Hyvin
A Natural Health and Wellness Blog

By Vicky Uhland
12/1/2005

A study finding that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids and lutein with zeaxanthin could save American senior citizens $5.6 billion in health care costs during the next five years has resulted in the formation of a bipartisan Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus.

The study, commissioned by the Dietary Supplement Education Alliance and released Nov. 2 [2005] was conducted by The Lewin Group, a Falls Church, Va.-based health care consulting firm. A similar study, which found that regular intake of calcium and folic acid could save more than $15 billion in health care costs over five years, was released in 2004.

The Lewin Group analyzed hundreds of studies conducted over the last 30 years on omega-3s and lutein with zeaxanthin. The group concluded that an 1,800 milligram daily dose of omega-3s [link added] could reduce coronary heart disease in people over age 65, resulting in 384,303 fewer hospitalizations over the next five years and a consequent $3.1 billion savings in health care expenditures.

Seniors who take 6 milligrams to 10 milligrams a day of lutein with zeaxanthin [link added] could reduce their susceptibility to age-related macular degeneration, The Lewin Group found. During the next five years, that would result in 98,219 fewer people losing their independence because of advanced AMD, saving $2.5 billion in caregiving costs.

Although this year’s Lewin Group study wasn’t as widely reported as last year’s, [...] the findings resulted in the creation of the Congressional Dietary Supplement Caucus. “This is the first-ever assembly of congressional representatives that will collectively be supporting our interests,” he said. “It puts their views in a public forum and sends a message to their colleagues that there is bipartisan support for continued availability and access to these vital products.” The caucus, headed by Reps. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Dan Burton, R-Ind., is still in the formation stage, said Cannon’s spokesman, Charles Isom. “We have three co-chairs, and we’re looking for a fourth to make it bipartisan.” Isom said the caucus’ goal is to “educate members of Congress — in a bipartisan manner — regarding dietary supplement use, and to promote health and well-being.”

Balbert said DSEA plans to commission further studies on supplements’ role in reducing health care costs. “The industry lobbyists used [the 2004 study] extensively in all lobbying efforts,” and reports had been highly favorable, he said.

SOURCE: Natural Foods Merchandiser volume XXVI/number 12/p. 7

Vitamin D seems to be getting a fair amount of attention lately. We’ve learned that it can help in managing congestive heart failure and is important for bone health. New research suggests it also is linked to higher birth weights for newborns.

Reuters Health reported on an article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal revealing that lower levels of Vitamin D consumption — even when those levels were within the recommended range — were associated with giving birth to smaller infants.

Reuters Health stated, “There has been little research, [however,] into women’s vitamin D needs during pregnancy. The adequate level set for all younger adults is based on decades-old research on the amount of vitamin D necessary to prevent the bone disease rickets.”

It is gratifying to see an acknowledgement that “official” recommended nutrient levels are geared only to deficiency disease prevention… and are quite old. They have no bearing, really, on the levels that are optimal for health and well-being. And, as these researchers acknowledged, more, new research needs to be done to establish those optimal levels. I hope it happens!

There was a fascinating article in the November 2005 National Geographic on centenarians — specific populations that have very long-lived members. One of the common denominators among these groups is their healthy diets: natural whole foods, no “junk” food. The journalist on assignment stated that how long you live (and how well) is influenced 30% by genetics and 70% by lifestyle. So being hyvin [well] really is up to you!

While a belly laugh sounds fun, belly fat is no laughing matter. Here’s a discussion on belly fat from Nedra Sahr, M.S., C.N.S.:

Pot belly — spare tire — love handles… call it what you will… it’s without question the first concern most of us have when we want to get in shape. Belly fat is stored energy. To get rid of the fat, you have to burn more energy (calories) than you take in. There is a link between abdominal fat and markers of chronic inflammation. The idea is that fat is an “organ” that produces substances such as leptins and cytokines that can affect your health.

Most doctors will tell you that the best way to avoid a heart attack is to lower your cholesterol… that’s only true for less than half of all patients at risk for heart disease. What we now know is that there’s another, possibly more, important marker, the amount of inflammation that you have in your body. We measure it by checking the levels of C-reactive protein in the blood. Elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) are linked with a higher than average risk of heart disease.

What’s interesting is that higher CRP levels are linked with body fat, especially the belly fat stored around your waist AND that belly fat is linked with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance, Syndrome X, Dysglycemia are all terms for the same condition: an abnormal insulin response in the body brought on by consuming too many fast-burning carbohydrates.

The answer to body fat is to eliminate refined fast burning carbohydrates from the diet, replace them with whole fruit and vegetables, and eventually whole grain products and to couple that with a consistent program of exercise. This process works!

If you’re one of those people who struggle with cravings for those fast-burning carbs, you’ll be happy to know there is natural craving reduction help available!