Editors note: The opinions expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the AAMC or its members.

Recent statistics on electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), popularly known as vaping devices or e-cigarettes, are frightening. The most recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate that a quarter of U.S. high school seniors report having vaped in the previous month. The health consequences of a generation of teenagers addicted to nicotine could be devastating, and if thats not bad enough, more than a thousand recent cases of severe acute lung injury and at least 26 deaths have now been associated with the use of vaping products.

According to the CDC, as of October 15, 2019, among the 849 patients for whom data are available (out of a total of 1,479 reported U.S. cases of vaping-related lung injury), 78% reported using vape products that contained THC and just under one-third reported using THC vape products exclusively. Meanwhile, 58% reported using vapes that contained nicotine and 10% reported using nicotine vapes exclusively. Because of the overlap between the groups using THC and nicotine vape products, it is unclear whether these cases involved only commercially available products, as opposed to black market components. The situation has already become severe enough to merit its own name: E-cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury (EVALI).

Many people have asked me about my views on vaping. My thoughts on this topic, gathered below, encompass a history of interaction with tobacco products both as an academic clinician and during an intense stint as Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). I hope these reflections will be useful to the many concerned people who are now considering what should be done in the face of an emerging public health problem.

Lately, Ive been thinking about these issues every time I walk by the statue of James Buchanan Buck Duke in front of the Duke Chapel on the grounds of the university where barring a handful of years devoted to completing a residency and to serving at the FDA Ive spent the last half century. J.B. Duke, the benefactor of Duke University, made his initial fortune by developing a scalable approach to manufacturing and distributing cigarettes. When he took over the family business at age 28, the industry was transitioning from producing tobacco for hand-rolled cigarettes to the industrial manufacture (and aggressive marketing) of mass-produced tobacco products. Within 5 years, the American Tobacco Company was producing and distributing half of all American-made cigarettes and had established a global conglomerate of multiple kinds of tobacco products. It became such a dominant enterprise that the Supreme Court dissolved it in a 1911 antitrust action, and the Dukes went on to more constructive enterprises, developing extensive textile companies and investing in hydroelectric power generation to create what would become Duke Power. The rest of the devastating tobacco epidemic is history a history inextricably entwined with the founding of Duke University.

Fast-forwarding to 2004, I find myself at Oxford University, sitting at the head table at a celebration for the renowned epidemiologist Sir Richard Doll. Sir Richard, then over 90 years old and still working, had led what is arguably the most important study of the lethal effects of tobacco, the British Doctors Study. He and his colleagues followed an entire cohort of British doctors until all of them died truly a study with 100% follow-up. In the end, there was a 10-year difference in life expectancy between doctors who smoked and those who didnt. This was literally the smoking gun for the fact that smoking causes premature death, heart disease, and cancer in addition to a host of other health problems. It would, however, take decades to translate this epidemiological breakthrough into partially effective public policy.

When I assumed the post of FDA Deputy Commissioner in 2015 I had no knowledge of the complexity of regulating a product that harms peoples health but is liked by a large proportion of the population, supported by a tradition of lethally effective lawyering, and heavily subsidized by an industry with deep pockets and a significant political constituency.

As a cardiac intensivist and clinical cardiologist, for decades I witnessed firsthand the ravages of tobacco products in the patients cared for by our cardiac team. In the early 1980s cardiac care units were packed with middle-aged men with acute myocardial infarction, and sudden death was depressingly common. I didnt think much about nicotine addiction, other than noticing how difficult it was to stop smoking despite various aids and medications. When I assumed the post of FDA Deputy Commissioner in 2015, I thought the agency was poised to continue contributing to the noticeable decline in the use of tobacco products that had taken place in recent decades. I had no knowledge of the complexity of regulating a product that harms peoples health but is liked by a large proportion of the population (many of whom are addicted to it), supported by a tradition of lethally effective lawyering, and heavily subsidized by an industry with deep pockets and a significant political constituency.

There is a widespread misconception that the FDA has been regulating tobacco products since the time that a young FDA commissioner, David Kessler, MD, confronted the tobacco industry in the 1990s. Kessler and his colleagues used their authority to uncover documents revealing the tobacco industrys efforts to obfuscate evidence of harm from their products and to optimize the addictive activity of nicotine on the brain in secret human and animal studies. They also found that tobacco companies were using an old-fashioned method of gene editing breeding plants from seeds that were irradiated to create mutations that would increase nicotine content.

Kesslers argument in 1996 hinged on the assertion that nicotine was a drug and therefore should fall under the FDAs jurisdiction. After a long journey through the lower courts, the case went to the Supreme Court, which ruled against the FDA by a 5-4 vote. The courts majority held that the control of products that were neither safe nor effective for health did not fall under the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act from which the FDA derives its regulatory authority. At the same time, the FDA was pushing for better regulation of dietary supplements to empower the agency to evaluate the safety and efficacy of food supplements prior to marketing. The public health lost on both counts, as we now have a supplement industry worth almost $200 billion that promotes health claims with no evidentiary standard, and the tobacco industry successfully used the courts to block the FDA from regulating tobacco.

Although Kesslers leadership exposed the egregious misdeeds of the tobacco industry, it was not until the election of President Barack Obama in 2008 that Congress passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA), which specifically assigned authority for the regulation of tobacco products to the FDA on the premise that adults had the freedom to choose to use tobacco products but minors should not be exposed to an addictive substance.

The FDA then started a new center, the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), whose current director, Mitch Zeller, JD, cut his teeth as part of Kesslers team. In addition to specifying how tobacco products would be regulated, the CTP which was essentially a startup within a decades-old organization developed an enforcement approach and undertook a major research effort supported by hundreds of millions of dollars in funding derived from user fees assessed to the regulated industry. Among the many interesting elements of the TCA was a provision that prohibited the FDA from outlawing tobacco altogether, and a stipulation that the nicotine concentration of the leaf could not be reduced to zero, although it could be lowered based on scientific evidence. One particularly positive outcome of this regulation was the allocation of substantial funding to support desperately needed research on tobacco product toxicity and the epidemiology of the use of tobacco products in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health.

It was not until the election of President Barack Obama in 2008 that Congress passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (TCA), which specifically assigned authority for the regulation of tobacco products to the FDA on the premise that adults had the freedom to choose to use tobacco products but minors should not be exposed to an addictive substance.

A recurring societal theme that has shaped the regulation of tobacco is the ambiguous view that our society holds about addictive substances. For example, alcohol, marijuana, opioids, amphetamines, and tobacco have major differences, but they share a risk of either addiction or extraordinary dependence with repetitive use. Alcohol is legal, but prohibited for youth in state regulation. Marijuana until recently was uniformly illegal, but is now legal in many states for medical use and in a moderate number of states for recreational use, although it remains illegal under federal law. Amphetamine derivatives are contained in many over-the-counter and prescription medications, but methamphetamine is illegal and its use is growing rapidly again as opioids become more difficult to obtain. Opioids are prescribed legally, but they are illegal for consumer use. The result of this mix of legal and illegal use of addictive substances is that our jails are full of drug users who have committed nonviolent crimes, significant premature death and disability is tolerated, and there are enormous disparities in enforcement as functions of wealth, race, and power. The compromise embodied in the TCA, in which the FDA is enjoined to regulate tobacco without eliminating its use, reflects this ambiguous American view of individual freedom versus the risk posed by addictive and dangerous substances.

However, to fully understand the history of tobacco regulation since the passage of the TCA, one also needs a basic understanding of how federal laws are interpreted and implemented. In essence, once Congress enacts a law, that law must then be interpreted, and federal rules provide binding instructions on how a law is interpreted by the relevant federal agencies. Guidances are nonbinding recommendations that describe tactical approaches to implementing a law as interpreted within the context of the rules. Before a rule can be enacted, a proposed rule must be posted for a period of public comment and written responses made to each comment. Rules with significant economic impact require evaluation of the potential societal economic impact on the United States, a task performed by a little-known cadre of health economists employed by the relevant agency (the FDA has several dozen health economists) and checked and revised by the Office of Management and Budget. Before a rule is finalized, it goes up and down the chain of the executive branch of government and a formal notice-and-comment process requires public posting of the proposed rule and a formal response to every comment.

In order to regulate a tobacco product, the FDA had to write a rule that would specify which products it deemed to be subject to the TCA. The law immediately deemed cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and hand-rolled tobacco as subject to the TCA, and required the FDA to stipulate what other tobacco products it would regulate. Thus, in order to regulate cigars, e-cigarettes, and hookah and vaping products, the FDA had to write a rule that was processed through the formal notice-and-comment rule-making process. The shorthand for this effort is deeming regulation.

At every step of the way, attempts to regulate tobacco and related products have been contested and undermined by the tobacco industry, whose relationship with regulators stands in stark contrast to that of medical product industries and the FDA. The FDAs mission statement identifies ensuring public safety as its primary mission, but also encompasses the promotion of innovation under the premise that approved or cleared products will improve longevity, function, or quality of life. The question at the heart of the agencys relation with the tobacco industry is, essentially, what can be done with regulation to limit the number of people killed or disabled by tobacco products?

An important facet of this story concerns the FDAs battle with the tobacco industry over advertising. Because of the modern interpretation of the First Amendment, companies essentially have the same rights of free speech as those enjoyed by individuals, and any government interference with that speech requires definitive evidence of an overriding societal interest. Prior to my tenure at the FDA, the agency suffered a legal defeat when a panel of judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the graphic warnings (essentially, pictures of people experiencing the dire health consequences of tobacco use) that the FDA sought to mandate on tobacco product packaging infringed on the First Amendment rights of tobacco companies. This ruling came despite definitive research demonstrating that the use of such warnings was associated with significant reductions in smoking behavior in controlled studies that almost certainly would have led to a reduction in death and disability. Since that defeat, the agency has continued to gather evidence about the effectiveness of this approach and once again is poised to issue a rule requiring the placement of graphic warnings on tobacco packaging.

The question at the heart of the agencys relation with the tobacco industry is, essentially, what can be done with regulation to limit the number of people killed or disabled by tobacco products?

An additional key background issue concerns the economics of tobacco and tobacco products. My own introduction to these issues occurred during a clandestine breakfast meeting with a famous demographer and epidemiologist who had conducted a 1990s version of a big data analysis. This persons conclusions: tobacco produced economic benefit not only because it created jobs, but also because it reduced longevity after retirement. In other words, people who die from tobacco-related diseases often die from sudden cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or lung cancer all of which are associated with relatively short intervals of disability.

At the time, this rather cold-blooded argument seemed solid from a purely economic perspective. Nevertheless, I couldnt help feeling that like most people, when I reached retirement age, I would like to enjoy those extra years after my normal working life. At the time I had not heard of the concept of lost consumer surplus, a term used in economics to measure the difference between what consumers are willing to pay for a good or service and the market equilibrium price.

When I arrived at the FDA, I was fascinated to learn that this concept had become a hot-button issue in the economic evaluation of tobacco policy, with a group of economists arguing that the loss of consumer surplus offsets a very high proportion of the economic benefit of reducing the use of tobacco products. Notably, the arguments rationale assumes an individual consumer making a free and informed choice, but that is a big assumption when the individual in question is addicted to a substance (in this case, nicotine) and has been subjected to a protracted and sophisticated campaign of misleading messaging. I raise this issue not to debate a complicated economic concept but to point out that what appears obvious to a medical or public health professional can look different to people from other vantage points.

Discussing policies related to vaping products would be difficult without this background. In Part 2 of this piece, I will give my personal perspective on the complex issue of regulating vaping products.

Robert M. Califf, MD, MACC, is Vice Chancellor for Health Data Science, Director of Duke Forge, and the Donald F. Fortin Professor of Cardiology at Duke University School of Medicine. He sits on the corporate board for Cytokinetics and is board chair for the People-Centered Research Foundation. He is also employed as an advisor by Verily Life Sciences (Alphabet).

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Should the federal government regulate vaping? - AAMC

Vitamin D is created by the body from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors, so people must make sure they get enough exposure to the sun to top up the vitamin. Certain groups are at risk of running a vitamin D deficiency, however, which can cause a number of bodily changes.

It is well understood that lacking the nutrient can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults.

In addition to bone problems, evidence published in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases also revealed a strong association between low levels of the vitamin and dry eyes.

According to Mayo Clinic, dry eyes is a common condition that occurs when your tears aren't able to provide adequate lubrication for your eyes, which can cause discomfort, such as a stinging or burning sensation.

The study researchers hypothesised that the link to vitamin D levels is attributed to its anti-inflammatory properties - tear gland damage from inflammation is one of common causes of dry eyes.

In addition, the researchers proposed that vitamin D may help prevent dry eyes by inducing cathelicidin, an anti-microbial protein that can be produced by cells in the eyes and heal eye wounds.

In order to test this hypothesis, researchers compared the prevalence and symptom severity of dry eyes between 50 vitamin D deficient (levels less than 20 ng/ml or 50 nmol/l) women and 48 vitamin D sufficient (levels greater than or equal to 20 ng/ml or 50 nmol/l) women.

The researchers only included pre-menopausal women, since postmenopausal hormonal changes have been found to be associated with dry eye.

READ MOREVitamin B12 deficiency symptoms: The warning sign in your hands you could be lacking B12

Foods which contain vitamin D include:

As most of these foods are animal products, its harder to get vitamin D from food if you are vegan or vegetarian.

As most of these foods are animal products, its harder to get vitamin D from food if you are vegan or vegetarian, notes the NHS but calcium - the key mineral found in vitamin D - can be found in other foods.

These include:

Vitamin D can also be taken in supplement form, and the Department of Health recommends that you take a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D throughout the year if you:

It added: If you have dark skin for example you have an African, African-Caribbean or south Asian background you may also not get enough vitamin D from sunlight.

You should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D throughout the year.

The NHS advises against taking too many vitamin D supplements a long period of time as this can cause too much calcium to build up in the body.

This can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart, so if you choose to take vitamin D supplements, 10 micrograms a day will be enough for most people, says the health body.

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Vitamin D deficiency: The sign in your eye that could signal you are lacking the vitamin - Express

Have you noticed lattes, ice cream and smoothies with a tawny hue? That could be a sign of a not-so-secret ingredient: turmeric. The botanical is omnipresent in health food aisles, in the form of pills and powders.

Turmeric, native to South Asia, is one of the fastest-growing dietary supplements. In 2018, products racked up an estimated 300 million in sales in the United States, a more than sevenfold increase from a decade earlier, according to a report from Nutrition Business Journal.

Brightening up the pantries of many homes in India, the spice is interwoven into daily life, the cuisine, and cultural and healing traditions. A member of the ginger family, it has been used in ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Apply turmeric to wounds, and its believed to fight infection. Mix it with milk, and the mind calms. Tint the entrance of new homes with a paste to welcome prosperity.

Turmeric is auspicious and one of the most important herbs, said Anupama Kizhakkeveettil, a board member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association.

Sliced open, or dried into a spice, the Curcuma longa plant imparts its amber colour and earthy, bitter flavour to food like curry. The active ingredient captured in many turmeric supplements is curcumin. Curcumin, along with the other curcuminoid compounds, compose only about 3 per cent of the dried spice.

And bottles will often say turmeric on the front but list curcumin in the ingredients.

Turmeric is hailed for helping a host of conditions: high cholesterol, hay fever, depression, gingivitis, premenstrual syndrome and even hangovers. In ayurvedic medicine, it is believed to act as an anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic, and has long been used to help with diabetes, pain, rheumatism, osteoarthritis, memory and skin conditions like eczema.

We use it for so many different conditions, its a time-tested herb, Kizhakkeveettil said. Unfortunately, our science doesnt fit into complete randomised controlled trials. That is alternative medicines biggest challenge.

Researchers sought to answer this by sifting through the available literature. In a 2017 paper in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, they concluded its fools gold. There are claims that it can cure everything, said Kathryn Nelson, a research assistant professor at the University of Minnesota and the studys lead author. To me, that is a red flag.

Dr Amit Garg, a professor of medicine at Western University in London, Ontario, knew about turmerics medicinal use because of his Indian heritage. He knew first hand of its rich cultural significance too: on his wedding day, his relatives rubbed the spice all over him because it is believed to be cleansing.

After seeing the effectiveness of curcumin, in smaller studies, Garg and his colleagues decided to test it on a larger scale in hopes it would make elective aortic surgery safer by reducing the risk of complications, which include heart attacks, kidney injury and death. In the randomised clinical trial that followed, about half of the 606 patients were administered 2,000 milligrams of curcumin eight times over for four days, while the others were given a placebo. It was a bit disappointing, but we couldnt demonstrate any benefit used in this setting, Garg said of the study, published last year in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

In fact, there is not enough reliable evidence in humans to recommend turmeric or curcumin for any condition, according to the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Turmeric became a nutritional golden child partly because of its promise in laboratory studies cellular and animal. Some research indicates that both turmeric and curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric supplements, have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-parasitic activity. But this has mostly been demonstrated in laboratory studies, and, in many cases, the benefits of preclinical research isnt observed in clinical trials.

According to Natural Medicines, a database that provides monographs for dietary supplements, herbal medicines, and complementary and integrative therapies, while some clinical evidence shows that curcumin might be beneficial for depression, hay fever, hyperlipidemia, ulcerative colitis, osteoarthritis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, its still too early to recommend the compound for any of these conditions.

And Natural Medicines has found there isnt enough good scientific evidence to rate turmeric or curcumins use for memory, diabetes, fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis, gingivitis, joint pain, PMS, eczema or hangovers.

Physicians say more research is needed. Dr Gary Small, a professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, who studies curcumins effect on memory, sees a lot of therapeutic potential. He also states that existing research demonstrates curcumins biological effects.

What may be affecting curcumins efficacy, doctors say, is that it is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. In Indian cooking, turmeric is usually heated in a fat, like oil, which can increase absorption. Certain supplement manufacturers are also taking steps to improve this curcumins bioavailability by combining the compound with other components. For instance, a chemical found in black pepper called piperine is sometimes added to curcumin supplements in proprietary blends to increase its absorption.

Researching curcumin can be challenging because some blends have better bioavailability than others, and varying amounts of the active ingredient. If you did the study over and over again but used slightly different preparations, you would probably have different results, said Dr Janet Funk, a professor of medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, who studies curcumins effect on bone.

Still, even if absorption improved, curcumin would not have any biological effects, Nelson contends. Turmeric may still have health benefits, she said, but they just may be from another compound or combination of compounds.

Consuming it by mouth is safe, up to 2g of turmeric daily for a year, and 4g daily of curcumin for a month, according to Natural Medicines. Turmeric aficionados who also use it as a face mask can relax too; the database indicates it is most likely safe to apply to the skin.

Doctors recommend that patients tell a physician they are taking turmeric. High doses of turmeric and its isolated constituents can have some rather unpleasant side effects, including diarrhea and nausea. Curcumin may also interact with anti-coagulants and anti-platelets, antacids, and drugs used for chemotherapy and to control blood pressure. While the spice is considered safe in food, therapeutic doses should be avoided during pregnancy.

The US Food and Drug Administration does not test dietary supplements such as turmeric for safety and effectiveness but announced this year that it would improve oversight of the growing industry.

One study published in 2018 in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, found that the cheaper the turmeric product, the more likely it was to have chemical compounds suggestive of synthetic curcumin; and products with turmeric root were more likely to have higher lead levels. One sample exceeded recommended limits for lead.

How about all those turmeric lattes? Doctorssay that sprinkling a little bit of the bitter spice into frothed milk doesnt have proven health benefits. But that doesnt mean it isnt delicious.

As for Garg, he is not closing the bottle cap on curcumin. To wit: he is in the middle of a randomised study with a different preparation and dosing to see if curcumin prevents the progression of kidney disease. There are still many promising things about curcumin and turmeric, he said. I remain open-minded. New York Times

Continued here:

Turmeric: what are the benefits and is it good for you? - The Irish Times

Two years ago, when Shonna Saari took ownership of the Country Way Health Food Store on Brock Street, she had a new vision in mind to build community through health literacy and education.

While the store has been in operation for a total of 42 years, Saari has used her ownership to heighten the stores profile and its passion for hosting health seminars had attracted attention.

For the first two years, we really just worked on establishing ourselves as a business, says Saari. But during the past six months, weve been able to focusmuch more on our workshops.

These have included partnering with an arthritis support group, who asked holistic nutritionist (and store employee) Sophie Storozuk to present on reducing joint pain through nutritional supplements.

The store has also partnered with Marilyn Dennis Show regular Karlene Karst. The author of This Kitchen Is For Dancing was invited by Saari to come to give two separate talks at Quattro an event that drew 100 participants locally.

The first talk was on healthy fats and the most recent one was on a variety of topics, like easy ways to incorporate healthy foods into your everyday routine, says Saari.

But the Country Way also draws on its local expertise. Brittany Nicholson, a holistic nutritionist and store employee, will be offering a Do It Yourself Kombucha Night on Nov. 28.

Kombucha, a fermented tea, has become famous for its rich antioxidant dose and probiotic composition and is offered for free to shoppers who come in to browse at the store.

Now local agencies have come to the Country Way to request seminars. The next one coming up is a presentation we are doing in partnership with Women in Crisis, says Saari. They approached us to do an educational workshop on supplements, teas, and other health offerings that help with stress reduction and inflammation problems.

Saari says she will be bringing samples from the store for women to try.

One unique item Saari plans on bringing is the little known chaga mushroom. Annanda Chaga, a Sault-owned business, has been distributing the product for a few years now in various forms from chaga mushroom chunks to powders to tinctures. The mushroom, which grows on the side of birch trees, is a powerful anti-oxidant that helps a variety of ailments.

Everything that I have in the store has been certified through Health Canada, says Saari. Chaga is one of a few products shell be introducing to the residents of Women in Crisis.

Supporting local businesses is truly my passion and I feature products from over 30 local vendors in the store, says Saari.

Local honey, maple syrup, bone broth, sauekraut, local beef, local bison, and even local pottery are just a few products in the store.

We also welcome those new to health and wellness to the store to ask questions, says Saari. Thats what health literacy is all about.

We're looking for ideas! Know about a new health and wellness trendthat should be featured in this column? Let us know atnews@sootoday.com

Continued here:

Class in session: Health food workshops in demand, says store owner - SooToday.com

For each of the career highlights that I remember, theres a mountain of dread that hangs underneath (Picture: Mike Lewis Photography/Redferns)

If the average persons career was a line graph, there would be several stand-out moments that jut up above the line.

We all know them: the time you impressed the boss by solving something others couldnt, the time you handed in that project you toiled over, the work social where someone drank too much.

I wont begin to try and convince you that my career, as a member of The Vamps, is the norm, but bear with me. Like everyone else, Ive been lucky enough to experience especially memorable moments over the years including releasing five top 10 singles and a number one album, and being the first band to headline Londons O2 Arena five years in a row.

But for me, those stand-out moments were completely overshadowed by an eating disorder.

In the thousands of interviews weve had since 2011, we frequently get asked if any of us have any major regrets. Typically, I tend to brush this off with something playful and hollow; something like not trying to date half of LA, or forgetting to pack my toothbrush when we toured with Taylor Swift.

The truth? I regret running, pretending, denying that I had a problem with food. For each of those career highlights that I remember, theres a mountain of dread that hangs underneath. The line chart is merely a series of peaks disguising a darker reality beneath the surface.

To the public, the pictures printed in the press when we celebrated our number one album in 2016 looked like success. Champagne, posh London hotel, laughter. The Vamps boys were on top of the world.

Looking back now kills me, because I can finally see just how wasted that whole period was for me. I might have physically been there but my mind wasnt it was echoing around empty corridors in my head, questioning whether I could get to the gym later to burn off the extra alcoholic calories, or better yet, whether I could skip the celebratory dinner with the record label to shave off an extra 1000.

I may as well have not even been in The Vamps then. I was a shell of my former self: short-tempered, bad mannered, and shallow. I was obsessed with myself, critiquing every angle in the mirror, judging my happiness on whether my arms looked toned enough on a given morning.

Ironically, I was so transfixed on myself that I failed to register how much I was neglecting my overall wellbeing. I added creatine powder to lifting weights and came up with happiness as the answer. I couldnt have been more wrong.

Happiness is not obsessing over food and supplements from the moment you wake up; its not spending two hours a day in the gym in the hope to be accepted. It took me a long time to realise that the genuine key to happiness is accepting yourself.

Happiness is not obsessing over food and supplements from the moment you wake up

It took me 24 years to recognise that spiralling around a vicious cycle of food and lifting weights was never going to result in genuine satisfaction. I could always lift more and eat less, and Id still find myself staring disappointedly staring into a mirror.

Acknowledging the flaws in severe dieting and obsessive work-out plans was fundamental to my recovery. Sure, I can still enjoy eating healthily and going to the gym, but I have to constantly remain conscious of when that obsession begins creeping in again which it so frequently does.

Ultimately, I see this issue as an addiction, and it must therefore be viewed with the appropriate seriousness.

I realised recently that I fell into a slightly obscure category of society. Primarily, Im a musician. However, in the wonderfully weird world of social media, I find myself approaching 2020 with approximately 3,000,000 followers. That apparently makes me influential. Like my mental health, I ignored the importance of this for years.

Vocalising my emotions caused an immediate ripple across my social channels, spurring me to research male mental health.

I was shocked, particularly with the statistics around men and eating disorders. The fact that 45 per cent of men in the UK are dissatisfied with their body image and that 17 per cent of men in the UK are on an extreme diet because of this is staggering.

Actively addressing my own situation was the only way I was eventually able to break out of my self-perpetuating rut. Communication was the key for me, and thats why Im so keen to partner with TOMs and The Mix.

Together were launching the Body and Soul Club, a digital community where young people can talk about healthy approaches to body image and masculinity.

We must campaign for change, and encourage more men to air their struggles.

If you suspect you, a family member or friend has an eating disorder, contact Beat on 0808 801 0677 or at help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk, for information and advice on the best way to get appropriate treatment

The Mix offers essential support for under-25s, covering a broad spectrum of issues including drug abuse, homelessness, and mental health. Get in touch with them here.

Find out how you can get involved in the Body and Soul Club here.

MORE: Yes, men get eating disorders my brother died from his

MORE: How can social media have a less toxic effect on our body image and mental health?

MORE: Kids will keep developing eating disorders until we address our relationship with food

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My time in The Vamps was overshadowed by my eating disorder - Metro.co.uk

With help from Mona Zhang

Editor's Note: This edition of Morning Agriculture is published weekdays at 10 a.m. POLITICO Pro Agriculture subscribers hold exclusive early access to the newsletter each morning at 6 a.m. Learn more about POLITICO Pro's comprehensive policy intelligence coverage, policy tools and services at http://www.politicopro.com.

Even in an increasingly health-conscious America, the federal government has devoted only a tiny fraction of its research dollars to nutrition, a POLITICO investigation found. Meanwhile, consumers are confused about what to eat and increasingly suffering from diet-related diseases.

The FDA on Thursday announced new tools for detecting worrisome non-stick chemicals, known as PFAS, in the food supply.

Billionaire activist and Democratic presidential contender Tom Steyer is rolling out his platform for rural America today, and MA has the scoop.

A message from the National Confectioners Association:

#AlwaysATreat: It's the Halloween season, and we want to make sure you enjoy your favorite treats with no tricks. Were coming together to help people manage their sugar intake and ensure that they feel empowered to make informed choices when enjoying their favorite treats. Learn more at AlwaysATreat.com/HalloweenCentral

HAPPY FRIDAY, NOV. 1! Welcome to Morning Ag, where your host loves Brussels sprouts and is thankful for the genetic breeding that made them tasty! Send news tips to cboudreau@politico.com and @ceboudreau, and follow us @Morning_Ag.

WHY WE DONT KNOW WHAT TO EAT TO STAY HEALTHY: Nutrition research is an afterthought in Washington even though diet-related diseases like obesity and Type 2 diabetes are skyrocketing, threatening the fiscal sustainability of the U.S. health care system, reports your host and Pro Ags Helena Bottemiller Evich.

A POLITICO analysis of federal budget documents dating back decades reveals that NIH and USDA, as a share of their overall research dollars, are shrinking investments in nutrition. NIH in 2018 invested $1.8 billion, or just under 5 percent of its total budget. USDAs Agricultural Research Service spends much less: Just $88 million was devoted to nutrition last year, or a little more than 7 percent of its overall research portfolio virtually the same as in 1983 when adjusted for inflation.

To boot, theres a lack of federal leadership on nutrition research, no major lobbying force on Capitol Hill, and a nutrition science community that finds itself fighting over whether public health enemy No. 1 is processed carbs or fat or sodium or sugar. Meanwhile, consumers get a regular dose of whiplash on diet advice: One day coffee is healthy, the next its not; red wine is good for your heart, or maybe not; cheese is either a healthy source of protein and calcium, or a dangerous overdose of fat and salt.

This has prompted calls for establishing a National Institute of Nutrition, to be housed under NIH. Leading that effort is Joon Yun, a Silicon Valley investor better known for putting up millions to spur innovations to end aging. He and two high-profile allies Dariush Mozaffarian, dean of Tufts Universitys nutrition school, and David Kessler, who led the FDA during the George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations are trying to build momentum on Capitol Hill.

I dont think we can afford not to have a National Institute of Nutrition, Yun said. Pros, read the profile from yours truly and Helena here.

FDA HAS A NEW WAY TO TEST FOR PFAS IN FOOD: The agency on Thursday announced it has a scientifically validated method for testing 16 different types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in food a significant step for FDA and state health and environmental authorities that are trying to determine how much Americans are exposed to the chemicals through their diet.

As part of this effort, the FDA in June released the preliminary results of PFAS testing in a limited sampling of foods, including from areas specifically affected by PFAS environmental contamination and the general food supply, via a routine program monitoring about 800 contaminants in the average U.S. diet. After applying the validated testing method to the initial results which detected PFAS, in many cases at very low levels, in 14 out of 91 samples the FDA said thats been revised to only two out of the 91 samples.

The new results: PFAS, after initially being detected in a range of foods, was only present in ground turkey and tilapia. It was also detected in milk and produce from areas with known environmental contamination; the milk was discarded and didnt enter the food supply, while the agency determined the concentrations in produce were so low they werent a human health concern.

Curious case of chocolate cake: The preliminary testing also showed extremely high levels of PFAS in chocolate cake. However, FDA determined that chocolate appears to produce false positives. To avoid this, the new validated testing includes an additional step to confirm measurements.

There are nearly 5,000 types of PFAS, which since the 1940s have been used in everything from Teflon cookware to food packaging. PFAS have been dubbed forever chemicals because they can take thousands of years to degrade. Theyre found in about 99.8 percent of Americans blood, and several of the most well-studied are linked to kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease and other ailments.

STEYER UNVEILS PLAN FOR RURAL AMERICA: The billionaire activist is rolling out his Partnership with Rural America platform today, and MA got a sneak preview. Steyer joins many of his 2020 Democratic rivals in calling for the agriculture sector to address the climate crisis, pledging to spend $50 billion helping growers adopt climate-smart practices, $75 billion building green water infrastructure and $20 billion reforming land conservation easement tax credits.

He also set a goal for agriculture to be carbon neutral by 2045, aided by revenue-generating market mechanisms that would direct at least 50 percent of the proceeds to disadvantaged communities and small- and mid-sized farmers. (Check out a profile of Steyer from POLITICOs Eugene Daniels.)

Steyer wants to establish an Office of Rural Affairs in the White House, which would coordinate his plans for the health care system, such as preventing hospital closures in remote areas while investing $100 billion over a decade in mental health and $75 billion to combat the opioid epidemic. It would also expand rural housing programs.

Support for clean energy and public lands initiatives are Steyers most robust financial commitments, where he would spend upward of $200 billion. The candidate did not detail how he plans to fund much of his rural platform, however.

EXCLUSIVE: HEMP ORG RELEASES NEW GUIDANCE: Third-party certification organization U.S. Hemp Authority is releasing new guidance procedures today, Pro Cannabis Mona Zhang has learned. The guidance establishes definitions for labels often found on cannabidiol, or CBD, products like full spectrum and takes cues from the FDAs regulations on food, supplements and cosmetics (although the agency has yet to release rules for CBD).

Amid the regulatory limbo, some in the hemp industry have taken steps to self-regulate. The goal, the organizations President Marielle Weintraub said, is to avoid what I refer to as a 60 Minutes moment where one company does something that brings down this entire industry, because it is under a microscope. Weintraub added that to keep up with CBDs rapid sales growth, her group plans to regularly update the guidelines.

USDA released its own interim hemp rules on Tuesday, but many issues still havent been addressed by federal regulators, including contaminant testing, seed certification and labeling.

The FDA on Thursday announced that an E. coli outbreak involving 23 illnesses was likely associated with romaine lettuce. No deaths were reported and the outbreak appears to be over, the agency said. However, it communicated details to help ensure full awareness by the public and to highlight the ongoing importance of industry actions to ensure the safety of leafy greens.

The Senate on Thursday passed a bipartisan package of fiscal 2020 spending bills that cover USDA and FDA, Pro Budgets Caitlin Emma and Jennifer Scholtes report. But lawmakers are still tangling over the vast majority of government funding, including over President Donald Trumps border wall, as a Nov. 21 deadline looms.

The Trump administration plans to keep some tariffs on Chinese goods for another three years, Pro Trades Doug Palmer reports, based on a Federal Register notice set to be published today.

Around 1 in 4 of the worlds pigs are expected to die from African swine fever, according to the World Organization for Animal Health in Paris. Read the story from POLITICO Europes Arthur Neslen.

Global commodity traders ADM, Bunge and Cargill are sustaining more damage from the U.S.-China trade war, reporting lower quarterly earnings in recent weeks, The Wall Street Journal reports.

A message from the National Confectioners Association:

#AlwaysATreat: At Halloween and throughout the year, were making sure that consumers have more information, options and support with smaller pack sizes, clear calorie labels and even more information online. And since 90 percent of parents use Halloween to talk to their children about balance, this month is the perfect time to talk about little treats with your little ones. Did you know most people in the U.S. enjoy chocolate and candy 2-3 times per week, averaging just 40 calories per day, including during candy moments like Halloween? To provide consumers and parents with more support this Halloween, weve developed a set of digital resources to help make this season a little less spooky. Learn more at AlwaysATreat.com/HalloweenCentral.

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Why we don't know what to eat to stay healthy - Politico

SPRING, Texas, Oct. 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --For the majority of health care professionals, food will always come first, but supplements do still have a place. In Trust Transparency Center's 2019 Registered Dietitian Insights Survey of 200 US-based registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) released today, 66% of RDNs stated they recommend both food and supplements to their clients and 70% personally take supplements four times or more per week.

Dietitian personal supplement usageThe top 10 supplements dietitians reported they personally used were:

1. Multivitamins/multivitamin injections (50%)2. Vitamin D (43%)3. Fish Oil/Omega/Krill (26%)4. Calcium (25%)5. Probiotics (17%)6. Vitamin C (10%)7. Protein (8%)8. Biotin (8%)9. Minerals (7%)10.B Complex (6%)

These dietitians primarily rely on their own research when deciding to take supplements, with dietary deficiencies being the biggest concern (52%), followed by personal research (49%) and personal physician recommendation (31%). Other reasons for taking supplements include condition specific concerns such as inflammation, energy, GI issues, etc.

Dietitian Education and Knowledge of Supplements Most dietitians surveyed were formally educated on the use of supplements, generally while obtaining their nutrition degree (73%) followed through by continuing education (60%). They stay informed regarding supplements via continuing education, medical journals, and colleagues.

Regarding nutritional ingredients, the supplementation conversation may need to extend to functional foods in order to appeal to dietitians that prefer food solutions.

Supplement Recommendations to Patients and ClientsOver three quarters of dietitians recommend supplements to 25% or more of their clients, and dietitians who use more supplements themselves are more likely to recommend them to their patients. The most popular reasons for making recommendations include dietary deficiencies, poor nutrition, caloric needs, wound care, GI or renal problems, and old age. The top five supplements they recommend are:

Dietitians are also increasing their recommendations for specialty supplements such as prebiotics, CoQ10, curcumin/turmeric and collagen. These recommendations are being driven by an increase in research in these categories and dietitians being better informed.

"Americans are generally failing with their diets and physicians have self-reported they're not equipped to address dietary concerns. Dietitians are the optimal conduit to educating people on nutritional needs and supplements have a clear place as part of other healthy lifestyle changes," said Traci Kantowski, Certified Health Coach and Trust Transparency Center's Communications Director. "This research shows that dietitians are taking supplements themselves and recommending them, but will benefit from more education."

TTC conducts this dietitian survey and other insight research on an annual basis. TTC will be sharing these insights and other information on behalf of the Global Prebiotic Association, Global Curcumin Association and the Coconut Coalition of the Americas at Booth #964 at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE) in Philadelphia October 27 to 29, 2019. Learn more at TrustTransparency.com.

Media Contact:Traci Kantowski, 630-923-0211, 227950@email4pr.com

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2nd-annual-survey-of-registered-dietitian-reveals-two-thirds-of-dietitians-recommend-food-and-supplements-to-their-clients-and-the-majority-take-supplements-daily-300945310.html

SOURCE Trust Transparency Center

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2nd Annual Survey of Registered Dietitian Reveals Two-Thirds of Dietitians Recommend Food and Supplements to their Clients and the Majority Take...

The UFC 244 main event between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal will go on as scheduled after the promotion cleared Diaz of any wrongdoing following a drug test result, per President Dana White:

The UFC released a statement clearing Diaz, and it said the following in part:

"On October 24, 2019, Nate Diaz released a public statement regarding a recent out-of-competition test conducted by USADA. UFC has been notified by USADA that the out-of-competition test concluded that LGD-4033 was present in Mr. Diaz's sample at an amount below the decision concentration level for this substance.

"USADA is reviewing the out-of-competition test as an atypical finding. Further laboratory testing conducted by the Sports Medicine Research and Testing Laboratory (SMRTL), a WADA-accredited lab in Salt Lake City, Utah, has confirmed that two bottles of the same organic, vegan, plant-based daily multivitamin that Mr. Diaz was using were each contaminated with LGD-4033, which the evidence supports resulted in Mr. Diaz's positive sample.

"Mr. Diaz has not committed an anti-doping policy violation, has not been provisionally suspended and is not subject to any sanctions. Additionally, UFC has been informed by independent experts who have determined that there is unequivocally no appreciable performance enhancing or therapeutic benefit from the significantly limited amount of LGD-4033 that may be present in his system, which is roughly 10,000 times lower than one LGD-4033 therapeutic dose."

On Thursday, Diaz tweeted that he wasn't fighting after he "tested with elevated levels that they say might be from some tainted supplements," per MMA Weekly(via Yahoo):

"I'm not gonna make it out to NYC for fight week next week because they say I tested with elevated levels that they say might be from some tainted supplements," Diaz wrote.

"I call false on that cause I only take Whole Food or natural food supplements. I dont even eat meat.

"So until UFC, USADA or whoever is f--king with me fixes it, I won't be competing.

"I'm not gonna play their game and try and hide it or keep quiet, as they suggested. I'm not gonna have my name tainted as a cheater like these other motherf--kers who keep quiet until after the fight just so that they can get paid."

In August, Diaz returned to the UFC after a three-year hiatus and defeated Anthony Pettis via unanimous decision. The 34-year-old owns a 20-11 professional MMA record and is ranked as theUFC's No. 6 welterweight.

Diaz is facing a strong competitor in Masvidal, who recorded a UFC-record five-second knockout over Ben Askren in his last fight at UFC 239 in July. The 34-year-old sports a 34-13 professional mark.

Masvidal is the early favorite at the sportsbooks, perOddschecker. He's listed anywhere from -160 to -166, meaning bets of $160 or $166 would win $100 for those odds.

UFC 244, which will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York City, will be Nov. 2. The five-fight main card also includes a middleweight bout between Kelvin Gastelum and Darren Till and a heavyweight bout featuring Derrick Lewis and Blagoy Ivanov.

The night will mark the UFC's 500th live event.

More:

Nate Diaz Cleared of Possible Doping Violation, Will Fight in UFC 244 Main Event - Bleacher Report

As is often the case with chronic health conditions, a large number of people with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) express interest in natural or alternative remedies that might help their condition. This is especially true when it comes to foods and dietary supplements, two areas that can have an impact on general health and inflammation throughout your body.

In many cases, there are valid scientific reasons to believe that certain foods or supplements could reduce the burden of your AS either by reducing inflammation that could affect the disease process, or by improving your general health in a way that makes your AS feel less stressful or fatiguing. Sometimes there are even studies of people with AS or other forms of inflammatory arthritis to support these potential benefits, while in other cases the evidence on a food or supplement is limited to effects seen in the general population.

And then there are claims that have little to no basis in science that still provoke widespread interest. The idea that apple cider vinegar can help treat or manage AS falls into this category.

But having no basis in science doesnt mean that a claim is necessarily completely without merit it just means that it hasnt been studied or provenyet. And while there are reasons to doubt that taking any type of vinegar would be helpful for AS, that doesnt mean certain people wont feel better if they do.

Heres where the evidence stands on apple cider vinegar and AS and some other dietary measures that may be more effective at lowering inflammation.

RELATED: 8 Touted Health Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar (and What the Research Says)

Lets start with the most important point: There really arent any reliable studies looking at the benefit of apple cider vinegar in joint disease, says Sheryl Mascarenhas, MD, a rheumatologist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.

Whats more, she says, there isnt even much of a theoretical reason to believe that taking apple cider vinegar would help AS or any type of inflammatory arthritis.

We know that when you have an inflamed joint, its a very acidic environment, she says. I think there was some thought years ago that [apple cider vinegar] has some ingredients that can alkalinize the joint, but this idea hasnt been supported by any published studies.

Still, Dr. Mascarenhas leaves open the possibility that apple cider vinegar could be beneficial to at least some people with inflammatory conditions. Thats because theres a lot we dont know about the role our gut bacteria plays in inflammation.

Theres a lot of growing evidence that our gut microbiome the bacteria thats naturally harbored in our intestines probably does play a role in our bodys inflammation, and may have a role in ankylosing spondylitis, says Mascarenhas.

But, she notes, I dont know what effect vinegar would have on that. There are probably more questions than answers.

Mascarenhas says that there are ongoing studies on the role of gut bacteria in ankylosing spondylitis, but these are still in fairly early stages, and it may be a while before we can draw any firm conclusions about how this factor affects the AS disease process or symptoms.

There is a tiny shred of evidence that vinegar could have anti-inflammatory effects in some animal models. For example, a study published in July 2017 in the journal Scientific Reports found that in obese mice that were fed a high-fat diet, consuming two different types of vinegar reduced storage of body fat and lowered certain measures of inflammation.

Of course, its beyond a stretch to suggest that a study of obese mice has any particular relevance to AS or joint disease more generally.

The good news is that while there isnt much evidence to support taking apple cider vinegar, several other dietary strategies are widely believed to help reduce inflammation.

One such strategy, says Mascarenhas, is to focus on consuming mostly whole, unprocessed foods.

What I usually tell people is, eating as naturally and as clean as possible is usually a good tip, she notes. Look at the outer edge of the store, and avoid foods that are processed and have a lot of preservatives.

In addition, you may want to focus on including foods in your diet that have known anti-inflammatory effects. These foods include:

If you also want to cook with apple cider vinegar for good measure, theres probably no good reason to avoid it just remember that vinegar can be corrosive.

The biggest side effect Id worry about would be on your dentition, says Mascarenhas. Vinegar really can wear away tooth enamel.

So with these warnings in mind, feel free to include some apple cider vinegar in your diet just dont expect much, if any, effect on your AS.

Read the original here:

Does Apple Cider Vinegar Help Ankylosing Spondylitis? - Everyday Health

For a person being diagnosed with high cholesterol, taking medications such as statins or changing ones diet is likely to be the next steps to managing the condition. The liver makes cholesterol. You can also get it from certain foods that contain it but not as much as from foods that contain saturated and trans fats. These types of fat cause the liver to produce extra cholesterol and makes it dangerous to the health. There are foods, and supplements derived from foods, that can help lower a persons cholesterol. What are they?

Psyllium is a type of fibre commonly used as a gentle, bulk-forming laxative Being a soluble fibre, psyllium is able to pass through the digestive system without being completely broken down or absorbed.

Instead, it absorbs water and becomes a vicious compound that benefits constipation, diarrhoea, blood sugar, blood pressure, cholesterol and weight loss.

Psyllium is used as a dietary supplement and is usually found in the form of husk, granules, capsules or powder.

It can also be obtained through fortified breakfast cereals and baked goods.

Due to psylliums resistance to digestion, the supplement allows proper regulation of high cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar levels.

Psyllium can be found in various forms and has many health benefits.

Psyllium also helps relieve constipation and works by increasing stool size due to its bulk-forming laxative.

Initially, it works by binding to partially digested food thats passing from the stomach into the small intestine.

It then helps with the absorption of water, which increases the size and moisture of stools.

The end product is bigger and more easily passable stools.

This aids in weight loss which in turn helps lower cholesterol.

In one study, 47 healthy participants experienced a 6 percent reduction in LDL 'bad' cholesterol after taking 6g of psyllium each day for six weeks.

For anyone with high cholesterol, taking supplements is highly recommended to help lower levels.

Its also advised to pay attention to the saturated and trans fats on food labels, as well as added sugars.

Its recommended that no more than 10 percent of daily calories should come from either saturated fats or added sugars.

It is also recommended to replace butter with extra virgin olive oil when cooking, to buy lean cuts of meat and to snack on nuts and seeds instead of french fries or processed snack foods.

Speak to your GP and about the best method to help lower cholesterol levels.

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Best supplements for cholesterol: The plant-based supplement proven to lower cholesterol - Express

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA on Thursday suspended Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton for 25 games due to the 71" center testing positive for a banned diuretic.

A diuretic, as explained by the Mayo Clinic, is sometimes referred to as a water pill. A diuretic can provide legitimate medical uses. One is to reduce blood pressure by facilitating the release of sodium into urine and increasing the rate of urine. Athletes, however, sometimes use diuretics to conceal cheating. To that end, diuretics have been used as masking agents to obscure the presence of steroids and performance-enhancing drugs (SPEDs) in an athletes urine. They have also been used to effect rapid weight loss. Those types of practices have occurred for decades in competitive sports. The International Olympic Committees World Anti-Doping Agency includes diuretics on its list of banned substances.

The NBA has not revealed which diuretic was detected in Aytons urine. This confidentiality is consistent with the NBA and National Basketball Players Associations collectively bargained drug testing policy. The policy is detailed in Article XXXIII of the CBA. It prohibits 24 named diuretics, as well as nearly 200 SPEDs. Per the policy, the NBA is not allowed to disclose the identity of the diuretic absent agreement by the NBPA or disclosure by the player or an authorized representative (in contrast, if Ayton had tested positive for a SPED, the substance would be publicly named, per the same policy).

The NBAs drug policy also specifies punishments. The first time a player tests positive for a SPED or diuretic he automatically faces a 25-game suspension. This is a substantial punishment: it reflects approximately 31% of the regular season. Here, such a suspension will cost Ayton $2.17 million, not to mention deprive the Suns of their starting center and, after guard Devin Booker, their top player. There are still other consequences for Ayton. His positive test ensures that hes now in the NBAs SPED Program, which will require him to provide various health care materials to the SPED Medical Director and be subject to additional testing. Should Ayton, 21, test positive a second time during his NBA career, he would face an automatic 55-game suspension; a third offense would warrant a two-year ban from the league.

Companies endorsed by Ayton will take notice of the drug result

Its possible that companies with whom Ayton has signed endorsement deals could review their options to suspend or void those deals. Endorsement deals almost always contain morals clauses. These clauses empower endorsed companies to cut ties with a playerand not pay him or herif the player engages in controversial conduct. Under an ordinary morals clause, a positive drug test would authorize (though not compel) the voidance of an endorsement deal.

Last year, Ayton signed a four-year, multimillion-dollar sneaker deal with Puma. Dont expect Puma to renege on its commitment. Ayton is one of the NBAs most promising young players. The former Arizona Wildcats star was the number one overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. He averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds a game during his rookie season. Ayton projects to have a long and successful NBA career. While a drug suspension is a professional setback and a source of some embarrassment, Ayton should be able to overcome it.

To mitigate the reputational fallout, Ayton has already apologized to his family, the Suns, teammates and fans. In a statement, Ayton expresses that he is extremely disappointed to have let his team down.

Puma, meanwhile, is attempting to carve out space in the competitive marketplace of athletic footwear endorsements. The company has signed several young players, including the first two picks from the 2018 NBA Draft (Ayton and Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley III). It will surely stand by Ayton, who would be of immediate interest to Pumas rivals should he become available.

Legal strategy for Ayton and the NBPA to appeal the suspension

The NBPA, on Aytons behalf, will challenge the 25-game suspension. Article XXXIII contains a detailed procedure for advancing an appeal. The appeal will be heard by a grievance arbitrator, who is neutral and independent. Under Article XXXIII, a player must prove by a clear and convincing evidence that he bears no significant fault or negligence for the presence of a prohibited diuretic in his system.

Ayton will need evidence that shows not only that he didnt know or suspect he was ingesting a diuretic, but that he could not have reasonably known or suspected. Aytons apology explained his likely strategy. He stresses that this was an unintentional mistake and unfortunately I put something in my body that I was completely unaware of.

To be clear, Ayton will need to show more than a lack of intent to ingest a diuretic or unawareness that he was ingesting one. Proving that he made an innocent mistake will not, by itself, lead to a successful appeal. As mentioned above, Ayton must also prove that he could not have reasonably known or suspected.

Ayton will thus need to detail what he consumed and prove that the food, supplements and drinks he ingested would not have motivated an ordinary NBA player in that situation to check the ingredients before consumption. The more unusual and unsuspcecting the circumstances for Aytons consumption the more compelling legal argument he can raise.

The clear and convincing standard is a high one. In a civil lawsuit, a plaintiff must prove by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning more likely than not or anything more than 50% certainty. Although clear and convincing cant be quantified, it is appreciably higher than preponderance of the evidence. This means Ayton will need to thoroughly convince the arbitrator.

The NBPA will advocate for Ayton not only for his sake but also for the sake of precedent. The union wants to ensure that players who test positive due to an (allegedly) understandable mistake should not suffer the same consequence as players who deliberately or recklessly consume foods and drinks that contain prohibited substances. This goes to the heart of Article XXXIII allowing a player and the NBPA to argue that there was neither significant fault nor negligence by the player.

If the arbitrator rules for Ayton, the arbitrator would either reduce the suspension from 25-games to a smaller number of games or rescind the suspension outright. A reduction would be more likely than a rescindment.

Ayton joins a tiny group of NBA players on an ignominious list

Fewer than one percent of NBA players have tested positive SPEDs or diuretics. In fact, over the last dozen years, only nine players have tested positive for SPEDs. Brooklyn Nets forward Wilson Chandler, who in August was suspended 25 games after testing positive for Ipamorelin, is the most recent. No player had tested positive for diuretics until Ayton.

The scarcity of positive SPED and diuretic test results does not appear to be caused by an infrequency of testing. NBA players can be randomly tested (meaning no advance notice) as many as six times during the year. An independent, third-party testing company determines which players are tested and when, meaning neither the NBA nor the NBPA plays any role. Should there be reasonable suspicion that a player is using a prohibited substance, he can be subjected to additional tests.

There are suspicions that the rarity of NBA players testing positive reflects microdosing. This refers to a player ingesting a small enough amount of a prohibited substance that it leaves the body quickly and thus goes undetected in a urine test. The amount, however, is still large enough to provide some degree of competitive advantage. Those suspicions have not been proven.

Michael McCann is SIs Legal Analyst. He is also an attorney and the Director of the Sports and Entertainment Law Institute at the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law.

Excerpt from:

Analyzing Deandre Ayton's Suspension and How He Will Fight It - Sports Illustrated

High blood pressure affects one in four adults in the UK, but many people dont know they have it. This is because symptoms are rarely noticeable. The best way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have your reading regularly checked, either by your GP or local pharmacist or using a blood pressure monitor at home. High blood pressure can often be prevented or reduced by some simple lifestyle changes, such as eating healthily.

The NHS advises: Cut down on the amount of salt in your food and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.

It adds: Salt raises your blood pressure. The more salt you eat, the higher your blood pressure.

Aim to eat less than 6g (0.2oz) of salt a day, which is about a teaspoonful.

Eating a low-fat diet that includes lots of fibre, such as wholegrain rice, bread and pasta, and plenty of fruit and vegetables also helps lower blood pressure.

READ MORE:High blood pressure: Best tea to drink for breakfast to lower your reading

But some experts believe the addition of supplements in a persons diet can also help control blood pressure.

One supplement proven to have a positive impact on blood pressure is garlic extract.

In 2014, Australian scientists found certain nutrients in garlic, particularly a compound called allicin, release chemicals into the bloodstream that help blood vessels relax, reducing blood pressure.

High blood pressure is recorded with two numbers - the systolic and diastolic pressure.

DON'T MISS

The systolic pressure, the higher number, is the force at which the heart pumps blood around the body.

The diastolic pressure, the lower number, is the resistance to the blood flow in the blood vessels.

In a 2012 Cochrane review on the effects of garlic on high blood pressure, researchers concluded (based on two trials in 87 patients with high blood pressure) garlic reduces mean supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure by approximately 10-12mmHg and 6-9mmHg.

While garlic can be eaten in its natural form, its also available as a supplement.

Studies have also demonstrated the positive effect garlic supplements can have on blood pressure.

In one study, 600 to 1,500mg of aged garlic extract was just as effective as the drug Atenolol at reducing blood pressure over a 24-week period.

Before taking supplements to lower high blood pressure you should speak with your GP.

Other ways to lower blood pressure

Another way high blood pressure can be reduced or prevented is by regularly exercising.

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Best supplements for high blood pressure: Taking this supplement could lower your reading - Express

For Immediate Release: October 22, 2019

Espaol

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission posted a joint warning letter to Rooted Apothecary LLC, of Naples, Florida, for illegally selling unapproved products containing cannabidiol (CBD) online with unsubstantiated claims that the products treat teething pain and ear aches in infants, autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease, among other conditions or diseases.

Cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds are subject to the same laws and requirements as FDA-regulated products that contain any other substance. We are working to protect Americans from companies marketing products with unsubstantiated claims that they prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure a number of diseases or conditions. This is especially concerning when companies are peddling unproven CBD products for use in vulnerable populations like infants and children, said Acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless, M.D. Weve sent numerous warning letters that focus on matters of significant public health concern to CBD companies, and these actions should send a message to the broader market about complying with FDA requirements. As we examine potential regulatory pathways for the lawful marketing of cannabis products, protecting and promoting public health through sound, science-based decision-making remains our top priority. We appreciate the FTC joining us on these and other actions to protect consumers from fraudulent CBD products.

As described in the warning letter issued to Rooted Apothecary, the company used product webpages, through its online store and social media websites, to make unfounded claims about its CBD products, and some of the products were also unlawfully marketed as dietary supplements. The agency has determined that CBD products cannot be marketed as dietary supplements.

Examples of the unsupported claims made by the company include:

Additionally, under the Federal Trade Commission Act, it is unlawful to advertise that a product can prevent, treat, or cure human disease unless the advertiser possesses competent and reliable scientific evidence, including, when appropriate, well-controlled human clinical studies, substantiating that the claims are true at the time they are made. More generally, to make or exaggerate such claims, whether directly or indirectly, through the use of a product name, website name, metatags, or other means, without rigorous scientific evidence sufficient to substantiate the claims, violates the FTC Act. The FTC is concerned that one or more of the efficacy claims cited may not be substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence. These products are also misbranded under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act, because the products labels and product information fail to include adequate directions for use. Drugs in the United States must contain directions explaining how a consumer can use a drug safely for its intended purpose. Under the law, there is an exemption for this labeling requirement for prescription drugs that have FDA-approved applications in effect. However, none of Rooted Apothecarys products are FDA-approved.

The FDA and FTC have requested responses from Rooted Apothecary within 15 working days stating how the company will correct the violations. Failure to correct the violations promptly may result in legal action, including product seizure and/or injunction. Violations of the FTC Act may result in legal action seeking a Federal District Court injunction or administrative cease and desist order, and an order also may require that a company pay back money to consumers.

The FDA continues to be concerned about the proliferation of products claiming to contain CBD that are marketed for therapeutic or medical uses that have not been approved by the agency. The FDA approval process ensures that drugs on the market are safe and effective for their intended therapeutic uses. CBD is marketed in a variety of product types, such as oil drops, capsules, syrups, teas and topical lotions and creams. The FDA has not approved any CBD products other than one prescription human drug product to treat rare, severe forms of epilepsy. There is very limited information for other marketed CBD products, which likely differ in composition from the FDA-approved product and have not been evaluated for potential adverse effects on the body.

The FDA continues to explore potential pathways for various types of CBD products to be lawfully marketed. An important component of this work is obtaining and evaluating information to address outstanding questions related to the safety of CBD products while maintaining the FDAs rigorous public health standards.

The FDA is working quickly to further clarify our regulatory approach for products containing cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds like CBD while using all available resources to monitor the marketplace and protect public health by taking action as needed against companies, said FDA Principal Deputy Commissioner Amy Abernethy, M.D., Ph.D. We recognize that there is significant public interest in cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds; however, we must work together to fill in the knowledge gaps about the science, safety and quality of many of these products. We are committed to advancing our regulation of these products through an approach that, in line with our mission, prioritizes public health, fosters innovation and promotes consumer confidence.

Unlike drugs approved by the FDA, the manufacturing process of unapproved CBD products has not been subject to FDA review as part of the drug approval process. Further, there has been no FDA evaluation of whether these products are effective for their intended use, what the proper dosage is, how they could interact with FDA-approved drugs, or whether they have dangerous side effects or other safety concerns. Consumers may put off getting important medical care, such as proper diagnosis, treatment and supportive care due to unsubstantiated claims associated with CBD products. For that reason, its important that consumers talk to a health care professional about the best way to treat diseases or conditions with existing, approved treatment options.

The FDA has previously sent warning letters to other companies illegally selling CBD products that claimed to prevent, diagnose, treat or cure serious diseases, such as cancer. Some of these products were in further violation of the FD&C Act because they were marketed as dietary supplements or because they involved the addition of CBD to food.

The FDA encourages health care professionals and consumers to report adverse reactions associated with these or similar products to the agencys MedWatch program.

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, promotes and protects the public health by, among other things, assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nations food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

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Continued here:

FDA, FTC warn company marketing unapproved cannabidiol products with unsubstantiated claims to treat teething and ear pain in infants, autism, ADHD,...

You eat your yogurt, exercise daily and chew that calcium supplement like a champ. Osteoporosis doesnt stand a chance youre a calcium superstar!

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.Policy

But, when it comes to calcium, its actually possible to have too much of a good thing: Calcium can build up to unhealthy levels in the bloodstream. And this hypercalcemia can cause a variety of problems ranging from not great to very serious.

Dont toss your calcium supplements just yet, though. Endocrinologist Susan Williams, MD, explains what happens when calcium levels creep too high and how to strike a healthy balance.

Calcium is key to a sturdy skeleton. Calcium is so important for the bones and teeth of growing children, but as adults, we sometimes forget how important it is throughout our lifetime, Dr. Williams says.

Besides beefing up bones, calcium is critical for the healthy function of nerves and muscles, including the heart.

Guidelines recommend a total of 1,000 milligrams per day for women until age 50 and for men until age 70.

Past those birthdays, men and women should aim for 1,200 mg per day. (For context, a cup of milk or a serving of yogurt each has about 300 mg of calcium.)

More is not better, however. Problems linked to excess calcium include:

Soaring calcium levels can be triggered by a variety of diseases,including parathyroid problems and a number of cancers. Hypercalcemia can alsobe a side effect of certain prescription meds.

But over-the-counter calcium medications can push you over the edge, too. Its surprisingly easy to overdo the calcium supplements especially if you consume a lot of dairy or otherwise get plenty from your food. Over-the-counter antacid chews and tablets pack a big calcium punch as well.

On top of all that, high doses of vitamins A and D can also cause calcium levels to rise.

Many people dont have obvious symptoms of hypercalcemia. But thesesigns hint that your calcium levels might be flying high:

Luckily, hypercalcemia caused by supplements and antacids usuallyreverses quickly when you stop taking them, Dr. Williams says. Untreated,though, long-term hypercalcemia can be serious maybe even life-threatening.

How can you make sure youre getting enough calcium withoutgoing overboard?

More here:

Are You Taking Too Many Calcium Supplements? - Health Essentials from Cleveland Clinic

Have all of your friends ever been obsessed with a TV show you've never seen? When you hang out, they laugh about the most recent episode, quote their favorite characters, and compare theories about the season finaleand you just sit there.

That's how I felt whenever my friends talked about Wellness Formula, a supplement made by a company called Source Naturals. It claims to "support the immune system when under physical stress" through a "powerful combination of herbs, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals formulated to boost your well-being." My friends (and I'm hoping I can still call them that after this article!), swear by itand to me, it sounds like bullshit.

Nonetheless, about a week ago, I woke up on a Sunday morning with a sore throat, and my friends had that look in their eyesthe Wellness Formula look. "That stuff is just a placebo," I told them. They disagreed. "It's not approved by the FDA," I said. They were unfazed. "There's no research to say it works at all." Nothing.

After a day of protesting, I gave in. I'm not proud, but I did. What's the worst that could happen? I thought.

I took six capsules after dinner. (Yes, you must take six capsules. Six capsules every three hours.) Everything was fine for the next hour or so, but around 9 o'clock, when I was ready to get into bed, my heart started racing. I was lying in bed, exhausted but unable to sleep. I was sweating. My stomach was in knots. This is it, I thought, my tragic end is going to be a Monday morning headline on the very website that employs me: "Girl, 23, Dies Alone in Bed From...Vitamins"

RELATED: 3 Things People Get Completely Wrong About Vitamin Supplements

Then, I got up, rushed to the bathroom, and vomited. Ah yes, my preferred way to spend a Sunday evening. Also, as if I hadn't already felt enough of Wellness Formula's wrath, the vomit was acidic. So much so that it burned my throat, making it painful to swallow for the next 24 hoursand giving me an even worse sore throat than the one I was trying to get rid of. After I threw up, I felt 90% better. Wellness Formula couldn't give me the other 10%. She's ruthless.

The next morning, I did what anyone would do: I bitched to my coworkers about what happened, and, because we're health editors, here we are, in the middle of this article on what's really in these supplementsand if they're dangerous at all.

See, as a health journalist, I'm skeptical of pretty much anything, especially vitamins and supplements. Why? Because I know the Food and Drug Administration only inspects a small percentage of the supplements sold in the US every year. That lack of regulation opens the door for many supplements to falsely claim specific health benefits, since their claims dont have to be backed up by research.

I wasn't able to find any clinical trials to prove Wellness Formula's specific claims, and Source Naturals didn't respond to a request for comment. There's even a disclaimer on the company's website that says, "The statements made in this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration," which aligns with the FDA's stance that it is "not authorized to review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before they are marketed."

Still, my friends worship Wellness Formula. When one sneezes or coughs or gets a paper cut (OK fine, I'm being dramatic with that last one), another will suddenly whip around, their palm extended flat holding six capsules of Wellness Formula. They truly believe that if you take the supplement when you first feel sick, you can dodge a full-blown illness.

So, what I needed to know (and why I wanted to write this article): Can these supplements actually help you avoid getting sick? Or is my experience common, and can they actually make you feel sick?

RELATED: Do Supplements Cause Cancer? Here's What a New Study Says

At first, I thought there was no way something billed as "natural" and "healthy" could make me ill, but Beth Kitchin, PhD, assistant professor of nutrition studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, tells me it's entirely possible. "You got crazy high amounts of vitamin C," she says. "Which can cause stomach cramping, diarrhea, and nausea." Interesting.

About Wellness Formula's vitamin C content: Six capsules contain 1,275 mg of vitamin C. Meanwhile, the recommended daily allowance for vitamin C for adults is 75 to 90 mg per day, and the tolerable upper intake level, or the "maximum daily intake unlikely to cause adverse health effects," is 2,000 mg a day, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

While one dose puts you well above the recommended daily allowance, it keeps you just under the maximum of 2,000 mg a day. A second dose, however, puts you at 2,550 mgor 128% of the upper intake level. Three doses puts you at 191%, and, well, you get the idea.

But wait, there's more. The amount of zinc can also exceed the upper limit, Kitchin says, which may have contributed to the nausea and vomiting. (Oh right, the vomiting. How could I forget?) The recommended dietary allowance for zinc is 8 to 11 mg per day, and the tolerable upper intake level is 40 mg, according to NIH. Just one dose of Wellness Formula has 23 mg of zinc, meaning after two doses, you're at 115% of the upper intake level.

Cynthia Sass, RD, Health contributing nutrition editor, also points out that some of the ingredients "can interact with certain medications, or existing medical conditions." For example, echinacea, an herb, has been known to exacerbate autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, she says.

RELATED: These 15 Supplement Ingredients Carry Serious Health Risks, According to a New Report

In all fairness, Sass says that many of the ingredients in Wellness Formula, like vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin D, are known to support immunity (again, in amounts that don't exceed the upper intake level). But both Sass and Kitchin point out that it's simply impossible to know how the supplement will affect the immune system without clinical trails. "This is how we know, for example, that supplemental vitamin C cant cure a cold, but that zinc lozenges may reduce the duration of cold," Sass says.

Despite this lack of scientific evidence, my friends have been unswayed: "Well, I can give you anecdotal evidence that it works for me," one saidto which I say, Hello, placebo effect. Kitchin agrees: "Someone can tell you that it made them feel better, but how do they know that they wouldnt have felt better without the supplement? They dont. Thats why we do research."

Overall, neither Kitchin nor Sass say they'd recommend this supplement to their clients. Sass even went a step further about supplements and vitamins in general, saying she wouldn't blindly prescribe anyone any specific supplement without assessing "a clients personal medical history, medications, and any other supplements theyre taking" first. Huh.

That, I realized, is where I went wrong. If you take anything away from this article, it should be to always consult a professional before taking somethingeven a supplement. Not your friends who are entranced by a supplement's too-good-to-be-true benefits; a g'damn professional, like Sass. "Meet with a registered dietitian who can sit down with you and go over each supplement to determine if its appropriate, and if so, the proper dose, form, and how long you should take it," she advises.

Another tip: Kitchin says to look for a supplement with US Pharmacopeia (USP) or NSF International (NSF) logos, to be sure that it's free of contaminants and actually has in it what it says it does. Keep in mind, though, these logos do not mean that the product is effectivejust that the ingredients list isn't falsified. (FYI: Wellness Formula does not have USP or NSF logos.)

As for my friends, they're not going to stop taking Wellness Formula, and they've told me as such. They're in too deepif there's even the slightest chance they won't have to deal with the common cold this winter like the rest of us, they're down to take anything. Me? I'll stick to washing my hands and steering clear of anyone not covering their mouth during a sneeze, thankyouverymuch.

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Originally posted here:

I Tried Source Naturals Wellness Formula Supplement to See What the Buzz Was Aboutand Immediately Regretted It - Yahoo Lifestyle

CreditAriel Davis

Our bodies house an extraordinarily vast collection of bacteria and other microorganisms so many, in fact, that scientists now estimate there may be just as many bacteria in our bodies as human cells.

They thrive on the skin, where they might help protect it from infection, and in areas like the intestinal tract, where they help break down food and absorb nutrients. Given the sheer volume, its no wonder scientists are discovering that these microbes play an important role in health and disease.

Research on the microbiome, that collection of microorganisms, is still in early stages, but it has become increasingly common to hear references to the microbiome in the news and advertising. Last week, Bill Gates wrote an essay for The Telegraph suggesting that correcting an out of whack microbiome by taking next-generation probiotic supplements, for example, or eating certain gut-healthy foods could eventually help prevent some of the worlds most common ills, such as malnutrition, obesity and perhaps even inflammatory conditions including asthma, allergies and some autoimmune disorders.

And Dove has been advertising an infant soap with prebiotic moisture, as well as a lotion claiming that it nourishes babys delicate microbiome. Mother Dirt, a skin-care company, also has said that its biome-friendly cleansers, shampoos, moisturizers and more help restore harmony in your skins microbiome.

If youre still a bit confused about what all of this means and who isnt? heres a short introduction to a complicated subject: the role of the microbiome.

The microbiome is a community of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microbes that live inside your body and on its surface. Just as in a community of people, youll find both good and bad actors: Some of the microbes, like the gut bacteria that help you digest food, are beneficial, while others, like certain viruses, can be dangerous.

Everyones microbiome differs, depending on your age, gender, diet and immune system. And the types of microbes on one part of the body may be different from those on another.

Imagine the microbiome as basically like a rainforest, said Jonathan A. Eisen, Ph.D., an evolutionary biologist who directs the Microbiome Special Research Program at the University of California, Davis. On any given spot on the skin, he said, there might be hundreds to thousands of different species of microbes, which can come in hundreds of different strains. With E. coli, you cant just say you have E. coli on your skin, because some E. coli make vitamins and others kill you, said Dr. Eisen. So this is incredibly complicated.

Even something as simple as showering can affect the composition of your skins microbiome, he said, depending on the temperature of the water, the products you used and the length of time you spent in the water.

Scientists know that babies receive helpful microbes from their mothers, who pass them on to their children through the birth canal and breast milk, but the specific benefits derived from those microbes are not fully understood.

While theres still a lot that we dont know about the microbiome, scientists say its clear that it plays an important role in health and disease.

It prevents overgrowth by harmful microbes, thats one important function, said Dr. Gregory A. Storch, M.D., a professor of pediatrics at Washington University in St. Louis. Another is that its important in digestion and breaking down food.

The microbiome has also been shown to help the immune system learn the difference between good and bad bacteria, he added.

The gut microbiome plays a role in several gastrointestinal diseases, according to the American Microbiome Institute, and may even influence behavior. Accumulating evidence also suggests that the microbiome could influence asthma, obesity, heart disease, cancer therapies and even autism, but the research is far from conclusive.

In short, yes. The microbiome has become a buzzword that vaguely signifies good bacteria, so some advertisers have promoted their products as being gentle on the bodys microbes. But without studies showing that these products are truly beneficial to the helpful microbes, experts have said that consumers should be wary.

Its become incredibly hot as a scientific area, but also the realm of snake oil, Dr. Eisen said.

With that in mind, Dr. Eisen created an Overselling the Microbiome Award on his blog, which exposes questionable research as well as companies that are touting unproven claims about the microbiome to sell products. I could probably give out one of them a day if I had time, Dr. Eisen said.

When Dove started running ads for microbiome-friendly lotion and bath soap, for instance, Dr. Eisen began dissecting the claims on his blog, one by one, including the idea that Dove was nurturing the microbiome.

Anindya Dasgupta, Ph.D., a scientist at Unilever R&D, which developed a microbiome-friendly line of Baby Dove products, said its infant cleansers and lotions contained nutrients that were identical to those found naturally in skin and help to replenish skin-natural nutrients as well as a prebiotic moisturizer, which serves as an excellent nutrient source for good bacteria, helping to keep the microbiome nourished.

Unilever did not immediately respond to questions about whether the company had conducted studies that supported its claims, nor did the company explain which prebiotics or nutrients were included in its products.

The challenge in this is that some of the bacteria on our skin can be good and some can be bad, and just nourishing bacteria generally does not guarantee that you are nourishing the right ones, Dr. Eisen said.

When it comes to dietary supplements that say they support the microbiome, such as probiotics, its unclear just how helpful they are, said Dr. Martin J. Blaser, M.D., the director of the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine at Rutgers University and author of the book Missing Microbes.

Theyre almost completely untested for the kinds of things that people are taking them for, Dr. Blaser said.

Recent studies, for example, have found that the probiotic Lactobacillus offered no benefit when treating stomach virus in children.

Even though we know that the microbiome is very important in human health, we cant assume that probiotics and other treatments that try to manipulate or even protect the microbiome will be effective, Dr. Storch said.

In addition, the Food and Drug Administration does not review, approve or strictly regulate dietary supplements or personal care products such as lotions and soaps. And it doesnt approve claims that appear on product labels.

Avoiding the overuse of antibiotics and antimicrobials is one of the best ways to help preserve the microbiome, Dr. Blaser said.

When people are exposed to antibiotics, it disturbs the beneficial microbes, which can lead to antibiotic resistance and create new illnesses.

One of the most clear examples is when antibiotics allow the bacteria Clostridium difficile to proliferate in the gut, which can damage intestinal cells and lead to inflammation in the colon.

Number one: Minimize the damage, Dr. Blaser said. We have to move from a philosophy of, This might not help you but it wont hurt, to, Is this antibiotic necessary?

Given the wide variations in how pediatricians prescribe antibiotics, Dr. Blaser advised parents to have a conversation with their childs doctor about whether antibiotics are truly necessary for certain conditions. Some ear infections and colds, for example, are caused by viruses and will resolve on their own.

Its the germaphobia that encourages killing all types of bacteria that can do more harm than good.

People shouldnt have a fetish about trying to maintain a sterile environment, Dr. Storch said. In some cases I think people are treating their own anxiety rather than any real disease threat.

While Dr. Eisen also recommended avoiding medically unnecessary antibiotics, he warned against going too far in the other direction by, say, encouraging your child to lick the subway poles to strengthen their immune system, something he refers to as microbiomania. Pathogens are real, he added, and they are transmitted by contact between people or between people and surfaces, so youre not going to protect yourself by licking everything.

Wash your hands often, dont touch things that many other people have touched, he advised. And that alone, just that, will help prevent the spread of infectious disease beyond any antimicrobial that they put in toothpaste or clothing or wherever.

Christina Caron is a parenting reporter at The New York Times.

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Why Do Parents Keep Hearing About the Microbiome? - NYT Parenting

Venus Williams does not play games when it comes to her health. The tennis great revealed her secrets to staying fit despite an admitted love for junk food in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly.

Olympic Athletes: Where Are They Now?

I love junk food, but I just got off tour and I started eating junk food. Honestly, I started feeling so bad I had to stop, the 39-year-old star explained to Us. [I had] donuts. It was bad. I had pancakes. I ordered pancakes at 5 in the morning with jet lag. Its so bad. I was like, No, I cant live like this. I was literally like, How do I get a salad? Im so desperate for a salad.

The four-time Olympic gold medalist, who said she feels her strongest when shes eating a balanced diet, went on to detail some of her tips for keeping her mind and body working at its highest potential. I [eat] lots of greens, lots of fiber. That kind of covers it, so your bodys well nourished,she said.[I get] lots of sleep, very important. Very important for me especially since I train. My body just requires so much sleep because of that.

Celebrities Dating Athletes

She continued: I also travel with a lot of supplements, and I have a specific kit just for anti-virals. I have olive leaf extract, oregano oil. I have garlic, I have lysine and vitamin C. Everyones like, Venus, can I get them? Everyone comes to me for [my supplements] because I literally cannot get sick. I buy supplements and I have a special [kit] I put them in, its always there. Because then youre like, Oh sht, I wish I had that stuffand youre in Timbuktu.

Besides needing to staying healthy for work, the Florida native admits her sister Serena Williams daughter, Alexis, is also a motivating factor. The hard part though is if you do get sick and youre like, Oh man, I cant go see the baby, and you put yourself in quarantine. But youre just like, FaceTime me please.

Stars Theyre Just Like Us!

Venus, who is partnering with Clorox Disinfecting Wipes in an effort to keep the public safe from germs, pointed out that germs which can cause the common cold tend to lurk in some unexpected places. Obviously, its very important for me to stay healthy because my job requires that you are healthy. I just keep wipes everywhere, she continued.In [my] carry on, in my dog bag and my racket bag, and that covers all the bases. I [wipe down] things you dont think of, like when youre in your hotel room. Nobody really uses the [hotel room] phone, but every now and then you have to [make a] call. So, I always have my wipes.

View original post here:

Venus Williams Reveals Health Tips, Supplements - Us Weekly

Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which the body cant control the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood, causing levels to become too high, and left untreated, serious complications such as kidney failure, nerve damage, heart disease and stroke can occur. High blood sugar levels can be prevented or managed with lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, but while the NHS recommends 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise five days a week, a recent report by the World Health organisation estimates a third of UK adults arent active enough. Now, new research by experts in New Zealand says consuming a specific type of blackcurrant could help sedentary adults walk for longer without getting tired. The effects took hold just an hour after taking the blackcurrant supplement.

Meanwhile the superfood also resulted in a dramatic 90 percent reduction in the build of enzymes linked to the onset of dementia and depression.

The studys lead author Dr Suzanne Hurst said: "Identifying foods or dietary supplements that specifically support the desire to exercise daily will enable an individual to adhere to an exercise programme and maintain and active and healthy lifestyle."

And she found that drinking blackcurrant juice one hour before exercise supports positive affective responses during a low impact walking exercise in healthy sedentary adults.

The blackcurrants themselves were grown in New Zealand - and because of the Southern Hemispheres intense UV light, this produces unusually high levels of protective and health-giving nutrients compared with berries grown elsewhere.

The key ingredients are anthocyanins, pigments in the fruit's skin responsible for their dark purple colouring, which belong to a group of flavonoids called polyphenols and possess high levels of antioxidants.

The participants - a group of male and female adults aged between 20 and 59 - were given either blackcurrant juice or a placebo an hour before they were asked to walk on a treadmill.

The average time walked by those whod taken blackcurrants was 11 minutes longer than those who hadnt.

While only 10 percent of those whod had the placebo walked a distance greater than 10km - compared with 30 percent of participants in the blackcurrant group.

The treadmill walkers whod had blackcurrants also reported lower exertion scores - and higher overall mood scores - than those whod had the placebo. Test subjects also underwent a blood test both before and after the experiment.

And its here they noted a huge decrease in something called monoamine oxidase-B, or MAO-B, activity - something they believe could help fight neurological diseases like dementia.

Dr Hurst, of the New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research, says: "We found that plasma collected 1 hour after blackcurrant consumption showed a dramatic acute decline - 90 percent - in platelet MAO-B activity, which was still detectable in participants plasma once they had stopped exercise.

"The pharmacological inhibition of brain MAO-B activity has been used to treat those diagnosed with neurological diseases and depression, potentially through their neuroprotective properties in reducing the metabolism of monoamines."

The findings were reported in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition and they have been welcomed by Nicki Bundock, of Surrey-based firm CurraNZ, the UKs leading supplier of New Zealand blackcurrants supplements.

Nicki explained: "Regular exercise is one of the best ways to reduce your chances of health problems like heart disease or type 2 diabetes. But if youre not an active person, starting an exercise plan and actually sticking with it can be incredibly difficult.

Studies have shown more than half of us drop out of exercise plans after just six months, reverting to inactive lifestyles. And its therefore vital we find ways to make exercise more tolerable and enjoyable.

This study suggests blackcurrant supplements can boost time spent exercising while also making it feel easier and more pleasurable. And the less stressful exercise is, the more likely it is to become a habit.

"The fact the study also suggested benefits to neurological health make it even more welcome."

Previous studies have also demonstrated the positive effect of blackcurrants on blood sugar.

A clinical trial carried out at the University of Aberdeen showed the fruit could affect how the body breaks down carbohydrates and sugars, reducing the amount of sugar that ends up in the bloodstream after a person eats a meal.

Another fruit found to have a positive impact on blood sugar is guava.

See original here:

Type 2 diabetes: Eating this superfood could help fight the condition - Express

And so what can I do I do feel like I was there and helped create a bit of this beast to really stay true to the mission and to spread that to my team?

Talking about it in earnest is one way to address the problem. Chantal Bacon also seeks to live out her values with Moon Juice, which opened its first shop in Venice, California, in 2011 and carries products that offer more than what youll find in just about any grocery store or gas station these days.

What would be the difference between a Moon Juice with some type of pasteurization on it in a cute juice shop and a juice for maybe $2.99 in a grocery store thats the same blend and organic? she asked. It would really be the difference of a label. So that didnt feel worthwhile. Herbs, though, that was something that when you scale it, it makes sense. Your costs go down. Youre able to reach more people. Supplements are actually something that you need scale for safety reasons alone.

In the latest Glossy Beauty podcast, Chantal Bacon discussed Moon Juices focus on research over marketing (people are always surprised to find out that we really dont spend any money on marketing), the companys use of Instagram and its move into beauty and skin-care products.

Here are a few highlights from the conversation, lightly edited for clarity.

Leveling up from the localhealthfood storeGoing anywhere where wellness was a term was a pretty janky health food store with bad lighting and loud sounds and strange smells. So that was really one of the intentions with Moon Juice, was to bring this next level of health, which I wasnt finding in the Vitamin Barns, with the bulk bins of the world.It was to bring some of that fine dining accuracy that Id come to know and trust and employ every day in my own kitchens and where I was working, and really missing that in the health world. Every time you got a juice it was completely different. Sometimes there were bugs in the bulk bin. It was just that angle of aesthetic and precision that was missing.

Herbs and supplements set the product apartThere are great juice companies out there that sell to Whole Foods and any grocery store, [and] any airport around the country, and theyve got organic green juice blends. So truly, what would be the difference between a Moon Juice with some type of pasteurization in it in a cute juice shop, and a juice for maybe $2.99 in a grocery store thats the same blend and organic? It would really be the difference of a label. So that didnt feel worthwhile. Herbs, though, that was something that when you scale it, it makes sense. Your costs go down. Youre able to reach more people. Supplements are actually something that you need scale for safety reasons alone. The amount of energy that we put into sourcing and testing, I couldnt do as a small company. And I knew we needed that to truly come out with the products that I wanted.

All is not well with wellnessI think that is my criticism of the wellness world, if there was one. I think theres so many wonderful things about wellness spreading, but the underbelly of it is this notion of it is for the 1% to live forever by themselves in their castles, looking young. And so what can I do I do feel like I was there and helped create a bit of this beast to really stay true to the mission and to spread that to my team? And to dig deeper into myself and look at how we can swing this thing the other way? And why do we want to be well? What is the point of living longer and feeling better and being stronger?

Research over marketingPeople are always surprised to find out that we really dont spend any money on marketing. Weve got a creative little bubble that is very lean, that goes onInstagram, which is our main marketing channel. I look at every post, Im tweaking every post. It was not so long that I was actually writing and posting each post. And we really do spend our energy and our time and our money on sourcing and testing for potency and safety. And I hope that never changes.

Go here to read the rest:

Moon Juice founder Amanda Chantal Bacon on bringing research to the wellness industry - Glossy

gMicrogram a measurement of weight equal to one millionth of a gram (or one thousandth of a milligram). Microgram (g or mcg) is used for a number of nutrients found in food supplements.Amino AcidThe building blocks of protein, there are eight essential amino acids which cannot be synthesised within the body and therefore must come from the diet. These are: isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. In addition arginine and histidine are amino acids required by infants and young children which supports their rapid growth.AntioxidantA substance or nutrient which helps to protect our cells from damage caused by free radicals, damaging molecules which are found in pollution and tobacco smoke. Our bodies also produce free radicals as part of the normal biochemistry of living.DeficiencyA lack of essential macronutrients or micronutrients which results in malnutrition and or disease. This may be the result of inadequate intakes or absorption issues associated with gastrointestinal disease. There are a number of recognised deficiency diseases including (but not exclusively): scurvy (vitamin C deficiency); rickets (vitamin D deficiency); anaemia (iron deficiency, but also deficiencies in B12 and folic acid) and Kwashiorkor (protein deficiency).DHThe Department of Health is a UK Government department. It has responsibility for nutrition legislation and sets health policy for nutrition.DHADocosahexaenoic acid; one of the key omega-3 fats that provides health benefitsDietitianAn individual qualified in nutrition and dietetics who can assess, diagnose and treat health issues associated with nutrition and diet. Dietitians are governed by law with a statutory code of practice; they often work within the health service although increasing numbers are also working in a freelance capacity.EFAEssential fatty acids (omega 3 and omega 6) cannot be synthesised by the body and must be derived from the diet. EFAs do not provide fuel for energy production and are required for vital biological processes which support growth, development and health.EFSAEuropean Food Safety Authority; the European Union food risk management agency which scientifically evaluates safety across all areas of food.EPAEicosapentaenoic acid; one of the key omega-3 fats that provides health benefits.Fat soluble vitaminThe fat soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E and K. Because they are fat soluble these substances can accumulate in the body, often being stored in fat cells, or in the liver. This can create health issues, particularly if intakes have been high for a prolonged period of time. For example, long term high intakes of vitamin D may lead to the laying down of calcium in tissues such as liver and kidneys which can cause nausea and vomiting.Food supplementA food supplement is a concentrated source of vitamins, minerals or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect which is sold in small, measured unit doses.FSAThe Food Standards Agency is a non-ministerial UK Government department responsible for food safety and food hygiene.GLAGamma-linoleic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid (an essential fatty acid considered to be necessary for human health which must be derived from the diet). GLA is most commonly found in evening primrose oil (EPO), borage or starflower oil and blackcurrant seed oil.Health claimA health claim is any claim which states, or implies, that consumption of a specific food will have a beneficial effect on health. Claims may be written, verbal or pictorial.Herbal medicine (herbal remedy)A product is considered to be a herbal medicine if the main active ingredient/s are only herbal substances or preparations. Not all herbal products are medicines, some may be food supplements and some may be cosmetics. What determines if a product is, or is not a medicine is complex but generally rests with how the product is presented (i.e. does it make medicinal claims to treat, prevent or cure any disease) and what it does (i.e. does it have a physiological impact on, or alter, any body functions).MacronutrientDietary constituents which are needed in significant amounts, generally protein, fat, carbohydrate, fibre and water.MalnutritionMalnutrition is a state in which the deficiency of nutrients such as energy, protein, vitamins or minerals results in measurable adverse effects on the body. Malnutrition may refer to insufficient intake of protein, carbohydrate and fats (macronutrients) which can result in overly low BMI. It may also be insufficient intake of vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients, which can impact on overall health and could include obese individuals with poor diets.MgMilligram is a measurement of weight equal to one thousandth of a gram. Mg is used for a number of nutrients found in food supplements.MicronutrientA substance derived from food which is needed in extremely small amounts for the normal growth and development of living beings. Micronutrients are vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids (omega-3 fats)MineralInorganic micronutrient essential to health and wellbeing. Minerals are absorbed from soil by plants which are in turn eaten by animals or humans. Minerals may be split into minerals which are needed in relatively high amounts (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, chloride and potassium) and trace elements (iron, zinc, cobalt, copper, chromium, fluoride, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, boron and selenium) which are needed in very small quantities.MultivitaminA product which contains more than one vitamin, often multivitamins will contain all 13 vitamins although some may contain only the eight B vitamins, or a combination of some of the vitamins and some additional minerals.NDNSThe UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey is a continuous rolling survey of the dietary habits and nutritional status of adults and children in the UK. The results are used to assess whether intakes of food and nutrients are adequate across different ages and population groups.NRVNutrient Reference Value is the amount set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), primarily to support food labelling, which the majority of the population requires to maintain health. Previously known as RDANutrientA substance derived from food which provides nourishment to the body and is essential for the maintenance of life and for growth and development.NutritionistNutritionists generally work for public bodies or governments, although some do work with private clients. They tend to look at large populations to determine risk factors and make dietary recommendations that are applied at population levels. For example, evidence on the incidence of type II Diabetes led public health nutritionists to determine that some populations are more at risk of developing this disease, and to make recommendations for dietary changes to either reduce the risk or manage the disease. However, public health nutritionists do not practice with individual patients.Omega-3 fatsEssential fatty acids which cannot be synthesised by the body and must be derived from the diet. Primary sources for omega-3 fats are oily fish and fish oil supplements with some also coming from enriched eggs and fortified foods. There are a number of scientifically proven health benefits for omega-3 fats including supporting the health of the eyes, brain and heart, maintaining an appropriate balance of triglycerides in the blood and reducing blood pressure.Omega-6 fatsEssential fatty acids which cannot be synthesised by the body and must be derived from the diet. Primary sources for omega-6 are vegetable oils such as sunflower and corn oils as well as nuts and seeds. There are a number of health benefits associated with omega-6 fatty acids; they are thought to be beneficial in the management of premenstrual syndrome and in some skin conditions including eczema and psoriasis.PAGBProprietary Association of Great Britain (PAGB) is the UK trade association which represents the manufacturers of branded over-the-counter medicines, self care medical devices and food supplements.PrebioticsFoods which promote the growth of probiotics, the beneficial bacteria that inhabit our gut. Prebiotics are generally fibres such as inulin, which our bodies cannot digest and absorb but which provide a food source for probiotics.ProbioticsLive bacteria (and some yeasts) which inhabit the digestive tract which are viewed as being beneficial to human health. There are thousands of different bacterial strains; some are resident in specific areas of the digestive tract whilst others are transient, simply passing through.Public Health England (PHE)Public Health England is an agency of the Department of Health responsible for improving public health. They work with local government, the NHS and non-governmental organisations as well as communicating public health messages to the general public.PUFAPolyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are found in nuts, seeds, fish (and fish oil), krill and some algae, small amounts are also found in leafy greens. The omega-3 and omega 6 fats are PUFAs, which are generally associated with health.RDARecommended Daily Amount; previously used terminology for the amount set, primarily to support food labelling, which the majority of the population require to maintain health. Now described using nutrient reference value (NRV)SULSafe Upper Levels of vitamins and minerals were established by the Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals who published a report in 2003 (https://cot.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/cot/vitmin2003.pdf). The UK food supplements industry works to the levels set in this report.VitaminOrganic micronutrient essential to health and wellbeing. Vitamins cannot be synthesised in sufficient amounts by the animal or human body and must therefore be obtained from the diet. Plants manufacture vitamins which move up the food chain as the plants are consumed by animals or humans. Vitamins can be divided into fat soluble (vitamins A, D, E and K) and water soluble (vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, biotin, folic acid and vitamin C).Water soluble vitaminThe B vitamins and vitamin C are water soluble. They are not stored in any significant quantities within the body and are generally either utilised or excreted in the urine. As they are not stored in the body, they tend to have low toxicity and are needed on a daily basis.

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Health & Food Supplements Information Service