Focus on Healthy Foods for Heart Health

Do you know that your eating habits affect your heart health? Studies suggest that the diet of older adults can influence the development of heart attacks, strokes, and many other diseases. Lead researcher from the Auckland City Hospital in New Zealand, Dr. Ralph Stewart, noted that eating healthy foods can provide protective benefits to the body. But this does not mean avoiding unhealthy foods altogether. The study suggests that while eating healthy foods can give more health benefits, consumption of unhealthy foods in moderation do not seem to cause any harm to the body.

 

Balance Healthy and Unhealthy Foods

heart health eating healthy foodsMost people grew up hearing the traditional dietary advice of avoiding unhealthy foods altogether. Recently, researchers have found out that what is more important to the human body is eating healthier foods more, than avoiding unhealthy food. In fact, with our current lifestyles, most of us do not eat a lot of healthy foods. Eating too much unhealthy as compared to healthy foods can tip off the balance in our diet, resulting in negative health repercussions.

To conduct the study, the researchers asked more than 15,000 participants from 39 countries to complete a questionnaire. All participants had symptoms of heart diseases and had the average age of 67-years-old. Participants were asked the kinds of foods that they ate and how many times they have consumed the food items within a week.

In this regard, those who followed the Mediterranean diet (those who consume the most amounts of healthy foods) should have shown better health. Unfortunately, 7%  more of those who adhered to this diet suffered a stroke or heart attack compared to those who did not strictly follow the Mediterranean diet.

This does not mean, however, that people should just eat unhealthy food without restriction. Eating a balanced amount of healthy and unhealthy food is important. Researchers also suggest that eating unhealthy foods on some occasions, as a treat, is appropriate to retain good health.

 

Divided Consensus Amongst Experts

heart health healthy foods research studyWhile the researchers from the Auckland City Hospital believe that the body can still be healthy by eating both healthy and unhealthy foods, many nutritionists disagree. Many experts believe that eating healthy foods is the only link to better health.

For example, the Mediterranean diet is all about eating yogurt, hummus, olive oil, garlic, fish, nuts, fruits, salads and other natural foods. In contrast with a Western diet that is characterized by eating big portions of food and a high intake of red meat, processed carbohydrates, and deep fried foods, people who follow the Mediterranean diet, have a lower risk of getting an autoimmune disease, heart disease, obesity, cancer, mental disorder, and diabetes.

Eating unhealthy and healthy foods together will discredit the positive effects of the latter. Many researchers noted that to get the full health benefits, eating a healthy diet is the only way to go. Unhealthy foods may be eaten but only on rare occasions. Unfortunately, nothing in any research shows the serving sizes of unhealthy and healthy foods that should be consumed by an average individual. The findings are still skewed with the lack of diet data.

Inspired by consumer.healthday.com

FDA Approves Folic Acid Fortification Corn Masa Flour

Folic acid or folate is a type of B vitamin that is needed by pregnant women. It has essential functions in the development of the neural tubes to the brain and spinal cord of the fetus to develop properly. Eating folate-rich food is imperative not only for pregnant women but women in general. Consumption of 400mg of folic acid daily is enough to prevent the progression of neural tube defects. There are many sources of folic acid and it is important for women to eat a generous serving of these foods like lentils, spinach, broccoli, eggs and fortified grains and pasta.

Neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly are estimated to occur in 3,000 pregnancies in the United States every year. It is caused by minimal to no intake of folic acid. This is the reason why the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agreed on the fortification of food as an effective means of addressing micronutrient deficiencies.

Folic Acid Fortification to Help Hispanic American Women

Mandatory fortification of grains started in 1998, but despite this, there is a significant number of Hispanic children who suffer from this condition. Thus, one of the ways to diminish the inconsistency is to fortify the corn masa flour to improve the total consumption of folic acid among Hispanic women.

Corn masa flour is a primary component of Spanish dough that is made from cooking corn and alkali and grinding them. It is a staple food for many Latin Americans particularly those from Central America and Mexico. This type of flour has a wide variety of uses such as making tortillas, taco shells, tamales and corn chips. While corn masa flour is high in providing the necessary carbohydrates and energy for the body, it does not contain B vitamins. You would have to eat other foods that contain folic acid to get your daily intake.

Several types of research showed that Hispanic women have a lower intake of folate than non-Hispanic women.  As such, the US FDA has approved the fortification of corn masa flour with folic acid. Manufacturers of the corn flour should add up to 0.7 milligrams of folic acid per pound of masa flour. Increasing the consumption of folic acid in enriched corn masa flour is helpful in reducing the incidence of neural tube defects especially among populations wherein corn flour is a staple in their diet.

Studies showed that fortification of corn masa flour with folic acid can increase the daily intake of said nutrient in Hispanic women by as much as 20% which is higher compared to the normal consumption of only 4%. This also reduces the need for Hispanic women to take daily synthetic supplements as they can get their folate from staple food sources.

The addition of folic acid on corn masa flour was done after conducting a scientific safety review to ensure that adding the micronutrient is safe for the general populace. FDA also evaluated dietary exposure, toxicology data as well as other relevant information to make sure that corn flour enriched with folic acid is not only effective in preventing NTD but also safe.

Inspired by medicalnewstoday.com

Coffee May Reduce Colon Cancer Risk

For many years, people have thought that drinking a lot of coffee is dangerous to the body. If you love drinking coffee, then you will be happy with this news. Researchers from the National Israeli Cancer Control Center noted that drinking coffee may lower your colon cancer risk by as much as 50%. Whether you drink decaf or regular coffee, there is no difference when it comes to its health benefits.

The Research Says Antioxidants Are King

So what makes coffee very beneficial in lowering colon cancer risk? Senior researcher of the study, Dr. Gad Rennert, noted that coffee has high antioxidant properties that are released during the roasting process. The research studied more than 5,100 colon cancer patients in northern Israel, comprised both of women and men. The patients were then compared to more than 4,000 individuals who do not have any trace of colon cancer.
During the study, participants reported the amount of coffee that they drank as well as the types of coffee. Moreover, the participants also reported any risk factors such as diet, family history, smoking, and physical activity. However, Dr. Rennert indicated that drinking coffee does not lower the possibility of colon cancer, but is associated with reduced risk. This means that people who drink coffee every day are found to have fewer risks for developing colon cancer. The mechanism is still a mystery to date.

How Much Coffee Should You Drink?

How much coffee is good for the body? The researchers found out that drinking one to two cups of coffee daily is linked to a 26% reduction in colon cancer risk. For people who drank more than two cups of coffee, the risk was lowered to 50%.  The type of coffee does not affect the health benefits thus whether you drink decaf, espresso, instant, or filtered coffee, the benefits are the same.

What Do Other Studies Say About Coffee and Colon Cancer Connection?

Dr. Andrew Chan from the Harvard Medical School in Boston noted that there is a lot of evidence that supports the association of coffee and low colon cancer risk. What most studies lack is to identify the specific protective agents in coffee that can lower the risk for colon cancer. But what is most interesting is that studying the effects of coffee can also lead to clues on how colon cancer develops.

Similar studies have shown the same results. According to Susan Gapstur from the American Cancer Society, the studies that included the collection of information regarding the diet of the participants revealed that there is no significant value when it comes to lowering the risk of colon cancer. This means that non-coffee drinkers can also have reduced a risk of colon cancer based on the type of diet that they enjoy.

Colon cancer risk is very high especially now that people live very unhealthy lifestyles. The news that coffee can lower the risk is very exciting especially for individuals who love to drink coffee. Tomorrow afternoon when you start to yawn, don’t worry about drinking that third cup of coffee, because it might just save your colon one day.

Inspired by consumer.healthday.com

What’s Next for Probiotics in Sports Nutrition?

There is a high demand for healthy beverages all over the world, which has given rise to probiotics, cold-pressed, organic, and plant-based beverages. This is the reason why food and beverage manufacturers have started developing sports nutrition drinks that are not only natural but also contain probiotic ingredients to attract a new market of health-conscious athletes and individuals.

Defining Probiotics

Probiotics are live bacteria that are good for the digestive system. In fact, we naturally have probiotics inside us.  The gut is where millions of bacteria live and if the population of your gut microflora is made up of good bacteria, you reap the benefits by having proper digestion as well as a healthy well-being.

So why should you drink probiotics if you already have them inside your body? Unfortunately, abusive lifestyles such as being stressed and eating processed foods can affect the number of good bacteria in your body. Moreover, if you have been taking antibiotics, your good bacteria are also eradicated as antibiotics are not selective when it comes to killing bacteria in the body. Adding probiotics to your diet is an excellent way to replace the population of good bacteria in your body.

Adding Probiotics in Sports Nutrition

Probiotics are already found in many fermented products that we consume. These include sauerkraut, vinegar, kimchi, yogurt, and many others. But many market innovators want to add probiotics to boost foods that do not traditionally contain them.

The use of probiotics as a primary ingredient in sports nutrition is becoming a popular trend and is expected to reach a global market value of $46.55 billion in the next four years.  For instance, companies like Ingredion, GoodBelly, and NextFoods Inc. are aiming to tap into the sports drink market by improving their product using probiotics. Soon, many companies will also join this trend and will create probiotic product lines that are not only limited to beverages but also protein bars and snacks.

The Rising Demand of Probiotics

In a recent survey conducted by Ganeden, it was noted that 70% of the consumers are open to consuming probiotics in food instead of supplements. The respondents also mentioned that they are willing to pay more for healthy foods especially those containing probiotics.

More and more people are becoming health conscious. They are aware and picky when it comes to what they are eating. People are now interested in looking for food that can give them more health benefits. The increasing demand for healthy and functional foods is the reason why food and beverage manufacturers are developing ways to incorporate probiotics into their products.

For now, probiotics are seen primarily as a potential ingredient for sports drinks, but manufacturers are innovating for the future use of probiotics in fruit beverages, baking mixes, granola bars and much more. It is forecasted that probiotics are set to make appearances in different types of products not only in sports nutrition but also in functional day to day products.

Inspired by fooddive.com

Low Levels of Vitamin B12 in the Brain Could be Linked to Mental Decline

Vitamin B12 is not one of the headline supplements that you would expect to see when you pick up a nutritional magazine. Nutritionists and health experts have always had their suspicions on the link between the lack of Vitamin B12 intakes in the brain and conditions like dementia and mental decline. Multiple studies that have been carried out in the past to try to understand the linkage better.

But first, a little more about Vitamin B12. It is not among the most abundant of vitamins in the world. It is commonly found in a bacteria that happens to be very common in soil. We find natural forms on vitamin B12 in red meat, salmon, milk, eggs, leafy greens, beets, and almonds. There are other ways of getting vitamin B12. One of them is through synthetic supplements. It is not clear how much of the vitamin you should have to avert the risks that are closely associated with its deficiency. Some experts advise about 1,000 micrograms a week, and there are others that advise up to 250 micrograms a day. This translates to upwards of about 2,500 micrograms per week.

Vitamin B12 in the Blood vs. the Brain

It is important to note that the amount of Vitamin B12 in the blood is not parallel to the sum in the brain. The uptake process is what matters. In a recent study reported in the PLOS ONE journal, scientists were able to pinpoint the link between low Vitamin B12 levels in the brain to autism, schizophrenia, and old age dementia. The same study goes ahead to suggest that some other neurological diseases could be caused by the reduced uptake of Vitamin B12 from the blood stream. There have been other studies that have attempted to look for connections between this and other vitamin deficiencies to certain brain disorders.

While there is yet a definitive study that zeros in on these particular shortcomings, there have been other risks that have been directly associated with extreme vitamin deficiencies. These risks include depression, memory loss, mental decline, and even pregnancy complications. Vitamin B12 is critical for the formation of red blood cells and is also closely associated with the functioning of the central nervous system. Hence its importance in the body.

Inspired by oregonlive.com

Adding Natural Sources of Vitamin B12 to Your New Products

So, we are now wondering how we will formulate products with more vitamin B12? You could use synthetic vitamins with low bioavailability or you could use natural vitamins from whole food sources. NutriFusion is the leader in whole food nutrient fortification from fruits and vegetables. Our stabilization method enables food processors and consumer packaged food companies to add highly bioavailable nutrients to their products. If you are interested in learning more, please visit your respective category below.

Half of Cropland Acres in the U.S. Were Devoted to GMO Crops in 2012

Farmers in the United States have been using genetically engineered organisms or GMO crops since 1996. These plants are modified so that they can resist pest and tolerate harmful pesticides. Genetically modified seed companies were so successful that 90% of the corn, cotton, soybean, sugar beets and canola are GMO crops. While crops like squash, papaya, and alfalfa are now being cultivated using genetically engineered (GE) varieties.  If you go to the countryside and admire acres of farmlands, you might just be surprised how many farms are planting GMO crops.

Acres of Lands Planted with GMO and Non-GMO Crops

According to USDA, there are about 182 million (of the 380 million) acres of agricultural land in the United States that have been planted with GMO crops of which 90% is planted with soybeans and corn while the rest with beets and cotton. Only 0.6% and 0.3% of said agricultural land were planted with genetically engineered varieties of vegetables and fruits.

On the other hand, there are only 5.4 million acres of farmlands that are certified organic farming systems. Only half of the organic system is used as a cropland because the rest is used for pasture. Out of it, only 0.3% is planted with non-GM corn and 0.2% with soybeans.  A large percentage of the cropland is planted with organic carrots, lettuce, squash and other vegetables.

 

Market Value of Non-GMO Crops

The USDA reported that organic corn and soy fetched higher prices than its GMO counterparts. While conventional farming resulted in more production, the consumers have shifted to patronizing organic products. In fact, most GE crops are now used to create processed foods and other food ingredients like breakfast cereals, corn chips, corn syrup, corn oil, soybean oil, and canola oil.

The non-GMO crops, on the other hand, continue to expand and co-exist with conventional crops as more and more people are looking for organically-grown foods and produce. This is the reason why many organic retailers are looking for additional assurance when it comes to labeling and differentiating their organic foods from the GMO crops. This is also to ensure that they get price premiums associated with organic cultivation.

 

Problems with GMO and Non-GMO Co-Existence

While it can be inferred that both GMO and organic crops can co-exist, there are still some problems related to its co-existence. The most common problem is how to maintain the integrity of the non-GM crops. Accidental pollination or co-mingling of the two types of plants is bound to happen which can result in a price drop of the premium organic food.

As a matter of fact, organic farmers from Nebraska, Oklahoma and Illinois have reported economic losses due to co-mingling of pollen. Unfortunately, this phenomenon has resulted in lower yields due to incompatibility. There are solutions implemented by the local organic farmers.  Practices such as the use of buffer strips can help protect the non-GM crops. Moreover, planting organic corn two to four weeks later than the conventional GMO crops can also prevent cross pollination.

Inspired by usda.gov

Unhealthy Additives Are Transforming Gatorade

Consumers are now connecting their health to the food and beverages that they consume. PepsiCo, who owns Gatorade, is facing a backlash regarding the types of unhealthy additives used in making their signature drinks.

So what’s inside a 32-oz Gatorade? It contains 54.4 grams of sugar which are more than the recommended daily allowance of an average person. Although 50 grams of sugar provides energy for individuals who are always working out or on the go, an average person does not have a need for it.

gatorade-label-serving-size-sugarSugar is the Silent Killer in Sports Drinks

There are different types of sugar. In chemistry, sugar is categorized as sucrose, fructose, glucose, maltose, and lactose. They are carbohydrates that fuel the body by providing the energy that it needs to sustain daily activities. Many food experts believe that sugar is one of the unhealthy additives that we include in our diet. It is important to take note that there are different forms of sugars, but one of the dangerous types of sugar for our health is sucrose, also known as white sugar or table sugar. Sugar is made from plants, and they can come from sugar beets or sugar cane. The natural juices are extracted from both plants and are crystallized to form white sugar which is made up of 99% sucrose.

Sugar is not a low-calorie additive. In fact, it has a high glycemic index (GI) which is a measure of blood glucose response after eating a particular food. Since its GI is high, this means that your blood sugar level is immediately elevated just a few minutes after consuming a tablespoon of it.

 

The Fight Against Sugar & Unhealthy Additives 

The ability of table sugar to raise the blood sugar level within a few minutes of ingesting it is the reason why people want to avoid Gatorade and other beverages.  For this reason, beverage companies are now launching innovations to keep their customers not only happy but also healthy. Many beverage companies are now offering low-calorie drinks, but their marketing strategy does not end there. Many companies are now attempting to create natural drinks by cutting out synthetic ingredients from their beverage mixtures.

For instance, PepsiCo removed the brominated vegetable oil from Gatorade’s formula in addressing the call of a 15-year old activist who launched an online campaign against the unhealthy additive. Moreover, the company also developed a sports drink that does not have artificial coloring and is sweetened with natural cane sugar.

The new line of beverages looks promising, but consumers are seeking drinks that fit their nutritional needs. Sport drink companies are trying to capitalize on the opportunity by creating healthier drinks without sacrificing the taste. For instance, both PepsiCo and Coke are now investing in coconut water, Suja juice, and sparkling water after calls by nutritionists to switch from sports drinks to drinks with less sugar and unhealthy additives.

Today, beverage companies are not only looking into making low-calorie drinks, but they also want to deliver beverages that are healthy—to fit the lifestyles of its many health-conscious consumers.

Inspired by businessinsider.com

beverages from whole fruit and vegetables nutrients vitaminsWhere are the Nutrients?

How are we able to market a beverage as “sports nutrition” and there are ZERO nutrients in the drink? On the other hand, some of these “nutritious” drinks are using synthetic vitamins and minerals to fortify their products. How is that any better? We should be looking for ways to deliver whole food nutrients into beverages like Gatorade and Powerade.

NutriFusion® developed a  patented method for stabilizing the nutrients in whole fruits and vegetables. We are here to help sports nutrition brands bring healthy, nutritious products to market. If you are interested in learning more, please visit the Beverages page below for more information.

New Study: Splenda Linked to Cancer

Whether or not sugar can have a substitute has been an often-debated topic. Consumers to reduce chances of sugar related diseases turned towards alternative sweeteners. One such product that was popularized as an alternative is Splenda. Splenda contains sucralose, a sweetener deemed harmless up until now.

The Problem with Sucralose

The Ramazinni Institute in Italy published a new study that revealed the dangers of sucralose. The risks include cancer and leukemia. Findings of the study do not align with the claims made by Splenda and their testing methods. Earlier studies on sucralose intake resulted in the conclusion that it remains “biologically inert”. Splenda products were marketed with a heavy emphasis on rigorous testing.  Consumers perceived the product to be much healthier than sugar, which helped raise Splenda’s sales to $177 million.

Here are the findings put forward by Ramazinni Institute in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health:

The test subjects included 457 male mice and 396 female mice. The subjects were administered with sucralose of varying dosages added to their food from 12 days of growth till they died. Sucralose dosage resulted in a raised level of cancer in the male rodents since the amount of Splenda in their diets was higher as compared to those of the female rodents. Also, researchers found the occurrence of leukemia among the male mice who were given a dosage level of 2,000 to 16,000 ppm.

Splenda is Still a Sweetener 

These revelations demand a further explanation on whether Splenda, even in small quantities can pose health risks. Additionally, the two human trials that got published and approved by the FDA lasted only four days and only tested Splenda regarding tooth decay. However, Splenda’s spokespersons claim that the research and its results are unreliable. The company is focusing on the data produced over a period of two decades which includes 100 research studies and experiments stating that “Extensive research strongly supports that sucralose is safe for everyone and does not cause cancer.”

Sucralose is an artificial ingredient. The major concern is whether the body can completely metabolize the ingredient. The Center for Science in the Public Interest strongly advises against the consumption of other artificial sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin, and acesulfame potassium. Sucralose is a lot sweeter than aspartame and has found its way into several food and beverages.

Inspired by techtimes.com