Despite a growing mountain of research indicating that increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the FDA backed away from a firm recommendation, citing lack of “significant scientific agreement.”
A small but growing number of gastroenterologists are starting to look seriously at botanical medicines, probiotics, nutritional interventions, and Asian therapies like acupuncture for the management of chronic, difficult-to-treat digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, and ulcers. Robert Greenlaw, MD, an Illinois gastroenterologist, shares his clinical experiences.
Researchers have figured out a way to get a healthful omega-3 fatty acid into eggs, by feeding chickens with omega-rich marine algae. Gold Circle Farms was the first to market the DHA-rich eggs as an alternative for health conscious but fish-phobic consumers. Four of these eggs give as much DHA as a 3.5-ounce chunk of salmon.
Parental concerns about their own fat intake should not necessarily define diets for their children. While childhood obesity is clearly a major public health problem, it is important to remember that young children need certain amounts of dietary fat. Forcing children to adhere to adult weight loss regimens is not necessarily the best way to address the childhood obesity problem.
The return to breast-feeding in the US has had an unintended consequence: Rickets. This skeletal disease, which arises from vitamin D deficiency, is on the rise, and Centers for Disease Control experts attribute it to a combination of breast-feeding (breast milk is very low in vitamin D) and melanoma prevention efforts that encourage parents to keep their kids out of the sun.
Linoleic acid and other polyunsaturated “good” fats can inhibit the growth of Helicobacter pylori, the bug that contributes to development of peptic ulcers. The research suggests that reducing saturated fat and increasing polyunsaturates may be a good way to control ulcers.
Many people who end up in doctors’ offices have nutritional deficiencies, including deficiencies in protein, B vitamins, and magnesium that markedly impact their overall health status. These deficiencies are easily reversed, if only physicians would think about them.
US and European studies show that tobacco smoking increases risk of psoriasis, as does frequent consumption of alcohol. These correlations appear to be stronger in men than in women. Keratinocytes, the skin cells that produce the characteristic scaling of psoriasis, have receptors for nicotine.
Three simple questions can tell a lot about someone’s nutritional status and diet consciousness. How many daily servings of fruit and vegetables do you eat? Do you drink milk everyday? Do you take a daily multivitamin?
The same low-fat, vegetable and fruit-rich diet that prevents heart disease also reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The good news is that diet appears to have the greatest preventive impact in people at the highest genetic risk for Alzheimer’s.
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