Results

There were over 7,000 respondents to the poll and almost 75% of them communicated that they do want the plant-based substitutes to be labeled in traditional dairy terms so that it is easier for them to compare and contrast.

In an earlier version of the poll, the data showed that 40% of households in the US do consume and buy both plant-based milk and dairy-based milk. Those people who drink only cow’s milk, 78% of them chose to use the word milk when describing the plant-based version. However, others who do not consume cow’s milk preferred a more descriptive term when it comes to labeling these plant-based milk alternatives. They preferred to use words like non-dairy or dairy-free compared to milk substitute or milk alternative.

Voluntary Standards for Labeling Plant-Based Dairy

And from these polls grew the voluntary standards for labeling plant-based dairy products. It helped companies to name their products using the plant ingredient used as a base. For instance, soy milk comes from soy products; almond milk comes from almonds; coconut milk comes from coconuts, and so on.

The voluntary standards also recommend companies to use labels that include non-dairy, dairy-free, or plant-based milk. However, in current times, the more significant trend tended to take on the plant’s name like soymilk, almond milk, and the likes. But if you read further, it will contain the phrases dairy-free or its alternative in smaller font.

Some people in the plant-based community are not satisfied with the current label trends because they believe that all milk should be accurately labeled like milk from cows should be cow’s milk or milk from goats should be labeled as goat milk. This is what they deem as descriptive and accurate labeling.

The Future of Labeling Almond Milk and Other Plant-Based Milk

Traditional dairy is declining while on the other hand, plant-based dairy continues to gain traction. 2,700 dairies in the US closed last year, and the whole dairy industry lost more than a billion dollars’ worth of sales. The slowing demand brought dairy prices down and consequently, its overall sales.

Between the years of 2012 and 2017, plant-based milk grew in leaps and bounds. Although data has shown that buyers are not confused about where their bought milk come from, lawmakers have proposed the Dairy PRIDE act which bars companies from using dairy-related words to their plant-based alternatives.

Inspired by www.forbes.com

Plant-Based Beverage Companies are Fortifying with Real Vitamins From Plants

Traditional dairy milk has always been fortified with Vitamin D and even Omegas in some cases. Plant-based beverage companies are looking to GrandFusion® to fortify their products with real, plant-based vitamins and minerals from fruits and vegetables. GrandFusion® fruit and vegetable powders are 100% dispersible and add a natural plant-based solution to vitamins in plant-based beverages. Interested in learning more? Check out our guide to creating functional foods and beverages.

creating functional foods and beverages product development food science testing

Food Vs Supplements: Which Way is Best to Get Nutrition?

in ,

Studies and research have shown that nutrients gained from whole foods are associated with a decreased risk of death. On the other end, an excessive intake of specific supplements has a detrimental effect on health.

When we talk of dietary supplements, we are focused on enzymes, amino acids, herbs, minerals, and vitamins. It has been noted that the intake of supplements helps boost your nutrient intake. As a result, a lot of health suppliers provide these supplements in a variety of forms like liquid powders, capsules, and tablets for more efficient delivery of nutrients.

When it comes to nurturing your body, supplements should NOT replace complete meals. That’s why they are called supplements because they are there to supplement your diet and not as a substitution for complete whole foods.

Data on U.S. Supplement Consumption

In 2009, a survey showed that 65% of the U.S. population takes dietary supplements. And by 2018, it jumped to 75%, which shows that consumer confidence and trust in nutritional supplements is growing strong. This led researchers to hypothesize that wellness and modern-day health regimen will always have dietary supplements as its mainstay.

Amongst the most popular supplements are calcium and vitamin D as well as other vitamin and mineral supplements. However, in the past five years, botanicals and herbals are gaining traction, especially turmeric supplements. According to surveys, the main reason people take dietary supplements is to support overall health and wellness.

Why High Intake of Supplements Can Harm You

There are many reasons why taking too much of a supplement can be harmful. One reason is that they may contain strong biological effects that can be harmful or life-threatening, especially when taken with other medication or supplements. Example, iron, vitamin D, and A can be unhealthy when taken in high amounts. Excessive calcium can cause palpitations and other muscle issues.

Dr. Zhang has stated that the studies they have conducted showed an increased level of nutrient intake with supplement use. However, the nutrients with beneficial health associations were from whole foods, which are not entirely seen in supplement intake. Foods as a source of nutrition trumps supplement intake.

Nutrients from Food Vs Supplements

Although many people use supplements, a recent study has shown that there is no advantage or decreased risk of premature death and heart diseases when you supplement with vitamin C, calcium, vitamin D, and multivitamins. But, folic acid and B-vitamin complex has shown to be effective in risk reduction of cardiovascular disease.

While ongoing studies are still being conducted on supplement benefits, some studies provide evidence of the harmful effect of excessive nutrient intake. Overconsumption of supplements has been linked to the risk of certain cancers. Here are the key findings:

  • Excess calcium supplement intake of at least 1,000-mg daily is associated with early death due to cancer.
  • Sufficient intake of vitamins K and A as well as zinc from food is linked to lower chances of dying from heart problems.

Inspired by www.medicalnewstoday.com

GrandFusion is the Best For Both Worlds

Supplement manufacturers are probably getting a little worried about some of the negative studies coming out with over supplementation and lack of complete nutrient complexes from whole foods. Well, worry no more! GrandFusion fruit and vegetable powders are here to the rescue! With our nutrient powders, you can add complete vitamin and mineral complexes from whole fruits and vegetables to your products & supplements. With only 225mg of fruit & veggie powder, you can add 50% daily value of 12 different vitamins! Are you interested in taking your supplements plant-based or just switching to real nutrients from real food? Contact us today to learn more!

creating functional foods and beverages product development food science testing

4 Nutrients That Vegans are Likely Missing in Their Diet

in , ,

Common reasons why people go vegan is that they are concerned about animal welfare, trying to reduce their environmental footprint, and even wanting to be healthy. Whatever reasons why people embrace the vegan lifestyle, one thing is for sure, some of their nutrient needs may not be met adequately. And four vitamins and minerals are commonly lacking in a vegan diet, and these are:

1 – Iron

Animal meat is rich in iron and iron is the reason why our blood has that vibrant red color. Iron is essential in the transport of oxygen from the lungs to the cells all over your body. Thus, iron plays a crucial role in various bodily activities like promotion of a healthy immune system and energy production in the muscles.

Absorption of iron is also affected by various factors. Iron from plant-based food has less absorbability than from animal sources. Inclusion of vitamin C rich fruits and vegetables can help increase iron absorption from plant sources. Then there are also foods that can inhibit iron absorption like phytates, zinc, and calcium in vegetable proteins, grains, rice, and legumes.

2 – Iodine

Iodine is commonly found in seafood, and it is essential in making thyroid hormones, which play a role in the development of the central nervous system, regulation of metabolism, and for healthy growth and development. When a person is deficient in iodine, it can cause myriads of health issues like stillbirth, miscarriage, and congenital anomalies in women. It can also lead to constipation, dry skin, hair loss, facial puffiness, depression, muscular weakness, and lethargy, to name a few.

When it comes to vegan food rich in iodine, it would all depend on the iodine content of the soil where the plant was grown. So, the best way to ensure adequate iodine intake for vegans is to use iodine fortified foods like iodized salt and fortified nut or soymilks.

3 – Calcium

The most known source of calcium is cow’s milk; that’s why infants, toddlers, and school-age children are given cow’s milk to help with bone and teeth development and maintenance. Bones are the body’s reserve for calcium, which is vital in muscle movement and the continuous beating of the heart.

For vegans, eating foods fortified with calcium is the best solution to solve deficiency: calcium-fortified cereals, nut milk, and soymilk. Legumes, seeds, nuts, bean curd, and tofu are also plant-based foods that have a good content of calcium.

Another thing that vegans need to understand is that oxalic and phytic acid content in vegetables may inhibit calcium absorption and thus the need to consume more food rich in said nutrient. Foods that contain oxalic and phytic acid are soy products, some raw beans, grains, nuts, seeds, rhubarb, and spinach.

4 – Vitamin B12

Organ meats are rich in vitamin B12, and this vitamin is crucial in the creation of red blood cells. It is also essential in the production of neurotransmitters for proper brain function and the creation of myelin sheaths that insulate nerves. When a person is deficient in this vitamin impaired bladder and bowel control, visual disturbances, mood changes, memory loss, movement problems, impotence, weight loss, and bruising to name a few may occur.

Algae and some mushrooms are a naturally occurring source of vitamin B12 in the vegan diet. But now there are also vegan food sources that are fortified with vitamin B12 to ensure sufficiency in the diet.

Inspired by www.afr.com/

Vegans Need to Look Closer at Nutrient Content

While veganism and vegetarianism are growing diets, there are still some issues that people need to be aware of when consuming food this way. As we mentioned above, many plant-based foods don’t have high concentrations of the nutrients mentioned above. We created our GrandFusion® fruit and vegetable powders to help solve this problem. With our fruit and veggie powders, vegan product manufacturers can now add plant-based vitamins to their products to ensure that vegans are getting the necessary nutrients. Are you creating a new plant-based product for vegans? Download our whitepaper on how to develop functional foods and beverages with GrandFusion® fruit and veggie powders.

creating functional foods and beverages product development food science testing

Bad News for Soda Industry as Study Links Early Death to Sugary Drinks

in ,

For decades now, people have known the link between obesity and diabetes to high-sugar drinks like soda and fruit juices. But a recent study published may be the final deathblow to the soda industry as results point to a shortened lifespan by drinking high-sugar drinks like soda.

The study was done by researchers of the Harvard public health and was published in the journal, Circulation, provided evidence that high-sugar or with high-fructose corn syrup drinks like fruit concentrates, sports drinks, and soda can significantly increase a person’s chance of early death in contrast to people who don’t drink said beverages.

The Specifics of the Harvard Study

The study was conducted in a span of 30-years and included over 100,000 individuals consisting of both the male and female population. All in all, the study concluded that both genders had an 18% more chance of dying of cancer and 31% more chance of dying from the cardiovascular-related disease. These were people who drank at least two glasses of sodas a day.

On a more specific view of the study, it reported that for the female population who drank at least two glasses of soda each day, their risk of dying from breast cancer was at 34% while their risk of having an early death was pegged at 63%. For the male population, those who drink two glasses of soda daily increased their risk of premature death by 29% in comparison to people who drank less than one soda a month.

The Key Takeaway for the Soda Industry

The researchers theorized that drinking one soda a month was healthier but was still risky. And that the more you drink these sugary drinks, the higher your risk for an early death goes, which is what the researchers called a graded association with dose.

They also recommend to straight-up ignore drinking a 20-ounce Mountain Dew since it contains a whopping 77-grams of sugar, which defeats people’s alibi of just drinking one soda a week, a month, or just a sip because the healthiest choice will always be to choose water over soda.

If you need more convincing, then in the US diet, the single most significant source of added sugar is from high-fructose corn syrup laden drinks or Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB). Much has been studied about its link with various diseases like coronary artery disease, diabetes, weight gain, and obesity. Although there are a lot of studies linking SSBs with these diseases, not much is known with regards to mortality rates. But given the propensity of SSB to increase your chances of acquiring these health issues, the association between SSB and mortality rate can be easily deduced.

One point that the study wanted to clarify is that women showed an increased risk of death due to heart diseases even with diet sodas. The researchers did propose that this could be due to a historical consumption of “non-diet” sodas, and they switched to the diet soda when health problems started to arise.

Bottom line, the soda industry is walking a thin line, and are looking for new, healthier beverages to promote for future growth. The sugar has finally caught up to manufacturers either through soda taxes or research studies like this one.

Inspired by news.harvard.edu

Are you looking to create the next generation of functional foods and beverages? Download our guide to learn more about how you can use GrandFusion natural vitamin blends from fruits and vegetables to create products that consumers love!

creating functional foods and beverages product development food science testing

Keep Your Heart Healthy with Grains, Fruits, and Veggies

in

Another study has just compounded more proof that whole grains, veggies, and fruits are definitely good for you by decreasing your risk for heart failure by as much as 41%. On the other hand, a diet rich in sweet tea, processed foods, fried foods, and meat—known as the Southern Diet—increased people’s chance of heart failure by as much as 72%.

Dr. Kayla Lara a heart doctor of Mayo Clinic in Minnesota stated that processed and red meat should be limited in the diet and increase consumption of plant-based food. However, the doctor did caution from over-generalization that a particular diet can prevent or cause heart failure. It must be emphasized that these diets are linked to and not a causative factor.

Tips for Heart Failure Prevention

According to sources, there are several ways that you can support heart health and prevent heart failure. Among them are eating healthy foods, maintaining a healthy weight, keeping blood pressure levels normal, and not smoking.

And when it comes to eating healthy, a lot of people must have access to low-cost healthy foods as well as be educated on the advantages of a plant-based diet. Dr. Lara even went on to say that when it comes to a better quality of life and health promotion, animal meat is not essentially necessary for a nutritious diet. She pushes that a plant-based diet is where the health industry is leaning to and people need to embrace this.

A Deeper Look into the Heart Healthy Diet Study

The study was conducted within a 9-year follow-up on 16,000 individuals ranging from 45-years old and above. They have also classified 5 diets in the study based on questionnaires and they are:

  • Alcohol and salads – consumed more of leafy greens, salad dressing, beer, liquor, and wine.
  • Southern – consumed more of sugar-sweetened drinks, added fats, eggs, processed meats, and fried foods.
  • Sweet and fatty – consumed more of sugary food, chocolate, sweet breakfast food, bread, and other desserts.
  • Plant-based – more of fish, beans, fruits, and vegetables.
  • Convenient Food – consumed more fast food, pizza, Mexican food, pasta, and meats.

Results of The Study

None of the other diets resulted in a statistically significant link to heart failure as well as no specific type of heart failure incurred can be linked to a specific type of diet. It was also seen that when other factors were taken into consideration such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, waist size, and weight the benefit of the plant-based diet and the negative effect of the Southern diet is not significant, statistically speaking.

Heart Healthy Points to Remember

The study and Dr. Lara point out that the key takeout is that individuals need to cut back on red meats, processed meats, junk food, fast food, cheese, and fried foods in order to maintain or achieve optimum health. Further, it is not only food that plays a role in keeping your heart healthy, but lifestyle and activity significantly contribute to a poorly functioning heart. This then affects overall life quality and death rates.

Lastly, the emphasis on a plant-based diet should be put forth deepen as it has shown to lower the risk for various chronic health diseases, not just heart-related issues.

Inspired by healthday.com

creating functional foods and beverages product development food science testing

George Prior’s Month Long Journey With 10 Cokes a Day

in , ,

In many first world countries, soda addiction has never been stronger even with various health practitioners spelling doom for those who don’t eliminate it from their diet. Admittedly, what makes soda addictive is its high sugar content and that sugar rush one feels each time they pop a can with its amazing fizz and bubbles.

Sometimes, just hearing it from our doctors is not enough to make people change their habits drastically. But, luckily for us, there is a man who was brave enough to go on an adventure with drinking 10 regular cokes a day. And what’s even more amazing is that he documented the adventure with before and after photos of his month-long journey and by all the gods that we hold dear, the transformation is very obvious and may literally help you quit your soda addiction.

Before the 10 Cokes a Day

George Prior is the brave man who went on a month-long 10 cokes a day challenge. He is in his 50s, lives in LA and is a health-conscious guy. Before the challenge, he had a full physical checkup before the journey and everything was in proper order including normal weight, insulin levels, and blood pressure (BP). He also only had 9% body fat. His diet consisted of lots of water, vegetables, berries, and lean meats. He is into the paleo diet.

The Results after a Month of 10 Cans of Coke a Day

George’s before and after photos would be the glaring evidence to the fatty effects of soda, which we all have anticipated. But more than that here are the other effects that George felt:

  • Sleep troubles – studies show that people who frequently drink soda sleep for 5 hours or less, which is below the recommended sleep times for the body to recuperate. Suga and caffeine are to be blamed for this.
  • Fatigue – or low energy is felt throughout the day due to sugar spikes. The crash after a sugar high leaves you worse than before you drank the soda.
  • Headaches – it is believed that the combination of sugar and caffeine may trigger headaches plus the phosphoric acid, acidity, aspartame, and artificial colors contained in the soda.
  • Increase in body fat – remember, George’s body fat started at 9% and increased to a whopping 64%. The rapidity of fat gain is linked to both heart disease and diabetes.
  • Loss of Appetite – he also experienced and discovered that his overall appetite for healthy and regular foods lessened. He also noticed that his taste buds craved sugar-filled foods.
  • BP Levels Increased – his baseline BP reading was pegged at 129/77 and after the testing, it shot up to 143/96. There is a lot of literature that has reported the linked between increased levels of insulin with increased BP levels.
  • Gained Weight – obviously, George gained a total of 23-pounds within the period of one-month even with sticking to his usual healthy Paleo diet. In fact, in a study conducted by Harvard, just by drinking one can of soda a day led to a 5-pound weight gain within a year.

Inspired by www.health.com

creating functional foods and beverages product development food science testing