Subscribe via RSS Feed

Archive for July, 2006

Chromium

July 14, 2006 by Patricia Setzer in Product Analysis with No Comments

Chromium is an essential trace mineral necessary for the breakdown of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Your best food sources for chromium are whole grains, ready-top-eat bran cereals, seafood, green beans, broccoli, prunes, nuts, peanut butter and potatoes.

Commercially chromium is found in several forms including chromium nicotinate, chromium picolinate, chromium-enriched yeast, and chromium chloride; the most popular form is chromium picolinate. There are many sites singing the praises of chromium picolinate as a weight loss supplement. It is also said to promote muscle growth, lower cholesterol, and reverse diabetes. Two decades of testing chromium picolinate has only led to controversy, confusion and concerns that health problems are created rather than prevented. The research on chromium metabolism has determined that even though picolinate is well absorbed by your body, it is not effectively metabolized or incorporated into the tissues.

If you are considering a chromium supplement it is important to understand that not all supplements are made using the same process. Picolinate is made by a chemical process using four different chemical techniques; GTF (glucose tolerance factor) is made by fermenting nutritional yeast with chromium.

Chromium GTF appears to be a much safer form but there are some factors to be considered before taking even this form of chromium.

  • Anyone taking antidiabetic medications should consult with a physician before taking Chromium GTF; your medication dosage may need to be adjusted.
  • The label should state “biological activity” and should have no other additives (such as niacin).
  • It is recommended that Chromium GTF be taken with no other food or supplements; Zinc competes with chromium for absorption.
  • Chromium in a vitamin pill is not the same as GTF; most vitamins do not contain biological active chromium.
  • The daily recommended supplementation is 200 micrograms.
  • It is generally recommended that chromium be taken with no other food or supplement.

Supplements should be beneficial not detrimental to your health.

Sugar Free is not an All You Can Eat Buffet

July 14, 2006 by Patricia Setzer in Nutrition with No Comments

What are sugar alcohols?

Sugar alcohols are found in foods that boast to be sugar free, low carbohydrate, or have no carbohydrates. This is very misleading because sugar alcohols, also known as polyols, are neither sugar nor alcohol and come from plant products such as fruits and berries. It is not a requirement that sugar alcohols are listed in the total carb count, so the actual carb count may be much higher than listed.

For any of you watching your sugar or carbohydrate intake these foods may appear to be heaven sent and eaten in moderation can be beneficial. It is certainly a better choice to eat a candy bar with sugar alcohols than the half gallon of ice cream in your freezer. It is important to remember that even though these foods contain about half the calories and carbohydrates as foods with regular sugar, it still counts in your total intake for the day.

Xylitol is often used in sugarless gums and mints because it will not cause the loss of teeth; it has been proven to actually inhibit the growth of oral bacteria. This will help to keep both you and your dentist smiling.

For companies that commercially produced cakes and cookies the benefits are sugar alcohols provide a sweet flavor, adds texture to foods, and retains moisture.

Sugar alcohols do not change blood glucose levels as dramatically; this is a plus for those of you restricting your sugar intake. Please remember these foods should still be consumed in moderation.

What are some of the cautions?

Because the food can be labeled as sugar free, low carb or no carbs, it is easy to think of it as a free food. If you are anything like me you do not have to be hungry to eat and this leads to eating too much. Even eating small amounts some type 1 diabetics have reported a sugar rush. It has been shown that people eating large amounts have gained weight or in some it stalls the weight loss.

Consuming sugar alcohols in large amounts may cause moderate to severe gas pains, diarrhea, or a combination of the two. For me personally even eating small amounts can cause severe gas pains.

There are some consumer groups and diabetic associations that are putting pressure on the government to make it a legal requirement to include sugar alcohols in the total carb count on product labeling.

Until this happens read the list of ingredients and not just the front of the label. Sugar alcohols are listed as isomalt, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates (HSH) or any ingredient ending in tol. Just as with sugar the names are too many to list them all.

The Facts About Vitamin E

July 14, 2006 by Patricia Setzer in Special Reports with No Comments

In November there was a prepublication released of a John Hopkins School of Medicine study to appear in the Annals of Internal Medicine about the possible hazard from the use of vitamin E. Not prepared to take this report at face value I proceeded to investigate further to find out if the whole story had been told. In just a matter of minutes I found report after report on the flaws of the study done by John Hopkins School of Medicine.

This particular study on vitamin E was nothing more than a “meta-analysis”, a study of studies that have already been performed. This type of study is widely criticized because it involves a set of statistically analyses based on manipulations of existing data.

One of the major criticisms of this particular report is that the results are from studies that have been done on those who are already at an increased risk for advanced heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s and kidney disease. Synthetic vitamin E was used in this study even though for decades this type of vitamin E has been thought unsafe. Physicians who practice both conventional and alternative medicine (complementary) recommend natural mixed tocopherols which supply gamma tocopherol and tocoriends.

Why synthetic vitamin E is still used in studies is not clear. There are those who think it is because the synthetic form is cheaper and the drug companies may provide it.

As a result of this report it is thought that 18% of Americans are less likely to take vitamin E. Barbara Levine PhD., director of Nutritional Information Center, is concerned that there will be an increased risk in cardiovascular disease, cancers, and aged-related macular degeneration in an otherwise healthy population.

In response to all the attention given to the latest report on vitamin E, the Dietary Supplement Information Bureau (DSIB) has launched a new web site; check out www.vitaminEfacts.org.

Experts like C. Wayne Callaway MD., Internal medicine, Endocrinology, metabolism and clinical nutrition, state that you should not throw away your vitamin E; one study does not prove all the others wrong.

Product Awareness: Ignorance is Not Always Bliss

July 14, 2006 by Patricia Setzer in Label Language with No Comments

How many of you have purchased an article of clothing with a tag that states “one size fits all”? With the knowledge that the garment is sure to fit, you make the purchase without trying on the clothes. You are home with your purchase, try on your new garment, and realize one size does not fit all. This is the impression given with many of the vitamins, herbs, and supplements on the market today, so allow me to suggest a few questions that you should ask before you buy.

Are you taking a prescription or other supplements?

It is important to know which prescriptions, herbs, vitamins, and supplement combinations are safe. Taking the wrong combination may be the equivalent of taking twice the dose of a prescription medicine. There is also the possibility of the reverse: the effect may be the same as not taking anything at all. An excellent example of too much is vitamin E or garlic with a blood thinner may cause your blood to become too thin. Be sure to inform your physician of anything you are taking.

Is the less expensive product the same quality as the most expensive?

Price is just not always an indication of the quality of the product, so it is important to read the list of ingredients. The cheapest may be nothing more than a sugar pill and the most expensive may contain unnecessary ingredients just to make it appear healthier.

Do you really need as much as the label suggests you take?

The manufacturer may suggest that you take more than you really need in order to ensure that the product really works for you.

What are the possible side effects?

Vitamin D and folic acid are examples of popular additives with manufacturers; it makes their product appear healthy. You may assume your body only uses what is needed of the vitamins and minerals you take and discards the rest, but this is not always the case. Any excess fat-soluble vitamins such as A and D are stored by your body and over a period of time may become harmful. The same is true of certain minerals, such as iron.

Anyone with a thyroid problem should not be taking any product containing kelp.

How much of anything you need in a day is going to be determined by gender, age, lifestyle, diet and any health concerns you may have, so please “know before you buy”.

« Previous Page